Motorcycle Jackets

Although motorcycle jackets are typically made of leather, textile jackets will soon match their popularity. Although currently textiles cannot be patched up as easily as leather, they are both designed to protect riders from abrasion, impact and puncture damage during a fall. This is achieved through using thick material, double stitch sewing, armor pieces, Kevlar, and rivets and foam in the joints. Textile jackets have only been produced for motorcycle riders over the last ten years, and can be made from a variety of materials from Kevlar to Ballistic Nylon.

When choosing a jacket some things to consider include a good fit, pockets to insert body armour in places where you’ll need protection, reflective piping, and vents to cool you down. Textile jackets will often have removable liners, wind and water proof desings and allows for better protection that does not ruin the look. Another advantage is that textile jackets are mostly less expensive than leather ones. They will neither shrink or colour bleed when they get wet either, unlike leather. There are also jackets that are 50% textile and 50% leather for better protection and great design.

Buell Jackets

Harley-Davidson offers a range of motorcycle jackets from Buell, including the Turbulent Jacket, Adventure Jacket and Mesh Jacket. The Mesh Jacket is made of fully vented polyester mesh with a zippered front and adjustable waist tabs. It has lightweight removable body armour at the shoulders and elbows, as well as two zippered hand warmer pockets.

The Turbulent jacket is a combination of perforated leather and poly/mesh, including body armour pockets at the shoulders, elbows and back. The Adventure Jacket is a textile jacket with switchback technology and molded rubber ar the shoulders and elbows for protection. Both of these jackets can zip onto the Adventure Pant with switchback technology to make a full suit.

Motorcycle Racing

The Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM- International Motorcycling Federation) classifies motorcycle racing in the following four main categories: road racing, motocross, enduro /cross-country, and track racing. Races vary according to the type of motorcycle engine, the age of the rider, ability, machine age, use of sidecards or quads and so on.

Road racing involves the racing of motorcylces on tarmac, whether on purpose built racing circuits or closed public roads. It includes variants such as the Motorcycle Grand Prix, Superbike racing, Sidecar racing and True Road racing. Motocross is the racing of motorcyles off road on a variety of non-tarmac surfaces such as sand, mud or grass. They also typically include artificial jumps. Variants include Supercross and Supermoto. Enduro or Cross-country racing tests the durability of the motorcycle and the endurance of the rider, with races being fun over a set distance or designed to cover as much distance as possible over a preset amount of time. Variants include Hare Scramble and Cross-country rally. Track racing involves teams or individuals racing around an oval track, with variants on different surface types.

HD Race

Harley-Davidson offers a range of clothing in support of the Harley racing team. These include leather jackets such as the Thunder Hill Jacket in black leather with Harley-Davidson embossed across the front and two hand warmer pockets, or the Thunder Valley Jacket in black leather with Screamin’ Eagle across the front, as well as the Black Bird Jacket.

Harley-Davidson Motorclothes also sells race shirts, including the Black Bird S/S Shirt in 100% cotton twill with two chest pockets or the High Performance S/S Shirt in nylon ripstop with wicking, anti-microbial and quick drying properties. There is also a women’s long sleeve Cobalt Tee in a cotton/lycra blend. All carry the Screamin’ Eagle emblem. Or you could pick up a Screamin’ Eagle nylon equipment bag to carry all your motorcycle equipment.

Leather Jackets

A proper leather jacket is an essential piece of clothing when riding your motorbike. It can protect you not only in case of an accident, preventing abrasions and breaks if it has body armour, but also makes your ride more comfortable. With features such as zippered vents, fleece lining,  and removable hoods, your leather jacket will keep you comfortable whether it is cold, hot or windy.

Leather has been used as clothing since prehistoric times, with different civilisations developing new tanning and preservation methods. Today leather jackets will keep you safe and comfortable, and its durability will save you money.

Men’s Leather Jackets

Harley-Davidson Motorclothes offers a range of both women’s and men’s leather motorcycle jackets. Here are just a few examples:

• Classic Cruiser Leather Jacket- midweight, mandarin collar, body armour pockets, zippered cuffs with snaps, slightly pre-curved sleeves, two zippered hand-warmer pockets, two inside pockets. Channel venting systems to cool the core body temperature and removable quilted vest lining. ‘Harley-Davidson’ logo across the front and on the sleeves.
• Reflective Skull Leather Jacket- midweight leather, reflective piping, skull graphic embossed on the back, snap tab mandarin collar, zippered cuffs. Two zippered hand warming pockets, two inside pockets and two zippered chest pockets. Slightly padded shoulders, elbows and back waist for protection. Removable fleece liner with fixed poly mesh lining. Shouldner and back vents.
• Alternator Leather Jacket with Switchback Technology- leather panels zip away to reval poly-mesh body. Reflective piping, pre-curved sleeves, mandarin collar, body armour pockets, adjustable sleeve tabs, two hand warmer pockets on leather body and on mesh body, and one inside pocket.
• Complete Leather Jacket – patented back vent opens by using the pull cord in the left pocket, and closes by pulling cord in the right pocket.Has sleeve vents, body pocket armour and fixed poly-mesh liner.
• Reflective Road Warrior 3-in-1 Leather Jacket – front and back vents, body armour pockets, removable hooded cotton vest, power stretch side panels, waterproof cell phone pocket and MP3 player pocket, and two hand warmer pockets.