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Gearing Up For The Hoka Hey

  After a series of stops at Baker, then S&S and then New Orleans, my bike is finally torn apart at Vagabond Choppers in Ft. Lauderdale. Don and Athena have agreed to be my pit crew and have been doing pre-run service making sure that it will make the ride with no problems. In addition to the Baker DD6 and 106” S&S motor, they now have the task of putting the Progressive front and rear suspension, Cycle Electric charging system, RSD brake rotors and Metzler tires on the bike. They are also doing a laundry list of parts swapping that were supplied by Harley-Davidson.

Harley also came through for me in a big way with their MotorClothes. I have been a big fan of their FXRG gear for a long time now but mine was the first generation so it had been used pretty hard.

As part of their sponsorship Harley made sure I would have the best protection from the elements, the new FXRG Jacket, Pants, Riding boots and a good rain suit. This rocks man cause the gear is so versatile that it really is my number one choice for all around riding gear. It has lightweight body armor, plenty of built in functionality and I swear, after reading Joann’s riding through winter series, I was jealous as hell. Below is a quick rundown of the gear they sent out and some shots of my trying it out. This will without a doubt help me face any conditions on the Hoka Hey.

FXRG® Midweight Leather Jacket

 DSCN0262 The FXRG Midweight leather is anything but midweight in performance. A waterproof leather jacket that is really waterproof. This is due to a fixed CoolMax® lining and wind- and waterproof c_change™ membrane technology from Schoeller® that reacts to body temperature and moisture levels to ensure an optimum body climate. Removable, lightweight and breathable Primaloft® warmth liner can also be worn separately as a light jacket. This give wet suit like performance for anyone who surfs or  DSCN0268 dives knows, cold and wet stays out, body still breaths.

Two large vertical front vents and one across the provide real circulation as the day starts to warm up. Removable, CE-approved lightweight body armor at elbows, shoulders, and back are good but not heavy enough to be uncomfortable. Pull-tab snaps allow easy installation of Heated Jacket Liner, which DSCN0263they also sent me, this thing is good for pre-sleep warming if ya’ dig my drift. It also has inside

  zipper pockets, a cargo pocket, cell phone pocket, and eyewear pocket with a lens wipe attached to a safety cord. The official list of features goes like this: Two zipper hand-warmer pockets. YKK® Finguard® front zipper with re-designed zipper pull. A removable kidney belt, action back, pre-curved sleeves with zipper cuffs, DSCN0264 snap waist tabs and snap-tab mandarin collar. 3M™ Scotchlite™ Reflective Material piping. Graphics on front and back, all with a 5-year warranty. At a retail price of $650 you might think that this is an expensive coat, but it’s actually a few coats in one. And let’s not even get into what the value is when you find yourself out on the road with no money for an extra night in a hotel and have to ride through the night over the Rockies…… Priceless!

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Men’s FXRG® Leather & Textile Overpant

 DSCN0270 These are waterproof leather combined with strategically placed stretch Cordura® for maximum comfort and reduced weight (12% lighter). I wonder how much these will perform like my last pants without the fabric sections, but time will tell. I know that shedding some weight off isn’t a bad thing cause as good as the old ones worked, they were heavy as hell. The pants also sport the CoolMax®  lining. Wind- and waterproof c_change™ membrane technology from Schoeller®. They have Angled thigh vents, which my old ones did not so I’m waiting to see how that works. Finally, the list of impressive features for the pants goes like this: Removable, CE-approved lightweight body armor at knees and back hip. Stretch Cordura® inner thigh and back knee panels for comfort. Pre-curved knee  panels. Front zipper with adjustable waist. Zipper leg openings with gussets. Zipper waist attaches to all men’s FXRG® Jackets. Two front jean-style pockets. 3M™ Scotchlite™ DSCN0271 Reflective Material piping. Graphics down right thigh and on back waist. Available in 32” and 34” inseams. All with a 5-year warranty. MSRP on the pants comes in at $425 but like I said above, no price can be put on comfort if weather ruins the ride of a lifetime.

FXRG®-3 Boots

 DSCN0273 Anyone that has seen me out on the road knows that when I’m not wearing my Vans sneakers, I have a ratty old pair of leather boots on. What they don’t know is that those boots have been with me for some 100,000 miles and  although they look like hell on the outside, mainly due to my lack of proper care, they are the best riding footware I have ever had. Well, that was generation 2 of the FXRG Boot. Now in generation three, the boot is constructed with  full grain oiled leather upper with Cordura® breathable underlays. It has a Breathable Gore-Tex® membrane DSCN0274 waterproof lining, Shock Absorbers Twin Pad™ Comfort Technology and removable dual-density polyurethane sock footbed. They have a lightweight, flexible polyurethane midsole with rubber street side making it easy to ride with your foot in any position. Coming in at a retail of $210.00 there not a bad price when compared to a Rocky of the same quality, and these things do perform at that level.

 

Men’s Ride Ready Packable Rain Suit

  Having the FXRG suit along is gonna be a great advantage but nothing replaces the ability to quickly get out of the rain, or in our case to get quickly out into the rain. Harley-Davidson MotorClothes has also thought of this for me and has sent along a rain suit made of waterproof nylon with full mesh lining. It has a zipper front with storm flap, adjustable elastic cuffs and a removable helmet-friendly  hood. The official list of features: Two welded, waterproof hand-warmer pockets. 3M™ DSCN0281 Scotchlite™ Reflective Material piping and panel across the back. Printed graphics on back, chest and sleeves. Pants feature elastic waist, stirrups, and articulated knees. Heat-resistant shields on inner leg. Adjustable leg openings with gussets to fit boots. Reflective piping down legs and printed graphic at lower leg.  Includes storage bag. Bottom line is that this is a nice big, quick easy on and off rain suit with protector lining wear the pipe side of DSCN0282 the bikes is. It all packs into a nice little space of about eight inches by eight inches at only an inch tall. At an  MSRP of $139.00 it’s a little more than the average rain suit but I feel that it has the features to warrant that price.

DSCN0284 Good luck to all the Hoka Hey Warriors, see you in Alaska; first, last, or in  the middle, God willing, all safe and spiritually fulfilled.

 

 

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