Reviewed by: Malc Wheeler for 10,000+ miles RRP: £807
This could be a very short feature. The Harley-Davidson FXRG textile two-piece is, without doubt, the finest all weather riding gear I have ever used. There I’ve said it.
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It arrived in 2008, along with the Harley-Davidson Electra Glide Ultra that was my long-term test bike that year. I’m normally a leather jacket man, weather permitting, but the arrival of the bike, and the suit, coincided with a very damp spring in Lincolnshire, so it was quickly pressed into service.
As you might have expected from the Motor Company the quality is first class, despite not being cosseted a quick wipe down with a damp cloth returns the clean look. What you might also expect from Harley-Davidson the quality reflects in the price, with the jacket costing, in 2008, £434 plus VAT and the trousers £373 plus VAT. But what you wouldn’t expect, perhaps, is how understated they are, with not a hint of orange to be seen.
The jacket has a removable lining, making it great for chilly rides, but with it removed, and the long front and rear vents open it’s also a perfect summer jacket. It’s also totally waterproof, not something you can claim for every all- weather suit. Its biggest test, perhaps, came on a magazine rideout to Cologne show one October, when it rained all the way there, oh, and all the way back!
As for the trousers, which incidentally fend off the elements just as well, it’s the thigh length zips that stand out, making it possible to get them on, and off, over even the largest pair of boots. And the under-boot stirrups stop them riding up while on the move. After 1000 miles, in every possible type of weather, every part of the FXRG suit still works, all the zips are intact, and it still keep water at bay. And being so understated I’ve got away with wearing them while testing several other manufacturers’ machines. If I had to cite one thing that I would change it would be the cuffs of the jacket, to which I would add an overlapping adjustable strap. And guess what, that’s just what Harley- Davidson has done on the latest version of the textile FXRG.
More info: www.harley-davidson.com
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