I have worn Draggin' Jeans for years. They look like regular jeans (not baggy like many Kevlar lined jeans). I highly recommend them.

I have been riding since 1969 and just passed 50,000 miles on my current bike. My normal summer riding outfit was a t-shirt and a denim vest (for the pockets) or just a "mechanic shirt" as shown in my profile picture. But last summer as I headed west on a tour in t-shirt and denim, my brand new rear tire picked up a screw and blew out at 75 mph. I wasn't badly hurt all things considered--broken scapula (shoulder blade) and 3 broken ribs--and, because I got the bike to the shoulder before it threw me I had zero road rash.

Nevertheless, I decided to "upgrade" my summer riding outfit and bought this jacket, which is exceptionally cheap for an H-D branded product) and the CE armor for shoulders and elbows.



I wore it for the first time when I was riding in Texas earlier this month. The temps were in the low 90's and I was comfortable. I think it may actually be cooler than riding with exposed skin. The air blows straight through it.

At 62 years old, I stopped caring about what other people think decades ago. But if any internet tough guy wants to make fun of me, here you go (nobody does it to my face at 6'2", 230 and a dozen years as a martial arts tournament fighter )--This is me, in the outfit I described, on River Road, along the Guadalupe River north of San Antonio. Again, temps were in the low 90s that day. (And yes, my wife and I wore helmets in that non-helmet state.)



By the way, none of the dealerships near me stocked this jacket (too inexpensive I guess) so I ordered it from H-D online. They have a no cost return policy if you don't like it or it doesn't fit. The dealer told me that if I ordered it through them, it was a "special order" and no return or exchange would be allowed. So it was better done through the H-D website anyway. It was a fast and efficient process.

 

Good idea for anyone.

 

Wear what makes you happy. Me, Full face, armored leather jacket, etc... As stated, who cares what your friends think. Frankly, too much SOA.... Respect, who cares. Just dont ride like a dick and thats all the respect you need.

 

The funny part about all this is that, really, the only guys who don't "get respect" are the guys who are obviously trying too hard to get it.

Just be yourself. Wear what makes you comfortable...both in terms of heat management and crash protection.

If that means you end up looking like a character from a bad, 70's "biker" movie, so be it. If that means you end up looking like one of the Power Rangers, so be it.

Wherever you end up, own it.

 

I wear real riding boots...as in buckles and armor, an armored jacket and a full face helmet at a minimum.


When traveling I often wear a full Kevlar mesh suit. I can wear skivvies and a t-shirt and it is super cool and comfortable in hot weather. I wear this jacket in the warmer weather here as well but admittedly not the bottoms when I am riding around town or to my office.

 

According to my MSF Instructor, the rule is don't cover/protect anything you're willing to lose. In other words, it is up to you, the rider, to determine how much you want to keep and keep protected. I wear a full face modular helmet, hi vis vented/armor jacket, heavy duty non slip boots, blue jeans and gloves all the time. I have yet to find a good pair of riding pants/jeans that fit properly, otherwise I'd wear the lined/protected ones, too. I live in Alabama and understand the heat is a factor, but a little heat is acceptable vs losing my skin. If the weather is cooler, I wear my heavy leather jacket and chaps. I haven't had anyone give me any grief over it, but I'm a lady, so maybe they forgive me for it.

 

Exactly what I did. Went down to cycle gear and bought a Sedici mesh jacket and threw a back pad in there and walked out the door for about $150.

On Amazon I bought a Bell Qualifier helmet, a set of gloves, and jeans. May consider boots but for now, I'm maxed out on the budget so my Timberlands will have to do.

 

The HD community? It's as varied and diverse as any community can be. Sure, the generalization is that we're all a bunch of doo rag wearing pirates. And of course some folks go that route.

Personally, I won't wear a jacket without armor. I have a bunch of them for different conditions. Mesh, leather, waxed cotton, ballistic nylon, gortex.....they all serve a purpose and they all have armor in the shoulders, back, and elbows.

Gloves - always. I have as many different gloves as different jackets, for as many different uses. A good do it all glove is a short gauntlet deerskin glove like Fox Creek sells.

Pants - Same deal - I have mesh, cold weather, and Bohn under armor for when I wear jeans. Jeans are pretty much worthless in a fall, so I plan on upping my game to some kevlar jeans over the Bohn armor.

Helmets - you guessed it - a bunch of different ones.

In the end, you show up in a nice leather jacket with armor, Kevlar jeans with knee pads, gloves, and whatever helmet you like, you won't raise any eyebrows at all, not that it should matter. But no one likes to stick out - especially when you're new to something.

 

Here in Florida we wear tank tops, gym shorts, and flip flops.

Except at the bike rallies, then we wear pirate outfits so we do not look out of place.

 

Safety first always!

I am much safer in the winter months than the summer. I wear less when it gets hot which is not a good thing.