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  #1  
Old 10-29-2008, 08:40 PM
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Default Grueling test of equipment.

Well, as most of you regular posters here already know, I recently made two single day 925 mile runs from Louisiana to North Carolina and back. I have some thoughts on a few pieces of equipment that I used.

1. The Harley Davidson Sundowner two-up seat for Dyna's.

I sat on this seat for about 18 hours with about 6 or 7 gas stops as the only break each trip. My butt never needed a break. It didn't hurt one second of the trip. When I ended each trip, I felt like I could have kept going for as long as I wanted to on this seat. If you remember, I told about riding 2500 miles or so at the first of October on a rented 2009 Electraglide Classic with a stock seat. This trip I made in a 4 day increment with about 625 miles each day. That seat killed my butt. After about 250 miles each day I wanted to get off that bike and stay off. I was in pain like I havn't felt since my Mother wore my butt out for squashing blackberries between the pages of the hymn book at church. I can't believe that there was that much of a difference. I'll never get on a 2009 Touring stock seat again for more than a few miles.

2. The Harley Davidson Mud Dog rain suit.

I wore this rain suit for about 800 miles on the trip to North Carolina. It rained about 98% of the way. I did not have one leak. Notta. None. It kept everything it covered dry. Too bad this suit is no longer available from Harley. One bad thing, though. There is nomex on the inside of the legs to prevent burning nylon (or whatever it is) on the pipes of your bike when sitting on the bike. It works fine for that. The problem is when you get off to put gas in the bike. Then you stand next to the pipes and get closer to see where the gas is in the tank (at least I do) and there is no nomex on the outside of the suit pants. Sssst. It sounded like when you lick you finger and touch the iron to see if it is hot. I knew right away what it was. Now there is a hole in the seam that covered the flap over the zipper on the outside of the right leg of the rain suit. Nylon on the pipe you ask? Was. I made a shroud of heavy duty aluminum foil around the nylon spot and sprayed easy off oven cleaner on it after heating up the muffler. It wiped off with a wet rag and just a little elbow grease.

3. Harley Davidson Mud dog gauntlet gore-tex gloves.

I used these gloves on the aforementioned trip to North Carolina in the rain and they kept my hands dry and warm. The gauntlet covered the pneumonia holes at the ends of my sleeves on the rain suit and no wind blew into my jacket. I used them on the way home, also, even though it wasn't raining to keep the cold wind out of my sleeves and my hands and arms stayed warm because of them.

4. Harley Davidson balaclava.

It was a great piece of equipment at first. Soft and warm. No wind blowing on my chin and throat. Tucked into my jacket collar it kept wind out of the collar of my jacket. It kept my head warm under my helmet. Bad news though. They put a honkin' seam right down the middle of the hood portion of the garment. This pressed on my forehead and at my first gas stop I noticed pain on my forehead. When I took my helmet and the balaclava off, I saw there was a seam imprinted right down the middle of my forehead and it was painful. I looked like I had been put together by Dr. Frankenstein. When I got home I discovered the secret. (for you Brian) Turn it inside out and the seam pressed on the helmet and not my forehead. Kinda sucks, though.

5. Nelson Rigg waterproof luggage.

I have the tour bag and the little round bag that hooks to the top. After 17 hours in the rain, everything in the bags was dry as a bone when I unpacked in North Carolina. It mounts very solid to the bike with more than enough straps and has plenty of places to tie down things that dont have to stay dry.

6. Chippewa waterproof pullon boots.

Feet were dry as a bone. Buy 1/2 size larger as the size I usually wear is a little tight. I think they sized the boot and didn't account for the extra layer of waterproof lining.

7. Harley Nevada Leather Jacket.

Good jacket. Plenty of pockets and vents. Very comfortable. Not very warm. Well, at least not for near 40 degree weather at 70 mph. I had to layer and wish I had one fleece pullover to put under the jacket.

8. Underarmor

Great for undies. No sticky under wear or seams imprinted in your butt. Supposed to be coldgear, but, frankly, I've got warmer long underwear that I use to hunt in.
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Old 10-29-2008, 10:39 PM
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What a great review, Thanks Tbone.
I have the Harley rainsuit that packs up like a pancake. It also works great. I used it when riding to Myrtle beach last May. We rode through the mountains of West Virginia and ended up in 36 degree weather and it was sleet for a while. 400 miles of rain and the rain gear kept me dry. No problem.
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Old 10-29-2008, 11:25 PM
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Gear bought that was actually used and rated. Thanks for the reviews T-Bone.
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Old 10-30-2008, 05:39 PM
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Great use of forum space. Good to hear actual user reviews
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Old 11-08-2008, 12:38 AM
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Good review, Tbone. The seat especially interests me, as I'm having troubles in that department. A Mustang seat on my 85 Fat Bob is good for over 500 miles a day even if the bike isn't. I will agree with you on the stock Elecra Glide seat, uncomfortable in no time, even with a gel pad. I had good luck with Mustang so I tried one on the 07 Electra Glide and it was a slight improvement but not what I was hoping for by a long shot. So what's next, spending $500 bucks a crack,(no pun intended) to see what seat might feel good at the end of the day gets a guy poor in a hurry. I have that same pancake rainsuit that Street Bob has and it does work well, until I want to put it back into the pancake pouch, probably not the rainsuit's fault though, I'm thinking. Oh, and Tbone, that was some serious biking, good on ya.

Last edited by tommyglide; 11-08-2008 at 12:43 AM.
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Old 07-27-2009, 06:52 PM
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Talking Re: Grueling test of equipment.

(Quote:
Great for undies. No sticky under wear or seams imprinted in your butt. Supposed to be coldgear, but, frankly, I've got warmer long underwear that I use to hunt in.)



great review, except for this part!!!!!yuck! nobody wanted to hear about your sticky......


Wideglidebill

Last edited by wideglidebill; 07-27-2009 at 07:08 PM. Reason: Quote
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  #7  
Old 07-27-2009, 07:37 PM
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Default Re: Grueling test of equipment.

I calls 'em likes I sees 'em Wideglide.
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Old 07-27-2009, 07:50 PM
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Default Re: Grueling test of equipment.

Great review, written like a pro!
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  #9  
Old 07-27-2009, 10:53 PM
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Default Re: Grueling test of equipment.

Quote:
Originally Posted by tejasandre View Post
Great review, written like a pro!
Thanks, Tejas.

I appreciate the compliment. Especially coming from a resident of the state where everything is bigger and better.
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