Harley-Davidson MotorClothes® Motorcycle Gloves Buying Guide : New Harley davidson 2009

Harley-Davidson MotorClothes® Motorcycle Gloves Buying Guide
by Taylor Knight
It's hard to argue against the benefits of motorcycle gloves that protect your hands and are comfortable. Gloves are your best protection against road rash and flying debris aimed at your fingers. I have personally been saved from some serious rock and bug hits because I had my gloves on. Most riders I know have at least three pairs. One for warm days, a medium weight pair and a pair for those rainy, cold days.Motorcycle gloves are generally made up of leather, nylon or a combination of both. Some have hard polycarbonate shells over the knuckles and other high impact areas. Many styles and features are available.Which are the perfect gloves for you? This buying guide will help you make sense of the choices available in the Harley-Davidson MotorClothes® line. That way you can be aware of the options and make a better decision based on the available features, your riding conditions and personal preference.Glove Design and FitErgonomic Thumb - Extra material sewn into the thumb area where it meets the rest of your hand to allow more freedom of movement. Sometimes called an articulated thumb.Power Stretch - A flexible fabric or accordion looking design generally used across the backs of the knuckles. It stretches as your hands grab the controls and returns to it's original shape when you flatten out your hand. This provides greater flexibility and less bunching.Wrist Closure/Adjustment - Helps you get a customized fit from your gloves. There are several kinds. The most common is a Velcro® like hook and loop closure. It's easy to use and helps you get a better fit from your gloves. Zippers and elastic are also used for closures.Gauntlet - Extra material that extends the length of the glove over the wrist. Designed to stop the wind (and bugs) from going up your sleeves when you ride. Some gauntlets also have a draw cord around the end that provides an additional way to seal out the wind and rain.Padded Palm - Extra material or pockets of gel (Gel Padded Palm) on the palm to provide comfort and reduce vibration.Perforated - Small holes in the material to increase airflow on those warm days.Polycarbonate Shell - Molded polycarbonate around the knuckles on the back of your hand and/or fingers. Offers superior protection from road rash and flying objects.Pre-curved Fingers - Provides less bunching around the inside of your fingers as you grip the controls, making for a more natural and comfortable fit.Glove Materials and FunctionGore-Tex® Liner - A lightweight, waterproof and breathable liner inside of the glove that keeps water out but still allows sweat to escape keeping you dry and comfortable.Thermolite® Insulation - Warmth without weight. Thermolite® insulation provides warmth even when wet. It's an extremely lightweight fabric made with hollow-core fibers. This fabric also wicks away moisture from your skin and transfers it to the outer layer of fabric where it can evaporate more quickly. It's comfortable, flexible and dries fast.Waterproof - It's a common misconception that all gloves labeled "waterproof" are actually waterproof on all layers. It's simply not true. Many gloves have a liner that's waterproof but the outer layer is not. This is most common with leather gloves. The outer leather can get wet and soak up water but your hands stay dry because of an inner liner such as Gore-Tex®. You can improve your gloves outer layer performance by treating them with a waterproofing product made for your type of gloves on a regular basis.Windproof - A lightweight, stretchable membrane called Windtex® is incorporated into the glove. This membrane has a superior ability to repel wind which keeps your hands warmer when you are on the road.Buying OnlineYou may not have a store near you or prefer the convenience of shopping online. When you purchase gloves online, or any accessory or clothing for that matter, it's VERY important to buy from a reputable dealer. That way you can exchange them for a different size or style without a hassle in case you decide that they won't work for you. You don't want to get stuck with gloves you can't use!Measuring Your Hand - What Glove Size Are You?Ever see those darn manufacturer sizing charts for gloves? How do you measure that anyway? They are talking about hand circumference.Hold your hand out and keep your fingers together and straight. DO NOT include your thumb in this measurement. Wrap a cloth measuring tape around the largest part of your hand above where your thumb attaches to your hand. It's most likely just below your knuckles.If you don't have a measuring tape you can use just about anything flexible - a strip of paper or a string and mark it when it's around your hand so you can lay it flat next to a ruler and measure that way. Take several measurements. They will vary slightly depending on how flat your hand is at the time. Use the largest one. If you are between sizes according to the manufacturers size chart always go up to the larger size.The Perfect Glove FitI learned a little trick awhile back when I was buying gloves for the first time and thought I would pass it on. When you try on a pair of gloves they should seem a little bit long in the fingers. The reason they are will become clear as soon as you grip the controls of your bike. It seems that the action of gripping the controls forces the gloves back on to your hand more and the finger length is just perfect. So keep that in mind when trying on gloves. Don't get gloves that fit perfectly when your hands are flat. As soon as you grip your controls they will seem tight.Have Fun RidingWhichever gloves you choose, remember that motorcycle gloves should fit well, be comfortable and, of course, stylish. When your hands are too cold, hot or the gloves fit poorly, at best it can be an unwelcome distraction. At worst it can be a safety issue.If you have any questions about any Harley-Davidson MotorClothes® please let me know.See you on the road and ride safe!