Harley has introduced its new 2012 lineup of motorcycles, and despite the hype wrapped around new motorcycles, I have some concerns.
The new touring class bikes, among a few others, will come standard with 103 cubic inch (1688cc) engines. They promote this engine as having more power and will cruise at lower rpm. What they also don’t say but another on-line article says that these engines will be water-cooled (for the first time) which means that they will have a small radiator.
I thought that the larger engine and radiator would mean that the new bikes would be heavier. So I did some sluething, comparing specifications of the 2012 Road King (812 pounds on-the-road weight) with my 2008 RK (775 pounds on-the-road weight). 37 pounds heavier. Hmmm…
Will 37 pounds make that much of a difference? Well… it could.
One of the first things that I noticed on my 2008 Road King when I brought it home was how much harder it was for me to handle — not while riding, but while trying to park it or even move it around in my garage. Its weight and physical size makes it a bear to move when it is not running. I worry that the newer, bigger engines (and radiator) will make the new bikes beyond my ability to handle.
Frankly, I had no trouble achieving cruising speed on my old Dyna Low Rider, which had an 88 cubic inch (1422cc) engine (and no radiator). That bike was sooooo much easier to handle when it was not running. Its on-the-road weight was 630 pounds — 145 pounds lighter than my current Harley. (Of course, it was a cruiser, not a touring bike, and that is a huge difference. I know that I am comparing apples and oranges.) However, my partner and I rode two-up on that Low Rider regularly and we rode cross-country three times (with a week’s worth of clothing packed aboard!) The bike did fine; a larger engine wasn’t needed (in my opinion.)
While I have no intentions of getting a new Harley any time soon — I’m happy with my 2008 Road King, and want to get the investment out of it that I put into it to make it fit me comfortably — when it comes time to consider a new bike, I’m not so sure I would get another touring-class Harley.
And who knows, by the time I get around to considering my options about another motorcycle, one of these things will happen: 1) I may consider another type of motorcycle, more suitable for how I will use it (which is pretty much just riding around where I live, not going on long trips), or 2) not get another motorcycle at all. As I age, I find that my riding skills are slowly getting worse, such as slower reaction time and fear of riding in the dark because I can’t see as well.
I am not ready to give up riding yet — but I am open to ideas of downsizing to a bike that I can manage more easily. I had dreams of touring which, unfortunately, cannot be met. I can’t ride more than 250 miles/day due to my chronic health condition, and my partner cannot ride as a passenger with me. I miss him so much, I find there are times that I choose not to go for a ride because I want to spend time with him.
uggh… listen-up Harley: not all of us want bigger, heavier, bikes. As we age, those things are harder and harder to handle. And no, I’m not ready for the ultimate “geezer-glide”: a trike.
Stay tuned….
Life is short: evaluate your options and know your limits, too.
I see fairly frequent internet searches that direct visitors to this blog and my website asking, “can you wear cowboy boots with a suit?” I have blogged about this before.
The answer is, of course you “can” — as in, yes it is possible — but the real question is, do you want to? So many men worry about what other people think about what they wear on their feet. Men who are mature, confident, and enjoy boots wear them with suits regularly. While I rarely wear a suit, cowboy boots are my choice of footwear when I have to dress up.
My twin brother was born in a suit. Well, almost. But he has always enjoyed dressing up and his profession required that he wear a suit almost every day. Thankfully (from my perspective), he got the suit genes and I got the jeans genes. I am much more comfortable in blue jeans than a suit. In my profession, I do not have to dress up, and appreciate that. I think I’d die if I had to wear a suit every day.
But I digress… I had the pleasure of attending a formal reception in honor of my brother as he was retiring. He knew that he could get me to wear a suit, but the footwear always would be boots — I wore boots with a tux when I was Best Man for his wedding, and have worn boots at other formal occasions over the years, including receptions at the White House and various foreign embassies in Washington, D.C.
He and his wife are staying with me this month. Their home is in Europe, but they are here for him to go through the shenanigans of his retirement, and then spend significant time visiting family and friends in the area where we grew up (where I live.)
My brother bought me a pair of very nice black Lucchese Classic goatskin cowboy boots as a gift to thank me for hosting him, as well as for an early birthday present. He didn’t have to do that, but the boots are very much appreciated. They are comfortable, very good-looking, solid boots. I wore them at his retirement reception, and met and spoke with very high-ranking officials who came to present my brother an award and to wish him well.
There were hundreds of people there, and all the men wore suits. I am happy to say that I was not the only man in boots — there was another senior statesman in boots, too (that looked like my new boots — classy black dress cowboy boots).
No one said anything about what I had on my feet. No one. Honestly, nobody cares. All the fashion advisers who have tantrums about men wearing boots with a suit or formal wear should review their narrow thinking, because good-looking boots can look good on a confident man in a suit.
‘nuf said. Bro’, thanks for the boots; they’re great.
My twin brother, J, has been in town since 30 July, and he is staying with my partner and me in our home. It is great having him around again. All week this past week, though, he has been involved in a lot of meetings leading up to his official retirement, which was yesterday.
My partner and I were invited to attend a reception in his honor at his place of work yesterday afternoon. We knew this was going to be very special, so one of our sisters arranged a surprise for him. You see, he told his wife that he would be busy all week and that she should not plan to travel from their home in France and arrive in DC until tomorrow (Sunday), since he wouldn’t have time to spend with her during his last week of work. She bought a non-refundable air ticket that would bring her to DC on Sunday, 7 August.
Then we found out two weeks ago that his boss was going to have this reception, and a very, very special guest was going to attend it. Alas, my sister-in-law found that the cost to change her airline ticket would have been more than 500 Euro — waaaayyy too much.
However, one of our sisters arranges travel for VIP travelers in the same place where my brother works. She made some inquiries and pulled some strings, and arranged for my sister-in-law to travel on Thursday. Keeping her early visit a surprise was hard to do — but I kept my brother distracted on Thursday (so he wouldn’t phone his wife) and our sister picked up his wife at the airport and had her stay in her home that night.
Back to the reception — it was quite an affair. Several hundred people attended, which didn’t surprise me but I think my brother was in shock. We were mixing and mingling, then his boss got everyone’s attention. The boss said the usual pleasantries, then said, “and to present your award and official retirement certificate, we have some special guests. First, let’s ask someone special to you to be with you as you receive it…”
…then my sister-in-law stepped out from behind a curtain. My brother rushed to her, hugged her tightly, and I could tell that he was asking, “how did you get here? When did you arrive? Who arranged this?” … while I didn’t hear exactly what he said, my “twin thing” was communicating 100% of his feelings through me. I tell ‘ya, tears began to well up.
But the boss wasn’t done. He continued, “now let’s have our special guest make the official presentation….” and out walked one of the highest ranking officials in the entire U.S. Government. I can’t say who it was or the title, because I don’t want to attract media attention to this blog. But let me confirm, that person is impressive!
My brother went into shock. His jaw dropped to the floor (almost) and I could tell that he was shaking. Seriously nervous. The official was gracious, kind, and thoughtful. The official gave a very heartwarming speech and congratulated my brother on his 32 years of service to our country.
The room burst into applause. Then my brother was asked to speak. He stood before the group at the microphone and I could tell that he was struggling. He was still shaking. He looked at me, and I smiled warmly at him and gave him a hand signal which between us means, “go for it”.
He composed himself, and said, “my brother should be giving this speech. He’s the public speaker in the family and we never could shut him up.” That crack lightened the mood and caused everyone to laugh. My brother thanked everyone very graciously. Then he called me, my partner, and my five siblings who were there to join his wife at the front of the room, and gave an impassioned thanks to us for our support.
It was then that both he and I broke into tears. But good tears.
Now my brother turns the page on a new chapter in his life. His wife, me, and our wonderful family will be by his side, always.
Life is short: show those you love that you love them.
P.S.: I was wearing a suit (yuck), silk tie (double-yuck), and a new pair of very dressy black Lucchese goatskin cowboy boots (yea!) that my brother bought for me for our birthday that is coming up. I’ll feature photos on my website and this blog at a later date.
I am not the only one who thinks that cowboy boots and shorts do not go together. I found this on a popular mainstream blog, linked from a Facebook friend. LOL!
If you wear shorts, then wear sneakers (and don’t ride a motorcycle). If you wear cowboy boots, then wear jeans or khakis or casual to dressy business clothes. Even a suit and boots go well together. But not shorts and cowboy boots! No no no no no!
More internet searches continue to come up with people entering the question, “do men wear pants inside boots?” or “tuck pants into boots?” or “do guys wear jeans inside boots?”
I really, really, I mean really wonder, why in the heck do so many people search that one question every day? For the past 30 days, over 200 people have search that question (or related) EVERY.SINGLE.DAY! They have been directed either to this blog or to my website from search results.
I am completely befuddled. Why do so many people ask that question? It’s like an obsession!
To save you the pain of clicking through this blog, I’ll address this issue once more:
1. In the United States, men who wear boots wear them with jeans or slacks or even business suits over their boots. Myself included. I wear boots every day, but only a few times, like when I am wearing breeches, do I choose to wear pants inside my boots. Breeches are made for that purpose — to have tall boots over them.
2. If pants (or breeches or leathers) are tucked into boots, it’s done with tall boots, like a cowboy’s buckaroo boots, or a biker’s tall engineer or harness boots. Civil War re-enactors and Renaissance Fair participants also show their tall boots with the clothes they are wearing, because that is how men wore their boots during the period they are recreating.
3. Most traditional cowboy boots and the majority of “biker boots” are short(er). Most cowboy boots are 12″ – 13″ tall. Many biker boots are 11″ to 12″ tall. One doesn’t have much boot to show, and pants tucked into shorter boots just doesn’t look right. So that’s why most men who wear boots wear them with pants over them, not tucked inside.
4. There are always exceptions — certain uniforms specify pants tucked into boots, like motorcycle police officers and military. Exceptions also extend to equestrian riders, doormen, and a few other professions.
That’s it. Ask the question, “do men wear pants inside boots?” — the answer is, “yes, sometimes… in the right setting with tall boots and the right clothing.”
As demonstrated by this brief exchange on Facebook, it’s evident that even motorcycle police officers like how their boots look.
There’s something about how the boots look with a uniform that attracts a lot of attention from many people — women and men, straight and gay, cops and non-cops alike.
I’m glad to have my thoughts about the boots confirmed in writing by a Motor Officer. (giggle).
‘nuf said.
Life is short: wear boots! (Police patrol boots or otherwise!)
I have been a motorcycle operator for more than 33 years. During that time, I have also acquired, tested, worn, and worn out many pairs of motorcycle boots.
The harness boot has a rugged, masculine design. It has harness straps wrapped around the instep and across the back of the heel, attached to brass or nickel rings on each side. The harness straps serve no other purpose but to add an interesting detail to what is otherwise a plain boot. The boots present a solid appearance. Many men like to wear harness boots — about equal to the bikers who choose to wear engineer boots. (And choosing to dismiss the kids on crotch-rockets who wear sneakers.)
I have many pairs of harness boots and choose to wear them frequently. This blog post presents my opinions about traditional 12″ (common height) harness boots made for bikers to wear while operating a motorcycle. (I should note that because I am talking about shorter harness boots, these boots are worn by bikers with jeans or pants over them, not tucked into them.)
By far, these boots present the best value-vs-quality of 12″ harness boots. They are fully leather-lined, yet the boots remain flexible and thus comfortable to wear all day long. The boots have Vibram 430 (“mini-lug”) soles, which provide good traction. They are made in the USA, and have many features that demonstrate quality construction. While not designed to be water-proof, they will resist water from rain or puddles quite well (I know from experience.)
I have worn Chippewa harness boots for a lot of years. They are durable, rugged, and look great, even after years of wear. The soles are stitched, so it is possible to have a cobbler replace them if you wear them out (unlike soles that are glued on which cannot be replaced.) I highly recommend these boots if you’re looking for a pair of good quality, durable, traditional motorcycle harness boots.
Boulet boots are made in Canada. The quality of manufacture is superb. The boots are leather lined, though the lining is a bit less thick than found on Chippewa harness boots. Therefore, these boots flex a bit more, but do not flop over. The boots have a typical and traditional nitrile oil- and acid-resistant sole, which provides moderate traction (not as good as a Vibram sole, but decent.)
One thing to note: apparently they specify measurements of boots differently in Canada than in the U.S. Boulet lists these boots as being 14″, but the height of the leather from the top of the heel (where it meets the sole) to the top of the boot is 12″. I guess they include the heel in their measurements. Also, the boots come in only “E” and “EEE” width. However, the Boulet “E” is equivalent to a US “D” with, and a Boulet “EEE” width is equivalent to a US “EE” width.
These are good boots and also present good value-vs-quality.
3. Wesco Harness Boots (Model: standard short [11″] harness boot. Wesco does not use stock numbers.)
The West Coast Shoe Company (“Wesco”) of Scappoose, Oregon, USA, has been making exceptional-quality boots for a long time. These boots are the most rugged of all boots that bikers may wear. They’re built like a tank, and will last forever. But because each pair of these boots is made by hand to high standards, the cost to buy them is the highest of all similar-designed and similar-height harness boots. A new pair of these boots costs US$475 from the manufacturer.
The boots are 11″ high (but can be made higher by custom order). The soles can be selected, but most bikers get Vibram 100 (big lug.) The leather is the thickest of all leather for boots I have ever seen. Even unlined, as my pair of these boots is, the boots do not flex very much. Due to the thick leather from which these boots are made, they are the heaviest of all in this category — they weigh twice as much as Chippewa or Boulet harness boots. Therefore, in my opinion, these boots are not as comfortable — because they don’t flex much and are so heavy. They have made my feet feel uncomfortably warm when I have worn them while riding on a hot day, so I reserve the times when I wear them for cooler weather.
While they say that these boots are not water-proof, I can attest that they are definitely water-resistant. I have walked through mud and streams in my Wescos and my feet have not gotten wet.
By far, these are the best harness boots on the market, but they also have their drawbacks due to their weight and less flexibility. If you are a typical biker who has one or two pairs of motorcycle boots, then I would rank Wesco boots lower on my list of recommendations due to the cost and that they can be uncomfortably warm and heavy on the feet. Don’t get me wrong — the boots are great, but they’re not as comfortable as Chippewa or Boulet harness boots.
4. Harley-Davidson (branded) harness boots (Various stock and model numbers, which change with whatever Chinese manufacturer that H-D has licensed to make boots using their name and logo.)
Okay, so you picked up on that — H-D boots are not made by the Harley-Davidson Motor Company. Think about it: Harley makes motorcycles; darn good motorcycles. They don’t make footwear, jackets, shirts, or helmets. The line of H-D “motorclothes” is farmed out to various third-party manufacturers to make these products on behalf of the Motor Company.
Because of that, boots with the H-D name are made by the cheapest sources that H-D can find — which these days is in China. The quality of the leather hides used to make the boots is poor. It is often blemished, thin in some spots and thick in others. The soles are rubber of some sort — don’t let the Harley “plug” in the sole make you think the soles are Vibram. They’re not. The boots are all machine-made, and often have soles that are glued on, not stitched (so the soles cannot be replaced.)
Note: Ad-tec, Guide Gear, and X-Element harness boots are made by the same company in China that makes H-D harness boots. Not recommended!
As you can tell, I do not recommend these boots. They present poor value-vs-quality. You are paying for the name, not quality. Don’t fall for that. If you’re looking for decent, typical biker’s harness boots, get yourself a pair of Chippewa or Boulet boots and you’ll be happy. Best yet, your feet will be happy.
The majority of guys with whom I ride motorcycles often choose to wear harness boots, though some could benefit from the information in this blog post (that is, the guys who bought H-D boots). I hope this post has given you information to make an informed decision.
And if that’s not enough, I created a video where I visually describe and demonstrate this information. The video is embedded below. Learn and enjoy.
Life is short: choose motorcycle harness boots well — and always wear boots and long pants while riding. Remember: boots for the bike; sneakers for the gym. Period (don’t be a Darwin Award Winner.)
Note: there are other manufacturers who make short harness boots, such as Durango, Red Wing, Double-H, Frye, and others. Believe it or not, I do not have them all. (For example, new Frye harness boots are way overpriced for the quality, even though they are U.S.-made. My 14″ vintage Frye harness boots of the ’70s do not compare with the cheap-o quality 12″ Frye harness boots made today.)
The opinions above are about boots that I actually own and wear. If you have shorter harness boots made by other manufacturers, please feel free to leave a comment with your opinion about them. Thanks.
The other day, I went to a strip shopping center to go to the drugstore to pick up a prescription for a senior pal. It was busy; I had to park quite a ways away from the drugstore. The walk to the store took me by a Starbucks.
Oh-my-gosh… all the men there had on shorts with the most ugly footwear ever made — mostly flip-flops, some upper-end sandals (that they buy for the name), and even crocs. On men! Blimey!
Two guys had on sneakers, but that was it…
I didn’t expect to see any guys in boots, and I guess in summer’s heat, what could I expect? And being SB’s typical clientele — more than half of them were fidgiting with hand-held gadgets, texting away. Oh, fiddle-faddle.
I tell ‘ya, it was u-g-l-y. When I left the drugstore, I took a longer, more circuitous route so I didn’t have to pass that place on my return to where I parked my Harley.
Blecchhh… I don’t like Starbucks anyway. Not being a coffee-drinker, they never appealed to me. Plus, I just can’t fathom paying US$5.00 for some sugary frothy latte-this or smoothie-that. Yuck.
My twin brother arrived last night from Europe. It’s great to have him home, and I look forward to spending a whole month with him as he works through his official retirement, having his wife join us in one week, and visiting family.
It is very hard to describe how a guy feels to have his soulmate since birth be back home, and having significant time to share together. Just having him around to speak with (in person) means the world to me. He’s smart, funny, and graceful. He keeps me thinking, and always reminds me how fortunate we are to be so close, as only twins can be.
Granted, I’m a lucky guy because my partner is my soulmate, too. I love him with every ounce of my essence. Through thick and thin, we are on a journey that is special because we make it that way — because we always do what’s best for the other, because we love each other deeply.
My brother and my partner are two different men, but together they keep me grounded. They know “the real me” and love me anyway 🙂 I am glad that they truly like each other, and enjoy the other’s company. They talk about things in which they share mutual interests (like sports and world finance) and I appreciate that they have their own special bond.
I will cherish the time we will share together through August. I will do everything I can to make my brother (and his wife) comfortable and happy during their visit. I am a very happy, content man — because my brother is with me physically, as well as in heart.
By the way, some people have asked me what he is saying when he signs his blog comments “ore e sempre.” That’s simple. That’s Italian for “now and always.” Yes, like how we love each other: now and always.
Life is short: show those you love them, each and every day.
I ride my Harley to work, and park it in a parking garage near my office. The parking garage has a designated area for motorcycle parking tucked into a corner where cars can’t fit. Best part about it, the parking there is free for motorcycles. (I worked to support legislation that assures free motorcycle parking in our county’s public parking garages).
I am the first to arrive each day, considering my early work hours. When I leave in the afternoon, I see four or five other bikes in the designated parking area.
On Thursday, when I was leaving, I found a printed note (with no name) left on the seat of my bike whining about how I parked and implying that others couldn’t park there. Heck, there was plenty of room on either side of me. Even I, among the most inept at walking his bike in and out of a parking stall, could have parked a clone of my big Harley next to my bike.
Seriously? Hmmm…
Let’s revert for a moment to Thursday morning upon my arrival. When I got there, another guy on a sport bike showed up a few minutes after I did, and tried to park next to me but couldn’t get his bike where he wanted to go, so he moved over and parked down a ways. Plenty of room. When he dismounted, I asked him, “is my bike in your way?” To that he said, “yeah” and then literally ran away. Like I am some big bad-ass Harley dude who’s going to pick a fight with him. Not me, but he wouldn’t even give me a chance. He ran away. How cowardly. He couldn’t even talk to me or have a reasonable conversation.
I think he was the anonymous whiny note-writer. I sense that he is among those who ride sport bikes who have opinions about those of us who ride Harleys. This belief that I have is grounded in the fact that I have complimented him several times on his bike’s paint job and styling. It’s interesting and attractive. Not once, however, has he said anything (good or bad) about my bike. And my bike ain’t so bad-lookin’!
He probably thinks that Harley owners have a low opinion of sport bike riders. Personally, I don’t like sport bikes because of the physical position it puts your body into while operating it — which to me, appears to be very uncomfortable (all hunched over.) I prefer to sit straight up.
I have no ill-will toward operators of sport bikes, though I notice that most sport bike riders do not dress appropriately and seldom wear long pants and motorcycle boots. And, unfortunately, the younger operators tend to be more likely to ride way above the speed limit and zig-zag around traffic (which gives all motorcyclists a bad rep)…but I digress.
Seriously, if you have a beef with someone, try talking to them about it and don’t leave a whiny anonymous note. Kiddy stuff.
Mr. Whiny McWhinersen (borrowed from another blogger who I follow): get a life. Really. If you have something to say, talk to me in person. If you don’t know who I am, you could leave a note and say, “call me on (number)” and leave your name. Don’t hide behind an anonymous note and leave it on the seat of my bike. ‘K?
