My bricks and mortar retail shopping experience.

I do often buy small items online but I’d been thinking of getting a pair of waterproof riding trousers. After discussing the issue with Tim SG on a recent trip settled on a pair of RST Pro series textile trousers..

I had tried my regular HD dealer when getting the bike serviced but they don’t stock much non Harley related clothing ATM.

Today the missus convinced me to head into the HD store in the city as the weather wasn’t looking too flash for an upcoming ride.

I found the style of trousers on the racks at the same price I had seen them for online and was expecting to pay. 

The only thing was, I initially couldn’t find a size XL (waist 36inch), a fairly common size I would have thought. They had L 2XL, 3XL etc. I spoke to a sales fellow who told me that whatever stock they had was on the hangers, they didn’t have any stock out the back, that they could order in the size I needed, that it would take about a week and I would need to make a 50% deposit.

I must have had a bemused expression on my face cause he asked what the problem was.

I told him I thought it was strange that I would have to pay a deposit to wait a week to get in a pair of common sized (but not available) popular styled trousers just to fill a gap in the stock. He blamed the store policy, Was I being unreasonable?

Anyway, we kept looking my wife the seasoned shopper found a pair of the right size on a different rack. I tried them on and they seemed the business.

I approached another salesman who couldn’t have been more helpful, gave plenty of advice on a range of waterproof clothing and he organised a small discount. (which made them less than the online price). 

My wife even sprang for a pair of Alpine Motorsafe ear plugs for me that were also a lot less than I had seen them online. 

I got to look around, touch and see other items and clothing, try them on, get advice and when I decided to buy them, get them immediately. 

I am confident that if anything adverse happens to the trousers or earplugs, that armed with my receipt, I will have a physical place to take myconcerns. So all in all a satisfying shopping experience at a local retail bricks and mortar HD dealer.

(reviews on both to follow at a later stage)

 

Well done mate . Nothing like trying sizes , I tried on heaps to make sure sizing was right . Irwin braces from a tool shop to keep the strides up .

Well done Steelo and plus one to the seasoned shopper.

In one story you have described the two extremes that are encountered by consumers in a bricks and mortar store.

If there were more employees like the second salesman, then parting with our money would be a more pleasant experience, and more would be parted with no doubt.

I reckon that it is great when you can spend time in the shop going through all of the racks checking out the merchandise.

The bonus is finding that bargain.

Try haggling with a computer, it just don't work.

A big plus being able to try gear on before buying. There seems to be such a variation in sizing in bike gear. Nice if you get good service but it's getting pretty rare and I dont put up with it too well any more. Mrs Graz refuses to go shopping with me anymore. Reckons I am a grumpy ol bastard but I am happy to pay a bit extra for good service. The biggest bit of bike gear yet (the new bike) is proof of that.

I'm hoping those waterproof trousers won't be needed Steelo, but your right the weather not looking too flash for the ride ??

Thanks Binnsy. So do I.

I tried out the trousers and earplugs today. Links to further information on products included

I took out the thermal padded liner from the RST trousers at $310 from Adelaide Harley Heaven and just left in the waterproof liner and knee protection in. They were heavy but super comfortable. I thought they might be a little long in the leg (I'm 5'10.5" but when I put the Rossi 811 boots on, all was good. The knee protection seemed to be also a little low until I got on the bike and they settled nicely over the knees. There's no belt per se but a couple of velcro tabs either side of the fly. They were able to make a very comfortable fit. The trousers do sit up a little higher on the back and waist than jeans but this is good to keep the back warmer. I can see how a pair of braces (as suggested and recently modelled by Tim SG) would help but they would have to be under the shirt or over a tucked in T shirt. They are not a hip hugger style of trouser. It was fine but cold today. I went for a run up through the hills to Balhannah and onto the freeway for a quick run to Callington and back (along the South eastern Freeway). The trousers were nice and warm and no cool air was getting in anywhere. There is a little zipped air vent area on the top of the thigh but no air was getting in there either. Surprisingly, I was coldest in the hands and upper body with the gloves and leather jacket but not enough so I didn't enjoy the ride.

I fitted the yellow or highest level protection inserts into the Alpine Motosafe earplugs $45 from Adelaide Harley Heaven which come in a little padded case with a neck strap and inserted them. There is a spare plug in case you lose one. My ear canals go upwards and I couldn't work out why I never seemed to be able to fit plugs properly. Anyway I dampened them under water and put them in. They were quite firm fitting and pushed in OK but if you have ever tried solid or silicone earplugs, they will always feel a little uncomfortable and I can't say they got better anytime on the ride. The noise in the house and exhaust note reduced immediately

I headed off and I was quite frankly still expecting to hear the roar of the air rushing in through the helmet like I normally do even with expanding plugs and every other type of plug I've tried. They were however very quiet and I could still hear the music in my ears coming from the headset without the wind noise. Hooray!!

I swapped out the yellow inserts with the green ones for the trip home but they weren't as good for cutting down the wind noise. The stereo was louder and clearer though. It wasn't an uncomfortable level of wind noise but it was a trade off. I put the yellow inserts back in and the noise was reduced again.

There is a little plastic inserter which I couldn't get around to use when putting in the plugs. They insert OK by hand. It's getting them out which was a difficulty. Once the plugs are in, there is not much to grab hold of especially when your ear canals face upwards the little handles push firmly against the inside of the ear and are hard to grab. I don't recommend cutting the little stem like they show in the instructions.

As there is a spare earplug for each set, If you wanted to save some money, you could always buy 2 sets and have a third spare pair for a friend or passenger. They would only have the green inserts though.

There is room in the padded container to put an emergency set of plugs (the yellow ones I got at ABW for $3) so I will give them a try soon and report. It was only when I found I could put those in my ears that I decided to get the Motosafe plugs. I'll keep you updated.

Safe riding.

Yes Pauly. Harry high pants is a site. Steelo joining the club.

A barmaid in Victoria once commented on my waders .........