Harley-Davidson Reflective Rain Suit: Baptized by Ice Before It Ever Saw Europe

Post by Iron Trader News Web / Photographer, Jack McIntyre

This wasn’t supposed to be the first review.

The plan was simple: wait until May, cross the Atlantic, and let the Harley-Davidson Reflective Rain Suit earn its keep somewhere between Paris and the backroads of France. But Mother Nature had other ideas. Instead of French drizzle, she dumped snow, ice, and freezing rain straight onto the Philadelphia area—exactly the kind of conditions that expose weak gear fast.

So before this suit ever smells European pavement, it got baptized in sleet.

Why This Suit Came Into the Picture

In May, my riding partner and I are meeting up with Iron Trader News European reporter Hervé Rebollo—known to many of you from his Across the Pond column. From there, we’ll be logging serious miles across France, rain or shine. Hervé will be on his Harley, I’ll be renting from Harley-Davidson Borie, and both of us will be riding wherever the road points that day.

When Harley-Davidson asked what we needed for the trip, my answer was immediate: real rain suits. Not fashion gear. Not “water-resistant.” Something that could handle long days, unpredictable forecasts, and bad decisions made miles from shelter.

A few weeks later, the reflective rain suits showed up.

Then the storm hit.

Trial by Weather

Snow. Ice. Freezing rain. The kind of weather that soaks you, chills you, and makes you question why you ever left the couch. Unfortunately, property still needs tending, and excuses don’t move snow.

So on went the Harley-Davidson rain suit.

Bottom line: it turned a miserable job into a manageable one.

Water stayed out. Wind was cut down hard. Movement stayed easy. No leaks, no swampy buildup inside, and no cheap “trash bag” feel. I stayed dry enough that I stopped thinking about the weather—and that’s the real test of any gear.

Built for Being Seen, Not Just Staying Dry

Hervé drilled one thing into my head early: visibility matters. European roads don’t forgive riders who disappear in rain and fog.

This suit gets that.

The reflective material lights you up without looking like a construction cone. It’s smart, aggressive, and functional. Add in Harley’s attention to real-world details, and you’ve got a piece of gear meant to be ridden in—not posed in.

Standout features include:

• Heavy-duty waterproof construction that actually holds up

• Breathable design that won’t cook you from the inside out

• High-impact reflective panels for low-light and bad-weather riding

• Fold-under hood that doesn’t flap or get in the way

• Cord-and-toggle collar that seals things up when the weather turns ugly

• Usable pockets—because riders carry more than just hope

Road-Ready Verdict

If this rain suit can take a beating from a Pennsylvania snow and ice storm, I have zero doubt it’ll handle whatever France throws at us. This is gear meant for riders who don’t cancel trips because the forecast looks ugly.

Come May, it’ll be about dry miles, long roads, and not worrying about what’s falling out of the sky. Harley-Davidson delivered exactly what was asked for.

Sometimes the best reviews happen before the trip even starts.

Gear Links

• Men’s Reflective Rain Suit
  https://www.harley-davidson.com/us/en/shop/full-speed-reflective-rainsuit/p/98336-15VM

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• Women’s Reflective Waterproof Rain Suit
  https://www.harley-davidson.com/us/en/shop/womens-reflective-waterproof-rain-suit/p/98154-21VW

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• Rain Gaiter Lug Sole
  https://www.harley-davidson.com/us/en/shop/rain-gaiter-lug-sole/p/98156-21VX

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To conclude this until the end of May, so far I love this product. My wife & I hopefully will be riding in nothing but sunshine, but if things change quickly, we will be ready for any weather mother nature throws our way.

Jack McIntyre