Men’s Sully 3-in-1 Convertible Mesh Jacket
Harley-Davidson
P/N 98176-17VM $265-$290
harley-davidson.com
Reviewed by Robert Filla
At the start of my initiation into riding, my friends and I pressed a variety of wardrobe pieces into service. And while the standard military field jacket fell within our budgets, it was a minimal solution. The Holy Grail for all riders of course was an actual leather jacket. And while I now have several leather jackets in my closet, during recent years the proliferation of textile riding garments has caused me to cast a curious eye toward this polyester lineup. And the Men’s Sully 3-in-1 Convertible Mesh Jacket by Harley appears to be one of the most versatile products offered to date.
The Sully uses a variety of mixed media materials including 100-percent nylon body and sleeves. Side panels and undersleeves are made from a 100-percent polyester dobby mesh allowing for great airflow during warm weather. The jacket’s interior is lined with another layer of polyester mesh while the sleeves feature a perforated polyester taffeta lining making for easy donning and increased cooling. The back waist, elbows and shoulders are lightly padded and there are body armor pockets at both the shoulders and elbows (body armor sold separately). An action back and side waist zippers add additional comfort. The pre-curved sleeves feature snap tabs at the forearm and bicep for a customized fit. And from there it gets interesting—the sleeves are removable.
I wasn’t looking for a vest when I discovered the Sully; didn’t think I needed one. But once I unzipped the arms and went for a spin, I instantly realized this was a jacket that would see a lot of action in my riding future. Since the Sully has a total of five pockets (two outer zippered waist pockets, one horizontal interior and two vertical interior zippered pockets, one featuring a media port), the vest alone can carry a large amount of items for those days when I don’t feel like throwing a set of saddlebags across the rear fender. And since it is lightweight and fully ventilated, it remains comfortable even on warmer days.
But those thoughtful folks at MotorClothes knew there would be mornings with a bit of nip in the air and tossed in a removable, windproof, black polyester fleece full-sleeve hoodie. I thought the insert cuffs with thumbholes were just a novelty at first but later found out this feature was quite functional. Plus the hoodie can also be worn separately for those chilly evenings around the campfire. Just be certain to pay attention when you remove it for the first time. It has multiple attachment points (both zippered and snapped loops) which all need to be connected for everything to work smoothly.
The Sully Convertible is a handsome piece of equipment, maintaining a contemporary styling with a classic, non-garish appeal. The 3M Scotchlite Reflective Material piping is moderate, blending well with the contrasting orange stitching on the shoulders and elbows. What The Motor Company refers to as “dirty” embroidered patches are on the right shoulder and left chest while a “dirty” embroidered graphic spelling out Harley-Davidson is on the back across the shoulders. A short, standup collar with a snap keeps things simple around the neck.
The drawbacks of the Sully are few; a fully ventilated jacket for the warm season with a removable hoodie for cooler times, it is a great alternative to packing around a bulky leather jacket and makes perfect sense for a majority of the riding season. And coming in at only $265 for small–XL ($290 for sizes up to 5XL and Tall sizes), that’s a lot of jacket, and versatility, for the price.
nice…looks well made and offers some excellent use options