[Guest]

Your riding comfort is directly related to your safety. Now we are in the time of year in most places when temps and precipitation can change quickly. There is NO EXCUSE for you to be unprepared, uncomfortable and therefore LESS SAFE. Take a look again at what you spent on the purchase of your bike -- have you invested a commensurate/relative amount on your gear? Here is what I learned about some gear I tested a few weeks ago:

WX = 38 degrees air temp; steady cold rain
DISTANCE = 130 miles
AVG SPEED = 50
ROADS = Well paved, divided
TRAFFIC = moderate to heavy, lots of road spray

GEAR =

A+ BMW Streetguard2 Jacket = heavy gauge goretex, very well sealed, superb neck closures

A+ AEROSTICH Darien Light Pants = excellent as usual from Aerostich. Perfectly suited for wet weather riding

A+ North Face "Windstopper" Neck Gaiter = want a dry & warm neck?

D- Aerostich Combat Touring Boots = most disappointing for such a widely touted boot - my feet got soaked to the point where I could wring out water from my heavy socks. LESSON LEARNED: Nothing beats a goretex & thinsulate boot. Next test, DANNER Ft. Lewis 600g

C NEW Gerbing Gloves = The new version is advertised as better waterproof. Indeed my hands stayed dry but the outside leather got drenched. And this NEW version does not get as warm as the previous.

A+ Gerbing Jacket & Pants = love 'em.

A+ Shoei Light Amber Face Shield = Really nice vision enhancement for rainy/cloudy days.

Check your gear, replace old stuff, stay warm & dry and you will be SAFER than a wet, cold rider!!!! BTSOOM

 

[sojourner]

Safety Courses

Just curious how many have taken motorcycle safety courses. Im not if sure similar opportunities exit in most/all states or not but in Washington you can take both beginning and advanced safety classes. If you pass the advanced course you do not need to take the diver's test. In addition to this benefit everything from riding in the rain, appropriate gear, riding in heavy traffic and pretty much anything else related to motorcycle safety is discussed. If a particular topic it is not part of the course someone is bound to bring it up. I like to take the advanced course every few years just to brush up and it is kind of fun.

 

[JacktheBagger]

First off sojourner , dont take this as a flame , not my intent , just my bullheaded belief ..

Here to have a motorsickle license , you have to be 14 .. Well when I got mine , it was that age , think it still is ..

There was/is a BHP/displacement restriction at 14 and 15 , but back then ( late 60's ) , it wasnt enforced .. We only took the written test .. No road test was required ..

I have had the motorsickle endorsement on my license ever since ..

Here you can take the beginner thru advaced MSF courses .. Have I taken one ?? NO

Will I take one ?? NO

I'm not saying I cant learn new tricks , but I have several friends who are motor cop instructors , and they say what I believe about riding , shooting firearms and many other hobbies ..

The hardest person to teach something , is one who has been doing it a long time .. Can they be taught ?? Sure , just takes longer , too many "habits" that are ingrained , some are good , some are not ..

Keep saying one day I will get the RLAP videos , but haven't yet ..

My problem with the MSF courses , beyond the beginner riding courses is , I think it's just become another PC thing to do , and I aint PC ..

That said , I almost became a MSF instructor once ..

In the end , there are some areas I cud improve on , I dont doubt that ..

My solution is to make the bike as safe as possible with handling improvements , and riding enuff to become one with the bike , one of the things the cops teach by the way ..

I ride as tho' everyone is out to get me ..

Me and stoopid got over each other loonnngg ago ..

 

[sojourner]

Hi BaggerDriver. I too have been riding since about the age of 14. My first bike was a Honda 65. I put knobbies on that thing and abused it mercilessly. It took it for a couple of years before the gears starting going out one by one. I certainly believe those early riding years helped me to be a more effective rider. That having been said I never cease to be amazed at how many riders don't know about counter steering, and favor the back brake over the front to name just a couple of examples. I suspect most people who suscribe to boards such as this are above average in knowledge, but your average rider out there often lacks some fundamental skills in my experience. Beyond this I find value in refreshing my skills. I often learn as much or more through interacting with the other riders in the advanced course. And again, I enjoy getting together with other riders and this is one more excuse to do so. Sounds like you have learned alot from the pros too. Motorcycle officiers go through some pretty intensive training as you know. All I am saying is the safety courses are one way to stay sharp.

 

[BaggerFLTR]

I don't know....

..... maybe I'm missing something, but I take every oportunity I can get to learn something. Remember LMET school? A good idea, is a good idea, and it doesn't matter where it came from.
I've been riding since I was 12, I have a line of bikes in the shop, I'll have to total the milage one day, but it's over a million, and I still try and learn something from any source I can.
Besides, when your memory is as bad as mine, a reminder is a good thing!!!!
Cheers.

Bag

 

[JacktheBagger]

Hehe what YOU know about LMET school ??

went thru one of the first ones they did ..

It was good

I think SW was a joke tho'

 

[andrrewdamien]

In every weather it is very important that how you care your vehicle. There are so many things you have to keep in your mind while thinking about your vehicles safety. First of all you have to look around for its physical body security and also for maintaining inner parts equipments.

 

[jupiter]

LESSON LEARNED: Nothing beats a goretex & thinsulate boot. Next test, DANNER Ft. Lewis 600g

If I remember correctly Danner came out with the first Goretex boots back in the early 80's??

I just threw a pair away. Didn't know they were still in business.