Moto
Motorcycles come and go. After the binge and purge of the last 18 months, I thought it might be time to start gathering info on what I have and have had. There are notes on what worked and what didn’t.
Buckets matter
Get a good helmet. It doesn’t have to be a racer wanna-be like the one I prefer. It has to fit. It has to be comfortable. If it isn’t comfortable, you won’t wear it. Right?
I buy only full-face helmets because my very first moto crash would have been my last. I spun around backwards before I left the road surface and landed head first in the mub. The chin bar bruised my sternum. The alternative would have been a broken neck. The joys of being 17. Young, dumb, and full of… you get the idea.
Comfort matters
And it’s relative. The more comfortable you are the easier it is to ride. I know this sounds obvious, but we tend to accept what we are presented as being the only way things can be. If you don’t like the lever throw, fix it. If you don’t like angle of the handlebar, change it. Some changes are simple and easy. It only takes a few seconds to rotate a lever into a more comfortable position.
Heated grips matter
Comfort can be greatly extended with this simple add-on. A fog ladened valley can bring an unexpected chill. Keeping your hands and fingers warm reduces the physical stress of riding. I can stay better focused on the road and not on my own physical discomfort.
Layers but not too many.
Certain jackets don’t work on certain bikes. I can’t wear my touring jacket on a sportbike. There is too much material at the neck line to lift my head up enough. Conversely, if I’m on the FJR wearing my Vanson jacket, my neck is really exposed. Time for a BMW neck gaiter.
Heated vests help reduce bulk while upping your core temperature. It’s a cheap investment in the bigger picture. More comfortable rides across a greater temperature range. Less bulk to pack for a trip. You can even throw it on under a mesh vest when riding out in the desert. 70 degrees can be very chilly after a 100+ afternoon.
Two pairs of surgical gloves can make a world of difference. I have been looking for a “good winter” glove for years. The problem is always the same. Bulk typically required to keep fingers warm. Bulk is counter-productive when you are trying to hold on to a handlebar. The harder you grip the faster you get tired. My earliest cold weather gloves were not waterproof. The solution I came to use is wearing my usual sport gloves with two pairs of surgical/latex gloves underneath. Why two? The second pair creates an air gap and that is what really keeps you hands warm. Why surgial? They are a bit grippier than standard latex but they are harder to find and more expensive than the latx gloves you can now find at auto parts stores. Bonus points for being 100% waterproof.
