First, the GIVI hard bags I use on tours. They provide enough carry volume for self-contained 3 week camping trips without forcing a resort to bungee rolls, sacks, or wads of placeless paraphernalia to places on the bike where there should be only bike. Never had a breakage, rattle, or leak from the luggage in 8 years. Once, getting on the fully loaded bike at a rustic campsite, I buried the side stand into the soft dirt, and the bike fell on its side...and sat there like a strange coffee table, supported by a luggage case and a frame slider. Nothing broke or bent, and the scratches in the case were easy to repair. After all these years I look at the somewhat exotic prices for the GIVI things and most of the time I admit they may be worth it.
Second, Sidi Adventure water proof boots. They look good to me, provide very good traction, have hard plastic protection exactly where needed, and are comfortable for both riding and walking. I wore them on all the trails I walked in the national parks last tour west, and they were very good hiking boot stand-ins (!). They can get noisy, but once you locate the source of the noise a shot of chain lube in that area fixes them.
Honorable mention, Tourmaster Synergy electric heated jacket. This item saved my trip last Spring. Starting out early in the desert w/o the heated jacket on, getting cold enough that eventually I noticed I was still trying to complete actions meant for the last turn as i was entering the next one...stopped, put on the heated jacket...zipped everything over it...plugged it in...cranked it up...hit the road...and the pleasure was immense...almost wanted the weather to stay cold.
*Custom molded Earplugs*
Purchased 8+ years ago at Americade and still use them on every ride no matter which bike I'm on or whichever helmet I'm wearing.
Make sure you try your helmet on after you get them for comfort issues.
Usually available at bike shows and events and take about an hour to make so hit them on arrival and pick up on the way home
1. A fleece neck warmer. I have a good helmet and a good jacket, but there's always that little gap in between that turns my adam's apple into an ice block on cold mornings. The fleece neck warmer makes those freezing morning rides nice and pleasant. Added bonus: it blocks out a lot of wind noise.
2. CRG lane splitter mirrors. Low profile, they fold in to avoid mirror knocks when lane splitting but best of all, the convex lenses give me a huge field of vision.
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Preschool - Kawasaki 100 enduro
Grade School - Honda CB 125
High School - Honda 400 Hawk
College - Honda VT500 Ascot Real life - Honda 919
Light weight winter gloves: Man these came in so handy on the ride up Pikes peak but when I pair them with a set of liners I ride well in to the 30s with them.
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Never Trade the Thrills of Living for the Security of Existence.
Aside from my Shark RSR2 helmet, I'd have to say my tank bag. I haul my gym clothes in there every day and if I need to pick up food, I can do that too. Only time I have a backpack on is when I need to take my laptop to work.
"Security is mostly a superstition, it does not exist in nature: avoiding danger in the long run is no safer than outright being exposed. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing."-Helen Keller
#1 far and away $30-$35 heated grips such as these Heated Grip Kit
Mike - do you use these under your Rizoma billet grips somehow or do you switch over to rubber grips? If the latter, does the heater come off the left bar ok? It says "mounts permanently".
I've had my Kilimanjaro jacket by First Gear since 2000. I live in Toronto and never even use the extra lining. (I find it makes things too bulky). I just saw it advertised for 299.95 at Motorcycle Superstore, which is less than I paid when I bought mine!
Mike - do you use these under your Rizoma billet grips somehow or do you switch over to rubber grips? If the latter, does the heater come off the left bar ok? It says "mounts permanently".
I'm not using them on the 919 - but I've installed them on almost all of my past bikes.
I currently have them on my Triumph Trophy which is the bike I ride in (California) winter as it offers a big-assed fairing and windscreen... plus the rubber grips so the grip heaters work.
Best piece of gear = Corbin Double Bucket seat. Comfortable & well built. Mine is 20+ years old.
Best feature on bike is a toss up between the shift-assist & the heated grips.
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Never pick a fight with an old man..if he's too tired to fight, he'll just shoot you.
1979 H-D Low Rider (orig owner)
2006 919 (son's)
2009 K 1300 S (Lava Orange...the faster color)
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