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Post by Diego the toe clipper on Nov 20, 2019 16:12:32 GMT
So most of us have been posting on the various forums since the MCN days, about 16 or 17 years ago by my calculations. We must therefore all be over the 40 year old mark, or, like me, closer to the 50s at least.
I got thinking about this recently when I realised that this month I have been riding (legally, on the road) for 30 years. When I started, apart from my little 50, all I had for kit and accessories was a second hand Stadium Achilles helmet (with a Bob Heath tinted visor!), a second hand leather jacket with teeth missing on the zip, and a pair of purple ski gloves.
Thankfully things have changed and I began to think of things that have made me (or at least allowed me) to continue riding on a regular basis, but I wonder if I'm missing some things that the rest now can't live without. My list:
Glasses (when I got a fast(ish) bike at around 18 years old, I realised that I had to slow down to read signposts while all my mates didn't, that was when I realised I needed glasses, the best "go faster" accessory I've ever bought!)
Heated grips (I still don't know how I got through so many winters without them).
Air-flo or mesh jacket for summer (possibly due to living in Spain, but screw wearing leather in 40º, that's a mugs game!)
Baglux tank bag (I have a slipped disc which traps a nerve in my neck from time to time, and not having to wear a rucksack on the bike has changed my life)
And my next purchase (in the post) a double bubble screen (probably due to the combination of the neck problem and the tank bag, I can no longer get behind the screen on motorways).
What am I missing out on?
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Post by neilf on Nov 20, 2019 16:50:45 GMT
Now 47 and, like you, I've been riding for 30 years.
I wear an Oxford Products bumbag with visor pouch. In it I carry a clear visor, wallet, phone, spare ear plugs, a stick of factor 50 sunblock, a visor cleaning kit and a small pouch to put my wedding ring in when riding (I've seen too many gruesome pictures of fingers being degloved).
On every bike that I've owed since 1999, I've fitted a double bubble screen... 6' 2" height and sports bike don't mix!
Contact lenses whilst riding... I tried wear glasses, but it didn't feel comfortable or safe; the thought of crashing and getting glass in my eyes scares me!
Bottom section of an old Frank Thomas tank bag which is big enough for holding a 2-compartment drinks cooler.. handy for hot days and touring because it holds 2x 500ml bottles of water.
Puncture repair kit under pillion seat... this got me home after 4 punctures in a row in 4 different rear tyres.
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Post by armstrongracer on Nov 20, 2019 18:02:14 GMT
Maybe Ireland has something to do with it but I'm 60 and commuting daily by bike in all weathers. I've maintained a reasonable skill set from years of racing and time spent as a courier in London but I simply don't crash well anymore, be it on a pushbike or motorcycle. Next purchase will have ABS and TC. Also I prefer heated gloves to grips, always keep two fingers on clutch and brake lever (2 stroke habits die hard) and my finger tips freeze & go numb. Got my first Goretex Pro jacket (not Rukka, I'm too poor/mean) and its amazing, doesn't leak or get heavy. Believe the hype.
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Post by elnoodle the reasonable on Nov 21, 2019 9:26:52 GMT
Slightly different angle on this. I went to a rider skills day 18 months ago and bumped into a guy I knew called Richard. He used to work for a contractor we used and got made redundant after the contractor stopped providing the services we need. I didn't even know he was into bikes. Anyway, he told me that a group of the dudes who were made redundant had started up on their own and were providing technical services again. He gave me his contact details and we got in touch with his boss and arranged to meet.
A few months later we finally got round to sitting down with his boss who said "do you know about Richard?"
We shrugged.
"He crashed his bike, he's unlikely to walk again. We're keeping his job open but he could be in hospital for a year."
Jaw hit floor. I recently saw Richard who's back at work. Last time I saw him he was beaming and smiling in leathers. He's now visibly aged, lost a ton of weight and is in a wheelchair. It was distressing as fuck. I've lost count of the cunts over the years who have claimed "you'll kill yourself on that thing" and I always tell them to fuck off but what if you're half killed like Richard? I couldn't live like that. I still ride every day (unless the roads are gritted) but the image of Richard is constantly on my mind. Half deid, fully fucked.
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Post by Diego the toe clipper on Nov 21, 2019 9:31:27 GMT
I use my bike more like armstrongracer, commuting mainly. Wearing contacts isn't feasible every day for me, although when I do the odd track day, then I put them in.
I had loads of two-strokes too, and still tend to have two fingers on the clutch, but the heated grips are certainly changing that. I looked at heated gloves, but most don't have filaments in the fingers anyway...
I have an Alpinestars waterproof jacket to wear over my leathers, which I bought recently after years of refusing to wear waterproofs. I remember years back that anything waterproof was extremely uncomfortable and made you sweat like Prince Andrew, but it's true that the tech has improved a lot. So I'm looking for some trousers to go with it. I recently discovered that my winter gloves are no longer waterproof... so I'll be asking Santa for some nice Drystar gloves please!
On the visor side of things, I used to carry a clear visor in an Arai pouch, and change it as required, but I bought one of those Pro-Shade things with a small dark visor external to the main clear one. It works really well, both with the tinted part down in the daylight and with it up at night. What seems to be quite shit though is the new pinlock system from Arai. I can't get that to work properly at all....
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Post by Diego the toe clipper on Nov 21, 2019 9:37:40 GMT
Slightly different angle on this. I went to a rider skills day 18 months ago and bumped into a guy I knew called Richard. He used to work for a contractor we used and got made redundant after the contractor stopped providing the services we need. I didn't even know he was into bikes. Anyway, he told me that a group of the dudes who were made redundant had started up on their own and were providing technical services again. He gave me his contact details and we got in touch with his boss and arranged to meet. A few months later we finally got round to sitting down with his boss who said "do you know about Richard?" We shrugged. "He crashed his bike, he's unlikely to walk again. We're keeping his job open but he could be in hospital for a year." Jaw hit floor. I recently saw Richard who's back at work. Last time I saw him he was beaming and smiling in leathers. He's now visibly aged, lost a ton of weight and is in a wheelchair. It was distressing as fuck. I've lost count of the cunts over the years who have claimed "you'll kill yourself on that thing" and I always tell them to fuck off but what if you're half killed like Richard? I couldn't live like that. I still ride every day (unless the roads are gritted) but the image of Richard is constantly on my mind. Half deid, fully fucked. Sobering thoughts Mr. Noodle. But don't we all know in the back of our minds that this could happen to any of us, but carry on anyway? Just to put an alternative perspective: Of the 4 male cousins in my family (real cousins, sons of my dad's brothers) all of us ride, or rode, big bikes except one who had no interest in bikes at all. I'm still OK! and the other two who maybe don't ride as much as I do never had any serious injuries, but the poor unfortunate one who had no interest in bikes died at 26 when a biker ploughed into the side of his car at high speed.... life's ironic twists are a bastard. |
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Post by elnoodle the reasonable on Nov 21, 2019 11:50:51 GMT
Aye we all know the risks but we're not always conscious of them when we're pulling shite wheelies and generally riding like elderly hooligans which I sadly still do.
I have Alpinestars gear. Leather 2-piece and a Drystar textile jacket that I've had for years. The jacket is still in good condition but the separate Drystar waterproof lining is well gubbed and leaking at the seams. The jacket isn't waterproof without it. I've tried to find a replacement lining, I mean, it comes out ffs but it looks like I'll need to replace the whole jacket which is fucking infuriating.
Alpinestars SMX-5 boots are now fully gubbed and need replaced but they've been worn almost daily for the best part of a decade and haven't leaked once so I'll be replacing them with the current model (SMX-7?) or try and source some 5s as they'll be cheaper.
For summer gloves I bought a pair of Knox a few years ago. Not the full Android but the model down and I'm still using them. Excellent gloves. Ski boot type wrist fastener isn't as bulky as it looks and works really well.
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Post by neilf on Nov 21, 2019 12:12:31 GMT
Riding kit wise, I'm still wearing my Wolf 2-Piece leathers which I purchased at the NEC in 2005; regular cleaning and protecting with Renpure products seem to keep them in good nick and protects me from light showers. If it is pouring down then I don't generally go out; if I'm caught in a storm when I'm out and about, then I tuck in as best as I can.
Aplinestars SMX-5+ bookts and BKS leather gloves. One thing I will not ride without is a back protector, which is currently a Forcefield Pro L2.
I wear a 2010 Shoei X Spirit II. A rather nice Scott Russel replica Shoei saved my life back in 2001 when I was knocked off my bike and I've bought Shoei's ever since. Going to the NEC on Sunday to pick up a replacement lid.
For for when it really hoofs it down, I have a Richa Typhoon Rain Suit (Black & Yellow to match my bike), plus Oxford Rainseal Waterproof Overboots and a pair of waterproof gloves (the make and model escapes me). All of these are bungeed to the top of my tail pack when I'm touring.
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Post by mekon on Nov 21, 2019 12:45:47 GMT
Best commuting revelation I've had was when I bought the VFR and it came with pannier and a top box. The panniers were too much and not needed but the top box is awesome. No more shitty backpack. I went to watch some classic racing at Cadwell and it took my boots and my lid so I didn't have to suffer the horror a walking around in Alpinestars all day.
Apart from that I usually end up skimping and buying shit gear. This said I got hold of a BKS set in a 52 for £50. The fucking thing weights as much as a suit of armour. Annoyingly it only just fits and is slighty uncomfortable.Shame as it is clearly the sort of shit you should be wearing if you fall off.
As for thinking about falling off. You can't really do it. I just think about making sure I'm not going in too hot or knocking it off near junctions and that should cover most problems. Everything is just shit luck.
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Post by elnoodle the reasonable on Nov 21, 2019 13:02:48 GMT
Emdy found a route for disposing of old gear? I've got a ton of stuff that I don't want to bin as it could still do a turn for someone on a budget. Suppose I could punt it on EBay.
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Post by neilf on Nov 21, 2019 13:07:43 GMT
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Post by Diego the toe clipper on Nov 21, 2019 13:34:52 GMT
Renapur is fucking ace. Full Stop. I've used it on all my leathers (including the bike ones  ) and I still regularly use a LaTrek (budget Fieldsheer) jacket that I got for my 21st birthday, 25 years ago... it's a bit tight around the midriff though... My "new" jacket is an Alpinestars which I bought in 2002.... the only problem with that is that it doesn't have a pocket for a back protector, but as Neil said, I won't go anywhere without one. I've been using a Knox one with the Alpinestars jacket for years, but it's one of those with a velcro belt and it fucks up all my jumpers and other clothes. I finally got fed up with chucking away clothes this year and I've bought an insertable Alpinestars protector, all I have to do now is take the jacket to a leathers shop for them to put in the pocket. |
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Post by philthewindsurfer on Nov 21, 2019 14:56:19 GMT
Best commuting revelation I've had was when I bought the VFR and it came with pannier and a top box. I think that statement defines the thread title of getting older with a motorbike, you think top boxes are a good idea and don't mind them spoiling the looks of the bike. I know it did for me. Not on sports bike though. That and not being able to fit on a sports 600, or even a 1000 these days, as my knees dont like it. |
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Post by neilf on Nov 21, 2019 15:16:00 GMT
I still regularly use a LaTrek (budget Fieldsheer) jacket that I got for my 21st birthday, 25 years ago... it's a bit tight around the midriff though... Fieldsheer products are notorious for shrinking over time! I wouldn't give it a seconds thought Clipper  |
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Post by Diego the toe clipper on Nov 21, 2019 15:35:54 GMT
I still regularly use a LaTrek (budget Fieldsheer) jacket that I got for my 21st birthday, 25 years ago... it's a bit tight around the midriff though... Fieldsheer products are notorious for shrinking over time! I wouldn't give it a seconds thought Clipper And there was I blaming the sudden plentiful supply of British Ales available in Spain through Lidl!!! It's gonna be a good Xmas, regardless of if I get some new gloves or not! |
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) and I still regularly use a LaTrek (budget Fieldsheer) jacket that I got for my 21st birthday, 25 years ago... it's a bit tight around the midriff though... 
