More Farkles

Things have been a tad quiet here on the blog but as usual, that doesn't mean there isn't shit going down! I have just returned from a two week 4wding holiday across the Simpson Desert with the kids but more about that in another post. When I returned from that trip I had a couple of cardboard boxes waiting for me.....

The FC Moto box was all the way from Germany. I have been looking for an adventure lid for over 12 months now to complement the BMW and couldn't decide on whether I wanted to go the "all bells and whistles mega expensive" route or the "$200 cheapie and get a new one every other year" route.

Well, I sort of put a foot in either camp in the end and went with an Airoh Commander. It had all of the features I wanted, was still a very light (1510 g/3lb 1oz) helmet AND by buying through FC Moto, I had it landed at my house for $105 less than the cheapest I could find it domestically! I like to support local retailers but when they are 21% cheaper, including freight from the other side of the planet, how can you not shop online?

Anyway, it is a thing of great beauty, to wrap a thing of not great beauty (my head) and protect it from the elements and the hard, hard ground.

It has the much desired flip down sunnies and Airoh include a pinlock in the box! I haven't fitted the pinlock yet but the flip down sunnies and sun visor are gold with the low sun we seem to have this winter!

The colour options are a bit limited but the one colour I didn't want in an adventure helmet was black.... and the most prevalent colour in adv helmets is.....black!?  Black helmets are just too hot in the Aussie sun. I like the bit of red as it breaks up the "too much blue" theme I have going on with my RST suit.

The other carton, from Staintune exhausts, was a bit of an impulse buy. Well, an impulse on the day that I saw the R1 pipe was half price! I had priced one of the stainless steel pipes up for my R1 back in 2012 when I first bought the bike but couldn't justify spending $800 on a slip on pipe. Especially when the bike already had a slip on fitted to it. Proving that good things come to those who wait, a mere 7 years later I was able to snag a bargain. 

Not that there was anything wrong with the little Remus pipe that came with the bike though. I did sort of hate it at first because I wasn't used to the modern style "mini" mufflers but it came to grow on me and after I ordered the Staintune pipe I was having some doubts about how the older style pipe might look. I did want an ADR compliant exhaust as interactions with the mobile tax collectors aren't high on my wish list.

I needn't have worried. The pipe looks awesome!!

The sound is much quieter than the Remus, which is to be expected as the Staintune meets the ADR requirements with the removable baffle installed. To be honest, I am happy with it as it has a better note than the stock pipe and will hopefully let me fly under-the-radar.

Cheers.

Updating Some Motorcycle Gear

While it is true that I don't get out on the motorcycle anywhere near enough I thought it was time to delete another excuse not to ride it. 

You see, if I want to go for a quick spin it is too hard to gear up, get the bike out and head off. If I take the car I am half way to my destination before I would even be leaving with the motorcycle. My main bugbear to using it more is footwear. I don't like wearing my full boots to go for a quick spin but I hate wearing my elastic sided work boot as well. They equal zero protection in the event of a spill.

The solution? Well, it is to buy some lightweight motorcycle boots that will give me some protection yet be easy to slip on and get out the door. A quick trip to 100% Bikes Accessory Warehouse which is just down the road from home yielded a great price on a pair of Alpinestar Fastback shoes. Not exactly what I was looking for as I did want a heel on the boot but close enough!

They are much more comfortable than my old work boots and cover my ankles which makes me feel safer if nothing else.

Yeah, ok, I need new jeans as well....

The other new addition is another helmet. I keep reverting to my old Arai Quantum that I bought in 2001, which was manufactured in '98! The Kabuto just isn't that much fun to wear, sounding "tinny" in the wind.

A mate was looking to sell his Bell Carbon Star which had only been used a handfull of times in his drag racer. It hadn't seen a single bug-splat in it's life being used inside a car! It was a Medium size which had me concerned as I have always been a large in shirts, hats, helmets, beers.....errr...you get the picture. Well, it actually fitted quite well and is very comfortable thank-you-very-much!

Another plus with being a Medium size, it will fit the kids better than my other helmets. I had my first request ever from Miss 15 the other day of "Dad, do you think you could take me for a ride on your motorbike"? Thinking about it I can't believe I haven't taken her for a ride on it (or any other motorcycle I have owned) before.

She has been around them since she was born but never been for a ride on one.

Strange.

 

We must rectify that.....

Cheers.

Skid Lid

Since I ambled back into motorcycling about 2 years ago there has been a need to update my gear as so much of it is almost 20 years old and/or clapped out. New boots, gloves and jackets have been procured to add some protection quality to areas where it was obviously lacking.

This unstoppable safety criteria met the immovable economic reality when it came to my skid lid though. Well, my little used Arai Quantum e stilled looked a million bucks even if the comfort lining was disintegrating, covering my noggin and shoulders with a sort of sticky, black dandruff. Nope, once I had it cleaned up and smelling fresh again I figured that it would do for the time being.

But.....Chillertek and I have been planning a motorcycling trip to New Zealand for next February and I knew in my heart that I would need a new helmet for that trip. His post regarding his helmet replacement project saw me revisiting the fact that my helmet was made last century! 1998 in fact was the year of manufacture and even doubling the conservative 5 year life recommended by the manufacturer saw me 5 years past replacement date. Yep, I reckon I got my money's worth there! Here it is below in June 2001 sitting atop my new R1 on a ride across the Fleurieu Peninsula . Both bike and helmet were new.

After much internet searching, telephone discussion and the fact that my brother got off his backside and bought a new helmet (I'll let him tell you about that) I felt ready to bite the bullet.

So I was off to the only bike shop that is open on a Sunday here in Queensland, the new Motobarn accessory warehouse. I had a firm...ish idea of what I wanted to spend and a couple of helmets in mind. These being a Shoei and a Shark.

I had issues with both though. The Shoei was blowing the budget and while the Shark was in the ballpark, it just didn't fit right and have that quality feel. That is when the salesman asked if I had seen the Kabuto range? "No, I didn't need a small tractor, I needed a helmet" I replied. No, Kabuto, not Kubota! "Oh, well no, clearly I have not", was my response. He proceeded to show me the range and I must say I was pleasantly surprised! They looked good, were very light, all the moving parts had a quality feel to them and it fit just as snugly and comfortably as a helmet well over twice it's price!!

I know that "you get what you pay for" in life and many say that if I don't spend a gazillion dollars on a lid then I don't value my safety, but if you want to push that line you would be driving a Volvo anyway, not riding a motorcycle.

Yes, there is a point where the marketing bullshit walks and safety meets cost. I "feel" that this helmet will balance that equation out but obviously really won't know until I actually get to try it out on the bike. I will keep you informed as time progresses, meanwhile, say hi to the Kabuto Aeroblade III.

Quality feeling vent actions, pinlock ready and inexpensive replacement visors. And VERY light.

Hopefully many miles of hassle free comfort lie ahead.

Cheers.

Helmet Hunting

Number 2 child and I hit up some bike shops today, mainly because it was too hot to do anything else.

While in there we started trying on a few small helmets as I have been thinking it is nearly time to take the kids for a gentle ride around the block on the motorcycle. Clearly, we need something to protect their "scone" while doing so.

Now I know what to look for when buying a helmet for myself. Fit, ventilation and then style is the order I work in but how do you determine a good fit with a child? How can they know if a tight, snug fit is right or if it is too tight and going to hurt after an hour?

 

If anyone has any helmet buying advice I would be pleased to hear from you. While I am not planning on purchasing a top of the line lid for the kids, I do want to purchase a well fitted, safe helmet.

 

 

 But I am resigned to the fact that we will not agree on the syling.....

 

Cheers.