MC Gear, Add-Ons: On-Road and Off-Road

[3930dave]

Motorcycle boots, gloves, hand-warmers, helmets...... Bike hardware additions..... Whatever you've enjoyed adding and using (or Didn't), or new products you are considering, post up.

I'm interested in these topics, and would also like to help kcflhrc keep his thread on-point (Who rides What).

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

I'm hoping these guys get their supply chain ironed out, in time for this year's season here....

New device aims to put brake lights on motorcyclists''' heads

If you go to their site, you can drop them your email so you get notified when their online-store comes up.

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

Gear came up in the other thread I recently started..... some of my thoughts on gear, that I posted there......

I'm an ATGATT guy. I found it frustrating when I got back on two-wheels, to find the gear that I wanted. Canada, short riding season, small market (compared to parts of USA); It's a challenge to find good quality gear that fits here.

I eventually pieced together all the gear I wanted, but it took significant effort.

What I wish I had discovered earlier was........ BMW. I ended up buying my back-protector from BMW. I wasn't that much more money than the generic off-shore stuff I could find, for their CE approved one.

I ride a 500cc UJM bike, and only reluctantly stopped by the BMW dealer. They have an excellent line of gear, and it turns out tons of non-BMW riders come in for all sorts of gear. Can't remember their trade-name for it, but they have an amazing line of armour - basically a conformable gell - high performance, yet extremely comfortable. I was pleasantly surprised, and really pleased, by how I was treated as a non-BMW customer.

Rgds, D.

 

[jaydee325]

I'm also ATGATT!

I agree that some of the branded gear is nice and not a whole lot more expensive than the aftermarket.

With respect to BMW gear, I'm pretty sure some of their apparel (jackets, pants) are made by Motoport. They are out of California, so I'm not sure of shipping to Canada. I've got some of their textile pants and like them a lot. They are custom. You provide them measurements and they make the apparel to fit you and with the armor you want.

 

[3930dave]

Thanks for that option jaydee.

Not too surprised they are in Cali.... probably more riders there, than in all of Canada.

There's a few boutique suppliers up here doing custom work, but it seems most primarily do Harley leather. Bates out of Montreal used to do most everything leather, but that was back when I was a pup..... it was where the serious street guys went for a race suit in the 70's.

Thanks, I'll check out Motoport...... it wouldn't be the first thing I've driven across the border to pick up, if it came to that.....

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

About piling on, or up, the gear.....

Payload specs for bikes are often not found in the marketing material..... and I'm beginning to see why.....

For 2Up, I was about to check out an older "larger" bike this Spring. While going through tire options (limited) the night before seeing it, I stumbled across the Payload (or, Maximum Load in MC terms) #. Despite having an engine about 50% larger than my current ride, the Max Load on the "larger" bike was actually about 30# less than what I ride now.

Another lesson in Check Your Assumptions......

So, I passed on that particular New/Old MC option.....

This should be plenty for what I want to do, but as I can't find an Owner's Manual online, if anybody knows what the Maximum Load spec is for a 2003 BMW R1150RT, I'd really appreciate seeing the #.

Rgds, D.