Motoyard Trackdays Review

I started riding on the track earlier this year. After being on the track my first time, I can't express how much fun it is and how much you will improve on your riding skills. I did my first three track days with Motoyard up at Streets of Willow.

Never having run on the track before I was obviously nervous my first day out so I signed up for their "Free track session". A lot of organizations offer this now and it lets new riders take a session out on the track for about 20-30 minutes before everyone else. This is supposed to be a much slower pace to help you get orientated as well as figure out whether its something that you're interested in doing. If you like it you can sign up for the day when you're done. Well on my first day they never had the free track session...and I haven't seen it run the other two times I have gone. Motoyard has actually started late all three times I have run at the track with them.

The second time I was at the track was for a track night. This was interesting because rather than going to the track during the typical 100 degree weather, you can go under the portable lights they bring out and run when its much cooler. Well the night started off with half of the lights not even showing up. This set us back almost 3 hrs. Once the track did open up, it was quite a bit of fun and seemed to run smoothly.

The riders meeting at all of the events was very thorough and they even held the C group back an extra few minutes to go over the finer points and make sure we understood everything. The only draw back was the gentleman who was giving the majority of the meeting had a HEAVY Spanish accent and a lot of people had trouble hearing him.

Overall, once the events start, they seem to run smoothly. There are control riders in the C group however they don't seem to follow the same advice that the give out to other riders. I understand that these are seasoned riders but I almost got clipped by a couple of the control riders going by me which caused me to change my line a bit in the corner. This can cause new riders to easily grab some brake and crash. They also do very little to police the other riders and by mid-day any rules (inside passing, etc) that are set are being broken with little regard. Most of the Motoyard guys are relaxing having a beer.

The guys are nice but it doesn't seem like the best org to run with, especially if you have other options...however if the price is right then go for it.

Bringing the CX500 Back!

So I have been busy with the new track bike and the SV650 so the CX has been sitting collecting dust. I've decided that I must move on to modern machines but that I am going to bring some sparkle back to her and see if I can trade her for a trailer, generator or something else that catches my eye. She's also for sale if anyone is interested...she'd make an awesome Cafe Racer.

Am I Back?

I dont know...but I might start writing again. Been spending a lot of time at the track, have a new bike (stay tuned) and have a bunch of new goodies.

What do you think?

Why Not to Work on Your Bike Late at Night

I always seem to get motivated to work on my bike late at night. I can't say its always the best idea. There have been nights where I find myself falling asleep next to the bike sometimes because its midnight and I am DETERMINED to get something done. Last night I found myself trying to get my brakes bleed. I had a brake bleeder kit at home that had been sitting in a box for a couple years...and I stopped by the local Pep Boys to grab some brake fluid...and walked out as they were locking the doors. Already, this can't go well.

So first thing I get to work doing is trying to hook the brake bleeder hose up to the bleeder nipple. I find out that the tube is either old and too hard, or just the wrong one...there was no way I could get it on the nipple. I had it stretched over a screw driver and trying other things...I even grabbed my girlfriend's hairdryer to try and soften up the tube. Normally I would have just gone out and bought a new kit but...you guessed it...no stores are open at 11pm. I FINALLY got it partially on the nipple and started bleeding the brakes...unfortunately air started getting into the system because the tube wasn't on properly.

So today I drive to work because my bike is still up on the rear stand in the garage with brakes that don't work. Lesson learned.

Dainese Laguna Seca Race Suit

I've been looking to pick up a full suit but always figured they were well out of my price range...at least the good ones. The Dainese Laguna Seca Race suit retails for $1000 with knee sliders but I was able to pick this up from Cycle Gear's brick and mortar store for 40% off clearance sale as they now have this suit with titanium inserts in the shoulder and D-skin leather which has higher abrasion resistance...but ups the price to $1200.

In the store, the suit is the most uncomfortable thing I have ever worn. I had to ask the sales woman how this was supposed to fit because I was not a happy camper when I stepped out of the changing room. But then I sat on a chair for a second and things started to come into focus. Every part of the suit that was uncomfortable now felt like it fit perfectly! The suit doesn't come with a back protector since most racers want an aftermarket piece and not the foam material they stick in most jackets. So I plopped down another $200 on the Dainese Wave 1 back protector. Otherwise the suit has incredible amounts of armor in the shins, knees, arms, shoulders and a decent amount in the hips.

A hour later I am struggling to get into this suit again and put on my other gear. I waddle out to the bike (in quite a bit of discomfort), swing a leg over and Ahhhhh all is right in the world. The suit is absolutely comfortable when you are sitting on the bike. Things get even better once you start riding. The suit helps you maintain a more aggressive posture on the bike rather than sitting upright. I feel much more locked in and secure with the suit than I do a 2 piece pants and jacket. If anyone has ever put on a wet suit, the feeling is very similar.
Venting on the bike is great. So good in fact that I wore it out on a cold night and was pretty chilly. They dont make a warm liner for it and I wouldn't suggest planning to try and fit long sleeve shirts beneath. I also found that the aerodynamic hump on the back of the suit really lives up to its name. On the freeway there is a noticeable change in the wind resistance. Also, I rode two up with my girlfriend and she said it felt like she has a blast of air in her face the entire time she was on the bike.

I've only put about 100 miles on the bike with the suit on but the more I do the more I like it. I would like to hit up some track days but the suit has pushed me to spend some additional money on new boots and gloves.

Frustration with Big Feet

I've wanted a pair of decent boots since I started riding motorcycles. Apparently most companies who make motorcycle boots don't seem to think there is much of a market for larger sized boots. Typically you can't find anything larger than a 12 - 13 and typically those are on the smaller end of those sizes. Well lately I've found that a couple manufactures have decided that they would make a larger boot. Sidi has a couple boots that go up to 14.5 (I wear a 14) and TCX makes a 14. Good luck if you want anything larger.

That said...this has been a long time coming but I went to Cycle Gear and they had a pair of 48 (about a 12.5 US) Alpinestars MX Plus boot. I tried them on and they were a bit tight but given the generous return policy I decided to give them a shot. I took them home, slipped them on again and wore them around the house and sat on the bike for about 15 minutes. Unfortunately my big toe started to get a little sore from the pressure and I couldn't take the bike out because I would have had to adjust the shifter pedal to use the boots.

Since that's the largest size Alpinestars make, I decided to go with Sidi. I ordered a pair of 49 (14 US) Vertigos. I did however end up calling a couple different places because no one seemed to have them in stock until I got to RevZilla. Well this morning I get a call that they wont have the boots until mid-August...same story from everyone else...and I cancel my order. A quick ebay check reveals that every store who carries the boot is sold out.

So after years of waiting...I guess I have to find another boot or wait some more.

AGATT Redefined

Most motorcyclists have heard the acronym "AGATT" used at one point or another and from what I have seen, even more don't care. For those who don't know...it means All Gear All The Time. This means wearing ALL of your gear...jeans are not gear...tennis shoes or work boots are not gear...a back protector with a t-shirt only partial gear...and so forth. Some may argue these points but this is where you begin to argue what "gear" really is.

I didn't start out practicing AGATT. I used to wear jeans on every ride along with tactical boots (you know the black high tops that they sell in sporting good stores). I did however reevaluate things a bit and thought back to when I rode bicycles as a kid. One of the most memorable crashes happened when I was going full speed down a slide grade and hit a nasty little bump. It wasn't much but enough to knock my foot off the pedal and then subsequently throw me over the handle bars and sliding down the black top. A VERY nice woman pulled over, put me in the passenger seat and my bike in the back. I arrived on my parents door step covered in blood from head to toe. The clothes (jeans, long sleeve shirt) I was wearing were worn right through and I still have some nasty scars to this day as a reminder. Now the eye opener here is that I was only going about 15 mph when I hit the ground. I don't even go that slow in a parking lot. Considering the flow of traffic on most of the streets here is about 40-45 and the freeway can be around 75-80...consider what you would go through if you hit the ground in jeans, a t-shirt, open face helmet, etc! If for any reason you still think its OK to ride in jeans and a t-shirt I have a test for you...put on what you would normally wear to ride and walk out to the street. Run as fast as you can and then jump arms out onto the pavement like you just got thrown off the bike. I guarantee you will bleed and considering you were going less than 10mph...just multiply that pain and damage by the speed you normally ride.

So now that I have been riding AGATT, I've realized that not all gear is created equal and you really do get what you pay for. I think its easy for all of us to see the difference between a pair of $10 gloves and a pair of $100 gloves...but did you bother to look at the $369 pair of Dainese? You probably saw the price and never looked twice...at least that's what I did. However last weekend Cycle Gear was having a big clearance sale and I ended up with a Dainese Laguna Seca one piece race suit for 40% off. After that first ride in the suit I realized I couldn't go back. My $80 Cortech gloves and my $120 Icon boots just don't cut it anymore. They are decent gear but if and when I go down, do I want that protecting me, or the best I can afford to buy? Maybe I spend a bit more than I can afford because the hospital visit and any residual injuries due to lack of good gear is going to end up costing me a lot more, right?

So now where do I stand? Well...I am going to keep my Scorpion Stinger leather jacket and Scorpion pants for my commutes to work. I have a Dainese G2 slip in back protector in my Scorpion Jacket and the jacket seems pretty durable so I think I am good there. I am going to upgrade to some Sidi race boots...probably the Vertigos. I actually have the Alpinestars MX-Plus sitting next to me now (GREAT boot) but the 48 is too small for my size 14's. I'm also going to ditch the Cortech gloves and go with a pair of Held Phantoms or Pole Positions. Unfortunately I can't wear the race suit to work...if you've ever worn one, you understand. The other thing is that I expect this gear to last longer than what I currently have. The Held gloves should last me a couple years compared to the 1 year I am getting out of the Cortechs...so in all I get a far superior glove at probably less money in the end.

Looking back, I bought most of my gear based on price. Like most of us, I had a specific amount i was willing to spend on something and I got the best in that range. I've realized that this is probably not the best way to go. Look at things long term and how the gear is going to serve you. Its meant to protect you and in some cases save your life. Pick the best gear for you (which wont always be the most expensive), not your wallet, and then save for it.

Why it Pays to Read Up

Here is a quick and VERY graphic depiction as to why it pays to read up on how to properly maintain your motorcycle before you actually go ahead and do so.

Again...graphic images.

See and read about how easily you can loose parts of fingers here

AOTD: Motorcyclists Who are in too Much of a Hurry

So I am trying to be zen and not get upset with people when I ride but I have another Asshole of the Day post. Its not only cagers who can risk the health of our two wheels riding buddies but we can also endanger our own species as seen the other day. I was commuting to work and, as usual, cutting through traffic. I'm a considerate rider so I check my mirrors often and if there is a biker who's coming up on me, I will move over to let him/her by...of course I do it when its safe for me to do so. Anyway I see someone get behind me and am about to get over when a car in front of me puts their signal on and moves in front of me...I wait for them to move over before I get out of this guy's way. Apparently that's not good enough for me so he has to go by me, and then by the car that's already 3/4 of the way into the other lane. This causes him to have to make a quick transition back to the center line between the carpool and fastlanes. So now I am behind this guy and he flies down the road and starts crowding a Harley rider. The Harley is going rather quickly but not fast enough. As soon as Mr. Asshole has enough room he flies by the Harley and cuts him off. The problem here is that when he went by the Harley, he did so within inches of this guy. He also cut him off at a very high rate of speed and did so when he (the asshole) was between two cars.

Again, this comes down to saftey. Never assume, car or bike, that someone can see you. Had the Harley moved over to his right while the other bike was going by I would have had a front row seat to a pretty horrific bike accident. Also, had something happened to the car, traffic, etc when the guy cut the Harley off, it could have spelled even worse results. It takes a special breed to put people's lives on the line like that when they can't get their way.

Fieldsheer Expander Saddlebag Review

I bought the Fieldsheer Expander Saddlebags for my SV650 after seeing them in a store side by side with the other popular Cortech Sport Saddlebags. The fit/finish of the Expanders seemed better than the Cortech and the features of the bag seemed better as well. I was taking a 2,400 mile trip from Los Angeles to Fort Collins, CO and back and needed something that would hold at least 3-4 days worth of clothes, supplies, etc for me to get there do, laundry and get home. I would be staying in hotels along the way so camping wasn't a concern.

Packing the bags was simple. People complain that the single zipper, as opposed to the flap on the Cortechs, is a pain when trying to pack/unpack the bags. I had no problem packing the bags and thought that only having one zipper was one less weak point I would have to worry about. I did however gripe somewhat on my trip when I had to go hunting for things in the bags. If the item was on the bottom then I would have to take everything on top out and then repack.

Mounting was simple...at first. I had taken a 240 mile test ride (where the pictures were taken) and mounted the bags fine, but did not load them to the amount I did for the actual trip. Once loaded with all of my supplies, locking chain, etc etc etc...the bags were much more weighed down. Since I was groggy on my way out the first morning, I didn't realize it but I had put the saddlebags on backwards. I couldn't figure out why they were sagging so much but I left anyway. Once I really woke up out in the middle of the dessert I realized that I had put them on backwards. I also found that I had rubbed a nice line of finish off my new Two Brothers Exhaust DOHHHH! When I did get them turned around I would notice through my trip that they would start to hang to one side. You secure them to the bike via clips that tie down to the bike and then clip to the saddle bags and are adjustable. I mounted the front ones on the rear peg brackets and the rear ones on the passenger grab bar. They didnt move but I did find that no matter how tight I made them, they always slipped and the saddlebags would eventually favor one side. However, once mounted in the correct direction, they never came close to touching the exhaust, but they would ALWAYS bend the turn signals down. Don't worry too much about this though as they are pretty resilient and will bend back on their own.

Another mounting issue I had is with the two Velcro straps that hold the two saddle bags together. The front one should go across the front of the passenger seat and the back one across the rear. They are velcro so you can easily adjust the length. I made the front one longer than the back to accommodate for the wider front end but as I found, this somehow put more weight/pressure on the front straps, especially on the leading/front corner of the strap that was sewn into the bag. It seemed that most of the weight of the two bags was focused on the one spot on the front straps and I was getting concerned they were going to break. The reason I realized is that the straps front and back were both angled toward each other...essentially drawing a straight line between the points. The problem was that the back strap was not as long as the front...so the back was twisting the front and that straight line was being curved. The fix was taking those front straps and not laying them directly on top of each other but rather making a X to compensate for angle. This helped put the weight across the whole strap rather than just a corner of it...and the velcro is strong enough to handle just a portion being attached in that X fashion rather than the whole strap. If you were able to follow all of this jibberish I am amazed.

The bags could hold quite a bit of stuff. I had ALL of my clothes on ONE side. I had 4 t-shirts, 2 pair of jeans, 2 pair of shorts, socks, undies, bathing suit and a large hooded sweatshirt. The other side was not as full but just as heavy as I had: chain cleaning supplies, 1 pair boots (size 14) , 1 pair flip flops, toiletries bag, clear face shield, 2' heavy motorcycle chain and various other goodies I can't remember. I put everything else, rain gear, laptop, tools, etc in a backpack that was held to the back via a elastic cargo net.

I was able to find these for about $110 with shipping online. For that price I would definitely buy these again. If I was doing longer trips or more regular trips, I would bite the bullet and spring for hard cases. The soft saddlebags get to be a pain in the ass you don't want to have to deal with every morning and every time you get off the bike to move around again. Also be VERY care full when trying to adjust them when they are on your bike. I found out the hard way when yanking on them and pulled the bike off her side stand and plop on the ground.