p6x
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Posts posted by p6x
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12 hours ago, docc said:
Okay, okay - that is all fun, but riding an unknown V11 from Florida to Texas in January is serious stuff.
Wear what you want (I would not go without my Roadcrafter and Alpinestar boots), but take a pocketful of High Current OMRON relays and make certain the battery has been properly conditioned (or ship one ahead with a correct charger).
There are times the V11 clip-ons have challenged my wrists and elbows. Other times, the rear-sets have cramped my pelvis and knees. Hydrate and take an electrolyte supplement. Stop every hour or so. Watch the limited fuel range of the V11.
This was a consignment sale. I have asked the dealer to check the exact maintenance status with the previous owner, which I hope I will get to speak to once I get there. I asked for that information initially, but never got a clear answer.
I am planning to have the bike inspected in Houston by MPH once its get here.
I will make sure the bike is in perfect working order before I decide to ride it back.
Fuel autonomy will be one of my initial concern. I will stop often and check how much fuel I have used to work out an average consumption.
Hopefully, I will be able to quickly determine if I will be able to ride it back. It is not going to take much time to find out if the position will be difficult to sustain for several hours.
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12 hours ago, docc said:
Pretty sure all those dudes in black at the stop light were on Guzzis . . .
Looks like Ducati Monster to me...
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12 hours ago, Kane said:
Here ya go:
The bike is real, but the rider is probably a stand in.
The ride starts Place Vendôme, where all the famous jewelers have a shop, follows to La Concorde via rue des Tuileries.
Riding in Paris on a bike used to be one of the best ride you could ever experience in a life time. Especially early in the morning when few cars were present.
And she is wearing Alcantara, which does not sag as leather does.
I concur that she is not the one riding the bike. If my memory serves me right, squeezing the clutch required a strong hand on the older Ducatis.
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One of the test to get your M license is controlled braking: you have to reach a given speed, start braking at a specific point, and immobilize the bike with the front wheel between two cones. Seems to be an easy one. But when you train, they vary the speed, and the braking distance so you don't get into a routine. Up to the emergency braking with and without ABS, on dry and wet asphalt. Zig zags between cones at various speeds and spacing is good too.
I am going to do the Texas motorcycle safety course just to check if I still have it.
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I got my Motorcycle's drivers license at 16 years old.
I learned on a Honda CB 350. The exam took exactly 3 minutes tops.
A freezing January, temperatures below 32F, the inspector keen on testing candidates in heated cars. I was the sole aspiring motorcyclist that day.
He asked me to go up the street, changing gears, make a U turn without putting my foot on the ground, come back gear down and stop at his level.
That was it. I was legally entitled to purchase a Kawasaki H2, or a Honda CB 750! sorry; back then, the Moto Guzzi California was not on my list...
Since then, things have changed though...
You need to be 18, and the driving skills inspection requires that you really learn to manage your bike. And because it is a points system, it is very easy to fail. Note that I was skilled enough to have done a lot more if the inspector had wanted me to. I guess that if the exam at taken place in summer, it would have been different.
Anyways, I also own a License from Texas to drive cars and motorcycles, and incidentally serves as legal proof of identification. For those of you from Europe, a driver's license is usually not a proof of identity. In the USA, it is.
Is it difficult to get your Motorcycle Driver's License in Texas? I have no clue. I am a citizen of the three foreign countries that do not require a test to get their license in Texas. One of them Canada, the other two European.
Pop Quiz:
Without looking, can you guess which two European countries can get a car and/or motorcycle driver's license by simply showing their foreign ones?
So, tell me:
-How easy/difficult is it to get your Motorcycle's drivers' license in your country/state?
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I got a reply from MotoItaliane yesterday;
They confirmed the sale and will ship the book.
At this point, I would advocate to purchase directly from them rather than Amazon.it. The shipping is only 5 EUR compared to Amazon's 29....
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3 minutes ago, Kane said:
This is a long running complaint with some members here, but personally I find the V11 stock position pretty good. I have a 2001 red frame, so maybe it’s different from a 2004. I am 6’2”, kind of a lanky build, and once I’m in the bike it’s good. The bars are on clip-on risers, so it’s not an aggressive lean. It’s akin to a Ducati SuperSport or other “gentleman sport bike” / sport-touring rides. It puts you forward enough to lean in and out of the wind a bit. Better for me than a more upright position. The wrist thing is about using your core and thighs and knees. The substantial and flared tank is good for this. Tank grips may help. There are aftermarket or Buell pegs that wil give you another inch or so, but your foot will be outside more due to the bend, and you’ll have to adjust the linkage. I am happy with the stock pegs. The most fatigue I get is from peg and bar vibration at certain RPM ranges. I do sometimes suffer hip cramps when I first mount, but I think it’s more from being old, drinking too much, and not eating enough bananas. Once I settle into the bike it’s a great ride, vibes and all.
I am 6' tall and 174 lbs. Probably in the lanky category too. I have never been on what could pass for a "comfortable" bike. I am sure I am amenable.
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3 minutes ago, PJPR01 said:
No...but you're going to need reasonably good abdominals and back muscles so that you can support yourself in that riding position comfortably...if ever there were a bike that encourages "core" muscle development, it's the V11 Variant.
As far as abdominals, I have those procured by brews.
As far as back is concerned, now you got me worried. One of the reason why the previous owner sold that bike is precisely because he could no longer ride it due to his back.
I may add a back support to the list then...
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6 minutes ago, docc said:
Gotta remember, proper leather riding gear is tailored for the riding position!
Walking around in your leather riding pants is going to look, well, not like that!
Looks like a Pantah and Place de la Concorde in Paris France...
Are you certain those are leathers?
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Thank you all!
I have enough material to keep me occupied for a while.
I also found this outfit:
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37 minutes ago, docc said:
Agreed. But leathers are so sexxxxeeeeee!
I look for opportunities to wear mine, but they are not very utilitarian. In my AeroStich Roadcrafter I look like a tarped-down flatbed load on an overweight longhaul rig . . .
I don't know if they have improved leather quality, but my pants used to sag at the bottom. It looked like I was incontinent and wearing a nappy.
The sexiest stuff I saw was during summer on the Adriatic coast. Girls riding with body stockings. Not great for protection, pun intended. They were riding Vespas. Those were the good days....
From what I understood, long rides on the 2004 Le Mans may be uncomfortable due to the foot pegs position, and the slightly forward position of the body.
Am I going to need wrists support?
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1 hour ago, LowRyter said:
I'm good with my Neotec 2, got it for under $500 from Champion Helmets in Europe. Has ECE emblem on it. It's a little tight in the temple over a few hours' ride, hopeful it will break in. Compared to the original Neo, this needs to slam shut which is a difficult when you're riding with it open and attempt to close it. It might drag more air when it's open too.
So far as quiet, I wear earplugs. I recommend earplugs along with other gear. I've heard Arai is the loudest helmet and Shoei are actually quieter. But modular helmet is going to be louder. The Arai's are featherlight and the best quality for little I've ridden them.
The only gear I don't wear regularly are riding pants, for local travel I wear jeans (and I have regretted doing that on fall off).
As mentioned above, I never isolate myself phonetically from the outside world. I may change my mind, but I usually treat sounds as part of the safety envelope. Of course, on a Moto Guzzi, I may hear nothing but.
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2 hours ago, docc said:
+1 on the modular helmet with glasses (and also being able to expose our face for a conversation, whether it is to accept a compliment on our V11 or explain where your vehicle documents and permits are.
I haven't settled on the perfect modular as my Shoei NeoTech II is so horribly noisy, I rebuilt some of it myself. Shoei only said, "Sorry you don't like your helmet." $700US worth of sucky. I am hoping the AGV Sport modular fits me for helmet-next.
One feature that really surprised me (as I considered it a gimmick) is the flip down "fighter pilot" sun visor. As it turns out, I no longer switch between clear and sun glasses. This is an awesome improvement as it precludes me fumbling with two pair of (prescription) glasses to change out and stow. There was that time that I got the changeover all down except zipping the stow pocket. $800 worth of litter on the roadside out there, somewhere.
Also, the advantage of instant change riding in and out of sun/shade.
Nobody has mentioned weight as a factor yet. It always one an important one for me. Noise too. Although there are ways to attenuate the background noise, I usually never impair my ability to listen to what is around me. Thus, no riding with ear plugs or in ears pods to listen to music.
I also have two pairs of prescription glasses, sun and not.
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3 hours ago, Gmc28 said:
All the good stuff has been said, and I’d only add a couple nuance items:
As noted, Bilt and Sedici are house brands at cycle gear, and vary a lot in quality, with one model/item being great and the next model being pretty junky, so you just need to evaluate each item on its own.
That said, their warranty is arguably the best, at least in a practical sense. Since it’s house brand stuff, they have long warranties and pretty much just let u swap it for a new one if you have an issue. I only used the warranty once on a Bilt ADV suit I bought for my son, but it was totally painless and devoid of any need to ship anything.... just walked into a local store and they gave me a new one, and there are hundreds (?) of their stores around.
And I’m another big fan of the roadcrafter. I don’t live in hot climate, but plenty of friends who use the Roadcrafter suit and just vary what they wear underneath based on season/weather.... fleece or just boxers and a T, and they have seemed happy for a very long time that way. On big euro trips they really shine, where rides may take us into the alps or down in a hot Italian city, so just bundle up or unzip and it’s pretty easy. It was my go-to outfit for about 20yrs, though recently I’ve changed it up mostly just for the hell-of-it.
Dainese, always a great choice. That’s what I’ve been eye balling again. Bad idea for me since I’m mostly too skinny even for dainese, and it’s expensive, but such nice gear.
And if u have a cool/cold season when u ride, do NOT forget heated riding shirts! Maybe it’s age, or getting soft, but I love it. On a long distance ride where you’ll have cold weather at some point, having that relatively little heated shirt in your kit rather than a big bulky 4-season jacket is a no-brainer. Last fall I rode a couple thousand miles through weather with ice in the morning at the hotel, and then later at 100+ deg in Death Valley, and the heated jacket allowed me to focus on the hot weather gear and just have the heated shirt in the bag for the cold stretches. Way less bulk, and it’s warmer than any jacket ever made. Just make sure it fits snug.
I’ve got a couple brands, but warm-and-safe I think is the brand of my heated sweater. Only complaint is that the sweater is hard to take off, if u get the good snug fit. I’d recommend a full zip front instead (my old jacket is that way, but it’s loose, so not as warm.... u want that heat close to your body).
Helmet- as noted, get what fits. And some disagree with me on this, but I’m a huge fan of the modular helmets. I have a Nolan 104. Riding the road, face shield down. At a stop light, or around town on a hot Texas day at slow speeds I have my helmet flipped up so I can breath. Except for track days, I’m never going back.Something that is really incredible in the USA, is the ability to replace and/or exchange at no cost to the customer. For people in Europe, it is unheard of.
The Bilt and Sedici brands seem to be worth the try. I like the flexibility to change stuff if it turns out to be uncomfortable. We all know it is almost impossible to judge a garment to be used on a motorcycle when trying it at the shop. After several runs in various environments, only then you begin to understand.
I have written down AeroStitch. I am planning on trying all the suggestions.
I am a sucker for Dainese, because they really make great stuff, and they innovate all the time. Their D-Air system is really state of the art, but most likely thought for the European market.
I have lived in a lot of different parts of the world, so I am not stranger to extreme heat and/or cold. But on a motorcycle, the feeling is completely different. I will have to acclimate myself again. If I drive from Florida next month, it will be a good test.
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4 hours ago, gstallons said:
I had a salesman knock me out of purchasing an Arai helmet some time ago . He said "you buy the helmet that fits you" . I ended up with a Shoei .
Arai is a good brand; but so is Shoei.
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5 hours ago, Kane said:
No, it’s a Shoei RF-1200. A basic full face sport helmet. The RF-1200 replaced the RF-1100 and is now being replaced with the RF-1400, so it’s been around for a while with a series of design refinements. I can use my Ray-Ban Wayfarers with it, so I don’t think you’ll necessarily need a modular helmet to wear glasses. I bought it from my local Cycle Gear store, and they had a good selection of helmets. When I was looking at helmets I liked the idea of a helmet that was “hand made” (for the most part) in Japan, rather than cranked-out of a factory in China (Even Bell is no longer made here in the States), so I was intertesed in Shoei or Arai. I also wanted a helmet with a second safety certification to the DOT, i.e., the Snell or ECE certifications. Those “requirements” eliminated a lot of helmets like Bell, AGV. However, to be fair, I believe you can get a $150 HJC polycarbonate helmet with the DOT and Snell certifications. After trying the Shoeis and Arais, the Shoei fit my head the best, and I was able to get very good all-around-my-head snug fit with the RF-1200. It’s a basic no frills helmet that was just shy of $500 for a solid color, which suits me. Graphics add a lot to the cost. Anyway, I’m pretty happy with the RF-1200. It’s comfortable, snug, the vents do what they need to do, the Pin-Lock visor works great.
When it comes to helmets, one should never compromise. I keep in mind what happened to Michael Schumacher.
The best helmets available on the market are those which are FIM Certified. Getting the FIM certification should be an objective for every helmet manufacturer.
Here's the list of all those that have been certified.
Here' are the technical requirements for submission to their program.
As you can see, only integral types are eligible.
Now comes the issue that in the USA, your helmet needs to be DOT certified, even if the requirements are less stringent than the FIM ones. I need to check if you can purchase an FIM helmet that is also DOT compliant.
As far as graphics are concerned, I was involved with a not so well known Helmet manufacturer that allows you to design your own graphics and have them printed on your helmet. Either vector based or pictures. I was looking at representing the brand here in the USA, but his prime interest is with electrical scooters helmets.
My helmet will be integral.
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7 hours ago, LowRyter said:
Some Bilt items are better than Sedici. Even better than Alpinestars. But as a rule it's the lower end and cheaper stuff.
Most important, get something comfortable and functional. If the cheaper gear works, that's good enough. If not, pay enough to get what you need. The next factor is how long it will last; you can check for quality when you purchase it but ultimately don't know until you own it.
I don't have an inflatable vest. I think they make a lot of sense.
For heat, like in Okla & TX, I have mesh gear. It works well. Mesh jacket and mesh over pants.
I don't necessarily tag "expensive" with "better" stuff. I like Dainese, because they supply a lot of the racers, enabling them to make the best equipment, especially safety. Obviously, they charge more because you need to pay for the brand name.
As far as lasting, there are many parameters to take into consideration. One of them being life expectancy, such as helmets that should be replaced every 5 years. A good jacket, pants, suit can last a lifetime, providing you don't fall, and don't change corpulence; the recent tech stuff, such as air bags, is what probably requires more maintenance and attention. And there is innovation too. I still have my old gear, albeit not within easy reach, but totally outdated.
Tech textile is probably better than leather in hot weather.
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On 12/27/2020 at 5:23 PM, docc said:
Z Custom Leathers made me an amazing racing jacket and pants for me almost twenty years ago to custom match my Sport. For a while there, they had seemed to have shrunk
. Still, I only use them for "ceremonial" rides, and not usually the racing pants as they are not made to carry much (nothing) in the pockets. And my pocketses serve more like a day-pack . . .
I looked up Moto Guzzi riding gear, but I will leave that out for the time being.
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On 12/27/2020 at 4:55 PM, Kane said:
The Rukka stuff looks really nice. Their prices seem in line with higher end gear. You should have gear that doesn’t get in the way and that you trust and like to ride in for the years to come.
If you’re keen on going the bespoke route, in addition to Vanson Leather in MA, there is Langlitz Leathers in OR, and Bates Leathers in CA.
I am familiar with Bates Leather. I remembered when reading the name in your post. When I was going to the races in the 70's, I saw some pilots wearing bates. I can't remember who though...
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On 12/27/2020 at 2:03 PM, Tomchri said:
Don't see Rukka mentioned, quality from Finland. My biggest $$$ ever when it comes to riding gear, Rukka Amaros. Another IPA, yes, enjoy life guys.
Cheer tom.
Sent fra min SM-A505FN via Tapatalk
Had many colleagues from Norway along the line... very familiar with Helly Hansen's.... (worked in the North Sea back in the 80's)
Thanks for your suggestion.
After all these years, I had never heard about that brand...
I looked at the 4Air Jacket, seems to be an option...
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On 12/27/2020 at 12:45 AM, PJPR01 said:
To be fair, it's only hot and humid here in Houston during the summer months, which is why you'll likely need to have gear for summer (lighter weight or mesh) vs. gear that works the rest of the year or can be used with layers. Anywhere else in Texas will be hot, but much less humidity once you get away from the coast a bit.
If you're looking for good brands to try, you can find lots of good gear on Ebay also, whether that's Fieldsheer, Kathmandu style jackets, Aerostitch, Joe Rocket, Alpinestar or Klim gear. Best way would be to figure out if you're sticking to a budget. Depending on what size gear you wear or helmet, I have some very lightly used extra boots (I think size 10.5, will check) and practically brand new helmet (Nolan in XL) that a friend of mine no longer uses and they are too big for my use. If those are in your sizes, happy to have you take a look. Occasionally also on Wildguzzi a fellow by the name of Bikelee has very good deals pop up on high quality gear, I've bought a few of his items...impeccable, very lightly used high quality Aerostitch items. You can also look online for gear thru many online motorcycle vendors...tons of gear available at reasonable prices.
Depending on where you are in Houston, let me know and can arrange to show you the gear. Once you get your bike in your hands and are comfortable riding again, there are several of us Guzzisti who go out regularly for weekend rides/coffee/lunch.
Hopefully in 2021, the rallies will resume as well, there's the GRIT rally (you can also sign up on Facebook for the GRIT - Guzzi Riders in Texas) site, where we post up if we're doing a lunch somewhere around the state. October is when the Texas GRIT rally occurs, also the Oklahoma rally (Talihina state park) and then there's Cedar Vale Kansas in May, Louisiana rally, New Mexico rally etc...) So if you can get your V11 and self into a comfortable touring condition, those are fun events to meet other Guzzisti.
Cheers,
Paul
Hi Paul,
Thanks for contributing!
I have seen that a lot of equipment is being sold on eBay. But I think I will go brick and mortar just because I need to try on everything and will probably test multiple solutions.
I am usually around 13+ for shoe size, depending on the brand. Medium/large for helmet; but again, some helmets are uncomfortable when wearing prescription glasses.
I live at the limits of Spring Valley.
For the time being, I am planning to drive the bike from Florida. I may rent the gear for that single trip, or purchase my own. I will test drive once I am there, and if I don't feel comfortable, I will get it shipped. I have driven rentals with long interruptions in between, never really felt uneasy before, but I am not going to take any chance.
I never imagined there was so many Guzzisti enthusiasts in Texas. I have been a couple of times to the Lonestar Rally in Galveston, and mainly saw HD's and Japanese bikes.
Again, thanks for the information.
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On 12/26/2020 at 9:57 PM, fotoguzzi said:
In a word, Roadcrafter! I have crash experience and it saved me from serious road rash and maybe worse. I believe they have the best armor, TF something..it's soft until impact then indestructible.
but yeah, an airbag vest would be even better.
I will check AeroStich too. It seems that Cycle Gear does not carry the brand though.
I was tempted by Dainese's Carve Master, but it comes with a lot of constraints. Of course, it can save your life so it is a good trade off. My biggest gripe is that you need to recharge the lithium battery every 8 hours. Charging batteries is becoming a full time job nowadays. However 8 hours is not enough in terms of autonomy. I want to be able to ride my Le Mans all the way from Houston to Big Bend national park with spare autonomy.
But maybe a non jacket integrated air bag is a better choice; while probably not as efficient as a jacket, it gives you more flexibility to have multiple jackets.
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On 12/26/2020 at 7:13 PM, Kane said:
It’s best to try stuff on in person, but this is difficult in many locals, and very hard right now with Covid. I think Revzilla and Cycle Gear may be the same company. Revzilla is user friendly with returns which is often necessary to get the right fit. Alpinestars and Dainese make good stuff, but the fit is Euro slim. A good sizing chart will get you close with jackets and pants, but helmets and boots are more particular for matching helmet shells and shoe lasts to your head and feet. I have Daytona boots which are great but it took two times with Helimot to get the fit right. My Shoei helmet I was able to buy at a local store, and I’m glad that I did as all of the helmets I tried fit differently from each other. I have a great vintage Cal Leather horse hide jacket I got cheap on the fedora lounge forum. It predates the use of armor in jackets, but it’s like a suit of armor and is in great shape (I have an extra one if anyone is interested). I have newer Vanson leather pants which are what I like to ride in; they’re a little pricey but very nice. I also have a new Vanson jackets but the fit is not great and I need to send it back. These things are expensive and it takes a while to have them made, but the idea is that you’ll end up with a perfect fit. I dunno. In spite of having the custom Vanson and vintage Cal Leather jackets, the jacket that I use the most is an inexensive Cortech jacket I bought on sale from Revzilla. It fits and works great and has full CE armor. It a combo mesh/leather jacket and is great in hot weather, and with a windproof base layer it works in the cold. For gloves I use the Lee Parks DeerSports, and after a year’s use they’re holding up ok. I think if I was riding a lot in wet weather I’d be looking at an Aerostich suit. I don’t know if they’re open now as Covid has disrupted a lot of operations.
Good luck!
Thanks for taking the time to contribute.
I am planing a trip to Cycle Gear in the very near future. There is no way I am going to purchase safety gear without trying them on. Even a jacket. I am well versed into the subtleties of sizing EURO versus US. Cycle Gear advertises a (up to) 60% discount January close out sale.
I am possibly going to purchase a jacket with an airbag system, which is going to restrict me on choice. I think Dainese "D-Air" is among the most advanced for motorcyclists.
For pants, leathers would probably be very difficult to wear in Texas' summer weather.
Is your helmet an integral?
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On 12/23/2020 at 5:15 PM, Lucky Phil said:
Here you go, one of my favourite Aussie road images. Always enjoy seeing this through the screen just before popping up for the braking marker. Turn 1 Phillip Island Bass Straight in the distance.
Ciao
Casey Stoner approves!
Advice request: Biker's equipment from head to toe for a (old) principiante in H'town Texas (Yee Haa?)
in Special place for banter and conversation
Posted
Foreground is Keira Knightley finding her marks on the bike before the shoot. Background is possibly the girl that will really ride the bike?
Looking at the fixture, most of the shots involving Keira had the bike in tow?