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How would the Michelin compares with other brands? According to the reviews on the Michelin site, the Road 5 wears out quickly. I will be able to confirm that in November this year, after I complete this year's Texas tour.

When I was thinking of me as the next best racing pilot of the 70's, I always ended to plant one of the foot peg into the asphalt, terminating my run by a slide on my leathers. At the time the foot pegs of my Suzuki did not fold. This earned me a lot of respect when I was proudly and defiantly walking among my pears sporting leathers with signs of abrasion everywhere. Wow they thought! that guy is not afraid to fall.... So yes, leathers are useful for fame, as they are your business card. Back then, you fall because you go fast!!!

Tom, When I ride, I am never cold. Do you not have the same experience? it is when I stop that suddenly I get cold. I put that down on the constant adrenaline rush from the thrill of riding, which compensates for the chill.

I got the Le Mans back yesterday, and the suggested solution preconized by the community (Doc/MartyNZ/Kiwi-Roy, sorry if I missed anybody) has been implemented. I will report back later and document the modification to those that may want to implement the fix. I am leaving for Alaska, (not on the V11 unfortunately). I will catch you on my way back.

I repossessed my Le Mans yesterday, and the Michelin Road 5s were a complete shocker to me.... As I was going to turn left on Park Ten boulevard, I thought I had a technical issue as the bike just dropped into the turn with the usual input. I stopped and had a visual check, everything seemed fine. Doing a succession of left and rights to warm and scrub the tires on the I-10 feeder, I quickly realized the new tires were the culprits for that new handling. It felt like I was on a different motorcycle. I no longer needed to firmly curb the bike into curves, it read my mind, and I just had to feather it, no matter how sharp the turn radius. Mesmerizing and exhilarating! I can't wait to go back to the 3 Twisted Sisters and Brothers to check it out. The Michelin tires which were on the bike when I got it were of a different type (Pilot race 2). The front tire allegedly new according to the dealer who sold the bike to me. I am just taken aback by the complete feel change, while everything else remained the same. Which reinforces my belief that changing tires often is essential. Now I am not going to advocate Michelin just yet; I will need to verify how other brands and types fare. This is a time when I'd wish I could have multiple Le Mans equipped with different tires, just so one can really fine tune the choice. I am really impressed by those new tires though.

If I had the funds....

What do you think about Francesco Bagnaia outburst? -"I am here to win, not to be a test rider" Taking away the frustration, I do believe racer's contribution is essential for the fine tuning of the bike's design. Even if pilots may have different opinions on certain details, their input is necessary. Test pilots are there to do the breaking in, put down the laps and find out about initial weaknesses. The feature increments or changes or additions have to vetted by the guys that are the real competitors. When you are not racing any given Sunday, your appreciation and sensitivity is different. Testing requires a different skill set; I agree. The test pilot will have a closer relation with the engineers, may also understand better the physics, and learn how to communicate his sensations. The pilot may or many not speak the same language than the engineers, although in this case, Bagnaia does. I don't know if Jack Miller speaks Italian enough to describe accurately how the bike behaves, and what he would prefer. But he surely can do it in English. Bagnaia probably needed to vent his frustration for having been expected to perform, and failed the expectations. Obviously, wiping off a team mate made it worse. That Ducati took the blame for displeasing Pecco was new. They agree the GP22 is still in the rough, with an hybrid engine in the factory team, a mixture of 2021 and 2022. Pramac is using the 2022 version. I am wondering if Enea's performance was a one off, or will we see more of him at the front? he seemed pretty good from my armchair.

You can get them artificially "weathered", it is on fashion nowadays.... Seriously though, I have seen some "vented' summer leathers, but I now know that there is nothing really adapted for safety and the humid Texas style heat. I have been wearing all my summer gear in cold weather, the only way to appreciate how well they are "vented". With the cold air hitting you, you can properly gauge how ventilated the garment is. The outside temperature is not the issue. The compounding effect of humidity is what really makes it unpleasant.

I'd say that it is really difficult to wear leathers in Texas. At least not for a long period of time. A one piece suit probably implies wearing swimming trunks underneath...

I like that she speaks with the northern accent, typically she does not roll the "R" like Italian do. She uses the throaty "R", like transalp cousins.

If anyone of you uses VPN, contact me via pm. I have a legal way to watch all the MotoGP events. All the FPs are without comments, only the race has commentary. There are no interruptions during the events.

I got the call today.... My Le Mans is ready; March 10th, 2022 minus January 27th, 2022 = six weeks as told. Perfect timing!

Some people do incredible travel on those small cubed Honda; such as going through continents. YouTube is full of their stories. I traveled Europe on my 49.9cc moped to get to Motorcycle Grand-Prix when I was 14 years old. Today I would not dare riding a 125 or 90 cc outside of the city. Driving habits of those using four or more wheeled vehicles have evolved and your maximum speed limit defines how safe you are going to be on the road.

I don't have a V11, so I did this instead; 8 lbs of Crayfish, four sausage links, potatoes and corn in a "sauce Louisianian" with crêpes, because Mardi Gras, no?

@rosso corsa If I am not mistaken, the new EUx normes don't apply to previous generations bike. In theory you could purchase and ride one. Unless of course you live in one of these new "zoned" cities where you can't use an older vehicle that is not compliant. I think only the Germans have exemptions for 30 years old vehicles at this point. Anything in between, no luck!

It has sold. The add is no longer available. Remains the YouTube video at this time.

E Pluribus Unum: Enea Bastianini! It was not Francesco Bagnaia, or Jack Miller, or Jorge Martin, or Johann Zarco... What a fantastic result for the late Fausto Gresini team!!!!

I found a nice suit, but I doubt it is made of noble leather. Besides, I am not certain the lace will not wear out prematurely...

See what I mean? The jacket tailor made from Foxcreekleather has a comparable price with some of the pre-owned jackets I looked at on the Fedora Lounge. They look pretty good too.... With a leather jacket, here in Texas, I don't think I could wear protections. Unless I intend to pass away from dehydration. I need a Café Racer Leather jacket suitable for Death Valley!!! Maybe this one? https://www.foxcreekleather.com/mens-summer-riding-jacket/

There is a similar train of thought for guitars. Nowadays, people want their brand new guitars look like they have been played 50 years.

I bought my cheap Korean summer jacket on Ebay for a few dollars. Maybe its me, but I was imagining that clothing several years old and pre-owned should not attract a large premium. I am not talking about collectible wear. I am going to keep looking. Eventually, someone will just look for somebody to give a second life to a jacket that is no longer useful to them.

Zarco was going to get to Q2, his last lap was good enough to put him in front of Fabio and Brad; However, his lap got cancelled since he through a yellow flag, which are no longer flags but lights. When you are on a flying lap, the last one of the session, the one that you had been waiting to ace for the qualifying, you have to hang back? I agree that it should be the case during a race. Many pilots trying to get in the front. But during a qualifying lap, it is not the same. I did not see Zarco overtake anyone as the yellow lights flashed. I understand the safety principle, but he should then be given the chance to repeat the lap.

This is what my Le Mans sings to me....

Pity, they don't work on V11.... Only on older models....

Zarco was the fastest at FP4 today. As this is the practice used to check the bike in race configuration... Too bad that at this point, he has to go through Q1.