Motorcycle Riders?

[melensdad]

We all know that motorcycle sales are in a worldwide slump, sales in the US are worse than in most other area. Very few nations are showing growth.

New riders are simply not making the effort to learn to ride. I have to wonder if some of that is due to the manual transmissions on bikes? Kids haven't learned how to drive stick shift cars in "drivers ed" classes for at least the past 35 years. So now there are parents, possibly even grandparents, of driving age 'kids' who have never driven a stick shift car.

BMW is now offering its clutches EZ shift option on some models, which requires a clutch only in 1st or 1st/2nd gear. Honda offers its DCT (dual clutch) transmission which works as fully automatic, fully manual or a hybrid as the rider sees fit. Harley Davidson's electric LIVEWIRE is clutchless & gearless, as is the entire line of ZERO motorcycles.

Will gearless electric motorcycles, or EZ shift or DCT type transmissions be enough to bring in new riders or are those offerings, which are currently limited to mid-size and larger bikes too expensive for most newbies? I personally think they are all great ideas but I am not sure any are offered on a motorcycle smaller than a 700cc engine size weighing nearly 500 pounds so I'm not sure they are newbie friendly options (yet).

DCT transmissions are getting rave reviews from offroad enthusiasts on Honda's Africa Twin and from the more placid road cruising Goldwing owners. EZ shift from BMW is gaining a lot of traction, but nothing about a BMW is cheap and the bikes just are not parked in front of every Starbucks. Nobody questions the lack of gears/clutches on any brand of electric.

KTM is now offering a clutchless/gearless electric offroad motorcycle aimed at kids. Is that the ticket?

Thoughts?

 

[terrehautian]

My last motorcycle could shift into higher gears without clutching in 3rd-5th gear.

 

[bwframe]

I personally think that the reason there is a slump in riding is distracted drivers. I don't try to sell potential riders and haven't for years for that reason. It's a rare ride that I don't have at least a slight reminder that you really really need to be on your game to ride on today's roadways.

 

[tv1217]

People need to get off their damn cell phones. It's dangerous enough car on car. Even before I started riding, I kept my distance from bikes but I've noticed people get uncomfortably close. Maybe a spark plug to the windshield will change their ways.

 

[Hatin Since 87]

People need to get off their damn cell phones. It's dangerous enough car on car. Even before I started riding, I kept my distance from bikes but I've noticed people get uncomfortably close. Maybe a spark plug to the windshield will change their ways. 樂

I had a guy close enough I could have slapped his hood. Sadly enough when I turned around and motioned for a little space he flipped me off and stayed the same distance. If you ever thought people weren’t self centered a holes, jump on a motorcycle and go for a cruise down the highway.

 

[tv1217]

Yeah see, he clearly needs a spark plug installed in the windshield.

 

[Hatin Since 87]

I was thinking a boot installed in a particular crevice of his body, but I just get as far from those clowns as possible.

 

[Nazgul]

Earlier this week had some asshat tailgating me while on his phone. He was driving a 3/4 ton pickup that could have flattened me. I pulled over to let him by and he fingered me, WTF???

Don

 

[tv1217]

Oh the choice of words. But I'll leave it alone

 

[bwframe]

OK, I'll play devil's advocate...

...There is nothing wrong with pulling over and letting a tailgater by.

I know I really appreciate it when slower drivers/riders of all sort recognize that they are holding people up and get out of the way.

 

[lt8919]

2013 Ducati Hypermotard 821

 

[chezuki]

OK, I'll play devil's advocate...

...There is nothing wrong with pulling over and letting a tailgater by.

I know I really appreciate it when slower drivers/riders of all sort recognize that they are holding people up and get out of the way.

This absolutely.

Regardless of who is in the right, no amount of posturing, gesturing, or relocating of spark plugs changes the dynamic of a 3 ton truck vs a 600-1000lb bike. Get out of the way and live another day.

 

[Bosshoss]

People need to get off their damn cell phones. It's dangerous enough car on car. Even before I started riding, I kept my distance from bikes but I've noticed people get uncomfortably close. Maybe a spark plug to the windshield will change their ways. 樂

I don't get this thinking(spark plug/ball bearing to the windshield)
You have someone behind you that is distracted/in a hurry/not paying attention driving a 4-6 thousand pound vehicle and you want to bust there windshield? Now you have someone behind you that is distracted/in a hurry/ not paying attention in a 4-6 thousand pound vehicle who is NOW paying attention and PISSED OFF.
With the mentality of some drivers today that could be a seriously bad combination.
Not to mention if the person following has a accident and someone seen you throw the spark plug I would guess some serious charges could be filed against you.
Should they be following that close? Of course not but it happens.
I spent over 250,000 accident free miles on motorcycles trying to stay out of the way and getting away from people doing something I didn't like or care for, not drawing attention to myself and pissing them off.

 

[Nazgul]

OK, I'll play devil's advocate...

...There is nothing wrong with pulling over and letting a tailgater by.

I know I really appreciate it when slower drivers/riders of all sort recognize that they are holding people up and get out of the way.

I appreciate this very much as well. I am surprised that people are so unaware of the traffic in front and rear of the.

I can assure you I was not holding up traffic, can only go as fast as the vehicles ahead of you. I have no problem passing slow drivers safely.

Have to admit the "Dark Side" calls me occasionally and I go a little too fast...………….

Don

 

[bwframe]

Sena is the most popular producer of the high quality communicators. Cardo, in my opinion, is underdog brand and does a better job of producing high quality communication systems. Both are at the high end of the price spectrum. Comparison reviews of the systems almost always say the Cardo is the better of the two. But not sure my how much??? And different features may be more important to some than to others. But Sena is not the only game in town for high end units...

Sena is out with a new model. Communicator with 4K camera built in.

10C EVO Motorcycle Bluetooth Camera & Communication System

$400 a pop on their site.

 

[melensdad]

Sena is out with a new model. Communicator with 4K camera built in.

10C EVO Motorcycle Bluetooth Camera & Communication System

$400 a pop on their site.

And the reviews are not great.

Stick with CARDO for audio and GO PRO for video.

 

[bwframe]

And the reviews are not great.

Stick with CARDO for audio and GO PRO for video.

CARDO needs to build a unit with both. More competition = better products and cheaper too.

 

[melensdad]

CARDO needs to build a unit with both. More competition = better products and cheaper too.

Why?

If the audio fails you now have a camera that can't record audio.
If video breaks you now have a communicator without video.
Sending 1 off for repair loses you BOTH.

Video doesn’t have stabilization so you get 4K quality shakes. Limited to 128gb micro cards which fill up quick at 4K resolution. Audio doesn’t include Mesh. WTF???

And if you want cheaper then buy some of the chinese knock offs. They work even worse than a Sena but typically look like Sena units.

I'll stick with my Cardo Palk Talk Slim unit, it fits up under the back of the helmet with a flat control panel that attaches to the lower lip of the left side. Waterproof, not just water resistant. A voice control system that actually works well.

All those Sena units are about as aerodynamic as attaching a brick on the side of your helmet and increase wind noise. Nope, don't need or want that.

 

[melensdad]

Got a pair of KLIM Switchback armored riding pants. Wore the pants today for a roughly 120 mile ride. Lowell to Hebron to Valparaiso to Michigan City to Crown Point to Cedar Lake and then back to Lowell.

As with other premium brands, if you have a crash or skid in these pants, and the pants get damaged you send them back and they replace for free for up to 5 years of ownership. And as with other KLIM gear I suspect they will protect very well, there are literally hundreds of riders who have claimed their KLIM armored riding gear has saved their skin, bones and lives in everything from simple low speed skids to unplanned highway speed dismounts.

These KLIM Switchback pants have a casual pant design that is similar to something you'd find from Carhartt work pants with some features of cargo style pants. So sort of a work pant, sort of a cargo pant. Actually also sort of like an upland bird/quail hunting briar-resistant pant too because of the appearance of the double layer front.

I got size 36. I'm 6' tall, 195 pounds and more handsome than Elvis . I wear a size 36 in my blue jeans and my jeans are typically a bit loose in the butt but fit me reasonably well around the waist without being tight. I could probably wear a size 35 if my brand of choice came in a size 35" waist. The KLIM Switchbacks in size 36 fit just like my normal blue jeans. Loose in the butt and comfortable in the waist without being tight. The legs are cut in a relaxed, perhaps even loose cut. I need a belt to make them feel secure around my waist without slipping down, that said I wear a typical heavy/double layer gun-belt as my daily belt, the belt loops on the KLIM Switchback were very tight with my daily belt. YMMV

These pants come in Black/Grey and also in Brown/Tan. I have the Black/Grey color scheme. I think I'd like to get them in the Brown/Tan variety too.

The pants are unlined. The heavy Cordura is abrasion resistant so no need for a Kevlar, Covex or similar liner. The Cordura also makes a swishing noise when you walk. So not a 'quiet' pair of pants for hiking. The Cordura also is a little slippery so your don't stick to the seat, instead you can slide around. For pure riding pants I'd prefer they be stickier so I am more secured in the saddle of the bike. But they sell these as a pair of pants you can wear all day, on and off the bike. That is their claim. Hmmm...

The 2 back pockets are big and deep and have heavy metal zipper closures. I appreciate the zippers, and the size easily holds your wallet, etc.

On the front are 2 traditionally cut blue jeans style pockets. Again they are deep and generously cut. On the right leg, about mid thigh, is a cargo pocket with a double snap closure. Left leg has another cargo pocket but with a zipper closure.

Beneath both of these 'cargo' pockets are armor pockets for your knees. The armor pockets are accessible from the front of the pants by unsnapping a snap that holds down the corner of each of the cargo pockets. This lets you reach under the cargo pocket into a pocket over your knee that holds the knee armor. The knee armor is held in place by Velco and is adjustable to fit your body. The armor is D3O and is level 1. The armor can be fairly easily removed/replaced if you want to use the pants as casual pants, and you can lock your armor in your Frunk/Panniers/top box while you are away from your bike.

There is similar D3O armor in pockets at your hips that can be removed from the INSIDE of your pants.

On both the right and left side of the pants, at thigh level, along the right/left seams are metal zippers. They are not for pockets but rather are for ventilation. Unzip these and it opens up to a mesh panel that allows some airflow.

At calf level, going down to the cuff are bi-directional metal zippers. At the cuff is a snap adjustment with the ability to adjust the cuff to several diameters making it as loose or tight around your boot as you prefer. The bi-directional zipper/snap cuff and generally relaxed cut of the leg allows you to slip the pants on over a medium size boot but probably not an adventure style or large riding boot. The bi-directional zipper at the cuff also allows you to unzip from the top down to bring in some airflow on hot days.

Temps today ranged from lower 50's and cloudy to mid-60's and sunny and I had the zip vents closed but was comfortable in all conditions, if a bit cool at the lower temps when the sun was obscured.

These are not waterproof pants.

These are not insulated pants but they are cut loose enough to ear an insulation layer under them for cooler weather. Not sure how well they breathe in hot or humid weather. This review is based on 1 day of riding and walking around, 120-ish miles in the saddle in moderate temps.

The pants are very comfortable. The knee armor was easy enough to position perfectly. I walked around with the armor in when we stopped midday to explore a small town's downtown area and did some shopping and never felt the armor banging against me or feeling obtrusive. The Cordura fabric does make a bit of noise while walking around.

Overall I really like these pants. A bit over $200 so not inexpensive, but also not too bad for casual riding pants. These will not replace a pair of touring pants for long journeys but they are very nice pants for daily trips to town, for running errands, they can do double duty as work pants and casual pants, etc.


Front of the leg, showing the detail of the bottom of the cargo pocket snap closure that give exterior access to the knee armor. Armor is D3O and is CE Level 1.

Front of waist, showing the hip armor concealed and visible. Armor is D3O and is CE Level 1.

Back pockets and cuff detail:

Front pocket detail:

 

[semperfi211]

I took advantage of some 60 weather over the weekend. I don't know how much more of that we will be getting. What is your minimum riding temp? Mine is 50.