New equipment

[Llamaman]

After 30 years riding in cheap gear, ex army boots, jeans, thin waterproof over trousers and cheap jackets I decided after getting soaked to the skin coming back from Italy to invest in some quality gear. It took me 3 months of saving but now I have schuberth C3 helmet, with pin lock, Rukka Kalifornia coat, TCX Infinity boots, heated grips, earplugs, adjustable screen bracket and long socks. Now when I ride I'm warm and dry, I can see where I'm going clearly, it's quiet and my fingers and toes aren't numb with cold but it feels kind of strange, insulated and remote. The sensations I grew up with have gone and the pleasure of a hot drink and warm fire after a long cold ride has vanished. I won't be going back to my old kit but has anyone else thought the same thing? Or is this just the ramblings of a long thoughtful ride

 

[snakebitten]

No, I get it. I know what you mean, I think.
However, the romance of my youthful adventurism is trumped by my elderly tendency to self preservation.

Ok, basically I'm saying I still love the thrill, but like to experience it in comfort and safety. I got nothing left to prove.
I already survived more than I should have.

 

[Bigbore4]

<snipped>

I got nothing left to prove.
I already survived more than I should have.

Well said sir, well said.

 

[Boondocker]

It's about time you figured this out. I really hate not wearing proper gear when riding. I'm so much more comfortable in good MC gear and don't even get me started the safety aspect. Yes I'm an ATGATT nanny.

Here's an anecdote. I sometimes arrive at work on a bad weather day, like cold and rain (not a lot of that weather in my town). Invariably, someone will say something to the affect of "I can't believe you rode to work today" (I ride to work almost every day). I'm standing there warm and dry in my full MC regalia and they're cold and wet in their street clothes from walking across the parking lot from their car. I just tell them, in 3 minutes I'll be out of my riding suit, still warm and dry, while you will still be cold and wet. Who's the crazy one here?

P.S. Don't discount the pleasure of a hot drink and a warm fire after a cold ride. You're still allowed that even if you dress sensibly.

 

[2112]

I agree it's not the same as in yer yoof, but not necessarily in a bad way. As a kid growing up I would drink cider and then progressed to snakebite (a cider/lager mix), I now like a nice glass of wine or a fine single malt whiskey. Refinement is not a backwards step, embrace moving on and keep riding ::008::

 

[Dogdaze]

So many times when riding a few years back, I would arrive and be so cold to the core I would not be able to stop shaking. Then bought a better jacket, good. Then proper trousers, better.
Decent gloves, even better. Then last year I decide why stop riding when the weather gets colder (especially now I had a 'all weather bike') so bought even better gear and heated gloves, all I can say is.......oh my! I come back from a 1-2 hour ride in 2-3 C degree temp and almost feel euphoric from not being cold, what must have I been thinking all those years ::010::

 

[Llamaman]

Yup you got it. When you stick with old products for years it always amazes when you buy new and see how tech has improved the function.

 

[HeliMark]

For me the wondering if I could pull the clutch lever in as my fingers were frozen are long gone.

Mark

 

[Dogdaze]

For me the wondering if I could pull the clutch lever in as my fingers were frozen are long gone.

Mark

Not me, it was the brake lever I was worried about, I could always shift without clutch, needing stop stop took a higher priority.... ::001::

 

[klunsford]

No, I get it. I know what you mean, I think.
However, the romance of my youthful adventurism is trumped by my elderly tendency to self preservation.

Ok, basically I'm saying I still love the thrill, but like to experience it in comfort and safety. I got nothing left to prove.
I already survived more than I should have.

Amen to that Snake

 

[Dirt_Dad]

Ok, basically I'm saying I still love the thrill, but like to experience it in comfort and safety. I got nothing left to prove.
I already survived more than I should have.

Very well said, Snake. I agree with every word of it.

 

[Magilla]

I did the same thng last year with Klim gear. Just bought new Sidi tour boots. I am much more comfortable in any type of weather. I should have done it years ago. ::008:: i still look forward to a warm drink when iI return.

Enjoy your new gear.

 

[Xt1200zsupertenere]

Dont understand that it took you 30 years to understand the differens betwen cheap ( bad ) motorcycle gear apart from real quality gear

I have RUKKA pants and jacket , Alpinestars Touring boots , Halvarsson gloves and i Love My helmet ( Shoie XR1100 )

Also have half Tint ( upper ) visor and protecttint pinlock inside ::008:: ::008:: ::008::

http://youtu.be/HuOCFnBuiVk

 

[The Ferret]

I remember my Statium 6 helmet , with clip on peak ( from the 70's). The innovation was a wrap around visor !!! and then there were the leather guantlets, so thick I could warm my hands on the headers. Those were the days! I was immortal then too! ::012::

 

[Llamaman]

to XT1200, In my teens I wore greasy levis 2 pairs thick, the outer pair torn and black with dirt and grease( which gave a degree of waterproofness), black leather Perfecto jacket with open face helmet and goggles, in my twenties I `progressed` to an Irving sheepskin WW2 jacket with so many repairs there was little left of the original, held together with an ex army leather ammo pouch belt, cleaner levis with moto x boots an AGV off road helmet and ski goggles ( mad max before the film came out ). Then it was a second hand ( cheap because torn after accident ) Dainese black retro jacket jeans and ex army boots ( goretex lined mind you ) and my first Arai, onto Richa matching trousers and jacket another Arai Quantum. Finally the gear I have now.

I still have nearly all my old mc clothing on a long rail

So it was a case of misplaced machismo greaser uniform to start with then my impecunious state allowed me few choices so ex military surplus and second hand gear became favourite. Now finally I have this, and I love it. I can`t believe you can buy a coat that has a courtesy coat facility should it need repair.