Passes & Canyons Blog

Judy and I have been in the market for awhile now for a new helmet-to-helmet communicator, ever since our last one just stopped working for unknown reasons. I can’t say we were ever thrilled with how it worked, but at least we could talk as we rode. And just FYI, that was a Collett Electronics model.

One thing stopping us from buying a new communicator was that we hated the idea of spending a bunch of money on something sight-unseen. We had learned something of the pros and cons of communicators from using our Collett and now we were more selective.

You can well imagine then that I was particularly pleased to be contacted last week by a rep from a company producing communicators asking me if I would like to do a demo of their latest device and write about it. Don’t throw me in that briar patch, right?

The company is UCLEAR, and the product is the HCB100. The company claims this is all military-grade technology, which is to say, very good. I particularly like the fact that the voice pick-up is not a boom, or some microphone that sticks out in front of your mouth. The device apparently just clips to the side of your helmet and is good enough to pick up your voice as you speak.

Now, I say apparently because I don’t have the device yet. This thing has the ability to connect to your bluetooth-enabled cellphone, to your GPS unit, and I’m not sure what else. I told the rep that neither my wife nor I have a bluetooth-enabled cellphone and he didn’t seem to feel it would be worth their while to have me do the test if I wasn’t going to be able to test its full capabilities.

No problem, I figured, I’d ask around and see which of my riding friends have bluetooth-enabled cell phones. Well, it turns out that apparently none of them do. Fortunately, while Alan does not have one himself, he knows someone who does, and he sent me an email with contact info for his friend. I sent an email but haven’t heard back yet, but I presume this will work out.

So anyway, maybe soon I’ll have that nailed down and UCLEAR will be sending me one of their units. And of course I’ll be right back here telling you all about it. And heck, I don’t even care about the bluetooth capabilities. As long as it works well as a communicator for Judy and me, I’m thinking we’re going to be buying this thing rather than be sending it back after the test.

Recent from National Motorcycle Examiner

Can someone own ‘Sturgis’?

Biker Quote for Today

I am taking the advice of all those people who told me, “Hey kid, why don’t you go play in traffic!”

This guest post has been provided by Sarah Henderson. Sarah is into road safety and making our roads much more safe for cyclists and also motorists. Click here for more information. I hope you’ll find it useful and perhaps thought-provoking.

Motorcycle Safety Tips

There’s nothing like the feel of riding your bike on a beautiful, sunny day. Staying safe on the bike is really up to you. Here are some tips to help you stay safe when you’re out on the bike.

Bike Maintenance

Give your bike a quick check once in a while to ensure that everything is working. Check the lights, brake lights, turn signals and oil on a regular basis. Look at cables to be sure they aren’t frayed or worn and lube the train.

Gear

Quality gear can make the difference in an accident. The helmet should fit well and snugly. It should have the DOT label to show that it meets federal standards. Quality leather pants and a jacket not only look sharp, they also help protect you from road debris. Black is the natural choice, but a brighter color will make you more visible to other drivers. Gloves should be non-slip and the shoes you put on should cover the ankles.

Respect

Motorcycles are naturally harder to see. Engaging in risky behavior like riding on the shoulder or weaving through traffic will increase your chances of being in an accident. It’s also important to obey the speed limit when riding and, of course, never drink alcohol or take drugs before hitting the open road.

Assumptions

Normally, you want to avoid making any assumptions. But when you’re on a bike, there are some that make sense. Assume that there is a car in the lane you want to merge into and check on its location. Further, assume that the driver in that car has not noticed you and proceed with caution.

Take a Rider Safety Class

There are classes available to help make you a safer rider. Consider signing up for one of these affordable classes so you can spend more time enjoying the road and less time dealing with accidents. Plus, several insurance companies offer a discount on insurance premiums if you take a safety course. Allstate Insurance, for example, will reward you with a five percent discount on insurance premiums if you take a motorcycle safety class. Nationwide is another insurance company that will insure your bike and give you a five percent discount for taking a safety course.

Remember that Drivers are Blind

It’s not a conscious choice, but it is a fact that far too many drivers just don’t notice motorcycles. Motorcycle awareness, or the lack thereof, is often cited by the National Highway Traffic Safety Association a leading factor in motorcycle accidents. Make yourself more visible by using your turn signals when possible. Take the time to check your mirror before braking so you can not only watch the object in front of you, but also the car behind you to be sure it is slowing down.

Smooth Riding

Easy accelerations, gentle braking using both brakes, proper gear choice and smooth steering will help you stay safe. Your bike will hold traction on the road better and you will be less likely to land in a ditch.

Slow Down when Necessary

If visibility is poor or the car ahead of you is slowing down, you need to slow down, also. Keep the speed in line with what you can see and leave a distance between you and the car ahead of you.

Recent from National Motorcycle Examiner
Royal Enfield making inroads in US

Biker Quote for Today

Gear: Because walking away in disgust beats riding away in an ambulance.

We have a guest post today, from 1tail.com. Hope you find it useful.

Motorcycles are like the untamed beasts of the modern day, at least when compared to more comfort-oriented vehicles such as passenger cars and crossover SUVs. You may be the kind of motorcycling enthusiast who shuns the traditional comforts of the car in favor of the open air and rugged feeling you get from riding a motorbike, but sometimes that changes on long travels. If you’re going to be riding on your bike for hours or even for days across the country, you may need some subtle upgrades that can improve your enjoyment of the experience without taking away from what makes your bike what it is in the first place. Below, we’ll break down several elements of motorcycle travel to consider, and what upgrades can help you avert displeasure (or disaster) on the open road.

Personal Comfort
Getting comfortable can be hard enough in a car where the seats are plush and the arm rests are, well, existent. On a bike, you may be used to getting thrown a bit and keeping your rear end tucked onto a hard seat, but you may not want to be used to that after a twenty hour ride. If you have long travels ahead, proper bike seating is a must. For some drivers, simply installing a wider aftermarket bike seat can make all the difference. For others who may suffer from several back problems, motorcycle seats with built-in backs can be helpful. There are many different types of bike seats available, from stiff and rigid to squishy and soft, so pick one that best suits the needs of your backside.

Clear Vision
Seeing is important. Those three words are all you need to know, but you may not know everything that’s essential to keeping those words in effect. First thing you should cover is motorcycle lighting. You’ll want bike headlights that are powerful, even so much so that they overcompensate a little (on a bike, all the extra luminosity you can get will be a big benefit to you). You pay also want to consider tail light upgrades, such as motorcycle LED tail lights, which are vivid, easy to see, and will be helpful in notifying other drivers of your presence on the road. A proper motorcycle helmet and windshield will also help deflect objects, bugs, and debris that may otherwise impair your vision.

Other Areas to Consider
Sometimes, there are car components that don’t do much during day-to-day driving, but can be extra helpful to use on long trips. When you’re constantly shifting lanes on the highway, a set of strong, durable motorcycle mirrors can be a huge asset. Similarly, motorcycle rims with reflective paneling can be helpful in keeping your bike noticeable in the dark. Little things like these might not seem like much, but when it comes to your safety on the open road, the little things do matter.

Recent from National Motorcycle Examiner
Pros and cons of vacation motorcycle rental

Biker Quote for Today

Now just turn the damn key, and go have some fun already!

Demo rides are a great way to try out different motorcycles, whether you’re looking to buy a new bike soon or just want to see what you like for whenever the time comes. Just don’t show up without proper gear.

Of course, the problem is that no two manufacturers seem to have exactly the same list of what they consider proper gear. Play it safe and go the ATGATT route. That way you’ll be covered (ha, ha–pun intended).

I went over to Foothills BMW yesterday to demo ride some Triumphs. It was a nice day and I didn’t feel the need to wear gloves, but they were in my pocket. When I saw the list of what Triumph was requiring, there they were on the list, gloves. Glad I had them.

I met up with my friend Randy there, and he had also come to ride some Triumphs. Randy had his helmet but he didn’t have a jacket or gloves. It never crossed his mind. Fortunately, one of the guys running the demos was just his size and loaned Randy his own jacket and gloves, so Randy got to ride.

There really is no consistency. You’d think all manufacturers would require a helmet at a minimum, but I’ve been to demo ride events where they were optional. Also, Triumph was requiring simply “no open toe shoes.” Sneakers were OK. That surprised me, considering I had just done this RiderCoach training recently where one paying student was turned away because he only had sneakers, not boots that fully covered his ankles.

Sometimes they want you to have a jacket or long-sleeve shirt at least. For the MSF rider courses that’s the requirement, though lord knows a long-sleeve shirt isn’t going to do you any more good in a get-off than a simple T-shirt. And other times I’ve seen just T-shirts to be OK.

The bottom line is that you just can’t tell. Better to go to the demo ride event with ALL your gear. Then if they don’t require it and you don’t want to wear it, don’t. But don’t put yourself in a position where you come all this way only to be turned away.

Recent from National Motorcycle Examiner
Focus on bringing in new motorcycle riders

Biker Quote for Today

Don’t run your fingers over my bike and I won’t run my bike over your fingers.

The weather allowed me to ride to Scottsdale for Arizona Bike Week. Barely.

Sunday morning dawned warm and sunny–the weather gods were smiling. Apparently they were smiling because they knew the trick they were playing on me.

After writing about how I hoped I could keep my hands warm on this trip I got an email from Mike Landon suggesting that I get some of those thin, neoprene gloves that doctors and dentists use, and wear them under my regular motorcycle gloves. Like a “second skin” he said.

I also found that the glove liners I use for skiing would fit inside my motorcycle gloves–which themselves are Thinsulate-lined–so I had hopes that one or the other approach would suffice. Then for insurance I went to a sporting goods store and bought some chemical handwarmers to tuck inside the gloves if need be.

Always eager to experiment, I left home with one glove liner on, one mylar glove on, and not using the handwarmers for now. Twenty miles later, at Castle Rock, it was clear my fingers were getting cold on both hands equally. Then I hit nasty weather going over the Palmer Divide, with fog and light mist. Cars coming the other way had snow on them. Yikes!

I got to the south end of Colorado Springs and had to stop. My hands were in serious pain. While nursing my hot chocolate and getting warm at a convenience store I asked everyone who came in what they knew about the weather further south. The consensus was that I should be OK heading that direction. And when I was ready to leave I slipped a couple of those chemical handwarmers in my gloves, using both glove liners this time.

My take on using the mylar gloves is that they really did seem to do as well as the glove liners, which definitely counts. The ladies at my dentist’s office who had given them to me had mentioned that as your hands sweated the moisture would collect inside them and they were right, so I figured that since I had the glove liners it would be better to use them. Without the liners I would definitely have used the mylar gloves and been glad to have them.

The weather did improve as I continued south and my hands stayed comfortably warm. It must have been pretty cold as the pads never did feel particularly warm. Apparently every bit of heat they were giving off was needed. Stopping later and putting my gloves back on they seemed quite warm.

I paid $1.49 a pair for these chemical warmers at a sporting goods store but I’m told you can get them in bulk at WalMart for 50 cents a pair. And they’re supposed to be good for 7 hours of heat but after 9 hours these were still pumping it out. In other words, I will always have some of these tucked in my tank bag from now on. They’re a lifesaver.

So to make a long story short, I rode 530 miles Sunday to Grants, NM, and then on to Scottsdale the next day. That photo is of my bike at a rest stop along the highway in New Mexico. I’m ready for Bike Week to get revved up but right now I’m at a local Kawasaki dealership. Seems those tires I thought had enough rubber on them to get me here and home again were only up for half of that ride.

Recent from National Motorcycle Examiner
I’m here for the party–where is it?

Biker Quote for Today

“Adventure” is “Trouble” in the past tense.

Up till now, carrying your golf clubs on your motorcycle has been a bit of a challenge. Or how about loading your bicycle on? Well, rest easy, your problem is solved.

OK, I just came across this company website and I’m going to pass it along to you. The company is 2×2 Cycles and designing racks to carry these things is their business. I guess they’ve actually had the golf bag rack on the market for awhile. Their new product, which is how I came to learn about them, is the bicycle rack.

Now I’ve got to tell you, the idea of riding down the road on my Concours with a bicycle hanging in the air behind me makes me a bit skeptical. Especially since I was just reading recently about how loading bags high on the back of your bike unweights the front of the bike, making the bike less stable. And yet, I’ve got buddies who go on our annual OFMC trip with not just a rear trunk bag but a rack on top of it where they attach another fully loaded bag. Yikes!

So really, these racks for those guys. This is for you Brett. You’re such a big-time golfer anyway, now you can ride to the course on your Harley and just load the golf bag right on with no problem. Me, I guess I’ll stick to renting clubs when I go to the golf course on my bike.

Recent from National Motorcycle Examiner
Harley-Davidson back from the precipice

Biker Quote for Today

Adventure is taking inappropriate equipment to out-of-the-way places.

This may be embarrassing to Lorna Reed, the lady who runs Colorado Chaps, making fleece-lined motorcycle chaps for winter riding, and for others. Nevertheless, I’m going to tell you about it.

Because I have several Google Alerts set up to pick up on news items regarding motorcycles, I ran across a posting this morning in a riders of Honda 1000RRs. It seems one forum member from Australia had ordered some chaps from Lorna and sent payment. Of course, if you pay any attention to the news at all, you are aware there has been incredible flooding going on in Australia recently. Lorna filled the order but then sent this note:

I’m sorry that I was so unawares of the plight of your city/country. Our news has been engrossed in the slayings in Tucson Arizona.
My thoughts and my prayers go to you, your family, and your neighbors.
I just refunded $100. to your credit card ending in XXXX
When you are able, please contribute this to a family, your church, the Red Cross, whom ever needs it most there in Brisbane.
My heart is with you and your family and your country.
We are really all one, on a tiny earth……………..

Of course, I’m familiar with Lorna. She made me a pair of chaps awhile back and I put them through the paces and reported favorably on them. Lorna and I have since stayed in touch and I sent her the URL to that forum post.

So what can you say? I know Lorna never expected to get a lot of attention for what she did, she just did it because she felt it was the right thing to do. I think I speak for a lot of people when I say, “Lorna, you are a truly good person!”

Recent from National Motorcycle Examiner
A call for honesty regarding helmets and vision

Biker Quote for Today

Many of us are irritable most of the time (unless we’re in love or just bought a motorcycle). — Carolyn See

OK, it may be too late to put this on your Christmas wish list so maybe you’ll just have to buy it for yourself.

Gerbing, the heated riding gear folks, have just announced a new heated jacket, the Hybrid LT, that plugs into the bike, but can also be hooked up to a battery so you can be warm even off the bike. The battery fits in the jacket pocket and is supposed to be good for keeping you warm up to three hours.

I don’t know if you’ve tried heated gear but I love it. As long as I’m riding, my electric vest keeps me nice and toasty. It’s when I get off that things get chilly. I’ve thought for a long time that it would be good to have a battery-powered vest so it would work away from the bike. Heck, you could wear it to football game or any other outdoor activity that doesn’t have anything to do with riding.

But what I particularly like about this idea is that you get all the heat you need while you’re riding and then only start using the battery after you’ve arrived. If you only had a battery and rode half an hour to get somewhere, you’ve only got two hours of power if you also intend to use it riding home. With both sources you ride however long it takes, stay warm off the bike three hours, and then ride home as long as it takes.

This goes on my list of good ideas. Plus, it’s an attractive-looking jacket.

Recent from National Motorcycle Examiner
More motorcycle thieves get busted via LoJack

Biker Quote for Today

Keep the bike. Ditch the fiancee.