Review Held RainStar gloves

Back online after having to replace my laptop. Only so much I can do on an iPad so glad to have a proper computer again. At the risk of sounding like a Held Gloves fanboy – the Held RainStar gloves are truly the best gloves I have ever used and exceeded my expectations by a large margin. I have gone through a number of gloves, more than most people because I have that dermatitis issue. I need

More about → Review Held RainStar gloves

First Gear Scout Jacket review (and some long term updates)

I was going to get out for a ride today but just did not feel up to it. First of all I want to post an update on two items. Dainese Guanto X-ILE gloves. Following on from my previous review all I can say is - very disappointed in these. The way the fingers are stitched means they end up being uncomfortable after 1/2 a day as the seam rubs against the area between your fingers. Look great but

More about → First Gear Scout Jacket review (and some long term updates)

Winter riding

I hit the road early today and despite being one of the coldest weekends this year I was not cold at all having learned a few tricks to ensure I keep warm. Starting at the base layer I wear a thermal shirt rather than a regular t-shirt. I use merino ones which are pricey here but not too bad if you buy from New Zealand and much better than the regular polyester ones. Besides holding the body

More about → Winter riding

Just saying

I have started to wonder if there is some real safety value in a sports exhaust system on a motorcycle in an urban environment. Before the CB1100 I had a Buell with standard muffler, which I liked very much, but I had a number of occasions where cars beside me on the M1 motorway moved over into my lane until I sounded my horn and they noticed I was there. I cannot recall that happening on my

More about → Just saying

Shark RSR2 Carbon helmet review

Updated 25.06.2011 - Further update Feb 2012.

Yes I ended up buying one of these from BikeBiz, half price seemed too good a deal.



So now I seemingly have 3 helmets however none are without problems. I retired my old Shark RSR1 to back up duty after the fall in Japan. The Nolan N43 is a great summer helmet, it flows so much air, but it is not so good in winter. Additionally the Nolan has

More about → Shark RSR2 Carbon helmet review

Crampbuster Vs Throttle Rocker

Updated 23.05.2011 I own both of these and now having tried both to ease cramp on long rides I want to share my findings. Both are small devices that affix to the throttle grip to allow you to hold the throttle open by your palm so you can release your grip around the throttle and stretch your fingers for a bit. Both when installed need to be angled slightly higher than horizontal due to the

More about → Crampbuster Vs Throttle Rocker

Motorcycle Roller Stand

A down side to my new exhaust system was they were unable to find a way to keep the centre stand. I probably would never have looked at one of these roller stands if I had not enjoyed the centre stand on the CB so much when cleaning the rear wheel and lubing the chain. I do still own a race stand which has been on loan to my mate for the last couple of years. Not so easy to operate those things

More about → Motorcycle Roller Stand

Mini Update

Update on a few items. I took the CB1100 back to the exhaust shop yesterday to have the quieter baffles installed and some minor adjustments. The chrome plated headers are showing some heat discolouring already so I hope this will be limited to the area around the mounting to the engine block. The mufflers are also to get their final polish which was not previously done. Still very happy with

More about → Mini Update

Mighty Plugs review

Revised 16.04.2011 and 25.06.2011. Also see updates below. You know I love ear plugs for riding. Besides saving you from  hearing loss they greatly reduce rider fatigue. Like most people I never used to wear ear plugs however I noticed sometimes ringing in my ears after a long days ride and discovered that the wind noise when riding is loud enough to cause hearing damage and so started my quest

More about → Mighty Plugs review

Dainese Guanto X-ILE gloves

See my updates below - these are not recommended. 

One of the things I decided to do after my spill in the Japanese alps was to change out my summer gloves from O’Neil Moto-X items to items with greater protection.

I wanted a glove that offered genuine high protection in a summer glove. After reading some reviews I went with the Dainese Guanto gloves hoping to get a higher quality product with

More about → Dainese Guanto X-ILE gloves

Chain gang

I am back to a motorcycle with a chain. I will miss the clean and quiet belt drive of my Buell however the CB1100 does have a centre stand and that makes a world of difference to chain maintenance. It must be a very long time since I owned a motorcycle with a centre stand. Cleaning the rear wheel is a cinch and same for cleaning and lubing the chain. I sourced one of these chain brushes in

More about → Chain gang

Cortech super mini magnetic tank bag

I have had this in the cupboard unused for about 12 months. It was listed in an online clearance sale for $29 with free post and usually retails nearer to one hundred so I decided to buy it and put aside. The Buell had a plastic tank so it could not take a magnetic tank bag however since it already had panniers fitted this wasn’t a problem. I was then going to use it on the Euro tour but

More about → Cortech super mini magnetic tank bag

Vitesse Boots

I currently have in the cupboard a variety of unsuitable riding boots. One pair are simple walking boots/shoes with little protection and which I have already stopped using. Another pair are also short height boots/shoes from Alpinestars that after a days riding bite into my arch no matter what I do with them. The final pair are mid height waterproof items from Joe Rocket. Purchased for my Euro

More about → Vitesse Boots

V2 visor sponge

I admit freely I am often slow to recognize a good thing. Be it I get too absorbed elsewhere or follow the herd or end up going round in circles before realizing I had it right to begin with. And that’s just motorcycles, the harder stuff of one’s personal life I seem to decipher 20 years later than everyone else!   So it is no surprise that I am probably the last person to recognize what a

More about → V2 visor sponge

Summer riding gear

After my ‘curling’ experience on the ice in Japan I return to tropics of north east Australia and it is hot and steamy. Packing away my winter gear that served me well overseas I take a moment to examine my summer riding equipment which I use here for most of the year. Is it up to the task should something unexpected happen again? From the bottom up then. My riding shoes are not really the best

More about → Summer riding gear

Nylon clothing repair

I am preparing for the Japan ride and the weather is going to be mixed so I needed to make some repairs to my pants which I managed to touch against the hot exhaust of the Honda in Germany. It only took a couple of seconds to melt the outer nylon and inner layer and lucky there is mesh inside the pants at that area for air circulation which is some sort of cloth material not plastic and it held

More about → Nylon clothing repair

Held Score gloves review

I have been talking about getting new gloves for the tour and I finally got out on the bike on the weekend to test them. The gloves I went for are made by Held and the model is called Score. I became aware of the company when I started looking for what gloves were getting the very best reviews. The guys over at WebBikeWorld are very demanding with gloves having tested so many and so when I

More about → Held Score gloves review

Long Term Updates

I have reviewed a number of purchases on this blog, not particularly in depth but all the same I wanted to mention how I felt about some of them after now having used them for a longer time period. Nolan N43 Air helmet. I still love the design of this helmet however I have found the optics of the visor not to be perfect and as I mentioned in my initial review the liner does not compare with the

More about → Long Term Updates

Winter gear build up

My collection of winter gear continues to grow in preparation for the Europe tour. My latest additions are a mid layer and a thermal base layer. After looking about a bit I settled on the Alpinestars mid layer jacket. I have looked long and hard at all the outdoor store mountain type gear but it was 3 times the price and not sure if truly 100% windproof. Then I looked at cycling winter garments

More about → Winter gear build up

Pant - Boot clamps

I used to ride with Draggin Jeans however switched to pants also with knee armor (and then knee + hip armor) after reading that relatively few riders slide on their bum Vs hitting their hip or knee on the ground when involved in an accident.  However knee armor in pants does tend to make the pants ride up my legs regardless of how I adjust the pads or the brand and model. After my last ride

More about → Pant - Boot clamps