If you are planning a big bike trip, you’re going to need some gear.
I am a big fan of “expect the best, plan for the worst”, to that end, I will be fully geared up for this trip.
Helmet :
Obviously the most important bit of kit for protecting ones bonce is a good lid. I ride Shoei, probably the best, maybe Arai is better but I hear they are noisy? I had a matte black one, one day I picked up my bike from the shop (no Triumph jokes, please) and the guy said “your helmet is on the rack”. I couldn’t determine which was mine among all the other matte black ones that were there. When it was time for a new helmet, I got a shiny one.
Gloves:
I have a pair of Revit Cayenne light weight gloves for the hot days. I love these glubs! They are made of perforated kangaroo leather (presumably made from the hide of perforated kangaroos). Hard knuckles, vents, short wrist. They are very supple and really let the air circulate.
I also have a pair of Revit GTX Fusion for the colder mornings and wet days. Again, tons of protection in the knuckles and side palm, they have a fleece lining and are super toasty.
Boots: Forma Moon Boots
These are not only a necessity for your steam punk comicon costume, they are also very comfortable and full height should you find yourself being attacked by something short and bitey, like an otter.
I have removed the sole lining and replaced with a Doctor Scholls gel insert.
Jacket and Pants:
I was lucky to find a Dainese
Touring pants and jacket at The Motorcycle Exchange in San Francisco, very slightly used.
The pants have hard armor at the knee and CE padding at hips, they also have a zip in/out lining for the cold days/hot days and they zip in to the jacket. They are very comfortable gortex, fit well and have easy to open and close vents on the thigh.
The jacket is AWESOME. Hard armor at the shoulders and elbows and CE armor at the back. I removed the soft armor and replaced with a hard plastic, full back, spine protector. There are vent panels at the arms, chest and back.
High Visability:
I cover this with a High Viz bib. There is much discussion in the moto community about the value of high visability gear, to be sure, it looks kind of goofy, but the evidence is clear, it makes you safer. When my daughter was in middle schools, she once admonished me, “Dad, do you have to wear that stupid yellow jacket?”. Yes, I do.
The best safety gear you can use is a “they can’t see me” attitude, however, I believe in giving myself the best chance of being seen at all times. I ride with headlights on and fog lights on too. Along with the high viz jacket, my dry bag is also fluorescent and I have put extra reflective strips on my boxes.
You are going to have to try hard not to see me.
What are your thoughts on High Viz?
What gear do you use?
Ahh hi viz…. I don’t bother much with daytime hi viz because I reckon in general I’d people aren’t going to see you anyway the fact you’re bright orange won’t make a difference. HOWEVER. My Richa winter jacket is black with neon green hi viz panels. My old Shark lid was predominantly white. That plus hard cases made me resemble a police bike. THAT made people see me!!
Yeah, the explorer loaded with boxes and foggies turned on, with the bib and the hazard lights on, it is like the parting of the red sea.
But seriously, guys on grey bikes in all black on a grey and black road, they blend. I barely saw a guy in black last week, just in the shadow of a tree. I did see his mate on a black bike with a yellow jacket. This is how camouflage works, yeah?
Fair comment. But as a rider you do take more notice of bikes, not sure of the average car driver I’m not so confident. I did mean to add that I’m a believer in reflective bits. At night and in bad visibility like rain and fog they make me feel safer… Let’s face it, anything is worth it if it’s to make yer arse safer out there!
According to studies, high viz reduces chances of becoming an organ donor by 74%.
“It looks goofy to young riders” (I guess you are young at heart).
https://m.driving-tests.org/beginner-drivers/wheres-your-neon-why-high-visibility-motorcycle-clothing-is-essential/
I’ve never gone down the high vis route, not sure why, however the road trip waterproofs are the highest vis you can get, think that makes sense in the rain when visibility is reduced. Most bike these days have daytime running lights in uk, is that the same in the states?
Well my bikes are British, so…yeah.