K11 Owners Group

fnord · Posted: Mon Oct 27, 2008 10:29 pm Post subject: Gear Thread

My apologies if this thread already exists, but I couldn't find one.

We're always refining our gear... new gloves, new boots, new jackets, etc. So here are two questions:

1) What's your current setup? Jacket, pants, gloves, boots, helmet, any or all.

2) Why do you like/dislike each bit that you feel like posting about?

Feel free to wander off into summer/winter differences, personal dislikes, and any naked riding, if that's your thing.

Flying Duck · Posted: Mon Oct 27, 2008 10:50 pm Post subject:

I'm a gear whore. I buy all sorts of shit. My philospohpy is buy all the shit you can on good sales at New Enough, slightly used stuff on eBay that doesn't get bid up to what it's worth and local Craig's list buys. Buy everything you can that you know you can sell easily for at least $20 or more than you paid for it.

Then if you don't wear it for a year or two, dump it on Craig's list or eBay for more than you bought it for.

This summer, I sold off everything I hadn't used for a year or more. I was up to something like 15 jackets and almost 20 pairs of gloves.

I'm left with:

7 or 8 jackets
5 or 6 pairs of pants/outer pants
About tens pairs of gloves
3 Arai Quantum helmets

I only wear one pair of boots though. Corbin Roadmasters which haven't been made for several years now. I have a brand new pair in reserve that I picked up on eBay a few years back for $100. I will keep repairing the old ones until even a hobo wouldn't wear them. Rolling Eyes

I splurged this summer and got a pair of the custom Motoport Kevlar pants for $300 plus. I have to admit that I wasn't sure about them when they first arrived but they're really growing on me and I feel much more protected than I do wearing Draggin Jeans.
_________________
93 LT (x2)
94 RS
86-97 K75F(K75/100/1100 Frankenbrick)
86 K75C w/paralever, hi perf cams,TURBO!
91 & 92 K75Ss
91 K1
86 custom K100
14 WR250R
IBA #17739 (SS1K, BBG, 50CC)
Buy parts HERE

Mystic Red · Posted: Mon Oct 27, 2008 10:56 pm Post subject:

In the summer wear Tour Master Flex Jacket and never put the insulated liner in it. I carry the waterproof liner to break the wind or rain. It has an outer liner that, ah hell, take a look for yourself. http://www.tourmaster.com/xcart/product.php?productid=248&cat=3 It works for any weather condition. When it's cold I wear a BMW heated vest under a 200 weight fleece top with the flex over everything. I have First Gear over pants down below but I've been looking at the Flex pants. Oh yea, I wear running shoes on Duck's recommendation. Very Happy

_________________
Scott Hespelt, '94 K11LT
K11 OG #466

Shoganai · Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2008 12:17 am Post subject:

Hi and welcome,

Jacket: BMW Commuter3
What I like about it: for my part of the world, it's a year round jacket. It's only hot in direct sun when moving if temps are greater than 100, but not unbearable for me. The zip in felt/Gortex liner has never let me get wet. It's felt liner it warm enough for dry temps between 38-50 with only a light long sleeve tee-shirt under it.
More winter stuff: Gerbing electric jacket (not vest) and micro fleece.

Pants: Rukka Air
Again a year round pant for me. However, you MUST wear something between it and your skin as it can be kinda chaffing. In the summer I use synthetic wicking under pant. In the winter I use a micro fleece. For REALLY bad rain I use BMW Gortex over pants.

Gloves:
Summer Held Steve. IMHO the finest MC glove ever made. http://www.webbikeworld.com/r2/held-gloves/
Winter, a BMW insluated rain glove. (Heavy Application – BMW Pro Winter)

Boots: Vindramini Marathon

Helmet: Anything that fits. Right now a Arai. But I've also enjoyed HJC.

Extras: For winter, I use a BMW Windstopper® Balaclava
Turtle Fur neck gaiter.

Safety vest: Icon Motorsports Mil-Spec vest
_________________
1993 K1100RS aka The Shop Whore
1994 K1100RS aka Blue Streak

The long road is a rainbow and the pot of gold lies there.
So slip the chain and I'm off again,
You'll find me everywhere. I'm a Rover. - JT

Nana korobi ya oki

Off the grid · Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2008 2:43 am Post subject:

Summer:
HJC Half helmet (with full ear protection)
Fieldshear mesh armored pants
Fieldshear mesh armored jacket
Fingerless gloves

Fall:
Swap between the short helmet and modular
Joe Rocket Ballistic series jacket...the one I use most of the time, liner or not...perfect 3 season jacket.
Fieldshear mesh armored pants/Firstgear armored pants
Technik armored short gloves

Winter:
HJC CL-MAX modular helmet with snowmobile smoked shield
Moto GP Pylon leather gloves with liners (and 1-time use glovewarmers if really cold)
Motophoria 3/4 length jacket(Kevlar lined cardura....absolutely bulletproof)
Firstgear waterproof winter pants
Extra pair of socks
Balaclava

Boots? I only ride with riding boots, and I use the same pair year round. When you have huge dogs like mine, you take what fits. (14, EE)

Setup Boots....low cost version produced by SIDI. (yes, they are made in Italy)

Like Drake, I buy new shit all year long. My wife is completely baffled by the fact that I have so much crap...and I tell her I really don't have a lot, comparatively speaking.
_________________
Bane of your existence since July 2006
2007 Triumph Tiger ABS. "Sabertooth"
2009 Husqvarna TE610. "The dirty Italian mistress"

Scott_Anderson · Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2008 7:49 am Post subject:

Wecome to the watering hole of 'K'nowledge.

I wear the Commuter 3 set of jacket, liner and pants.
Cover that also with the Icon Milspec vest.
I have an old pair of SK driving gloves that I wear in the spring, summer, and fall.
Mike Corbin tourmaster boots all the time.
For winter riding I add the Gerbings jacket and gloves, and an extra long sleeve layer.
I have a new HJC Symax modular that I wear, as well as a solid full face and a couple of 3/4's for extra passengers.

I have been trying real hard to not accumulate too much extra stuff, but I'm needing a support group. Maybe Drake and OTG could be facilitators? Laughing

_________________
Ride safe.

1995 K1100LT 0302044
2017 FLHTK Ultra Limited
Garmin StreetPilot 2820
Garmin Zumo 550
Garmin Zumo XT
"One who does not ask questions is ashamed to learn" Danish proverb
1997 K1100LT 0302488(R.I.P.)
1997 R1100RT ZC62149(sold)

Flying Duck · Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2008 7:52 am Post subject:

Off the grid · Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2008 12:22 pm Post subject:

moxnix · Joined: 24 Apr 2008 Posts: 13

Helmet- Arai XD with Pinlock-going back to Arai, the shield is fogging- Picking up Schuberth C3 on Friday. I will keep the Arai for the thumper. I had a RX7 Corsair hated the looking through binoculars feeling with the small opening.

Jacket- I have a Rallye Pro 2-this will be the last piece of gear I would get rid of. I absolutely love it. I also have an Atlantis 3 that I like, but not near as much as the RP2. I am thinking of a new jacket a Hein Gerikhe Cruise GTX in Daylight. I've had a Rev'it!, Airflow 3, and a Dainese none of which lasted in the rotation more than a few rides.

Pants- BMW City, love the fit could do without the HD look though. Also have, the Summer 2s- good if I wear some phase change underneath.

Boots-Sidi Canyons nothing bad to say, just good waterproof comfortable boots.

Gloves- Favorite are the BMW Rallyes, I also wear Summer2s- too hot in anything over 60*, and ProWinter 2s for temps under 40*

Flying Duck · Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2008 2:50 pm Post subject:

I forgot. I also have a couple of HJC AC-2 half helmets for riding the LT. Probably wouldn't work on an RS though unless your'e going parade speed.
_________________
93 LT (x2)
94 RS
86-97 K75F(K75/100/1100 Frankenbrick)
86 K75C w/paralever, hi perf cams,TURBO!
91 & 92 K75Ss
91 K1
86 custom K100
14 WR250R
IBA #17739 (SS1K, BBG, 50CC)
Buy parts HERE

SugarHillCTD · Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2008 6:56 pm Post subject:

Both of us-

Tour Master Transition 2 jackets
Nolan N102 helmets with N-com intercoms
Bohn-Armor-Pants (wear under street clothes- typically black Carhartt jeans)
Electric heated vest for cold weather
non-motorcycle-specific boots.

We leave the helmets and jackets on the bike and we can walk into a restaurant without looking like we just rode in from the gran prix circuit.
_________________
John & Cathy

'92 K100RS4V Pearl White SOLD
'04 K1200GT
IBA Several-SS1k, BBG, 50CC NYC to S.F.

drmalacarne · Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2008 7:19 pm Post subject:

Shoei Full face helmet.
BMW Jacket.
Leather pants.
BMW Santiago Boots.
Harley Davisdon Road Hog Kevlar gloves.
RayBan Polarized glasses.
BMW Paraphine thermic vest.
And some underware...sometimes...
Guilherme.
_________________
1994 K1100LT SE n° 0267
1998 HD Heritage Springer 95th anniversary
Yes, a Hog and a Beemer can live together!

fnord · Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2008 8:21 pm Post subject:

It's cool that everyone's listing their gear, but why did you pick it? What makes the _______ jacket the one for you after trying so many others? What is it about the Held gloves that churns your butter?
_________________
1993 K1100RS
1999 Jeep Wrangler

Flying Duck · Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2008 8:32 pm Post subject:

Helmets are all about what fits your head. I was lucky in that I ordered my Arai Quantum beforeI knew that. Luckily it weighs little and fits my pointy head quite well. (And Arai makes some of thebest helmets.) I picked up the others when I found good deals.

Go to a shop and try helmets on for 30 min. Yeah, a pain in the butt but wearing a helmet that doesn't fit will make riding not so much joy-joy.

Several pairs of my gloves are Olympia - good products and decent prices. My first pair of Ventors I actually wore through them since they are my go-to warm weather gloves.

I recently got some elkskin Ropers from Aerostich and they are becoming my go-to glove for moderate weather. A little too hot in 70+ weather. A little too cold down in the low 40s. Read the reviews on the Aerostich site - they have a BIG following. (I soaked them a dish soap twice before wearing them and have had no issues with the black dye bleeding.) The sizing method is accurate.

http://www.aerostich.com/catalog/US/Aerostich-Elkskin-Roper-p-16818.html

I've never had HELD gloves so can't comment on those.

There used to be a site called Motorcycle Gear Review but a quick Google didn't find it.
_________________
93 LT (x2)
94 RS
86-97 K75F(K75/100/1100 Frankenbrick)
86 K75C w/paralever, hi perf cams,TURBO!
91 & 92 K75Ss
91 K1
86 custom K100
14 WR250R
IBA #17739 (SS1K, BBG, 50CC)
Buy parts HERE

RAL88 · Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2008 8:47 pm Post subject:

Warm weather
Joe Rocket Phoenix jacket
Jow Rocket Phoenix pants
Cortech DX gloves

Cold weather
Tourmaster Cortech jacket with removable liner
Icon super duty gloves

Alpinestar boots
Schuberth Concept and C2 helmets
_________________
Rich

"If it ain't broke, take it apart and make it work better"
*************
'96' K1100LT-SE
'97' R850GS-R

Flying Duck · Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2008 9:01 pm Post subject:

T-shirt: Columbia
Jeans: Levi Strauss 501 buttonfly
Shades: Serengeti Summit

Very Happy

_________________
93 LT (x2)
94 RS
86-97 K75F(K75/100/1100 Frankenbrick)
86 K75C w/paralever, hi perf cams,TURBO!
91 & 92 K75Ss
91 K1
86 custom K100
14 WR250R
IBA #17739 (SS1K, BBG, 50CC)
Buy parts HERE

Shoganai · Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2008 9:15 pm Post subject:

fnord · Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2008 9:29 pm Post subject:

Personally, I use an HJC helmet that I've had for about 3 years and am getting ready to replace. It has always sat a little funny on my forehead. A couple of weeks after I got it I marked the spot where it hit me, then rolled a baseball around on that part of the foam to give it a tiny margin of space, which meant less annoyance, and I could show up for work without a big red dot on my forehead.

I picked up a pair of Olympia gloves on Saturday, and then rode home for 2+ hours in nasty, sloppy, gusty rain. The heated grips (on low) kept me toasty, and the gloves kept my hands bone dry. They're the best gloves I've owned, very supple, very comfy, and plenty warm.

For pants I have a pair of FirstGear overpants with pads in the knees. Those were also completely waterproof for the ride, except where there was too much mud in the zippers, which let the rain into my boots. They're a pair of beat-up old paratroop boots, and far from waterproof anyway, so it wasn't worth the struggle to fix the situation. I love the pants, they're comfy, they have a liner that I've never even needed, and I can wear them over jeans, shorts, nice work pants, whatever.

I have one of those ubiquitous Joe Rocket mesh jackets that I wear in the summer, but for winter riding I'm going to need something else. I'm ordering a tourmaster heated jacket (with collar) on Friday, and I need to find something waterproof and comfy to wear over it and my work clothes.

I also am still seeking a good pair of waterproof boots. Since I'm commuting, I never know when it's going to start raining during the day and I'll get drenched on the way home.
_________________
1993 K1100RS
1999 Jeep Wrangler

Shoganai · Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2008 9:52 pm Post subject:

I can't tell you how useful a Dremel is for modifying helmets for a better fit.

Just identify the area, remove the pad, expose the foam, using a burr, carefully remove small layers at a time. Reassemble and go for a ride.

Repete as needed until you acheive a comfortable fit.

I had to do that on my Arai in the area in front of my ears and directly over the chhek bones.

It's PERFECT now.
_________________
1993 K1100RS aka The Shop Whore
1994 K1100RS aka Blue Streak

The long road is a rainbow and the pot of gold lies there.
So slip the chain and I'm off again,
You'll find me everywhere. I'm a Rover. - JT

Nana korobi ya oki

BobZ(IL) · Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2008 10:30 pm Post subject:

Hein Gericke jacket - year round w/in-out fleece liner and waterproof

MotoGP overpants - never have used liner and mostly waterproof

Nolan Helmet - not as comfortable as my old Bell

Different gloves for all seasons, same with riding shoes/boots

I'm kind off a tight ass, once I find something I like, I stick with it until it turns to dust. Smile

_________________
'93 K1100LT
'78 R100S
'05 R1200GS
BMWMOA, CRBMWOA, ABC, K11OG #997

Live well, do good work, enjoy the ride.