So there's a new bike in the collection, and I'm utterly in love with it and relish any possible chance to show it off and tell people about it. But for those who aren't familiar with bikes and gear, this will be an insight into just how much money we blow on all of this crap.
The bike: 2007 Triumph Daytona 675
Released in 2006 to a shower of Moto-Journalist praise, and signaling the 100% legitimized return of the world's oldest bike maker (Triumph), the daytona is, in many opinions, the finest middleweight sportbike ever made. Utilizing a 675cc three cylinder motor, Triumph was able to destroy the competition when it comes to midrange power and torque. The suspension and chassis design is equally slick, making a bike with razor sharp reflexes and effortless flickability. Aesthetically, the thing is just fucking beautiful, especially in black.
The Gear: Shoei X-11 (Ukawa), Teknic Chicane 1-Piece Cowhide Suit, AGV Exocet Gloves, Setup Vision Boots
It'd be hard to not write 23 pages on gear, and i'm sure it'd bore everyone stiff. But a quick description of why it's needed, and then a quick explanation as to why i like my gear will probably be concise enough to hold your attention.
It shouldn't require an explanation as to why a helmet is necessary. And please, leave the half-helmets with the kaiser spike on top at home. unless you like the idea of losing half o' your face in a fall.
Now, imagine being thrown out of a moving car. As you tumble down the asphalt, imagine your skin being torn off of your body, and your flesh being ground off and being replaced by gravel, bits of glass, and whatever else happens to be on the road. I can't stress the importance of gear enough--not only on the Crest, but on your daily commute. The concrete doesn't know that you're just cruising to work, and the cars around you don't notice that you're wearing shorts and flip flops when they change lanes into you. While a full suit may be cumbersome (as well as strange to run errands in), it's certainly what's recommended for a spirited ride up the Crest. Leather will hold up for about 8 seconds, sliding along the road at 60 mph. Denim lasts approximately .5 seconds, and performance textiles have gotten to about 3 or 4. Leather is still the fabric of choice for motorcycles, not because we like to cultivate the image, but because it keeps us from dying. Leather suits have integrated plastic and foam armor, as well as knee pucks and sometimes "speed humps". Besides, you look like a power ranger when you wear full leathers. That's like, so cool.
Boots are often overlooked, but shredding your ankle up is about the first thing that happens in the most common bike crash, called the "lowside." The lowside is when the bike falls out from under you, right onto your ankle, and then applies 400 lbs of weight on top of your ankle as you slide along the asphalt. As well as you think a high-top sneaker would hold up in this scenario, it won't. Riding boots have ankle protection, as well as shin and toe protection, and while it's no guarantee that you won't have bloody feet after a lowslide, it's certainly a step up from chucks. plus, wearing sneakers with full leathers is just bad form.
Gloves: do you like your fingers?
The gear collection i've put together isn't the nicest collection of gear, but it'll do. The x-11 is the best helmet on the market, imo. Awesome venting, good aerodynamics, and feather-light, it makes me positively giddy when i remember how much i paid for it: $125. Thanks Craigslist. The leather suit was also a CL special, and while it doesn't quite fit as well as the Alpinestars in my closet, it's close enough. I'm sure my testicles would disagree, but somehow they were overridden by the bank account. It's also thoroughly perforated, which makes riding in 98 degree SoCal heat a little more bearable. AGV Exocets are marketed as race gloves, but they're not quite up to snuff relative to the high-end gloves on the market. The leather in the palm is a little too soft for my liking, but there's enough carbon/kevlar to make up for it. Just gotta remember to land with my palms up. I'd love a set of kangaroo leather Held race gloves, but until someone paypals me $250, it's not happening in the immediate future. Setup Visions are made by Sidi, motorcycle booting's #1 manufacturer, but lacks the bells and whistles of their Signature line and top-flight race boots. Still, they're comfy, protect all the right places, and were affordable. I'd recommend them to the casual rider.
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