First Gear TPG Escape overpant

Hi NOBers,

For my birthday back in April I treated myself to a ride up to NJ to see our buddy Tony. We had a great weekend of riding and relaxing. While there I picked up a pair of FirstGear TPG Escape over pants. I mentioned to the dealer there that I have seen the pants for cheaper online and he matched the cheapest online price I had seen thus far!

About the pants. They are of course a fully water prof textile over pant made of Teramid fiber among other things. Fit is nice and loose. I can easily where them *over* jeans and work clothes. (guess that's why they are called over pants. They are lined and I can also where them sans pants.., err without under.., well you know what I mean, without jeans! Any way all of the zippers are waterproof and its got I nice heavy meta hook closure on the front. The legs have side zippers from ankle to about the knee. There are zippers on both ends so you can zip it down from the knee for extra ventilation. There is also dedicate ventilation zippers along the side of the thighs.

Velcro ankle closures and snaps round out the package along with a removable quilted thermal liner. If my ReVit mesh pants with wind stop liner was good down to the 40's then these will be good to below freezing.

They are a little on the warm side since they are not mesh but I really like them. I know reach for them most of the time unless I'm wearing Draggin jeans.

Overall a very good over pant. I paid just under $200 bucks with tax.

Now I just need that HI-VIZ jacket and a set of leathers with knee pucks and I'll be all set!

From Bridgestone to Michelin

Hi NOBers,

My 2008 FJR 1300 has a little over 6K on the clock now. This morning when I got to work the sun was shining brightly and I noticed something that I did not see in the dim light of my garage. My Bridgestone BATTLAX BT-021 front tire is wore out! Its down to the wear bars and then some. Not only that but the dual compound tire has worn out in an odd pattern. The harder compound center strip is squared off, but the softer compound sides have also worn flat. So the profile is no longer round but more like that of a blunt crayon. The rear looks like its got plenty of life left in it if not a little squared off. I find it odd that the front wore out so much faster then the rear. I watch my tire pressures carefully and run the front at 39-40 and the rear at about 42.

Well, on order is a set of Michelin Pilot Road II's. Also a dual compound sport touring tire. I can't say that I have been babying the bike so maybe the wear is reasonable but I would have expected the rear to be more worn or for the front an rear to have worn more evenly.

Anyway when I get the PR2's on there I will give an update as to how they compare. I've heard good things about them. Not so good on the BT-021's or the Dunlop Roadsmarts, but then again as with most things your mileage may vary.

Niehaus Open House May 16, 2009

Huey Tobias (Yamaha Star) and I went to Litchfield,IL yesterday. The round trip was approximately 555 miles. We attended the Niehaus Honda's Open House. It was a cold and very windy day. However, it was a great run. This was like a mini-Americade. We saw many bikes at the open house. There were quite an impressive number of vendors there too. I was able to find some more gloves; the gloves had a Goldwing logo on them. Huey purchased a Memphis Shade Windshield. I am not quite sure why he wanted to replace the "cute" shield that he has on his Star!

I read an article recently and the author of the article Ken Glassman has the right philosophy when it comes to riding his bike that I will be adopting. It is quite simply when you ride your motorcycle, "never be in a hurry". Enjoy this riding season.

Memorial Ride for Anita Zaffke

Today I rode with approximately 200 other motorcyclist in a Memorial Ride for Anita Zaffke, age 56. Ms. Zaffke was killed near my house on Route 12 and Old McHenry Road in Lake Zurich, IL. while she was stopped on her Honda Shadow going southbound on Rt. 12. The defendant was a 48 year old woman who was driving and polishing her finger nails and failed to stop for Ms. Zaffke. Ms. Zaffke was rear ended at approximately 55 miles an hour. So today we honor her memory. It was a very moving to be a part of a ride with mainly Harley-Davidsons. It was really nice to see all of the support that the Zaffke received from all of the riders. Everyone take a moment and realize how Blessed we have been not to have any major accident. Ride safe each and everyday. Look forward to seeing each of you this riding season.

Life with the HJC IS-Max

Well its been about three weeks with the HJC. I must say this is a great helmet (in my opinion). It is very quite for a modular helmet. I think quieter than my full face Arai. Its still a little snug but will loosen with time. The modular style helmet is great as many of you know. As I've said before, "I'm missing the whole point." The other day I gassed up and it was nice to be able to flip up the chin bar and have full view of my tank to pump gas, to converse with people, etc. The clear shield has great width. My peripheral vision is better then my Arai. One strange thing I noticed is the left field of vision, while looking at my instrument panel, makes the left side of the instrument panel seem closer. I actually thought the fairing had twisted or torqued to one side, really strange. Also I think the internal sun shield could be a little darker but overall, I rate this helmet high. So when your helmet gets 3-5 years old and its time for a replacement. I would recommend this moderately priced helmet.

Also picked up one of these, a Tourmaster Transition Series II. Can you say BRIGHT! This jacket is bright in the daylight. I know I'm being seen on my I-95 commute to DC. Vehicles actually move out of my way. Maybe they think I'm 5-O. Lots of pockets, ventilation and armour. The only dislike, more air hits my neck than the ole Joe Rocket which means a balaclava during cold mornings.