New Daytona Helmet

Well, my new D.O.T. approved Daytona Eclipse modular helmet (a.k.a knock off Caberg) arrived today. Unfortunately, they sent the wrong size. The helmet looks identical to the Caberg (modular, integrated pop down sun screen, etc.). However, it doesn't feel as solid as my Arai. But that's a $480 helmet vs $109 helmet. Padding is adequate but not thick as the Arai. I have a feeling this will be a noisy helmet but I wear ear plugs, have a high windscreen and listen to my tunes so this shouldn't matter. I'll always have the Arai if it doesn't work out.

Friends & Family Helmet Sale for Nolan

Greetings Nob'ers. This Saturday, April 11, 2009 @ 9:00 a.m. CIMA INTERNATIONAL is have their yearly Friends and Family Nolan Helmet Sale! You have to be there at 9:00 a.m. to take full advantage of the best buys. CIMA is located at 1585 Beverly Court, Aurora, IL 60502, their phone number is 630-671-9710. Enjoy it! It is an "Off da Hook" Sale! I will not be there this year. Plus I have too many helmets anyway. Ride safe, enjoy each and everyday! Jp

Happy Birthday TTP

Guess who's birthday it is today! IT IS OUR WRITER'S birthday even though she is a sometimes rider (BMW R 1150 RT). Happy Birthday! Many, many more! Now get out and ride your bike! Love, Jp

First Ride with ST This Year

Had an opportunity to ride with DeJuan and Q today. I was on the ST 1300 and I must say that I really love my Hondas. The ST rides the same each and every time. The three of us rode into Southern Wisconsin and it was a great day. Did about 175 miles today. Q rides a Honda CBR 600. For those who have not met Q, he rode his bike from McHenry, IL down to Knoxville, TN. I met him at the Dragon. Think about riding a CBR 600 that far and one has to be impressed.

DeJuan has a Honda Shadow 1100. He rode that bike from Columbus, OH all the way to Seattle, WA. I am not, never have been nor do I plan to ride a cruiser out of town, much less across country. These brothers know how to ride long distances. Anyway, just wanted to wish everyone a safe riding season. This means no accidents nor tickets. Ride safe.

RM trip Continued, DAY 3!

thanks,

Day 2.5

BBW. (Black Bike Week), Bethune Cookman Blvd. Man it was off the chain. The music was blasting loud Old School. The barbeque grills were going full bore, there were folks dancing on the sidewalks and the bikes were kill'in. Custom Harley type cruisers, metric cruisers, Harleys, Wings, Drag bikes, Trikes and one BMW. No I did see a LT or two. The really cool thing was that most of the brothers and sister's bikes were customized. There were bikes with LCD's showing music videos as the music played from six speakers and a subwoofer. Every bike you could imagine was there. And there were so many lady riders, both young girls and grandmothers alike. Some of them doing burn-outs!

Day 3

I rode to the regular Daytona Bike Week Location at Daytona Beach. Not to talk negative, but it was a totally different vibe. Stop and STOP traffic! No place to park, Beer and Liquor stands everywhere, Too crowded to walk, nasty looking women in bathing suits, and rock and roll music blasting everywhere. Don't get me wrong, someone was having fun, but the vibe was wrong for me. At BBW it was a friendly, almost family like, block party atmosphere centered around motorcycles and custom cars and trucks. At the Daytona Bike Week on the beach it was a cold commercial and overcrowded type atmosphere. If Sturgis is anything like Daytona Bike week I probably won't ride 2500 miles each way to stand in line to buy a beer from a 60 year old lady in a bikini.

Now as for BBW on Bethune Cookman Blvd., I will probably go back to Daytona to hang out again. I'll be checking to see if a similar party happens at Myrtle Beach, or during the Biketoberfest. It's was a fantastic experience.

Motorcycle Classic

NOBers,

There is a relatively new publication called Motorcycle Classics! It is a very well written publication of retro motorcycles. You know that you have been riding too long when the bikes featured on Motorcycle Classics are the bikes you dreamt about and learned how to ride back in the day. From my vantage point you can take the "retro" out of the bike. I still remember quite vividly the KZ 900s, CB 750s and the Goldwing when it only had 4 cylinders. It is kinda like watching TV late at night, those Time Life commericals that feature oldies but goodies like Earth, Wind and Fire, P-Funk and The Emotions. These classics are the song and groups you listened to and danced to in the "day"! That is Motorcycle Classics. I am seeing bikes that I loved as a teenager in the late '70s! Check it out. Ride safe.

Welcome Home

R M, great travel tips! I am glad you had a great and safe ride. YOU ARE THE MAN! To take off from Motor City in March, without regards to the snow and weather makes you the MAN! Welcome home......