[KBOlsen]

I try, try, try to save my Banzai runs for when I'm on a racetrack... but I still speed damn near all the time.

There, I'm fully armored, fully padded and the cornerworkers/medics can get to me in a matter of seconds if something happens.

Before I got into the track scene, I never really gave it a second thought. I always rode with the thought that I was invisible and that other drivers didn't give a damn - a philosophy that continues to serve me very well. I wore my leather when it was cold, and my tank top when it was hot. Rides usually began and/or ended at the local bar. I remember one summer night about six years ago blasting up and down Belmont Avenue on a friend's Road King, wearing a dress and heels. Sunday afternoons ended with a high speed blast from the state line back to the city... slicing and dicing through traffic on our Harleys as if they were sportbikes.

As the years have passed, I find I ride more aggressively than ever (I have the same comfort level and sense of control at 100 that I did at 70 five years ago), however, I have become a "convert" to the church of protective gear... to the point that I want to order myself a second set of armored leathers for the street.

I spend a lot of time on our local sportbike forum, providing counsel to new riders. The most frequently stressed points I make are

1. Dress for the crash.
2. Ride your own ride.
3. Learning never stops.

 

[KBOlsen]

Vanson and Syed both make custom-fit, fully perforated, fully armored riding gear. The perforations and venting found in the construction of these two brands is exemplary and the quality is 100% first-rate. Combined with some "Cool-Max"-type underwear, you should be comfortable.

 

[KBOlsen]

(btw, I no longer drink and ride/drive/whatever - just thought I'd make that abundantly clear since I'd left that factoid out of my earlier post).

:jeannie:

Before pilots fire up their planes, they engage in a meticulous pre-flight check. It's a good practice for our bikes, too. Check your tire pressure, especially if your baby's been parked for a few days. Inflate to recommended temperatures. Eyeball the tires, checking tread depth and foreign objects.

Tire pressures should be checked when cold - BEFORE the bike is ridden. Set it and forget it for the day. The heat that builds up in the tire as it is used will cause the air to expand and pressure to increase... trust the manufacturer specs when inflating.

Turn the bike on - do all your lights work properly? Roll the bike forward and check for telltale leaks. Test the brakes as you pull out of the driveway.

Stuff like this (hopefully) is second-nature to us all by now, but it still bears repeating.