Click photo for more photos   AKUMA Phantom ll MFR Carbon Fiber Helmet with Transitions® SOLFT™ Photochromic Visor   This beautiful helmet arrived today. It is truly the coolest looking helmet around. It is certainly the lightest helmet you will probably find. The attention to detail and the effort toward perfection will become immediately apparent as you inspect the construction of the helmet and the liner. These were my first impressions and my road test starts this week. One other thing: when the UPS driver handed me the box, I though there must be a mistake, this box is too light to contain a helmet.   This is not only one of the lightest helmets available, but it comes with a Transitions® SOLFX™ photochromic visor. A Transitions® visor will change from clear, when little UV light is present, to sunglass dark in proportion to the intensity of UV light. This is the same technology Transitions® uses in prescription eyeglasses.   My 'First Use' review should post by June 1st, 2010 or sooner.   (The following text is from the Akuma website)   One of the lightest and best designed helmets on planet earth with a Transitions® SOLFX™ photochromic visor included? And you thought you've seen it all.   FEATURES   3.0 lb all carbon fiber construction (L)   Transitions® SOLFX™ photochromic visor included.   Silky smooth, moisture wicking, removable/washable liner   Quicklock™ visor removal and installation system   Super Aerodynamic. Wind tunnel designed and tested in Germany   ECE & DOT Certified Chin Curtain UV resistant clear-coat   OPTIONAL VISORS Transitions® SOLFX™ photochromic Aegis Chrome Smoked   (Transitions® SOLFX™ photochromic visor included)   The first and only photochromic visor available from the world leader in photochromic technology – Transitions® Optical, and S.H.I.E.L.D. Tech, a manufacturer of technologically superior shields.                                          V                                              V                 AKUMA Phantom ll MFR Carbon Fiber Helmet	ADAPTIV™ Technologies  TPX™ Motorcycle Radar & Laser  Detection System with included Visual Alert   & (optional) TPX™ Wireless Headset & (optional) TPX™ Mounting System    I have received the TPX System. My 'first use' review, coming soon!   (The following text is from Adaptiv's  website)     Introducing the world's first fully- integrated, portable motorcycle radar  and laser detection system designed  for American and Metric Cruisers,  Sport, and Touring bikes. No more trying to make automotive radar  detectors work with your bike.  No more missing the audio or visual  alerts. No more searching the earth's  ends to find compatible mounts. No more hours of wiring jobs.  No more fear of the rain. No more fear  of theft. No more microscopic buttons.  No more money, energy, sanity and  precious riding hours wasted trying  to make automotive radar detectors work with your bike.   See It. Hear It. When zooming down the open road  with the wind in your face you can't  hear much and you definitely don't  want to take your eyes off the road.  That's why we developed the  Wireless Headset and Visual Alert  as critical components of the system.  Not just afterthoughts. The Wireless  Headset is compatible with most  helmets and it alerts you of detected  radar and laser signals through its  earphone that sits inside your helmet.  With adjustable volume settings,  you'll be able to hear the detected  signals no matter how loud the  ambient noise is. The Visual Alert can  be mounted just about anywhere on  your bike so as to be within your  peripheral vision. Its bright LED lights  flash when radar and laser signals are detected so you don't have to take  your eyes off the road. With  adjustable brightness settings, you'll  be able to see it even in direct  sunlight without being blinded at  night. The Wireless Headset and the  Visual Alert can also be used at the  same time.    Mount It. We have custom mounts constructed  from aircraft grade aluminum that fit  most of the bikes on the road today.  Ride an American Cruiser? We've got a mount for you. Metric Crusiser?  We've got that too. Sportbike?  Covered. Touring Bike? Sorry, you are out of luck. Just kidding, we've got that too. What if you've got a third   party mount already? We've got an adapter for it. TPX Mounts are easy to install and allow for the best possible positioning. Best of all, the mounts look great, just like your bike.   What Else? A lot! The TPX™ System comes with a Wiring Harness so you can easily connect to your bikes's power source, making installation a breeze. Its water resistant construction means that you don't have to worry about shielding it from the rain. Large buttons are  designed so that you can operate it with riding gloves. Its top positioned, angled, backlit LCD allows you to  actually see the display form your riding position, day or night. Vibration and shock resistant design ensures that it'll lost on your bike. It is portable so you can take it with you on your  lunch stop and don't have to worry  about theft.  It also means that you  can use it on multiple bikes, and even you car (if you have one of those four-wheeled things).   Certified Performance. All these features are great for motorcycle use, but does it really work? You bet! The TPX System detects ALL police radar and laser bands. But don't take our word for it. The System is certified by Speed measurement Laboratories, inc.., the leading independent evaluator of radar detectors in the market today, and has received a Four Star rating from Radar Roy, the leading expert in conducting real-world radar  detector evaluation. Adaptiv Technologies Motorcycle Radar
Legal Speeding  Adjustable Plate Mount (APM)  I'm using this unit now and will be  posting my 'First Look' review soon. (The following text is from the Legal  Speeding website)  DESCRIPTION: Finally a mount that does it all:  adjustable height, telescoping arm,  quick release, and anchor-like holding  capability. The Adjustable Plate Mount (APM) can hold any of your gadgets.  It uses existing holes on the motorcycle  making installation quick and easy. The  APM also adjusts to different heights,  angles, and can be rotated 360 degrees  for the ultimate in adjustability. A  component-type design makes it  possible to use the same unit on  multiple motorcycles without having to  buy one mount for each bike. A quick  release knob allows removal of the  mount without special tools. A heavy  duty Velcro strap is included to securely  anchor any device. Pre-drilled holes and  cut slots offer a variety of other  anchoring options. A combination of  billet steel and aluminum provide  strength and weight savings. Finished  in a matte black powder-coated finish  with stainless steel hardware, the APM  looks great and performs even better.  Includes Allen wrenches and all needed  hardware. BENEFITS: The primary benefits of the Adjustable  Plate Mount (APM) are: 1. Uses Factory Mounting Points – By  using existing holes on a motorcycle,  the APM will fit many bikes. If a rider  has multiple bikes or trades out their  current model, the APM can stay with  the rider and mount to the other  motorcycles. 2. Fully Adjustable – The APM allows  multiple height configurations, angle  settings, and plate positioning to assure  a desired fit is accomplished for all  mounting requirements. Now a rider is  not required to buy multiple versions  of the same mount to provide the  desiredheight and positioning. 3. Quick Release – The APM has a single  knob to quickly remove whatever gadget  is on the motorcycle. A rider doesn’t  have to struggle or carry special tools  for removing the gadget. This one knob  design saves the rider time in both  installing and removing the gadget. 4. Secure Mounting Solution – The APM  uses a combination of rubber grips,  pre-drilled holes, and a heavy duty  Velcro strap to anchor the gadget. This  three-fold anchor method eliminates  the chance of losing an expensive  device while riding. 5. 360 Degree Rotation – The APM has  several ways to fully rotate the mounting  plate. These rotating options provide the  rider with an infinite number of positions  to view any device they mount on a  motorcycle. 6. Holds Multiple Gadgets – The APM can  hold a wide range of gadgets such as:  cell phones, iPods, prepaid tollway cards,  PDA’s, radar detectors, GPS's, satellite  radios, cameras, MP3 players, video  cameras, and many other devices that  motorcyclists need in order to live, ride,  and survive! Now a rider only has to buy  a single mount to hold any device. DETAILS: The driving force behind the development  of the Adjustable Plate Mount (APM) was  the non-existence of both functional and  attractive mounting devices available for  motorcycles. With the APM a motorcyclist  now has the ability to purchase a universal  fitting mount that looks like it was  designed for motorcycles. When  developing the APM, functionality and a  clean, stylish design were the criteria  needing to be met. The purpose of the APM is to provide a  flat mounting surface for devices. Once  the device is secured to this flat surface,  or ‘plate’, the plate can be adjusted to  any angle and height needed to operate  and view the device. A heavy duty Velcro  strap is included to securely anchor the  device. The word ‘Adjustable’ is an  understatement!. The APM has an infinite  number of heights, positioning angles,  and plate locations making it the perfect  mount for riders having unique mounting  requirements. The APM is cut from a combination of  billet steel and aluminum to provide  strength and proper weight savings.  Once tooled, all components are powder  coated in a matte black finish. An optional  polished version with a clear coat will  provide the look of chrome. All hardware  is stainless steel for long life and rust free  aging. The Control Mount configuration will fit  many motorcycles on the market today.  These models will include Honda Goldwing  1500 and 1800, Honda ST1100 and  ST1300, Yamaha FJR1300, certain Harley  Davidson models, certain Truimph models,  and others to be listed soon.     Legal Speeding Adjustable Plate Mount (APM)	Laminar Touring LIP   Here's my 2001 Ducati ST4 with the  Laminar Lip installed. I was having  uncomfortable wind blast, at highway  speeds, to my chest before installing  the Lip. After installing the Laminar Lip I was able to ride in greater comfort, and for longer distances with less Fatigue. This product really works.  Something else you should consider  when trying to minimize turbulence is to have the smoothest surface on the front of you jacket. The more stuff going on, on your chest, the more chance your are creating turbulence.   Shown here is the Sport Touring  model in both Clear and Smoked.  Starting in 2004 the Ducati ST line  now comes with larger windshields.   The Laminar Lip is made for most  motorcycles. Check the website for  your bike.                           LAMINAR LIP  CRITTER WATCH Simply a List of Wildlife Viewed from  the Saddle of my Ducati. I only had  enough time to take mental pictures.   BEAR MT. PARK, NY 2 large Bear Cubs running toward the  road make a abrupt U-Turn while 1  Adult is seen standing in the  shadows at the edge of the forest ••••••••••• A Deer standing in a lake ••••••••••• 4 Wild Turkeys near Lake Tiorati  8 Wild Turkeys at the same spot the next year   STERLING FOREST, NY A Bear Crossing the road looks back at  me with a look that could only mean  "Boy, I wish I could ride a Ducati" ••••••••••• An Osprey (Eagle) flies over Rt.  17A to Greenwood Lake   WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NY A Red Fox trying to cross the road ••••••••••• 7 Wild Turkeys cross 301 at  Kent Cliffs, NY ••••••••••• A colorful Peacock seen from Croton Falls Road near Rt. 22 (July 10th, 2009)   CONNECTICUT & RYE, NY A Wild Turkey near an exit on  The Merritt Parkway (CT)  ••••••••••• 7 Baby Swans and 3 Adult Swans stop traffic as they cross  Playland Parkway in Rye ••••••••••• A Egret standing in a  stream (CT)   ••••••••••• A Mountian Lion bounds  and jumps across a rural  road in Greenwich, CT  August 2011   NEW HAMPSHIRE A Snapping Turtle crossing the road ••••••••••• A Skunk makes a quick U-Turn one  foot from my front tire at night   CATSKILL STATE PARK, NY A Bald Eagle flushed from its perch  by the sound of my mighty Ducati ••••••••••• 3 Turkey Buzzards flushed from their perch, 30 ft from my Ducati  (each with a 6 foot wingspan)    EVERYWHERE Lots of Deer, Turkey Buzzards  Hawks & Turkeys ••••••••••• Intruder Turf Wars: Little Birds  Chasing Hawks and other  Large Birds off  their Turf
TESTING PROCEDURES My testing methods are based on a  continual use of the products found in  my reviews, using Real World testing  procedures. In other words, I don't go  out and perform a test from start to  finish and write a review. Instead, I use  these products on a continuing basis  and write a 'First Look' followed by  updates and a conclusion. If my  conclusions change later, that effect  my review, down the road, so to speak,  I update my review. As I get a fuller  understanding of how a product works  or discover a contradiction of my posted  review, I update my review to reflect it.  If I have a problem with a product that  I have received for evaluation from a  manufacturer, I contact them and try to  resolve the issue to make sure I am  using the product as it was designed to  work. If I have a problem with a product  that I have purchased, I still try to  contact the manufacturer and try to  work with them, although it doesn't  always work both ways. The  manufacturer should try to work with  me to ensure that their product is being  utilized to its best advantage. BACKGROUND NOTES All of the motorcycle products I have been testing have made a positive enhancement to my comfort level. The MotoLight's have made my ride safer. When I bought my new 2004 ST4s, I had the stock Michelin Pilot Sport tires removed and replaced them with the Avons shown on page two. With the Avon Tires installed, AV45ST front and AV46ST rear, I know I can rely on them to behave in a safe and consistent manor oblivious to the road anomalies that seem to so upset the mere Michelins and their ilk. Most of my rides are at least one hour and often last two, three or four hours. I wish I had known the joys of riding Ducatis before 2004 when I switched from Japanese bikes, 6 in all, to the best Sport Touring bikes available today. In April 2004 I bought a used 2001 Ducati ST4. After riding over 13,000 miles by Sept. I knew I was a Ducati man and wanted the improvement of the newly designed ST4s. So I decided to buy a new 2004 ST4s from Rockwell Cycles. I rode another 9,000 miles on the new bike for a total of about 22,000 for the year of 2004. In 2005 I rode about 13,000 miles. So far I have ridden approximately 170,000 miles since 1982. My bike history: a new 1981 Yamaha 250, a used Suzuki dual purpose 250, a new 1983 Yamaha Seca (a terrible bike), a new 1985 Kawasaki Ninja 900, a new 1990 Suzuki Katana 750 (stolen), a new 1991 Suzuki Katana 750, a used 2001 Ducati ST4 and a new 2004 Ducati ST4S.