MOTOLIGHT Halogen Riding Lights See the road better and be seen better. I was stopped on the side of the road looking at a map when I looked up and did a double take when I saw a motorcycle with three lights in the same pattern as a train, in bright sunlight heading my way. That bike had the MOTOLIGHTS. There was nothing special about the headlight, but the MOTOLIGHTS were blazing a bright path that is hard to miss to all oncoming traffic. Besides adding supplemental lighting for night driving, being seen in daylight is a great safety advantage. How many times has a car or truck looked right at your bike and still started to pull out anyway. With the MOTOLIGHTS installed I don't think anyone will look at your bike and still pull out. I guess at this point I have to say it's more like 9 out of 10 will now stop and not pull out and the 10th (an idiot) will still pull out. Before installing the Motolights the ratio seemed be more like 4 out of 10 would pull out and the other 6 would see me and not pull out. With the Motolights you'll seeing a big improvement, and a lot less heart pounding moments because you have now avoided many of the near misses that result from not being seen. MOTOLIGHTS's are very popular on BMW touring bikes because like the older Ducati ST line, older BMW came with weak headlights. My first Ducati ST4 (2001) had insufficient stock headlights for a Sport Touring bike, as do the Ducati's ST3's and ST2's, (made before 2004). In my opinion, those stock lights are dangerous for night driving, and need to be changed or supplemental lighting should to be added. No matter what bike you drive, with the exception of Harleys, (with three headlights), most bikes will benefit from the MOTOLIGHTS. Starting in 2004 Ducati ST's have a new lighting design, which has gone a long way towards fixing the problem. Now the Ducati ST3 (the only ST model being made) has the bare minimum lighting to see your way on an occasional night ride. If you install the Motolights you won't ride at night without turning them on. Once you go Motolights you can't and won't want to ride without them. I have been testing configurations using two 35 Watt bulbs (included), two 50 Watt bulbs and also mixing one 35W and one 50W. I have settled on using the 50 Watt bulbs as the best choice. It's true that this is very bright to oncoming traffic, but these days so many cars have extremely bright headlights in my face, I'm just trying to keep up. I do leave my high beam on so when oncoming traffic is heading my way, I wait till I'm sure they see me and then I lower my high beam so they know that the Motolights are not part of my high beam pattern. If you never ride at night, you should be able to get away with the stock lights, but being seen in the daylight with that dim low beam (even with a PIAA bulb replacement) is just a little better than not having any headlight. Because the Motolights are round and create a round pattern, they light up the road whether you are straight up or in the turn. Rectangular headlights usually create a straight horizontal line at their furthest reach across the road, which then dips when you make a sharp turn, loosing significant lighting towards the direction you are traveling. Adding rectangular supplemental lights, like the ones from PIAA, may add more lighting but suffer from this same effect. Round lights simply do a better job then rectangular lights. (Note:) When you use the Motolights you are adding 70 to 100 watts of draw to you battery, which is ok when you are underway, but you should turn them off before you turn off your bike so they are not on when you go to start-up. If you pull over and stop for any length of time, you should turn off the Motolights or up your revs to compensate for the extra draw on your battery. I use the Whistler Motorcycle Radar Detector (reviewed in the column to the right) to keep tabs on my voltage when I'm using the Motolights. If I see my voltage go below my usual 13.4 volts to anything below 13 volts I up my revs or adjust my choke or simply turn off the Motolights. If I stop at a light and my fan comes on, I turn off the Motolights. If the fan doesn't turn on then upping the revs works. As far as I'm concerned, these lights are indispensable.   MOTOLIGHT Riding Lights		ROADGEAR Magnetic Jumbo Sport Tank Bag This is my 'First Look' review. I've been testing this bag for a few months. It is well made with a lot of thought to detail. It has a zipper around the bottom that stays zipped most of the time, which can be unzipped to add a few more inches to the height of the bag allowing for more stuff, when you need it. I has hidden dual slider zippers along both sides that reveal compartments about 4" high and 14" long. A clear seamless map area on top of the bag measures 8" by 10". It has a sleeve under the clear vinyl that is part of a removable zip off map holder. So far I like it. It's doing what needs to get done. This model uses magnets to attach to the metal tank. It also can be ordered as the Three-Point Jumbo Sport Tank Bag if that's your preference. I will be posting a much more in-depth review before the spring. Stay tuned. (The following description is from the Roadgear website) Same great features found in the Sport Tank Bag but on a much larger scale! Its unequalled list of standard features includes a top-loading main compartment—big enough to fit a full-sized helmet. An expandable zippered body section and two expandable zippered exterior side pockets for additional items picked up on the road. A pocket under the flap can hold the optional rain cover, and a removable map pocket converts into a two-pocket shoulder tote for unmatched versatility. Add an inside key hook, closed-cell foam-backed, anti-skid Toughtek® base and built-in carrying handle, and it's no wonder this jumbo is our best seller! Capacity: 18-26 Liters Dimensions: 10" W x 15" L x 7-9" H Colors: Red/Black, Yellow/Black, Silver/Black, Blue/Black, all Black RUGGED, HI-TEC LUGGAGE FOR THE ADVENTURER Ergonomic, functional and elegant! ROADGEAR's critically acclaimed and top-selling soft luggage system is meticulously handcrafted in the mountains of Boulder, Colorado-a recognized center of excellence for outdoor-industry manufacturing. Developed by the noted product designer Josh Valentine-with input from a veritable "Who's Who" in the motorcycling industry-the bags represent the current state-of-the-art in motorcycle luggage. No expense was spared and no detail overlooked in their engineering. The result is the standard that the rest of the industry judges itself against. Constructed of DuPont 1000 Denier Cordura Plus, these bags provide unprecedented strengthand durability. Heavy-duty YKK zippers stand up to the most extreme conditions, while specialized tab pulls, make them easy on your fingers and glove friendly. Accordion style pockets expand to double capacity without unzipping, then pop back to standard size when emptied-a ROADGEAR exclusive. Add ITW Nexus and Euro Sandow hardware for reinforcement and you have the toughest bags available at any price. Plus, our tank, tail and saddle bags use a closed-cell foam stiffener heat-laminated to the outer Cordura Plus shell, providing body shape and shock damping like no other soft bags.To top it off, ROADGEARis so confident in its luggage that every bag carries a full 10-year warranty!                     ROADGEAR Magnetic Jumbo Sport Tank Bag
LEE PARKS DESIGN DeerSports PCi™ Deerskin and Elkskin Gloves Lee Parks Design make several deerskin and elkskin gloves styles. For review here I picked the DeerSports PCi™ with Outlast™ phase-change material liner that provide the widest temperature range possible in a leather glove. It is always a real pleasure to slip on these gloves because they are so soft and flexible. They truly feel luxurious especially when it cools down and I change from any of my summer weight gloves to the DeerSports PCi™. These glove take the strongest yet softest leathers available, deerskin and elkskin, to form the outside of the gloves and add the Outlast™ phase-change material liner, that add warmth and comfort to the inside of the already comfortable glove. There are other glove makers using deerskin, but I have yet to find the quality deerskin that Lee is using. This is the ultimate in deerskin gloves. Although I have worn these gloves in temperatures up to 70º, they stay the most comfortable from 65º down to about 52º and usable to 48º. (I should note that I spent a lot of time working as a photographer in a Vermont ski area wearing only lightweight glove liners for about 4 hours a day, taking photos in temperatures down to 5º and it did take its toll on my ability to keep my hands warm). Lee says that many riders can ride in lower temperatures than I can without changing to heated gloves. Deerskin and elkskin also have the ability to stay warmer than cowhide and other leathers when they get wet, while you are riding. When most other leather gloves get wet they they don't provide the warmth of deerskin and elkskin and tend to shrink and stiffen when they dry out. Deerskin and elkskin don't shrink and maintain their softness after drying out. Of course you should try to carry rain covers in case it rains, just as you do for your tank bag. A lot of other glove manufacturers use Kevlar® Fiber and Carbon fiber to protect the knuckles. Lee has a pair of his deerskin and elkskin gloves that were worn on the racetrack and were involved in a crash and went sliding along the track that demonstrate the strength and durability of deerskin and elkskin. While they were roughed up, there was no tearing or holes and the gloves could still be worn. Lee says that the Kevlar® and Carbon can be worn down, from sliding friction, that can create sharp edges. I have seen race-bikes that indeed have the Carbon fiber worn off and do have sharp edges. Kevlar and Carbon do the most good with impact but having sharp edges created during a crash can create its own set of problems. Hard Kevlar® or Carbon fiber placed over the knuckles can and will create pain and fatigue when your fist is clenched over the handlebars of your bike during extended periods of riding. If you've worn that type of glove you know what I mean. As you can see from the picture there is a second layer of elkskin over the knuckles which does not create any fatigue, yet protects your knuckles. You might also notice from the photo that these gloves have two Velcro™ adjustment, one for the wrist and one to secure the gauntlet over any type of motorcycle coat. These are my all-time favorite gloves in nearly 30 years of riding. Yes they are expensive but look what you get, comfort, safety and warmth and they look cool. What more could you ask for? (The following description is from the Lee Parks Design website) Premium insulated performance gloves provide the widest temperature range possible by utilizing an Outlast® phase-change material liner in a patent-pending design. When your hands are cold, the liner acts like insulation and keeps heat in. When your hands get hot, it acts as a heat sink and pulls heat away. Additionally, when used with heated grips, it pulls the heat from the grips and distributes it around your hand. These are the only true insulated gloves that work with heated grips as most insulated gloves insulate you from the heat on the grips. Proudly handcrafted in the USA 2.75+ oz. deerskin (palm) and 4.0+ oz. elkskin (back) are more abrasion-resistant than cowhide Outlast® phase-change lining material changes it properties depending on temperature giving it an incredibly wide temperature range (30-70 degrees). Thinsulate Flex® insulation on the backside of hand helps keep heat in without adding bulk to the palm side of the glove. Trimmed and ironed internal seams provide unrivaled fit, comfort and dexterity. Seamless palm for the ultimate in feel without pressure points. Dual-duty thread provides the strongest seams and won't cut through leather like Kevlar thread. Hand washable leather stays soft Inexpensive repairs available at our U.S. factory. Extra-long gauntlet has dual Velcro® wrist closures for a secure fit on any jacket. Double-stitched ErgoTech™ palm patch doesn't bunch up and provides strong abrasion-resistance. Double layer elkskin backing on knuckles for additional abrasion protection.   LEE PARKS DESIGN DeerSports® PCi Gloves		ROADGEAR AirTec (Mesh) Gloves I have been testing these gloves in cool, warm and hot conditions, spring, summer and fall. They are the most comfortable, functional and attractive ventilated gloves I have ever tried. There is reflective piping over the knuckles. They have curved fingers with excellent air-flow between the fingers. If it cools down and you don't want to stop to change gloves all you have to do is grip your fingers closer together which stops much of the airflow through the gloves. This feature is really neat. There is a Velcro™ strap over the top of the wrist. There is extra padding over the knuckles and fingers I think you need to go no further in your search for ventilated gloves then the AirTec . (The following text is from the Roadgear website) Advanced hi-tensile mesh, reflective piping—engineered to perfection—these gloves keep you going Sizes: Men M-XXL Women XS-M Color: Black Comfort Zone: 70-100°                                                                 V                                   V                                   V                                   V                                   V                                  V                                   V                                                      ROADGEAR AirTec (Mesh) Gloves
Click on photo to go to the Gerbing's page Click photo for more Gerbing's reviews GERBING'S T5 Heated Gloves   Gerbing's T5 Heated Gloves are a refinement of the previous heated gloves known as Gerbing's Classic Heated Gloves. The T5's are an updated and improved version utilizing the hightech, Microwire® heating technology which supplies the heat more rapidly then the previous Classic's. Another improvement is the use of the Hypora® waterproof breathable Membrane. The insulation has been updated with Thinsulate® improving both dexterity and warmth. For more than three years I have been using the Gerbing's Classic Heated Gloves and they still look and feel new and are working perfectly. While my review is based on my use of Gerbing's Classic Heated Gloves, you should feel confident that it will also apply to the T5 gloves because Gerbing's took all their heating technology expertise while designing the T5's and applied it to the new design, using the newest materials to come up with a superior glove. Who says perfection can't be improved?   (The following review was written, based on my use of Gerbing's Heated Gloves, now know as Gerbing's 'Classic' Gloves. The Classic gloves are discontinued and have been replaced with the T5. The photo above and the links below refer to Gerbing's newest insulated heated gloves, the T5.) Gerbing's Heated Gloves are the gloves of choice when it comes to keeping your hands warm when the chill overpowers your best non-electric gloves. Your fingers will stay warm and nimble so you can control your bike without the fatigue and slower response when squeezing the brake and clutch levers with cold and numbing fingers. These gloves have worked well, held up and stayed flawless for more than three years of use and remain the best defense against numb fingers. If I can keep my hands warm, the rest of my body seems to follow suit. At times I have ridden without turning on the heat because the design and insulation are very effective at blocking cold air. Once you do begin to feel the cold just turn on the heat. In the fall, winter and spring you will find these gloves indispensable! There are two links below, one for the T5 Heated Gloves for men, and one for the newly designed women version, Lady Rider Gloves).   (The following description is form the Gerbing's website).   NEW! The T5 gloves from Gerbing’s were first introduced last year in Europe but now are available in the USA. Designed for the rider who rides out of necessity and not just for recreation. The T5 gloves were made for the type of rider who demands performance in a wide variety of riding conditions. Whether it is long distance riding where comfort and warmth are essential or intercity high traffic commuting where safety is a must, the T5 gloves from Gerbing’s deliver exceptional performance.   Gerbing's heated gloves are made with high quality full-analine leather for an exceptionally light, strong and flexible glove. The glove heats the entire length of each finger including the thumb as well as the back of your hand. Gauntlet style glove. Adjustable wrist fastener. Hypora® waterproof, breathable membrane.   Thinsulate® insulation for great warmth and dexterity. Brushed tricot liner for added warmth and durability. Incorporates Gerbing's Microwire® heating technology that uses micro-sized heating fibers to surround the hand with warmth.   Lifetime warranty on the Microwire® heating elements.   Specifications: Heat                            Microwire® Source                        12V DC Current                       2.2A Watts                          27 Surface Temp About 57°C/135°F   Gerbing's T5 Heated Gloves Gerbing's Lady Rider Gloves		Click on photo to go to the Gerbing's page Click photo for more Gerbing's reviews   GERBING'S Heated Jacket Liner I am now testing Gerbing's Heated Jacket Liner. I've never been so comfortable, in more than 28 years of riding motorcycles in cold temperatures! You don't have to accept that being cold is a part of what it takes to ride a motorcycle in chilly temperatures, as I did for years when I lived in Vermont. Finally I can take a deep breath without reaching the limits of my snug Vanson Leather jacket! Until I tried Gerbing's Heated Jacket Liner, I would wear 3 or 4 layers of clothing and a unheated Vanson jacket liner to try to stay warm. My jacket would get so tight that I could not take a deep breath without running out of space inside my jacket. Also my freedom of movement was restricted. Now I just wear 2 layers and Gerbing's Jacket Liner and I'm warm and toasty. I'm using Gerbing's Portable Dual Temp-Controller to dial in just the right amount of heat to both the jacket liner and Gerbing's Classic Heated Gloves, with two control knobs, one for the gloves and one for the jacket. The gloves attach to wires that protrude from ends of each sleeve. The controller attaches inside the coat and hooks to your belt or the way I'm using it, to my tank bag with the aid of the controller cover. The controller and the cover are both accessories available separately as are the gloves. When you're not using gloves those wires stow in a zippered pouch that they protrude from, in each sleeve. (The following description is from the Gerbing's website) HEATED JACKET LINER Heating pads on the chest, back, collar, and sleeves Compressible, water-repellent, durable, Thinsulate® insulation Teflon® coated, wind-resistant, soft nylon shell Inside and outside pockets Silky soft micro denier collar Form-fitting patterns and sizing to fit snugly and easily under your outer garments Glove plug pockets placed on the sleeves secure the plugs when not in use Power Distribution Unit eliminates dangling cords Dual 2 wiring configuration (for one user only) Lifetime warranty on heating elements Specifications Heat:__GHC High Density Heat Source:____________12-volts DC Current:______________6.4 amps Watts:_______________77 watts Surface Temp:____135°F +/- 5°F at 32°F                                                 Gerbing's Heated Jacket Liner

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