Category: Gear

I ordered a new helmet to replace my 5-year old HJC CL-14. I really like the CL-14, but it’s getting old and it’s recommended that you buy a new helmet every 3-5 years because the materials degenerate. Not sure how much of that is true but it’s a good excuse to get some new goodies. For the new helmet, I wanted to get a modular. This kind has a chinbar that flips up. It’s kind of convenient in that you can flip it up to talk to people or go into the gas station without having to take the whole helmet off (and reveal your helmet-hair). I’ve had my eye on the Shoei Multitec but they are pretty expensive. I tried on the Schuberth C3 which and it was so nice — super comfortable and slim-looking. The only problem is that it goes for $699.

So I decided to keep with HJC, which is a decent brand and fits my head well. The CL-MAX came down in price (60% off!) so I decided it was time. I went with a silver color to match my bike. I know white is safer but really liked the look of the silver one. The noise level compared to my old CL-14 is less on the whole, but the main difference is that I don’t hear as much low sound from wind turbulence. Most of the noise is higher-pitched which probably comes from the extra seams in the helmet for the flip-up chinbar. This shifting of the noise frequency is good because earplugs should really remove the highs. The padding inside the helmet seems a whole lot better. The ear-pocket is better protected from wind which means less fatigue when riding at 65mph.

Another plus about the CL-MAX is that it uses the same visor latch size as my CL-14. That means I can use my dark smoke shield on it (and save $25).

BTW, I am a firm believer in ATGATT, which stands for “All The Gear, All The Time”. Motorcycle boots, pants, gloves, jacket, and helmet every time I ride. Besides being safer, it’s also a great excuse to get some nice gear!

I picked up a new Summer jacket from Lonestar BMW/Triumph yesterday: a Rev’it! Air mesh jacket in the grey color. It was on sale at 25% off and I just couldn’t pass it up. The S size fits me perfectly and because I have Rev’it! pants as well, they zip together at the lower back. I really like the look of the Air and it’s got decent protection in the elbows and shoulders and the pad for the back can be replaced with stronger armor, which I might do before Summer rolls around. The large mesh area on the front should keep me cool in the Texas heat. Until then, I’ll use my old jacket, which has really good wind protection and plenty of room underneath for layers of warmer clothes.

Today I bought a “new to me” GPS unit that I found on Craigslist. It’s a Garmin eTrex Legend C, which is similar in appearance to my old eTrex Legend, but has some important advantages. First, it’s got a color screen which is much easier to read in daylight. Although it is has less pixels, it presents the data better and the scrolling is much quicker. Another plus is that it uses the same bike mount as my Legend so I can just swap the backplate instead of buying a whole new one.

A huge advantage this unit has over my old one is that it has a mini-USB connection. This means I can connect it to my computer to transfer data back and forth easily. My old Legend had a serial connection only, and who the heck has a serial port on their computers anymore? The USB connection also gives the Legend C its biggest advantage–the USB cord is used as a power source. I routed a USB cable up to the handlebars and now the GPS has unlimited juice. No more worrying about battreries! FYI, the other USB cable is routed up into the tankbag, and I can plug my G1 into it.

I’m still learning all the new features on the new GPS but there appears to be tons more fun stuff plus more memory for maps. Although this model is an old one (discontinued and pretty much obsolete compared to modern GPS units), it is going to be perfect as a trip computer, which is one thing that my bike lacks. And all for only $30!

I got some proper boots for the motorbike: Gaerne Panorama boots. They are rated pretty good and aren’t too expensive. Italian boot-maker Gaerne has a good reputation too. They may be a little warm for summer riding, but I am somewhat tolerant of the heat so I should be ok.

I finally bought a tinted faceshield for my helmet which will really improve my riding experience. I don’t have a pair of prescription sunglasses so I have been riding during the day with the clear shield which was not so great, especially riding east in the mornings. It took me a while to order the new shield because I wasn’t sure how long I would keep my present helmet since it is getting old. The general consensus it that you should replace your helmet every five years but since I rarely used it for four years, I’ll keep it for a couple more.