MotoTour requires Flash!
|
|||
|
USA FOUR CORNERS GEAR REVIEW With almost 12,500 miles of riding through almost every type of weather condition imaginable, the USA Four Corners Tour provided an excellent testing ground for the gear that was taken. Most of the gear was chosen for the tour simply because it was already owned, which meant that it had already passed the 'cool enough to buy' test, which usually means looking at consumer reports and getting other rider's opinions. MotoTour has no affiliation with any of the companies or manufacturers of these items, and we do not sell any of these items... so these reviews tell it as it is, or rather as we found it to be. We have provided reviews on this page for the following items. Selecting an item in this list will scroll to the the item's review on this page. BMW Rallye Pro II Jacket and Pants Odyssey Motorcycle Battery review coming soon! Garmin 275C GPS review coming soon! Metzler Tourance Tires review coming soon! |
       |
||
| BMW R1150GS Adventure | |||
|
BMW... what more needs to be said?
The GS is probably the most capable motorcycle in the world.
From touring on asphalt roads, to bouncing over rocks and sand on
backcountry trails, the GS is at home on almost any type of surface.
Several times over on this tour I was asked how the GS was for
touring? Although not nearly as comfortable as a Goldwing, I
could easily ride 800 miles in a day without any great distress.
Similarly, on other tours, I've ridden hundreds of miles of dirt
trails on the same motorcycle. Hence the classification of 'dual
sport'. The GS can be setup to take on pretty much anything you
can throw at it. The weak link will usually be the size of the
rider's huevos. The 8.1 gallon tank (8.6 on the newer models) on the GS Adventure is awesome. Not only when you are hundreds of miles away from civilization on dirt trails, but for those more-remote highways like in northern Canada when gas stations are spaced less frequently or close down after 5PM. With a 300+ mile range on one tank of gas (depending on how heavy your wrist is), the GS Adventure is made to go places where most other bikes this size can't. The BMW GS is a motorcycle for people who are more concerned about performance and reliability, and less with image. You will rarely find BMW riders wearing headbands, boots, belts, earrings, watches, sunglasses, wallets, and underwear imprinted with the manufacturer of their bike (although BMW does make these items if you are so inclined). You will not look like a grandpa when riding your bike (although many of those 'grandpas' on Goldwings can kick our asses when it comes to putting in miles). Unlike Harleys, you will not look like you are going through a mid-life crisis, not to mention BMWs are quiet, so you will save a fortune on dealing with that hearing loss problem right after you get over your midlife crisis. Probably the best aspect of the BMW GS is that your ride doesn't end when the pavement ends, in fact it is at that point that your ride begins.
| |||
| Jesse Luggage Odyssey Bags | |||
|
If your bike never sees dirt, then these aluminum
bags are drastic overkill. However, if the underside of your
motorcycle has the chance of someday pointing towards the heavens,
then these are the bags to have. When installed, they will be by
far the strongest part of your motorcycle, and will serve to help
protect your bike should you ever try any inverted riding maneuvers.
For those of you who have never been upside-down in the dirt, it
doesn't necessarily mean you are an excellent rider, but only that you
haven't explored your limits, so even you could benefit from having
these bags. These bags provide tons of room, and with the optional tie-down racks and loops, their storage capacity doesn't end with the space inside. These bags were stuffed to their maximum capacity, plus some on the USA four corners tour. After days of relentless rain, the side bags proved not to be completely waterproof. This was primarily do the fact that they were overloaded, which prevented the lid-seal from completely doing its job. When we say overloaded, we mean overloaded to the point that would crack any plastic bag. A little water was easy to deal with as opposed to having to figure out how to glue a bag back together. Cosmetically we have found that the bags scratch easily, especially in the area of the lockable latches. However, if you are concerned about minor scratches on a dual sport bike, you are probably the type of person who would buy an SUV for an around-town car, so you should probably buy a street bike and stick to asphalt. The side bags are engineered to be narrower than your handle bars, which is a handy feature when you are trying to negotiate between trees, tight gullies and large rocks in the backcountry. Overall, these bags are a must for any dual sport bike that sees dirt. They are made of thick aluminum (not the cheap flimsy pop-can aluminum that BMW uses on their bags), so you can drill and bolt all sorts of racks and fasteners to these boxes. You will destroy your motorcycle long before you hurt these bags.
| |||
| Aeroflow Windscreens | |||
|
When you start talking about rides involving multiple
500+ mile days, rider fatigue becomes a major factor. Your
motorcycle's windscreen plays a huge roll by taking the wind pressure
off of your chest, neck and head, and by creating a quieter
environment on the bike. The danger with several aftermarket
windscreens is that they tend be very flimsy. This is not the
case with Aeroflow windscreens. Even their tallest screen fitted
on a GS Adventure seemed as sturdy or even more sturdy than the stock
windscreen. The decrease in wind noise was immense. While I normally wear earplugs inside my helmet during highway travel when using the stock windscreen on my GS, the Aeroflow windscreen completely eliminated the need for earplugs and permitted me to listen to an XM radio with little or no wind noise. In fact, I had to decrease the volume on my intercom system, as it no longer was required to account for wind noise.
The windscreen's ability to protect the rider from rain (and snow) was adequate but not optimal, but that's why you buy a good riding suit. Aeroflow windscreens have an opening located just above the headlights on a GS. In heavy rain, a decent amount of water makes it through this opening and onto the instrument panel. While this does not really affect anything, it may prove disconcerting to riders used to Goldwing-type screens that almost keep even the rider dry. Overall, we were very pleased with the Aeroflow screen. Even off-road, the screen remains very sturdy given its large size.
| |||
| Starcom1 or Autocom? | |||
|
For every serious rider who wants a communication system
on their motorcycle, the choice usually comes down to either the
Starcom1 or Autocom systems. Each system has its groupies that
are willing to die in defense of their choice of communication system.
Personally, I just wanted an communication system that worked well and
didn't require a second mortgage. I have owned both Autocom and Starcom1 systems. Basically they both work great. I have found that the limiting factor is not the communication system, but rather your helmet, windscreen, and motorcycle that make the most difference in affecting how any communication system performs. There are hundreds of reviews out there comparing Autocom and Starcom1 systems, however read them carefully, because unless the systems were installed on the same bike, in the same helmet, and ridden on the same roads, it is like comparing watermelons to kumquats. Installation is also a huge factor in determining how the system operates. Two identical Starcom1 or Autocom systems installed differently on the same bike and in the same helmet can perform drastically different. The Starcom1 system was used on the USA Four Corners tour, and approximately 3 years prior to that. Its performance has always been at least as good as the Autocom systems. The biggest improvement in sound quality came when I put a large Aeroflow windscreen on my bike. Having thought that the Starcom1 system performed excellent before the new windscreen, the addition of the large screen made the Starcom1 perform absolutely perfect. Even when wearing earplugs, the Starcom1 system performed as though you were listening with a naked ear. The Starcom1 system was installed with rider to passenger intercom, XM radio auxiliary input, and GPS voice input. The Starcom1 performed amazingly well, dimming the XM radio when talking or when the GPS piped-up to give directions. Even at speeds up to 90 mph, we had no complaints about the system. In fact, the only complaint I have is that when you pass Harleys with loud exhausts, the Harleys are loud enough to trigger the VOX and temporarily dim your music. For this reason I hope that Starcom1 will soon offer a stinger missile add-on, enabling you to take out this nuisance before they disturb the peacefulness of your ride. Overall, I would recommend Starcom1 over Autocom simply based on price. Although I consider Autocom to be just as adequate as the Starcom1 system, I cannot see anything that would justify spending so much more on a comparable Autocom system. In fact, the money you save on a Starcom1 system could be used to buy a quieter helmet, better windscreen, or more beer. In our opinion, the days of the wired communication system are numbered, as Bluetooth systems are already available at a reasonable price. Undoubtedly, more and more helmet manufacturers will start offering helmets with integrated Bluetooth systems. This is another good reason to spend less money now, as you will probably upgrade in the near future.
| |||
| BMW Rallye Pro II Jacket and Pants | |||
|
This riding suit was used on the USA Four Corners
Tour for two basic reasons. First, I already owned it, and
second, after buying this suit I could barely afford food, let alone
another riding riding suit. Performance-wise, this jacket and pant combo is incredible. From 100°F+ desert temperatures, to 30°F and snow in the mountains of Alberta, Canada, this suit performed unbelievably well in almost any condition. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the Rallye Pro's construction, the jacket and pants themselves are not waterproof. In fact they are made of a very permeable material that allows air to pass through. Water resistance is obtained through removable Gortex liners. For anyone that has worn a waterproof jacket in 100°F temperatures, you know that they tend to be very hot, and usually do not breath that well. The Rallye Pro II lets you choose when you need the water (and wind) resistance, keeping you as cool as possible during the times that it isn't required. After all, what good is the protection your riding apparel offers if it is too hot to wear? My biggest complaint with this jacket is the quality of the zippers. For the price (nearly $700 retail for the jacket alone, and another $500 for the pants), you would think that every aspect of this jacket would be top quality. The zippers however, are fairly dainty for such a tough jacket and pant, and although I've never had problems with any of them, aesthetically it would be nice to have some meaty YKK zippers. Sizing of BMW gear tends to be for small people, which doesn't make sense when they make huge motorcycles with incredibly high seat heights. The initial overall fit seems to be a little 'boxy' especially when compared to other manufactures, but it works in with wear. After living in this jacket and pants for nearly a month, I found them to be worth the price if you are able to spend that much money on motorcycle gear. The versatility, protection, and overall quality of these garments definitely outweighs their shortcomings. For the best deals on BMW riding apparel, check out eBay.
| |||
|
Tour Gallery ||
Upcoming Tours ||
Motorcycle Touring Advice ||
Motorcycle Modifications and Ideas ||
Free MotoQuiz ||
Site Index ||
Links | |||
|
Translate this Site | |||
| © 2008 MotoTour. All Rights Reserved. This website is best viewed using Internet Explorer with a minimum resolution of 800 x 600 pixels. JavaScript and Macromedia Flash must be installed and enabled to correctly view some features. By using or otherwise viewing this site, you agree to be bound by its Terms and Conditions. | |||
http://www.jesseluggage.com
DID
YOU KNOW that even when wearing a full face helmet, the
wind noise alone may exceed the OSHA regulations for
industrial noise exposure? Based on several research
studies, the major contributor to hearing loss in the
motorcycle industry is wind noise. Even
riding at a speed of 65mph can produce wind noise levels
in excess of 103dB. Overtime, this noise is loud enough
to cause permanent ear damage. Imagine what you are
doing to your hearing if you can't even hear the wind
over those straight pipes you put on your motorcycle!
Get the facts at:
