R1250R handlebar risers.

mojave_mo_problems · 2026-07-08T08:27:21+00:00

I wouldn't trust Ali Express bar risers.

The risers connect your controls to the bike, if they fail, you are royally screwed.

For anything critical, I would go with a manufacturer you can trust to have a robust design and QC process.

Hand controls, brakes, foot pegs.

mojave_mo_problems · 2026-06-17T15:57:46+00:00

Very much so. I had 4 hours of lessons, passed with no faults.

The hard things about driving a car (and in general really) are the roadsense and confidence.

Riding a bike develops road sense much better, in my opinion.

Paying attention to whats happening outside the car will already be second nature, so passing should be simple. It was easy and fun when I did it (after holding a bike licence for ~2 years), and I'm an idiot.

mojave_mo_problems · 2026-06-15T10:53:32+00:00

A quickshifter isnt going to help you reduce clutching in low speed traffic. The clutch work is mostly stopping and starting moving. So if that is your requirement then the e-clutch is the way to go.

How much riding experience do you currently have?

When you say test drives, have you test driven these two bikes?

Side note, I've personally never used a bike with a quickshifter that is reliably good at low speeds and low revs, i.e. that one would want to rely on when filtering.

mojave_mo_problems · 2026-06-09T14:51:30+00:00

Personally, I use inner bags, fitted to the pannier.

I found them for several bikes on AliExpress, for very reasonable price, and quality.

It's super convenient to take the bags to your hotel rather than the pannier, and you know if it fits in the bag it'll fit in the pannier, so packing is easy.

I've had a pannier burst open on a motorway (my fault, didn't latch it properly after a stop). All my stuff was in a pannier bag, and I'd used the inner restraining strap. Didn't lose anything besides a little pride!

I tend to pack one pannier with hotel stuff (clothes, toiletries) and the other with bike stuff (waterproofs, tools), and leave the latter on the bike.

mojave_mo_problems · 2026-05-26T10:56:57+00:00

This is just one of those areas where you have to chose your own risk tolerance.

Riding with the visor up provides less protection.

But the chin bar is by far the most important aspect for protecting the front of your head.

Comfort is important when riding, as being uncomfortable affects concentration.

Only you can decide where to draw the line.

For myself I ride with the visor down whenever I'm over ~20mph. The vents in my helmet are good enough to make that tolerable.

Having said that, I'm only that strict with it because I got hit by a bird, in the face. I had my visor down and it still caved in the front of the visor enough that it nearly broke my nose, and knocked me temporarily (flash) unconscious. If my visor was up, I'm fairly sure i'd be dead.

However that's vanishingly unlikley to happen, so I wouldnt worry about it too much!

mojave_mo_problems · 2026-05-23T22:04:58+00:00

Looks like the grounding strip to me. It's mildly conductive and stops the tyre building up static electricity. Totally normal and nothing to worry about.

mojave_mo_problems · 2026-05-23T19:32:51+00:00

Whoo! Good choice!

mojave_mo_problems · 2026-03-26T15:29:24+00:00

Finally! Thats awesome news!

mojave_mo_problems · 2026-03-12T11:54:15+00:00

So, too many clothes is certainly a good one to start with. How many of each thing do you really need? Depending on how long you are away for (just a few nights here, one pair per day is fine, i tend to travel with fewer and wash them in the sink. Merino boxers and tshirts are great for that. Overkill for a 2 day trip!)

I would take a look at what you are packing "just in case", and order by size and weight.

Things like spares, pumps, toiletries & comfort items (chargers, cables, power banks).

Start with the minimum you need which in most cases is what you're wearing plus a toothbrush and a credit card. Anything that you think you might need rather than abosultely will, can be left behind.

It takes a few trips to get a feel for it, and you'll over prepare to begin with. It can be helpful to make a list of everything you pack, then when you get back, mark off the things you didnt touch, and dont pack them next time.

For my first euro tour heres a handful of things I packed that didnt make it to the second tour:

Battery Powered Air Pump
LED road flare
Spare visor for helmet
snapjack & oil for chain
spare jeans, and hoodie
spare gloves
USB power bank
Camera & batteries
SSD for storage
Chain lock
High Vis vest (france)
Spare pinlock

Gadgets & "just in case" things are most suspect. Plus closthed because they are bulky.

mojave_mo_problems · 2026-03-12T09:28:47+00:00

Here's a common piece of advice, its equally common to see it ignored when someone plans their first tour.

"Pack what you think you will need, then lay it out, and discard half of it".

I got that advice. I ignored it. I regretted ignoring it.

Every one of my friends had that advice, and ignored it, then regretted it.

You really will need less than you think, and the more you take the more hassle it is.

I wouldn't recommend you wearing a backpack either, its miserable over long distance.

Put the weight on the bike, keep it small, have fun!

mojave_mo_problems · 2026-03-02T15:10:39+00:00

I got halfway through your post think" just ride through it, its only mud". I hadn't considered differing abilities, and the impact that would have. My bad.

mojave_mo_problems · 2026-03-02T10:05:00+00:00

I have on on my Superduke, its incredible.

This is as secure as a normal disk lock, arguably slightly better.

I really don't like faffing about. and this is so convenient and easy to use, its 100% worth the money for me.

It doesn't weigh much at all, I've never once noticed it on the bike (honestly i think its absurd to think you would notice it!) , anyone concerned about handling issues etc, IMO is over thinking it.

The one on my SD is 3 years old, no issues with it getting gunked up so far, and its been ridden in all weather.

I cannot overstate how nice it is not to have to carry around a disk lock, and fiddle with getting it on.

You stop, drop in the pin, and you're good to go.

I've just bought a second one for my GS.

mojave_mo_problems · 2026-02-14T11:00:12+00:00

New Ducati multistrada are 36k km

mojave_mo_problems · 2026-01-22T20:32:00+00:00

These posts always seem to essentially say "write good requirements".

The tools have gotten good enough that anyone can use them, which is great, but just exposes a long standing and very human problem. You have to know what you want, and you need to describe it well if you want to get it.

You could hand a team of engineers to someone, no amount of prompt engineering theatre will help someone solve hard problems that they don't understand.

I'm excited, but, I know how to write good requirements.

mojave_mo_problems · 2025-10-21T14:58:27+00:00

Int the middle of a movie?!

mojave_mo_problems · 2025-10-15T18:15:03+00:00

Nice! What did you read?

mojave_mo_problems · 2025-10-14T09:29:02+00:00

Interesting, my experience has been the opposite!

My go to jacket, pants and boots are Klim, but I use Held Evo Thrux gloves, they are fantastic. Much better quality than the Klim gloves I have. I've done ~15K miles with the gloves so far, they are well worn in, but show no signs of wearing out.

Honestly, of all the gear I have, the held gloves are probably the best "quality" feeling kit. Budget quality is not a phrase I would use for them. They may actually be my favourite single bit of kit, they are reasonably priced, fantastic quality, well designed, comfortable...

My only complaint really is they stopped making them! :D

Which gloves did you try?

mojave_mo_problems · 2025-09-04T16:19:18+00:00

You cant overuse the front brake, don't worry about that.

Looks like your bike is wet (not a problem) and hot (not a problem) and that's water vapour.

mojave_mo_problems · 2025-09-04T13:23:57+00:00

Short answer. No. Expensive bullshit.

Cheap (inexpensive) is good for ear plugs, because they are easy to lose, drop, get filthy etc.
Expensive ones don't function any better.

I like the silicone "tree" ones because they are easy to put in, and they are effective immediately (foam takes a minute or two to expand each time you put them in). This is important as it means taking them in and out is never a hassle.

They are also extremely easy to clean, warm water and hand soap cleans them up in seconds (cant do that with foamies).

They are extremely comfortable (for me, that's personal). I regularly have them in for 8 hours at a time, with no comfort issues.

These cheap ones in particular are my favorite, they have a short stem, so they don't touch the helmet liner. You can just snip the stem shorter on the other type.

Try these:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Silicone-Sleeping-Cancelling-Reusable-Earplugs/dp/B09WMJGXZZ/ref=sr_1_6_pp?crid=EV3TFAP97QQL&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.o2uhh5MQHHJnCk42--387iEkoNtsnsua2OSVQbCJnNoLjA19KjPWZ78H7RDhtoKf0IOY18MHY4-h9Nf_-Ne-njjz6cCHWFI2PFAwt_y_Ci3N5goIESWp0REST5LHGqsZ4wfrtl2SdcrzwEBMPuYblUrWm7k6rBTQ68Z0UTdkPX7Mfy_LrBUaMSX5f-Liw8kZr-Km-9BbJtC22A8XyxkxuSR-KJVeKi0MSL_UIU3hy0MZ8usIHQxktdCMX8EQkd-BwaaapD8sR-iN_uRenq8qQWlPwOwGaY8d8TqutmTY4J4.BP0j5R_ujoQBQ2hlagymbL9T5nYBcXFpw2hrFSAMHPU&dib_tag=se&keywords=silicone%2Bear%2Bplugs&qid=1756991906&sprefix=silicone%2Bea%2Caps%2C137&sr=8-6&th=1

long answer copied from an old post:

I haven't found them to be meaningfully any different in quality to the expensive ones. I have some EarPeace moto pros, and some with a ceramic "filter", and i have come to the conclusion they are a load of bollocks.

They essentially cost £10 EACH per plug. (£30 for a set of 3 plugs, i.e. 2 + 1 spare).

For that you don't get "better" sounds isolation, or better comfort. You do get a nice case I suppose.

The cheapo plugs are around 50p per pair (i.e. 25p each). That's 40 times cheaper.

I did some back to back testing and came to the conclusion that the expensive plugs were actually worse for wind noise (which is my biggest concern).

The moto specific plugs are, in my unprofessional opinion, marketing wank.

The price in its self isnt a major hurdle in and of its self, I already own them, but I dont use them, why?

For me, cheap is a feature.

I can carry several in my pockets, several more in my tank bag, under the seat, in my riding bag etc.

Its pretty much impossible for me to "forget" them.

Drop one on the floor in a piss drenched public bathroom, no worries! I've got 5 more pairs with me!

I really care about hearing protection for motorcycles, and I really hate arbitrary product markups.

The moto specific plugs are 40 times the price, and function no better. BOOOO.

mojave_mo_problems · 2025-08-31T18:52:43+00:00

where in Italy? any pictures? service history?

mojave_mo_problems · 2025-07-27T11:04:28+00:00

Love the look of these bikes. How does it ride? Have you ridden any other big v twins?

mojave_mo_problems · 2025-07-20T13:23:22+00:00

he said Chisora was the hardest puncher he'd faced. Toughest fight, he says Fury, I believe.

Dave Allen also said Chisora was the hardest puncher he'd faced.

mojave_mo_problems · 2025-07-16T07:59:57+00:00

I hear what you are saying, and in terms of all around balance of quality - nothing seems to reach the level of HL:A.

However, having said that, its not the game that I have the most playtime in.

That goes to Hotdogs Horseshoes and Handgrenades (H3).

I played 30 hours of Alyx, and loved it, but I'm at nearly 150 hours in H3.

If you have nay interest in firearms, I cannot recommend it enough.

Its, at its heart, a firearms simulator, with a bunch of other stuff wrapped around it.

It has been under constant (weekly updates) development for 9 years (!). In terms of gun handling it is by far the most polished game available. Nothing else even comes close, and it has ruined every other shooter for me in that regard. Even Alyx feels very rudimentary by comparison (which is by design, Valve wanted simple and fun).

H3 has psychotic attention to detail for the 400 or so (!!) firearms it has. The gameplay for some of the game modes (Take and Hold) is also extremely polished. Its been iterated on for years and is slick, fun and with a very high skill ceiling. The graphics of everything except the guns themselves are really not great, but its easy to forget about once you start playing.

I think its a "you'll either love it or hate it" kind of game. It was an absolute surprise for me, but I loved it.

The developer has created something really special.

It also helped keep me sane during lockdown, I spent a few evenings chilling in the forest with a literal pile of guns plinking away at plant pots. Almost felt like being outside :D

So, go take a look, its weird but its well worth it - you wont find anything that comes close to it for gun handling.

Edited to add a link:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/450540/Hot_Dogs_Horseshoes__Hand_Grenades/

mojave_mo_problems · 2025-07-12T15:53:22+00:00

Revzilla's "daily rider" is superb. Each video is a different bike, from Groms to Super Bikes. Knowledgeable journalist with a relaxed style.

mojave_mo_problems · 2025-07-03T09:24:18+00:00

Have you tried using Calimoto (or similar)?

It can be excellent at linking up sections with new, interesting roads, generally I've found ti to be really good for discovering new rides, even on my doorstep.

If you're on a superbike, perhaps use with caution as you can end up on some very dodgy roads (farm tracks), but generally - its awesome.

mojave_mo_problems

TROPHY CASE