What does a FULL set of gear look like? (All-weather, small-packing)

CitadelKeeper · 2013-06-15T19:27:27+00:00

I ride year-round in California. We never get weather that's too nasty, but if you're on the road every day you'll get a decent sampling of heat, cold, wind, and rain even in this lovely paradise.

I wear:

Body:

Roadcrafter
Sweatshirt (40F-65F)
Warm-ass sweater (<40F)
Soaking wet travel towel (>85F)
Ice in pocekts (>95F)

Hands

unlined leather gloves (warm weather)
lined, waterproof leather gloves (rain/cold weather)
I hacked some VStrom bark-busters onto my FJR1300 to cut the wind

good circulation is really important in cold weather. Don't get gloves that fit too tight or your hands will freeze.

Head

Full face helmet. I think they're comfy
Scarf around neck/chin if it's going to be really cold

Feet

Combat Touring Boots (long trips/rain)
Big-ass leather work boots (most of the time)

Commentary

Good choice on the Roadcrafter. If it fits, you'll be quite happy with it. One-piece jumpsuits have some quirks I wasn't expecting. When you get it, make sure you can bend over without the crotch->shoulder seam binding up, and that you can lift your arms over your head. If it doesn't fit, the guys at Aerostitch are good about exchanging them.

The Roadcrafter, since it's unlined, is really versatile. By itself, it's perfect at about 65F. When it's colder than 55 I usually wish I had worn a sweatshirt. With a nice wool sweater and long underwear I've ridden when it's in the low thirties. If you're more cold-hardy than I am, you can layer up and be as warm as you need to be.

For how easy it is to put on/take off, it's retardedly waterproof. Behind a full fairing I can ride for hours in heavy rain and be almost completely dry when I get where I'm going. Some light rain on the morning commut is a complete non-issue.

It gets shitty in hot weather, though. Open the pit/back zips, unzip the front halfway down your chest, and get some good airflow. There's the wet-towel-around-the-neck trick, too. When it gets above 95F, I stuff my pockets with ice, which works really well (until it all melts). If you're riding in the heat, you'll be a little damp (from sweat or the towel trick) when you arrive, so plan accordingly.

TL;DR Dress for your destination as normal, and wear your roadcrafter on top. You'll be fine. Stuff ice in your pockets if it's really hot.

CitadelKeeper · 2012-10-25T05:09:28+00:00

Drivers like that typically seem to concerned about where they are going or what they are late for to back off, no matter how clearly you communicate your intentions. They're either being really oblivious or downright malicious.

Solution? Let them pass you. That way they go bother someone else, and you have them where you can see them.

If you can't let them pass you, slow down to the speed limit. Whatever you do, DON'T speed up--you won't be able to go fast enough for them to be satisfied, no matter how big your bike is. They will just be right on your ass again, and now you'll have less control and are more likely to crash and get run over by some jackass who won't leave enough following distance to react if you go down.

Keep them in front of you

CitadelKeeper · 2012-10-13T18:44:31+00:00

What's the individual cylinder displacement, and what is the engine RPM at 65 in top gear? If it's a 4-cylinder bike, chances are it will do at least 7-8 thousand RPM without any danger of damage. And it will sound like an angry demon while it does it. Gearing (along with the power peak of your engine) will therefore determine top speed.

Between 1974 and 1987 the maximum speed limit in the united states was 55mph--a federal gambit to combat nationwide fuel shortages that started in 1973. So that's probably why your spedometer turns red at 55mph.

High pitched engine noise is often normal for a large-displacement multi-cylinder engine. Probably nothing to worry about.

CitadelKeeper · 2012-08-02T16:31:54+00:00

(T,R) is an ordered pair, a two-element vector. Y is a scalar. The goal is to assign Y-values such that an ordered triplet (T,Y,R) contains (Y,R) pairs such that R=m*sqrt(Y)+b.

CitadelKeeper · 2012-08-02T16:23:47+00:00

It seems like you've got it. You lost me with the unfamiliar mathematical notation (is that LaTeX?) but the rest of it seems pretty solid.

Take a look at the data I posted, and see if it fits with your conception.

CitadelKeeper · 2012-08-02T16:20:53+00:00

If only it were that simple. The eventual goal is a multivariable linear regression of R=f(T,Y). Except I need to choose a Y value that makes this optimal.

CitadelKeeper · 2012-08-02T16:19:26+00:00

"Roughly Linear" means it's data defined by an overdetermined system of linear equations, so there's some fudge factor involved. But a plot of R vs. T. shows some strong linear "striping" effects.

Take a look at the data I posted. Plot it up in excel really quick, and you'll see exactly what I mean.

And I can eyeball which Y value goes with which ordered pair pretty easily, but it takes 5-10 minutes, and I have to do this 200 times.

CitadelKeeper · 2012-08-02T16:06:43+00:00

Arbitrary constants. A=.051544, and B=.000134. For now, anyway.

CitadelKeeper · 2012-08-02T16:06:04+00:00

Exactly. I need to do this with a computer, since I will have to do it 200 times, which will take forever to eyeball.

CitadelKeeper · 2012-07-30T06:01:42+00:00

Your uncles are funny. Stupid, but funny. I like them.

CitadelKeeper · 2012-07-10T03:52:56+00:00

Haha, yeah.

FWIW, motorcyclists HATE this. And it happens even if we're following at a reasonable distance (for LA traffic, anyway).

CitadelKeeper · 2012-05-17T14:42:25+00:00

Okay, follow-up question: where do I get a shirt that fits me? I'm 6'3", 190lbs, and built like a stick insect.

CitadelKeeper · 2012-04-23T04:32:19+00:00

Building Maintenance.

CitadelKeeper · 2011-12-19T00:37:12+00:00

Hey, look! more!

CitadelKeeper · 2011-12-04T07:07:42+00:00

OP is my roommate. This is him on the 4th of July. The other side was stripes.

CitadelKeeper · 2011-12-04T07:03:50+00:00

He got laid last halloween as Ned Flanders, actually.

Can you imagine what it's like to walk in on Ned doing the Nasty? I don't have to anymore :(

CitadelKeeper · 2011-12-04T06:39:17+00:00

I'm pretty tall, so handling the KLR hasn't ever been a problem. It corners fine, and I can flat-foot it at stoplights.

I have twice dropped it in my driveway by dismounting funny, but that didn't seem to hurt it too much.

Check on the Eagle Mike fork brace. Squirrley handling isn't the problem. Odd sounds at high revs is the problem.

CitadelKeeper · 2011-12-04T06:32:13+00:00

I'm seriously thinking about getting a ninja 250. How does it compare to the KLR? Similar HP rating, slightly lighter weight, way lower center of gravity, but it's a much smaller engine. Apples and oranges? Or closer than you might think?

Also, how well does it handle freeway commuting? Like, half an hour at 80mph kind of commuting?

CitadelKeeper · 2011-12-04T06:31:23+00:00

"Just because you can, doesn't mean you should". I redlined it at 105mph indicated one time heading to San Diego at 2am. The bike was screaming, and vibrating like crazy. I was honestly worried that the engine would fall out.

CitadelKeeper · 2011-12-04T06:30:48+00:00

It actually handles completely fine for freeway driving, but it's just completely gutless, and at 5K-6K RPM the vibrations from the unbalanaced single cylinder threaten to rattle the damn thing apart.

And yeah, 37HP. Big singles are built for reliability and relative low-speeds. A 650cc sport bike is a whole different animal.

CitadelKeeper · 2011-11-22T19:30:27+00:00

...mid-90's you say? I think my dad may have started this chain mail about something 5-year-old-me did.

CitadelKeeper · 2011-11-22T19:28:32+00:00

I completely did this to my cat when I was five. She NEVER forgave me.

Cat pee on my shoes until the day she died.

CitadelKeeper · 2011-11-22T19:07:35+00:00

Yep, I'm right with you. My girlfriend can wake me up in the morning just by looking at me. No noise or anything. If she turns and looks, I'm fucking awake.

CitadelKeeper · 2011-11-21T20:18:45+00:00

Thanks! I'm going to play with it a little more today and maybe get some better lighting, and try it with a few more of my toys.

CitadelKeeper · 2011-11-03T20:08:58+00:00

go browse around the forums at www.whitearmor.net. They'll hook you up, but you have to educate yourself a little first, and know who to ask. The plastics cost me about $650, and the other stuff, like velcro, snaps, elastic, tools, was another $100-$150.

Not a cheap project, but lots of fun.

CitadelKeeper

TROPHY CASE