Here I go. I really wanted to stay away from this subject, but I can't any longer. This is a polarizing issue and I would be remiss if I didn't at least offer my opinion.
Stock pipes suck. There's no question about it. Equally indisputable is the fact that there is nothing that sounds better than a v-twin with the right set of pipes. On my VTX 1300, I have Vance and Hines Big Shots. They offer stylish looks, and that indistinguishable v-twin lope we all dream about. They are plenty loud enough, but with an easy throttle hand, I can reign in the noise when I need to (i.e. when leaving for work at 4am or when passing through town on a crowded afternoon).
There are two styles of loud pipes that I can't stand; straight-piped, no-baffled, unmuffled v-twin cruisers, and high-revving- high-pitched cans on sport bikes. Both of these are completely and unnecessarily obnoxious. Riders who insist on riding with either of these styles of pipes are just quickening the legislation that will, one day, require all bikes to sport OEM exhausts.
Loud pipes save lives. That's the mantra from either of the two groups mentioned previous. No they don't. Not even a little bit. The little old lady that's going to pull in front of you will not hear your pipes (blatting behind you, nonetheless) until it's too late. The 16-year old girl is too busy gossiping with her friends and won't hear (or see you) before she pulls out in front of you. The 17-year old boy is more concerned with impressing his buddies and listening to his stereo entirely too loud and won't hear you. Shall I go on? LOUD PIPES DO NOT SAVE LIVES!!!!
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Fall Riding Tips
Coming into the fall riding season, I feel compelled to offer a few tips after watching a number of my fellow riders struggling.
1. In cooler weather, those of us who prefer half-helmets or none at all, may wish to consider wearing a full-face lid. I wear my Bombardier II Modular snowmobile helmet, without the respirator. While the feel of fresh air flowing over my face and head may be a main reason I ride, the lack thereof during the cold-weather season, greatly helps to keep warm.
2. Watch out for leaves on the road. Leaves are just now starting to fall off of trees here in Central New York State. It's been an entire year since most of us have encountered this hazard on the road. Leaves can retain water under them, while the rest of the road is dry. Needless to say, this offers less-than-ideal traction. Hitting it with your front tire, while carving a curve, can have disastrous effects.
3. Chaps and full fingered, insulated gloves are considered, by many, to be essential safety products. They are. As well, they can keep your core body temperature within normal limits, thus prolonging your riding season. Combined with thermal underwear, chaps can extend your riding season almost until it's time to pull the snowmobile out of the shed.
4. You do not need to purchase a specific cold-weather riding jacket. I wear my normal leather jacket, with liner, and layer a thermal underwear-type long-sleeve shirt, a long-sleeve t-shirt, and a hooded sweatshirt under my jacket. The hooded sweatshirt helps to keep the back of your neck from being cold. Balaclavas also work well in keeping your neck warm.
5. Normal riding boots are not good at keeping feet warm. In cold-weather, I will wear motocross socks and my insulated work boots.
I hope these tips extend your riding season. There's nothing I hate to see more then the premature storing of a bike for the winter.
1. In cooler weather, those of us who prefer half-helmets or none at all, may wish to consider wearing a full-face lid. I wear my Bombardier II Modular snowmobile helmet, without the respirator. While the feel of fresh air flowing over my face and head may be a main reason I ride, the lack thereof during the cold-weather season, greatly helps to keep warm.
2. Watch out for leaves on the road. Leaves are just now starting to fall off of trees here in Central New York State. It's been an entire year since most of us have encountered this hazard on the road. Leaves can retain water under them, while the rest of the road is dry. Needless to say, this offers less-than-ideal traction. Hitting it with your front tire, while carving a curve, can have disastrous effects.
3. Chaps and full fingered, insulated gloves are considered, by many, to be essential safety products. They are. As well, they can keep your core body temperature within normal limits, thus prolonging your riding season. Combined with thermal underwear, chaps can extend your riding season almost until it's time to pull the snowmobile out of the shed.
4. You do not need to purchase a specific cold-weather riding jacket. I wear my normal leather jacket, with liner, and layer a thermal underwear-type long-sleeve shirt, a long-sleeve t-shirt, and a hooded sweatshirt under my jacket. The hooded sweatshirt helps to keep the back of your neck from being cold. Balaclavas also work well in keeping your neck warm.
5. Normal riding boots are not good at keeping feet warm. In cold-weather, I will wear motocross socks and my insulated work boots.
I hope these tips extend your riding season. There's nothing I hate to see more then the premature storing of a bike for the winter.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Biker Killed Saturday
Yesterday afternoon, a rider was killed here in Central NY. My instinct is to react with sympathy when I hear such news, and I did this time as well. At least, until I read the news story here.
Why do people think it's okay to do shit like this on public highways? I don't feel even the slightest bit sorry for this jackass. He got everything he deserved. There is no excuse for such a public disregard for, not only traffic laws, but general safety as well.
Now, sport bikes are not my cup of tea, and I hold no ill-will towards their riders, as a whole. The article does not say what type of bike this moron was on, but I'd be willing to bet a week's paycheck that it wasn't a cruiser.
I can only hope that his riding buddies now realize that their antics do have repercussions.
Later,
Chris
Why do people think it's okay to do shit like this on public highways? I don't feel even the slightest bit sorry for this jackass. He got everything he deserved. There is no excuse for such a public disregard for, not only traffic laws, but general safety as well.
Now, sport bikes are not my cup of tea, and I hold no ill-will towards their riders, as a whole. The article does not say what type of bike this moron was on, but I'd be willing to bet a week's paycheck that it wasn't a cruiser.
I can only hope that his riding buddies now realize that their antics do have repercussions.
Later,
Chris
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)