Icon Pursuit Gloves...??

Hey friends,

I'm a little bit agitated about one piece of gear I own.  My Icon pursuit gloves..
For $65 US, I expected a better quality glove.  I know that yes, gloves do receive more wear and tear than the rest of the gear, but I don't believe ANY decent gloves should wear out in just 3 months, 2000 miles.
Here's what happened:

Velcro is ripping right out of the glove.  Also, not shown, some of the stitching inside the glove is also coming undone.  These are the gloves I crashed in, but they did NOT touch the ground.  I also thought these gloves were going to be thicker, like they were depicted in pictures, but they were much thinner when I saw them in person.  All I can say is that I'm a bit disappointed.  I wish I spent a little more and got RS Taichi gloves, or some Alpinestars gloves.

Sad times..

- Pandabear.

UPDATE: Still no luck.  People I purchased the gloves from won't help.  They told me it is "overused."  Let's see what Icon says.  If they refuse to help too, looks like it's a company that won't stand by it's product.  Typical these days.  Will buy RS Taichi gloves when I have the money...

UPDATE #2: Two months went by but finally got everything sorted out.  The people at ICON are very helpful, and they ended up sending me brand new gloves!  Very happy how it turned out.
Upon reflection, the glove is pretty good otherwise.  Maybe getting them wet was a factor to the weak stitching?  The leather itself was holding up very well!

Highway Flying.

Hey everyone,

Took the bike to the highway this weekend wearing the RS Taichi suit.  It was a fairly comfortable ride, and the bike itself had no problems going fast.  Sure, it doesn't take off from 70 mph like a rocket, but it's fairly on par with most vehicles.  A few points I passed at 90 mph, and everything felt smooth and easy.  My trip each way was 100 miles, not too long, and cruising along, it felt like a very short ride compared to driving in my car.  Everything looked much different from on top of a bike rather than behind a wheel.

The suit was rather comfortable, and didn't really billow around in the wind.  One discomfort I felt was achy feet from the footpegs.  Not sure what caused this other than having a lot of weight on them.  The second, more major discomfort was the wind noise.  Unless in a full tuck, the wind is loud and tiring.  After a while it's hard to hear your bike.  Ear plugs are a must if you want to ride on the highway.  In town under 60mph the wind doesn't affect you much but above that it gets quite noisy.

As far as everyone saying the Ninja 250R gets blown around a lot?  Not at all, I barely was pushed.  I passed many large trucks and never got the sensation of getting hit by a large gust.  I always tucked down when passing, so that probably helped greatly.  I felt very confident in the ninja's ability to cruise on the highway.  Granted, the RPM's were insanely high...10k around 70mph..12k around 90mph...but that wasn't much of a bother since the noise from the wind was much much louder.

All in all, it was a very easy trip.  The suit added greatly to my comfort level, I learned that riding on the highway isn't that bad afterall, and that ear plugs are a must!  Protect your hearing!

Take care friends,

Pandabear

RS Taichi GP-X S207 and Rev'It! Tarmac

Hey friends,

Here is a review of two awesome 1 piece leather race suits.  I received both from Motoliberty down in Texas.  The first was the Rev'It! Tarmac in white and black, and the second was the RS Taichi GP-X S207 in white and black as well. The first thing I noticed when pulling both suits out of the box was that the Rev'It! was a decent bit lighter than the RS Taichi. I think it was about 13lbs or so where as the Taichi was probably a little over 14lbs.  Both are made from standard drum dyed leather and have CE rated knee, shoulder, and elbow armor.  So let's start with the Rev'It!

The retail price of this suit is $1299, and so it is slightly higher priced than the RS Taichi which comes in at $949.  While the leather and overall construction quality isn't much better, there are some small differences in features which I think warrant the price.  I'll get to that in a second.  First, the fitment.  The suit I got was Euro size 46.  Laying it next to the Taichi, in Euro size 48, it actually looked two to three inches longer.  Trying it on confirmed this thought, and though it was easy to put on and was comfortable throughout, it was a bit baggy at the knees and lower legs.  That made putting on my Spidi VR6 boots a little more difficult.
I went out and sat on the bike and it seemed comfortable enough, but I did not take it for a test ride as I didn't want it to get dirty unless I knew for sure I would keep it.

Now for the features. The sliders are dual composition sliders.  They have a plastic mount with aluminum inserts, which I was a big fan of.  Also to justify the price, there were elbow sliders as well.  Also included was an extra set of kevlar stretch panels at the elbows which made bending my arms that much easier.  Definitely added to the comfort a bit.

The knee pucks also seemed to be a little more hefty and at least incorporated the rev'it! design.  These little things show attention to details which I find improve aesthetics and overall appeal and comfort.  There is also plenty of perforation throughout the suit which will keep you cool on hotter days.

A really nice feature, which I think I would unfortunately probably not use just due to the hassle of it (in my eyes anyways) is the aero hump on the back of the suit.  It actually has a zipper (see below) which opens and allows you to place a hydration bag and run the tube out and over the shoulder (with little elastic clips to hold the tube), allowing you to drink while riding.

Now for the RS Taichi GP-X S207.  As far as fitment goes, it was much much more difficult to put on...the reason for this being that once it was on, it literally fit like a glove, meaning that it was decently tight fitting and the clearly right size. In my opinion, the suit overall looks a lot cleaner and appealing.  Obviously since it is cheaper, there were some things which I wish it had, specifically a larger zipper stay, and the stretch panels at the elbows.  It is a bit hard to bend the elbows which isn't an issue on the bike, but off the bike it would a nice feature. 
I do feel as though there is a lot more perforation which is nice since lately it has been horrendously hot. Also, again with the fitment, the knees were very clean and felt smooth.  They did not bunch up and it was very easy to zip the sport boots around them.  Now I understand why boots have such large calf openings.  When riding in jeans they are quite loose but with a suit, they fit very snug.

An extremely nice feature which in my opinion trumps the aluminum sliders of the Rev'It! is the inclusion of shoulder slider air vents.  On a hot day (or on all hot days since this crazy heat wave has stricken the nation), it allows massive amounts of airflow into the suit, as well as through the aero hump on the back.  May not provide as much crash protection, and hope not to have to find out, but for street riding and such, it is a very welcome feature.

The knee sliders were just basic black, nothing fancy, but I'd imagine they get the job done.  I probably won't ever test them out on the street, but eventually when I make it to the track one day, they'll probably work fine.  Perhaps they may be even cheaper to replace since they are basic! Always look for the positives lol!

The back of the suit is fairly standard.  Typical stretch panel and double layered leather on the butt.  No water harness in the hump but it also allows for increased airflow so that's always good in my book.

So clearly, RS Taichi sizes run smaller than other companies.  The 48 fits me perfectly yet the Rev'It! 46 is too large.  So much for standardization!  But that does give hope for short guys like me.  Standing at a whopping 5'3", much like Dani Pedrosa, I have found the company which supports the munchkins!

Now for the most important part.  The Ride. Although I was first a little unstable due to getting used to the new natural body position of the suit, it became second nature once moving.  First and foremost I immediately noticed a vast improvement in my technique.  Since leather grips way better than cotton jeans, and the knee pads being secure and padded, I barely had to squeeze to get a firm grip on the tank.  I didn't even realize I was doing it and didn't get exhausted.  This translated into very light responses and dramatically improved handling with less fatigue. 

I went out when it was 95 degrees and I was very comfortable.  The shoulder vents let in massive amounts of air and down into my back regardless of how I sat.  Sitting more upright, the front perforation cooled me down pretty well.  Tucked down onto the bike, the hump channeled plenty of air down my back.  The kevlar stretch material around the back of the legs allowed me to move around on the seat better and to transition from one side to the other easily without bunching clothing.

And finally, instead of flapping jeans in the wind, the leather cut right through, with no billowing.  It made for a much more comfy ride for sure, and I felt much safer and more confident.  I got many looks from interested drivers.  I guess they are more used to seeing squids than people wearing proper gear!!  Better safe than sorry I always say.

So in the end, I kept the RS Taichi GP-X S207.  Secretly, I had been hoping that it would fit better anyways because I had my eye on it for the longest time.  The guys at sportbiketrackgear.com said it would probably be baggy, but Audrey at Motoliberty said it would probably fit decently well.  It ended up fitting like a custom suit, and I am one happy Pandabear! 

As far as having a 1-piece suit for the streets?  Maybe not the best for going to the store and whatnot since it's a bit of a struggle to get in and out of, but for having fun and longer rides, especially on the highway, (and obviously track is a must) it is worth every penny, no lie.

Hope you enjoyed the rather long comparison review!

- Pandabear

P.S. Sorry for the sections that have some weird white highlighting going on.  I have no clue why it appeared in random places, it must be a glitch.

Almost crashed again. Pay attention!!

Folks,

Here's a tip when riding.  Always ride at YOUR pace, not anyone else's.  I was following my friend somewhere, who was driving a car and was traveling on unfamiliar/undesirable roads.  First, I had to travel on I-83, a highway which has many trucks and impatient commuters, while wearing jeans.  It was the first time on the highway and although the speeds weren't a huge issue, there were a lot more vehicles.  It was a nerve-racking experience.  

After pulling off the highway, the off-ramp was quite curvy.  I was so focused on keeping up with my friend and not getting lost, and I wasn't paying attention to my lines and taking turns properly.  I nearly rode off the tarmac and into a hillside, but managed to make a severe last minute correction to keep my Ninja on the road. It was a very scary experience, but a great lesson.  So friends, when riding, ride at YOUR pace and pay attention to where you are going! 

Tonight I'll be reviewing the two suits that I got.  You'll enjoy it!

- Pandabear

Another quick tip!

Hey friends,

I decided that it was a good time to go out and buy a tire pressure gauge and check my tires.  I just bought a cheap one with the slide out bars and tested my front and rear tire.  The front showed about 22 PSI and the rear 27 PSI.  I said to myself WOW that is really really low...dangerously low.  So I then thought maybe the gauge was off!  So I walked over to my car and checked the tires and they were 35 PSI, which is to what I had inflated them.
I decided it would be a good idea to go over and fill gas (53 MPG) and see if they had an air pump, which fortunately they did!  I verified on their gauge that my tires were horrendously low pressured, and that the cheap gauge I bought was accurate enough.  I then filled the tires to the recommended 28PSI front and 32 PSI rear.  Backing out I slipped on some wet surface and nearly laid my bike over!!  I somehow managed to stop it and lift it back up but phew I was very close.
Anyways, on the ride home the bike felt COMPLETELY different.  It was so much smoother, more easy to maneuver, and much more responsive.  So that brings us to the lesson folks, ALWAYS CHECK YOUR TIRE PRESSURE!!  Check it every week or two!!  It's very very important!

- Pandabear

1700 Miles and No Looking Back!

Hey Friends,

Finally getting around to updating! So let's jump right in shall we?!
First things first, I got my 600 mile first service done at 700 miles. The bike was running absolutely fine but just a tiny bit rough.  After sitting at the dealership for four hours, I got my ninja back and boy did she run smoothly after that!  Since then, I have been really racking up the miles on the ninjette, commuting to and from work about 40 miles a day.
There is one particular segment in the middle of the commute which has two sweeping turns, which I am slowly learning to take quicker.  The caution speed limit is 30mph, which is what I started at, and now am up to about 40mph.  Two things I have been playing with are body positioning, and staying light on the bars.  With the former, I have been hanging off the bike ever so mildly to cause the bike to use less lean angle around the sweepers, allowing me to ride quicker and have a larger contact patch for the tires.  It works wonders.  I then tried not hanging off, which also works fine at this speed, however I made a conscious effort to grip the bike hard with my thighs and hold myself up with my core muscles, leaving almost no weight at all on the handlebars.  This allows the bike to ride the best through the turns, and it causes the best feeling in the world..a planted, on-rails type feeling!  I will be practicing use both techniques in conjunction with each other to get the best results.
Anyways, there is so much more to discuss with you guys.  I have also been traveling about 45 minutes west of my area to a small town called Carlisle.  I had heard about a great crepe shop called Helena's Chocolate Cafe & Creperie. It is a small family owned place with great service and amazing food! Completely worth the ride.

Helena's Chocolate Cafe and Creperie

Oh I must mention, due to some sudden malfunctioning, I retired my Samsung Galaxy S and upgraded to the Samsung Galaxy S III!  The pictures will be even better now! Here's a shot of my bike on one of the main streets.  It was my first time street parking and even with no cars around, I was nervous and had a bit trouble backing up against the curb..most likely due to my short legs!  I do not like street parking with my car, but since a bike is much smaller, hopefully I won't have to worry about someone backing into it (I watched a girl back into some other lady's front bumper while I was eating! Yikes!!!).

And then a funny/scary story, on my return journey from the second visit to Helena's I had the misfortune of being hit by wasps!  The first one bounced off my shoulder and it kind of hurt.  The second hit my chest and managed somehow to enter the bottom of my helmet and crawl up into my shield.  I did not know if it was inside or outside until I tried to flick it away and noticed it was not going anywhere!  I should mention I was traveling about 70mph down the highway and had a tractor-trailer (18 wheeler!) next to me.  Finally somehow I managed to remain calm, overtook the 18 wheeler and stopped on the wide shoulder.  I flipped my shield up and Mr. Wasp flew away without stinging me in the face!  Phew, I was happy.

I've gotten the chance to ride much more since the tune up, racking up an additional 1000 miles from commuting to work and simply just riding whenever I feel like.  I have also had the pleasure of averaging a very solid 53MPG with a mix of conservative riding and all out, throttle pinning action excitement!  I've noticed I have been able to learn how to judge turns a lot better, and naturally am picking better lines than when I first started riding.  And of course, many of my journeys often end up at....Starbucks!  Nothing like enjoying a cinnamon dolce frappuccino while admiring my Arai Vector 2 helmet (haha!)

My Arai Vector 2 in Diamond White! And yummy Starbucks!

On a more serious note, please be careful everyone, if you are areas with large deer population.  I have had several instances where deer have jumped out.  Be very aware of your surroundings, and practice emergency braking.  I one day left Target and a mother deer and two baby deer jumped out in front of me, prancing all over the street.  The best thing to do is come to a complete stop and wait until ALL of them are gone!  I also witnessed one jump out right behind me on my commute to work the other day.  I spotted it in my peripherals and was fortunate that it did not run out in front of me.  I would not have been able to avoid that one most likely.  I now ride slower through that wooded area and keep my eyes peeled!  

And one final little event that I experienced on Wednesday.  The weather report had said clear/cloudy, but on my way home there was a rogue downpour!  Before I knew what hit me, I was drenched head to toe (ok, shoulders to toes, my helmet didn't let any water in!).  My gear was not waterproof, and I had to sit in stop and go traffic while I was soaking wet and cold.  My boots felt like they had mini swimming pools in them, my textile jacket was drenched fully through, and my leather gloves were soggy, numbing my fingers on the way home.  It was one of the most unpleasant things I've experienced lately.  But I managed to keep my bike shiny side up and though my rear tire squirmed a little on the flooding pavement, I made it home safely.  The key was to stay light on the bars, be gentle with the controls, and definitely keep the bike as upright as possible!  I definitely didn't push the bike whatsoever. 

Well, the next big thing I'm going to try is riding home on the highway to my parents' place.  Hopefully next weekend if it doesn't rain, I will do so.  I've been avoiding the highway until I had the proper gear (jeans + pavement @ 70+mph is NOT SAFE!!!).  I'm becoming a firm ATGATT - all the gear all the time - follower.    Even on recent 90+ degree days, I wear all the gear I currently own.  I am now very excited to be receiving my very first 1-piece race suit, as I mentioned previously.  The two suits will arrive by Tuesday evening, so hopefully I'll have time to take pictures and do a review, and let you all know which suit I like better and decide to keep!  Once I have my 1 piece suit, I will be ready to conquer the highway!!  Then on to bigger and better journeys!  

Have a great weekend my friends!

- Pandabear

Soon, soon, soon!

Hey everyone,

Well, I'm still at work, so obviously can't post anything lengthy (I will do my long overdue post tonight!) but I do have a special review coming up for you guys!  I will be receiving two 1-piece leather race suits sometime early next week, and will get to see which one I like better.  The first is the Rev'It! Tarmac, and the second is the RS Taichi GP-X S207.
I'm hoping to love the Taichi more because I've been obsessing over it and hoping it doesn't disappoint me, but I'm interested to also see the quality of the Rev'it! which is cheaper by 200 bucks on motorcycle-superstore ($750)!  Anyways, here's the front shots...

Rev'it Tarmac, picture borrowed from STG.

And the RS Taichi GP-X S207 ($950).

Can't wait for this evening!
Which suit do you guys like?!

-Pandabear

Been busy!

Hey Everyone!

Thought I'd make a super short post.  I have been busy lately with work and other things.  I have a lot to write but it'll have to wait until the weekend.  My bike currently has 1200+ miles, many which are from commuting and some other rides. Stay tuned..I'll have a post this weekend about the miles, speed, deer, riding in the heat, and some other things! Oh yeah, and PICTURES! Woohoo!

Have a great week!

Pandabear