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I currently do not have a communication device on my motorcycle but believe that bike to bike communication is way under valued. It is my belief that in the near future bike to bike communication using compact wireless helmet mounted bluetooth technology will become the norm and we will wonder how he got along without it. Something as simple as pulling over because you got some dust in your eye could be easily communicated to your buddy or group. Instead we usually tough it out and do the best we can until the irritation goes away, unless of course you ride by yourself. In that case you do whatever you please whenever you please.

I once went on an ice cream ride with my HOG Chapter where a member from another chapter joined us. He rode without putting any eyewear on. This is illegal and dangerous. I couldn’t tell if this was the way he liked to ride or not. I kept telling myself that it was not my problem, that if he wanted to pull over and put his eyewear on, then it was up to him. There were plenty of opportunities for him to do so but because he was new to the group he didn’t speak up. If I had a CB I could have called up to the lead Road Captain on his Ultra Classic and notified him of the situation to get his oppinion. After we got to the ice cream stop it became known that it was a mistake and he should have let us know he needed to pull over. If we could all communicate I think the experience of riding with a friend or a group of friends would be a hundred times safer and ten times more fun.

Here is a post on Motorcycle Philosophy about the impact of having to take a rest stop while riding with people who don’t take rest stops. Click here to check it out and think how different it would be if these riders could communicate.

Even though I think newer technologies will become the norm, the CB Radio will be more common for quite awhile among cruisers since most touring bikes are already outfitted with them. The sportbike crowd might adapt to FRS Radio and new technologies sooner because they are all on a level playing field. For those of us in the Harley crowd, many of our friends are already outfitted with CB on their Ultra Classics. My wife has done alot of research on the Internet and has only found one handlebar mounted CB Radio specifically for motorcycle use. It is the J&M model and can be ordered as a complete system from www.CycleAccessoryStore.com in North Carolina. Diana ordered a $600 J&M CB Radio system from them for my 2008 Christmas present but; I stupidly exchanged it for two Chatterbox FRS units. The Chatterbox system was half the price of the J&M and was supposed to be voice activiated. I thought that the hands free VOX system would be better than PTT (Push to Talk). Although the FRS radios wouldn’t allow us to communicate with our friends on CB I thought it was more important that Diana and I be able to communicate. The Chatterbox units we received didn’t work well at all and I returned them directly to Chatterbox for a full refund under warranty assuming this is not the way they are supposed to function (defective). I didn’t believe that replacements would work much better. I was tempted to buy the bluetooth Scala Rider system from www.CycleAccesoryStore.com (they have great customer service). At the moment this system is limited to communication between two bikes only. It is the most compact lightweight unit I have seen. It is a little egg shaped device you clip on your helmet. “Look Ma, No wires!”

It is winter time again and I find myself surfing the Net for an affordable compact CB capable of being rigged up to a motorcycle. The J&M is considered the top of the line but it is expensive, unattractive and might not be compatable with my split view mirrors. I came across the Midland 75-822 which appears to be the second most most compact CB radio on the market. It is a complete 40 channel CB radio system in a small handheld unit. It will accept a variety of accessory headsets. The Cobra 75 WX ST is smaller but I do not know if you can attach an accesory headset to it.

The Midland 75-822 can be used as a portable (like a walkie talkie) or changes to a mobile unit. It has a belt clip, two battery attachments, a detachable antenna and the mobile attachment. The normal battery attachment holds 6 standard AA batteries. The rechargeable battery attachment holds 8 NiCad rechargeable AA batteries and comes with a plug to charge them up. It also comes with a short flexable detachable walkie talkie size antenna. The mobile attachment has connections for a base mount antenna and cigarette lighter plug. The idea is you can us this CB as a mobile unit in your car, jeep or truck and then take it with you as a portable outside the vehicle. Imagine using it to go on a camping trip. You can use it in the vehicle and then stay in touch with other users and listen to NOAA weather reports from your tent. You can use my 12 Volt Power Port to connect the cigarette lighter plug to your battery tender quick connect on a motorcycle. That means you just gotta figure out how to mount the base antenna and where to keep the radio. You might just want to clip it on your belt. It would be really cool if the little antenna worked well and you didn’t need the base antenna… but I doubt it. We’ll find out when it gets a little warmer. You can find this radio on eBay and Amazon.com for less than $90.

A company called www.HiTechWireless.com sells a motorcycle headset that is compatable with the Midland 75-822. It is called RiderComm and is made by RocketScience. You need to order it with the S1 connector. It is currently on sale for $89.95 and includes the headset with boom microphone, weatherproof PTT button and connecting cables. They told me the only customer complaint they hear is the length of the cables isn’t as long as some people would like and there are no extensions available. I bought the unit from HiTech Wireless and it arrived the next day via Federal Express. I was impressed considering there was no shipping or handling charge.

I bought the Midland CB with a Cobra 300 watt magnetic base antenna from Amazon for $101.72 with Free Super Saver Shipping and received the merchandise in about three days. Click here for more details on the Midland 75-822 CB radio at my Amazon store.

Now I am off to surf the Net for a magnetic tank bag to stash the radio in. “Hang Loose!”

Tags: Deep Biker Thoughts, Road Captain Stuff, Technical Stuff // 5 Comments »

The February 2010 issue of East Coast Biker Online is up. Jack Watson brings us another hot model! Kayden Kross is look’n goood in her pictorial. Diana’s article is on page 12. Jokers article is on page 62. I submitted a product review on heated gloves for my monthly product review column and also a bonus article on the New York City International Motorcycle show. The IMS article is published as my monthly product review on page 48. Maybe we will run the heated gloves review in March. That might push my product review on heated jacket liners into April. Well, it is still cold in many parts of the country in April so that could work.

Click here to go to East Coast Biker Online

Tags: East Coast Biker Online // Add Comment »

When the temperatures started to drop, I started to wear my Harley-Davidson Heated Gloves. I purchased them last winter with my Friends and Family points at Mike’s Famous Harley-Davidson in New Castle, Delaware. Due to the popularity of these gloves they were on back order until spring. I was glad to have them ready for this winter. They are part number 98323-09VM and retail for $185. As we know, Harley-Davidson makes motorcycles but not everthing that they sell. I believe that the gloves are made by Gerbing’s Heated Clothing. Gordan Gerbing invented heated motorcycle gear in the 1970’s. In 1999 Harley-Davidson named Gerbing’s to be the sole supplier of Harley-Davidson branded heated gear. Although Gerbing’s is an American company in Washington state the gloves are made in China.

The gloves come with a fused battery harness, power switch and three prong harness so that you can run the wires through the sleeves of your jacket. If you have a heated jacket liner the gloves will plug into the sleeves at the cuff. The gloves are made of genuine water resistant leather with a stretchable fabric panel on the backside of the gauntlet. These gloves have an inner liner made of Aquatex™ which is a lightweight waterproof windproof material. I have not tested these gloves in the rain, so I can’t rate their performance in wet weather. However they do keep the wind out. They are insulated with DuPont Thermolite® Active Insulation and are fairly warm without being plugged in for rides in the mid forites or higher (perfect for late fall early winter).

For rides in temperatures in the low forties and thirties you’ll want to plug them in. The Heated Gloves feature Microwire™ heating technology, a patented process of using micro-sized stainless steel fibers that are intertwined and encased in a Teflon® coating. The Microwire™ is woven into a heating matrix within the glove and provides consistent heat coverage to the entire length of each finger, including the thumb as well as the back of the hand.

I did not use the supplied battery harness. Instead I used a coaxial adapter to plug the gloves into my battery tender connection. You can buy this connector at your Harley-Davidson dealer or from www.Shop.RoadCaptainUSA.com

The gloves come with an on/off switch but do not come with a regulating device to control the temperature. So it will be full blast or nothing unless you purchase the Harley-Davidson Heated Thermostat which is sold separately as part number 98540-04V and retails for $60. I bought one at Mike’s Famous in Smyrna, DE during a special sale where I got 40% off. The thermostat features a small knob that allows you to dial the amount of heat you want like a volume control on a radio.  In comparison, Tour Master® Synergy™ heated gloves are less expensive and come with a temperature regulator that is limited to three settings:  low, medium and high. You can purchase the Tour Master Gloves in leather at Riders Discount for $153 (textile $135). I like that the Harley-Davidson system is fully adjustable.

The gloves can be used alone or in conjunction with a heated jacket liner (not to be confused with a heated vest). When using the gloves by themselves I find that feeding the wires through my jacket sleeves is a nuisance (being able to ride in January makes it only a minor nuisance). Next month I will review how the gloves perform in conjunction with a Tour Master® Synergy™ heated jacket liner thus eliminating the need to feed the wires through my jacket sleeves. 

The HD Heated gloves are comfortable to wear. When used with the fully adjustable thermostat they keep my hands comfortably warm on cold rides. I have not tested them in temps below thirty yet. If I do happen to ride in temperatures below thirty, you can bet it is the heated gloves that make it possible.

Tags: Product Reviews // 4 Comments »

It should be no secret that I endorse and sell the Ride Like A Pro motorcycle training DVD’s at my online store but up until today I had never watched Surviving The Mean Streets. I don’t usually sell something that I have not previewed. As I have said many times on this blog, training is essentail! As riders we spend too much money on accessories and too little on training. Although some of you may watch the DVD and say “I knew that” after every scene, watching the video moves these common sense pratices from the back of your brain to the front. Watching DVD’s like this get you in the right mind set even if you already knew the material. To be a good rider you need to be humble and seek to learn. I like this video and want you to watch it along with the other Jerry “Motorman” Palladino training DVD’s (Ride Like A Pro and Ride Like A Pro on the Dragon).

Click here for more info on purchasing this DVD

Here is a quote from the book Motorcycle ROADCRAFT:

A fully professional approach to riding requires you to take an objective look at the facts, to be prepared, where there is evidence, to discard inappropriate attitudes and to develop a critical awareness of your own attitudes and capabilities.

The key steps to achieving this critical self-awareness are:

• acknowledging that attitudes affect riding performance
• being aware of your own attitudes and recognising that they affect your risk of having an accident
• recognising that your are vulnerable, especially on a motorcycle
• making safety your primary concern in all your riding decisions
• considering your own experience of near misses or accidents and what you can learn from them
• carrying through changes in attitude to your riding performance by applying them in every riding situation.

Tags: Books, Movies & Music, Product Reviews, Rider Skills // Add Comment »

While researching an article on the Cycle World International Motorcycle Shows I came across the media page and information on media day. Members of the media could apply for a press pass to media day online. I have been writing this blog for two years, I write for East Coast Biker and I write for the Examiner.com so I guess I could be considered “media”. So I applied and was granted a press pass to the New York City International Motorcycle Show and invited to attend the early opening for members of the media!

I scheduled a day off from work and woke up early on Friday, January 22nd to drive 2 hours to New York. Most people recommended I take a train from Trenton, NJ but I drove. It was supposed to snow but it didn’t. I arrived in New York and found a parking garage with no problem. I got to the Jacob Javits Convention Center on time and after signing in, collecting my press pass and checking in my coat I joined the other members of the media for a continental breakfast. Free juice, coffee and danish! This is awesome!

It was exciting to rove around the presentations with all the professional photographers, writers and tv crews. The most exciting event of the day was being present for the unveiling of a new Harley-Davidson! I was in on the latest news issued from the Mo Co and ready to drive home and write about it. I was brimming with excitement when I got home, downloaded my video and pictures to write a ground breaking story on the latest development at HD. Writing this blog is so much fun!!! I’m glad I have a hobby to keep me occupied in the winter.

The best part of my day had nothing to do with motorcycles. Before retrieving my car from the $15 parking garage, I stopped for lunch at the Broadway Deli. I got me a triple decker hot pastrami and corned beef sandwich on rye with spicy brown mustard. The bread was browned in butter on the grill. The sandwich alone was worth the trip! God bless NYC food!

Motorcycle Gear from Riders Discount

Tags: The way I roll: Stories // 4 Comments »

Sitting back to reflect I could only conclude that the last time I threw a leg over my Harley had been prior to Thanksgiving!  It was about that time that Joker was lamenting putting his bike up for the Massachusetts winter, and I very clearly replied that I was not ready to do that yet. 

First there was rain & cold and holiday shopping to do, and opportunity never presented itself.  First State HOG had a ride planned for Christmas Day, but it got cancelled due to the 2 feet of snow on the ground!  This was followed by what seemed like an eternity of below-freezing “high” temperatures and the feeling that I must be living in Alaska as opposed to Delaware.

The traditional New Year’s Day Ride was also postponed – twice – due to extreme weather and poor road conditions.  That didn’t much matter to me anyway, because I was busy every weekend renovating my townhouse in Baltimore to prepare it for sale.

Then came the day of the re-re-scheduled New Year’s Ride, and the sun was shining bright in the sky.  Temps were in the mid-50’s and four dozen FSH members showed up for the ride to Dover to take over Where Pigs Fly for lunch!  But alas, I was not amidst them.  No less than 4 people called or texted at some point that afternoon to report on what a great ride it was and inquire why we were not there.  Jay and I were stripping wallpaper and re-grouting a bathroom floor.  Two months and still a parked motorcycle…

Martin Luther King Day came and I had off work.  The weather was quite pleasant and several of my friends were heading off on two wheels to the beach for lunch.  I was all set and ready to go with them until I woke up that morning.  Every bone in my body ached from the renovation work, and I was so exhausted I could hardly move.  It would have been irresponsible and dangerous for me to operate a motorcycle while in that condition.  So another week went by with my kickstand firmly planted on the ground in the garage.

Perhaps I should just follow Joker’s lead and winterize the Harley for a few months?  The weatherman predicted that it would barely get above freezing for the next 10 days.  I have no heated gear, and not even the greatest pair of gloves.  Wind chill charts for 30 mph put the “real feel” temperatures in the teens.

But Road Captain Kevin had planned a “Chilly Willy Ride” on Saturday.  I was jonesing to ride so badly that I threw caution to the wind (as any good biker would do), put on many layers of gear, and headed out on my Super Glide despite the 32-degree temperature that morning.  About a mile from my house a very warm feeling came over me and spread a huge smile across my face.  It was the overwhelming thought that “two wheels move your soul.”  My soul could have moved mountains that day!

Tags: Mrs Road Captain // 4 Comments »