Heated Glove Liners

As it’s chuffin cold (kinda obvious really when you consider it’s winter ;)) and, according to the weather ‘experts’, going to get worse again 😦 I thought I’d do a few posts highlighting heated bike gear.. So armed with Google I set about searching for a few bits and pieces and came across heated glove liners.

These on the face of it seem to be  a damn good idea!  They’re heated liners (obviously) which go inside your existing gloves and according to the bumf will keep your pinkys lovely and warm, while the world around you freezes it’s bits off.

Here’s a bit more info from Heated Motorcycle Clothing, a site which appears to be dedicated to keeping freezing riders warm 🙂

Heats 4 fingers directly. Ambient heat surrounds the Gloveliner, warms the thumb, fills the glove.

Main Features:

* Wear your own SKI, BIKE, RIDING etc. gloves on top*.
* Washable – because heat-element is separate from fabric.
* 3.7V Rechargeable Lithium Ion batteries – choice of two types: with and without on/off switch.
* Flexible heat-element slides in and out of finger-pockets.
* Super-elasticated fabric – three sizes available (M,L,XL).
* Batteries last 3 to 4 hours used continuously.
* Safe to use.
* Modular design so you can replace all the bits separately (see further below).
* One colour: black.
* Initial charging time around 4-8 hrs, then 5 hours.

So far so good, you can wear them inside your existing gloves, you can recharge them overnight and they should last 3-4 hours when used continually.  Perfect for most commutes in to work for most people 🙂

Here’s a bit more information about whats included in the price..

Your Order will include:

* 1 pair of black Gloveliners.
* 2 rechargeable batteries.
* One pair of windproof, waterproof General Purpose Gloves.
* 2 flexible heat elements, cable, jacks.
* 1 battery charger with 2 jacks.

This next bit is kinda important, unless you don’t mind having smelly hands 😉

Wash Easily – It is important to be able to wash fabric properly without fear of damaging electrical circuitry – let’s face it – textiles get smelly next to the skin and most gloveliners we’ve seen (and previously sold) have elements contained within the fabric. Not now. Ours are completely separate. (cool wash by hand recommended and leave to dry).

And some extra information about accessories you can also buy to go with them.

At time of purchase you can add accessories as back-up. For example you may wish to buy extra batteries to charge up and carry with you on a long journey. Or a couple of spare heating elements in case the dog chews one. How about 2 extra pairs of liners so you always have a clean pair available? Or simply return to the site later and buy any bit separately (see next products).

And they post all over the place 🙂

Delivery to: UK, USA, Canada, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Denmark. France, Germany, Greece, Greenland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland.

and the price for these….. £98.99!

Not that bad really, not when you consider how much a pair of heated gloves costs or how cold your hands and fingers can get without any way to warm your hands over the winter.  There’s nothing worse than hands so cold that they feel like they’re burning, and hands so cold that you’re incapable of doing anything for almost half an hour when you get to work while you ‘defrost’ them.  Been there, got the t-shirt and don’t want to do it again 😦

 

 

 

Motorcycle Test Reported To Be In Crisis

Now don’t get me wrong, I know there are fewer people taking their bike test since the new one was bought out but I do have issues with the way this is being reported.  Here is the article as it’s being reported online on the Motorcycle News website.

A crisis hitting the number of people taking the motorcycle test is even deeper than previously feared, latest figures show.

Eighteen months after a new Europe-wide test was introduced, the number of people taking it was still barely half the former level.

When bookings dropped drastically following the changeover last year, the Driving Standards Agency said it was temporary and demand would “settle at usual levels again in 2010/11”.

But new DSA figures point to a long-term decline.

In the 16 months leading up to the introduction of the new exam in April 2009, 130,498 people took the old test, a rate of 8156 a month.

But in the 18 months following the changeover, only 73,508 people completed the new test, 4083 a month and almost half the earlier rate.

The Government is conducting a review of the test, which was originally intended to reach conclusions by autumn.

Roads minister Mike Penning said: “The review of the motorcycle test is a top priority for me because I want to make sure that we have a test which prepares bikers properly for the road.

“We have been working with the motorcycle training industry and others to make sure that we are taking all views into account and we will report on findings as soon as possible.”

My problem is in the way these figures are being presented (sorry MCN).

As a lot of you know, the new test was originally scheduled to start in September 2008 but, because of bungling incompetance, so few of the new test centres were ready for use, the implementation of the test was put back about 6 months.  In the lead up to September 2008 thousands upon thousands of people decided to get their bike licence under the old test regime and so booked lessons and their test.  I should know,  I was one of them!!!  I took one look at the new test and thought “S*d that!!!”

During 2008, riding schools all over the country were inundated with trainees learning to ride, which definately skews the figures somewhat, as in a normal riding year fewer people would be taking their test.  Then the test was put back 6 months so that more of the new test centres could be made ready, and those who thought they had missed the original deadline were given a life line and once again the riding schools were booked solid, even though it was winter

According to the DSA  some 130,498 people took their test in the 18 months leading up to the change of test.  I’m pretty damn certain a sizeable number of those were riders who wanted to take the old style test and not the new one.

Now, since the new test started 18 months ago the DSA say that just 73,508 people have taken it, a drop of almost 50% on the previous figures.

BUT…… Seeing as the figures from September 2007 until April 2009 are hardly indicative of the number of people taking their bike test during a ‘normal’ 16 month period, I don’t see how they can be reliably compared with those from May 2009 up until late 2010.

Unless of course you’re attempting to make things look worse than they are 😉

Bike Girl – THE Site For Girls!

I just have to pass on the news.. BIKE GIRL has recently undergone a revamp and is now sporting a fresh, vibrant new look 😀

Bike Girl

I’ve been a member since I started riding almost 4 years ago and in that time the girls have been supportive and helpful during both the good times, and those when things didn’t go quite to plan!

The new site is chock full of articles covering things from choosing the right bike, reviews on riding gear and circuit guides for those who want to go to a track.

The growing gallery shows many of us with our bikes ;-), the news and events section will cover all things important in the biking calender.

The forum itself is where we girls discuss all things biking – falling off (yep it’s happened to me), learning to ride, where to go for lessons, riding gear, and anything else you can think of..

So if you’re a girl and either ride already or are thinking of ‘going for it’ then why don’t you drop by and join us 😀  Just click on the image above and you will be taken straight there.

Carole Nash Motorcycle Live – Day 3

Day 3’s coverage from MCN is about getting out there and taking up riding if you’ve never done it before.

Bikes Girls Can Ride – Updated

One of the most common questions asked by girls who are new to biking is “What bike will I be able to ride?”  Well, after seeing it asked a few times on girls biking forums, I asked the girls which bikes they were riding now and what they had owned in the past, what adjustments if any had been made and if they wore boots which added to their height.

I collated the information I recieved and here is a list of bikes that girls are riding right now.

This list is not intended as a definitive guide as to what bike to buy for your height, but shows the kinds of bikes girls are riding about on.

I know that there are other considerations such as leg length, what boots you wear, etc., which also affect which bikes you can ride but I will cover them in other posts.

Under 5’

Honda CB400T –
Honda CBR400RR –
Honda CBR600F (4′ 11″ Owner) – Professionally lowered by DRS of Hull, Boots altered to add height
Kawasaki ZXR400 – Suspension lowered
Kawasaki ER6 (4′ 10″ Owner) – Hagon Shock fitted which lowers bike by 2.5 inches, plus wears Daytona Ladystars
Suzuki GSF400 Bandit –
Yamaha R6 2004 –

5’
Ducati Hypermotard – Suspension lowered, ride height adjuster on lowest setting
Honda CBR600F –
Honda CBR600RR –
Kawasaki GPZ500 –
Kawasaki Ninja 250 (08) – Some foam sculpted out of the seat and on ball of left foot/tip toe of right foot
Suzuki GSX 600F – No adjustment but couldn’t flat foot
Suzuki GSX-R600 K8 – lowered
Suzuki GSX-R600 K6 – – no adjusment but on balls of feet/tiptoes
Suzuki GSXR1000 K6 – Suspension lowered, forks dropped slightly
Suzuki SV650S –
Yamaha R6 (2002)- No adjustment but couldn’t flat foot

5’1”
Kawasaki Ninja – Suspension lowered and on tip toes

5’2
BMW F650GS – No adjustment but on balls of the feet
Honda CBF125 (09) – No adjustment and on tip toes
Honda CBR125 (08) – No adjustment but comfortably on balls of both feet
Honda CBR400RRN – No adjustment
Honda CBR 600 F – Hyperpro lowering kit, front forks dropped.
Honda Shadow 750
Kawasaki 750 Zephyr
Kawasaki ZXR400 – No adjustment
Kawasaki ZZR600
Suzuki 400 Bandit
Suzuki GSX-R600 K6
Suzuki SV650S
Suzuki SV650 – Lowered but feet still not flat on the floor
Yamaha Virago 535 – No adjustment and both feet flat on floor

5’3”
BMW R1200 ST
Ducati 749s – No adjustment
Ducati Monster 695 – No adjustment and on balls of feet
Honda CBR400RR – No adjustment
Honda CBR600 RR (07) – Hyperpro lowering kit and wearing Daytona Ladystar boots and on balls of both feet
Honda CBR900 (95) – Seat carved a bit to lower it, standard shock setting and now pretty much flat footed
Honda CBR 929 RRY Fireblade – No adjustment, but only one flat foot
Kawasaki ER5 – Lowered suspension, carved out seat
Kawasaki ER6-N (2009)
Suzuki GS500F
Suzuki SV650 – No adjustment but on balls of feet
Suzuki SV650S – Suspension and forks lowered, but still on balls of feet
Yamaha FZS600
Yamaha YZF600R Thundercat – lowered
Yamaha YZF600R Thundercat – No adjustment, on balls of both feet or flat foot on one side
Yamaha R6 – Lowered

5’4”
BMW F650GS
BMW F650GS (08) – Lower seat and Daytona Ladystar boots and owner virtually flat foot on both sides
Ducati Hypermotard 1100S (08) – Lowering link and forks lowered, seat sculpted and wears Daytona Ladystars.  On balls of both feet.
Ducati S2R 800 (05) – Seat lowered and on balls of both feet
Honda CBR125 (09) – No adjustment but on balls of the feet
Honda RVF 400 – No adjustment
Honda CBR 600 – No adjustment
Honda CBR600fx – Bike lowered, can almost flat foot.
Honda CBR600fx – No adjustment but on balls of feet
Honda Transalp – Seat lowered
Kawasaki ER5 – No adjustment but on balls of the feet
Kawasaki ER6f – No adjustment, almost flat foot
Suzuki Bandit 400 – No adjustment
Suzuki Bandit 600 – Suspension lowered
Suzuki GSR600 – No adjustment but on tip toes
Suzuki GSR600 – No Adjustment
Suzuki VZ800 Marauder – No adjustment
Suzuki XF650 Freewind – Bike lowered
Truimph Speed Triple – No adjustment but on balls of the feet
Yamaha Diversion 600

5’5”
Cagiva 1000
Ducati Monster 620sie – No adjustment and both feet flat on floor
Honda CBR1000 (2008) – no adjustment, one flat foot or both toes on floor
Honda VFR400 NC30 – No adjustment
Kawasaki GPZ500s – No adjustment and feet flat on floor
Kawasaki Z1000 – No adjustment, but on balls of both feet
Kawasaki ZX6R (G1) – Seat lowered
Moto Guzzi Breva 750
Suzuki Bandit 400V – No adjustment
Suzuki GS500 – No adjustment
Suzuki SV650 – No adjustment
Triumph Street Triple
Yamaha Fazer 600 – No Adjustment

5’6”
Honda CB600F Hornet
Honda CB1000R – No adjustment
Honda Hornet 900 – No adjustment and both feet flat on floor
Honda VFR700, 07
Kawasaki ER6 – No adjustment
Kawasaki ZX6R – No adjustment and both feet flat on floor
Suzuki GS500F – No adjustment and feet flat on floor
Suzuki SV650 – No adjustment and both feet flat on floor
Yamaha Fazer 600 – No adjustment but cant flat foot

5’7″
CCMR30 – bought already lowered, same as VFR400
Honda Hornet 900 – balls of both feet, or one foot flat the other ‘balancing’
Honda VFR400 – had space between self and bike!
Honda VFR800 – balls of both feet, or one foot flat the other ‘balancing’
KTM Duke – balls of both feet, or one foot flat the other ‘balancing’
Suzuki Bandit 1250GT – one foot flat, the other almost flat
Triumph Sprint ST – balls of both feet, or one foot flat the other ‘balancing’
Triumph Tiger – tip toes or one foot flat the other flailing!
Yamaha FZ1 – one foot flat, the other almost flat

5’8 and over
Ducati Monster 620
Ducati 916 Monster
Honda CBR 600F
Honda CBR954 Streetfighter
Honda XRV750 Africa Twin
Kawasaki GPZ 500s – No adjustment
Kawasaki Z500
Suzuki GSXR750 Special
Suzuki SV650
Triumph Street Triple

Also take a look at these posts for more information which may help you in your choice of motorcycle

Girls and Modern Sports Bikes,

Choosing Your First ‘Big’ Bike

Daytona Ladystar (M-Star) Boots – Help For The Vertically Challenged Motorcyclist

as well as the following list of posts which cover, by motorcycle brand, the ride height adjustment kits available, so that more options are opened up for you when choosing a motorbike.

Honda

Kawasaki

Yamaha

Suzuki

If you are new to riding take a look at these products which will help you pass your theory, hazard perception tests and motorcycle tests.

For those who have already passed it here are a few recommendations to help you improve your riding.

Lists Updated 25/05/09

I Have A Big Lump In My Throat Tonight :-(

My BabyBlade has been on Ebay as she is up for sale and the auction ends tonight 😦

She has hit the reserve I set and pretty soon she will be going on to her new owner.. I feel quite sad about it really, she’s been a bloody brilliant little bike but after riding the Fireblade she was just way too small.

If I’m like this tonight, what on earth am I going to be like the day she actually goes 😦

My BabyBlade

Did You See Me?

Did you see me?

I saw you;

• hug your purse closer to you in the grocery store line. But you didn’t see me put an extra £10 in the collection plate last Sunday.

• pull your child closer when we passed each other on the sidewalk. But you didn’t see me playing Santa at the local church.

• change your mind about going into the restaurant when you saw my bike parked out front. But you didn’t see me attending a meeting to raise more money for the hurricane relief.

• roll up your window and shake your head when I rode by. But you didn’t see me riding behind you when you flicked your cigarette butt out the car window.

• frown at me when I smiled at your children. But you didn’t see me, when I took time off from work to run toys to the homeless.

• stare at my long hair. But you didn’t see me and my friends cut ten inches off for Locks of Love.

• roll your eyes at our leather jackets and gloves. But you didn’t see me and my brothers donate our old ones to those that had none.

• look in fright at my tattoos. But you didn’t see me cry as my children where born or have their name written over and in my heart.

• change lanes while rushing off to go somewhere. But you didn’t see me going home to be with my family.

• complain about how loud and noisy our bikes can be. But you didn’t see me when you were changing the CD and drifted into my lane.

• yelling at your kids in the car. But you didn’t see me pat my child’s hands knowing she was safe behind me.

• reading the newspaper or map as you drove down the road. But you didn’t see me squeeze my wife’s leg when she told me to take the next turn.

• race down the road in the rain. But you didn’t see me get soaked to the skin so my son could have the car to go on his date.

• run the yellow light just to save a few minutes of time. But you didn’t see signaling to turn right.

• cut me off because you needed to be in the lane I was in. But you didn’t see me leave the road.

• waiting impatiently for my friends to pass. But you didn’t see me. I wasn’t there.

• go home to your family. But you didn’t see me.

Because I died that day you cut me off…

I was just a biker. A person with friends and a family.

But you didn’t see me.

Hyperpro Ride Height Adjustment Kits – Kawasaki Models

Picture this.. You have found the Kawasaki of your dreams.. But there is a problem! You feel the ride height is either too low or too high for you. But don’t panic with a Hyperpro Ride Height Adjustment Kit you can make your potential new bike a better fit for you.

With one of their height rising kits you can make your motorbike 20 to 30 millimetres higher, with a lowering kit you can lower your bike by 30 to 40 millimetres. THese kits could mean the difference between being able to ride the bike of your dreams comfortably and safely or having to pick another one.

Made from high grade aluminium, the Hyperpro Ride Height Adjustment Kits are designed to safely adjust the ride height of the bike.

Full fitting instructions are supplied with the kits but if you are unsure in any way about fitting the kit, then it is best you take your bike to your nearest bike workshop and have them do it for you.

Please note that when lowering or raising the ride height of your machine you may need to adjust things such as the length of the side stand and also you may need to make adjustments to the front forks.

Check your local dealer, or an online store for prices, availability and ordering information.

If you are a female rider looking at adjusting the height of your motorcycle you may like to take a look at these posts which have more information about girls and the sizes of motorbikes we can ride

Girls and Modern Sports Bikes

Bikes Girls Can Ride

Choosing Your First ‘Big’ Bike

Also see the entries I have done for the different motorcycle manufacturers

Honda Models

Suzuki

Yamaha

BMW

And just so that you can easily find all the information you need, here is a link to the HyperPro website where you can find PDF files which show you by how much you can raise and lower each model of motorcycle by.  This link is for the Lowering Kits they supply, and this is for the PDF list of Height Raising Kits.

Hyperpro Ride Height Adjuster Kits are available for the following Kawasaki motorcycle models.

Please note, I do not sell these kits.  You will need to contact your local bike shop/dealer/garage to purchase one.

KAWASAKI GPZ 500 S (EX 500 D) – 94> (Lowering Kit)
KLE 500 (LE 500 A) – 91> (Lowering Kit)
ZX-6R (ZX 600 F) – 95-97 (Lowering & Raising Kit)
ZX-6R (ZX 600/ GG) – 98-00 (Lowering & Raising Kit)
ZX-6R (ZX 600/ JJ) – 00-02 (Lowering & Raising Kit)
ZX-6R (ZX 636 A/B) – 02-04 (Lowering & Raising Kit)
ZX-6R (ZX 636 C) – 05> (Lowering & Raising Kit)
ZZR 600 – 95> (Lowering Kit)
ER-6 N/F – 05> (Lowering Kit)
VERSYS 650 – 07> (Lowering Kit)
Z 750 (ZR 750 J) – 04> (Lowering & Raising Kit)
Z 750 (WITH ABS) (ZR 750 J) – 07> (Lowering & Raising Kit)
ZX-7R (Raising Kit)
ZX-9R NINJA (ZX 900 B/C) – 94-99 (Lowering & Raising Kit)
ZX-9R NINJA (ZX 900 EE) – ’00-01 (Lowering & Raising Kit)
ZX-9R NINJA (ZX 900 EE) – 02-03 (Lowering & Raising Kit)
KLV 1000 (WV BS) – 04> (Lowering Kit)
Z 1000 (ZRT) – 03> (Lowering Kit)
ZX-10R (ZXT 00 C) – 04> (Lowering Kit)
ZX-10R (ZX10) (Raising Kit)
ZX-12 R (ZXT 20 A) – 00-01 (Lowering & Raising Kit)
ZX-12 R (ZXT 20 AB) – 02> (Lowering Kit)

Hyperpro Ride Height Adjustment Kits – Honda Motorcycle Models

If riding the Honda motorcycle of your dreams involves lowering or even raising the ride height then help is at hand with Hyperpro Ride Height Adjustment Kits.

With one of their height rising kits you can make your motorbike 20 to 30 millimetres higher, with a lowering kit you can lower your bike by 30 to 40 millimetres. In real terms this means an essential difference as to whether you are able to ride the bike of your dreams comfortably and safely.

Made from high grade aluminium, the Hyperpro Ride Height Adjustment Kits are designed to safely adjust the ride height of the bike.

Please note that when lowering or raising the ride height of your machine you may need to adjust things such as the length of the side stand and also you may need to make adjustments to the front forks.

Full fitting instructions are supplied with the kits but if you are unsure in any way about fitting the kit, then it is best you take your bike to your nearest bike workshop and have them do it for you.

Check your local dealer for prices and ordering information.

If you are a female rider looking at adjusting the height of your motorcycle you may like to take a look at these posts which have more information about girls and the sizes of motorbikes we can ride 🙂

Girls and Modern Sports Bikes

Bikes Girls Can Ride

Choosing Your First ‘Big’ Bike

Also take a look at the entries for HyperPro Ride Height Adjustment Kits for the following motorcycle manufacturers.

Kawasaki

Suzuki

Yamaha

BMW

Hyperpro Ride Height Adjuster Kits are available for the following models of Honda motorbikes

Please note, I do not sell these kits.  You will need to contact your local bike shop/dealer/garage to purchase one.

Honda XLV 125 Varadero 04- (Lowering Kit)
Honda CB(F) 500 04-.(Lowering Kit)
Honda CBF 500 05-  (Lowering Kit)
Honda CB 600 Hornet 07-(Lowering Kit)
Honda CB 600 Hornet 98-05 (Lowering Kit)
Honda CB 600 Hornet 05- (Lowering Kit)
Honda CB 900 Hornet 02-03  (Lowering Kit)
Honda CBF 600 04  (Lowering Kit)
Honda CBR 600 F / F Sport 99-07 (Lowering + Raising Kit)
Honda CBR 600 FV-FW 97-98  (Lowering Kit)
Honda CBR 600 FS-FT 95-96 (Lowering Kit)
Honda CBR600RR 07> (Lowering Kit)
Honda CBR600RR 05-06 (Lowering Kit)
Honda CBR600RR 03-04 (Lowering Kit)
Honda NX 650 Dominator (Lowering Kit)
Honda NTV 650 Deauville  (Lowering Kit)
Honda NTV 700 Deauville  (Lowering Kit)
Honda XL700 V Transalp (Lowering Kit)
Honda VFR 750 F 94-97 (Lowering +Raising Kit)
Honda VFR 800 Fi 98-01 (Lowering + Raising Kit)
Honda VFR800Fi  02-05 (Lowering + Raising Kit)
Honda VFR 800 V-Tec 02-07  (Lowering Kit)
Honda CB900 SF Hornet 02-06 (Lowering Kit)
Honda CBR 900 RR Fireblade 00-01 (Lowering + Raising Kit)
Honda CBR 900 RR Fireblade 98-99  (Lowering + Raising Kit)
Honda CBR 900 RR Fireblade 96-97  (Lowering + Raising Kit)
Honda CBR 900 RR Fireblade 92-95  (Lowering + Raising Kit)
Honda CBR 1000 RR Fireblade 04-05  (Lowering + Raising Kit)
Honda CBR 1000 RR Fireblade 06-  (Lowering + Raising Kits)
Honda VTR1000 F Firestorm 97> (Raising Kit)
Honda VTR1000 SP-1 00> (Raising Kit)
Honda XL 1000 Varadero 03-08 (Lowering Kit)
Honda XL 1000 Varadero 99-02 (Lowering Kit)
Honda X11 99- (Lowering Kit)
Honda CBR 1100 XX Blackbird 97-  (Lowering Kit)

Full details of the Hyperpro Lowering kits can be found in a PDF file here and details of the highering kits can be found in PDF format here.  The information includes measurements of how much you can raise or lower your motorcycle by.

If you are in the USA, ride height adjuster kits can be found by following this link and doing a search

Parts and Accessories for Honda Motorcycles


Summer Sun

I don’t know about the rest of you but I’m in absolute heaven at the moment with the weather being so lovely…

Being able to ride about in this sun is what life is all about as far as I’m concerned, mind you I ride all year round but not getting cold or wet for a while makes the winter months almost bearable 🙂

Just a couple of things though..

Make sure you are drinking plenty and are fully hydrated, as even being slightly dehyrated can cause your concentration levels to drop quite considerably.

Make sure you are fully aware of your surroundings on the road, and the actions of other road users, as the heat may make make some a bit irritable..

Try to stay as cool as you possibly can, open up all and any vents on your jacket if it has them..

But above all ride safe……. And enjoy the sun while it lasts!