Road Tested!

The day after the San Francisco supercross, three riders blazed out of town on borrowed motorcycles and in borrowed gear. (Well, two of them blazed; the third—installed on a burly adventure tourer—proceeded at a brisk-but-reasonable pace that facilitated the taking-in of scenery.) Their final destination was the Anaheim 3 supercross, a mere 600-some miles and six days away (six days, as this was meant to be a mellow stroll down the coast, not an Ironbutt rally); the result was “The Motorcycle Diary,” a photo feature by Racer X/Road Racer X Managing Editor Bryan “Crazy-for-Cambria” Stealey that appears in the May ‘05 issue of Racer X Illustrated. Along for the ride were Racer X Associate Editor “Bad” Billy Ursic and Road Racer X Deputy Editor Laurel “Lucky-to-Be-Invited” Allen (then a freelance contributor).

The trip gave the trio a chance to try out a wide range of street gear—from boots, jackets, and helmets to Bad Billy’s favorite: delicate Merino underwear—from manufacturers that included Aerostich, Fieldsheer, Sidi, Alpinestars, Smith, Shoei, and Arai. In addition, each of the three riders chose a bike they hadn’t ridden before. Below, Bryan, Billy, and Laurel wax poetic about the equipment they lived on, inside, and out of for one blissful week.

LAUREL ALLEN

(Click to enlarge)

Aerostich Roadcrafter one-piece suit
I knew two things about the Roadcrafter before requesting one for this trip: it wouldn’t do anything to enhance my cool factor (“you’ll look like you’re wearing a sleeping bag,” an industry friend promised), and it was reputed to be the best touring and commuting suit money could buy. The helpful Aerostich rep who called to take my measurements steered me toward options that would best suit my riding style—forward rotated sleeves, for example, to accommodate a more aggressive seating position—and when the made-in-the-U.S.A. Roadcrafter showed up on my doorstep, the obvious quality of the garment was stunning. Though I was initially overwhelmed by its many zippers and 10 pockets, the Roadcrafter soon became the second skin I always wanted. No other piece of gear has made me feel as well-protected from the elements or as confident that I’ll still be riding in it 50 years from now. While you should never allow yourself to be photographed from the back while wearing a Roadcrafter (it will only embarrass you later), purchasing one will make you feel like a genius for decades to come. Base price: $727 ($767 for two-piece version); available at www.aerostich.com or by calling 800-222-1994.

Sidi Rose boots
I’d never tried on a Rose boot before ordering a pair; in fact, I cheerfully admit that I chose them on style alone. But can you blame me? Silver and black, with little pink sparkles woven into the side panels—it’s like Davie Bowie stepped up to make the riding shoe of my dreams. (They look good with street clothes, too; I can’t count the number of girls who asked where I’d bought them.) Luckily, they’re also the most comfortable riding boot I’ve ever owned—soft inside lining, full-length zipper, water-resistant—which makes my decision wise instead of capricious. Too bad Billy and Bryan couldn’t keep up with me long enough to admire them properly. Rose boots retail for $200; available through your local Sidi dealer or at various sites online.

Alpinestars Stella ST-2 Gortex Drystar gloves
Any female who rides sport bikes knows that shopping for riding gear is more likely to be depressing than fun. (Shocking, but true.) So-called women’s sizes are frequently just extra-small garments designed for men, and if you manage to find something that actually fits, chances are good the manufacturer has sacrificed quality for some misguided notion of style. Alpinestars is as close as I’ve found to the antithesis of that: Their Stella line for women is seeded with seriously functional women-specific items, and the ST-2 glove is no exception. It boasts a soft, Gore-Tex lining; a well-padded palm; a cuff that extends well over your sleeve; and it’s waterproof. In short, all the winter glove you need for $49.99; available through your local Alpinestars dealer and at various sites online. Visit www.alpinestars.com for additional information.

Suzuki SV650S
I’ve never wanted anything as much in my life; world peace barely squeaks by in a head-to-head battle with the SV650S. Although I’ve never started a motorcycle and thought, “This isn’t going to be fun to ride,” I’ve also never been as surprised and thrilled by the sound of a bike as I was when I turned the key on this one. The SV positively roars, and it’s so eager to get off the line that you’re overwhelmed by joy before you’re halfway down the block. Torquey, terrifically agile, and plenty powerful throughout … I’ve decided I can’t live (happily) without one and am officially saving my pennies. $6,449 MSRP; available through your local Suzuki dealer. Visit www.suzukicycles.com for additional information.

Grip Lock and Aerostich Cable Lock
Every time we parked our bikes for the night, we attached a grip lock to the left handgrip and threaded a 30-inch cable lock through the rear wheel. The cable lock—definitely not the ultimate in security, but still a good start—simply prevents a wheel from rolling far. The grip lock ingeniously immobilizes the clutch lever, making it doubly difficult for someone to roll off with your bike, as long as you dropped it in gear before walking away. (The grip lock can alternately be attached to the throttle/front break lever.) Both are lightweight and compact; the grip lock comes with inserts that allow it to fit most handgrips. Sure, some loser can still roll up in a kidnapper van and haul your bike away, but at least you made them work that much harder for it (which earns them extra, extra bad karma). The Grip Lock (#1165) retails for $42, the 30-inch Aerostich cable lock (#1153) costs $15; both are available at www.aerostich.com.

Fieldsheer Tourismo tank bag
Normally I have just one tank bag requirement: big wings filled with big magnets. But because I knew that the SV I’d be using on this trip had a fairly high tank, I was also looking for a bag with a low profile. The Tourismo seemed to be the answer to both, and in many ways, it was. It sat securely on the bike, it had adequate storage inside, it didn’t block my view of the instruments, and I did like the easy-access flip-open lid design as well as the long side pockets and netted interior pocket. Although I wasn’t that excited when the zipper began to separate from the fabric on day four*, the real reason I wouldn’t purchase this tank bag is that its map pocket is buried between the magnets and the storage compartment, which means you can’t actually use it unless you discard the tank bag itself. For $79.95, I want my storage and a map pocket, too. Available at www.fieldsheer.com.
*Note: Fieldsheer has been acquired by Western Power Sports, and the zipper problem has been corrected on the line of product that is now for sale.

Fieldsheer Titanium Tail Pro Bag
A smart, simply designed tail bag that I’d be proud to call my own. You can stuff unlimited amounts of clothing into its single compartment and still end up with a balanced, secure, aerodynamic load. Two long, exterior side pockets unzip, releasing a pair of built-in bungees that cross under the tail of the bike and clip into grommets on the opposing side. The pockets themselves unfold into flaps that tuck under the bungees, protecting the bike’s finish and eliminating the chance that anything will flap in the wind. When it’s time to remove the bag, unhook the cords, tuck them back into place, zip up the pockets, and reach inside the soft under-pocket to pull out shoulder straps that turn the whole thing into a viable backpack. (Includes a removable, padded pouch that fits most laptops.) An excellent example of intelligent design for only $54.95; available at www.fieldsheer.com.

Smith District Sliders sunglasses
I got my first pair of Districts in September 2003, when my mountain-biking-buddy Sarah overcompensated for nearly forgetting my birthday by getting me a much nicer present than I deserved (or, at least, than I expected). I’ve been wearing Districts ever since, as much for their lightness and distinctively cool, understated style as for the interchangeable lenses (included) that keep your eyes protected in a wide range of light and conditions. The Districts fit perfectly inside my Arai helmet, and the polarized lenses effectively reduced the glare of the sun hitting the Pacific Ocean on my right. (An occupational hazard—but no one can say I’m not tough.) Polarized Districts retail for $129 (includes four sets of lenses); the non-polarized version sells for $109 (includes three sets of lenses). Visit www.smithoptics.com for more information.

*Note: Fieldsheer has been acquired by Western Power Sports, and the zipper problem has been corrected on the line of product that is now for sale.