Rally Ready: Part 2
Gearing up; you and your bike
In this second installment of Rally Ready, we discuss riding gear
selection and luggage options. At the rally you'll see all types of
riders wearing all types of gear. Some of it will protect them in a
crash, some of it won't. You'll also see all sorts of luggage
configurations. Choose the gear and the luggage that's right for
you.
 Gear Up 1 – Your Riding Attire
Are you still riding around in a bomber jacket, blue jeans and/or
tennis shoes? Before you head out for the rally take some time to
improve your attire so that you have the gear that will lessen your
chances of major injuries in the event of a crash. And remember,
rallies are a common place for crashes to occur. If you get caught
up in one you'll want to be ready.
Start with the helmet. You like your chin? If you don’t
wear a full face helmet, seriously consider upgrading to one. Those
half shell and three quarter shell helmets will do little to protect
your face and chin if you launch off your bike unexpectedly. They
take a little getting used to, but once you’ve worn one a few
thousand miles you’ll feel naked with anything less.
Above: Regardless of how warm it is during the
rally, or any other time for that matter, riding in full gear all
the time is your best insurance to reducing bodily harm in the event
you are involved in a crash.
Riding jacket. A good riding jacket should have CE rated
armor at the elbows, shoulder and over your spine. Levi, letterman
and stylish bomber jackets do not. CE rated armor often means the
difference of having a broken or fractured bone in a crash or not.
In a minor crash having CE rated armor often means the rider will
walk away from the crash with little pain. Without it you chances of
injury can greatly increase. If the weather is warm you might be
tempted to ride without your jacket on. Instead consider
packing an
Evaporative Cooling Vest.
Riding pants. Ditto on the jacket sermon above. Add chaps
(horsey pants) to the list of gear that doesn’t come with CE rated
armor. Hey if you want to protect your legs, and why wouldn’t you,
might as well get some decent protective gear. But there is the
question about "why wouldn’t you" and the reasons are varied. Too
hot, too sticky, too stuffy, too bulky are a few of the common ones.
The solution is simple. Wear only a wicking base layer under your
riding pants and all these symptoms disappear. Blue jeans and other
cotton pants are the cause of these symptoms so once you dump them
you’ll be far more comfortable in a pair of CE rated riding pants.
Gloves. The choices are many. Look for gloves that offer
good protection across the knuckles and palms. Garden gloves don’t.
When traveling long distances, carry three sets at all times. A
light set for riding in the heat, a medium set for typical days and
a heavy set for fierce rain and cold moments. Regardless of the
weather when you leave, you'll be glad you have all three each
time you ride.
Boots. Not tennis shoes, not sandals, not Birkenstocks,
not cross trainers. When you ride you can greatly reduce your chance
of injury to your ankle by wearing a quality pair of over-the-ankle
boots specifically designed for motorcycling. A stiff ankle area
means you’re less likely to twist your ankle in a crash and for
those who have done that very thing, they may be happy to tell you
the dramatic details of their recovery. It’s no fun.
Heat is often a consideration when deciding what to wear for a
ride. Today there are evaporative cooling vests on the market that
will make a hot ride far more bearable. They don’t cost much and
you’ll be in a much better mood when you reach your destination.
They’re most effective when worn under your riding jacket with the
vents open. They offer little relief when exposed directly to the
outside air and dry out far sooner.
For your feet consider investing in a synthetic pair of
motorcycling socks that will wick away heat and moisture and keep
you more comfortable mile after mile. We like the
SOKz brand.
Gear up well. Wear all the gear all the time.
 Gear Up 2 – Your Luggage
When getting ready to travel to a rally or take a long trip,
luggage is certainly a consideration. How to carry everything you
want to take is a learned skill. Having the correct luggage for the
correct purposes is key.
If you’re moteling it and riding solo you should be able to pack
all your gear in about 60 liters of space. For many this means a
simple tail bag and tank bag will do the job. If you’re camping
you’ll need more like 85 liters to hold a small tent, sleeping bag
and comfy air mat. If you’re riding two up, add another 20-40 liters
of space needed for your ride. Anymore than that and you’re
over-packing, regardless of how many days you plan to spend on the
road.
At right: An overloaded bike with a not so secure
load can take you down in the twisties and spoil all the fun!
For years saddle bags have been a favorite with riders. But the
location and shape of the things isn’t optimal when it comes to
handling and fuel consumption. Tail packs can prove to be the
smarter move but are often too small.
 Ventura Luggage has developed what many consider the best of all
worlds. You can store up to 80 liters of gear directly behind you.
On some bikes this can actually improve fuel mileage by virtue of
the fact that the bag design cleans up the ‘dirty’ air, or
turbulence, which can reduce your fuel mileage.
At left: This couple has mastered packing all they need for
two up riding into 150 liters of space.
Many bikes will accommodate a tank bag. In the quest for more
storage it is possible to purchase an insanely large tank bag
system. The trouble with these big boys is that they can interfere
with your ability to steer the bike, read the instruments and/or
maintain an optimal riding position. Consider a medium-sized bag for
long rides, one that won’t be too cumbersome to take on and off the
bike a few times each day at meal stops. In this bag, store all the
items you want to access during the riding day so you don’t
have to dig into your luggage on the rear.
 For bikes that won’t accommodate a tank bag, tank panniers may be
an option. These smaller bags hang from each side of the tank. When
selecting a set be sure they will not interfere with your sitting
position or ability to properly operate the bike.
At right: For multi-day solo trips on a sport bike, there's
nothing easier than the Ventura bike pack system which keeps gear
away from exhaust systems.
We’ve all seen it before. Two loaded saddle bags and no less than
5 rolls, duffles or a combination thereof, all bungeed in dangerous
ways to the bike. An overloaded bike won’t handle too well in the
twisties and isn’t much fun to ride as a result. If you’re
over-packing you owe it to yourself to refine your style learning
in-depth tips from books like Greg Frazier’s
Motorcycle Touring or
Tom Mehren's
Packing Light/Packing Right.
Patrick Thomas/Spring 08
Missed it?
Click here to read part 1 of Rally Ready |
