In preparatiob for commuter duty

I have noticed many of you commute, I intend to do so as well. I could sure use some advice from those of you who have " Been there, done that, got the t-shirt".

So far I figured it wouldn't hurt to go to 17/43 gears from the stock 16/44. Not only does stock show more potential for chain/cog wear, but over 6,500rpm at 80 mph seems like a little much.
I already have a decent all season jacket with lots of pockets as well as a smallish tank bag (will hold a 6-pack in the main part when extended.)
I am thinking at least a cargo net to go across the back seat and hook on the passenger handles or maybe a bag for the same place would be needed ,but not sure what to get (Gen1).

Any help is appreciated.

db

 

Aerostich suit, tank bags work. I use a tail bag bungeed to the rear seat. It takes my bike cover and wallet, thats all that will fit. Gearing, personal preference really, i like stock. My bikes run 8,000 - 9000 rpm all the way to work pretty much. Just use the best oil you can afford, and change it frequently. yhats my two £ cents.

 

Yep. I agree the stock gearing is just fine. And I also use a tank bag in addition to my standard hard-sided panniers.

ATGATT

 

Hopefully you do not live near the Arctic Circle or you'll need a bunch more stuff this Winter. If your commute is via East LA, buy a flack jacket.

Try not to ask aboot oil and tires either.

 

Winter usually doesn't get below 40-50 for the lows, but sometimes it can get down in the 30's around Jan.- Feb..
So I may need to resort to the cage some mornings or possibly even the 4X4 Montero Ltd.
I figure insulated boots, gloves , and a baklava should do the trick most mornings.

Guess I need to dig out a decent waterproof daybag to strap to the back of the seat to carry it all on the way home.

Work is 6am-2pm


so insulated boots and a baklava

 

Baklava keeps your face warm?? Damn. Wish I knew sooner. Tastes good too. Lolzz




Sent from my SM-G930W8 using Tapatalk

 

Jeff wins the can of badge polish in this weeks Spelling Police Contest.

 

Yisssss!!!!

I've ran out so this is perfect timing.

Sent from my SM-G930W8 using Tapatalk

 

Look into under armour's "cold gear" I commute all year long and like their garments as base layers. I also have bicycle pants that I use for very cold days -under 40*F- and for when I ride to colder places.
I also have other brands of clothing of base layers that I mix and match.

 

Just kidding about the duds and locales.. One of the hazards of regular commutes is a mind set of the same route being the same.

On the way to work on a bike on not so fine day entering the slab on a circular onramp I had ridden many times, I hit an oil slick. Scratch one nice Triumph Tbird. Good thinking on the rest. ATGATT pays off.

 

ran-ran-run oot..

 

Boom got hit by the spelling police....oh well they gotta keep their badges shiny somehow.

And thanks for the advice on the ever changing road. Had an oil slick get me once in my earliest cage years. But it was a fluke. I can see how that could happen easily in several places along my or any route. I can assure you I will be dressed for the slide.

Also on the gearing 17/44 is stock for a 750. Going to 17/43 should put me just over 6K at 80mph. I always liked a little taller gears especially with close ratio transmissions.
Don't think the 700 should have any trouble pulling it. Me and all my gear soaking wet probably weigh less than most riders w/o their gear.
I can see myself on a big cc supersport, I would probably look like a flag flying from the handle bars.

 

Of course a lot depends on where you live and the climate.

I commuted year round for 6 years on mine. The south west coast of Canada gets cold but not what one would normally associate with winter. Snow does happen but not often. I would not willingly ride in the snow but got caught a couple times. t which time, usually I stopped riding at the closest safe spot.

I have ridden many times in temperatures that went as low as -10*C You would have to do the math but I think that is somewhere around 15*F,

I have little if any confidence in so called waterproof riding suits. I have had a few but admit, have not tried them all. I relied on cheaper over rain suits that ran about $130.00 or so. I carried this two piece suit just about on every trip I took. It served two purposes. They kept me dry. Totally dry. Also, they trapped your body heat inside. They did not allow wind penetration that tends to wash your body heat away. It is amazing just how much body heat and comfort you maintain with a cheap rain over suit. If you use heated gear, it also traps that heat next to your body rather than dissipating in the atmosphere.

The next thing was keeping your head warm. That is an issue harder to deal with. You can't get a balaclava with a thermal head that will work with your present helmet. If the helmet fits proper without the balaclava, then it won't fit with it. Most motorcycle balaclavas that I have seen have a simple spandex type material over the head.

But you can still deal with the face by using a balaclava. That is important too. Get a motorcycle specific balaclava and not one for skiing or what ever. Those don't have a long enough bib on them. The motorcycle specific balaclavas have deep bibs front and back which tuck really deep inside your jacket. That is important. I prefer the balaclava that doe not have a piece that covers the nose. I find that those tend to direct too much breath up onto the visor which gives you fog. The one I use cover's the chin only. I also have a winter time breath guard for my helmet. It looks like the fighter jet nose pieces that seal really well along the bridge of your nose and directs your breath downward and out the bottom of the helmet. I assume most helmets have this option. The Shoei X-Twelve does. So with these, the only thing that got cold above my shoulders was my forehead at freeway speeds. I have not found a solution to that other than to slow down a bit.

Hands need to be addressed too. I bought a pair of Alpenstars Goretex winter gloves with gauntlets. The gauntlets are important. One might think that you should ride with the gauntlets on the outside. The thinking would bee that the rain would ride up the gauntlet and fly off. But that is not the case. The water rides up the gauntlet then drains back down into the inside of your gloves and you get soaked. If you carefully tuck the gauntlet under your sleeve of your rain-suit, the water does not seem to get in so your hands stay dry and warm. Many here have complained about the bulkiness of the winter gloves. I agree, they are far mor bulky than summer gloves. But you will get used to that fast enough. Besides. What are you doing? Commuting? Or running a GP road race?

I also have a pair of winter boots from Alpemstars. They keep my feet dry and warm too.

Finally, I have Gerbngs heated jacket liner and pant liner. I also have the boot insole but find I seldom use that. For that matter, I seldom used the pant liner and really seldom plugged in the jacket liner. Don't just get the vest. Get the complete jacket liner.

I carried everything I needed in an expandable tank bag during the winter commutes. This included the change of clothing (shirt and tie and dress pants) I needed for work.

Hope it helps.

 

Do you have a backpack deebee? Here's a review of my Honda Blackhawk backpack - I've used it to commute and it's been great - holds a lot of crap and it's comfy and secure up to triple digit speeds

[video=youtube;I0UtWcSWt6A]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0UtWcSWt6A[/video]