[WeaponZero]

All of the jackets I just listed are available in all black as well, which would be good for a cruiser as it is very muted.

[WeaponZero]

Scorpion Hat Trick–currently on closeout
http://stores.sportbiketrackgear.com/Detail.bok?no=3071
It’s a mesh jacket with textile reinforcement in the critical impact areas. Has two removable liners: A breathable waterproof/windproof liner, and a thermal liner. Great jacket. Currently $99.95.

Teknic Hurricane textile jacket
http://stores.sportbiketrackgear.com/Detail.bok?no=4958
Sport-cut textile jacket with integrated waterproof liner. Very comfortable (I know from experience). Has a removable vest liner. Venting is not sufficient for the extreme heat of the summer but will be perfect for sub-80 degree weather.

Cortech GX Sport Series 2
http://stores.sportbiketrackgear.com/Detail.bok?no=4585
High quality for the money, everything you’re looking for, with perhaps better ventilation than any other waterproof jacket on the market (in the sub-$200 price range anyway). And with the full sleeve thermal liner you can use it in the cold weather too.

Scorpion Strike
http://newenough.com/street/closeouts/textile_jackets_and_pants/scorpion/strike_textile_motorcycle_jacket.html
Great jacket overall for the money. Waterproof, adequate ventilation for warm (but not hot) weather, and includes a full sleeve quilted thermal liner for cold weather.

Tour Master Jett Series 2
http://www.newenough.com/street/closeouts/textile_jackets_and_pants/tour_master/jett_series_2_textile_motorcycle_jacket.html
Identical in virtually every way to the Cortech mentioned above, but not as much ventilation for warm/hot weather and lacks the adjustable sleeves of the Cortech. Overall a good, high quality jacket for the money.

[WeaponZero]

Going to a 1300 cruiser from a 250 cruiser after a year of riding I don’t think is that big a change. In sportbikes it would be much bigger but I don’t think in a cruiser it would be as drastic as you’re making it out to be.

[WeaponZero]

Oh I can do it just fine without dragging the foot under normal circumstances, just not within the space of the box. That’s when I need to put the foot down. But I can easily do it in under 2 lanes of travel.

[WeaponZero]

After I made this whine post last night about still not getting the box I went out and practiced in a local park’s parking lot for about an hour. I got down to the point where I can do it and within the confined space, but it’s sloppy and feels scary because it FEELS like I’m about to fall the whole way through. Something I hope to never have to do in practice. I’ll continue to put my foot down when doing U-turns on the street because it feels safer and more natural.

[WeaponZero]

If you do lots of around town riding in hot weather, nothing less than mesh or else you fry. Perf leather depends on the kind of airflow you can only get from moving at a brisk pace to keep you cool. But around town, and in stop and go traffic, trust me, NOTHING LESS THAN MESH will vent sufficiently in summer heat.

[WeaponZero]

Well, I just got back from the ERC and, just as I expected, I aced everything easily but the box. I’ve pretty much given up on the idea of ever passing it (at least on my bike) and I’ve resigned myself to the idea of putting my foot down if I, for some odd reason, ever need to do a U-turn in that confined of a space. I was the only sporty bike there with everyone else in full size Harleys (even some dressers), so the instructors felt the need to single me out and show me how to do things a different way for almost every exercise. Despite their instruction I still wasn’t able to handle the box without going outside the lines, and I even dropped it in the box once. I was expecting to have a good time but truthfully the only exercise where I really had any fun was the one where you practice wide 2nd gear turns where all the Harley guys seemed amazed by the fact that a bike could actually lean like that for turns.

Everyone passed except for one person who bought an Electra Glide for his first bike and was just now trying to learn to ride it. Bad move. He dropped it 4 times throughout the day and, we’re not sure how, but at the end of the day one of his speakers no longer worked.

[WeaponZero]

The VFR is a far better street bike. If you plan on doing anything other than high speed canyon carving/track riding, like around town riding or long distance rides, the VFR will be just plain better. A more aggressive riding style will ALWAYS be harder on your back. And the ergos in general will be far more cramped on a supersport than on a sport tourer like the VFR.

[WeaponZero]

My next pair of boots is going to be a pair of A-Stars S-MX R boots. Everything I’ve read on them says they’re perfect for my needs plus I trust A-Stars gear. On top of that, I’ve done some research and found they run a bit wider than normal which is good for me as I have a wide foot.

[WeaponZero]

Try looking into the Kawasaki Vulcan 500. You should still be able to find some even though they were discontinued last year. Yamaha V-Star 650 and Honda Shadow 750 aren’t bad choices either.

[WeaponZero]

I like those Suomys a lot but heard bad things about how loud they are.

[WeaponZero]

First off what types of bikes are you into? And what type of environment do you live in? Is it rural? Urban? Lots of twisties or mostly straight?

[WeaponZero]

hows the airflow on it?

[WeaponZero]

Motosport is a very reputable, very large place. Good stuff. As far as the X-11 goes, it was discontinued which is why they’re hard to come by. Replaced by the X-12.

For the street I’d strongly recommend the RF series over the X series. It’s designed for street riding whereas the X is designed for track riding. Just as safe, but quieter and ventilation is better when sitting in an upright position.

[WeaponZero]

at your size a 250 would be perfect for you. a 500 would have a lot more power yes but the lighter a bike is the easier it is to handle and that makes the learning process that much easier as well as making riding a lot more fun

[Author]

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