daveinlim

Would an adventure style helmet be of use commuting on rainy days.

When I'm stopped at lights I'll often need to open my visor. Then rain gets in sometime and on my glasses.

Would the peak on an adventure lid help to stop this?

Would it work only when stopped or help on the move to up to town/city speeds

 

Yes it does help a little but it depends on what angle the rain is coming in at and how hard its hammering down.

The best thing about a peak in the shorter days is using it to block out the sun when it is low in the sky, combine that with a pinlock protec tint to remove glare and its perfect.

I use the protec tint inserts in all my helmets (yes double the price) but it is the best compromise and as I wear glasses it means I don't have to faff with sunglasses or worry about tunnels or staying out later than usual and having to rush home because I have a dark tint visor on.

Yeah it is probably hit and miss on the visor depending on the rain, wind, the type of bike and speed you're doing. I have an inbuilt visor on my current helmet that works a treat and a normal pinlock.

The peak on an adventure lid probably isn't worth the investment

Would an adventure style helmet be of use commuting on rainy days.

When I'm stopped at lights I'll often need to open my visor. Then rain gets in sometime and on my glasses.

Would the peak on an adventure lid help to stop this?

Would it work only when stopped or help on the move to up to town/city speeds

I'm only 3 years on 2 wheels but a very long time driving. My tips are.

1. Wear layers. Once you're moving on the bike it's a lot colder that it is walking around.

2. Make sure you're in waterproof kit. I have a textile suit and full boots to keep me warm. But I also wear an over jacket and trousers in bad rain. I use rst textiles and armr brand overs. No point spending a fortune on stuff. The over stuff keeps your main kit dry so after work you're not putting on water soaked protection.

3. BE REALLY CAREFUL FILTERING OR OVERTAKING. In the dark and the rain you are very hard to be seen. Oncoming traffic might not see you filtering and you could have a head on collision or get clipped.

4. Kind of related but leave extra time for your journey bad weather.

5. Make sure your bike is safe, tyres are ok etc. Keep it clean and get the salt off it to stop it causing damage.

Is it parked on the road if it is see if there is drain nearby those ones that are in the gutter park over it and chain it to that

one like this

That's a new tactic to me. Points for creativity if nothing else.

It doesn't answer my initial question though.

Unfortunately there's only 1 lamp post that it could be tied to. There is space for probably 50 bikes in a row where I park. There's also 2 doormen in a members club across the street which helps. Ideally I'd like to tie it to something solid but it's not an option near where I work

I'm commuting in to London most days whilst the office is open. I'm using my peweg chain when in town but it's heavy and bulky and I'm afraid of it damaging my laptop.

Where I park there isn't anywhere to tie the bike to so I've been considering something lighter than my 1.5m chain.

I'm considering a milenco u lock as an alternative. I also use a alarmed disc lock.

https://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/motorcycle_parts/content_prod/462185

Are these worthwhile?

I have a hjc is17 for 3 years now. Same pinlock since day 1. No issue with the visor fogging. I open and close the visor throughout my commute.

My glasses on the other hand do fog a lot hense the opening of my visor. If I could get a pinlock for my specs I would. Using glasses cleaner before setting off seems to help the specs from fogging for a while.

I can't see how any phone is ethically produced. Yes you can make the body from recycled plastic or whatever but the metals that go in to the internals can't be.

The phone companies will get these from suppliers with nice environmental friendly certs but one you go down the chain of suppliers it doesnt matter what phone you have the expensive metals will all come from a mine in a 3rd world country where the workers are being taken advantage of or child labour etc etc.

I'd like to suggest the vespa driver on vauxhall bridge today. 50cc, rattling along. It's dark but he's a half helmet and sunnies on. No mirrors and cutting up everyone. He got caught behind a bus and decided it was appropriate to mount the kerb and drive on the path for a while.

I can't vouch for Zero 3 but I do own a pair of Zero 2 and they are my go to pair of gloves when I ride in the winter,I can say they provide decent protection and warmth for my commute to work.

I also swap them around from time to time with my Richa Cold protect gore-tex gloves but they don't provide as good protection as the Zero 2.

This is good to hear. Reviews can't really tell how it feels and trying them on in a heated shop doesn't help either

Have you thought installing about heated grips? I think they're an absolute godsend and they give you a bit more flexibility with regard to winter glove choices.

I have thought about heated grips. However a couple of things put me off. First, I plan on selling my bike in spring and moving up to something bigger so seems like a waste of money.

2nd is I commute in London so most of my journey is spent with my fingers hovering the levers meaning only a little strip of contact with the grips for any length of time. Would be different if I was on motorways or something.

I got some silk loners. They do help. Marigolds is a new suggestion to me.

Five do a battery heated glove but it's nearly £300

It's getting to that time of year again where it's cold and dark most days.

I used a pair of five gloves last winter and they were great for keeping me dry and not frozen but not warm.

I'd like something waterproof, armoured and warm. Five gloves have palm sliders which I think is important.

Are Knox zero 3 mk 2 any good? Or should I spend twice that on heated gloves?

I ride to work and park on the street near my office.

I have a normal back pack (contains lunch, laptop, football kit when needed) I got from sport direct for my commute that I leave in my top box whilst riding.

If it's cold or wet I keep my helmet on for the short walk to the office. The security guys are used to me walking in with it on now. Once inside I put the helmet in the drawstring bag it came with.

For summer the lid comes off asap once parked and hand carried to the office. I've left it in the top box on several occasions in office or always at football as it's a relatively secure and dry place to keep it.

Excellent that you had a proper instructor this time around.

I've had a Honda cb125f as my first bike. Basic works horse but very reliable however not hugely entertaining after a while. My current bike is a Suzuki gsxs125 and I think it's probably the best 125 out there albeit still just a 125.

Enjoy shopping around for a bike. Sit on a few before deciding what's best.

I've just been to lands end. Some very nice bikes parked up and a lot of Harley's. There was a blacked out Ducati Dival and suprised to see a shiny new red cbr500r parked up which looked great in the flesh

I saw a dwarf climbing down a prison wall today.

I thought to myself that's a little condescending.

Nice idea. If you had that here in London it would be used as a drug drop or some gentleman to relieve himself after a few special brews.

Driving standards are dropping. I'm in the car and on my bike in central London a lot. The amount of people that have no concept of how lanes work. They cut through 3 or 4 lanes on a bend in the road and then back again. Cars transfixed on oncoming traffic so end up driving right on the dividing line leaving 4ft of empty lane to the left of them.

I've seen people reverse on motorways and also reverse back up the slip road. And I'm sure we have all had the car driver intentionally cut us off from filtering in stopped traffic.

I think a resit of your test every 10 years should be mandatory. People become complacent and are distracted by hectic lifestyles and phones when driving.

I've had a top box on my Honda cb125f and my Suzuki gsxs125. Both big enough to fit my helmet, gloves and some small bits. Never had an issue with handling. Bought mine from sportsbikeshop.com. Simple to fit.

It does look better without the box but for commuting in to London it's great to keep everything secure safe and dry

Little update. I took the cautious approach and went to the garage. They sorted me out on the spot and for less than the price of a repair kit.

Good point and fair consideration - the cost of the new tyre. If you're running cheap ones then deffo get it replaced!

I have a decent set of Dunlop tyres on. So they aren't some random Chinese tyre nobody has ever heard of. Aside from the small puncture they are in great condition too. So I'm happy to keep them on for now.

Little update. I took the cautious approach and went to the garage. They sorted me out on the spot and for less than the price of a repair kit.

Been considering a top box for the YS recently as it would be handy for shopping, storing my lid, lunch etc. Only thing is I balked at the cost. its about 80 quid for a 30lt box and £110 for the mounting

Up til now I've been using a comfy and secure hillwalking rucksack that has chest and waist straps that I got from Lidl for £15. Can't fit the lid in it but I get some limited shopping in it. I looked at tail bags as they are reasonably priced. What's everyone's thoughts, is the box worth it or should I go for the tail bag?

 

Mot smaller top box won't have enough space for a full face helmet, my 42l Givi doesn't take my nolan

My 37 L shad box fits my lid an XL htc. It will fit my backpack and my peweg chain.

These kits should only ever be used as a short-term fix, and you should always seek help from a tyre professional at the earliest opportunity. Riding your motorcycle with an incorrectly repaired puncture or temporary repair for a prolonged period may affect your insurance. This is a quote from Bennett’s insurance.

I hadn't though of insurance implications. I must get the details out and see what they say.

I forgot to say which one I was looking at

Gryyp Cargol Turn & Go - K004 Kit

Seems easiest to use

I've got a puncture in my rear tyre.

It looks like it's from a nail which isn't in the tyre any more.

The tyre is fairly new and the puncture is in the dead centre of the tyre son ideal spot to repair rather than replace.

My bike is a gsxs125 so wouldn't be going over 60 and most 90% of miles are in London traffic.

Would these be suitable as a long term solution? They look dead simple to use. They would definitely do for a quick fix but can I use it longer than that?