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MOTOLIGHT
Halogen Riding Lights
See the road better and be seen
better.
I was stopped on the side of the
road looking at a map when I
looked up and did a double take
when I saw a motorcycle with
three lights in the same pattern
as a train, in bright sunlight
heading my way. That bike had
the MOTOLIGHTS. There was
nothing special about the
headlight, but the MOTOLIGHTS
were blazing a bright path that
is hard to miss to all oncoming
traffic. Besides adding
supplemental lighting for night
driving, being seen in daylight is
a great safety advantage. How
many times has a car or truck
looked right at your bike and
still started to pull out anyway.
With the MOTOLIGHTS installed
I don't think anyone will look at
your bike and still pull out. I
guess at this point I have to say
it's more like 9 out of 10 will
now stop and not pull out and
the 10th (an idiot) will still pull
out. Before installing the
Motolights the ratio seemed be
more like 4 out of 10 would pull
out and the other 6 would see
me and not pull out. With the
Motolights you'll seeing a big
improvement, and a lot less heart
pounding moments because you
have now avoided many of the
near misses that result from not
being seen.
MOTOLIGHTS's are very popular
on BMW touring bikes because
like the older Ducati ST line,
older BMW came with weak
headlights. My first Ducati ST4
(2001) had insufficient stock
headlights for a Sport Touring
bike, as do the Ducati's ST3's
and ST2's, (made before 2004).
In my opinion, those stock lights
are dangerous for night driving,
and need to be changed or
supplemental lighting should to
be added. No matter what bike
you drive, with the exception of
Harleys, (with three headlights),
most bikes will benefit from the
MOTOLIGHTS. Starting in 2004
Ducati ST's have a new lighting
design, which has gone a long
way towards fixing the problem.
Now the Ducati ST3 (the only ST
model being made) has the bare
minimum lighting to see your way
on an occasional night ride. If you
install the Motolights you won't
ride at night without turning them
on. Once you go Motolights you
can't and won't want to ride
without them.
I have been testing configurations
using two 35 Watt bulbs
(included), two 50 Watt bulbs and
also mixing one 35W and one
50W. I have settled on using the
50 Watt bulbs as the best choice.
It's true that thisis very bright to
oncoming traffic, but these days
so many cars have extremely
bright headlights in my face,
I'm just trying to keep up. I do
leave my high beam on so when
oncoming traffic is heading my
way, I wait till I'm sure they see
me and then I lower my high
beam so they know that the
Motolights are not part of my
high beam pattern.
If you never ride at night, you
should be able to get away with
the stock lights, but being seen
in the daylight with that dim
low beam (even with a PIAA bulb
replacement) is just a little
better than not having any
headlight.
Because the Motolights are
round and create a round
pattern, they light up the road
whether you are straight up or
in the turn. Rectangular
headlights usually create a
straight horizontal line at their
furthest reach across the road,
which then dips when you make
a sharp turn, loosing significant
lighting towards the direction
you are traveling. Adding
rectangular supplemental lights,
like the ones from PIAA, may add
more lighting but suffer from
this same effect. Round lights
simply do a better job then
rectangular lights.
(Note:) When you use the
Motolights you are adding 70 to
100 watts of draw to you battery,
which is ok when you are
underway, but you should turn
them off before you turn off your
bike so they are not on when
you go to start-up. If you pull
over and stop for any length of
time, you should turn off the
Motolights or up your revs to
compensate for the extra draw
on your battery. I use the
Whistler Motorcycle Radar
Detector (reviewed in the column
to the right) to keep tabs on my
voltage when I'm using the
Motolights. If I see my voltage go
below my usual 13.4 volts to
anything below 13 volts I up my
revs or adjust my choke or simply
turn off the Motolights. If I stop
at a light and my fan comes on,
I turn off the Motolights. If the fan
doesn't turn on then upping the
revs works.
As far as I'm concerned,
these lights are indispensable.
LEE PARKS DESIGN
DeerSports PCi
Deerskin and Elkskin
Gloves
NOW TESTING
It is always a real pleasure to slip
on these gloves because they are
so soft and flexible. They truly
feel luxurious especially when it
cools down and I change from
any of my warmer weather gloves.
Although I have worn them up to
70บ, they stay the most
comfortable from 65บ down to
about 52บ and usable to 48บ.
(I should note that I spent a lot
of time working in a Vermont
ski area with thin gloves taking
photos in temperatures down
to 5บ and it did take its toll on
my ability to keep my hands
warm). Lee says that many riders
can ride in lower temperatures
than I can without changing to
heated gloves.
Deerskin and Elkskin also have
the ability to stay warmer than
cowhide and other leathers when
they get wet and they dry soft.
When most other leather gloves
get wet they they don't provide
the warmth of Deerskin and
Elkskin and tend to shrink and
stiffen when they dry out. Of
course you should try to carry
rain covers in case it rains,
just as you do for your tank bag.
I'm still working on my full review.
(The following text is from the
Lee Parks Design website)
Premium insulated performance
gloves provide the widest
temperature range possible by
utilizing an Outlast phase-change
material liner in a patent-pending
design. When your hands are cold,
the liner acts like insulation and
keeps heat in. When your hands
get hot, it acts as a heat sink and
pulls heat away. Additionally,
when used with heated grips, it
pulls the heat from the grips and
distributes it around your hand.
These are the only true insulated
gloves that work with heated
grips as most insulated gloves
insulate you from the heat on the
grips. Proudly handcrafted in the
USA 2.75+ oz. deerskin (palm)
and 4.0+ oz. elkskin (back) are
more abrasion-resistant than
cowhide Outlast ฎ phase-change
lining material changes it
properties depending on
temperature giving it an
incredibly wide temperature range
(30-70 degrees). Thinsulate
Flex ฎ insulation on the backside
of hand helps keep heat in without
adding bulk to the palm side of
the glove. Trimmed and ironed
internal seams provide unrivaled
fit, comfort and dexterity.
Seamless palm for the ultimate in
feel without pressure points.
Dual-duty thread provides the
strongest seams and won't cut
through leather like Kevlar thread.
Hand washable leather stays soft
Inexpensive repairs available at
our U.S. factory. Extra-long
gauntlet has dual Velcro ฎ wrist
closures for a secure fit on any
jacket. Double-stitched
ErgoTech palm patch doesn't
bunch up and provides strong
abrasion-resistance. Double layer
elkskin backing on knuckles for
additional abrasion protection.
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AVON
Motorcycle Tires
When I bought my new 2004 Ducati
ST4S, I had the stock Michelin Pilot
tires removed and replaced them with
the Avon's shown above. With the
Avon Tires installed, AV45ST front
and AV46ST rear, I know I can trust
them to behave in a safe and
consistent manor oblivious to the road
anomalies that seem to so upset the
mere Michelins and their ilk. See
Mike's Avon review on Page 4.
More recently, I have tried the Avon
High Performance - Viper Sport Tires
(which I loved) and now I'm using
the Sport Touring - Storm-ST which
are also very good. It's going to be a
hard choice picking which tires I will
install the next time I need to replace
my tires.
NOW TESTING
WHISTLER CRUISANDER
Motorcycle Laser-Radar
Detector
The Whistler Cruisader is designed for
motorcycles and snowmobiles. It is
wired into your motorcycle and
becomes part of you permanent
hardware.
It comes with a forward facing laser
detector which is part of the 360
degrees radar module. It also has a
rear facing laser module, giving you
coming and going laser notification.
Other great features are air temperature
gauge and (motorcycle) battery voltage
gauge. If you have a lot of power hungry
equipment such as Mototlights which
can draw 70 to 100 watts of additional
battery draw, it's a good idea to keep
an eye on the voltage gauge when
you're at a stop light or any time
you're not rolling along. You can set
the Cruisader to show the voltage as
its main window which will only
change if it detects an alert.
I am also testing the Wireless Helmet
Display which lights up in your helmet
during an alert. You can listen to your
iPod and not have to try to distinguish
between your music and the alert
sounds of the automobile type of
detectors. Whistler does have a sound
module in the works but it will not be
available until later this Fall.
So far I very much like this unit.
SOFT-BOTTOM
Comfort Seating Systems
Motorcycle Seat Cushion
from CROSSGEL
The soft and pliable FlexGel
cushion lets you ride more
comfortably without fatigue
from seat vibration and cushions
your ride. I did a 490 mile ride
using the 1.5 inch Seat Cushion,
shown above, spending more
then 10 hours on it. It will improve
the quality of your ride. Check
their website to see the new
models, some of which are double
thick and the larger Touring Edition,
to fit bikes like the Goldwing. I
hope to be testing the new 2.5 inch
double thick seat sometime this
Spring or Summer.
TESTING PROCEDURES
My testing methods are based on a
continual use of the products found in
my reviews, using Real World testing
procedures. In other words, I don't go
out and perform a test from start to
finish and write a review. Instead,
I use these products on a continuing
basis and write a first look, followed
by updates and a conclusion. If more
conclusions arise later, that effect my
review, down the road, so to speak,
I update my review. As I get a fuller
understanding of how a product
works or discover a contradiction of
my posted review, I update my
review to reflect it.
If I have a problem with a product
that I have received for evaluation
from a manufacturer, I contact them
and try to resolve the issue to make
sure I am using the product as it
was designed to work. If I have a
problem with a product that I have
purchased, I still try to contact the
manufacturer and try to work with
them, although it doesn't always
work both ways. The manufacturer
should try to work with me to ensure
that their product is being utilized to
its best advantage.
Background Notes:
I have used all the products shown on
the "Dave's Pics" Page. All of these
products have made a difference in
my comfort level.
The clutch and brake handles now
come standard on the ST line.
When I bought my new 2004 ST4s,
I had the stock Michelin Pilot Sport
tires removed and replaced them
with the Avons shown above. With
the Avon Tires installed, AV45ST
front and AV46ST rear, I know I can
rely on them to behave in a safe
and consistent manor oblivious to
the road anomalies that seem to so
upset the mere Michelins and their
ilk.
Most of my rides are at least one
hour and often last two, three or
four hours.
I wish I had know the joys of riding
Ducatis before 2004 when I switched
from Japanese bikes, 6 in all, to the
best Sport Touring bikes available
today.
In April 2004 I bought a used 2001
Ducati ST4. After riding over 13,000
miles by Sept. I knew I was a Ducati
man and wanted the improvement
of the newly designed ST4s. So
I decided to buy a new 2004 ST4s
from Rockwell Cycles. I rode
another 9,000 miles on the new
bike for a total of about 22,000
for the year of 2004. In 2005 I rode
about 13,000 miles. So far I have
ridden approximately 165,000
miles since 1982.
My bike history: a new 1981
Yamaha 250, a used Suzuki dual
purpose 250, a new 1983 Yamaha
Seca (a terrible bike), a new 1985
Kawasaki 900 Ninja, a new 1990
Suzuki 750 Katana (stolen), a new
1991 Suzuki 750 Katana, a used
2001 Ducati ST4 and a new 2004
Ducati ST4S.
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ROADGEAR
Magnetic Jumbo
Sport Tank Bag
This is my 'First Look' review.
I've been testing this bag for a
few months. It is well made
with a lot of thought to detail.
It has a zipper around the
bottom that stays zipped
most of the time, which can
be unzipped to add a few
more inches to the height of
the bag allowing for more
stuff, when you need it.
It has hidden dual slider
zippers along both sides that
reveal compartments about
4" high and 14" long. A clear
seamless map area on top
of the bag measures
8" by 10". It has a sleeve
under the clear vinyl that is
part of a removable zip off
map holder.
So far I like it. It's doing what
needs to get done. This model
uses magnets to attach to the
metal tank. It also can be
ordered as the Three-Point
Jumbo Sport Tank Bag if
that's your preference.
I will be posting a much more
in-depth review in June.
Stay tuned.
ROADGEAR
AirTec (Mesh) Gloves
This is my 'First Look' review.
I have been using these
gloves in cool, warm and
hot conditions last summer
and fall, this spring and
now in June.
They are the most
comfortable, functional and
attractive ventilated gloves
I have ever tried, in more
than 20 years of riding.
There is reflective piping
over the knuckles. They
have curved fingers with
excellent air-flow
between the fingers. If it
cools down and you don't
want to stop to change
gloves all you have to do
is grip your fingers closer
together which stops much
of the airflow through the
gloves. This feature is
really neat. I think you
need to go no further in
your search for ventilated
gloves then the AirTec .
I will be posting a more
in-depth review in late
June or sooner.
Stay tuned.
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KISAN TECHNOLOGIES
Brake Light Modulator
tailBlazer
(The following text is from the
Kisan website, I will be posting
my review soon).
BE SAFE! Compared to a typical
automobile, motorcycle stop
lamps are simply too small to
attract immediate attention.
This is especially true for the
cruisers because they are
mounted so low to the ground.
tailBlazer overcomes this by
rapidly flashing the taillights
the instant you apply the brakes.
The flash rate then slows down
to a steady ON - this cycle lasts
about 4 seconds. This flash
pattern is called a Deceleration
Warning.
Motorcycle Safety Foundation
(MSF) suggests that you pump
your brakes at each stop.
tailBlazer does it automatically,
and by flashing both filaments
for a maximum brightness.
tailBlazer Notes
Unique exponential decay flash
pattern. As easy as replacing a
bulb. Programmable taillight
intensity.
KISANTECH LPC-16
Sequential Turn Signal
This product works! It diffidently
gets the attention of the vehicles
following your bike, as you use
your turn signals and when you
use your brakes. This safety
devise also adds to the quality
look of your bike. It can be a big
help if you have changed your
original turn signals for the
smaller (and hopefully brighter)
turn signals that are available
from after-market retailers.
I feel that smaller turn signals
can get overlooked when you
go to make a turn. With the
LPC-16 installed you
supplement your turn signals
with the six sequential lights
that move in the direction of
your left or right turn and give
needed presents to your
intention to make a turn. Even
if you are using your original
turn signals, more is better.
And because motorcycles can
stop on a dime, cars following
you may not realize that you
can stop so fast. When the
Deceleration Warning Sequence
is activated by using your
brakes, the cars following you
see the necessity to stop
shorter so they lessen the
possibility of tail-ending your
bike. This product is a
win / win safety device and I
highly recommend it.
(The following text is from the
Kisan website).
v3 in 1 Feature
Sequential Turn Signal
Right and Left LED arrays
indicate sequential turn
signals. These superbright
LEDs (8500 mCd) have a wide
viewing angle of 180 degrees.
They are sunlight readable,
even from the adjacent
lanes.
Brake Light Modulator
A cluster of (6) LEDs is
magnified by an acrylic lens
to broadcast the Deceleration
Warning sequence. As soon
as you tap the brakes, they
modulate rapidly at first then
slow down to a solid ON over
a period of (4) seconds.
Running Lights
This is a programmable
feature. For additional
visibility, all LEDs stay ON
at reduced intensity, but
you can also turn this
feature Off.
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CRUISERWORKS
"Climate Control for your body"
CoolRiderT-Shirt
CoolRider Mock Turtleneck
My 'first look' review will post
soon.
Brembo Style Adjustable
Brake & Clutch Levers
Every day I would wake-up with my left
hand aching, especially when I had
spent a lot of time in traffic, stopped at
traffic lights the day before, trying to
hold in the clutch lever. Ducati knew
there was a problem with the ST's clutch
and brake levers, that's why they sell
these in their parts catalog. These
Brembo Style Adjustable Levers appear
to be the same ones that now come as
original equipment on the new ST's
made in 2004 and newer. Using the
Brembo Style Adjustable clutch has
taken much of the strain off my left
hand.
This year I went one step further, and
bought a clutch slave.
CRITTER WATCH
Simply a List of Wildlife Viewed from
the Saddle of my Ducati. I only had
enough time to take mental pictures.
BEAR MT. PARK, NY
2 large Bear Cubs running toward the
road make a abrupt U-Turn while 1
Adult is seen standing in the
shadows at the edge of the forest
A Deer standing in a lake
4 Wild Turkeys near Lake Tiorati
8 Wild Turkeys at the same spot
the next year
STERLING FOREST, NY
A Bear Crossing the road looks back at
me with a look that could only mean
"Boy, I wish I could ride a Ducati"
WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NY
A Red Fox trying to cross the road
7 Wild Turkeys cross 301 at
Kent Cliffs, NY
CROSSING 17A NY
Osprey (Eagle) flies over the road
CONNECTICUT & RYE, NY
A Wild Turkey near an exit on
The Merritt Parkway (CT)
7 Baby Swans and 3 Adult Swans
stop traffic as they cross
Playland Parkway in Rye
A Egret standing in a
stream (CT)
NEW HAMPSHIRE
A Snapping Turtle crossing the road
A Skunk makes a quick U-Turn one
foot from my front tire at night
CATSKILLS, NY
A Bald Eagle flushed from its perch
by the sound of my mighty Ducati
EVERYWHERE
Lots of Deer, Turkey Buzzards
Hawks & Turkeys
Intruder Turf Wars: Little Birds
Chasing Hawks and other
Large Birds off
their Turf
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NOW TESTING
PulseTechฎ
12-V Xtreme Charge
Battery Charger
Five-Stage
Maintenance Charger
My 'first look' review will post
soon.
(The following text is from the
The PulseTech website).
The PulseTechฎ Products Corporation
100X010 XC100-P Xtreme Charge
is a Five-Stage Maintenance Charger.
Use it for evaluation and testing. A
unique test feature evaluates the
battery thoroughly during the initial
connection to determine the
appropriate charge rate based on its
size and condition. It tests the battery
continually for as long as it is
connected to the charger to maintain
the optimal bulk or float charge rate.
This test step incorporates a
"Bad Battery" indication if it
determines the battery is faulty and
cannot be re-charged. Use Xtreme
Charge for maintenance and bulk
charging. It's designed to be a
maintenance charger for any type of
12-V lead-acid battery. By imposing
only the appropriate amount charge
rate, the battery is maintained safely
at its proper operating voltage
indefinitely. Conversely, if the charger
is connected to a discharged battery,
its bulk charge capability
(2.5 A actual/5 A effective) will
re-charge the battery rapidly and
safely so it can be put back into
service quickly. A proprietary
computer-integrated technology
measures both voltage and current
to determine the appropriate amount
of charge the battery is able to accept
at any given time. As the pulse and
saturation charges improve the
battery's condition, the charge rate
may be increased safely to an optimal
level. This proprietary algorithm
protects the battery from the risk of
damage due to overcharging. The
XC100-P features variable float
charge. PulseTech's intelligent circuitry
imposes the correct amount of charge
rate as determined by the continual
evaluation of the battery's condition.
The charge rate may be as minimal as
0.2 A during typical float up to the full
2.5 A for more deeply discharged
batteries. This variable float charge
ensures optimal charge rate is applied
to the battery. PulseTech's unique and
patented PULSE technology increases
the duty and life cycles of any size or
type of 12-V lead-acid battery by
minimizing the size of the lead
sulfate crystals. This allows a battery
to accept as much charge as possible.
PULSE technology helps ensure that
your new batteries will stay in
like-new condition while older
batteries often improve dramatically.
Duty cycles are typically extended
from three to five times for all types
of lead-acid batteries! Xtreme
Charge is ideally suited for AGM and
maintenance-free batteries (from less
than 10 Ah to over 150 Ah). The
combination of patented pulse
technology and proprietary charging
algorithm typically allows it
to charge these high-performance
batteries more fully. It also maintains
a safe charge profile for traditional
batteries including flooded, fill and
charge and gel. Includes
fuse-protected quick-disconnect
battery clamps and lugs, Important
Safety Instructions and
Quick-Start Guide.
Fuse-protected, spark-proof unit
is UL and CE certified. Five-year
warranty.
Laminar
Touring LIP
Here's my 2001 Ducati ST4 with the
Laminar Lip installed. I was having
uncomfortable wind blast, at highway
speeds, to my chest before installing
the Lip. Ride in greater comfort, and
for longer distances with less fatigue.
This product really works.
Shown here is the Sport Touring
model in both Clear and Smoked.
Starting in 2004 the Ducati ST line
now comes with larger windshields.
The Laminar Lip is made for most
motorcycles. Check the website for
your bike.
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