Modern Buddy

Okay have had my scooter now for about 6 months..of course had to get the gear wasn't really sure what I needed. After reading everyone's post I purchased a scooter skirt from scooterworks...best thing I did it is great for cool mornings and compacts easily when I don't need it...so it's my favorite accessory.

My Corazzo 5.0 jacket. I wear it every day in all weather conditions. It's an essential piece of gear. So in answer to your implied question, I won't say that you need that specific jacket, but that you need a good quality jacket that will meet as much of your needs as possible.

I love my Corazzo Speedway jacket. It fits perfectly and feels great. With the vents unzipped, it lets a nice breeze through. I feel very secure in it and it looks great with my scooter! However, if I had to pick only one piece of gear to wear, I would have to go with a helmet.

+1 on the coat. Having a good quality jacket makes the biggest differences of all of my gear. Get something that has features for your riding conditions (weather, ride distance, anything you need to carry, etc.), and other features (vents, pockets where you want them, etc.) How are you enjoying your scooter, especially with the skirt?

Chrome Mini-Metro messenger bag. Worth every penny of $120. 600-denier, waterproof, big enough for my Vaio and a nifty pocket for my tablet and secure as can be while riding. A good bag is critical for anyone who commutes on a motorcycle. Don't cheap out on an army surplus one or something from Wally-World.

I love MY corazzo Postale!

In fact, that reminds me that I had promised reviews of all my crap. I better get that done this week...

I am going to need to look at corrazo jackets....I do love the skooter skirt...it's great for work don't have pants over my scrubs or change when I get there so very convenient and warm.

neotrotsky wrote:Chrome Mini-Metro messenger bag. Worth every penny of $120. 600-denier, waterproof, big enough for my Vaio and a nifty pocket for my tablet and secure as can be while riding. A good bag is critical for anyone who commutes on a motorcycle. Don't cheap out on an army surplus one or something from Wally-World.

How big your Vaio?

Four letters: TBOB.

That's the Tactical Bail Out Bag, from LA Police Gear. It comes with me on most rides, whether to the office, the gym, or the farthest reaches of Michigan. It holds almost anything I need it to. Except the occasional 19" monitor.

TelPerian wrote:

neotrotsky wrote:Chrome Mini-Metro messenger bag. Worth every penny of $120. 600-denier, waterproof, big enough for my Vaio and a nifty pocket for my tablet and secure as can be while riding. A good bag is critical for anyone who commutes on a motorcycle. Don't cheap out on an army surplus one or something from Wally-World.

How big your Vaio?

It's a 15", so the Mini-metro will accommodate any midsize notebook/macbook pro with ease. The front pocket seems to be made to fit Kindle Fire tablets or whatever 7" slab you prefer. There are nifty cellphone pouches and the like you can add to the strap as well. It's quite the utility bag.

And, I do have to give a nod to the TBOB. I don't have one myself, but it is quite the thing to have amongst the MB members

Just ordered a black TBOB from LAPG. $19.99 plus $9.71 shipping. *Very* cool. Thanks for the tip.
I had forgotten that my son has one of those that he uses for pistol shooting. It carries *everything* he needs.

Links?

Hands down, my Monster iPod remote.

My windshield would have to be my favorite, but I have at least 5 others that tie for second place:

Fieldsheer Expander saddlebag & tailbag set (no longer sold)
Gerbings Hybrid Heated gloves
Scorpion EXO 900 neon yellow helmet
Platform I built for the rear rack
My new heated grips

My Overboard waterproof backpack. With my work commute and the weather here, I knew I'd be in for some stormy, nasty days where I still had to make it the 20 or so miles to work. Seeing that my shifts are/were sometimes 9 hours long, and if it was raining I might need a shirt or pant change once I got there, I knew that I wanted a sizeable, waterproof backpack to put all my schtuff in. I did some research and looking around and found this on eBay. It's by a sport gear company called Overboard, it's rated Class 3 waterproof, which means if you close it properly rain/water CANNOT get in, and it will withstand short submersions. People who kayak and raft use this kind of backpack.

Historically, I have found this particular backpack on eBay for 30 or 40 (possibly plus shipping). The price seems to have gone up... maybe because it's spring? Not sure.

But it's a FANTASTIC backpack, it never failed me once. I fit everything I ever needed to in it and NEVER had to worry about it getting wet. When I got in my accident, it was on my back and empty (I was headed to the grocery store) and it withstood whatever abuse it took in the crash like a champ (I can't tell you what that was, I have little recollection of the time between hitting the car and hitting the ground, so I don't know if I skidded or was airborne or what).

The ONLY reason I have to replace it is because it was cut off of me in the ER, like everything else

This is it on eBay.

My other fave accessory? I sometimes had an issue with my wrists being cold, due to gappage between my coat sleeve and my glove cuff. I solved this by wearing two Jagermeister wrist bands (you know, the kind that were cool a couple decades ago)... they were handed out free by the Jagermeister rep at a local bar.

skully93 wrote:Links?

I can't find you a link to TBOB page on the LA Police Gear web site because I am at work and they block the site as an online weapons merchant. I guess they don't want people terrorizing on company time.

Here's the link for the TBOB. They only have the black one in stock at the present:

http://www.lapolicegear.com/tabaoutbag.html

right now, my speakers i LOVE having music in my face while i'm riding!

Bluduh wrote:Here's the link for the TBOB. They only have the black one in stock at the present:

http://www.lapolicegear.com/tabaoutbag.html

Yeah, I love the TBOB, too. It's like the official bag of ModernBuddy. MANY fans here.

Yesterday, I had it loaded with four cameras, film, extra batteries, microfiber cloth, eye drops, aspirin, tissues, external iPhone battery, and a bunch of other stuff I probably don't need but carry with me because I have space for it.

For gear, my Puma RDBC mid boots. Discontinued years ago. I have bought 3 pairs of deadstock. Saved my toes in a crash!

Here's a linnk to the Chrome Mini-Metro:

http://www.chromebagsstore.com/bags/mes ... small.html

Different flavor than the TBOB to be sure. If you can, get both! You can never have too many bags when you commute on a bike

Here's something else:

Mouthguards. A good thing to have for long distances. Could save your teeth or tongue in a crash.

I prefer this one because it's slim (but I also use it at night):

http://www.target.com/p/DenTek-Comfort- ... A-10748330

All right, since everyone is talking carrying cases, I'll say that my topcase is a favorite accessory. I use mine every day to carry all of my food and drinks for the day while riding, and to stow my helmet while I'm working. It's not glamorous or cool, but it makes my scooter extremely useful. I have a Prima bag for underseat storage. It's not as ideally fitted to the space as I would have hoped, but it's about as good of a fit as you're going to get. So I'll say that's a favorite as well, since I also use it daily.

I'm going with my front rack (dealer-installed, from Genuine).

I debated whether to get a front basket, a front rack, or nothing (I knew from the get-go I would get a rear rack), but I went with the chrome front rack and I love it and use it more than the rear rack. Great for 12-packs of drinks, packs of paper towels, etc. -- things that would take up all of the space in your pet carrier or tail trunk (or wouldn't fit at all) are nicely secure and out of the way.

Gotta get used to that weird effect though, when you turn your wheels and the stuff on the rack doesn't appear to turn. It's a little freaky at first!

A good pair of gloves. The best will provide some shock resistance from the bumps of the road; most all will provide isolation from the vibrations of the scoot. You will probably end up with several pair. Don't cheap out (like I did the first time), or you'll end up with more than several.

[edit to add] Look for a pair that provides good grip without a great deal of effort on your part. A relaxed grip is a safer grip, and doesn't tire you out so quickly.[/edit]

i like gloves. i seldom ride without 'em except the couple times i took test rides after oil changes

i feel naked without them. must have hand protection. although i do admit i sort of like the feel of the grips in my hands unfettered

Thank you all for your tips and shedding some light on gear I don't have but may need

JHScoot wrote:i like gloves. i seldom ride without 'em except the couple times i took test rides after oil changes
i feel naked without them. must have hand protection. although i do admit i sort of like the feel of the grips in my hands unfettered

I won't spend more than a minute on a two-wheeled vehicle without a helmet and gloves on.

An M20 75 mm recoilless rifle.

Yeah, sure, recoilless, blah, blah, but what kind of TIRES does it have???