Shopping list, am I missing anything?

[EP_scoot]

Hi all,
with nothing but snow here in MN, no much to do other than to think about scootering. AlthoughI did see 4 people at Scooterville this past Saturday that got there with their scooters since it got all the way up to 35 degrees or so. In any case, I have a list of things to buy and I would love to get your input on the list/product or to let me know of something I might have missed.
Here it goes in somewhat the order I think I will pursue it.

- FF Helmet (got it)
- Armored Jacket (got it)
- gloves
- additional reflective safety tape (for helmet and side/rear of Blur)
- LED valve stem caps (for even more nighttime visibility to people coming from side streets)
- Headlight Modulator (www.customdynamics.com/signal_dynamics_ ... ulator.htm)
- Tail light modulator (www.customdynamics.com/signal_dynamics_ ... ulator.htm)
- Top Case
- Riding over pants (for commuting to work)
- riding boots
- flat tire plug kit
- Windscreen
- battery tender (for next and future winters)
- Stebel horn

All I can see are $$$ signs when looking at the list, geez !
IMO the modulators, LED valve stem caps and extra reflective tape are a must in my pursue to make sure I am seen.

What do you think?
What brands would you recommend?
What else am I missing?

Thanks !

[robtaylor]

you might think about a cable and lock to secure the scoot where ever you park.

[JHG57]

I ride a motorcycle and not a scooter but the same safety applies. No matter how many things you do to become visible you must always assume that no one sees you. Pretend you are invisible ... if you do this all of the time, only you are responsible for your safety. So, try to be visible but always assume you are not.

[hcstrider]

You have a pretty extensive list. Here are a couple of additions you might also consider.

HALO Reflective Helmet Band. This is a band of reflective material about 1 ½ inch wide that fits around the base of your FF helmet like a rubber band. This should cost about $15.

I also have a lot of reflective clothing/accessories such reflective vests and reflective wrist/ankle bands. I use these primarily for running because I run before the sun comes up and I want the cars to see me but I have worn a reflective vest if I am scootering at dusk/after dark.

[jmazza]

Looks a lot like my list!

Are the LED valve caps legal everywhere? One thing to think about is they will only make you more visible from one side (but still every bit of visibility helps!!)

[tempalte]

Instead of reflective tape, try a hi visibility jacket. This is what I have:


Everyone comments ( teases) me about how bright it is. It is the same color that road crews where and it is VERY visible.

http://www.motorcyclecloseouts.com/off+ ... ro+jacket#

[EP_scoot]

robonz23, DUH! . I live is a pretty safe area, but still. Thanks !

JHG57, I hear you. From the different books I am reading, that is the advice common to all of them.

hcstrider, thought about it, but probably not functional with the modular helmet I have. The adhesive reflective tape will be a good substitute.

jmazza, I don't know if they are legal or not. If I get pulled over I hope that the cop will be nice and take into account that I am a old guy over 40 riding a scooter, vs. a 20ish riding a Ninja and give me a break. Hopefully a "sorry officer, just trying to get noticed" will do the trick.

tempalte, I already have a red corazzo 5.0 which has tons of reflective material for night time. For day time I am thinking in just getting a road-worker type vest to wear over the jacket.

I will probably look like a dufus, but I'd rather have someone saying, "look at that dufus" that saying "sorry, I did not see you!"
Part of it is also to appease the powerful forces working about me riding (read spouse) and showing I am doing as much as I can to be noticed.

[illnoise]

Hopefully you've already got these covered, but don't forget rider training and solid health and motorcycle insurance you can afford.

Most of your list is defensive, take the offensive and learn how to ride to your maximum potential. all the reflectors and lights and rainpants in the world won't help your tires stick to a wet, greasy road at night. Not every accident involves another vehicle, and knowing how to steer out of a skid is going to help you avoid finding out how well all your protective gear works.

And if you do have an accident, all that gear's not going to pay your hospital bills or liability, or buy you a new scooter, but insurance can. Check your policy to make sure it doesn't exclude motorcycle accidents (more and more are sneaking that into their small print).


Bb.

[Kevin K]

I really like the 3M SOLAS reflective tape. It's the most reflective tape on the market (think of the stuff you see on highways signs--the stuff that lights up about two miles away). My Aerostich jacket has great reflectives, but my mesh jacket doesn't, which is why I went with a mesh/reflective vest for night riding on those warm summer nights.

Anyway, I'll most likely be riding to the Cabin Fever Rally so I'll have my gear with me if you want to look at it.
-K

[EP_scoot]

illinoise, I have the insurance covered and will sing up to the MSF once available. Doing lots of reading as well. I am already a defensive cage driver from all my years riding bikes in Spain. Always looking 5-6 cars ahead, wheels moving on cars trying to turn left, wheels moving outwards on cars parked on the curve, etc. It will still be interesting once I am back on two wheels as now I am very used to slamming the cage's brakes and nothing sliding (other than in snow). Can't lock up on two wheels, though

kevin, I plan on being there after the MOA Diabetes Walk. Did you hear about the small group scooting down from Duluth? I guess they are going to Aerostich the day before and coming back on saturday for Cabin Fever. Arrival is planned at lunch time or so. Latest justgottascoot podcast has the details. It takes BBOF (big balls of fire) to ride on the 20's for 5-6 hrs. I am too old to do that anymore

[Kevin K]

Yeah, there's a group that's hitting all of the Pizza Luce's (starting in Duluth). I'm on the fence as to whether I'm riding that one or not.
Have stuff to unload at the swap meet, so it's likely that I'll bring the sidecar.
-K

[scullyfu]

that's quite a list; did you hit the lotto?

seriously, ep, i'd go for the personal protective gear first. you are the most important possession you have. given that we can't control every possible situation, wearing good gear is always your first line of defense against bodily harm, imo.

now, get out there and SCOOT!!!!! weather permitting, of course.

oops, forgot about the brand recs. every body type is different, so just like people suggest that you sit on and try a scooter on for size, so it is with clothes and shoes and gloves. there are so many variables to consider. get to a place where you can try on different sizes and makers and go from there.

good luck!

[ericalm]

The LED light caps are illegal in California. Best to check your state vehicle codes before using them.

Also, if you're buying an '06, consider upgrading your headlight to a halogen and the taillights with either a better bulb or an LED cluster.

[louie]

the caution cone orange buddy stands out in a crowded street and ride like nobody sees you.

[illnoise]

The LED light caps are illegal in California. Best to check your state vehicle codes before using them.

I think they are here in IL, too. Personally, I think they're annoying and maybe more likely to cause an accident than prevent one. Sort of like when you're riding, if you watch the white line, you tend to drift towards it. A bunch of hypnotized drivers will be swerving into you. OK, maybe not, but there's a difference between being making sure drivers see you vs. actively distracting and possibly inciting them, ha.

Like people say "Loud pipes save lives" which is arguably true, but *really* loud pipes just annoy the crap out of everyone and make them want to run you off the road.

Bb.

[gt1000]

The LED light caps are illegal in California. Best to check your state vehicle codes before using them.

I think they are here in IL, too. Personally, I think they're annoying and maybe more likely to cause an accident than prevent one. Sort of like when you're riding, if you watch the white line, you tend to drift towards it. A bunch of hypnotized drivers will be swerving into you. OK, maybe not, but there's a difference between being making sure drivers see you vs. actively distracting and possibly inciting them, ha.

Like people say "Loud pipes save lives" which is arguably true, but *really* loud pipes just annoy the crap out of everyone and make them want to run you off the road.

Bb.

I agree. I think there's a fine line between "trying to be visible" and "calling attention to yourself". Personally, I'll do my best to stay as visible as possible without calling undo attention to myself. The biggest impact points, to me, are the color of your scooter and the color of your helmet. For high visibility, you want light, bright hues, like silver, white and yellow. Chrome and alloy bits should help too. You want to avoid dark colors like black, red (especially for color blind cagers), navy blue, etc. No matter what attention-getting devices you're using, ride like you're invisible, always assume the worst and always plan an escape route. And it's your ride, so wear or use whatever attention-getting devices you feel are appropriate. Just never count on them.

While my motorcycle pipes are pretty loud they're nowhere near straight-pipe Harley loud. In town I ride at low revs and keep it quiet because there's nothing that's more annoying than having your al fresco coffee break interrupted by some brainless druid revving the snot out of his Harley. And I like how motorcycles, including Harleys sound, imagine the guy who hates bikes. I only open her up when I'm in the canyons or for brief highway blasts. I'm firmly of the opinion that loud pipes have nothing to do with saving lives, unless maybe they scare away that bull elk that was about to jump in front of you. As for cagers, they have too many distractions to hear pipes. If you're counting on something loud to save your ass, you're a dead guy scooting.

[EP_scoot]

illiniose wrote:
A bunch of hypnotized drivers will be swerving into you.

you do have a point there . I have never seen them in real life. Maybe it is more of a circus type show than anything else. But now that you mention that fixation "theory" I can picture someone in a cage trying to get closer just to see what the heck is that "circle of light" all about.

Hummmm

[ScooterDave]

IMO the modulators, LED valve stem caps and extra reflective tape are a must in my pursue to make sure I am seen.

In my opinion, those are the LAST things I would consider buying.

Dave

[illnoise]

there's nothing that's more annoying than having your al fresco coffee break interrupted by some brainless druid revving the snot out of his Harley.

NICE!

The Brainless Druids have a new album coming out on Earache produced by the dude from Morbid Angel, it should be pretty heavy, dude.

[EP_scoot]

If there is one thing I do NOT miss from Europe is all those 2 stroke scoots with huge, loud pipes going by at 4 am on the weekends when people starts to head home.

I do miss the castrol oil smell, though.