Great insights everyone. Thanks! :thumbup
A few things to explain my situation better. My daily bikes are small, older, (read carbureted) and smallish. For example, this summer Ms. Honda Passport C70 has been my daily commuter. She's perfect for my 6 mile El Camino Real commute. Topping out at 44mph every trip never fails to delight and entertain :laughing. I've had her since '84 :kiss Because she's petite there's not much space to rest stuff. Though her long slender antenna mirrors are perfect stalks for a helmet.
I forgot to mention I wear prescription glasses so have to remove them before putting my helmet on. Another item to contend with. I manage to hold them in one hand while I slip my melon into my lid using 1.5 hands :laughing.
BTW, I stow earplugs in any one of the helmet vents. Just need to remember to put them on before the helmet. Yeah, I've messed up a few times.
Today I put everything on before leaving the house or office. Such a simple process tweak made life a lot easier. But on the road for a ride I still need a place or technique to manage my gloves. Maybe it's the hard armor on the gloves that makes them slippery. Hmmm, I have an idea I'll need to prototype this weekend. :cool
I also wrangle with a helmet cam - a chin-mounted GoPro. Turns out the screen is impossible to see with the helmet on. It's clumsy to operate. My hack is to carefully listen to the cameras beeps and to use my mirrors to catch a glimpse of the cam's LEDs and frontside LCD. Of course I can only do this when stopped.
CB-1 gets flogged on weekends if I have time to ride. Also a petite bike (lower than a Vespa!). My other bikes are indisposed for now
In house;
Put on knee/shin armor, then pants over.
Carry helmet, jacket, boots, gloves out to garage.
Put on boots in garage. (footwear of any kind not worn in my house)
Check tire pressure/chain slack.
Fire up bike, don jacket, helmet, gloves.
Close garage door.
:ride
Yeah, footwear in house makes no sense to me.
Honestly, I rarely check tire pressure. I can barely manage to ATGATT. :rolleyes
- remove and put away keys after closing top case (bike key wasn't attached)
- if carrying helmet, set helmet on tank, then open top case
- put gloves on the dash in front of the handlebars
Turning on the bluetooth headset ensures I won't forget my phone.
Keys are another quagmire for me. What kinda key ring ya got? Seems many of you use bluetooth stuff. Again, helmet on tank makes me nervous - too easy to slide off.
Get dressed in the gear. Double check the tank bag for wallet and phone. Go out to bike. Place helmet and tank bag on ground. Unlock bike and wheel it out. Put tankbag on. Close tail trunk. Check tire pressure and oil level. Start bike. Zip up jacket. Put earplugs in and helmet on. Put gloves on. Ride away.
On a related note. When shutting down I NEVER use the kill switch. I have seen many, many times when a key was left in the ignition with the lights on.
Mad
Helmet on ground?!? Don't it get dirty? I also don't like putting my tank bag on the ground as it picks up dirt and grit that will scratch paint :mad
- Put pants and boots on and grab the rest to leave.
- Carry helmet, jacket, gloves, and tail bag out to bike.
- Helmet on end of handlebar, gloves on top of tank by top clamp, jacket on seat, bag resting on top of pillion.
- Start bike to warm up.
- Zip tail bag to harness.
- Turn on Bluetooth if using my BT helmet, then select music.
- Put jacket on, then ear plugs, then helmet, then gloves.
- Ride off.
:thumbup bike as clothing valet!
Gloves get placed inside the helmet through the front shield opening. Fingers first, gauntlet sticking out. The gloves have always stayed there no matter where I put the helmet.
I don't put my gloves in my helmet because inevitably the glove velcro grabs hold and shreds the helmet liner
Where do you place your gloves while slipping on helmet?
Wedge them somewhere up near the cockpit. Between the bars and tank, on top of the bars, under the bars, on top of the instrument cluster under the wind screen, etc. I agree they always slide off when I place them on the tank/seat. Look around, you'll find a better spot.
See photos.
awesome thread :thumbup
Keys all go in jacket pocket with wallet.
take helmet to bike where gloves and baclava stored in trunk.
place bluetooth headphones in ears and cover with baclava
Que playlist and set phone in holder.
Don helmet and make sure headphones stay set
lock trunk and put keys in pocket
start bike then glove up.
Ride off
:thumbup the insightful and detailed responses.
But where are you stashing your gloves b4 you need them?
Also, keys are another distraction for me. I prefer just one key in the ignition (anyone else hate the cosmetic damage to triple clamps from swishing keys?).
Anyone have a favorite keychain for this? I have 5 bikes and I hurt my brain tracking keys, registration, and insurance docs. Somebody have a good system?
At home: Boots, Aerostich (it hangs in the garage), open garage door, start the bike, get on the bike, back it out (helmet on my arm, gloves in helmet). Close garage door, earplugs, helmet, gloves, ride off.
I am beginning to realize I need a gear rack in the garage.
boot
earplugs
jacket
backpack (packed before the above)
helmet
on bike, put on gloves
Yeah but where do you stash gloves
Push bike 50' down sidewalk, then push bike another 100' to street.
Built in morning work out. Nice!
