What Have You Being Doing With Your Non-triumph Today?

Deal done, Cardo and x2 helmet kits.

Watched a few reviews and the waterproofing swung it in the end. I mainly want it for music on the Kove so water and dust IP ratings were very important;
Cardo = IP67
Sena = water resistant what does that really mean?

Apparently Cardo will accept warranty claims if it involves water ingress throughout their warranty period.

Loose terms like "water resistant" or "showerproof" mean diddly squat in my book.

 

I have an older Sena 20S Evo which has been a total workhorse. I splurged a bit when I bought my Shoei Neotec modular helmets and bought the SRL model for each. That's the one that fits flush on the outside of the helmet. Steve has one of those now, too. At first he disliked it because he found it difficult to use the buttons. But within a short time he got that sorted and now likes it a lot. We don't typically communicate with anyone in our riding group other than each other so incompatibility isn't an issue (for the comm systems anyway!). But I think every person in our group uses a Sena of one sort or another. Happy hunting! Let us know what you decide and how you like it.

 

Oops! Just saw this post after I hit Post Reply on my response to you. Let us know how you like the Cardo please!

Edit after a closer read of your post: We've ridden in torrential downpours with our Senas with no ill effects whatsoever. But I do like that Cardo stands behind their "waterproof" claim.

 

The "round the world" couple who stayed with us the other week had set off with Cardo Edges over 500 days earlier. We had discussed the Cardo's and what they thought of them, and despite very wet days, day after day at times, they had proved faultless throughout their journey. The manufacturer claims 1600 metres transmission range which had been tested by them, bear in mind the manufacturer claims are "line of sight" and they suggested 2400 metres had been possible so happily accepted the stated claims.

Like I said, the IP rating won me over, although I'm sure both do a sterling job.

I bought the Cardo Spirit HD in the end, and once I have a bit of experience with it, will add a few comments, warts and all, if it would help others to decide one way or the other.

 

A very short 90 mile ride in the Dales. Bacon sandwich and black coffee at Seasons bakery in Ingleton. Not very warm. 6° C at one point. Heated seat and bars on for a while.

 

Yesterday our Sunday motorcycle ride group met up later than usual and started off with breakfast. The forecast didn't look good and we figured people could decide to either ride or drive depending on how they thought Mother Nature might go. I rode my Low Rider ST and Steve rode his Fat Boy, and as we were heading out for the breakfast place the skies were looking quite beautiful!



But the most beautiful thing of the morning was that our friend, Russell (who many of you know of since we travel with him extensively), was out on his motorcycle! He had a total knee replacement surgery exactly two months ago today, and this was his first time back out on a motorcycle. You can certainly tell how happy he is to be back in the saddle by that giant smile on his face!



Our friends, Chris and Cassie, usually join the group riding two-up on their Low Rider S but today they opted to drive. On last weekend's ride they shared some exciting news with the group--they're going to be parents! The downside is that Cassie has been sick as a dog for the last six weeks and today she really didn't feel up to a ride. So after breakfast, Russell, Chas (our friend in the photo with Russell), Steve, and I did a little ride to the north. We didn't want to get too far from home lest is started to pour down rain again. And we didn't want to ride out into the desert because we've been getting enough rain that many of those roads become clogged with sand where the roads run through washes.

We rode to Russell's house with him just to make sure he got home in one piece. Back at our house, not even 40 miles on the "clock" but a glorious ride, especially with Russell in my rear view mirror again. It did rain later in the day, and today it rained more than it did all summer put together. We sorely needed it!

 

A chilly Autumn morning in the Campsie hills.

The open road ahead

Carron Dam

My house is down there somewhere!

 

Looks nice and well worth me spending more time around there.
I often go up the east or west side but rarely in the middle; note to self for next visit.

 

To avoid the main A9 route north I would follow the A822 to Crieff and The Sma' Glen then the A826 to Aberfeldy and the A827 to Pitlochry. Unfortunately there is a section of A9 here which cannot be avoided, but after Dalwhinnie there are A and B roads running parallel to the A9, depending on the final destination. I'm usually heading for Aviemore and the Cairngorms on this route.

The alternative is the fantastic A93 from Blairgowrie up through Glenshee, but I'm sure you know about that....

 

@Sandi T I am pleased Russell's back to being able to ride again .

 

Today, Helmut and I did an off road training day at Sweet Lamb in Wales. It was absolutely awesome, we both rode Honda CRF 250Ls. It was a pretty intense day, the instructors Moly and Colin do not mince their words but give really useful feedback and their instruction is brilliant, we both learned a great deal and improved more that I had hoped would be possible . We both rode Honda CRF 250Ls. https://www.adventurerallybike.co.uk/

@Eldon I can see why you like this caper .

 

Ok, go on then, please give us some snippets and insights of what you learnt?
All good learning points irrespective of how trivial they may seem at the time, but I'm sure you've created a nice foundation.

An interesting introduction to your offroad journey, but once bitten, it only gets more expensive from here

 

Years ago, me and a few mates went to Sweet Lamb to spectate for an RAC Rally stage. It absolutely poured it down all day. We walked miles, watched a bit, then walked more miles, culminating at the top of a big grassed hill.

I said to the others " I'll race you to the bottom and the barn over there!"

With a decent run, I jumped onto my ar5e, knees by my chin and the waterproofs took me to a decent speed all the way down the hill



Once in sight of the barn, and now starting to level off, a roar of cheer erupted from the barn where loads of other spectators were sheltering from the downpour.


Fun times indeed!

 

Not entirely sure where to start, this will all sound simple and obvious to you but.....

Body positioning seated on the bike, I particularly had to work on keeping my elbows up.
How much rear brake and clutch come into play off road.
Keeping the bike smooth and calm using gearing.
How to stand correctly and alter body position according to gradient.

We did lots of seated skills in the morning on a big training area they have and then moving onto standing as well which progressed onto some tracks. After lunch, we moved onto a circuit that had lots of stone, shale, ruts, very steep uphills and downhills, bumps and a tiny bit of water etc. We went round following the instructors initially and then were left to our own devices and got to ride it a few more times using everything that they had taught us how we wanted to, to cement things.

Very likely all extremely obvious and novice stuff to you, but we both came on a really long way from the road riders we are. It was a great day.

 

I can see a new off road machine finding it’s way into Mrs V’s garage.

 

Make the most of it before your knees say enough is enough

 

Loving the optimism . At present I still run a lot and my knees are fine although do sound like Rice Krispies if it's quiet when I go up any stairs . I also broke my back and have metal in one of my shoulders amongst a fair few other mishaps (I didn't have much of a sense of my own mortality until into my 30s ) however work on the basis of exercising and keeping strong and mobile and from getting too fat to hopefully ward off gremlins!! Considering the extremes I used to put my body through, it owes me very little .

 

I am optimistic I did a lot of trials in my teens and early twenties in all weathers and that's why my knees couldn't do it now so that's behind my earlier reply so enjoy while you can

 

Maturity, wisdom and x2 marriages has taught me, when a woman is involved nothing is "simple and obvious"
Only joking

Clutch and rear brake are very much key fundamental points and that can't be stressed enough.

As I think Albert Cabestany (my friends called him Albert Cabbage sarnie) once apparently said;
"It doesn't really matter about the throttle, everything revolves around the clutch!"

The rear brake is rarely used by on track riders (tarmac) yet rarely left alone by off road riders in my experience.

Setting the bike up for a corner, rear brake.
Preparing to jump a ditch, rear brake.
Bringing the bike back in line on tankslapper sandy tracks....... etc.

My personal record for rear brake pad usage is one day, new to scrap, on a Hare and Hound event. No sticking caliper or anything, just constant use, grit, mud etc.

The main point to remember is RELAX and enjoy!
Tensing up achieves nothing other than stressing you out.

Sounds like you both got off to a great start, so what's the next step?

 

Yep can't agree more @Mark TGR9

Right knee - snapped ACL
Left knee - keyhole trimmed meniscus J tear

When younger, I crashed loads, yet rarely hurt myself.
Once nearing 40, it all fell apart