The last helmet I purchased was an HJC CL-12 in the summer of 2001. It went *so* well with my ride at the time, a 1988 Gold Wing 1500. Not.

My ol’ HJC is gettin’ a little gamey inside, plus, protective gear does have a shelf life. Anything that’s protecting me from becoming an uncommunicative bed-ridden sack of meat is a thing that needs to be changed out every so often, in my opinion at least.

So, let’s see… There are $500 helmets, and there are $100 helmets. I can’t spring for the former and I just don’t trust the latter. Finding a good mid-priced lid with good features and that looks good is a heady task. I believe I succeeded with my recent purchase of my Scorpion EXO-700 ‘Predator’ helmet.

I was considering, at the end, the EXO-400 model, a Sparx (primarily cuz I dug the graphics) and a Bell. The contenders, left to right:
Bell Sprint Mako	Scorpion EXO-400 ‘Tsunami’	SparX-S07 Platinum

In the spirit of patronizing local businesses, I shuffled down to my nearby dealership to see if the had one of these. Alas, they carried HJC, Arai,Shoei, and some no-name helmet I’ve never heard of. They could however order me one at a price that was pretty spot on with prices I’ve seen on the intertubes.

Turns out, alas, that the helmet I decided on that day, the Scorpion EXO-400 Tsunami in black and red, was sold out or unavailable in my size. The sales fellow recommended that I consider the EXO-700 instead, as it was an exponentially better helmet than the 400. Ordering a 700 through their supply chain, however, would have run me $250. Before plunkin’ down two and a half Benjamins, I wanted to do a little research.

Well, the salesman was spot on. I’ve read a number of reviews from users at various sites and while the EXO-400 is a fine helmet at its price-point, the EXO-700 was superior in comfort, features, and quality. But it came at a higher price than I was expecting to spend.

Of the700 models, I had decided on the Predator style. I ride a swinging ‘02 Honda VFR and want to wear a lid that at least looks somewhat in the ballpark like my scoot. I narrowed my choices down to the exo-700 Predator in Black/Red or the Silver/Red. I decided on the Black / Red one.  And I found a great price on one in my size from a seller on Amazon.com. $208 including free shipping.

Fit / Finish

The Scorpion exo series of helmets I’m told have a very similar sizing/fit compared with HJC helmets, and I agree with this. The Large size exo 700 provides the proper snug yet comfortable fit all around my noggin. Helmets should be just a tad tight to get on at the beginning but comfortable when your head is properly inside the helmet.

I am also very satisfied with the external quality of the EXO-700 Predator. The graphics are very sharp (crisp) with no flaws. The control parts of the ventilation ports are mostly good, though the front lower open/close ’switch’ doesn’t have a distinct click as the other ports.

Once my bean made it inside the helmet, it was snug as a bug in a rug – and if you’re like me and have chubby cheeks, they’re going to be even chubbier. The cheek pads are full, so your cheeks will get a little smooshing as a result.

Features

The interior padding is removable and washable, a great feature that you should consider. The visor is renown in resisting fog, and the venting system is well engineered to suck the warm air out the back (assuming, of course, you have the rear/top vents open to accomplish this.)

I can’t offer any opinion regarding noise either way. The Scorpion EXO-700 is probably one of the quietest helmets I’ve worn, but then again, I’ve never worn an Arai. I’ve had a few Shoeis and this Scorpion isn’t any louder than a mid-level Shoei, in my opinion. In a follow-up post I’ll provide more thorough results regarding wind noise.

Summary

Excellent value for the money – if you can find a graphic that you like. Plain color Scorpion EXO-700 helmets are available, too.

Scorpion EXO-700 Predator

Scorpion EXO-700 Engine

Scorpion EXO-700 Solid Colors

Spring is here! I’ve taken the viffer out from under the cover, adjusted my convertibars and have spent a few hours freeing my mind and soul. Ahhhh.

Saturday, I stopped in at a local motorcycle gear store that I really like. They’re an independent retailer/repair shop that provides terrific service. They’ve begun selling start-up Kymco scooters and motorcycles.

Against a far wall, they’ve got I admit a pretty nice looking cruiser model, the Venox. It’s a 250cc ride, and I like its styling, for what it is. (Disclosure: Cruisers are quite nice to look at, but I don’t want one, I prefer a more up-alert riding position. I have a La-Z-Boy in my living room, when I ride a motorcycle, I don’t want to recline and kick back.) Kymco did a pretty good job on it, at least its aesthetics. These pics were taken using my outdated cell phone camera.

Well, not so fast… emblazoned in huge font is a sticker… Made In Taiwan.

Really, Kymco? You think that’s a great idea? Is that gonna be a selling point, to have a sticker plunked right dead center on the gas tank?

Here’s a link to my Flash ActionScript movie I’ve been working on. It’s our final project for our second of three classes in the certificate program.

I like it so far, but I’m not done yet.

Motorcycle Flash

In a previous article, I illuminated the benefits of a motorcycle cover. Essentially, motorcycle covers protect your bike from the elements when parked outside but they also keep your bike from standing out for would-be thieves. I must admit, I decided to carry no motorcycle insurance. I don’t use my motorcycle for regular transportation, just as a recreational vehicle. As such, I don’t leave my bike parked for hours at a time unattended in the public while I’m at work or at the mall. I usually ride just to ride. I may stop somewhere to get a bite to eat, but I don’t leave it unattended for more than an hour at a time. Yep, it’s plenty of time still for someone to rip my bike off – there’s nothing stopping some miscreant and a partner from lifting my motorcycle up and into the bed of a truck if they’re not inclined to break my Kryptonite disc lock in situ. But that is a risk I’m willing to take instead of paying $75 a month for motorcycle insurance with theft protection. I believe risk of theft in my case is relatively low. Knock on wood.

However, I do leave my house for hours at a time, and I do not live in a house with a secured garage, just an open carport. And I would really like for my bike to remain out of the field of vision of thieves. And a great way of doing that is to cover it up. Don’t buy a motorcycle cover with a make or model emblazoned on the outside – you’re still advertising what you have underneath the cover, right? Keep that shit secret. You have a great bike, you know it, there’s no reason for douchebags to know it.

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Find a great, affordable, fitted motorcycle cover for your motorcycle:

Honda motorcycle covers, Kawasaki motorcycle covers,

Harley Davidson motorcycle covers,

Suzuki motorcycle covers, Yamaha motorcycle covers

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I got a cover for my 2002 Interceptor from the seller CoverCentral. It was $36.49 and that included free US Postal Service Priority Shipping. It’s mostly black but dark blue is also available. It has a stylish silver band of fabric on the bottom. Yeah, it’s made in China. What isn’t nowadays?

It also has grommets at the base of it so you can run a lockable cable for an additional layer of work for them to surmount. But remember, a locked covered bike doesn’t advertise itself. Thieves have no idea what you have under there. Heck, it could be a stupid auto parts store 50cc kids pocketbike. By running a cable and lock through the grommets and cinching it up, a thief has to expend more effort and time.

And, these motorcycles are somewhat fitted/sized to your bike. Their VFR800 cover fit mine perfectly. It’s easy to put on, and it covers my bike in a shapely manner, it even fits my hard luggage bags attached. Pay attention to the FRONT tag on the cover: If you put it on the wrong way, it just won’t look right or provide the best sight deterrence.

At the time of writing, Cover Central carries 375 different, fitting motorcycle covers. Chances are they’ll have one for your bike! Click here for Honda motorcycle covers, Kawasaki motorcycle covers, Harley Davidson motorcycle covers, Suzuki motorcycle covers, Yamaha motorcycle covers. Got a Buell, Ducati, Indian, BMW, KTM, Triumph, Aprilia, Hyosung, Moto Guzzi, there’s a cover to fit your motorcycle model.
Though CoverCentral isn’t the only seller of motorcycle covers (I’ve not purchased from any of these sellers)

1999 Kawasaki ZRX1100, $2500

Burien, WA

“This is a one owner garaged kept super clean machine. Two brothers pipe, good tires. Stock and unmolested.
No, not a squid boy crotch rocket. But a super street bike, with massive roll-on power. 20k +miles.
No trades, serious only will call before 10pm please. Gladly send larger pictures.Will not send bla bla bla over email. If it posted it is available.”

We love Zee Rexes. Why? Plenty of power, very comfortable, great retro throwback styling, very easy to live with motorcycle, and it’s very customizable. For being a one owner bike, it’s at a good offering price. I just don’t understand the owner’s refusal to send bla bla bla over email… what exactly is bla bla bla and why would he prefer to use a telephone to exchange said bla bla bla?

Anyway, if the link to this craigslist ad brings up nothing, then the bike obviously isn’t for sale any longer. 1) our economy still sucks and 2) it’s late October, there’s not as much motorcycle wheeling and dealing going on as, say, May.

If you’re pining for a newer year ZRX, more are probably available here:

If you are lucky enough to have an attached garage with room to park your ride in, I would say that a motorcycle cover may not be a terribly necessary piece of equipment.

Motorcycle covers protect both bike and rider in two ways: They protect the motorcycle from damage, dings, dust, when the bike’s not being used. Hell, we know that sometimes idiot passers-by can sometimes throw garbage, beverages, or whatever at things when they walk by – and motorcycles make fine targets for undeserved vitriol.

I do not have comprehensive motorcycle insurance. So when I read the American Motorcycle Association article online “Lock It or Lose It” recommending that a cover is a good theft deterrent, I looked into getting a cover for the upcoming winter (non riding) season.

Pretend you’re a no-good, waste-of-DNA thief, amblin’ your worthless self down a street, checkin’ out what’s what.

Which looks like the juicier target?

This late-model Honda Interceptor…

Or whatever the hell this is?

Now, if a thief wants what you got, he or she is gonna do their darndest to get it, no doubt nor argument. But, as the AMA article author points out:

“…plenty of motorcycles are stolen by opportunistic miscreants.”

Don’t give the slugs the opportunity. Which bike is going to get more attention, the absolute known quantity (a shiny red sportbike with aftermarket sideluggage) or… whatever is under that plain old cover?

(And, for the record, this motorcycle usually is parked far in the carport. The bike was taken out for photographic, illustrative purposes. Which brings up another reason you need to read AMA’s article:

“Some people are so proud of their bikes that they park them in the front yard for everyone to admire. That just makes it easier for thieves to case your ride.”

Now, I was taken by the logic of the article. Heck, I’d want to put something over my bike to keep my cats and all the neighbors’ cats from gettin’ their muddy little paw prints on my bike. As much as they’d like to think, my Interceptor is not their park bench. How much is a good motorcycle cover? You may be surprised…

<< continued… >>

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Thanks to Dean in the UK for this review of his Suzuki Marauder 125. While we in the States don’t have such a cycle, not all who visit Seattle-Motorcycles.com live in the US.

Pros: Good looks with cheap thrills

Cons: Some bad cosmetic features like the exhaust and outdated technology

The Suzuki Boulevard is by far one of my favourite bikes to ride. It has the looks, great styling, it sounds good and it’s cheap on petrol. What more could a motorcyclist actually want from their bike? I have a Boulevard 125 build in the new millennium and I love it.

Okay, let’s start with the basics. First off, the handling is good. As with most cruiser style bikes, anyone on the big side of six foot should steer clear but anything under that you should be okay. This is because when you turn a corner you must lean and slightly pop that knee out if you’re tall. You get used to this and it’s a cool look as you lean around a bend at medium revs before gunning it.

The seat is comfortable enough for long journeys. Speaking of long journeys, the Boulevard is the perfect machine to throw a couple of side bags on and head for the road. The big fat tyre can sure take some punishment and is great for traction even when there is a light load on the back.

The tank is an okay size. It could be bigger but then gain, because this is a bike from Japan it won’t be drinking up to much fuel. The fat tins on the bike look great over the chunky tyres and have a kind of old-style look to them.
The exhaust pipe could be better. It seems to just poke out there instead of working with the bike and slinging it back like everything else. Lucky for the Boulevard, the handlebars and mirrors really give it that racy look while still being a cool, flowing ride by far making up for that matchstick exhaust.

The reliability of the Boulevard is excellent. The engine is sound and it will just keep on running for thousands of miles. At worst, you may experience some clutch trouble but that is to be expected of a bike from this era when motorcycle gearbox technology was nowhere near as advanced as that in cars.
For a good condition Boulevard from the 1990s you can expect to pay somewhere in the region of $2,500 to $3,000. However, for those of you who enjoy restoring and repairing old motorcycles you can get one for restoration that will shine up nice for under $1,000.
In summary, this is good bike. While it’s nowhere near the greatest bike it is one of my favourite because it offers something that motorcycle enthusiasts search for since their first time on  bike; cheap thrills.

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The writer of this motorcycle review earned $15, and so can you!

To know more about submitting a review to have published and posted here, click here.

Kawasaki Zephyr Review

The Kawasaki Zephyr is not just a bike. It’s an icon, a trend setter and it’s naked! That’s right. This is the bike that started off the 1990s trend of naked bikes in Europe after the 1980s were dominated by superbikes draped in high-tech plastics and fibreglass. (Nb. Naked Bikes are when much of the chassis and engine are exposed giving it a meaner, street fighter look).

My one of these is a 550cc model. You can get them as far up as 1100cc but the poky four-cylinder engine gives me all the thrills I want at 400cc at half the price for gas.

The Zephyr looks ugly, but it’s supposed to. This bike isn’t for driving around hoping to turn a girls head. It is for twisting the throttle, zooming through a puddle and getting muddy water all over her. It has none of the Italian passion or the American culture gone into its design. They have simply got a body, plopped in a great engine and stuck on a headlamp. And the world loves it.

It’s comfortable too. The seat is big and spacious which is what you want when driving in the ‘sit up and beg’ position. The handle bars are fine for turning and driving at speed is easy enough for an experienced rider. There is little or no weaving when on the motorway and it can keep up with the best of them at the traffic light drag race.

There is some bad stuff about it too. This thing pretty much took Europe by storm with everyone who likes motorcycles flying up and down the French coast. For that reason, finding a used one without a torn seat, scratched engine (everyone will have a spill or two) or worn paintwork will be difficult. Never fear though. Because so many of these influential bikes were sold there are plenty of spare parts and repair kits available. You can even get the exact paint formula used at the manufacturers.

In the states, they were popular. There are quite a few available (not a widespread as in Europe) but you can still find them. For Zephyr in good condition you can expect to pay upwards of $5,000 for one. If you want one cheaper a good option can be to simply import one from Asia or Europe. Countries such as Germany literally has thousands of these things lying around in garages when people left college and became bankers.

Overall this is a good bike that will serve you well. Well worth it if you want a great bike that will be worth a lot of money some day due to it historical impact on the motorcycle world.

A used 10-speed bike, some green paint, and extra cardboard boxes is a heck of a lot less than $5,000.

It’s a circa-1990 Kawasaki ZX-7…if not in horsepower, then in spirit:

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On my most recent ride around the north end of Lake Washington, I’ve noticed a little lag in power. I’ve also noticed that the chain on my 2002 Honda VFR800 seems to carry a little extra slack. The Honda owner’s manual suggests that there be about 1.3″ of slack in the chain, not to exceed 1.75″ of slack. Well, my unscientific experiment (pushing the chain up next to an adjacent ruler) indicates that I’m right up against that maximum 1.75″ limit.

Additionally, I note that, according to my chain gauge, that the rear wheel cannot be adjusted rearward any more, and I believe it’s time for a chain replacement. Not a horribly expensive proposition (good O-ring chains are about a hundred bucks) but since the drivechain is a very integral component of the forward movement of my motorcycle and thus my motorcyling experience and therefore my fun and well being, it’s a task I’d not care to accomplish myself, in my carport, with my own meager assortment of tools, for the very first time, on a $5,000 motorcycle that I want to keep and enjoy for years to come. Translation: I’m gonna take it to the shop to have done.

However, I wanted to read up on the science of motorcycle drive chains. An excellent website, Canyon Chasers has such a reliable primer.

First of all, why is motorcycle chain maintenance important?

A chain that is ignored will eventually fail, typically by breaking. A broken chain will many times ball-up around the countershaft and front sprocket. When this happens, your chain will rip and tear its way through your soft aluminum motor and will always result in engine damage.

Proper chain slack is crucial. Too tight of a chain can do $expensive$ damage to the countershaft. We also know that keeping a well lubricated chain is important to proper operation. However, there’s a flip side to good lubrication, and that is dirt will build up on the chain. The solution? Regular chain cleaning.

If you do this regularly, your chain will keep a high level of lubrication but will also draw a lot of dirt and you’ll end up with a really dirty-looking chain. Dirt, as I’m sure you can imagine, is very bad for a chain. A good idea is, every 3000 miles or whenever you change your oil, to clean your chain. The easiest way to clean your chain is with a rag, a toothbrush, and kerosene.

Without using a fancy factory placard on the motorcycle swingarm to determine if your chain is nearing its servicable life, Canyon Chasers offers this elementary check:

But how do you know when your chain needs to be replaced? If you go to your rear sprocket and pull straight back on the chain, you’ll be heading in the right direction. If your chain pulls away from the sprockets by much, it is probably stretched out. If the chain does not pull away and stays right on the sprocket, then the chain is not stretched out yet. Also, if your sprockets no longer look like points but a bunch of little hooks you need to replace it all.