Do you lock your arms like a couple of two-by-fours when you’re riding?  This is one of the tell-tale signs of a moto noob and a habit that needs to be broken to get to the next level.  The first hint in my How To Not Look Like a Moto Noob series is… keep your arms bent.  To keep things brief, having your arms bent will benefit many aspects of your riding including steering, braking, bump absorption and good body positioning in the corners.  It will also help you stay a little more relaxed.  Keep your arms bent and maybe I won’t be so quick to yell “Noob!” when I see you riding (assuming you’re not riding in a t-shirt and shorts).

Anyone else heading out to Monterey this coming weekend to soak in some MotoGP action?  In case you’re just getting familiar with motorcycle racing, MotoGP is the motorcycle equivalent of Formula 1 – motorcycle road racing at its highest level.  The MotoGP circus stops in Laguna Seca this weekend and I’m heading out to watch the world’s best go all out, including one Valentino Rossi racing with a broken leg.  It doesn’t hurt that it’s in one of the most beautiful areas in California.  If you’re heading out there too, be on your best behavior – the local police will be in full force.  And oh yeah, bring ear plugs because the bikes are deafening.

Aprilia SXV 5.5

Scour the motorcycle sites often enough and you’re bound to find the occasional free demo day.  It’s rare for dealerships to offer test rides due to the risk involved, but sometimes it’s a good way for the slightly more obscure or expensive brands like Aprilia to draw interest.  Get some butts on the seats and inevitably the brains attached to those butts start to think about how they can afford the bikes attached to those seats.  It’s also a great idea to bring along one of the most accomplished motorcycle racers in the world, like four time world champ Max Biaggi.

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Every sport bike rider could use a set of leathers in the closet.  They’re required for track days and nothing protects better on a canyon ride.  The choices are endless, ranging from several brands of pre-made suits to custom one-off suits based on your design and measurements.  There are even 1 and 2 piece varieties, though 2 piece suits are less common.  I chose what many consider the best off-the-rack 2 piece suit available, the 2010 Dainese Laguna Seca 2 piece.  It happened to fit me pretty well, much better than my old Alpinestars suit, and I like 2 piece suits because I can easily remove the jacket when I stop to eat on a canyon ride.  Now that I’ve worn it at a track day and on a few rides, it’s review time.

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Arai Profile in Riptide Silver

Updated 4/23/10 (notes at bottom)

After four years with my trusty Shoei X-Eleven and the new Snell M2010 standard in full effect, I finally felt justified in buying a new helmet.  It’s a big deal for me since I’m not the gear hoarder that some of my riding buddies are.  I could have extended the life of my X-Eleven by just replacing the flattened cheek pads, but it’s a good idea to replace helmets every few years anyway and more importantly I wanted a helmet that was either Snell M2010* or ECE 22.05 compliant.  Enter the Arai Profile.

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