What's the best...

[bygdawg]

What's the best piece of gear or accessory that you've acquired and what's so special about it? What else is on your wish list?

[bygdawg]

For me, it would have to be the tip-over bars for accessory. Gear wise, it would have to be my heated gear i.e. full suit, gloves, and socks. :D Although, I love my J&M.

[Bones]

I have lots of gear I like, but THE best (since that's what you asked) is the Gerbings heated jacket liner. Heat added weeks to my riding season.

Mmm...mmm...mmm...mmm...mmm...toasty.

[Styles]

Though protected by my Aerostitch Roadcrafter suit, my Gerbings heated jacket liner.

Styles

[STeve1300]

I need my helmet, I feel safe in my gear, I really really like my Autocom and XM radio, but my GPS.... Wow.... I'm convinced I would never travel without one. All my life I have been a paper map guy. I also spent way too much time on trips concentrating on where I am, what exit is coming up, etc.... that I never relized how much "stuff" I missed. Now I am free to daydream, free to take random exits, free to just take in the sights without that little voice in my head repeating directions. I can "see" whats on the other side of that hill as I roll past it. And for those without GPS experience, you can locate all types of services, lodging, fuel, attractions, and places of interest, all itemized....and with a touch of a button, get to the door directions, estimated time of arrival, and (important for motels) phone numbers if you want to call ahead. I detach it from the bike & toss it in the car all the time!

[Raven]

Rear Tip-Over Bars get my vote and I wouldn't ride an ST without them - so they're a neccessity and not an accessory.

BUT. . . .

I'd say it's a tie between the Ermax windscreen and my new Shoei Multitec Helmet.

For really long days in the saddle, my platypus hydration bag in my tank bag also gets top votes because it allows me to sip between stops.

For really hot weather it's probably my hydration vest (works as an evaporative cooler) under my Marsee Adventure Jacket.

BUT. . . .

Without a doubt the VERY beST riding accessory I've ever gotten was





drumroll please
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an '06 (the faSTeST) ST!!
:06biker:

[squirrel Hunter]

I'm with bones, from that first electric vest I bought in the early '80s to my current Gerbings jacket liner. Winter, summer I never leave home without it.

Let me also praise the tank bag, particularly magnet types. The perfect man purse.:D

Mike:03biker:

[STill Fiddlin]

It's the one I don't have yet, which is a Gerbing vest and gloves. Money spent on a vest and gloves (vs. anything else) would have extended both my riding days and riding season. (I know, where I'm at has pretty much a 12-month season, but if I wanted to go to Pennsylvania next month to visit my folks, I'd really need some heated gear.)

[bygdawg]

Heated gear is great. Now, if I just had an aerostitch suit.

[ccryder]

Best piece of gear/ accy. is my Rick Mayer seat. If my butt ain't happy we ain't going real far. All the other stuff just makes it safer and more comfortable (believe me I have a few farkles, I stopped counting at 50).

Neil S.

[M&M Take2]

For me it's gotta be the heated Sargent seat. Not for me but for my wife. She's arthritic and that seat enables her to ride with me. This way I don't have to feel bad when I phone her from wherever I am because she missed another great ride, cause she's there too! Happy wife, :) Happy life! Cheers Marty:04biker:

[bygdawg]

Sounds like a happy motoring couple to me. :D

[H20SKIER]

I bought both an Aerostitch 2 piece roadcrafter suit and a Gerbings heated Jacket liner and gloves with dual controller. Love it all.

[Byron]

I like all the additions/gear I have bought for the bike or to ride in. The piece that makes it most enjoyable is the GPS. It either gets me to where I need to be without the hassle of paper blowing in the breeze or it gets me back after riding around aimlessly.

I could ride with minor physical discomfort and still enjoy myself along the way but the piece of mind the GPS gives me saves what little there is left of my sanity! :D

[HankSTer]

I gotta go with my Arai Helmet. It fits like an absolute glove. Light as a feather. I move, it moves, one and the same...

[bygdawg]

I just bought a Shoei RF-1000 and really like it as well. I had to up size to an XL though, as the L was a bit too small for me.

[Papa Ritch]

My helmet A Nolan N102 -- I have not been able to ride for about 3 month a Broken wrist, fell out a tree . But I am about to go as so as weather get better. I also think the tip over bars I got from bygdawg will be great help. As I have drop my motorbike on it side before when I had A good arm. Ritch :03biker:

[Clark]

The 'stich is extremely well thought out and put together. GPS is a close second, but if I had to give one up, I'd give up the GPS in a heartbeat and keep the 'stich.

[c-lapier]

Ditto for Gerbings electric liners. My riding season in Michigan has been extended by 2-3 months.

[alphafang]

Autocom prorider 7
I just love it phone and mp player through it, and I can hear the wifes running comentary on the passing wild life, either alive or dead at the road side. She's a strange one some times
Paul

[bygdawg]

So, she gives you a steady play-by-play? :D I've thought it would be nice to have the cell wired in, but then again, I think that might distract me too much. I can probably stand to wait until I stop to use the cell. It's not one of the major factors on my list.

[GRN]

Autocom has been an awsome addition to the overall experience... clear bucket to bucket communication in any environment, good sounding tunes, RD audio warning, the ability to be in touch with my family if needed... may add FRS this year for bike to bike on group rides, may not :rolleyes:

[Rifraf]

My Alaska Sheepskin Butt Pad :bow1:

[bygdawg]

GPS seem to have the lead at the moment.

[RTETR]

Like many I have lots of gear and farkles however my top must be my Darien jacket and pants. They protect against sun, rain, snow and the hard obejects we come in contact with now and then. Almost bullet proff gear that will provide many, many years of faithful service.

Close seconds are my Schuberth brain bucket and Sidi boots.

I can do without my Garmin and Starcom1 and the rest of my farkles but protection is second to a reliable Honda...

[John Anthony]

I don't consider good riding gear optional or an accessory. It's a given. So in my case it's a heated Russell seat. There are a lot of things I consider useful to have (GPS, full audio, radar detector, McCruise) but especially on rides of any distance, if my tush isn't comfortable, enjoyment drops pretty quickly.

John

[CrashTestDanny]

SmartTire! Saves money on tires, keeps me safe by ensuring proper inflation, gives me peace of mind. Nothing else comes close.

[bygdawg]

One thing I didn't like about the GPS that my buddy used this weekend was that it was worthless downtown Atlanta, as the buildings kept it from working properly. What good is it if you can't use it downtown to locate the building you are looking for? I can jot down interstate jaunts on paper for much less and plan my routes out as I arrive at my destinations.

[coldoughboy]

To me a helmet is a given. I voted for other for a heated vest and gloves. I get more use out of those two items (as well as my heated grips and heated Corbin Seat). I have ridden many times in the mountains that the day starts off at 80 and ends up at 35 and snowing. If they make a heated product, then I am their target audience.:bow1:

[bygdawg]

LOL...I don't have it that bad, but I do love my heated gear. It makes me a year round rider. :)

[Bones]

I can hear the wifes running comentary on the passing wild life, either alive or dead at the road side. She's a strange one some times

Sounds like a keeper to me.

[jahoobob]

Helmets, although I wouldn't call them accessories I'd call them necessities! Saved my noggin numerous times.

[bygdawg]

Yeah...It could only be considered an accessory by those folks that don't have helmet laws. Still, it wouldn't be for me.

[George]

Outer layer, helmet, gloves, boots, and/or hard accessories on the bike, all good, we all got'em. But heated gear makes the season longer, more comfortable, so all the other stuff is usable.

I've gone thru Widder (still got it), Gerbing (still got it), and now Warm N Safe. I DO NOT leave home overnight without my heated jacket. Everything else is secondary if ya can't even leave the garage!

I've had heated gear for nearly 20 years. I still kick myself for not getting it sooner.

My opinion,

[SoloTotoCoyote]

I have to say helmet...............mainly because it's the only accessory I have at the moment. :D

[WGM]

BygDawg I sooooo want to say Tip Over Bars but after a few beverages, I can tip over bars, stools, pool tables - anything!!

Best for me has been the MCL risers. Got the powered ones and installed it but haven't any power things to run off it yet. GPS is not essential every step of the way, just in the detail toward the end. I have learnt that if I stick it in the right faring pocket and open the lid, I can have a looky see as I ride!!!

The risers just make the beast so much more comfortable to ride.

Currently planning a long lunch. That is ride to lunch and back and do over 1000km on the way there and back. Nothing flash, just something I want to do. Couldn't do it without the risers.

WGM

[MstrJim]

I would have to say my aerostitch. Good from -1 with a fleece under up to +44C and comfortable in between. Next are the tipover bars. What would I like next? Possibly a bike GPS.

[RobsTV]

Other = Russell seat.
No need to explain if you tried or use one.

[Dave Tracy]

Utopia back rest!!!and MCL wings.

[Capt_Gruuvy]

Corbin Dual Canyon Seat with Backrest - like the saddle feel

Sprint Mogul Phone - http://www.sprintmogul.net/Home.aspx

... after these maybe my Medium Pannier Liners.

[Putt]

local trips - protective gear
Vacation Trips - Heated gear (when necessary) and my trusty laptop!!
Have M/S S&T loaded onto the laptop, and when stopped overnight,
make plans for the following day.. Just picked up the GPS so I don't
have a "real" opinion on that yet. However, in combination with the laptop,
it should make for easy next day semi-planning (ok, so you make a plan and kind of stick to it, the GPS will get you back to the original route)

Putt...

[John OoSTerhuis]

The beST single piece of gear or accessory...?
That's a no-brainer: an electric vest.

John

[acedantinne]

Rear Rack. Touring. Place to put my CAMPING Gear.

[Mr Bill]

My "spencerized" seat and alaska leather butt pad. Followed closely by the MCL risers. Makes being on the bike for long hours possible.

[TNST_Rider]

Well, since you asked... :)


I have the GPS and find it a nice add-on, but in my current list of farkels there are 2 that top the charts for me. I LOVE my Autocomm when riding by myself or with a friend - bike-to-bike adds a whole new dimension to riding plus a level of safety when needed. By myself, I thoroughly enjoy the tunes as I love music.

But, for the long run, my 'gotta-be-numero-uno' choice would HAVE to be the Audiovox CC100. It is SO very nice to have the flexibility of alternating hands on the bars and shifting seating positions to extend the comfort level and time to the next stop. Plus, I can set the cruise just inside the expected acceptable speeds and not worry so much about whether I saw The Man before he saw me. Now I just set it where I am confident he is willing to let me slide and just ease on by. When I find myself running with out it, I often find myself running faster than I ought (it IS an ST, after all :rolleyes:) and I usually realize it at almost the wrong time.

Well, that's my $0.02.

Next?

[Imrubicon]

helmet is standard but heated grips area godsend .I have never had them before and will most likely have evermore

[Metamorphosis]

My ST is bone stock except for a cramp buster. I couldn't make it without it.
Mike

[4INer]

I love my gear, and helmet and wouldn't think about heading out without them. But I'd have to rate the highway wings as my favorite farkle. It's amazing how many more miles I can do comforatably in a given day by just having an additional riding position.

[Doobage]

I'd say my Helmet is the best of the other pieces of gear I have. It's a Nolan 100E Flip Face. I wear glasses and it is easy to get on and off without needing to take my glasses off and do the balancing act with my glasses on the gas tank. It also has a great place to put the speakers in my helmet and is very comfortable. Lastly, the chin strap latch is the best design I've encountered yet. Simple and fast, yet secure.

Being a flip-face, it is a tad more noisy than a full face, but the benefits far outweigh the minor amount of extra noise.

[Texason]

I don't have much in the way of accessories, but I would have to say without my throttle-lock I would not get very far... literally.

[Texas]

Though not my favorite, a helmet is by far the best on the list. If you have a accident, it is the one thing you will love the most. I love my GPS, but a GPS doesn't do me much good when I am stuck in a hospital being fed intravenously due to brain damage.

Texas

[Biker George]

Tank bag...I leave it on all the time, except when I am parked in a "questionable area."

Very handy for lots of reasons.

I put my XM radio in there along with other stuff.

Regards,

-Geo

[Viggo]

Hard to say which is really #1 but I voted for my GPS, Garmin Quest 2; cost $200. On the other hand, my helmet and other protective gear are absolutely necessary. I would still ride far and wide without a GPS like I did before but not without decent protective gear. As for bang for the buck, my VistaCruise throttle lock is the best money I ever spent. I've had one on every bike I've ever owned.

[Brighteyesue]

Zumo and Russell seat. Never get lost no matter what twisty road I am on and the seat is ULTRA comfortable.

[mikew1231]

I was able to pick up a Joe Rocket Honda jacket here on the forum for only $50.00 plus shipping, it was a steal, and I really have gotten alot of use from it. I'm kinda cheap and it is of such good quality that I would've probably never have bought one so nice if I would have had to buy new.

[bygdawg]

Zumo and Russell seat. Never get lost no matter what twisty road I am on and the seat is ULTRA comfortable.


Ahhmmmm...cough...and how many times have my bars helped you out?

[Brighteyesue]

Ahhmmmm...cough...and how many times have my bars helped you out?

Several and you know it. I need to get them reinstalled with longer bolts. They are handy to strap things too as well.

[bygdawg]

I know you love 'em. I was just giving you a hard time. Look forward to seeing you this weekend and both of us not getting to test out our bars during the trip. :D

[josephthreedogs]

Heated clothes and windshields.

[kevin2849]

Tough to pick just one! Aerostich suit (my second) is high on the list as is the No-Mar tire changer. Honestly, though, if I had not replaced the rear shock with an after-market replacement (wilbers) I probably would not have kept the bike. I don't need the tire changer every ride and I have other combinations of gear I wear on some rides, but that shock is on there everytime I leave the driveway and has a huge effect on ride quality.

[vnsfxr]

NEP throttle lock..........just a flick of the thumb to keep going while I scratch my nose.

[ST1300A]

Spencer LD seat mod. Before that, a ride of more than an hour at a time was impossible...

[Reiner Kappenberger]

I would say that there is no absolut best individual component. It's the combination of them that make it perfect.

- Intercom (Starcom1 Advance)
- GPS
- Gerbing

This way I can eat the miles day after day and enjoy myself on I-80 through NV, WY, etc. even if temps drop down below freezing.

Reiner

[Gamecock]

Gotta go with the Aerostich. There are other great riding pants and jackets out there but the Roadcrafter is so great because its designed to go on over my street clothes. Since I have to wear a business suit at work, without the Roadcrafter, I probably wouldn't be able to ride my bike to work - not without packing a bag and getting to work early enough:( to change clothes in the bathroom - and that just ain't happening.

[BluRider]

I have cut down keys with knobs installed in saddle bag locks. Makes opening bags a snap

[jdaniels]

I clicked gps.I am the worlds worst navigator and I suspect the gps was invented just for me.I have one in every vehicle and even though they will give me a screwy route sometimes,I at least can find what I'm looking for.I also like it'll give my true speed.

[RobertCShay]

For me, it is the motoport air kevlar two piece suit (zipper makes it a one piece) with upgraded quad pro armor and all the liners. While expensive, it works in wide temperature ranges and makes me feel protected from slides and road rash.

[WIZ]

it has to be communication ........ thank goodness i have not had a use for my safety gear that i always wear when riding ......... but i am so thankful for my radio/com. ........ my cel was not connecting to a tower ......
was able to get help for a stranded motorist that had ran off the road ......
VIA CB radio channel 19 by a trucker passing by .......... so that has to be my fav ....... to date ......... after 42 years of riding .....