MotorCycle Mania

This Ventura Estoril Seat Bag Looks and Works A Treat!

The seat bag might have a funny name, I mean what’s an “Estoril”, but it works a treat. After picking up the new Monster S4R it didn’t take long to work out there was no room for anything, sunnies, sunscreen, earplugs, whatever.

( You could fit this to almost any bike)

I asked the Ducati guys about options and nada, zilch, no options on this issue. So I did some research and found a bikeshop in Adelaide (Bills Motorcycles) who had what I wanted to look at. How rare is that!

Upon inspection I reckoned it would do just fine, gave it a dry run in the car park and handed over the money. It was only about $110 so pretty good value I thought.

This thing went on like a factory accessory and in fact I went across the road to the Ducati guys and showed them. They were so impressed they ordered some to stock.

In this podcast I talk about:

Fit:

Quality:

Looks:

Ease of Fitment:

Does it Work:

Here’s a few piccy’s

You can see it looks like a bought on and you can clip it off and on. Anyway I’ll tell you all about it in the review.

Please leave a comment, below.

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You Either Agree Or You Don’t, Which Is It? Tell me, leave a comment.

I’ve ridden this road five or six times now over the last 8 years and I keep coming back to to my enjoyment factor and call it the best road I have ever ridden.

I haven’t ridden every road in Australia and am definitely low on knowledge of the QLD and WA stuff on offer. I have done a lot of touring in NSW, VIC and SA. Ridden such magnificent roads as the Oxley Hwy, Thunderbolts Way, The Putty Road, Reefton Spur, GOR (which I reckon is crap) numerous Alpine roads (both NSW and Vic) and of course many, many Adelaide Hills roads.

This doesn’t make me an expert, however it does give me something to base my vote on. I carefully considered my vote on these factors.

Surface Quality:

Curvery:

Ratio of Corners:

Visibility:

Hazards:

Traffic:

Overtaking Opportunities:

Scenery:

Pullouts:

And of course the ability to have a coffee at the end and rave enthusiastically to anyone who will listen about the riding epiphany I had just experienced.

I have put it all in this video, it’s about 8 minutes.

And the road? You’ll have to watch it to find out.

Did you agree? Please leave me your comment, at the bottom of this article..

Boostaroo Amplifies Helmet Speakers or Any Portable Speakers For That Matter

After fitting speakers into my helmet see REVIEW I found the sound level wasn’t quite loud enough. Part of the problem I later discovered was a dodgy cable and mostly resolved after replacing. However this small amp works a treat. It raises the volume about 12db which in real world is good. Certainly enough to blow your eardrums out with your ipod with speakers inserted in your ears.

I was using through helmet speakers wearing earplugs. Without the boostaroo and a reasonably calm (not windy) day they work fine to hear some music and the GPS directions. Not loud enough to boogy to but serviceable. With the Boostaroo the audio is loud enough for any day. Still not boogy level but loud enough to destroy the speakers over time I reckon.

If you are not using earplugs then amazing sound!

It takes two AA batteries and will power three speaker sets. So ideal to plug the pillion in as well.

I bought it HERE and cost was $48.95 plus shipping. Service and shipping was pretty quick and no gripe about anything with that.

In this podcast: (its short)

Value for money:

Build Quality:

Real World Workings:

Battery Life:

Ease Of Use:

Gotta comment? Let me know!

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Vario Screen Solves Buffeting Problem of Standad GS Screen.

Don’t know about you, but the buffeting of the standard GS screen used to send me batty. Yet my mate who is shorter (I’m 180cm) never seems to have a problem with his bike. I’m not even sure if buffeting is the right word? It just used to rattle my helmet. I tried two different helmets and it rattled them both. It sems the standard screen disturbs the air at a particular height above the screen and you either cop it or you don’t, depending on your height in the saddle.

After 30,000+ k’s I decided I’d do something about it.

One of the options was an extension but they looked a bit tacky and the lower mounts needed strengthening also. I also felt it would permanently mark the original screen. I also couldn’t find anyone who would or could categorically state that this fixed the problem anyway.

After searching the bike mags for an ad that instilled me with confidence I gave Mick Owen a call in Canberra. Mick was very helpful and spoke authoritatively about the problem and a remedy.

He suggested the Vario split screen! Its a bit taller and is in two sections which seem to split the air and take the volume out of the disturbed air.

In the pic above you can see the split. Also note the adjustment between the screens. I have mine at full height.

In this pic you can see the difference between Vario and Standard screens on the bikes.

Got some remarks that the screen looked better and tell the truth I reckon it did.

In this podcast I talk about:  About 8 minutes

Whats in the box:

How easy does it fit:

Quality:

Adjustment settings:

Is it any good:

Tell me what you think! Please leave a comment below.

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Ducati Monster Review S4R

Well, I bought me one. So you could conclude I liked it after I test rode it? But after the adrenaline subsides and the grin slowly drops out your face and you see the HOLE in the bank balance, what do you really think? You see, I’m not a Journo who gets a bike given to him on the proviso he says nice things and has the bike for a couple of days! I PAID the money!!!!!!!!!!!

Here’s what I think:

I review this bike in this podcast and look at………….

Comfort: and some changes I made to improve.

Performance: and some changes I made to improve.

Looks: and some changes I made to improve.    

Handling: and some changes I made to improve.

It really is a sexy beast and after fitting the FULL race system, sounds an absolute treat. It goes a tad better too!!!

It’s probably a funny addition to my garage coming from a long term Harley Wide Glide and Current BMW R1200GS you’d reckon something a bit more along the granny line might fit in better. But I love the little devil.

I recently did a 4,000k trip with a mate on our Beemers through NSW and Victoria and they couldn’t be faulted and performed and handled like a chook chaser shouldn’t. We even tried to pick faults over a few beers each night but couldn’t really find anything worth penalising them for.

However…………

As perfect a touring bike the BMW R1200GS is, I couldn’t wait to get home and take the Little Duke for a blast.

In fact almost as soon as I unpacked the BM I threw the Monster in the van and headed for a few days in Adelaide and the HILLS!

It was nagging into my subconcious almost the whole trip. The Duke’s wildness gene was gnawing at me and needed to be scratched. It always has that effect when I enter the shed. Drawing my eye and begging to be started just to hear the growl.

The Ducati’s not perfect! I tell it warts and all here. If your thinking of buying one I hope my review can help you.

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Tell me what you think! Leave a comment.

Review Of BMW Sport Integral and System 5 Motorcycle Helmets. Which One Is Best?

The reason I bought the System 5 helmet was, I dropped my other helmet and cracked it. It was a BMW Sport Integral and I got that helmet because my old AGV was worn out and the new AGV models didn’t fit as good anymore. I loved the Sport Integral, it was light, very quiet and fitted my bonce superbly. My only gripe with it was a very small orifice to get your head in. I guess that’s why it was so quiet. I did gripe about it cracking seemingly easy too, I guess thats why it’s light?

After dropping it from about 1.2 metres it cracked across the back, which pissed me off as I’d only had it a year, and they’re not cheap (around $550). It was the only time I dropped it.

I’d always wondered about the flip front helmet and decided to spend the dough (Over $700 ouch!) and get a good one (I hoped). I first noticed its slightly heavier but not noticeable after a while. I also noticed how quiet it was! Which pleasantly surprised as I hate noisy helmets.

In this podcast Andy talks about both the Sport Integral and the System 5 helmets from BMW and how they compared to his AGV helmet. If you’ve wondered what they’re like, you’ll find out here. They fit different, ventilate different and feel different, which one is best???????

It’s all covered in the audio.

 Sport Integral Helmet

System 5 Helmet

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Tell me what you reckon about helmets! Leave a comment below.