Ankle Chronicles

In the interests of protecting my ankles from any future injuries, I've been searching for a decent pair of proper moto boots. The main problem is that most of the boots that do a good job of keeping your ankle from twisting/bending also look like moon boots. You also have to sacrifice a lot of mobility. The guy at the local motorcycle dealer recommended these:


Sidi Vortice

He said that he had broken his ankle, and that now these were all that he would be willing to wear. He also said that they were $500!!! Obvisouly that's a hell a lot cheaper than ankle surgery / rehab etc., but after doing research on the inter-web, I realized that these are designed to be top of the line RACING boots. As in, they are built to be used on a race track and are not ideal for everyday things that regular type people like me need to do. You know, like shifting, parking, and actually being able to walk somewhere when you get to your destination.

So after some exhaustive research I began narrowing it down and came up with these finalists:


Puma 1000 v2


TDX S-Race


Dainese Torque Out

The Pumas looked way to cumbersome and inflexible. I tried to find the TCX boots EVERYWHERE, but nobody had them in stock. That ended up being a good thing though, because after even more digging I found out about the Dainese Torque Out boots. They seem to be the perfect balance between ankle protection and mobility. And while they still look like something RoboCop might like to slip on, they don't look ridiculous to me.

More later after I actually try them out.

The Beast Has Awoken

I'm just starting to walk without crutches for the first time since the accident. I'm still not ready to start riding again, but I took the opportunity to fire up the Bonnie yesterday. It sounded...excellent.

I can't wait to get back on the road.

Nitro Nicky

Good Thing I Was Wearing a Helmet

Being in a cast for over a month is going to suck. There is no way around it. I must say though, that I'm really glad that I had a good helmet, gloves and jacket when I was hit on my bike. The first new purchase before I get back on my motorcycle will be a good pair of riding boots. I was wearing Doc Martens and they did NOTHING to protect my ankle. I'm looking at SIDI, Alpinestars and TCX, as they seem to be the best in the business. Sure they look like moon boots, but if it's the difference between being in one of these damned casts and looking like an astronaut, then...to the moon Alice!!

I Have Been Initiated

So I have officially been initiated into the world of motorcycling. Some numbskull took me out with his car last Monday. Luckily it was at low speed. Damage to my bike is mostly cosmetic, with the exception of the shifter which sheared off.

Damage to me is a fractured and sprained left ankle. So I'm in a cast for the next 4-6 weeks. AAARRRGGHHH!!!!

Triumph Live 2010

I wish I was in the U.K. for this one:

"Saturday 18 September – a date definitely not to be missed by any Triumph enthusiast. It’s our biggest ever party, to celebrate 20 years of Triumph Hinckley and taking place at the Triumph Factory and Mallory Park Circuit."

"Off-track, visitors will be able to view the latest range of Triumph motorcycles, together with a selection of some of the UK’s best customised Triumphs. Key bikes from Triumph’s history will also be on display, as part of a unique exhibition exploring 20 years of Hinckley."

Yes, I have officially drunken the punch...

New Mirrors from Bellacorse

When I bought my Bonneville, it came with one left hand Napoleon bar-end mirror installed by the previous owner. I liked the look, but being a motorcycle newbie, I wanted two mirrors so I could see as much aft driver stupidity as possible when I needed to. When it came time to drop some dough on the right side mirror though, I realized something...

Lane-splitting is a must here in Los Angeles. Sitting and stewing in traffic is strictly for the caged, which is a big part of why I got into bicycle riding and motorcycling in the first place. Few things beat whizzing past a bunch of "parked cars" in gridlocked traffic. Especially right after the douchebag in his Mustang just tried to start a drag race with you on the way home, and now has to just sit helplessly behind the wheel, gritting his teeth and punching the dashboard repeatedly while you downshift and pass him with a big, stupid grin on your face.

Unfortunately, despite their good looks, bar-end mirrors suck for lane splitting. I knew that my side clearance was really going to be compromised with two of those puppies jutting out of my M-Bars. The problem is, the options out there for stylish and functional Bonneville compatible mirrors, well...kind of suck. They are either super machined custom chopperized jobs with spiderwebs and other crap all over them, or cheap plastic pieces of...plastic, or worse, they have horrible reviews on visibility.

After searching all of the internets, luckily I stumbled upon the aptly named "Vintage Looking British Round Mirrors" from Bellacorse. These were exactly what I was looking for. Something that stayed true to the vintage look of the new Bonnevilles, without looking quite as much like a pair of antennae as the stock mirrors. I opted for the long stemmed version since I was willing to sacrifice a little style for the added visibility.


The mirrors were shipped quickly and arrived with all of the necessary parts and instructions for an extremely easy installation. After riding with them for the last couple of weeks, I can report that they are everything I wanted in a mirror setup. Vibration is minimal, visibility is great, and although I still prefer the look of bar-ends, these will do nicely. Now I can look stylish and I can see more stupid!