Beaded Motorcycle Seat Review: BeadRider - A Cooler Way to Ride

A few posts back I wrote about monkey butt and how to prevent it.  One piece of the prevention puzzle was to minimize moisture and I noted that the BeadRider beaded motorcycle seat could help in that regard.  At the time, I only had anecdotal evidence based on what other riders had reported.  I mentioned that I had ordered a BeadRider and was looking forward to trying it out for myself.  Well, after receiving my BeadRider and putting a few hundred miles in the saddle, I feel qualified to give you a first-hand report on its performance.

BeadRider "Ultimate" Beaded Seat

First, a few words about my ordering experience.  I placed my order through the BeadRider website on a Saturday. Within minutes, I received an e-mail confirmation with all the details of the order.  Two days later, on Monday, I received shipping confirmation and a tracking number and two days after that, on Wednesday, USPS delivered my package.  I was very pleased with the straightforward ordering process, no-hassle communication, and speedy delivery.

Upon returning from the mailbox, I quickly opened the package to see what my $70.95 ($58.95 + $12.00 shipping) had bought me.  Having seen several BeadRiders on friend’s motorcycles I pretty much knew what to expect, but I’m always a little apprehensive when receiving on-line orders.   Fortunately, everything was just as expected and I was impressed with the overall feel and finish of the product.  For the record, there are two versions of the BeadRider (available in several sizes).  The “Original” is made of wooden beads and the “Ultimate” is made of ceramic beads.  I chose the “Ultimate” because I felt that the ceramic beads would hold up better.

After a quick examination, I wasted no time installing the BeadRider on my Sportster.
Although there were no instructions, installation was simple.  I removed my saddle, slid the BeadRider in-place, tightened the attached shock cords, and put the saddle back on the bike.  Total installation time, less than 10 minutes.  Some might think the BeadRider looks odd on the saddle but I didn’t buy it to win a beauty contest…I bought it to make my butt happy.

The first thing I noticed when I sat on it the first time was I felt a little taller in the saddle.  The BeadRider effectively lifted me up about ½ inch.  Depending on how vertically challenged you are and your bike’s seat height, this could be a problem. Fortunately for me, the seat height was low enough originally that the extra ½ inch didn’t affect my ability to flat foot the bike.  The second thing I noticed is that I didn’t feel a bunch of beads.  The weave of the BeadRider does a nice job of spreading my weight evenly over the entire seating area.

On my first few rides I was a bit apprehensive about how sitting on the beads would feel after a few miles.  I’m happy to report sitting on the beads isn’t uncomfortable at all.  In fact, there’s not a huge amount of difference in the “feel” of riding on beads or riding without them.  So far I like it…I like it a lot.  I can definitely feel more airflow around my backside, which helps with reducing moisture.  I can also move around in the saddle easier.  Before the BeadRider, readjusting my seating position was more difficult and on a hot day, it could feel as if I had melted into the saddle.  I don’t think I’ll have that issue with the BeadRider.

I haven’t done any long distance or all day rides just yet, but based on my experience thus far I’m pretty confident the BeadRider will increase my long distance comfort.  I’ll be putting that theory to the test on two Iron Butt rides I’m planning…a 1500 mile, 24-hour BunBurner Gold into New Mexico and a 3000 mile, 72-hour Saddlesore to Hell and back (that’s Hell, MI just in case you’re wondering).  I’ll let you know if I’m still a fan of the BeadRider afterwards.

If you have a BeadRider and have used it on long distance rides, leave me a comment and let me know what you think about it.  You know what they say, “Opinions are like assholes, and everybody has one.” I want to hear yours.  Until then Live Free. Ride Hard. Be Happy!

Have Bag Will Travel…Viking Bag Luggage Review

Note: This is a sponsored review; however, the opinions I’ve expressed are my own and were in no way influenced by Viking Bags or its representatives. I hope you find the review informative and entertaining.   ~Curt

When you ride a motorcycle, especially a Sportster, travelling can be a challenge because of limited luggage space. Selecting the right luggage is important because it can mean the difference between a great travel experience and a poor one.   When picking out motorcycle luggage you have to walk a fine line between having something that’s too small to accommodate everything you want to take and something that’s too big to fit safely on your bike. In the end, the size of your bike and your personal preference will largely determine what works best.

In 2012, I made my first multi-day, multi-state ride and needed some luggage.  At that time, I chose a tunnel style bag that fit across the passenger pillion.  It was roomy enough at 3200 cubic inches and straddled the pillion without removing the passenger backrest.  Overall, I liked the bag and it served its purpose well. However, after making several trips with it I grew very frustrated with not being able to access items in my saddlebags without removing it.

 

Fast forward to three weeks ago.  You can imagine my delight when I was contacted by a representative from Viking Bags about doing a product review.  Talk about timely.  I was in the process of planning a trip to Garner State Park with the Gruene HOG Chapter, so I wasted no time and told them, “Yes, I’d be very interested.”  I visited the Viking Bag website at www.vikingbags.com and perused their large selection of motorcycle luggage.  I placed an order for their LargeBackseat Luggage with Backrest ($129.00) on Wednesday, 8 January 2014.   Their customer service was great.  I received a UPS tracking number within 24 hours of placing my order and the bag arrived on Tuesday, 14 January just as promised…in plenty of time for my weekend trip.

 

 Out of the box, the bag was impressive.  It was solidly constructed, looked like it could take a beating, and it was ginormous.  The two main compartments have 3400 cubic inches of space and the three expandable side pockets add another 680 cubic inches for a total of 4080 cubic inches of storage.  This bag should definitely meet the needs of even the most serious road warrior.  After seeing just how large the bag was, I was a little nervous about how it would fit on my Sportster.  I carried the bag to my bike for a test fitting.  It definitely wasn’t going to work with my passenger backrest.  I removed the backrest and found that the bag would overhang the pillion a few inches but would work.  Crisis averted.

I packed everything I needed for a weekend trip including a cold weather sleeping bag.  It was tight, but it all
fit.  I could have packed much, much more if I had bungeed the sleeping bag on the outside.  It took about 20 minutes to secure the bag to my bike…not because it was difficult, but because I wasn’t sure of the best way to do it.  The bag came with two methods of mounting.  The first being via a yoke/harness placed under the seat with four connecting straps and the second with two tie-down straps with buckles.  I didn’t want to remove my seat so I positioned the bag on the seat, connected the clip hooks on the bag, and ran the straps around my shock struts and fastened the buckles.  I tightened the straps and quickly realized the bag wasn’t stable.  I used two bungee cords to attach the back end of the bag around my rear saddlebag mounts.   This seemed to do the trick.  I placed the backrest pad on the bag and was ready to roll.

The bag sat quite a bit taller than my old tunnel bag and because of that, I was a little uncomfortable with just how stable and secure it was.  After about 20 minutes of riding, I pulled over to check the bag.  It was solid.  I checked the bag one additional time before reaching the Park with the same results.  At the end of the day, I was very pleased with the bag’s performance and while it felt “different” while riding from what I was used to, it did allow me easy access to my saddlebags…which was my main reason for wanting it. I’m sure after using it a few more times, I’ll be just as comfortable with it as my old tunnel bag.

So, would I recommend this bag? Absolutely!  Is it the perfect bag?  Probably not.  I wasn’t overly impressed with the buckles as they could be much sturdier and I really wish it had come with two additional tie-down straps…I don’t think you could secure the bag with what was provided unless you opted for using the under seat yoke/harness.  With that said, it is a very nice piece of luggage and for $129.00 you get a lot of bag for your buck (similar bags are easily $50+ more). This bag should definitely make your short list.

_________________________

Resources

Learn How To Attach The Bag With The Under Seat Yoke/Harness

Viking Bags has Tunnel Bags Too – Here’sOne Similar to My Old One

The Cure For Motorcycle Vest Envy

Note: This is a sponsored review; however, the opinions I’ve expressed are my own and were in no way influenced by the fact that I got free swag in the form of a motorcycle vest. I hope you find the review informative and entertaining. ~Curt

When I became a member of the Gruene Chapter Harley Owners Group (HOG) one of my first purchases was a motorcycle vest. I was amazed at how expensive they could be and looked for the cheapest vest I could find. I was relatively new to riding and wasn’t sure if I’d like being part of an organized group so I didn’t want to invest a lot of money in a vest. As it turns out, I really enjoy riding and participating in HOG activities. Therein lies my problem.

Motorcycle Vest Envy...I Got It Bad

My cheap ($20) vest isn’t wearing well and I haven’t been happy with it for a long time. It’s made of leather but I don’t know what animal it came from. It was supposed to be buffalo, but I’m pretty sure it’s not the American Indian type buffalo I pictured when it was ordered. Truth be told, I seriously believe it might be some sort of Chinese water buffalo. I thought maybe with some wear it would soften-up but in two years that hasn’t happened. It’s pretty thin, it’s hard, and it feels a little like cardboard. Bottom line…my vest sucks and I want a new one. I really wish I had invested a little more to get a better quality vest. Lesson learned.

Fortunately, the motorcycle gods have been looking out for me because  I was recently contacted by motorcylehouse.com. They told me they’d send me some gear and that I could keep it in return for posting an honest review of the product on my blog. I ask if I could pick out a vest, and to my surprise they said, “Sure.” I was impressed with the selection offered on their website and ended-up picking out a First Classics Prima Leather Motorcycle Vest listed for $99. I placed my “order” and waited anxiously. Turns out, I didn’t have to wait too long. I received a UPS Tracking Number via e-mail within 24 hours of placing my order. I quickly clicked the enclosed link and discovered my vest had already been shipped via UPS from a warehouse in Uniondale, New York and was scheduled to arrive in four business days. Cool!

The vest arrived right on schedule. I was excited to see the box on my porch when I pulled into my driveway after work. Like a kid on Christmas morning, I made a beeline for the package and quickly tore into it. As soon as I opened the box and removed the vest from its plastic protective bag a sweet familiar aroma permeated the air. This was a “real” leather vest, no question about it. I carried the vest to my kitchen table to take a closer look. The leather seemed thick and supple and had a nice amount of heft to it. The vest appeared to be solidly constructed and the stitching was impressive as was the cotton and polyester lining. I examined the metal snaps, all eleven of them…five up the front, two on the scooter collar, two on the outside pockets, and two on the inside pockets. They looked and felt solid, snapping and unsnapping with just the right amount of force. My initial reaction was, “This is a nice vest!”

I Found The Cure!

About that time my wife walked over, looked at the vest, looked at me, and said, “Looks a little small, what size is it?” I replied, “It’s a large,” as I slid the vest on to check the fit. I admit it was a little snug on my 5’7” 195-pound frame but an x-large would have been much too big. I definitely won’t be wearing it over a jacket without vest extenders, but hey, now I have some additional motivation to lose those 10-15 pounds I’ve been trying to get rid of. I wore the vest around the house for the rest of the evening and did my best “Magic Mike” impression before going to bed. At the end of the day, my wife admitted the vest looked good on me.

The next afternoon I wore the vest on a short ride and was pleased with its performance. It got a little chilly as the sun was setting but the vest kept me nice and warm. I did decide that although I liked the looks of the scooter collar, it wasn’t practical for me…I’ll probably never ride with it snapped closed. Fortunately that shouldn’t be a problem. Over the next week or so, I wore the vest everywhere to get a better feel for it. Hell, I even wore it to work. The vest is comfortable and stylish. For riders who like to listen to music, you can put an MP3 player in the left pocket and run your ear buds through a buttonhole in the pocket flap. From a real estate perspective, the vest offers plenty of space for patches and pins; however, the back is made-up of multiple panels so a club or chapter patch will overlap a few seams. Overall, I’m very impressed with the looks, feel, and yes, even the fit of the First Classics vest. Only time will tell how well it wears but I have high expectations that it will look great and last a long, long time. I’m already looking forward to putting some new HOG patches and pins on it. Best of all, that nagging case of motorcycle vest envy I caught from my old vest is gone...I’ve been cured. Thank you motorcyclehouse.com!

Coming Soon
To see the First Classics Prima Motorcycle Vest up-close and personal watch for the upcoming Live Free and Ride Hard Product Review Video. It’ll debut sometime in December…don’t worry, “Magic Mike” will not make an appearance.

SPOT-like Tracking for the Budget Conscious Rider

Has your significant other ever voiced concern with your motorcycle adventures? Have they told you they're afraid when you're gone because they don't know what twisty, lonely, back road you might wipe-out on...and then no one would ever find you? I'm sure most riders have heard this or something similar before. I know I have. It's only natural that our family and friends are concerned for our safety. Riding a motorcycle is an inherently high-risk activity, right? So what can we do to ease those fears? We make technology our friend.

Many hard core long distance riders use a SPOT gps-satellite tracking device. The SPOT tracker sends a signal to a satellite at regular defined intervals which can then be viewed in near real time on a map via the SPOT Adventure web page or a third party service known as SpotWalla. The problem with SPOT is that the device itself costs around $120 and there is a $50 annual subscription fee if you want to track and share your progress. While this isn't an unreasonable amount, it's more than many riders may feel comfortable with based on the type of riding they do. At this point in time, I'm not willing to spend that amount of money...especially when there's another less costly option.

That's where BubblerGPS and SpotWalla come in. You can use the GPS on your cell phone with the

BubblerGPS app and SpotWalla to track and share your progress when riding. The process is similar to SPOT minus the satellite. BubblerGPS queries your cell phone's GPS and records a way point at a user
specified interval between 5 and 15 minutes (for the paid version of the app). This way point is then

transmitted to SpotWalla. If you're outside your cell coverage area, BubblerGPS stores the way points until you have coverage. So how much does this cost? Well, SpotWalla is free and you can get a free version of BubblerGPS as well. The free version has some limitations but you can purchase BubblerGPS Pro for $9.99.

$9.99 wasn't a budget buster for me so I purchased the Pro version. I intend to use BubblerGPS Pro and SpotWalla to provide family and friends insight into my location when I'm out riding. The "SpotWalla Tracking Map" link in the "Where's Curt Now" section will be enabled whenever I'm out on a planned ride. It will show my progress and location in near real time based on the 5 minute interval I've set on Bubbler GPS Pro. You can see a sample of my last adventure/ride by using the "Where Did He Go" link in the "Curt's Latest Ride" section.

So far, I've been pleased with my BubblerGPS Pro app purchase and I hope it will give my family greater peace of mind when I'm riding. To learn more about SPOT, BubblerGPS, and SpotWalla just click on their hyperlinks. Now, Let's Live Free and Ride Hard!

Do You Hear What I Hear...Rider Communication

About a year ago I purchased a pair of the Sena SMH5 Bluetooth Headsets from Spoiled Biker.  Several people have asked how I like them...so I thought I'd do a little review and let you know just what I think.

Why did I chose the Sena SMH5? I wanted a relatively inexpensive way to communicate with my wife when she rides with me, I wanted to be able to listen to music, and I wanted to be able to use my phone while riding. After doing quite a bit of research, I decided to go with the Sena SMH5. From a cost stand-point it is one of, if not the least, expensive Bluetooth headset on the market (for under $200 you get  two headsets...you might pay almost that for one of anther brand). It's gotten good reviews from a lot of riders and Sena has a decent reputation for producing good quality products. It may not have all the bells and whistles some of the other headsets have but it's feature set was more than enough for me. Here's what the Sena SMH5 offers (from the Sena website):

• Bluetooth 3.0 
• Bluetooth intercom up to 430 yards in the open
• Multi-pair Bluetooth intercom 
• Voice prompts 
• Bluetooth stereo headset by A2DP 
• Bluetooth music playback control by AVRCP: Play, pause, track forward and track back 
• Easy operation by versatile Jog Dial (Patent pending)
• Sufficient sound level with integrated audio booster 
• Bluetooth handsfree for Bluetooth mobile phones 
• Bluetooth headset or stereo headset for Bluetooth GPS navigations 
• Water resistant for use in inclement weather 
• Crystal clear and natural sound quality 
• Up to 8 hours talk time, 7 days stand-by time 
• Can be used while charging on road trips 
• Individual volume control for each audio source 
• Firmware upgradeable

After having used them for a year and upgrading the firmware twice, I can say Sena pretty much delivers as promised.  I will say, I've never fully figured out how to use the voice prompts or the playback controls. That said, I have been very satisfied with the intercom function, music playback, and the ability to take and make phone calls when needed. The Sena SMH5 provides A LOT of bang for the buck.

You might be asking about the sound and sound quality.  Personally, I think it's pretty decent.  The sound isn't as good as you will get with a set of earbuds plugged into your iPod but it's not bad.  You won't have any trouble hearing the music or a conversation...even at freeway speeds.  I've had phone conversations with my dad doing 70 MPH and he didn't even know I was on the bike.  I'm sure having a full face helmet doesn't hurt.

I made a few recordings by placing a microphone inside the helmet to give you an idea of the sound.  The recordings are representative of what you can expect but I think the sound is slightly better than what you'll hear in the demos...maybe because your ears are closer to the speakers (and the helmet isn't empty when you're wearing it)  ;-)  

The first two demos are of music and the third is from a telephone...I called my cell phone from the house and recorded it.

Installation on the helmet wasn't too difficult. You'll have a couple different mounting options. I ended up modifying the adhesive mount to fit my Harley-Davidson modular bluetooth ready helmet. I would definitely recommend the Sena SMH5 as you'll be hard pressed to find a better value. You can read more about the Sena SMH5 at www.senabluetooth.com.

Do you hear that? The road is calling...Live Free and Ride Hard!