Ninjette Newsbot
June 19th, 2008, 04:57 AM
LoJack Recovery Program, BMW Airflow 3 Suit And More - MC Garage - MC Tested
http://images.motorcyclistonline.com/images/122_0712_01_z+MC_garage_tested+LoJack_recovery_program.jpgYou can bolt, lock, chain and alarm your motorcycle to a faretheewell, you can tie rabid pit bulls to it, even booby trap it with poisonous vipers, but it won't make any difference. The cold, harsh truth is that if thieves really want your bike, they're gonna get it.
LoJack, however, offers an encouraging alternative to conventional (and unconventional) theft protection. The 21-year-old Massachusetts firm has made its name in vehicle recovery for cars and construction equipment, and recently extended its offerings to cover motorcycles. The company operates in 26 states (the most populated, naturally), and once you pay the one-time $595 fee, a bonded technician installs the LoJack transceiver somewhere on your bike. "It's very small and looks like an OEM part," said Ted Saraf, a LoJack law-enforcement liaison. Once triggered, it broadcasts on FM frequency, which can reach through buildings or dense foliage, unlike AM or GPS signals, and has an average range of 3 to 5 miles. If your bike gets stolen, you just need to file a police report.
When the police enter your bike's make, model and VIN number into the National Crime Information Center's Stolen Vehicle System, a LoJack computer picks up that information and automatically sends out a command to your bike's transceiver to activate. (LoJack is the only company so far that partners with police agencies, and also provides all of the necessary infrastructure, including training, receivers for police ground vehicles and aircraft, and transmitting towers.) With that, your bike's little transceiver swings into action, transmitting a unique five-digit signal equivalent to, "Help! Send the cavalry!" Then, when the closest police vehicle receiver gets a hit-that is, receives your bike's signal-the officers can track it directly to its location.
LoJack gave us a demonstration of the in-car police tracking system, and to say it's impressive is an understatement of huge proportion. The receiver has a readable display larger than that on a typical car stereo, and shows a compass, the five-digit number, a 20-segment signal-strength bar graph and 1 to 25 numerical readout of signal strength, to go along with an audible tone that gets louder and more frequent as you get closer. It's similar to the children's game of, "Warmer, warmer...colder...burning hot!" "A child could use it," Saraf says of the system, and he's right. It could hardly be easier.
The question, of course: Is LoJack's system worth it? Ultimately, you'll have to make that decision. But perhaps a couple of numbers can help. According to LoJack, a motorcycle is stolen every 7.5 minutes in the U.S., and bike theft has skyrocketed, up 135 percent from 2000 to 2005. Yet as Saraf told us, "Nation-wide, LoJack's recovery rate is more than 90 percent." His associate Tim Whisenhunt added that in the Los Angeles area, before LoJack came into the picture, "Bike recovery was 10 to 15 percent."
If you're still equivocating, you need to ask yourself this: How are you going to feed those pit bulls? And will you remember where you hid those vipers this time?
LoJack Recovery Program
Price: $595
Contact: LoJack Corp.
200 Lowder Brook Dr. #1000
Westwood, MA 02090
800.456.5225
www.lojack.com
Verdict
The best chance of recovering your motor-cycle. If you've ever had a bike stolen, you know what that's worth.
Asterisk
Cell Knee Braces
There are injuries worse than blowing up your knee's anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), but few are as painful. Torn ligaments have been a curse since the inception of dirtbikes, though there is a way to keep those internal rubber bands from tearing: quality knee braces.
Custom braces are pricey, usually thousands of dollars. Luckily, there's a low-cost alternative: Asterisk Cell braces. I got a pair a few years ago for motocross, skating and skiing, and they've saved my knees from injury several times.
The Cell braces are off-the-shelf items, but a bit of custom-sizing ensures they fit correctly. Just measure the circumference of your thigh, knee and calf, send Asterisk the numbers, and they ship you the correct size-S to XXL.
Constructed of carbon fiber, plastic, durable foam, nylon webbing and featuring adjustable nylon straps, the Cells are extremely light, easy to put on and compact enough to fit beneath just about any motocross or ski pants. Quick-release buckles make them easy to remove, and while in place they're surprisingly unobtrusive; after a couple of corners (or vert-ramp drop-ins) I can barely tell I'm wearing 'em. Their design helps protect knees from direct impacts, hyperextension and even twisting, and they're durable, too. My set has handled three years of dirt, sweat and snow with nothing more than an ugly stench-my fault for not washing them more often.
Off-road riding is a great way to improve your street-riding skills. And though it can lead to injuries, you can mostly forget about knee injuries if you're wearing these things. I won't moto without 'em.
BMW
Airflow 3 suit
Please don't hate us, but riding in the City of Angels means never having to wear electric clothing. For most of the year, lightweight, breathable gear is an L.A. rider's best choice.
BMW's entre into the breathable/mesh gear wars is its two-piece AirFlow 3 suit. BMW has taken a different tack than most makers and opted for slightly more protection than cooling. The AirFlow 3's outer fabric-Dynatec, chosen for its abrasion resistance-is a bit heavier and more tightly woven than what's used on many of its competitors' suits. Airflow is accomplished via panels of a material called Airtex, a more open mesh fabric.
The AirFlow 3 comes standard with removable CE protectors at the shoulders, elbows, back, hips and knees, and the elbow and knee pads are height adjustable via Velcro positioners, a nice feature. A zipper allows the jacket to attach to the pants, and Velcro adjusters at the sleeve/pant cuffs and waist allow a snug fit. Reflective striping on both the jacket and pants ensures conspicuity.
The suit seems very well made, with all seams nicely finished and all zippers and fasteners solid. Because of the heavier, denser fabric, the AirFlow 3 doesn't flow as much air as some other textile/mesh suits, a consideration if you live in an extremely hot climate. The amount of cooling is also dependant on the type of bike you're riding; you're obviously going to get less sitting behind a full fairing. All that solid construction means the suit remains rather stiff even after a couple months of near-daily wear. BMW assures us it will loosen up over time.
If you're looking for a textile/mesh two-piece suit with a bit more protection and aren't concerned with maximum ventilation, BMW's AirFlow 3 deserves a try. It's available in black/ gray and red/gray in Regular men's sizes 36-56 and Long sizes 40-46.
Photo Gallery: LoJack Recovery Program, BMW Airflow 3 Suit And More - MC Tested - Motorcyclist Magazine (http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/gearbox/122_0712_lojack_recovery_program_bmw_airflow_suit)
http://images.motorcyclistonline.com/images/122_0712_01_s+MC_garage_tested+LoJack_recovery_program.jpg
Read More (http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/gearbox/122_0712_lojack_recovery_program_bmw_airflow_suit) | Digg It (http://digg.com/submit?phase=2&url=http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/gearbox/122_0712_lojack_recovery_program_bmw_airflow_suit&title=LoJack Recovery Program, BMW Airflow 3 Suit And More - MC Garage - MC Tested) | Add to del.icio.us (http://del.icio.us/post?url=2&url=http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/gearbox/122_0712_lojack_recovery_program_bmw_airflow_suit&title=LoJack Recovery Program, BMW Airflow 3 Suit And More - MC Garage - MC Tested)
Click here for full story... (http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/gearbox/122_0712_lojack_recovery_program_bmw_airflow_suit)
http://images.motorcyclistonline.com/images/122_0712_01_z+MC_garage_tested+LoJack_recovery_program.jpgYou can bolt, lock, chain and alarm your motorcycle to a faretheewell, you can tie rabid pit bulls to it, even booby trap it with poisonous vipers, but it won't make any difference. The cold, harsh truth is that if thieves really want your bike, they're gonna get it.
LoJack, however, offers an encouraging alternative to conventional (and unconventional) theft protection. The 21-year-old Massachusetts firm has made its name in vehicle recovery for cars and construction equipment, and recently extended its offerings to cover motorcycles. The company operates in 26 states (the most populated, naturally), and once you pay the one-time $595 fee, a bonded technician installs the LoJack transceiver somewhere on your bike. "It's very small and looks like an OEM part," said Ted Saraf, a LoJack law-enforcement liaison. Once triggered, it broadcasts on FM frequency, which can reach through buildings or dense foliage, unlike AM or GPS signals, and has an average range of 3 to 5 miles. If your bike gets stolen, you just need to file a police report.
When the police enter your bike's make, model and VIN number into the National Crime Information Center's Stolen Vehicle System, a LoJack computer picks up that information and automatically sends out a command to your bike's transceiver to activate. (LoJack is the only company so far that partners with police agencies, and also provides all of the necessary infrastructure, including training, receivers for police ground vehicles and aircraft, and transmitting towers.) With that, your bike's little transceiver swings into action, transmitting a unique five-digit signal equivalent to, "Help! Send the cavalry!" Then, when the closest police vehicle receiver gets a hit-that is, receives your bike's signal-the officers can track it directly to its location.
LoJack gave us a demonstration of the in-car police tracking system, and to say it's impressive is an understatement of huge proportion. The receiver has a readable display larger than that on a typical car stereo, and shows a compass, the five-digit number, a 20-segment signal-strength bar graph and 1 to 25 numerical readout of signal strength, to go along with an audible tone that gets louder and more frequent as you get closer. It's similar to the children's game of, "Warmer, warmer...colder...burning hot!" "A child could use it," Saraf says of the system, and he's right. It could hardly be easier.
The question, of course: Is LoJack's system worth it? Ultimately, you'll have to make that decision. But perhaps a couple of numbers can help. According to LoJack, a motorcycle is stolen every 7.5 minutes in the U.S., and bike theft has skyrocketed, up 135 percent from 2000 to 2005. Yet as Saraf told us, "Nation-wide, LoJack's recovery rate is more than 90 percent." His associate Tim Whisenhunt added that in the Los Angeles area, before LoJack came into the picture, "Bike recovery was 10 to 15 percent."
If you're still equivocating, you need to ask yourself this: How are you going to feed those pit bulls? And will you remember where you hid those vipers this time?
LoJack Recovery Program
Price: $595
Contact: LoJack Corp.
200 Lowder Brook Dr. #1000
Westwood, MA 02090
800.456.5225
www.lojack.com
Verdict
The best chance of recovering your motor-cycle. If you've ever had a bike stolen, you know what that's worth.
Asterisk
Cell Knee Braces
There are injuries worse than blowing up your knee's anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), but few are as painful. Torn ligaments have been a curse since the inception of dirtbikes, though there is a way to keep those internal rubber bands from tearing: quality knee braces.
Custom braces are pricey, usually thousands of dollars. Luckily, there's a low-cost alternative: Asterisk Cell braces. I got a pair a few years ago for motocross, skating and skiing, and they've saved my knees from injury several times.
The Cell braces are off-the-shelf items, but a bit of custom-sizing ensures they fit correctly. Just measure the circumference of your thigh, knee and calf, send Asterisk the numbers, and they ship you the correct size-S to XXL.
Constructed of carbon fiber, plastic, durable foam, nylon webbing and featuring adjustable nylon straps, the Cells are extremely light, easy to put on and compact enough to fit beneath just about any motocross or ski pants. Quick-release buckles make them easy to remove, and while in place they're surprisingly unobtrusive; after a couple of corners (or vert-ramp drop-ins) I can barely tell I'm wearing 'em. Their design helps protect knees from direct impacts, hyperextension and even twisting, and they're durable, too. My set has handled three years of dirt, sweat and snow with nothing more than an ugly stench-my fault for not washing them more often.
Off-road riding is a great way to improve your street-riding skills. And though it can lead to injuries, you can mostly forget about knee injuries if you're wearing these things. I won't moto without 'em.
BMW
Airflow 3 suit
Please don't hate us, but riding in the City of Angels means never having to wear electric clothing. For most of the year, lightweight, breathable gear is an L.A. rider's best choice.
BMW's entre into the breathable/mesh gear wars is its two-piece AirFlow 3 suit. BMW has taken a different tack than most makers and opted for slightly more protection than cooling. The AirFlow 3's outer fabric-Dynatec, chosen for its abrasion resistance-is a bit heavier and more tightly woven than what's used on many of its competitors' suits. Airflow is accomplished via panels of a material called Airtex, a more open mesh fabric.
The AirFlow 3 comes standard with removable CE protectors at the shoulders, elbows, back, hips and knees, and the elbow and knee pads are height adjustable via Velcro positioners, a nice feature. A zipper allows the jacket to attach to the pants, and Velcro adjusters at the sleeve/pant cuffs and waist allow a snug fit. Reflective striping on both the jacket and pants ensures conspicuity.
The suit seems very well made, with all seams nicely finished and all zippers and fasteners solid. Because of the heavier, denser fabric, the AirFlow 3 doesn't flow as much air as some other textile/mesh suits, a consideration if you live in an extremely hot climate. The amount of cooling is also dependant on the type of bike you're riding; you're obviously going to get less sitting behind a full fairing. All that solid construction means the suit remains rather stiff even after a couple months of near-daily wear. BMW assures us it will loosen up over time.
If you're looking for a textile/mesh two-piece suit with a bit more protection and aren't concerned with maximum ventilation, BMW's AirFlow 3 deserves a try. It's available in black/ gray and red/gray in Regular men's sizes 36-56 and Long sizes 40-46.
Photo Gallery: LoJack Recovery Program, BMW Airflow 3 Suit And More - MC Tested - Motorcyclist Magazine (http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/gearbox/122_0712_lojack_recovery_program_bmw_airflow_suit)
http://images.motorcyclistonline.com/images/122_0712_01_s+MC_garage_tested+LoJack_recovery_program.jpg
Read More (http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/gearbox/122_0712_lojack_recovery_program_bmw_airflow_suit) | Digg It (http://digg.com/submit?phase=2&url=http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/gearbox/122_0712_lojack_recovery_program_bmw_airflow_suit&title=LoJack Recovery Program, BMW Airflow 3 Suit And More - MC Garage - MC Tested) | Add to del.icio.us (http://del.icio.us/post?url=2&url=http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/gearbox/122_0712_lojack_recovery_program_bmw_airflow_suit&title=LoJack Recovery Program, BMW Airflow 3 Suit And More - MC Garage - MC Tested)
Click here for full story... (http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/gearbox/122_0712_lojack_recovery_program_bmw_airflow_suit)