Last year I purchased a River Road riding jacket that I got a good deal on.  It is a basic jacket that I don’t particularly like.  It has a zip out liner that is waterproof and acts like a windbreaker but is no good when it’s cold.  When I take the liner out it has a mesh layer that I’m afraid I’m going to snag on something.  There are several pockets but I find they are always in the wrong spots and hard to get to.

Ok now the good.  The outside of the jacket is fairly rugged and seems to be holding up well.  It is fairly comfortable when riding.  However the best part of this jacket is when it is hot the wind flows right through it.  It was almost 90 degrees today and while moving it was perfect. 

If you are considering a jacket I would not suggest this one.  I think you can do better for not much more money.  

I forgot to post this video the other day when I was showing how to build a camera mount.  Here is the type of video you get from this mount.

Prepare for a summer of pictures.  I have created a motorcycle camera mount for less than $10.  There are still a few kinks to work out but the design works fine.  Here is a list of parts and the basics of the assembly. 

Parts:

1)    One Targus suction cup travel tripod

2)    One generic magnetic mounting platform (Can be e found at most hardware stores)

3)    One ¼”-20 4” pan head screw

4)    Two ¼” fender washer

5)    Two ¼”-20 nuts

5)    One piece of foam rubber padding;

Steps:

1)    First you must disassemble the Targus portable tripod.  There is a small hex setscrew that needs to be removed.  Then remove the main setscrew.  This will allow the platform mechanism to come off.  

2)    Next remove the lug from suction cup base.  It is screwed on and held in place by lock-tight type glue.  I found I could grab the lug with a pair of pliers and unscrew the base by hand.  It took a fair amount of force but it unscrewed cleanly.  You will also need to clean out the dried up lock-tight residue.

3)    Place a washer on the screw and run it through the mounting hole in the magnetic base.  Place the second washer on top of the base and screw the nut on tight.

4)    Slip the second nut on and spin it down an inch or so.  It will be a jam-nut.  Screw on the mounting lug removed from the suction cup base.  Spin the jam-nut back up and tighten.   

5)    Re-place the platform assembly back on the lug and screw in the setscrews. 

6)    Last cover the base of the magnet with foam rubber or other type of protective padding that will protect the motorcycles paint job.

You now have a motorcycle mount for a small camera.  I’ll leave size of camera to your discretion based on how well the magnet sticks to your tank.  This magnet did not hold as well to my tank as I would like for a long ride but did fine for short planned out rides.  I’m going to keep looking for a better magnetic mount.

Check out this little gizmo.  Bags-Connection makes this camera mount.  It clips onto their standard tank mount bracket normally used to hold tank bags.    It has a limited amount of dampening built in and an adjustable camera platform.

Pashnit Moto products makes a camera mount with a simpler design and fewer movable parts.  To mount this unit you replace three of the gas tank ring screws.  The problem is you need tools to remove it.  As an add-on package to this unit you can get a mount that takes the place of the rear foot peg.  You can use it to mount a review-view camera.

The problem with both of these products is the price.  They range from $75 to $200.  I’m thinking that there must be a cheaper way.  Next time watch for my attempts to create a camera mount for my SV650.   

A small piece of plastic that can make riding much more enjoyable.  Have you ever been riding along and had your right hand cramp up from squeezing the throttle?  If you have this is the gizmo for you: the Crampbuster.  I stumbled on the Crampbuster while I was browsing an accessory rack at Life Cycle in Kalamazoo, MI.  It interested me enough that I spent eleven dollars and installed the Crampbuster on my bike while still in the parking lot.  Installation was extremely simple you just bend it open and slip it on the end of your handlebars.  Once on it has a ratcheting type grip on your throttle only moving round opposite the throttle for adjustment.  Once riding I found that I needed to rotate it way out of the way for city driving, but when on the highway it preformed exactly as advertised.  The cramp buster provides a very nice ledge to rest my hand on and uses the weight of my hand to keep tension on the throttle.

My suggestion to anyone who is interested in trying this device is be careful.  When I first installed it I had it at an angle that made city stop and go driving very difficult.  It took a few minutes but I soon learned to adjust it while driving.  I suggest trying it out for the first time on some side roads where you can get a feel for its position without hindering traffic.