Inline Performance Magazine |
| Posted: 11 Nov 2011 09:00 PM PST |
Graham here with a quick update for our Essential Stuff section.
I've been using Sedici's Monza jacket as my primary riding jacket on and off for about 7 months or so, and I'm sad to report that this first update is not a positive one.
The jacket's zipper had been getting more and more finicky as the jacket got older, and it finally came apart in my hands one day, leading to a less-than-comfy ride home with my jacket flapping in the wind behind me.
Obviously, just over half a year is an appallingly short lifespan for a jacket that's listed 300 dollars. Luckily, Cycle Gear offers a one-year warranty, even if you've long ago lost the original receipt as I had.
Rather than replacing the jacket, though, our local Cycle Gear store in San Francisco chose to pay for the zipper to be replaced. This would have been fine if Cycle Gear had dealt with the repair themselves. But instead, I not only had to take the jacket to the leather repair shop myself, but also pay for the 85 dollar repair out of pocket, before going back to Cycle Gear yet again to collect my reimbursement. By the time the jacket was fixed and I'd gotten my money, it had been a week. Fortunately, I have a car and don't have to rely on my motorcycle as transportation, but for someone who exclusively rides, it could have been a real problem.
The good news, however, is that Johnson Leathers in San Francisco did a fantastic job, replacing the small, low-quality zipper that failed with a much meatier black oxide version, which not only looks better, but also is much easier to zip up.
So, in short, high marks for Johnson Leathers for their friendly attitude and great work. A passing grade to Cycle Gear San Francisco for covering the repair, but points off for how involved they made the process. Finally, I'm sorry to report, but a failing grade for the Sedici Monza jacket. Even if 300 bucks is cheap for a motorcycle jacket, it's still far too much for something that breaks in less than a year.
Stay tuned for more updates, and be sure to order your copy of the 2011 print edition of Inline Performance Magazine HERE at the pre-order price until supplies last.
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Posted: 10 Nov 2011 09:00 PM PST
So I finally got the left side mirror to the 2003 Kawasaki Z1000, and me and my bike feel whole again. Taking apart the rig was fairly easy as well as satisfying. Cutting into that plumbers tape was almost as fun as smashing a pumpkin out in a field; notice I said almost. Anyways, the mirror was fairly easy to replace. There were no extra pieces to tighten and no worries about scratching up the parts that come with the mirror. Just one piece of mirror to go into the handle bar, tighten and done! That's what I call a piece of cake. Check out what I mean in the video.
If you have been keeping up with our repair files, you'll notice that before the mirror was broken the last person that owned this bike had two different types of mirrors. The mirror with the black rubber thimble is obviously a recent mechanical adjustment on Kawasaki's behalf. This thimble is there to make the structure look neat and to conceal its bits. Now instead of having just one of these, I have a matching set. Quick and easy repairs are the best in my opinion. Okay folks this is Studdly signing off.
Stay tuned for more updates, and be sure to order your copy of the 2011 print edition of Inline Performance Magazine HERE at the pre-order price until supplies last.
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