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View Full Version : Breakin' In The Stitch


Docspeed
02-23-2004, 10:45 PM
I got caught up in the winter lack of good riding blues, and like everyone turned to the internet for my motorcycle fix. My credit card exploded. I bought a one piece Aerostitch Roadcrafter under the guise of being able to use it to ride to work over my scrubs. Of course I had to replace the old Joe Rocket Blaster boots (now on sale on Ebay Item No. 2461530247) with some Oxtar Matrix Gortex boots. But I was so well dressed that I had to be comfortable to so I ordered Helibars.

So off I was on the break in tour. I headed out as soon as my daughter got on the bus for school. It took me more that 10 seconds to get the Stitch on , but this is break in right. Slower speeds. I took 2920 west to Waller and caught 362 south (4 real nice sweepers just south of Waller)headed for 1458 west (Racer's Road) via 359 north. After a nice curvy ride I headed to 36 north up to 949 west( another nice road). Next turn was onto 1094 west over to 1291 west headed for Fayetteville. This road had a section of tight nicely paved turns through pasture land, so you can see all the way thru the turn. Skipped past 237 onto 2981 west to 2145 south to 77 north to 153 west. About this time, the reserve bar started to pulse, and I was no where near gas so I headed up 2104 north for 290 west and into Giddings for gas and barbeque at the Gidding Barbeque. Good tasting barbeque and all the fixings at a reasonable price. But there were no chairs only benches, but the Heli bars had done their job and I wasn't tired at all after 180 miles non stop.

Headed out of Giddings on 141 north to 1697 then onto 2780 west(not on your highway map) . A very nice road with fast sweepers, tight technical turns and a really long straight. Back to 1697 south and into Burton where I picked up 390 west. This is a great road for scenery and riding fun. But I headed north on 1948 to run the south side of Lake Sommerville. I really like this road. I recommend you ride it if in the area. Stopped at Overlook Park for a picture.

http://images.ofoto.com/photos272/9/59/49/49/86/0/86494959905_0_ALB.jpg
Maybe someday I will figure out how to make this work.

Then it was down 36 south back to 390 west and over to 105 south. I caught 2193 (some nasty tar snakes at the beginning) east over to 1155 south for the run back down to 290. This road has a long straight hilly section where you can open it up. Then back down 290 east to 1736 north. This is one of my favorite roads for a 2 hour trip, and I wasn't going to pass it by. I hit 1488 and jumped right across to 362 south back to 2920 and home, where I had started 300 miles and 6 hours ago.

The Stitch performed great. It was 55-60 degrees most of the way and with just a tee shirt and jeans I was never cold. They said it takes at least 3-100 mile rides to break it in, so I thought 1-300 mile ride would do the trick, and it did. The boots were very comfortable and the Helibars were well worth the money. The back of my neck gets tired after a long ride(holding up my 7 5/8 head), and today there was no pain. I wished I had run up to Rockdale to run 908. I haven't done that one yet. But that will be an excuse to do it all again.

****, ain't riding motorcyles fun :chug:

Dirtrideroader
02-23-2004, 11:05 PM
The only problem I have with my stitch is that now my wife wants me to buy one for the girls. I am trying to stall until I can figure out how tall they are going to get. Not something I want to replace too many times.

I have a two piece. I bought the Nikwax Tech Wash and Wash in waterproofing. It works great.

Tourmeister
02-23-2004, 11:44 PM
Skipped past 237 onto 2981 west to 2145 south to 77 north to 153 west.

:tab Paul and I came back from Austin on this section Sunday afternoon. We were running on 153 when we hit US 77. Rather than run all the way down to La Grange and then back up 2154 to get to 2981, we took a road that cuts directly over between 153 and 2981. It started out paved for a mile or so and then went to washboard gravel. I mean big chunks of tire jolting gravel! We were feeling adventurous and continued on despite the gravel. Nothing vibrated off the bike but it felt like it would any second. We cruised along about 20mph and in about five minutes came out on the other side. If it were paved it would be a nice little section of road. Even better, had I been on a GS I would not have given it a second thought :-P

:tab Glad you had a good time.

Adios,

sphpkr
02-24-2004, 06:14 AM
Sounds like a great way to spend a day! I'm fond of 1948 up near the lake too. :-)

buck000
02-24-2004, 09:13 AM
I have a two piece. I bought the Nikwax Tech Wash and Wash in waterproofing. It works great.

Yup, I just did that with my 2-piece, as well. The suit is super-soft now, all the more reason to go riding... :chug:

Dirtrideroader
02-24-2004, 09:46 AM
I have a two piece. I bought the Nikwax Tech Wash and Wash in waterproofing. It works great.

Yup, I just did that with my 2-piece, as well. The suit is super-soft now, all the more reason to go riding... :chug:

Not only that, but it seems to lube the zippers and makes it slide on the seat better. Which has it's pluses and minuses.

buck000
02-24-2004, 12:25 PM
Not only that, but it seems to lube the zippers and makes it slide on the seat better. Which has it's pluses and minuses.

Precisely! Man, talk about parallel universes. I love the easy-sliding zippers, and am a bit freaked about the easy sliding butt. :shock: That's wearing off pretty quickly, though...

Tourmeister
02-24-2004, 12:39 PM
and am a bit freaked about the easy sliding butt. That's wearing off pretty quickly, though...

I'm not gonna touch that with a proverbial ten foot pole!! :brainsnap :moon:

You guys are really making me want to spend money I don't have right now to get me a stich!! :evil:

Adios,

Dirtrideroader
02-24-2004, 01:28 PM
When BMW has there next low financing special, just go buy you a 1200GS and a couple of Roadcrafters. If you are going to spend money you don't have, might as well do it right.

Then, let's do an all gravel SS1k. Not sure where you would find that many connected gravel roads, but I have read about someone doing that.

buck000
02-24-2004, 02:42 PM
I thought the BMW Law specifies Dariens for GSs and Roadcrafters for the other models... ;-)

Valker
02-24-2004, 03:15 PM
Aerostich.com frequently has used ones available for a big discount. :eek:

Valker
02-24-2004, 03:34 PM
They have a size 36 Roadcrafter for $200 off...Makes it $677. Click on the sale. They have a 2 piece also. If you know someone who live in Duluth, MN, or Superior, WI, Aerostich gives 10% off for walk ins. :-D

Docspeed
02-24-2004, 07:50 PM
I bought the Nikwax Tech Wash and Wash in waterproofing. It works great.




Ok what's with this stuff? Where do you get it? When do you use it? :eek: I too want to feel the easy sliding zippers and the slick butt :chug:

buck000
02-24-2004, 09:47 PM
I bought the Nikwax Tech Wash and Wash in waterproofing. It works great.

Ok what's with this stuff? Where do you get it? When do you use it? :eek: I too want to feel the easy sliding zippers and the slick butt :chug:

I got mine at R.E.I. in Austin. Academy didn't have anything, but I'd imagine any other decent outdoor rec. place would have it.

Hmmmm...maybe...surf surf...aha! Dealer locator (http://www.nikwax-usa.com/locator.asp)...

Valker
02-24-2004, 10:01 PM
Here's where I bought mine: http://www.aerostich.com/riderwearhouse.store :chug:

Dirtrideroader
02-25-2004, 09:02 AM
Ok what's with this stuff? Where do you get it? When do you use it? :eek: I too want to feel the easy sliding zippers and the slick butt.

I ordered mine from www.campmor.com

I would only use it when the suit gets really funky.

Docspeed
02-25-2004, 10:11 AM
Thanks for the info guys :-D :-D