Gear/headlamp/flashlight question

[asobi]

So I happened upon this interesting light and picked it up for my car's glovebox, figuring that it would make the ideal emergency light - long battery life, three separate battery compartments so backup can be ensured, and a tripod for roadside use.

http://www.webbikeworld.com/flashlight/tripod-flashlight/

But it's a bit large to carry around on every trip when I'm on my motorcycle.  I'm now thinking a headlamp might be a better option to stow in my backpack while riding.  Until now I had been packing a 2AA mini-maglite but I'm realizing that a small light like that won't be helpful if I need to do any sort of quick fix on the bike on the side of the road at night.  Of course, the odds of this happening in the worst case scenario (cloudy night, no streetlights, no gas station nearby) are slim to none so maybe I'm just preparing for that MacGyver moment that will never arrive.  What do you guys carry, if anything?

Also, on a different subject, anyone have any good results with the Bohn armored pants?  http://bohnarmor.com/catalog/proddetail.php?prod=BGLC

Or, anyone use a breathguard?  http://www.respro.com/popup_foggy.php
I'm about sick of my faceshield fogging up and the sprays don't seem to work.


edit: also, does anyone know how to find a list of the posts you've made?  The search function isn't working for me and I want to see if anyone replied to a topic I posted a while ago.

[bobthebiker]

I dont know about the flashlight. but my Scorpion EXO 400 helmet came with one of those little guards to keep it from fogging up.  they work quite well. get one.   

Those bohn pants things, look absolutely worthless.  get perforated leather if you want protected and cool. those pants, the first time you go down, your knees and such will be ok, but your thighs will be hamburger meat.

[s4gs]

Don't carry a light. Don't think anyone does.

Ive got a Progrip insert which works well.

If you cant find the thread your looking for via the search feature or by scrolling through the pages till it comes up, then click your user name. You details will come up. At the bottom of the page click "show last post of this person". Then just scroll through till you find it. When you find the one your looking for, click the title & the page will come up.  Easy as.

[ohgood]

Any flashlight with a LED instead of a bulb is cool. LED's will take the shock better when you're fumbling on the side of the road. If you superglue/jbweld a magnet on the side and back of it, you've got a flashlight that doesn't require hands/tripods. 20 lb pull magnets are awesome for this.

The only pants/jackets I would call 'safe' anymore are full on leathers, the hot and expensive kind. If you only look at the pictures, you'll understand why:

http://home1.gte.net/res0ak9f/bike.htm

[Kerry]

I also pack a Mini MagLite in my jacket pocket, but it's a REAL drag to hold that metal thing in your teeth when you need both hands.  And compared to today's LED headlamps, its light is looking more and more dim to me....

On camping trips (or anytime I think I might be riding at night) I toss my [PrincetonTec Quad] into the tankbag.

[asobi]

I dont know about the flashlight. but my Scorpion EXO 400 helmet came with one of those little guards to keep it from fogging up.  they work quite well. get one.   

Those bohn pants things, look absolutely worthless.  get perforated leather if you want protected and cool. those pants, the first time you go down, your knees and such will be ok, but your thighs will be hamburger meat.

I was looking for something I might wear for every day commuting, something that I don't mind slipping on, and I was choosing between those Bohn pants and a pair of armored jeans...I figured with the tailbone pad, the hip pads, and the knee/shin pads, the Bohn might take care of most common road rash sites better than most armored jeans do for the same cost, and I could wear anything I want on top of it.  I guess I'll still think about getting a pair of leathers for long-distance rides, but for short commutes I'm probably not going to put those on every day.

How would you compare the Bohn armor to a pair of Alpinestars textile pants, say these?  http://www.motostrano.com/edgedrystar.html

edit: For some context, I already have and wear (every time) an Alpinestars leather jacket with RC back protector, MotoGP leather gloves, Frank Thomas boots, and obviously a helmet.  I'm just looking to complete the last piece.

[scratch]

The Bohn armor system is the best you can get short of race leathers with armor.  Of course, I would wear my $50 Fieldsheer Carbolex overpants over them as well.

What kind of helmet do you wear would determine my answer for fog protection?

FogCity ProShield would be my most likely answer.  Followed by Shoei's Pinlock system which I just recently bought, but it's only for Shoei helmets/shields.  I would favor the FogCity shield over the Pinlock system for a wider peripherial vision, but the Pinlock system is easier to install (and a little more expensive).  Beginner riders may find the pins on the Pinlock system distracting.

In your pm to me, you had asked about which is more important: abrasion or impact protection.  I would say abrasion is more important, because if you know how to fall (ragdoll), impacts are minimal.  Now, I know many of you may disagree, but I am merely speaking from my experience (21 years).

Flashlight - good idea; eat lots of carrots.

Now, as far as the Alpinestar Drystar pants go, I would choose them over the Bohn system if I had to choose one or the other (including my choice of pants over the Bohn armour).  One of the reasons is that the Drystars have 1200 denier in the seat, which is why I would choose the TourMaster pants in my previous posts (high denier-age).

[asobi]

Thought I'd add this helpful link to the thread:

http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycle-helmets/visors/fog-city-progrip.htm