the first rule in any HAM radio event is "never use VOX".

It never works the way you want it to.

that Platinum 900 looks promising... I think I may need something a little more connected to the bike, though.  thinking of a PTT on the handgrips, somewhere easy to hit.  probably right hand...

I think what I may end up doing is getting a chatterbox thingummy.  I need to do a little more research, but I think with a bit of tweaking, I can make the cell-phone interface work with a radio (CB, HAM, FRS, or GMRS), and then add in the PTT myself.  add in an adapter to run it off the bike, and mount it on the back off the bottom of my luggage rack, in an inconpicuous box....

no, I'm not ambitious... why do you ask?  =]  I think it'll work, actually... just need to figure out a few more details.