Things we used on the trip and what we thought about them. None of us are in any way associated with the companies producing these products, we are just giving our honest opinion of them in case you are interested.

Dan:

Hood Cargo Pants (Army Green) - I was a little nervous ordering pants from Hood (they are across the pond) but it turned out to be a great decision. They arrived in a little over a week, earlier than promised, which was good because it was touch and go whether I would receive them in time. The pants are lined from the waist down to just below the knee with Aramid (kevlar). The fit in finnish is absolutely top quality and they are quite comfortable to wear. The are definitely hotter than straight cotton cargo pants but a lot better than leather. Luckily I have no idea how well they would perform in a crash. Let's hope it stays that way. I am really pleased with these.

Maps - I used a variety of maps, some purchased and some I got free from the states tourist boards. I am particularly partial to Hallwag's Southeast US map which covered the entire tip (readily available) and Accurate Maps North Georgia and Western North Carolina maps. Anyone know of a decent map of Eastern Tennessee?

Chase Harper Alaska Bag - This is as simple as a tail trunk comes. Just a large rectangular bag you compression strap to your bike. It's quite large and very useful. I've used a number of brands of motorcycle luggage over the years and I have always found Chase Harper's quality to be very good. The Alaska Bag is no exception. It has one major flaw though, the way it is designed it cannot be opened while strapped to the bike. I was able to get around this by purchasing some extra plastic clips so that the straps could be separated at the zipper temporarily to gain access to the bag. It was one of these clips that broke during the trip. It could definitely be improved by a factory fix so that access can be gained while it is attached but it's still a good choice and relatively inexpensive (at least for Chase Harper).

Vanson Hurricane Perforated Jacket - (Now called Mark2) I drove all the way out to Vanson in Massachusetts to buy this thing. It's a great jacket but not perfect for me and it wasn't cheap either. The perforation definitely works keeping you cool as long as you are moving. The leather is really thick and the quality of the construction feels top notch. I suspect it would do an exceptional job in the unfortunate event of a crash. On the downside it is quite short, definitely shorter than ideal for me. It is also uncomfortable around the neck with the back of the collar irritating me when I am in anything other than a racer's crouch. I suspect this is at least in part due to my broadness of chest. I still prefer it to my nonventilated Alpinestars jacket which doesn't feel nearly as protective.

Arai Signet Helmet - I was poking around in a NYC motorcycle shop over the winter wishing it were summer when I tried on an Arai. Don't ask me why. I have been using Shoei helmets for years and have never been anything but pleased with their quality. I remember the first Arrai I tried on the face shield was far to close to my nose. Anyway somehow the signet fit me better and really was more comfortable. I think I bought the last one for sale online. I don't know what I will do when it comes time to replace this one. They are so expensive.

Alpinestars SP3 gloves - Fine no frills leather gloves from Alpinestars.

2000 Kawasaki ZX6R - This is a fantastic bike. It was a pleasure all the way to Georgia and never felt out of place on the race track as you can see in other areas of my site. I will miss it (I moved on to a GSXR-750) but I can always visit it with it's new owner Zac. A really truly fantastic bike!