Bell Custom 500 Helmet

Bell Custom 500 Helmet

This is the Matte Orange Metallic colour

The Bell Custom 500 is DOT approved

I find these helmets fit snug, so be careful when ordering online, for best results I recommend trying them on first at a dealer and you will be sure to have a proper fit. The great part about these helmets is that they have 5 shell and liner sizes. This is great for riders with a small or medium size head, you no longer have to wear a helmet that was made to also fit an XXL size person. 

I purchased a 3 snap Flip-up Shield with a light smoke tint. There is also a Bubble Shield available. The shield can easily be removed if you choose to ride without it.

This helmet has great style and in the sunlight the metallic looks great. It has a very comfortable quilted liner. The shell is fiberglass, and it has a padded chin strap with D-Ring closure. 

 I have found that it is a great helmet and there is hardly any noticeable wind buffeting at highway speeds, as there are no air vents and the wind will travel easily over the helmet. But because there are no air vents you can get quite warm on those hot days.

Borrowing Sam's 2014 Yamaha Bolt R-Spec

It was a beautiful morning and I decided it was a great day to go for a ride. I felt curious about my son Sam's 2014 Yamaha Bolt that was parked in our garage collecting dust. Sam is up in Northern Alberta working and his bike must be feeling neglected I thought. Being a mom I felt bad for the little guy, so I grabbed my cell phone and shot off a text to my son asking if it was okay to take his bike out for a ride. Sam answered back quickly with a message that read "Go for it" which was great to see. Woohoo!

First off I don't like borrowing peoples things as it makes me nervous to think of wrecking something and having to deal with the guilt and then replacing their property. But for some reason today was different and I really wanted to take his motorcycle for a spin.

Sam has put on some really nice accessories that I think make his Bolt R-Spec look really cool. He changed out the stock seat and replaced it with a springer bobber solo seat in a rich oxblood and black colour. He added a brass speedometer visor (to help with sun glare), rear fender rack, highway pegs, quick-release windshield, and oxblood colour leather saddlebags. I think these accessories make his bike look awesome. These parts were all ordered through our local Yamaha dealer and arrived quickly, with no hassles.

Nice scenic roads riding a Yamaha Bolt R-Spec

 I ride scooters and also a 2009 Suzuki Gladius. So the first thing I notice when starting off on the Bolt is the friction point on the clutch is really different from my Gladius. On the Bolt you have to find it while letting out the clutch lever and it's a lot farther than I'm used to, where on the Gladius it is almost instant. So I found myself revving the motor a lot more while trying to get used to it when leaving from a stop, kinda embarrassing but I'm just going out with my husband so there will be only one witness to my learning curve . Not a big deal, I will just have to get used to it. I decide the nice country roads will be perfect while I get accustomed to the differences between this motorcycle and the ones I'm used to.

The riding position is really different for me as I am used to being in an upright position and sitting higher up on my bikes. With the lower seat height of  27.2"/690 mm, sitting on a low springer seat and with a straight arm reach slightly upwards to the handlebars I instantly know this is different territory for me. But it makes you quickly feel like a young rebel and that's okay. The inner child will have some playtime today.

We head out on the road and I am instantly laughing in my helmet. The sound from this cruisers air cooled 942cc V-twin is awesome and makes you feel like your riding a slightly tamed beast. My inner child is already having fun and I feel my older years shedding from my body with every kilometer I drive. I am now starting to understand why so many people own and drive cruisers. I used to think they were a little confused and must have never read a motorcycle review on cruisers as most are very negative, as I have read many, and always thought to myself they were not the bike for me. Maybe after today everything will make sense.

Traveling on rough roads you will for sure feel the imperfections of the pavement coming up into your seat area. But I found it tolerable and compared it to the same feeling as when I owned my Jeep TJ, it's definitely not a Cadillac ride but I am still having fun. And I bought my Jeep because it was a Jeep, back then I felt Cadillac's were for old people and Jeeps were for the cool people, boy has time flew by because now I am the old gal needing the comfy ride. But today is different, I wanna experience a different kind of fun.

We travel into a quiet town called Warburg and go to a gas station for a snack. While walking around the store I notice that there are now Oreo ice cream sandwiches in Birthday cake, well who knew?! I gotta try one of those with a cold Coca-Cola. Outside I guzzle down my cola and realize that I was a lot more thirstier than I thought, next time I will get a bottle of water, the coke did nothing for my thirst. The ice cream was good and the inner child was getting spoiled and feeling happier, well even the older me was having a good time, an ice cream is always nice on a warm day, and with a motorcycle ride included, it adds up to a great time.

A great day on Sam's Yamaha Bolt

A couple months ago my husband had bought an antique tractor seat to put on the Bolt to help my son with lower body pain caused by the suspension having shorter travel which can cause you to have a rough ride on some roads. Sam's previous motorcycle was a Kawasaki Versys and he found out on a trip to B.C. that a cruiser can be unforgiving at times if you get on a poor maintained highway. Before going out on our ride I had asked my husband if he could switch out the tractor seat. It came off easily and Dave had put the bobber seat back on for me, it took him less than 5 minutes. I found with my leg length the tractor seat was horrible and not going to work for me. However Sam and Dave both like the tractor seat and how it provides a bigger sitting area, and also the higher springs he put on it absorb the bumps way better. I love the look of this bike with the bobber seat and would keep it on even if it's not as comfortable as a touring seat. To me, it just looks so good.

 I love the sound of the Bolt's engine, the strong acceleration, and the disc brakes worked well. I also like that the curb weight is only 246 kg/542 lbs. and it was easy to move around when parking, which for me is great, as I am only 5' 5" and that is extremely important to me. A couple things I would like to have if I was to buy this motorcycle would be a fuel gauge and brighter signal light indicator on the LCD digital meter assembly (instrument panel), I found it to be too light to see at a quick glance on a sunny day. But if they are trying to keep it all old school cool, it works.

Out for the Day with my husband Dave and his 2008 Kawasaki Concours 

On our ride returning home my Bell 500 helmet decided it was time to have a snap on my visor unscrew while cruising at 110 kph and a very quick stop on the side of the road was in order as I didn't want my visor blowing completely off and maybe breaking or being lost in the ditch. I was very thankful and relieved that my husband had a full tool kit on his Kawasaki Concours as I really didn't want to take Sam's bike apart to find his. We did a quick fix to my helmet on the side of the road and off we went. Going down the road I got stuck behind a slower moving car and decided that it was time to see what this bike could do. As soon as I entered a passing zone that was safe, I passed the car quickly and with no fuss, and was quite surprised to glance down at the speedo to see  that I was traveling at 136 kph. The bike felt solid and I was quite impressed with how quickly it reached that speed. We travel in a high RCMP patrolled tourist area so I decided that was enough shenanigans for the day, I was not interested in getting a speeding ticket.

2014 Yamaha Bolt R-Spec with a tractor seat

We went through some twisty corners and the Bolt was a lot of fun, I had a grin on my face the whole time. I didn't of course take the corners at lightening speeds as I was still learning the capabilities of the bike and also I had no interest in making the call to my son that I had wrecked his Bolt. I know Sam has told me he can easily scrape the pegs on it but today I did not experience it. Maybe with longer seat time and a nice ride in the Nakusp B.C. area it would happen to me also.

Later we traveled on a short dirt road, the Bolt did great and handled the situation really well. Never did I feel nervous or not in control.  I was happy when we returned home. Nothing better than parking a borrowed bike still in the same condition you borrowed it in. With only the extra kilometers on it to show I had taken it for a ride and a little less fuel, all was good. My fuel light never came on so we didn't have to make a fuel stop. The fuel capacity on this motorcycle is 12 litres/2.6 Imp. gal. which is really good.

I would for sure take the Yamaha Bolt out again for a longer ride. The seat wouldn't be great for touring but with a gel cushion it could be quite tolerable. You can purchase through Yamaha a Mustang Solo wide touring seat, which I would recommend for long day rides. The bobber seat has thinner foam so it's not a real soft comfy seat but it does look cool, so you have to decide if a motorcycle looking really cool is a more important quality than your comfort. When we had stopped previously for a break after 45 minutes of riding I had a little fatigue starting in my lower back but our 20 minute break was great. I felt good when I returned to riding again.

So maybe today you have found yourself pondering the thought of borrowing your son or daughter's motorcycle for the day, I say go for it! You might be pleasantly surprised with their choices and get to try something different. It might also make you become more understanding of why people choose the rides they choose. I know I will look at cruisers a lot more differently and understand what it is about this style of bike that a lot of North Americans gravitate to. I still prefer a sportier motorcycle or scooter but would not hesitate if I was far from home on holidays and wanted to rent a motorcycle to do some touring. I also like the thought of someday in the future if Sam decides to sell his Bolt I might just be it's next owner. Life is short and you have to make it a priority to have some fun, with a Yamaha Bolt that can easily happen.

Ladies Scorpion Exo Dahlia Motorcycle Jacket

Awesome day with my 2009 Suzuki Gladius wearing a Scorpion Dahlia jacket

One of my favorite motorcycle jackets I wear regularly is a Scorpion Exo Dahlia textile jacket. Today while riding in the Buck Lake area I felt compelled to write a review. It was a beautiful day for a ride and as usual I was wearing one of my favorite jackets.

Buck Lake, Alberta

Comfort
First off I have lots of problems fitting into ladies motorcycle jackets. My body is an apple shape and most of my weight likes to stay around my tummy, chest, and back area so it is really difficult to find a jacket that is not super tight. Most ladies motorcycle jackets are so snug in my trouble areas that I always have to go up a size. There are zippers located on each side of your hip that you can unzip and it allows you to increase the lower tummy area. This feature is also great for extra comfort while riding. There are straps on both sides of the hip area with buckles that you can adjust, so on your thinner days you can tighten your jacket, and while travelling on vacation when you are indulging on fantastic food, you can loosen them. There are zippers located at the cuff for gloves that you are tucking inside your sleeve. I also like that this jacket is longer in the torso area so I have more protection in cold weather.

Pockets
This Scorpion jacket comes with 2 outside pockets with zippers, and an inside pocket with a zipper (while wearing it this pocket is located chest level on left side). I wear an iPod and listen to music only in one ear while traveling so this inside pocket is great. It is big enough to hold spare keys, also insurance and registration if required.

Riding in cold weather
I have rode in plenty of crappy weather conditions. I have found this jacket to be very warm and comfortable enough to allow me to wear an extra layer of clothes underneath. I really like the removable liner as it has a full sleeve. Be careful buying jackets on the internet as a lot of them do not describe the liners. I just received a new Speed & Strength jacket that I ordered online through ebay and it only has a partial liner with no sleeves, not great when the weather turns nasty, but it was my own fault for not inquiring first before ordering. I was riding recently north of Edmonton when the weather was cold and overcast, the temperature hovering around 11 degrees Celsius with a wind that chilled all the riders to the bone. I wore my Klim long sleeved thermal shirt under my clothes and I was still pretty cold, at one point we drove through rain. This jacket is good for keeping you warm if it's a slightly chilly day with sunshine but if the weather is really bad I recommend a thicker touring jacket.

This jacket has a longer torso design and is great for warmth and safety

Riding in hot weather
During motorcycle trips to British Columbia in the summer I have experienced days riding in 35 degrees Celsius and this jacket is a real pleasure. The inside liner can easily and quickly be unzipped and there in one snap located at the inside cuff of each sleeve that need to be unsnapped to remove it. There are also zippered air vents located at each shoulder and one on the upper back. I love white jackets for how cool they keep the rider, it's nice to be stopped in traffic and not feel like your baking alive in your gear. Of course the downfall is they show the dirt quicker.

Enjoying the scenic and casual country roads

Style
Let me tell you I have received plenty of complements on this jacket. I have had ladies in wash rooms wanting to check it out! The embroidery has been done nicely and the back has flowers on it. This is really pretty, and I have had men in parking lots take pictures of it to show their wives when they get home. The sleeves have a different embroidery on each side, one has Scorpion going up the arm, and the other sleeve has flowers on a stem. Both are done in a nice light pink colour. I bought mine at Argyll Motorsports in Edmonton. The second I saw it on the rack I had to own it, when everything else is black or plain, this one just stood out right away. I am glad I did buy it, I have never seen another lady rider wearing one. I have seen many jackets like this one for sale on ebay. It is available in white, or black which has red embroidery flowers instead of pink and nice red stripes where mine are black. Just watch for them to be listed as some are still new or you can buy a used one at a decent price, you won't be able to buy it at a power sport dealer as it is no longer made but some online motorcycle sites are still selling them as non-current stock. I think I paid just under $200 for mine brand new about 4 years ago. You might also see one on Kijiji so if you are interested keep an eye on that site also.

Great day for a ride in rural Alberta

Cleaning
I knew when buying this jacket and all my other white ones that they would have to be machine washable. Instructions for this jacket is: Machine washable in cold water. I have a front loader washing machine and have had no problems with this jacket. I take all the safety pads out first before cleaning as they will gradually fall apart after continuous washing. The bugs of course are a problem and this white jacket gets washed at least 3 times a summer. So far it is holding up well with only a thread in the shoulder coming slightly loose at the end. Not a problem as the seam is still good. I also take the inside liner out of the jacket when cleaning and wash it also. It is in really good condition considering how many times they have been through the washing machine.

 Embroidery on the back of my jacket is still perfect after many riding seasons

Water Proof
This textile jacket is labeled: Water Proof. I can tell you that today I drove through some afternoon showers and it worked great, the rain lasted about 20 minutes and I was dry when I got home. On other riding trips I have experienced a full day of heavy rain and I can say it will only go so long before the water will start to seep through the material. If the forecast shows lots of rain, have a rain suit packed and ready just in case. The good news is when you get to the hotel and hang this jacket up it will be dry by morning. I remove the inside liner if it is really damp so both will be dry and ready to wear the next day.

Safety Features
This jacket has Exo Skeletal Protection with shoulder pads, elbow pads, and also a spine protection pad. I have found some jackets to be really uncomfortable in the sleeves with the bulk of protection pads but this jacket is designed well, and the safety features don't make you hate wearing the coat. The jacket has some weight but is not heavy enough to cause discomfort, at least not for me. There is also reflective piping at the shoulders and back for drivers to see you at night.

My final thoughts are that I have no regrets buying this Scorpion Exo Dahlia jacket. I have enjoyed wearing it so much that I will not hesitate to buy another Scorpion brand jacket in the future. I hope they will keep this amount of comfort in all their future designs. I live in Alberta, Canada and believe me we can leave in the morning with sunshine and warm weather, only to return home driving through rain and hail. Thank-you to Scorpion for making a jacket that offers all these features to keep us safe and warm.