First Farkles for a beginning Sport Tourer...

[KokomoSam]

There is no end to the money you can spend on farkles, but like so many things there are some cheap ones that offer serious bang for buck.  Having been riding for a few years now I thought I would share what I felt was the best money spent on farkles in a bang for buck sense.


My must-buy recommendations for a new sport touring rider are:

1. Throttle Rocker http://www.throttlerocker.com/ ~$11
My first longer ride was only a few hours away on the slab, but my wrist was killing me on the way home.  I was so uncomfortable that I had to stop and take a break often.  My riding partner had a throttle rocker and cruise control and he took pity on my and gave me his throttle rocker for the rest of the ride home.  I have never ridden without a throttle rocker since. *WARNING*   you have to be careful how you set the angle of the rocker or you can accidentily goose the engine, especially in sow speed maneuvers.  Having said that I took the ERC with it on and never had an issue.  Just give it a try first in a safe area.

2. Sheepskin Buttpad http://www.alaskaleather.com/ ~$35 - $50
I only made this purchase last season and I sure wish I had done it sooner. It was the biggest improvement butt comfort I have found.  I have tried the Suzuki gel seat, a Spencer custom and the stock seat on my Bandit.   The best money spent on all of that is the sheepskin


so those are my top two.   Can anyone else think of anything else?

Sam

[Lawn Dart]

First Farkles!  WOOOHOOOO!  

1.  Caterpiller Rubber O-Ring for a throttle lock.  (Never did like the T-Rocker)

2.  e-Vest.  Maybe technically not a Farkle but wow, talk about a game changer!

3.  Sheepskin = good.  An old used Corbin or Mayer = better!  I remember my first Corbin - it was ugly as sin and well used but cost me all of $50 and was priceless.

4.  That first Tankbag.  Don't matter which one...just great stuff.

[mnb]

Zumo 550 ... and some etymotic ER-6i earphones

Hard bags.  Softbags are for softies.  And people that want to get ripped off.  Tank bags get in the way.

Corbin.

Heated grips.

[miles]

Luggage.

Heated grips and an electric vest.  


Those would be my two top recommendations.

[Stray Cat]

Heated grips are the numero uno farkle. I use mine at some point almost every month of the year!

[atypical1]

Skip the farkles for your bike and spend the money on farkles for you.

Get good gear that you like to wear and take a track school. That's the best money you will spend and will help ensure you live long enough to use the other fun farkles that are out there.

james

[Zixxerpilot]

The one thing I recommend to all new ST riders is a tank bag. You'll find that you actually use it on every ride. It's so handy, and can be taken from bike to bike for years.

[KokomoSam]

Zumo 550 ... and some etymotic ER-6i earphones

Hard bags.  Softbags are for softies.  And people that want to get ripped off.  Tank bags get in the way.

Corbin.

Heated grips.

Wow!  a Zumo 550 is a bit expensive for a first farkle...  Although I did put hard bags on every bike within a week of getting it.

I actually don't have heated grips installed myself.   I will be adding those this winter.

Sam

[caddydaddy]

My first farkle was some bar risers.  That was just the beginning of a long list of farkles!  

[KenH]

First, ATGATT.

Second, comfort.

After that, he with the most toys wins.

[jfurf]

Wow!  a Zumo 550 is a bit expensive for a first farkle...  Although I did put hard bags on every bike within a week of getting it.

I actually don't have heated grips installed myself.   I will be adding those this winter.

Sam

I've found SUPER CHEAP prices on the Garmin 2720 out there. I really want one... even though that model isn't the latest and greatest.

[Fun Dog]

Great thread.

Tail pack.  I don't have a magnetic tank and don't want to strap on a tank bag (I just said strap-on ).  You can use just about anything for a tail pack as long as you have a good way to anchor it to the back seat.  I have used coolers, dry bags, and most recently a Pelican Case.  I use a converted back-pack for my present "day" tail pack in which I carry all the essentials I need on a 1 to 5 hour ride:  tire pump, tire plugs, rain gear, extra visor for when the sun goes down, small tool kit, maps, and visor wipes.

The best attributes of my favorite tail packs are accessibility and waterproofness.

[jsanford]

I've found SUPER CHEAP prices on the Garmin 2720 out there. I really want one... even though that model isn't the latest and greatest.

Indeed, my Streetpilot 2610 was cheap, and I didn't need the frou-frou bluetooth or tunes interface.
Remanufactured-by-Garmin 550s are out there for under $500, though.

I second the recommendation that the first farkles be a Corbin and heated grips.  Mine were a modulating headlight and flashing LED taillight, though.  Third was an engine guard so I could drop the bike with confidence.

To my mind, a "farkle" is a nonessential--gear and training aren't in the same category.  

[hovmaven]

Used aerostich -- great value, unbeatable utility and performance.  

A bungee net.  

[Phenix_Rider]

Good gear and grip heaters.  Then a tailbag or backpack.

[denisep]

I had heated grips put on my bike in August when I bought it...   the mechanics laughed...

You never know when the parkway will be chilly and you have summer gloves on......

#2 = frame sliders...  (just in case)

[TheFlyingDavenport]

#1 A good helmet!  A nice lid will make riding so much more comfortable.  

#2 Big Ol Tankbag!  That changed riding for me forever.  Once I found I can go and get stuff on my bike, I started thinking about touring, and that changed how I ride forever.

#3 Luggage.  Screw the car, go shopping on your bike!

[bomber]

+1 on the tank bag! Transfers from bike to bike, used on every ride, can't do without mine.

Lights -- if your'e a city/suburban dweller, and you haven't ridden much in teh Thulies, you will be surprised at:

1 how dark it gets out beyond, and

2 how useless most motorcycle headlights are.

[Zerosum]

Definately luggage.  I use a Givi clone top case that only cost $70:

http://www.sport-touring.net/forums/index.php/topic,22877.0.html

Prior to that, I had never had a luggage case on a bike.  It was great to be able to carry things without having to break out the bungee cords.

[jfurf]

I'm finding that I really really really want a GPS. I've been riding up in the mountains and just have no idea where these unfamiliar roads lead...