New gear for the new year. I have wanted the Shoei Daijiro Kato helmet for years, since it was first released as an X-Eleven ten years ago. I'm finally getting my chance with the X-12. Now, this helmet is personal, and honestly it's hard to believe that Daijiro-san has been gone for a decade. I do not know how to honor his memory more than to make the sign of the cross every time I see the number 74, and to wear his lid on my head.
I have to say that I have only felt that perfect fit of a helmet once before, and that was with an HJC RPHA 10. It's a euphoric feeling, a cerebral one, where all elements of the helmet's components fit your head just right. Like a glove doesn't even come close. And it's a feeling that not a lot of us experience from what I hear.
The numbers are staggering the amount of motorcyclists riding around with helmets that are all wrong for their head. Most of the folk that come into our shop simply do not want to bothered with fit, they just want to spend the least amount of money possible to beat the law. Sportbike riders and full-face fans are almost always an exception here, and most seem willing to want the helmet sized to their individual mellon. And this is the fun part, sizing the head, gauging a shape, determining if they're an Arai head, or maybe a Shoei head. Heaven forbid they're a Speed and Strength SS700 head, but it happens.
I noticed that this helmet is also not quite the lightest helmet I've worn. Both Arai and RPHA seem lighter on my head, maybe even balanced better, but this helmet has innate sentimentality tethered to it, like a piece of Daijiro's soul remains with us embodied within. And so I entrust my priceless head to Shoei and to our fallen hero Daijiro Kato for under eight hundred dollars.
While I suffer the effects of fatigue and exhaustion via spin class and countless treadmill miles, I must pass on a one-piece suit momentarily. However, at 36 years of age I believe my feet have finally, gratefully, stopped growing, and am going with a pair of Alpinestars Supertech boots.
Having tried on a regular customer's newest pair I was hooked the moment I laced up the inner bootie. Immediately I felt comfortable in this boot. Walking is weird and while not uncomfortable, it's not something you'd want to power walk in. This isn't news. This boot is designed to slow down potential injury to your foot and knee, and the technology built into this boot is beyond my necessary comprehension; it works, Casey Stoner says so. Marc Marquez says so. I'm going to agree with champions...
However, I'll leave a full review of the boot until I get done my first ride. Right now, I'm in love. I have high hopes for this boot. I plan to tour in this boot, commute, and track day rides galore. I wear a 13 US shoe. I only needed the 12.5 boot, and even that felt roomy and comfortable. I'll update again in Spring, which by my calculations is only 90 cold and overcast days away oh god please go by quick I hate this...
