Hanne

So, I have a new helmet! First one in three years, in fact. Picked it up from Colemans Suzuki this morning, and boy does it feel good! There really is nothing like that new helmet feel, and the intense clarity of a brand new scratch-free visor. I remember the first time I experienced one of those. 17 years old, setting off on a three week South Island trip as a pillion. The day before Christmas I realised the visor of the helmet I had been wearing was really not conducive to taking it he panorama so set out to find a helmet of my own. Half an hour before all the stores closed for the Christmas break I came away clutching my prize (or rather, it was clutching my head!). That first ride home was absolutely eye opening. I could not tell if the visor was up or down, it was so clear. Oh, such an enlightening moment! To realise that it is not necessary to choose between the wind or being half blind!

Right, so that is quite enough prosaic musing for one day. Onto the helmet itself. It is an HJC CSR1, complete with a skull on the back. That should really top off the scary biker image and complement my skirt as it floats in the motorway breeze… Overall it is a very masculine helmet, steel grey with wave patterns. Kind of like a transformer. Very snug fit. Riding is quieter already.

Now this helmet has been a wee while in the making. Yes, I was aware I needed a new one. Almost was not allowed out at the ART day, and when travelling in excess of 100km/h it became clear why, as the chin of my old one became very closely acquainted with my skin.
To be fair though, it did do its helmety job very well. On Monday evening my bike decided to do a headstand on Mt Eden Road (flying Suzukis, anyone?). Apparently she is better at acrobatics than me. Said incident left ‘Poppy’ the AX100 is better nick than before! Pre crash the dash lights refused to cooperate, but it seems this bump really woke her up. It had the opposite effect on me, but then most humans do not fare too well when dropped on their heads, so considering I walked away dazed with only a headache, I also came out of this well. Time to clean the drum brakes out, methinks, and also a timely reminder that the AX is NOT the vfr, no matter how hard it may try to pretend. (Yes, they are both red, but that is where the similarities end!)

So, that is my big news of the day, I am looking forward to many adventures with my new hat. May it have as long and varied a life as my last HJC! (although I am hoping this one will retire gracefully, not go out with a bang...)