Product Review: Griot's Garage 3" Random Orbital Polisher, Bag, & Accessory Kit!

I've been wanting some sort of polisher for a years.. Have always found a reason why NOT to buy one, but as I have a newly painted black motorcycle that scratches when the wind blows, last week I sucked it up and bought one. After the typical anal research and conversations with guys who use them at local body shops, I ended up buying the 3" Random Orbital Polisher Kit from Griot's Garage. If you are unfamiliar with Griots.. they are one of if not the premier high-end shops for expensive car care goodies. I've been buying waxes from them for years. As for the polisher, I will primarily use it on motorcycles, so there was no need to buy a 6" or larger size.

While I could have bought only the random Orbital polisher for $80, Griot's had a foofoo fancy kit offered for $134.99 with all the accessories I'd need to appease my inner demons. The kit includes a water resistant carry bag, the 3" Professional Random Orbital, 8 ounces of "Best of Show" Wax, Machine Polish Liquid #3, an orange polishing pad, red waxing pad, plus (3) micro fiber polish removal cloths and wax removal cloths. Basically everything you need for minor scratch removal and/or polishing.

After reading the short manual and watching Griots on-line videos showing how to polish... and how NOT to polish I sucked it up, did a painless test run on some helmet scratches, then dove in on my first scratch removal on the new Duc hoping I wouldn't screw up like I did that day over Macho Grande. One of my friends (I won't name names) inadvertently drug his boot across my newly painted tail section causing a 3" shallow scratch. Deeper than the typical paint swirls but only in the clear coat. Geezz.. The perfect candidate for experimentation... The scratch.. not my friend.... although..

Product Review: Dunlop Qualifier Performance Radials

I admit, I'm a Pirelli fan. I use them on all my bikes. They are predictable, confidence inspiring, neutral at any angle, reasonably priced, and allow me to humiliate my friends on the street and/or track with gleeful abandon. These days there are lots of good tires on the market and we, as Americans, should try different things no matter how deviant or perverted so we don't get stuck in a freakin' rut. If you ask any 7 riders what's their favorite tire.. you'll probably get 7 different answers for 7 different reasons.

Recently I purchased a second set of wheels for my track bike and on one of the wheels was a brand, spanking new rear 190 x 55/17 Dunlop Qualifier. Rather than sell it on eBay, I bought a front tire to go with it and decided to mount and evaluate on my 2006 K1200S. Seemed prudent.

I'll not go into all the technical aspects of the manufacturing process (as honestly I don't know or care) but rather .. only my real world impressions after a thousand miles. For the first few hundred miles.. I didn't like them. Too much turn-in due to the "peaked" profile. This might be a great attribute on some track bikes but I don't like it on the street, but you get used to it after a while and like a cockroach... you adapt. Warm up time is as good as the Pirellis and while I only rode in the rain once.. grip was not an issue. In the dry, the Qualifiers held every bit as well as the Pirelli Corsa 3's which kinda surprised me. Wear after 1000 miles seemed as good or better than Pirelli Corsa 3s. I fully expect to get at least 2500 miles out of these.

So how are the Dunlops in the twisties? Well... on the BMW K1200S... pretty damn good. I'd still prefer the Pirellis due to their "neutral" characteristics, but otherwise.. the Qualifiers are a worthy option for the sport bike aficionado, IMHO.. Motorcycle-Superstore seems to have some of the best pricing on them if interested.

Company Review Conclusion: JC Motors Motorcycle Transport: The Agony and the Ecstasy / Part 2

In our September Cheesy Newsletter, I detailed the harrowing saga of transporting my 2006 K1200S from Asheville, NC to Sacramento, Ca and back so I could attend the Sierra Gold Rush rally. It began when I had contracted JC Motors Motorcycle Transport. Things didn't go too smoothly at the beginning and honestly.. this Pirate was paranoid about the safety of Excalibur. Here's part two of the story.

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On September 12th, after 5 hours in the air (courtesy of Delta airlines) and a $60 cab ride with Sahib the non-English speaking, hygienically challenged Indonesian, I arrived at JC Motors Motorcycle Transport's warehouse in Sacramento to pick up my bike for the California rally. Cleverly, instead of trusting the airlines with my gear and clothes, I FedEx'ed all my stuff directly to the Sonora Days Inn so all I carried with me on the plane was my backpack, my helmet, my riding boots, my leather jacket, and a tin of Mango flavored Altoids.

Weeks of fears quickly disappeared as soon as they rolled out my bike. After a quick inspection... there wasn't a scratch on it..Woohoo! I signed the appropriate paperwork, suited up for the 98 mile ride, and quickly discovered my battery was nearly dead. Damn! This was a result of a month of NOT riding the bike prior to the JC Motors pick-up because of the ball joint problems AND 3 dormant weeks in their possession.. Nobody's fault.. Fortunately, after asking the company dispatcher for a jump, they had me up and running in less than 15 minutes and on my way to Sonora for the first annual Sierra Goldrush K12 Rally.. For the Exciting Conclusion Click Here...

1. I reported recently that there were now only two exhaust systems still on the market for the venerable BMW K1200RS.. The Staintune and the Remus... Well this news just in from MaxMoto.. the lone importer of Remus. From now on, they will NOT be keeping these in stock or bringing any into the US unless there is an order...which basically means.. it's a special order item. If you want one..you have to pre-order it and wait... He said shipping time is about 6 weeks as they'll be coming in via ship... Ain't dat a pisser?

2. Gizmo Mill, makers of those waaaaaay cool Brake LED Tail light kits for the K1200RS has just changed their name as well as their location..Here's the info we just received....
Gizmo Mill Inc. has changed its name as a result of corporate restructuring. Please update your records. Road Rocketeer Products Inc. 10-3318 Oak Street Victoria BC V8X 1R1
Canada Contacts: Timea Meszaros, timea@roadrocketeer.com Kevin Demers, kevin@roadrocketeer.com ph: 877.388.0820 fax: 877.388.0835 web: www.roadrocketeer.com

3. I'm sorry to report that Richard Catey, the owner of Catey Enterprises ( the maker of BOMS AWAY metal polish) has passed away. His product has been around for over 20 years and was one of the best on the market. He was based out of Elizabethton, TN. Heartfelt condolences to his widow. We were told that after their current supply is sold, there will be no more produced....

4. Spiegler Performance Parts has just announced a rare price reduction...They told us their steel braided clutch line for the old BMW K1200RS has been reduced from $120ea to $75 ea..

5. R&G Racing has just started selling upper frame crash protectors specifically for the new BMW K1200GT. Check out the installation instructions. I'm not a big fan of the wedge shaped bobbins, but at least the kit is bike specific..

6. Just got word that Yoshimura is making a K1200S exhaust and/or slip-on. ... or are they? Check out this video on Youtube It looks and sounds dead sexy. Not sure if it's legit.

7. Rumors are still circulating about a K1300S and/or GT as an upgrade in 2009 or 2010..and some pics are circulating to back it up. Here is the latest.. Posted by my good buddy Locus of Borg over at www.I-BMW.com Honestly.. I'm surprised. BMW usually does things in longer cycles unlike the Japanese. They haven't even worked out all the gremlins in the current K1200S and GT and they are coming out with all new bikes? What the @%*? ... Will report as news comes in..

1. O, Canada....Et tu, Brute?...With the risk of pissing off our Canuck customers by lumping you all into the same freeloading primordial ooze... in the last week alone, we received no less than 7 notices from FedEx that 7 of our Canadian customers were refusing to pay their customs/duties fees on orders they received from us. When this happens, those fees get kicked back on us and that does NOT make for a happy plunderer. When this happens Amber has to track these customers down and scold them into paying the Canadian fees however outrageous they may be. Most usually, reluctantly comply. As all our Canadian customers know, these fees are NOT included in our pricing and are told as much prior to us shipping.

However.. out of these 7.. a few are actually refusing to pay even though they know we'll be liable.. Can you believe that?? What assholes. So here's what's gonna happen... A. We're gonna give them 2 weeks to pay their fees . If they don't we're gonna post their names, address, and email address in an upcoming newsletter. B. Then we're gonna stop ALL shipping to Canada and when fellow Canadians ask why.. we're gonna provide the apathetic customer's name(s) and email address(s) and explain that because those individuals represent the country of Canada.. Until they resolve the issues, no more shipments will go north of the US border. Perhaps a few fellow Canadians can convince them to suck it up and do the right thing. Is this extreme? You bet your Canadian ass. I'm Pirate and I have approved this message.

BTW... I hate to pile it on but FedEx just raised their ground shipping rates to Canada. Ground rates have increased by an anal busting .. are you sitting... 100% virtually overnight due to the price of oil and transportation. Last week a 2lb package would have generally cost about $18-$20US to ship to most cities in Canada via their ground service.. This week it's at least $40.. Shaka! We had ZERO warning of the increase and as most of you know..we ship ONLY via FedEx. Cost is generally 4-6 times higher than US Mail but orders can be both insured and tracked and if lost, FedEx pays for a new product and shipping within 24 hours..

2. As per the aforementioned blurb.. R&G Racing has just started selling upper frame crash protectors specifically for the new BMW K1200GT.  Check out the installation instructions. Unlike the round bobbins that we sell for the other K12's.. the GT kit will come with tear-drop shaped bobbins... or as they call them..Aero bobbins.. We should have those in stock within the next week or 2.

3. Due to the aforementioned sudden death of the company owner, we'll get one last shipment of Boms Away Metal Polish ...

4. As reported in last months cheesy newsletter.. Recently we commissioned Evoluzione to produce some BMW K1200S and K1200R Peg Lowering kits for us. Those are now complete and shipment is imminent. There will be 2 versions.. Black and Silver. Cost will be around $100 delivered. Watch the website ..Should have them within a week.

5. I recently mentioned we were discontinuing all imported Ilmberger and Pack Parts Carbon Fiber for the BMW K1200S and R and R Sport... Well.. we're getting down to the bare bones so if you've been procrastinating.. you might want to get it in gear soon ... 90% of our supply is already gone.. Last warning.

6. If you are one of the scores of customers who have been waiting for a back-ordered Pirates Lair helmet lock for your beemer.. Here's the dope. Looks like the wait is gonna be a little longer. The problem is.. We get the locking mechanisms from BMW in Germany to include with our mounting hardware. BMW initially only manufactured these in small quantities so if somebody's top box broke they could sell the customer a new lock. They never anticipated Pirates Lair buying and selling (100) a month... Basically.. we've been selling them faster than they can make them. FYI.. Amber is staying in touch with the head guy but he's still not giving us a delivery date.. so we wait.. and you wait ..However, I feel your pain.. if you have paid for a helmet lock and are tired of wiating..and I would NOT blame you, just let us know and I'll refund your hard earned doubloons. Very sorry about the situation.. Like congressional spending...100% out of my control..

How-To-Survive On A Motorcycle

Our last 3 contributions were from Peter Warren of Orange County, CA .!!! Thx mate!!

Could these tips save your life? Dare you NOT look?

If you'd like to help others by contributing a How-To-Survive on your Motorcycle, How to Survive Deals Gap, or any How-To link.. First... check out the tips we already have and if you have something new... just send to me and if it's worthy... I'll add it.. Remember.. we're all in this together.. so use deodorant.

Pirates Lair Sacred Archives

We get a lot of requests for specific articles and/or reviews I've written in the past. Rather than fry my aging brain trying to remember where they are on our multi-thousand page website.. I have decided to list the "worthy" ones here. Most of the links are to past newsletters.. Some are to full web articles. Remember, I'm no expert on anything except perhaps cunnilingus so the opinions within the archives are only my own. Saavy?

BMW How-To Section

Our last contribution was my own... Check out my How-To Install a Nautilus Air Horn on Ducati 1098. It's the first listing on the page.

Picture at right Courtesy of Sports Illustrated photographer Walter Iooss, Jr. / Model: Ms Melissa Haro