Shadowfax-ST Blog

So, I explain to the guy that sold me the BMW System 6 last week how, on Tuesday the helmet had leaked through the closed top vent and down the inside of the sun visor. He accepted I should be concerned and said that if it leaks he'll be happy to exchange it. "It does leak", I confirmed. "So, can we exchange it?" "No". He says, "I want to be sure it leaks". "It leaks". The argument was that despite my confirming the vent had been shut he wants me to ride through rain again, check it's shut, that it leaks; and he'll exchange. EVEN THOUGH I HAVE DONE THIS. I tried one more time and his body language became defensive and slippery. I am not happy. Right, fight on Bahnstormer. Fight on. And you're not only going to loose now, but I'm going to make it freaking cost you. Dumb nuts.

Shadowfax was transport of choice for an appointment in Camden Town today. It's the first time I've ridden through London and I wasn't sure what the filtering would be like. In the event it was difficult. We trundled up the A3 past the tunnel works at Devils Couldron and onto the M25 for M4 and an A4 entry; it seemed the thing to do and proved pretty timely compared to the boredom of a full on M3 assault. It wasn't easy to get through the queues at the M4/A4 interchange as the road narrows up, then there are the ubiquitous road works, and more in toward Piccadilly. Around that time I was concerned I'd make my meeting but once on Shaftsbury Avenue things hotted up. A Street View recce in Google Maps gave me an idea of my turn in to Lion Square and we seemed to ride on instinct because of such good intel. I had feared spending an hour searching for a free motorcycle parking bay but I ended up with a choice. It was stupidly on a one-way cresc

Leaky helmet The BMW Mororrad System 6 day-glo yellow modular helmet is a really superb piece of kit. I've grown quite attached to its colour and the modular feature (being able to open the chin and visor) is already proving useful. Head shake at speed, although not entirely subduing Shadowfax's buffeting, is a huge leap forward and with my ear plugs in its almost too quiet - most of the time. Fault 1: After the 15min light rain experienced on the way home out of Reading this evening I noticed a drip that left a trail in the dead centre of the visor - something I'd read about in a review and been reassured by the Bahnstormer sales guy had been cured in modification. Watching the drips land on the chin piece and drip down onto the chin skirt I realised that after less than an hour in a decent rain storm I'd have a wet chin, excess moisture for the 'pinlock' to deal with, and obscured vision. Another drip ran its course in front of my nose - then stopped - an