Dagwood Streets talks motorcycle gear, riding the Kaabo Wolf King, and other scoots with Paul Somerville — equal parts renaissance man, statistician, and ESG’s professional scooter testing lead
In Episode 10 of the Electric Scooter Podcast, host Dagwood Streets interviews Paul on what safety gear he wears, why the Wolf King is his favorite scooter to ride, and what keeps him from riding the OXO, even though it has his favorite scooter turn-on: rubber suspension.
What Safety Gear Paul Wears (on Motorcycles and Scooters)
Whether he’s riding his Triumph Street Triple R across the Bay Bridge or testing electric scooters in the downtown Berkeley area, Paul trusts that he’s protected as long as he’s got on hiking boots and three things: a full-face helmet, a motorcycle riding suit, and protective gloves.
Although safety isn’t considered the sexiest part of riding an electric scooter, it’s what separates you from being able to get on a scooter and laying injured in bed, so it’s worth it to research and have a reasonable budget.
When Dagwood asked Paul about wearing anything but a full-face helmet, Paul said, “The front part of my head is my favorite part of my head.” Dagwood agreed saying, “If you’ve got a $40 head, get a $40 helmet.” Our favorite part is your whole head, Paul, but we feel you.
Our guides for scooter accessories and helmets might be all you need, but Paul’s testing gear will give you the ultimate protection as it doubles as practical motorcycle gear for riding his Triumph 365 days/year in all weather. This simple combination of gear has served him well.
Paul’s favorite Arai Corsair X helmet set him back $500 but usually retails for around $1,000. He had to replace it recently (keep reading to find out why), so now keeps his noggin safe with an Arai Defiant X helmet. He also regularly wears heavy duty gloves and all-terrain hiking boots to protect the other ends.
The Aerostich Roadcrafter he’s wearing is a one-piece reinforced, waterproof riding suit. Sure, all together it might look like a ridiculous amount of gear for testing scooters, but we’d rather dress for the slide, not the ride.
His Aerostich kept him from more serious injury when testing the Kaabo Wolf King, which happens to be his favorite scooter to ride.
How the Wolf King Stole the Spotlight from the Dualtron Eagle Pro
When Dagwood asked Paul about his favorite daily rider, Paul immediately said the Kaabo Wolf King, even though it gave him a serious bite.
When initially testing the King, Paul made the mistake of riding one-handed for a moment, and the hair trigger response caused him to break his wrist and sustain a few other minor injuries.
Thank you for your sacrifice.
DAGWOOD STREETS, ELECTRIC SCOOTER PODCAST
Dagwood remarked “thank you for your sacrifice” as he rides a Wolf Warrior and took Paul’s hard-learned lesson to heart, and to that we say:
What keeps Paul going back to the Wolf King is that seriously smooth and stable ride at high speeds, which he hasn’t experienced on any other electric scooter yet. Until the King, the Dualtron Eagle Pro had been Paul’s favorite scooter, as it’s super powerful with his favorite rubber suspension and swaggy lights.
What Keeps the Inokim OXO from Being Paul’s Daily Rider
Speaking of rubber suspension, Dagwood asked if the Inokim OXO would be a good choice for a rider living in an urban area, like San Diego. With the best braking we’ve ever tested and awesome ride quality, Paul backs the OXO for urban commuting. One caveat that keeps him from jumping on the OXO at ESG Labs: the quirky throttle response pattern.
If you want to learn more about how suspension and acceleration on the OXO feels, and more about Paul, listen in to the 36-minute interview with Dagwood at the top. Subscribe to the Electric Scooter Podcast on Spreaker and iTunes.
Along with scooters, they bond over motorcycles and ska, including how Paul once opened for Bad Manners, Fishbone, and No Doubt, playing saxophone and singing lead while taking leaps across the stage. He’s got a slightly less involved set on ESG Liveshow with Chuck and Ramier every Tuesday night, but has given us a taste of his many talents on the show.
