A solid, perforated leather jacket -- that's what the Scorpion Stinger Jacket is. There are many things that I like about this jacket and a couple that I question.
The jacket offers CE-certified armor in the arms and shoulders. However, it includes only a foam back pad. This is ...
Adventure touring boots have to be good at a lot of things. They have to perform protective and functional duties for a multitude of environments. The Alpinestars Scout WP Boots are remarkably up to the task.
The boots' body is constructed of coated leather with a waterproof and breathable inner ...
I have gained a healthy respect for REV'IT! protective apparel. I have found their stuff to be well designed and well made. However, the company makes a lofty claim with the name of the REV'IT! Ultimate Pants.
On first inspection, these armored textile pants look solid enough. The ...
When I started in motorcycles in the 1970s, Bell helmets were the big deal. My first street helmet was a Bell Star. You saw Bells on motocrossers, street racers, and all over the road. Sometime in the '80s and '90s, Bell helmets lost their luster ...
Cretin: (noun) a stupid, obtuse, or mentally defective person.
That may just say enough about the designer of the Icon Alliance SSR Speed Cretin Helmet. This helmet is (in my humble opinion) just plain ugly, gaudy, and obnoxious. I know I'm not the target market… not by about ...
Motorcycling and leather are forever linked. The relationship goes back to the origins of the sport. I guess that's why I like leather jackets with a classic look and feel. The REV'IT! CR Leather Jacket fits this bill. I can't help but think the "CR" stands ...
Because I log thousands of miles a year on a big sport-touring motorcycle, I go through a lot of tires. I have sampled sport touring (ST) tires from Michelin, Metzler, Dunlop, Bridgestone, and Avon. I can say that I found positives in each of these brands, along ...
I know this jacket, because I OWN this jacket. In the summer, I see a lot of riders wearing T-shirts where I live. Some think you have to choose either protection or comfort in hot weather. Not true.
Armored mesh jackets are the answer. The Dainese ...
Wow! Do they still make these? A traditional, no frills, no nonsense dirt helmet?
The HJC CL-X5N solid helmet is refreshing in its simplicity. This helmet doesn't pretend to be anything but a well-built off-road helmet. Rest assured, in the case of this helmet, simple does not mean low ...
Traditional ethylene glycol (EG) coolant is nasty stuff. Yes, it serves its purpose well, but it is toxic (even deadly) to humans and animals if ingested and is very environmentally unfriendly.
OK, so what if I told you there is a product that cools much more effectively than EG antifreeze ...
I think I have seen more -- umm -- interesting helmet designs in the last year than in any year previous. The Nolan Trilogy N43 fits firmly into this "interesting" design category. Nolan claims that the N43 is a "6-in-1 crossover helmet". This basically ...
The Fly Racing Patrol Jacket is a model of dirt apparel versatility. Just listen to what it can do. In cool weather, leave everything zipped and attached. As things cool, you can remove the sleeves and open the vents. If you need to remove the jacket ...
When the discussion of ultra-premium racing gear comes up in sport-bike circles, Dainese will certainly be mentioned early and often. The Dainese Racing Leather Jacket is a new offering by the legendary Italian company. It will cost you, but if you want to ride in a jacket ...
The Moose Racing Qualifier Jersey is simply a well-made, well-designed dirt jersey. It is not some frilly, gaudy, attention-seeking billboard. It is attractive, understated, and functional. This is a welcome departure from modern MX gear for a lot of us.
The jersey is polyester with sublimated graphics. What ...
The Icon TiMax 2 textile jacket is a rider favorite for good reason. Interestingly, the titanium is not just a sales ploy (although it is certainly that, too). There is actually exterior titanium armor plating and titanium reinforced textile panels in critical areas.
The TiMax 2 comes ...
I recently reviewed the Arai Corsair V for SpotMotorcycles. As one would expect, I gave it high marks. Here is a helmet that I am even more excited about: the Arai RX-Q. Arai describes it as a "Corsair V for the street".
Simply put, Arai has ...
Back to basics. That's how I would describe the Gaerne Balance Oiled Boots. Adventurer tourers and dual-sport riders are decidedly less prone to buy the multi-hued and trendy gear that is so popular with the motocross crowd. These Gaerne boots have a traditional leather look and feel ...
We review lots of protective gear here at Spot Motorcycles: textile jackets and pants, leather jackets and pants, and every combination of the two. However, there is a simple fact: for the ultimate protection, a full suit is still the king. Also known as racing leathers, ...
I buy and sell a lot of motorcycles. My wife would say it's either a compulsion or an addiction. She may be right. Anyway, if you are like me, you'd better know the relative value of the bike you are selling or buying. Obviously, the more ...
Puma motorcycle footwear is growing in popularity in the moto-world as aggressively as its namesake hunts its prey. The company has taken its understanding of the foot and translated that knowledge into the demanding realm of protective motorcycling wear.
The Puma 1000 v2 Boots are a serious race-oriented boot. ...
Dual sport riders probably encompass the widest range of interests in the motorcycling world. You have dual sport riders who spend all of their time on the road, and you have dual sport riders who only use the road to get to the trail. Riders who ...
A couple of years back, a few friends and I were riding through the mountains above Taos, New Mexico. In the process of exploring, we took a "detour" through some tiny mountain towns. Suddenly, a friend got a flat on his Honda SuperHawk. There we were ...
Joe Rocket Speedmaster gloves have been around for quite a while. I see a lot to like about the latest incarnation, the Speedmaster 8.0. I guess 8.0 means that this is the 8th version -- I'm quick that way.
Anyway, here's what the glove has to offer. It has the standard drum-dyed ...
I have been looking for a pair boots to fit my narrowish foot. I tried the Alpinestars Web Gortex boots, but the width was just too much for me, even with inserts. After sampling many boots, the Sidi Vertigo Boots may just be the ticket.
The Vertigo is ...
What we have here is an incredible jacket with a Shakespearean fatal flaw.
The Speed and Strength Hell 'n Back Jacket has a list of features and functions I have never seen in any other jacket. It has a body constructed of water-resistant AR-600 textile. That body has what ...
We have reviewed numerous aftermarket exhaust systems here on SpotMotorcycles. No matter what motorcycle style an exhaust will be fitted to, there are two common considerations. One is that they are expensive; the other is that left untreated, they will discolor over time.
Kreem Blue Shield is a product ...
I've reviewed the GoPro Motorsports camera for this site. In short, I love the product. It comes with a variety of mounting options out of the box -- some of which are more secure than others.
Dirt bike mounting poses its own unique issues due to vibration, banging, tree branches, ...
If you have a small fleet of motorcycles and power toys, the Pulse Tech Battery Maintainer Pro12 could be a real find. We have looked at several battery "tenders" on SpotMotorcycles. However, this is the first one that I have seen that services multiple batteries.
The Pulse Tech ...
A lot of times we don't want to wear tight race replica leather motorcycle pants, despite the fact that they offer the top level of protection. There are nice riding jeans out there. However, I personally question the safety of the armor in loose-fitting riding ...
A good, well-designed gear bag can be the best friend of both competitive and recreational dirt and ATV riders. The Answer Large Gear Bag has the space and rugged design to be an attractive option for someone seeking versatile luggage.
The Answer Large Gear Bag has the cavernous ability to ...
Versatility is becoming the name of the game in motorcycle protective apparel. Here we have a hydration system that integrates a chest protector (or vice versa). At first glance, the Fly Racing Convertible Hydro Pack Kit looks to be a perfect marriage. In fact, for most ...
More and more apparel companies are offering riding shoes that have motorcycle specific features, but no real armor. I am not naive. I know that we don't all wear protective apparel every time we ride, but in terms of protection, more is better.
The Alpinestars Mille Shoes are motorcycle ...
The Dunlop D220 Sport Touring Radial Tire is a tried and true middle-of-the-road sport touring tire. It has been replaced (sort of) by the Dunlop Road Smart, but is still widely available as an OEM tire. The D220 came as original equipment on several popular bikes such ...
Most riders avoid weather extremes like rain, hail, snow, sleet, and blazing heat. I know adventure riders who actually seek out these extremes -- preferably in the same day! Obviously, riders with this mindset seek out gear with the ability to adapt to this full palette ...
I just got back from a 500-mile ride in the upper Baja of Mexico wearing the Alpinestars Rodeo Denim jeans. Are they the perfect casual armored riding pants? No. Are they good? Yes. I like them; and I believe they will become my primary ...
When I begin a review of adventure touring apparel, I first turn to a forum called Adventure Rider Motorcycle Forum (ADV). What I am looking for are early reactions by my fellow rabid adventure tourers. When I searched for notes on the Klim Adventure Rally Jacket (and matching ...
So you've read the Spot Motorcycles product reviews of the newest motorcycling boots and you've made your choice. That's the end of the footwear story… right? Wrong! What you wear under those new boots will have a huge impact on comfort and fit. Quality socks even ...
I tried these gloves on several recent winter rides. OK, my winter rides in Arizona may not be like your winter rides in North Dakota. However, I tested these gloves at 65 miles per hour in sub-40 degree temps. The Alpinestars ST-1 Drystar Gloves kept my digits comfortable. ...
The company name tries a little too hard to inspire excitement, but REV'IT! is producing some good gear. The REV'IT! Airvolution Glove is a good product that doesn't quite live up to the name.
When you think about it, it is easy to be well-protected and comfortable in cool weather. ...
I have always found that Alpinestars boots fit my foot well. Because of this, I find myself feeling comfortable ordering the Italian company's boots online with little trepidation. The Alpinestars Web Gore-Tex Boots are a bit of a different fit, however.
The boots are what I look for ...
Chain lube. It's not glamorous or exciting, but unless you ride a belt or shaft-driven motorcycle, it's a necessary evil. The simple fact is that modern chains and sprockets are expensive. They are also longer lasting than ever -- that is, if you pay them ...
Heavy gauge, full leather gloves provide the ultimate in crash protection for the hands. However, they can be downright uncomfortable in hot weather. I have worn Fieldsheer gloves of the leather variety and was very impressed. With this in mind, I had high hopes for the Fieldsheer ...
Avon Gripster AM24 tires have been spooned onto big dual-sport motorcycles for years. This is what is known as "tried and true" technology. The most common fitment for these venerable treads are 600 and 650 cc on off-road bikes that will spend more than half ...
Unless you ride with a sidecar attached, you probably don't carry a spare on your bike. With that fact in mind, smart riders carry some kind of option for fixing a flat. Some of the options include a spare tube and tire irons (for tube type tires), a ...
More and more riders are wearing textile pants for everyday motorcycling duty. Textile looks more casual than its leather counterpart. In many ways, it is also more comfortable. Dainese's new Drake Air textile pants are a nice addition to the choices in this motorcycle apparel ...
The softer compound Shinko 005 tires have been reviewed on SpotMotorcycles. I recently had a chance to test ride the Japanese company's longer-mileage 009 sport touring radials. I have mentioned in other reviews that there are two areas where a motorcyclist must not scrimp. One ...
If you have read my jacket reviews (and I certainly hope you have), you know that one of my pet peeves is that apparel makers typically don't include CE-approved back (spine) armor in new jackets. Sometimes the jackets have a cheap foam insert; other times you get ...
I really like new technology. I really don't like gimmicks. The Pirelli Angel ST tires have both. OK, a little background here. The story is that these tires shared a marketing campaign with the movie Angels and Demons based on the Dan Brown novel. ...
Held is somewhat of a legendary company in terms of rider apparel. In the 1940s, German glove-maker Edgar Held started the line of high quality motorcycle gloves. How appropriate the company's name is to the English-speaking consumer base is purely coincidence.
The Held Steve 2 is ...
I live in the beautiful Southwest, so rain suits are not typically on the forefront of my mind. For me they are a seldom used, unglamorous item relegated to some recess of my touring luggage.
That is all well and good, but when you need a good rain suit, you ...