I like Dainese gear. It's not cheap, and I mean that in both implications of the word. Dainese leather gear often has a price that puts it out of the reach of the budget-constrained rider. However, Dainese is becoming a much bigger player in the textile market, ...
A reflective and water resistant motorcycle half cover is a handy item. My son has been using one for two years while in college. His half cover has made it through a Pueblo, Colorado winter and a Phoenix, Arizona summer. All the while, it has protected ...
Puma footwear is well known in the sporting world. If you are into basketball, football or baseball, you have either seen or worn Puma shoes. Puma's motorcycle footwear is not as familiar, but is growing in popularity. Puma offers a full range of moto-specific boots. ...
Here is a little item that many might immediately relegate to the "unneeded trinket" category. However, anyone who has ridden a motorcycle for any amount of time has faced the dreaded pant-leg balloon effect. OK, I'm sure this was a bigger problem in the '70s with bellbottoms -- heck, ...
Revolutionary. This new Shark Evoline Absolute Helmet is certainly that. It's hard to know where to start. I guess it makes sense to start with the helmet's most striking feature: the patented Tech-Move System Chinstrap. The chin bar unlocks, moves to a back ...
Windscreens on motorcycles are nothing like their automotive counterparts. Instead of keeping out airflow, motorcycle screens redirect and manipulate the air through which a motorcycle passes. The aerodynamics of the motorcycle's front end, the speed at which a motorcycle travels, and the rider's height all affect the ...
I began my motorcycle riding obsession over three decades ago on dirt bikes. To this day, I still ride in the dirt, and I still love it. However, there is one thing that has always stuck in my craw -- the overly trendy and gaudy nature ...
About once a year, I get together with three riding buddies and take a long sportbike tour to somewhere. We have ridden through the mountains of Colorado, the high deserts of New Mexico, and the beautiful coastal roads of California. Nothing beats touring on a sportbike.
There is ...
Motorcyclists, by nature, are an independent and prideful bunch. We often feel we have perfected our riding skills through trial and error. Don't get me wrong -- experience and practice are good things. However, those who ride motorcycles for a living, either through racing or ...
Radar detectors can obviously save you from an expensive ticket -- that is, if you get the message. On a motorcycle, getting the message can be a bit difficult. First, a helmeted rider will never hear a radar detector's audio alert at speed. Wind and road noise will ...
Battery maintenance is a necessary nuisance for a motorcyclist. There are factors that affect motorcycle batteries more severely than those installed in automobiles. First and foremost, motorcycles are generally used less often than their four-wheeled counterparts, especially in the cruel winter months. Thus, they don't sustain as ...
I have used K&N air filters in no fewer than 5 of my prior motorcycles, and I use one in my truck. Obviously, I'm a believer in the technology. Motorcyclists are a passionate and opinionated group. Any performance product will have its supporters and detractors. An ...
Many riders like to wrench on their motorcycles almost as much as they like to ride. Any tool that makes working on motorcycles easier and more convenient is OK in my book. When doing things like changing tires or working on suspension components, the motorcycle has to be ...
Dual sport riding is a great compromise in the motorcycling world. It is growing in popularity for a number of reasons. Dual sport motorcycles can perform reasonably well in both dirt and street situations. However, this dual nature can create some interesting gear conundrums for ...
I don't talk price much in these product reviews. However, at under $40 including a lock and cable, this cover seems like a heck of a deal. VFR owners are a proud lot, and justifiably so. The do-it-all sportbike is a winner. This cover allows you to ...
If it is good enough for Valentino Rossi, it's good enough for me. OK, so I don't know what model AGV helmet the MotoGP road race champion wears, but I do know he trusts his noggin to the Italian helmet manufacturer.
The Stealth Razor helmet is a premium helmet that ...
The Icon Men's Accelerant leather jacket is simply a quality piece of riding apparel. Icon has a reputation for being a company that appeals to the young and trendy segment of the riding community. Some of their gear is, in my opinion, a little "over the top" ...
Now here is a product I never thought I needed. In fact, the Air Force Blaster 4.0 HP Motorcycle Dryer is a product I didn't know existed. Heck, my first mini bike didn't even have 4 horsepower! This thing has serious motorcycle drying power. ...
Mt. Kilimanjaro is an extreme mountain environment in Tanzania. The Firstgear Men's Kilimanjaro Waterproof Jacket is a jacket designed for extreme motorcycling conditions. If you spend much time around touring and adventure motorcyclists, certain jackets tend to come up in conversation. Premium and extremely pricey jackets like ...
I am intrigued by flip-up helmets. I don't feel safe in anything but full face protection, but I'd love to be able to leave a helmet on and still talk to a cashier or another rider. However, there are some concerns -- maybe unfounded -- with the ...
Having lived in Arizona for over 4 decades, I know a little something about heat. Having been a motorcyclist for almost as long, I know a little something about hot weather gear. I don't know if Joe Rocket invented the armored mesh jacket, but they are at least ...
Pure sport riders require a sticky tire and generally have relatively little concern for mileage. Pure touring riders have exactly the opposite mindset. Stuck in the middle is the sport-tourer. Just like the label suggests, the sport-touring motorcyclist desires the best of both worlds.
I have been sport ...
I have always wondered about these frame-hitch mounted motorcycle carriers. I have used something similar with mountain bikes. However, with bicycles, we are carrying (at most) about 50 pounds total. Cycle Country rates the Wedge-Lok at 400 pounds. That is a lot of weight on the ...
I'll admit up-front that I am not a cruiser guy. However, I do understand and appreciate aftermarket exhausts. In fact, I had a Vance and Hines exhaust on a Kawasaki ZX-10 that I used to own. It was a well-made and nice sounding piece.
Most motorcyclists ...
As an avid dual sport rider, I have always felt the choice of helmet for this kind of riding is a bit of a conundrum. Should I wear a full-on dirt helmet and goggles? Sometimes this is the perfect set up -- especially in slower, dustier off-road ...
Leather is protective, heavy, and expensive. Cordura textile is versatile, waterproof, and relatively affordable. An increasing number of quality motorcycle jackets are mating these two materials with very positive results. By placing leather in the impact-prone zones of the jacket, like the forearms and shoulders, the ...
Let's start with the technical features of the Fox Racing V3 Latinese motocross helmet. Most importantly, it is Snell and DOT certified. The shell is constructed of carbon fiber, Kevlar, and fiberglass. These are the premium materials for modern helmet construction. Fox Racing knows dirt ...
Loading your motorcycle onto your truck or trailer can be like walking the plank with a 500-pound load. Using the wrong ramp can be downright dangerous. All of us would all rather ride than tow, but motorcycle transport is a necessary evil. The 5 Star Shine 7' ...
I have always felt that there are two areas where a motorcyclist simply cannot cut financial corners. One is tires, and the other is helmets. My experience with helmets is relatively extensive. I buy a new helmet every three years. However, I always seem to ...
Personally, I'm not into the whole "fear and intimidation" aspect in a lot of today's motorcycling gear. I have never donned flames, bones, or skulls. However, I am a realist, and I know this is a marketable aspect of our sport.
Icon's Men's Skull Leather Motorcycle Jacket plays ...
GoPro has added high definition capability to its Hero action video camera lineup. I have been using the company's previous model for over a year now. I have to say it has added new level of enjoyment to my motorcycling repertoire. The use of a motorcycle ...
So you've bought the best motorcycle tires for your ride and think that you're set to go. Not so fast. Choosing the right tire is only half the battle. Proper tire inflation is crucial to safe riding. Most of us turn to the tried-and-true manual tire ...