Accessories

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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. ...

When you buy a new helmet, you typically get only the standard clear shield. Most riders like the look and shading features of tinted and mirrored shields, so both helmet-makers and the aftermarket offer a myriad of shield options.

The HJC HJ-09 face shields are offered in several ...

Picture the scene: You pull into a parking spot in the city, you secure your helmet on the bike's helmet lock, you put your disk lock in place, and you are ready to go to lunch. But wait -- you don't want to lug your jacket and tank bag to ...

I live in the Desert Southwest, so I am no stranger to flat dirt-bike tires. Thorns punch their way into my tubes, and the rocky terrain inflicts more than a few of the dreaded "snake bite" sidewall pinch punctures. Because of my treacherous home trail environment, ...

This is a strange-looking helmet. I am all for new technology, but the Vemar CKQI Bluetooth Helmet is a real departure. So what is it? Let me try to explain.

As the name suggests, this helmet incorporates a Bluetooth intercom and communications system. I will ...

I have owned an HJC "AC" series helmet, and was quite pleased with it. I only sold it because I changed motorcycle colors (lame reason, I know). According to HJC, the "FS" series is the replacement of that quality AC line.

The HJC FS-15 Carbon Helmet is ...

If you search the Spot Motorcycles site, you'll find that Ila did a nice review of the first generation Michelin Pilot Road tires. Now it's time that we take a look at the newest incarnation of the line, the Michelin Pilot Road 2 tires.

The Pilot Road 2 incorporates ...

When riding off-road, the slower speeds and warm conditions can lead to heat build-up and fogging in conventional goggles. The Smith Intake Enduro Goggles, as the name would imply, have built-in venting. The Intake goggles have on-demand vents that direct air into the goggle body. The venting ...

What to do if you want to do some track days on your sport-bike, or if you want to try your hand at racing? If you get serious about these pursuits, you are ultimately going to want to get a set of racing plastics. Track bodywork alleviates ...

We have talked here on SpotMotorcycles about the issues plaguing motorcycle batteries. The combination of small size, infrequent charging, high power demands, and a plethora of other ravages take a toll on our relatively small electrical storage boxes. Eventually, every motorcyclist is going to need a jump. ...

I have found that I can't be satisfied with just one motorcycle. I need to have a pure street bike and a dirt-oriented dual sport. However, there have been times that I have had just a dual sport, so I understand the range of duties placed ...

A good service manual is invaluable to the shade-tree mechanic. To me, working on my motorcycles is almost as enjoyable, and therapeutic, as riding them. Here we have a factory Yamaha manual. To be honest, I have had factory manuals with which I was less than impressed. ...

Heated gear makes motorcycling much more comfortable. More importantly to avid riders, such gear lengthens the riding season. The problem can be getting the heat just right, especially if more than one heated garment is being used. We have climate control in our cars -- why ...

Many touring and cruiser riders prefer an open-face helmet over the full-face variety. The open-face design allows a less obstructed view of the road and motorcycle, and is much more convenient when off the motorcycle. The down-side is that an open-face helmet leaves the rider's face ...

We do a lot to make our rear ends look good. Wait, not that rear end! I am talking about the tail section of our sport bikes. One of the most frequent aesthetic modifications in the sportbike world is cleaning up the stuff sitting out ...

Since its introduction by BMW back in 1980, the GS line has been a favorite of adventure riders world-wide. The massive dual-sport motorcycle has carved a deep niche in the two-wheeled lexicon. Bone stock new GS is a versatile beast; however, these bikes seldom stay stock. ...

About the last thing a rider wants to have to buy for a motorcycle is a battery. Think about it -- new tires are always an exciting and satisfying purchase. New riding gear is always interesting. A battery? You can't see it on the bike. ...

The Triumph Tiger, the BMW R1200GS, the Moto Guzzi Quota, the Buell Ulysses, the KTM Adventure... What do all these bikes have in common? Well, they are all big, powerful, versatile dual-purpose motorcycles. They are all (with the possible exception of the KTM) most comfortable on the ...

I am in the process of researching ways to run a power outlet to the front of my motorcycle to power my GPS, so this item is of particular interest to me. At first glance, the ForMotion 12 Volt Power Pod seems to be severely overpriced. Most ...

Joe Rocket is a well-known and respected manufacturer of motorcycle jackets, pants, boots, and riding suits. Aside from a name that will inspire an occasional, good-natured verbal jab from riding buddies, I have found Joe Rocket gear to be well-made and functional.

On the other hand, when I think ...

When I first saw this heavy duty (but compact) wireless remote system, I questioned its merit in motorcycle applications. However, after further contemplation, the first function that came to mind was for an aftermarket alarm. This remote and sensor would work well for that. It would also ...

Part of the reason that we love motorcycles is the fact that they are beautiful, fast, and interesting. These same things make them attractive to thieves. Since everything on a motorcycle is exposed, everything on one is vulnerable.

A quality security alarm is a solid line of defense ...

Dirt bikes are popular for good reason. There are still millions of square miles of dirt in which to ride across the US. However, we dirt riders can be our own worst enemy. Loud bikes screaming on our public lands are a social nuisance and a ...

For years, the Shoei Syncrotec Helmet has been a favorite of the touring and adventure-touring segments of the motorcycling world. It is a solid and functional flip-up (a.k.a. modular) helmet. There is little doubt that the helmet that has replaced the Syncrotec will become a favorite as ...

Fuel injection has become more and more common in the world of motorcycles. That being said, there are still a lot of carbureted motorcycles out there. My primary street bike is a Kawasaki ZZR1200. It is a big, powerful, reliable sport touring motorcycle that happens to ...

Today we're talking versatility. Dual sport motorcycles like the Kawasaki KLR 650 and adventure touring motorcycles like the BMW GS are versatile. They eat up chunks of pavement like a street bike yet have the ability to take on the dirt as well. The riders of ...

A good pair of sunglasses can be a motorcyclist's best friend. Whether they are worn under the helmet shield, with an open faced helmet, or helmetless (not my recommendation), good polarized sunglasses are a real safety feature.

Oakley is a name that has long been associated with quality sports-related eyewear. ...

If you are looking for a cheap helmet, stop reading now. The Arai Corsair V is the most expensive helmet I've reviewed for SpotMotorcycles. However, if you are looking for an ultra-premium helmet that involves no performance or quality compromises, read on.

Let's first look at aerodynamics. The ...