Street

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

The Alpinestars Royal Drystar Textile Motorcycle Jacket is a true foul-weather friend. This piece of riding apparel has features that will protect in extreme conditions. It is geared toward the commuter or the full-on touring rider.

The shell is nylon with PU-coating construction for strength and abrasion resistance. It ...

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 ...

I have spent quite a bit of time reviewing helmets for adventure-touring. However, the second most difficult body part for the adventure-tourer to outfit is the foot. These riders (of which I am one) ride through water, mud, and dust, and still must have a boot that will ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

Motorcycle intercom systems have never been high on my gadget priority list for one reason: I seldom carry a passenger. However, I do often ride in a group, and thus my interest has been piqued by the Scala Rider G4 PowerSet and its list of unique features.

I'm going to cut ...

The Honda VFR is one of the best sport touring motorcycles ever made. I think every motorcycle magazine in the world has named it "Motorcycle of the Year" at some point. Because it's such a great all-around mount, VFR riders tend to rack up the miles. Obviously, ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

Air, fuel, oil, spark, and hate; these are the things that make a motorcycle run. The last one is up to interpretation, but I've found you have to hate it just a little or it will abuse you. Everything must be in the right balance.

Racing requires exertion. Air intake is important, ...

The Suomy Vandal Bayliss Limited is Suomy's new entry-level helmet designed for sport riders, sport tourers, and "urban riders", whatever that might mean. The Vandal features the same features found in Soumy's top-shelf premium helmets such as an ultra-luxurious liner with special "anti-nap" fabric the provides comfort, durability and hypoallergenic qualities. ...

Big bikes are made for big trips. They are the stalwart machines of the road, that carry you in comfort for hundreds of miles per day. Vance and Hines, known far and wide for their excellent exhaust systems for all models of machine, have developed the Monster Oval ...

Alpinestars' riding boots are great, everyone knows that, but most of them are nothing I would ever buy. I don't ride motocross, and I don't race. I like to keep my gear at a reasonable level, but not to the extent of paranoia. I'm not alone in this perspective, and Alpinestars' ...

Racing boots have an entirely different set of hazards than motocross or street boots. There is, of course, an obvious necessity for all of them to resist abrasion, impact, and heat, but applying the right tool for the right job can give you an advantage on the track. Alpinestars Supertech R sport ...

The short, fat tanks of many modern sport bikes have advantages for performance. More weight on the front tire, greater fuel capacity, and a tighter riding position are all consequences of the design. Unfortunately, most tank bags don't share this contemporary styling.

Chase Harper's 650 Sportbike tank bag has been designed ...

The tread down the center of my tire is nearly gone, yet I keep taking little trips here and there. I really need to stop doing this. If you are also running on some old tires, you need to stop as well. There are some great options for tires out there that ...

Air currents aren't like projectiles; you don't have to block everywhere you don't want the wind to hit you. Diverting the currents of air around your body is more effective and can be done with less material. Puig's racing screens demonstrate this in action.

Puig, located in Spain, was founded 45 years ago by ...

Lately I feel as though I'm on an invisible tether. My tires are getting too worn for me to feel confident on a long trip. They have failed the penny test, and I know I should have replaced them a couple hundred miles ago. I've been doing some research, and there are ...

A cover is a nice addition for a bike's overall care and maintenance, even if you keep yours in a garage. But if your motorcycle is often outside, or if you tour frequently, this H-D Super Shield will do a good job of protecting it from those elements of decay. Think ...

Your spirit may be indomitable, but you're body is still made of tearable flesh and breakable bones. The corporeal form is never going to be as tough as your mind, but you can help it to withstand the hazards of track, trail and road with SixSixOne's Assault pressure suit.

Although it has ...

Vance and Hines has been around for exactly 30 years now, and clearly intend to continue their tradition of quality and innovative products for street and racing. The founders of the company (and their progeny) are in fact active, winning racers themselves with their own NHRA motorcycle team.

The slip-on SS2-R was ...

Joe Rocket's Meteor boots are some of the best looking, most understated riding boots I've seen in a while. These are full function street or cruiser boots with molded plastic side protection and a reinforced, padded shin panel.

Reflective patches on the heels will give upcoming motorists two more chances to ...

Lets face it: sport bikes are awesome because they are essentially full-blown race bikes and racing is awesome. While that is true, the fact of the matter is that not everyone races and most people actually just use their sport bike for regular street riding. If you've ever taken a long trip on ...

Your endurance as a rider is vital when you tour. Hitting the road with your destination 600 miles away takes preparation if you don't want to be too tired at the end of your trip to do much more than sleep, and that cuts into your bar time. A proper windscreen on ...

My thought process while test-riding a Shadow with a stock seat last year: "This seat is kind of hard, but it seems alright. This is starting to get uncomfortable. Maybe if I shift my weight it will help. I think my leg is asleep. I think both of my ...

I don't know how everyone is going to take this, but I've always thought of the modern Harley-Davidson like the modern Cadillac. They're well-engineered luxury machines, and the company provides a million little features and extras for comfort. Any kind of accessory, whether for function or fun, can be found for your ...

Harley-Davidson touring bikes aren't known for handling prowess in the esses, and in fact they've sometimes been described as having a hinge in the middle. It can be disconcerting to go into a turn while your bike's back end meanders about, seemingly of its own whim and accord. But then, touring ...

There's little that can gum up the works like suffocating your bike. Not only will a bad or cheap air filter keep your bike from breathing, but I've known air filters that break up and send bits of junk into the engine. If you're lucky, a few oil changes will fix that, but ...

The Acerbis Cyclops headlight and floodlight was designed by the indecisive. They couldn't decide if they wanted to make a headlight for street bikes, off-road bikes, or racing. Then they couldn't decide for what conditions their light would be optimized. So, they did what any rational indecisive person would do: they made it ...

I have four bags on my bike: a fork bag, a saddlebag on each side, and a tail bag. My saddlebags are my main storage area because the others are small, but if I had the Nelson-Rigg CL-200 tail pack, I could really clean up the look of my bike.

The ...

Typically the last things you think about on your motorcycle are the switches. At least until they stop working, or begin to work intermittently, or become damaged in a crash. You might even decide to replace them, just because you can, if they've become faded and oxidized over time. You know ...

EBC makes brake discs, shoes, and pads for vehicles of every description. So it's a logical next step for them to produce motorcycle clutch kits as clutches also use friction; although in this case the friction is used to engage power to a wheel as opposed to stopping a wheel. Often, ...

Out on the road we see a lot, certainly far more than we could in a temperature-controlled box of glass and steel. Riding is a full-sense experience. Passing dunes, you can see the sun glint off the quartz and smell the hot sand.

You can't capture the whole experience, but ...

My favorite bike, in terms of performance, was a 500 Vulcan. This thing was candy-apple red, sat too tall for me, had 6 gears, and was an animal. It embraced corners like a love machine and it was perfectly balanced. I rode it to rallys and I out-rode just about ...

A compass and extra socks used to be enough to get me through a long trip. Somewhere along the line I decided I wanted to know where I was going and have a few creature comforts, like toothpaste.

Fieldsheer's Access tank bag has enough room for the basics and a waterproof, ...

You're coming home at night on your Suzuki GSXR600 (or other racing bike of your preference) and rain starts pounding down in drops the size of kittens. Through the water on your visor, you see the blood-rush red of brake lights ahead of you. A lot of complicated procedures pass through a biker's ...

A clean air filter improves the performance of your motorcycle overall and K&N is the name in air filters. As with any deluxe product you will pay more, and in the case of K&N you pay quite a bit more, but here's why it's worth it:

K&N makes air filters for ...

Does your heavyweight stock fender offend her? Slim it up with this fender eliminator kit from Competition Werkes. Their all stainless steel kits give you options for moving the turn signals up and in, relocating the license plate, and moving the license plate light as well. The company is located ...

The BT020 by itself, naked without a stripe, made a fair impression on the sport/touring world when it was released. Designed for that market, it is now the original equipment on a fair number of bikes from BMWs to Triumphs, and models from each of the Big Four are ...

As any motocross racer will tell you, getting a good start makes winning a race a whole lot easier. It's not rocket science when you think about it. If you start in front of, rather than behind 20 other guys, that's just fewer racers you have to get past to get ...

Preventing Junior from breaking his head doesn't necessarily mean you have to break the bank too. The Fox V1 Youth Motocross helmet is an entry-level dome protector with a lot of big boy and big price tag features.

Fox is without a doubt at the top of the motocross gear industry and ...