adjustable | Motorcycle Accessories and Apparel

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

I am intrigued by the premium (and pricey) motorcycle apparel brands as much as anyone. However, in these tough times, finding a company that continually produces quality protective wear at an affordable price is nice. Olympia is just such a company. I have found Olympia gear ...

In some people's eyes, the problem with armored motorcycles jackets is… well, they look like armored motorcycle jackets. The Teknic Women's Diamond Jacket offers a good measure of protection while still looking good off the bike.

Let's start, as we should, with protection. The Teknic Diamond features Knox Lite ...

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 ...

Speed and Strength (SS) is a company with an eye for appearance but also solid attention to detail. The Speed And Strength Moment Of Truth SP Men's Mesh Motorcycle Jacket is no exception. It is a good-looking jacket that will keep you cool and protected in ...

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 ...

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 ...

Because they are such a hot item right now, I've been reviewing a lot of "new concept" helmets. I've looked at modulars, convertibles, and crossovers. Marketing lingo aside, the basic concept is to offer a helmet that adapts to different riding conditions and different riding styles. ...

If you ride a naked motorcycle… not if you ride naked on a motorcycle; that would pose other issues. Anyway, if you ride an unfaired motorcycle, at some point you are going to desire some wind protection. This usually becomes an issue when you are taking longer trips or ...

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 ...

Riding to work at this time of year has its appeals. You tough out the cold morning, the street still untouched by the warming massage of all those particles of light, and you receive your afternoon reward of a beautiful fall ride past fields and fauna. These are, at least, my circumstances.

Tour Master ...

Four years ago, I would not risk buying inexpensive bags. Why take a chance at dissatisfaction when you can just drop another $50 and buy some confidence? Well, like I said, that was four years ago, and this old economy ain't what she used to be. Now, I look for every bargain, and I ...

Every now and then, when I need to dodge out of the way of a motorist talking on the phone, reading directions, eating, or all three at the same time, I wonder if I bear some responsibility for their obliviousness. Perhaps a really loud outfit would have prevented my nimble show ...

Once on a ride through northern California, I came around a corner in a small canyon, only to find the landscape open into a flatland on my left, and running toward me was a small herd of wild horses. It was one of the most beautiful things I ever saw. ...

Because I ride, I get a lot of questions about biker culture. It's as if people think there's some kind of handbook that comes with the bike about being a big bad biker babe. One of these questions was about vests and why they're so popular in the riding ...

My brother-in-law has a Kawasaki KLR because he wanted options. He didn't want to be restricted to the road or to the trail. With that kind of demeanor, it is needless to say that he's also a nut for gadgetry. KapscoMoto provides options for gadgetry with their adjustable tank mount.

Constructed of ...

Hawk helmets have been doing creative acrobatics with their helmet designs. The Advance green and white helmet takes the broad tapering stripes that have been the fashion in decals since, well, as long as I've seen full face helmets with decals. A little twist and they've added a strong, almost typographical art ...

Every class of machine comes with its own style that works its way into accessories or bits of ride-specific apparel. Although there is always crossover, you can see trends. Sport machines have lots of color, sharp angles, and are composed of numerous synthetic materials. Cruisers have leather, black, red, curves, chrome, ...

Last year I came to the end of a long trip and the skies were darkening with rain clouds. I pulled my cover out and tried to get it over the the top without touching the pipes. I failed. While adjusting one side the cover had fallen over, the other was was ...

Upgrading from a 250 cc to a 650 cc bike has some serious benefits, and unexpected drawbacks, as recently learned by a friend. When you can finally get up to the speed limit on the expressway, you nearly get blown over backward. Your options are hang on, lean in, bulk up those ...

That cold wind coming at you will take a toll on your health as well as your comfort. There are lots of ways to deal with the changing weather when you want to keep riding. Stuffing a copy of Truck Paper in the front of your coat is one of the more inelegant ...

The streetbike community is overrun, drowning in a deluge of textile jackets. Don't get me wrong; there are companies, like Icon, that make some great leathers for the street rider. There is, however, a particular style to this kind of jacket, and manufacturers will charge you an arm and a leg ...

Sometimes you look at a product and you don't have to give two thoughts about its purpose. River Road's Basic leather motorcycle jacket is just that: a basic motorcycle jacket. You look at it and you know that it's cut and designed for riding because it looks like the jackets ...

The AGV Miglia (Italian for "miles") is a modular helmet that comes with some surprisingly good features. If you've been considering a modular but didn't want to pay the investment price of some of the upper-end models, the Miglia brings high quality to a very affordable range.

At a fairly light 3 ...

Anyone who knows me knows that I like versatility. I'm terrible at making the big decisions because I always want to make the "right" one. Any product that can assure me it will accommodate me during a sudden snowstorm in a desert has my vote. Maybe the AGV Sport Evolution/Rally ...

That pain in your butt after a long ride might be because of bad suspension quality rather than a poor seat. Next time you hear a friend say they've added lots of extra padding to their seat but still can't get a comfortable ride, take a look at their shocks.

The 412 series ...

The Camelbak L.U.X.E. is made for women. Yeah, I didn't think gender would be a sticking point with a Camelbak hydration pack either, but then again there has always been a sternum strap on my backpack that I've never used because it fit... oddly.

Camelbak's L.U.X.E. is designed for women in more ways ...

It may be that I just look in all the right places, but Vox helmets seem to be on sale all the time. They are perpetually discounted, so even if you think you're buying a $300 helmet, you end up spending $100. This makes me wonder why they don't just lower ...

There's no shortage of options when you're looking for a bike stand, and every company, of course, declares their stand the best. In reality, most will get the job done, but just getting something done is not the same as doing it with smooth action, confidence, and reliability.

Riders are smitten ...

Old tech is cheap, so there are a few manufacturers of helmets who decided to take what works and sell, sell, sell. Like everything today, your cutting-edge helmet is going to be old news in a few weeks, so saving your pennies might be smart.

Cyber helmets are not at the cutting ...

Tank bags are becoming the preferred luggage on around-town bikes. I wouldn't say they are optimal for a week long trip, unless you're spartan about it, but these are freeing bikes of saddlebags and freeing riders of backpacks.

Bags like Alpinestars' Tech Aero stand as examples of why riders like these so ...

Unless you're a mechanic by trade, you've probably improvised a tool or two. Sometimes pliers are wrenches, zip ties are clamps, and you guess at the torque you're putting on that wrench. All of these things are bad for you bike and bad for your hardware, but buying all the right ...

About 3 years ago some of us rode from Portland, Oregon to Reno, Nevada, in June. Although it was late June, we hit the craziest weather you can think of. In every tiny little town we stopped, people said, "Sure is crazy weather fer this time of year". ...

We all love women riders, so it's nice to see Icon offering a pair of boots uniquely styled for the aggressive femininity of women of the road. Most of my riding boots have a distinctly masculine look because I buy them for comfort and safety. Icon's Bombshell boot embraces the ...

Motorcycle protective gear continues to evolve in some very good ways. Perhaps it's even revolutionary, and certainly to every off-road rider's benefit -- that is assuming you actually wear the safety gear.

Since 1985, EVS Sports has been developing armor for humans. They provide mid-to-high range protective equipment to cover you ...

Dowco's full line of Fastrax luggage is made for the accessorized rider. Separate storage areas for hydration packs, mp3 players, maps, and various electronics make the Fastrax tank bag perfect if you like to have all of the cutting edge gadgetry.

The pockets are designed for the wired-in street rider, but the Fastrax ...

If you've been into off-road motorcycles (or BMX, or surfing, or mountain biking) for five minutes, then you've heard of Fox Racing. Like the cartoon character Savoir Faire, they are everywhere. And they make some bang-up gear that you can take out and bang up all the ...

A new seat is expensive, and to get one that is really comfortable for you might be even more expensive. There may be a lot of reasons your present seat isn't all that you could want. It could be old and worn down, or it may never have been comfy to begin with, ...

No one is going to steal my motorcycle. I love my bike, but it is a 1983 Honda and worth very little to anyone aside from myself. Also, I've taken liberties with the paint job, so it's probably worth even less. I feel no shame about my beauty's resale value, but ...

We've all heard the advice: "Keep it simple, stupid." The myriad features sewn into every piece of equipment are fun, but do you really need all that? Probably not. Dainese proves that all the flash and flare doesn't replace a well-made leather glove.

The Black Jack gloves are goatskin with reinforced ...

The Shoei Na Company has been making helmets for motorcyclists since 1958. Their newest off-road offering is the VFX-W, introduced in 2008 and bringing some new designs for 2009. While a top-quality helmet with unique features, you'll also pay for this uniqueness in the same ballpark as Arai or ...