Wow! What A Ride! Book Review
When Frank Palmer approached me about reading his book Wow! What A Ride! I thought I knew what to expect. It would be a compilation of stories that span his riding experience. And always eager to learn about how others enjoy life or two, or three, wheels, I accepted. The book arrived shortly, and my …
[REVIEW] Raven Rova Falcon Pants
Raven Rova Falcon Pants The Raven Rova Falcon pants are a textile and leather hybrid that offers a fantastic combination of more unique features than I was expecting. I live in Phoenix, AZ, and I am ALWAYS on the lookout for gear that I believe will combine the airflow I want with the safety and …
Book Review: Scraping Pegs by Michael Stewart
Introduction It has been a while since my last appearance here on WBW. But when the opportunity to read and review Scraping Pegs appeared in my inbox, I had to jump at it. As a rider and the author of a book (don’t worry, no shameless plug for my book here), I wanted to give …
HJC F70 Full Face Helmet Review
Some First Impressions I have never worn an HJC helmet before or even tried on one while window shopping. So I was very interested in testing the new generation F70. Reading up on this new breed, I quickly discovered that it was a unique blend of helmet technology in a comms ready helmet. But the …
Forcefield Pro Jacket X-V Review
Intro When the opportunity arose for me to get my hands on the Forcefield Pro Jacket X-V2, I jumped at it. I have long admired their line of amazingly protective armor in a minimalist garment. While I know that these are designed to be worn as impact protection in conjunction with another layer of abrasion …
Matrix Alpha Streetfighter Helmet Review: New & Improved
A Return to the Matrix I was very eager to get my hands on the new and improved version of the Matrix Alpha Streetfighter helmet after reviewing the first model. As most readers know, there was some controversy around my original review, which sparked a rebuttal from the management at Matrix Helmet. But I can …
The Mental Health Benefits of Riding Motorcycles
It’s Real & Not Just An Excuse To Go For A Ride! Most of us have said at one time or another that we are taking a mental health day. What we really mean is that we have elected to take a day off from work to de-stress. It makes a lot of sense when …
SIDI Rex Boots Hands-On Review
Some First Impressions In all honesty, I was wondering if I had requested something that was going to be far beyond my level of appreciation for riding footwear. I had researched the SIDI line for a best-of article and was super impressed by the Tecno-3 Push Closure System and the ability to replace many parts …
Tackform Enduro Motorcycle Mount Hands-On Review
Technology has become a part of almost every aspect of our daily lives. Not only do we rely on it for many forms of entertainment but we also depend on it for necessities such as communication, gathering information and even navigation when we are traveling. How long has it been since you referred to a …
Oxford Super Leggings Hands-On Review
Amazing Comfort To be honest, I never even considered a legging style pant for riding which is odd because I often wear leggings or compression leggings to the gym or as comfort wear at home. The Oxford Super Leggings opened my eyes to this great new idea of comfort and protection when riding. These form-fitting …
Bikes Are No Longer Just for Dudes
The world of motorcycles is always growing and evolving to meet the needs and desires of consumers. But some of that growth might surprise a lot of riders. As a female rider, I honestly would not have estimated that nearly 20% of all bike owners in the United States are ladies. But that is exactly …
Benefits of Motorcycle Riding Later In Life
When you picture your golden years, you might never have imagined that some of your best days would be spent cruising around on a motorcycle, but that is exactly what more and more people are doing later in life. California Department of Motor Vehicles data shows that baby boomers make up 56 percent of the …
SCHUBERTH R2 Enforcer Hands-On Review
Some First Impressions I always wear a full face helmet just because I ride in an environment that has a lot of sand and rock and the full face protection is appreciated. Putting this helmet on for the first time, it was snug but still very comfortable. The fit is secure but not so tight …
Matrix Alpha Streetfighter Helmet Hands-On Review
Editors note: this review was updated on March 23, 2019 to add in a response from Matrix Helmets. You can read their response here. Some Less Than Pleasant Surprises I was really looking forward to testing this helmet due to the lightness. I am religious about wearing a full face helmet and the lighter the …
Aerostich Women’s R-3 One Piece Suit Hands-On Review
A Pleasant Suitprise Looking for the Right One I love trying out new gear and this was the first taste of riding suits for me with a long term hands-on test, so I will admit to being pretty excited. But as I looked at the website, my excitement began to wain as I discovered that …
Ladies Motorcycle Jackets Worth Wearing
Due to the lack of motorcycle jackets made specifically for ladies, in the past, a selection was made mostly based on what came the closest to fitting properly. But with the huge influx in ladies on bikes, manufacturers have spent millions of dollars designing and creating motorcycle jackets and full lines of apparel that are …
Alpinestars Core Leather Jacket Hands-On Review
A Pleasant Surprise I was very excited to test the Alpinestars Core leather jacket because it is offered in a perforated model which is perfect for the warmer climate of Phoenix. I have worn many textile and mesh jackets over the years and I like the comfort and fit but mentally I just don’t feel …
Gear Tips for the Mature Rider
It is no secret that as we get older, our bodies change. And in most cases, we do not get better with age. That only happens in the movies and with fine wine. As motorcycle riders, we need to be aware that the changes that we are facing certainly do not mean that we need …
Gear Guide: Best Leather Race Suits
Not every rider is looking for the maximum protection available from head to toe, but if you are that street rider who likes to push the limits on occasion and sail into a curve or corner just a bit faster than ever before, then a leather race suit could be one of the best pieces …
Super Seer Cool Cap Head-On Review
Cooling Jade – Hype of Science? To be completely honest, I am always pretty skeptical of a “new” discovery or process that claims to be better at, in this case, cooling. It can be very easy to manipulate tests and results of testing in a very controlled environment to produce the results needed to make …
Cardo Packtalk Radios Bold and Slim Review
A Great Experience with Packtalk Bold and Packtalk Slim Earlier this year I was offered the opportunity to test the Cardo Packtalk radio system. To be honest, I had never used a radio or communication system when riding and never really felt like I needed to get one. I have always liked the solitude that …
The REV’IT Clare Ladies Jacket: Hands On Review
The new REV’IT Clare women’s jacket is a very classic tight-fitting leather jacket. As soon as I touched it, I knew that this was not just any leather jacket. This was a top quality piece of leather craftsmanship. The leather is actually Iceland Buffalo which allows for a certain degree of softness without sacrificing durability. …
Motonation Metralla Ladies Vented Textile Jacket Faces 100 Degrees In The Desert: Hands On Review
Being that I live in a very warm climate, I was eager to test any jacket that offered good ventilation as well as solid protection. And the added benefit of the Motonation Metralla being designed for a woman was an added bonus that doesn’t come along very often. I ride in men’s jackets most of …
Motonation Rapita Textile Mesh Gloves Meet The Desert: Hands On Review
My Criteria And Gloves Of Choice For me, touch is important. I like to have the ability to touch lightly with just a finger or two if I am moving my helmet screen or adjusting my glasses. And in a lot of cases, a bulky glove does not allow for those fine motor motions. And …
Putting The Motonation Cappra Vented Textile Pants To The Test In The Desert: Hands On Review
Bargain Pricing At only $99 the Motonation Cappra Vented Textile Pants are an outstanding option for hot weather riding pants. Most other options are in the $150- $200 range such as the Cortech Sequoia XC Air which Revzilla offers at a regular price of $179.99. The Motonation Cappra Vented Textile Pants Features Starting from the …
Gear Guide: Best Sport Boots
Updated March, 2019 Our Top Picks Other great options: TCX RT Race Pro Air, SIDI Streetburner, TCX Roadster2 Boots are a very critical piece of gear for riders as they are your means of contact with the pegs of your bike and also with the ground. In addition, your feet tend to be the “leading …
Gear Guide: Best Dirt Boots
Updated March, 2019 Our Top Picks Other great options: SIDI X-3, TCX Baja, SIDI Agueda When you think about purpose built riding boots, dirt boots are likely to be the most durable and versatile in terms of the environments that they can handle. These boots are designed to provide the same high level of impact …
Gear Guide: Best Touring & Adventure Boots [2021 Update]
Updated March, 2019 Our Top Picks Other great options: SIDI Adventure 2 Gore-Tex, Dainese Centauri Gore-Tex, Gaerne Balance Oiled A large part of the fun of touring and adventure riding is not knowing exactly what you are going to encounter around the next curve. But what rider do know is that these are normally some long …
Gear Guide: Best Cruiser Boots
Updated March, 2019 Our Top Picks Other great options: Roland Sands Mojave, Forma Swift Flows, Merlin Charge Cruiser boots are purpose-built riding boots that offer all of the protection of other types of riding boots but in a relaxed format that focuses equally on comfort both on and off a bike. Cruiser riders want a …
Gear Guide: Best Off-Road/Dirt Bike Gloves
Updated March, 2019 Our Top Picks Other great options: Scorpion Talon, Leatt GPX 3.5 Lite, REV’IT! Striker 3 A pair of good off-road/dirt bike gloves are pretty much just a workhorse piece of gear that will not only tolerate a huge amount of abuse but will almost thrive on it. These gloves start life big and …
Gear Guide: Best Textile Pants
Updated March, 2019 Our Top Picks Other great options: Dainese Antartica Gore-Tex, Rukka Stretch Air, Klim Switchback Cargo Textile bike gear is no longer just a cheap substitute for high-quality leather gear. Modern technology and the desire to create a more comfortable alternative to heavyweight leather safety gear have combined to create durable fabrics. …
Gear Guide: Best Motocross Pants
Updated February, 2018 Motocross riders are a unique breed who seek the thrill of competition with other riders but also the invigoration of the purely philosophical battle of man versus nature. And this internal and external battle is played out from atop a lightweight, rugged bike with knobby tires, hard shocks, and an awesome little …
Gear Guide: Best Adventure Jackets
Updated March, 2019 Our Top Picks Other great options: Rukka Roughroad, Triumph Exploration, FIrstgear Kilimanjaro Women’s The adventure rider is likely to be the toughest customer for any gear manufacturer. By definition, adventure means to exploit or undertake an escapade, journey or quest – and that is what adventure riders do each time they put …
Gear Guide: Best Adventure/Touring Gloves
Updated March, 2019 Our Top Picks Other great options: Spidi STS, Triumph Navigator, Klim Adventure GTX Adventure/Touring gloves need to function much like a multitool for the hands. Some conditions demand amazing impact protection while others need to provide a strong grip even for hot, sweaty and dusty hands. The secret to a great selection …
Gear Guide: Best V-Twin/Cruiser Jackets
Updated March, 2019 Our Top Picks Other great options: Joe Rocket Alter Ego, First gear Rush Air, Cortech Dino The V-Twin/Cruiser Jacket is the jacket of choice for the purest rider who is looking for comfort and function without all of the flash and gizmos that can be found on the race style jackets. …
Gear Guide: Sportbike Jackets
Updated March, 2019 Our Top Picks Other great options: Icon Motorhead Z, Alpinestars T-Missile Drystar, Dainese Razon As a sportbike rider, you have chosen a purpose-built machine that is designed for flat out speed, rapid acceleration, quick braking, and cornering likes its on a rail and not just two sticky tires that provide less …
