1157 and 1156 Motorcycle Light Bulbs There are several motorcycle tail light and brake light bulb types which are interchangeable. Note that these are bulbs that have a low/high filament; i.e., one filament is “on” all the time as the running light, and the other filament comes on as the brake light. If your motorcycle …

An LED Dimmer Feasibility Study The concept: find a COTS* motorcycle LED light dimmer that can be spliced into an auxiliary LED light array to vary the light output. We found this “Rotary LED Dimmer”, made by ADVmonster and designed primarily for their auxiliary lights. We then customized the dimmer’s wiring harness and spliced it …

Wraptor Motorcycle Cover Howdy webBikeWorlders – I’ve been helping out around the garage and with some of the technical evaluations for a while, and I figured I’d take a turn at writing instead of wrenching. My full-time job requires a commute from the ‘Burbs to downtown Washington, D.C. every day on the infamous Metro.  I’ve …

Several visitors have written to us over the last few months asking for recommendations on a motorcycle cover for their BMW motorcycles. The majority of the emails inquired about a basic motorcycle cover for use in the garage during long-term storage.  The cover did not necessarily have to be waterproof, and it didn’t even have …

Liquid Wrench L704, L706, L711 Chain Lube The “Improved Formula” Liquid Wrench chain lube is a pretty close approximation of the original and sorely missed DuPont Teflon Multi-Use Dry Wax Lubricant (review). It sprays on as a clear liquid with a petroleum aroma and dries nearly completely, leaving a slightly oily film. The only problem is …

Forget the Battery Tester. Buy a Multimeter Instead. I found this “Traveller” brand 100 amp battery tester at the local Tractor Supply farm store. They were having a big sale and it was $17.95 and I was on the checkout line so I thought “Why not?” It seemed like a pretty good deal. I wasn’t …

A Rainbow of Windscreens From France Ermax windshields (aka windscreens) are made in France. Although the Ermax name may be unfamiliar in the U.S.A., Ermax windshields are distributed all over the world. They make a huge number of windshields in all shapes, sizes and many colors, for many different motorcycles. Ermax has been involved in …

A Motorcycle Chain Tension Measuring Tool The Chain Monkey is a tool to help set the correct motorcycle chain slack during a chain adjustment. It’s made from plastic with an adjustable metal screw. Follow the instructions in the kit and set the bottom of the nut to your correct optimal chain slack number. Then tighten …

Electrical Connection License Plate LED Light I installed an Electrical Connection LED brake and running light bar on the rear of the 2015 Kawasaki Versys 650 LT (Blog) Project Bike. While I was at it, I also installed the pair of Radiantz “Puckz” (pronounced “pucks”) LEDs that Rick had listed in the webBikeWorld Garage Sale. The Puckz have …

Wide Foot Pegs For The Kawasaki Versys This is our second experience with the SW-Motech wide foot pegs. This set is designed for the newest versions of the Kawasaki Versys 650 and 1000. But there are very few differences, no matter the bike. The foot peg is virtually the same, the only difference is the …

Quiet and Clean Radiant Heat for the Garage The Mr. Heater “Big Buddy” propane radiant heater is a portable “clean” burning solution for cold spaces. It isn’t perfect and it’s a bit scary to use, but it does output a good amount of heat. The heat output is about equal to the Dynaglo kerosene tower …

Once More Into the Breach… OK, three articles about JIS screwdrivers is probably 2 too many. But, here we are again. This started as a review of the inexpensive Hozan JIS screwdriver set, but the more we got into it, the more confused we became. But, I’m getting ahead of myself… We first covered the …

Cheap LED Lights With Big Power The OZ LED Mini Trail Light set is cheap as chips at $49.50. The 10W LEDs put out an amazing amount of light for the price; more light than we imagined. The only problem is the mounts. There’s just one word for them: awful. We finally got it to …

Wiha “Pop-Up” Screwdriver and ClicFix Bit Holder The Wiha “Pop-Up” screwdriver or bit driver holds 12 bits in its cushioned handle. Squeeze the two buttons on the side and the magazine pops up. Grab one and go! The hardened bits that come with the tool are perfect for motorcycle work. The 1/4″ drive bit holder …

Moto Guzzi: The Complete History from 1921 by: Mario Colombo Hardcover: 487 pages Publisher: Giorgio Nada Editore, Vimodrone, Italy Fourth Edition (February, 2008) ISBN-10: 8879113933 ISBN-13: 978-8879113939 Dimensions: 10.4 x 9.9 x 1.4 inches Dimensions (in cm): 26.5 x 25 x 3.5 thick List Price: $79.95  Available from Alibris at ~25% discount. wBW Moto Guzzi Book Reviews: Moto Guzzi …

A DuPont Chain Lube Replacement? Is this finally a replacement for the late, lamented and beloved DuPont Teflon Chain Lube (review)? Remember? That was the “Multi-Use Dry, Wax” stuff that everyone loved. It was the perfect motorcycle chain lube. Or was it? Here we are, 10 years later and time and technology marches on. Rumor has …

Your Ticket to Ride the BMW CAN Bus The mystery of adding LED lights to a modern BMW with CAN Bus (Controller Area Network) electrical system is easy to resolve. The “smart” CAN Bus smells a rat when you pop in an LED brake light or turn signal. The LED will work, but you’ll get …

A Portable Motorcycle Lift for Chain Lubes The Snapjack is a portable motorcycle jack or lift for use during travel. It lifts the rear of the bike enough to rotate the wheel for chain cleaning and/or a quick chain lube. If you have a center stand, you don’t need a Snapjack and in the garage, …

Tips for Adjusting a Motorcycle Chain This article got way out of hand. It started out as a “Quick Look” about adjusting the chain on the Suzuki GW250. By coincidence, the Suzuki V-Strom 1000 ABS also needed a chain adjustment at the same time. So this evolved into a combo article covering both bikes, but …

SW-Motech Bags-Connection Quick Lock EVO Daypack Tank Bag A small tank bag that uses the Quick Lock EVO second generation mounting system. The EVO locking system uses a special ring that mounts on the fuel filler and different sized tank bags can be fitted. It keeps the tank bag off the paint, while making it …

Installing a Battery Tender SAE Harness on a Motorcycle Installing a Battery Tender wiring harness on a motorcycle may seem like such a basic idea that it’s not even worth writing about. But, you never know…and new riders are coming in to the sport all the time (we hope), so why not post a quick …

Bose QuietComfort 20 Acoustic Noise Cancelling Headphones Review The new Bose QuietComfort 20 headphones or earbuds are amazing…under most conditions. Throw the switch and most of the external sounds are immediately hushed. When riding a motorcycle, however, the system only dampens noise to about the same level as a good pair of disposable ear plugs. …

A Miniature Headlamp and Flashlight Convertible The Fenix HL10 is a useful design that combines a headlamp with a miniature 90-degree flashlight. The headlamp case opens and the small flashlight can be removed. The flashlight also rotates through 100 degrees when it’s in the headlamp holder. The flashlight has the same high-quality machined aluminum and …

A Handy Mil-Style Mini LED Flashlight The Fenix MC11 is a small “L” shaped mini-tactical style angle-head flashlight. It’s very well made and IP8 waterproof rated down to 2 meters. It also has three brightness levels and two special modes: SOS and strobe. The three levels provide a choice of illumination and the potential of …

Glare Blast “Quick ‘n’ Fast” Quick Detailer Spray Polish Glare Blast is a new type of quick detailing spray polish, but with a technological twist. It has what Glare calls “Camo-Adaptive Technology”. This feature allows the product to be used on both matte and gloss surfaces without changing the reflectivity or sheen of the finish. …

Waterproof Dive Light With a Twist Top? The Princeton Tec Impact XL LED flashlight is nearly perfect for the toolbox or EDC (Every Day Carry) on the motorcycle. It’s rugged, it’s Level 3 waterproof to 100 meters and it’s UL approved. It’s also made in the U.S.A and carries a lifetime warranty — one of …

Does the DR650 Need a Fork Brace? The SuperBrace Fork Brace is relatively easy to install on the DR650. The manufacturer claims it can reduce low- and high-speed wobbles, improve stability and reduce tire cupping. It is also supposed to help reduce sensitivity to rain grooves in the pavement. We haven’t noticed any of these …

FandyFire UV-S5 LED Flashlight Review The FandyFire UV-S5 is a 3,000 lumen beast. It’s more flashlight than anyone needs, proving that more isn’t always better. But, it’s cheap enough, so if you want ultimate bragging rights, this is the light to have. One thing’s for sure: the FandyFire UV-S5 makes every other flashlight — and …

Flo Stainless Steel Reusable Oil Filter The PC Racing Flo Oil Filter is a beautifully machined billet aluminum case with a reusable stainless mesh filter. The filter is claimed to have 200% more filter capacity than disposable media types and it allows the owner to see the residue to check for problems. The spin-on Flo …

Amp Up the Volume! The Iasus “Diablo” Mobile Amp increases the volume available from an electronic device such as an MP3 player or radio. It can pump up the volume by 50% with a 15 dB boost, so be careful — you can damage your hearing and ruin your earbuds at the same time! Tiny …

Trap Those Metal Particles! A magnetic oil filter drain plug and/or an oil filter magnet add one more potential layer of engine protection. Do they work? Residue on the drain plug says yes, but it’s anyone’s guess with the oil filter magnet. They’re cheap enough, so why not? Makes more sense than obsessing about which brand of …

Burns Moto Weatherproof USB Port As its name implies, this is a waterproof (water resistant actually) USB Type A port designed for motorcycle use. It’s a simple device; connect the wires to a battery or other switched power and you’re good to go. Then you can charge your video cameras, music devices, intercoms, GPS units …

An Industrial Strength Heat Gun The Steinel Ultra Heat SV800 Heat Gun is an excellent quality tool with a rugged power cord and it puts out a lot of heat. This is an excellent tool to have for shrink tubing and removing decals or vinyl transfers or for general heat-up chores around the garage. And …

Gryyp “Cargol Turn & Go” Review The Cargol Turn & Go, aka the Gryyp Tire Tool, is an easy-to-use carry-along device that can plug a tire in a limited range of situations. It’s more useful for car or trike tires than for motorcycle tires, but it’s cheap enough and easy enough to carry on a …

English 101 – Triumph Tuning and Service Host: Wes White (Four Aces Cycle) DVD (HD, NTSC Format, Region 0) Release Date: 2009 Run Time: Approx. 4 hours List Price: $39.95 I don’t currently own a Triumph or BSA but I’ve turned a wrench or two on them over the years (Whitworth included!). The elegant simplicity …

Risk Racing “Flexit” LED Light Review The Flexit light is a unique flexible LED array that can be bent and shaped to focus the light. It’s unlike any other LED flashlight or work light and it sure is different, but it could use a few tweaks to make it more useful as a work light. …

EZE Bleeder Brake Bleeder Review The EZE Bleeder lives up to its name. It’s an easy way to bleed motorcycle brakes or a hydraulic clutch with a minimum of fuss. Reference: Bleeding Motorcycle Brakes With the Actron Vacuum Pump Review Flushing the old and dirty brake fluid from your motorcycle’s brake system may seem like a …

EZE Bleeder Brake Bleeder Review   Summary The EZE Bleeder lives up to its name. It’s an easy way to bleed motorcycle brakes or a hydraulic clutch with a minimum of fuss. Reference: Bleeding Motorcycle Brakes With the Actron Vacuum Pump Review Introduction Flushing the old and dirty brake fluid from your motorcycle’s brake system may …

Original Bike Spirits Spray Cleaner & Polish Review Original Bike Spirits is a brand of motorcycle products aimed at the cruiser market. The product line currently includes brake cleaner, chain cleaner, carb cleaner and a few other items. The Original Bike Spirits “Spray Cleaner & Polish” product has been heavily advertised recently in print magazines, …

Speed Clean Plastic Cleaner Review Manufacturer’s Information Category:  Plastic cleaner and polish. Made In:  Unknown Type:  Spray bottle, 12 oz. and 2 oz Retail Price:  ~$9.95 (12 oz.) and $4.95 (2 oz.) Manufacturer:  Dan’s RC Stuff Claims:  Cleans and protects plastic.  Optically neutral finish. For Use On:  Plastic, windscreens, helmets, visors, etc. Claimed Features:  Cleans and protects. Application:  Spray on, wipe …