Gear Brands
Kabuto RT33 Helmet Review
Street, Sport and Track Day Helmet The Kabuto RT33 is a relatively lightweight street/sport full-face helmet, brand new for 2015. It splits the difference between the top-of-the-lineKabuto FF-5V (review) and the Kabuto Aeroblade III (review). This gives Kabuto three very similar helmets in $50.00 price increments, starting at $349.95 for the Aeroblade. One differentiator is that the …
MADSTAD Windshield Review
A Cure For The Buffeting Blues! The MADSTAD windshield comes in many different sizes and tints. Custom brackets are available for a wide variety of motorcycle makes and models. The MADSTAD windshield for the 2014 Suzuki V-Strom 1000 ABS (Blog) is the latest addition to the product line. It comes with a set of adjustable mounting brackets …
Pilot Slate Air Jacket and Vanguard Air Vest Review
Mix-and-Match Mesh Jacket and High-Viz Vest Like the Pilot Visto Air high-visibility jacket I reviewedrecently, the even simpler Pilot Slate Air jacket works as advertised. It is a comfortable and well-made mesh-based high-air-flow garment and costs just $99.99. Large sections of “Pilotex” micro-mesh fabric provide the ventilation. Strong and durable sections of 600 denier textile with …
Racer Traveller Gloves Review
Waterproof Gloves for Women and Men The Traveller gloves strike a good balance of protection and comfort in a touring style glove. The mcFIT liner system adds comfort and ensures that the gloves remain waterproof. In case you’re wondering, the word “Traveller” is the British spelling of the word, which means “someone who is traveling …
Sena 3S-WB Review
Sena Fulfills a Wish! The Sena 3S is a fantastic little (and I do mean little) Bluetooth motorcycle intercom system. It does everything the Big Boy systems from just a few years ago did…and then some. And it’s about 1/3 the cost. You can read our complete Sena 3S review for all the details. In that review, …
Racer Grip Gloves Review
Street/Sport Gloves With Style They have protection for the aggressive street rider and they offer more protection than most commuting or touring gloves. This makes them a good all-around pair of motorcycle gloves that offer a good balance of protection and comfort. SuperFabric and CE certification, along with a proper gauntlet and wrist closure instill …
Kabuto Ibuki Helmet Review
A Flip-up Joins the Lineup The Kabuto Ibuki is a new flip-up helmet recently added to the Japanese company’s expanded lineup. The styling is “flip-up generic”, designed for owners in this market segment, who tend to be more concerned about function over flash. The Ibuki’s upper ventilation system is excellent and among the best of …
SCHUBERTH M1 Helmet Review
The SCHUBERTH of Open-Face Helmets The SCHUBERTH M1 may look like a (somewhat) ordinary length open-face motorcycle helmet, but it isn’t. Every detail makes the M1 the “SCHUBERTH of open-face helmets”. That includes the outstanding build quality, paint and overall finish, the no-seams ultrasonically welded three-part liner. And the list price… It has a huge …
Motorcycle Mirror Extenders or Wideners
Another Take on Mirror Extenders Tired of looking at your arms in the rear-view mirrors? A set of mirror extenders might help. There are many different types, one of which may fit your motorcycle. On the BMW F 800 S, the stock mirrors look nice but they’re virtually useless. The SW-Motech mirror extender blocks described …
BMW S1000XR Review
The BMW S1000XR: Adventure, Sport and More! As an early adopter of most things, including technology and new motorcycles, investing in both has and remains a huge sometimes consuming part of my life. But over the last ten years Beemers — typically of the Boxer variant — along with three of the 800 vertical twin …
Pilot Visto Air Jacket Review
A High-Viz Mesh Jacket Value The Pilot Visto Hi-Viz Jacket is a near clone of the Pilot Direct Air jacket we reviewed in June 2014, but with one significant difference: the visibility factor. Instead of the strategically placed hi-viz insert panels used on the Direct Air, the Visto jacket is (almost) completely made up of high-visibility textile and …
Skene Photon Blaster Review
Powerful Motorcycle LED Visibility Lights The Skene Design Photon Blaster LED lights are sort of like a pumped-up version of the BikeVis Bullets (review). Their white or amber light can make any motorcycle more visible to oncoming traffic. They’re fairly easy to install — especially if you can use one of the Skene Design brackets or …
Held Sambia Gloves Review
The Gloves of August Excellent quality hot-weather gloves with a touch of kangaroo leather and Superfabric. Not the ultimate in protection, but perhaps enough to satisfy. As always with summer gloves, there’s a compromise between ventilation and safety. Held USA is under new management by SCHUBERTH USA. Seems a bit strange but makes a bit of sense also, …
Nexx XT1 Review
New Nexx Top-of-the-Line Supersport Helmet The Nexx XT1 is the Portuguese company’s new premiere full-face motorcycle helmet. It’s what we’d call a “supersport” helmet, with features such as the locking face shield and Pinlock posts cribbed from racing helmets. But the very nice, full coverage internal sun visor and “quick release” chin strap retainer, along …
Denali Soundbomb Horn Review
Big Sound From a Big Horn The Denali “Soundbomb” horn delivers the goods, with a 118 dB (measured) high-pitched tone. It looks very similar to the Stebel Nautilus Compact horn (review). In fact, we wouldn’t be surprised to learn that the Soundbomb is made by Stebel or by ex-Stebel designers. That resemblance also means that this …
Acebikes Brakefix Review
The Brakefix Front Brake Lever Holder The Brakefix secures the front brake on a motorcycle. This holds the bike on a slope or a hill, in the garage or on a trailer. The Brakefix helps to prevent the motorcycle from rolling when parked. And it adds extra security when the bike is on a front …
SHAD Zulupack Waterproof Bags Review
Dry is Good: SHAD Zulupack Waterproof Luggage The SHAD Zulupack name is well known by those who enjoy the outdoors, particularly in wet environments. And SHAD has done a good thing in tailoring and marketing the line worldwide. With twelve bags in the current Zulupack lineup, there is — or should be — something for …
REV’IT! Jersey and Philly Jeans Review
The Perfect Compromise of Safety and Style? The REV’IT! Jersey and Philly jeans hit the formula just right, with style, comfort and performance. They’re made from Cordura Denim with Coolmax. The wear points have an extra layer of the special REV’IT! “PWR | shield” abrasion protection. This forms an extra layer in the seat and …
Cardo Scala Rider Packtalk Review
Next Generation of Motorcycle Communication Systems The Cardo Scala Rider Packtalk is an advanced motorcycle communication system with many new features. The system is the first to include the Cardo “Dynamic Meshwork Communication” (DMC) feature, a wireless mesh network. This connects up to 15 Packtalk riders (increased from 10 for 2016) in full-duplex intercom mode …
Klim Induction Gloves Review
Protection? Comfort? Ventilation? Check. While not perfect, the Klim Induction gloves offer a winning combination of protective features, comfort and feel and hot weather ventilation. This combination does come at a price, but still provides good value for the money spent. Compromises. Most hot weather or “Summer” motorcycle riding gear will be a study in …
Nexx XD1 Review
The Nexx XD1 Dual Sport/Street Convertible The Nexx XD1 is a Dual Sport helmet that we call a true modular, because it can be converted to a full-face or off-road helmet. It is a lightweight, high-quality and full-featured Dual Sport helmet that also looks good as a “Streetfighter” when the peak is removed. Or, leave …
CMS GTRS Carbon DNA Motorcycle Helmet Review
Ultra-Lightweight Carbon Fiber Supersport Helmet The new CMS GTRS Carbon DNA helmet is super-light and super good-looking. It’s a quantum leap for CMS Helmets, the Portuguese motorcycle helmet manufacturer. The overall quality, paint and construction of the multi-axial carbon fiber shell is outstanding, as are the liner and finishing details. And the GTRS Carbon DNA …
FOBO Bike TPMS Review
Bluetooth TPMS System Monitored With an App The FOBO Bike TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System) sensors provide real-time tire pressure information and capture and report temperature. The system is easy to setup and use and it connects via Bluetooth 4.0 to a smartphone. The FOBO Bike system retails for $99.00 and it has more features …
Yamaha Super Tenere
One Crashed Super Tenere Sometimes, there’s just a little too much “Adventure” in Adventure Touring… How Tough Is It? Yamaha has a hit with their new Super Tenere and motorcyclists are clamoring to know more about it. The Super Tenere and the BMW R1200GS (info), along with the Moto Guzzi Stelvio (info)and review) are the current premier choices …
Joe Rocket Phoenix Ion Jacket Review
Let’s Reflect on This Mesh Jacket The Joe Rocket Phoenix Ion Jacket is a variant of the long-running and ever-popular Joe Rocket Phoenix mesh jacket (review). Our feeling is that there’s not all that much difference between the standard Phoenix jacket and the Phoenix Ion version. There is one thing though: the “INNOLITE” reflective coating on …
Sidi All-Road Gore-Tex Boots Review
All Roads Conquered With the All Road Boots The Sidi All Road Gore-Tex boots were designed to replace the venerable and popular Sidi On Road boots (review). This means that lots of comparisons are being made, which is only natural. What isn’t natural — leather — is the new all synthetic construction of the All …
Shoei Hornet X2 Review
Shoei Reinvents the Dual Sport Helmet The Shoei Hornet X2 is a complete re-think of the modern (and popular) Dual Sport helmet. Shoei has redesigned every aspect of the helmet and the result is a Hornet X2 that is quite different from the Hornet DS, its predecessor. The most noticeable difference is in the front …
Mobius Action Cam Review
A Sophisticated Yet Inexpensive Action Camera The Mobius Action Cam is one of the best bargains going. It takes good quality 720p or 1080p video and it’s small and light weight (56 g with mount). The best part may be the software, which allows extensive customization of the settings. There are many user-definable options that …
Ohmics Brake Light Review
The Ohmics Programmable Deceleration/Brake Light The Ohmics brake light is a palm-sized module with integrated sensors and a microprocessor. It has a bright eye-catching 40-LED output screen and it is programmable by the owner to display various LED light patterns. The user-definable programs include different light patterns for deceleration and braking or brake or deceleration-only …
AGV Sport Gallant Gloves Review
AGV Sport “Gallant” Leather Gloves The AGV Gallant gloves are also new to the 2015 lineup. They’re another all leather type with no perforations or vents. The Gallant gloves are a close cousin to the AGV Spirit gloves described in Part 1 of this review. Where the Spirit gloves have a glossy leather exterior, the Gallant gloves …
Sena 10C Quick Look Review
The Intercom Video Camera! Is it an InterVid? A VideoCom? We introduced the unique Sena 10C in this preview in October 2014. That was during the official announcement at the 2014 AIMExpo (Report). Now have a pre-production unit undergoing a webBikeWorld review. This is such an interesting product that we’re bringing you a first “Quick Look” and we’ll …
AGV Sport Spirit Gloves Review
AGV Sport “Spirit” Leather Gloves The AGV Sport Spirit gloves are new for 2015. They’re all leather with no perforations or vents and the leather is a light- to mid-weight type. AGV Sport lists these as “mid length” and that’s about right. The gauntlet is neither too short nor too long. They’re lined along the top and unlined …
Nolan N40 Helmet Review
Hard to Beat This Good-Looking Open Face Helmet The Nolan N40 is a very nicely made helmet with several useful features. The shell design has a city/scooter/touring style with some angular creases that give it a modern look. The helmet is also very comfortable and the relatively thick padding helps control noise levels. The large …
Bull-it Women’s Jeans Review
Bull-it Ladies Sidewinder and Italian Boot Cut SR6 Jeans The Bull-it Ladies Sidewinder and Italian Boot Cut jeans are the most protective, soft-to-the-touch, simple styling jean I have seen. Sizing may be an issue, however. Abrasion-resistant motorcycle jeans are certainly nothing new but there are fewer options available for women riders. There are lot of …
Clearwater Slip-on Light Cover Review
Slip-on Light Covers for the Darla and Erica Lights The Clearwater Lights slip-on clear and amber lens covers fit the Clearwater Krista lights (review), the Clearwater Erica lights (review),the Clearwater Glenda lights (review) and the Clearwater Darla lights (review). They provide added protection, an alternate output option for inclement weather and…peace of mind. The strong rubber slip-on housings include easily-inserted …
