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2012 Triumph Tiger Explorer Triumph Tiger Explorer Photos From EICMA November 10, 2011 – One of the biggest news items of the 2011 EICMA show was the official release of the 2012 Triumph Tiger Explorer. The Explorer was described in the Triumph Tiger Explorer press release a couple of weeks ago, along with some studio photos, but …

Held Air Stream Gloves Review A rider with equipment that is comfortable, reliable and confidence-inspiring has an edge — an edge that we all need to maintain. The Held Air Stream gloves are all of the above and more. Having survived severe temperature changes, lots of moisture and sustained use on multiple motorcycles of all types, these …

2012 Superquadro Engine Superquadro Engine at EICMA 2011 November 8, 2011 – Ducati had a “cutaway” Superquadro engine on display next to the Ducati 1199 Panigale (report) at the EICMA show. While the Superquadro isn’t a classic looker like, say, a BSA 441 engine or the original Bonneville 650 cc, it’s the guts that count. …

2012 Ducati 1199 Panigale Ducati 1199 Panigale Photos From EICMA November 8, 2011 – Just by coincidence, I entered the 2011 EICMA show for the first time this morning right in the same building as the Ducati display. The new 1199 Panigale was there in its standard and “S” versions. Funny thing — the Ducati …

2012 BMW G 650 GS Sertão 2012 BMW G650GS Sertão Preview November 7, 2011 – BMW had many new motorcycles to present at the 2010 EICMA show, including the Concept C scooter, the six-cylinder K 1600 GT and GTL and the new G 650 GS. This year, not much is new at BMW, so the …

A Jiano Flip-up With LEDs! The Vemar Jiano EVO TC, also known as the Vemar Chimaera in Europe, is a solid-feeling helmet with a few tricks up its sleeve. It has one of the most useful internal sun visors of any helmet with this feature that we’ve tried. My feeling is that the Jiano EVO …

Custom Motorcycle Earplugs Review Easy to put in, comfortable to wear, and I’m confident that they let the important sounds — of which there are many in urban situations — get through. webBikeWorld readers have asked many times for a review of custom-fitted earplugs. I’ve had a couple of mold kits sitting here in my …

Ducati Streetfighter 848 October 31, 2011 – The Streetfighter 848 delivers pure motorcycle enjoyment with the sophisticated combination of a brand new and brilliantly engineered 848 Testastretta 11° engine and the enhanced geometry of a frame that ensures optimum agility with confidence-inspiring feel. With user-friendliness now enriched by a smooth and flexible power delivery, revised …

Arai Signet-Q Helmet The new Arai Signet-Q is an update to the popular and long-lived Signet. It has the typically flawless paint, quality and construction expected from an Arai. And although the price is steep, there is a noticeable difference between this helmet and what some might call the lesser brands. Indeed, a strong argument …

Vemar Attivo Flip-Up Helmet Announced 2012 Vemar Attivo Flip-Up Helmet October 27, 2011 – Vemar will introduce the new “Attivo” flip-up helmet at the 2011 EICMA show. The Attivo will not replace the Vemar Jiano EVO TC Flip-up (review). It will supplement the Vemar lineup as a lower-priced alternative. The Attivo will be sold in Europe …

AFX FX-Magnus Helmet Review The AFX FX-Magnus is basically an AFX FX-90 (review)writ large. The Magnus is available in size 3XL and 4XL only and it has its own special shell design. New colors for 2012 include Flat Black, Pearl White and Silver with the possible addition of high-visibility yellow. The AFX Magnus arrived several months …

AGV AX-8 Helmet Review The AX-8 is AGV’s “top of the line” off-road helmet and it’s “designed for professional motocross use”, according to the company. But there’s no reason why non-professionals like me (and, perhaps, you!) can’t enjoy the AX-8 for dual-sport, adventure-touring or off-road plinking. It comes in a wide variety of graphics and …

SCHUBERTH SR1 Helmet Review The new SCHUBERTH SR1 was designed with Michael Schumacher and incorporates features found in both Formula 1 and motorcycle racing helmets. The SR1 has it all — light weight, outstanding ventilation, comfort and even low noise levels, all wrapped up in a solid feeling shell. The helmet is currently sold in …

JIS Screwdrivers for Motorcycles JIS screws: Myth or Miracle? That is often the question when it comes to discussing JIS or Japanese Industrial Standard screwdrivers. I’ve been told there is no difference between a standard Phillips (or “cross-head”) screwdriver and a JIS screwdriver, as long as the sizes are equal. I wasn’t so sure. And …

Giant Loop “Coyote” and “Great Basin” Dry Bags Review The Giant Loop Coyote and Great Basin dry bags provide waterproof storage for clothes and gear. The are designed to fit on the Giant Loop Coyote Saddlebag (review) or the Great Basin saddlebag. While they do the job, both of these bags could use more tie-down …

Good Quality Video, Nice Form Factor The new Replay XD1080 video camera captures excellent quality HD video. It’s beautifully constructed with an anodized aluminum body and the kit comes with a nice selection of accessories. The camera control system uses a clever design that’s easy to use and the camera has a few nice features …

2012 Falco Boots Falco Boots at EICMA November 14, 2011 – I finally had a chance to meet the staff at Falco during the 2011 EICMA show. Mattia Foscarini, the Director of Sales, showed me all of the new boots for 2012. That included a few new models that were being released at the show …

GoCruise Throttle Control Review A simply elegant throttle lock device for motorcycles. I live in the southeast United States, an area with a great variety of different roads on which to ride. Do you like to cruise and enjoy the scenery? We’ve got it. Do you prefer twisty, technical riding? We have that as well. …

Vemar Makes and Off-Roader The Vemar VRX7 is a good-looking, light weight and comfortable off-road helmet. Match it with a set of Scott 87 OTG goggles (review). You’ll find that the VRX7 performs surprisingly well as a street helmet. And it’s quieter than many full-face or dual-sport helmets! I don’t often wear off-road helmets and we’ve …

Scott 87 OTG Goggles Review Thick padding on the Scott 87 OTG goggles provides a comfortable fit over eyeglasses without nose pinching. Soft foam in sides allows outstanding ventilation with some protection from dust and dirt. Wide strap is adjustable and has silicon grippers, but the grippers could be larger. The 87 OTG shape is …

AGV Miglia II Helmet Review The new AGV Miglia II is very similar to the original AGV Miglia flip-up (review), which was reviewed on webBikeWorld in 2006. Other than the list price rising by a reasonable ten dollars, the Miglia II now comes with an accessory dark visor that can be installed over the face shield. …

Clearwater Voltage Sentry Review The Clearwater Voltage Sentry is an easy and unique way to keep track of the electrical drain on your motorcycle. Designed to be “thermally stable, highly accurate, reliable, flexible and with a very low power consumption”, the device is small enough to fit just about anywhere. An excellent solution for monitoring …

CTEK US 800 vs. CTEK US 7002 Review Bigger isn’t necessarily better. The CTEK 800 works just fine as a motorcycle battery charger, even though it’s the entry-level unit. And there’s a bonus: it’s cheaper and less complicated. Nothing wrong with the CTEK 7002, mind you, but do you really need 8 steps and up …

BMW Announces the E-Scooter Electric Scooter Concept UPDATE (September 15, 2011) – BMW announces near-production ready version of the Concept e scooter (report). July 1, 2011 (BMW Press Release) – Space is becoming increasingly scarce in the major urban centers and traffic density is growing continuously. All these factors coalesce in increasing demands in terms of private transportation. …

A Smaller Version of the Drift HD The new Drift HD includes all of the features of the Drift HD170 (review) — a webBikeWorld favorite — in a smaller form factor. The Drift HD has a few added features of its own, including an updated button layout that makes it even easier to use. The live view …

Bilt Trackstar Leather Pants Review A very good pair of leather sport pants for the price point. Let me state first that I’ve never considered myself a leather pants kind of guy. Certainly leather is a great material for motorcycle apparel and I have always owned a leather motorcycle jacket, gloves and boots, but pants …

Trail Tech Equinox LED Lights Review A little sunshine with a little rain (actually a lot) describes my ongoing experience with the Trail Tech Equinox LED 35 mm lights. This auxiliary lighting kit is simple to install, easy to use and affordable, but the jury is still out on the functionality aspect… Wet weather took …

Summer Mesh Motorcycle Gloves Hot weather riding and thick leather gloves.  Not a recipe for comfort — think sweaty palms and sticky fingers.  The miracles of modern chemistry have given us mesh motorcycle jackets, vented pants, and even perforated boots, but what about gloves? Stop by any motorcycle shop and you’ll probably find a pair of …

Continental TKC 80 Tires The Continental TKC 80 tires provided excellent performance both on and and off road. More: Dual sport tire sizes, information and photos from the 2012 Dealer Expo. webBikeWorld readers may remember my recent review of the BMW GS Off-Road Riding Skills DVD, which sparked an idea: to ride the Trans-Labrador Highway. Soon after, my …

Modern Open Face Helmets: The HJC IS-33 vs. Fulmer 755 Time for something different: a comparison of two open-face helmets of modern design. While the HJC IS-33 may not be a direct competitor of the Fulmer 755, there is one clear winner! An email arrived, entitled “Helmet Reviews”. “Why don’t you guys have more open …

Iasus GP3X2 Throat Mic System Review – Part 2 Part 2: Using the Iasus GP3X2 and Conclusion This section will describe iPhone and Blackberry Adapter For those of us with an iPod, iPhone (Gen 1 thru 4) or one of the RIM Blackberry models, the Iasus adapter kit with the 93 cm (36.6 in) long …

The Chain Lube to Beat? The last two comprehensive motorcycle chain lube reviews were published on webBikeWorld in the 2010 Chain Lube Comparison and the 2008 Chain Lube Comparison. A total of 20 different chain lube sprays, waxes and grease formulations were reviewed individually in those two articles. There are plenty more chain lubes available for review and …

Klim Badlands Pro Pants The new Klim Badlands Pro pants are the perfect match for the Badlands Pro jacket (review) — naturally! But the pants are also a good match with many other jackets. They feature the same rugged exterior and Gore-Tex Pro Shell guaranteed waterproof construction used in the Badlands Pro jacket. The Badlands pro pants …

The Klim Badlands Pro Jacket The new Klim Badlands Pro jacket and pants outfit is the very definition of “extreme duty” adventure touring gear — no doubt about it. The jacket and the pants provide a go-anywhere, highly protective “suit of armor” feel. It is also surprisingly comfortable in the hottest of summer weather. There …

Knox Handroid Gloves Review Unique, that’s for sure! The Knox Handroid gloves look different and they are that, without a doubt. It’s fun to watch the reaction you’ll get showing these to motorcycle riders…and to the rest of the unwashed masses. Knox has developed a complex solution to be sure, but I have to admit, …

Drayko “Drifter” Jeans Review A very protective and comfortable pair of jeans for motorcycle riding that suffers from some fit issues. Having reviewed several motorcycle jeans or “jean-like” pants over the past couple of years for webBikeWorld, our Editor asked me to review a new pair of riding jeans that are now on the market. …

Protection for Oilheads I’ve never had a bad experience with a MachineArt Moto product. And the new X-Head DOHC cylinder head guards keep that record intact. Designed for the BMW R1200RT engine, they add virtually nothing in way of weight. But they add everything in way of protection and looks. Once again, timing is everything. …

Falco 480 “Raid” Boots Review Style, protection, function and comfort are key descriptors that come to mind when assessing the Falco 480 RAID motorcycle boots. Getting in and out of the boots via two strategically-placed straps and large over-flap couldn’t be easier. These boots reflect the high standards maintained by Falco and will undoubtedly provide …

Ultra-Powerful Road Blasters! The Clearwater Krista lights use the latest generation of LEDs for retina-melting power at minimum draw. The light output can be varied by turning a rotating dial or the lights can be turned off completely. The quality of construction, mounting hardware and the light output are outstanding. In the 12 or so …

Dainese “Carbon Cover” Gloves Review The Dainese Carbon Cover gloves are new for 2011. They are located somewhere near the middle of the massive 2011 Dainese glove range in both price and features and they’re a solid choice for street riding. I especially like the comfort that is provided by the thoughtful fit and fingertip construction. The …