Posts in category

Review


The Advanced Motorcycle Training Course Motorcycle safety training takes many different forms and it’s a continuous process that lasts a lifetime. If you ever start thinking that you know it all — watch out! You’re probably in for a big shock. The process for training new motorcycle riders in the UK is very different than …

Alright…most of you might as well step up to the plate right now and speak the truth about how you learned to ride a bike. Was it your older brother’s street bike?  Your Uncle’s rusty old clunker?  Or maybe you were lucky enough to have your very own dirt bike? Did you bury the throttle …

BMW Launches Motorcycle Rider Training Program at the BMW Performance Center Motorcycle enthusiasts will be able to take advantage of official BMW Motorcycle rider training for the first time ever in the U.S. The BMW Motorcycle Rider Training program at the BMW Performance Center in Spartanburg, South Carolina has been announced. The training was announced …

Posi-Lock “Mini” Connectors: Pint-Sized Versions of the Original! The new Posi-Lock Mini connectors are perfect for those hard-to-reach tight spaces on motorcycles. Posi-Locks were first introduced on webBikeWorld nearly 10 years ago and I’ve been a big fan every since. They’re perfect for motorcycle use, making it very easy to splice or tap wires without …

Reflective Tape, Decals, Stickers for Motorcycles & Helmets One of the most important findings of the Hurt study was that motorcycle visibility is extremely important.  There have been so many accidents caused by other drivers who’s excuse was “But officer, I didn’t see the motorcycle!” Visibility is important during the day, and more so when it gets dark.  My feeling …

OGK FF-3 “Crash Test”!   T.B. had the misfortune of crashing his bike while wearing his FF-3: “I had a chance this weekend to crash test the OGK.  Worked fine — I think (my head) is the only part of my body that does not hurt.  I was going about 110 and had a low …

Prepping for Accessories: The BMW S 1000 XR Before one starts a journey, one usually needs to know the “how and why”. While other things, like the ‘when and where” may just remain factors to be considered. webBikeWorld prides itself in making sure work of any nature is as fully detailed as possible so readers …

Motorcycle Chain Lube Comparison The topic of motorcycle chain lubrication has been discussed ad nauseum in motorcycle magazines, forums and over many pints at the local pub. But issues like cost, value, efficiency and a description of the types of chain lube delivery mechanisms (i.e., spray, foam, paste, grease, etc.) have not. We propose that it’s nearly …

Motorcycle Chain Lubes and Products for 2012:Retail and Specialty Chain Lubes Here are yet more motorcycle chain lubes, this time suggested by webBikeWorld readers. Bottom line? No new winner in this batch. Soon after our recent report on the change of formulation for the DuPont Teflon chain lube (report), the emails started arriving from webBikeWorld readers …

Scottoiler “California Spec” Chain Oiler Meets California CARB Req’s. August 10, 2011 – Scottoiler has announced the new Scottoiler vSystem California Spec kit in the U.S.A. [UPDATE (October 19, 2011) – Scottoiler has changed the name of this system from “Scottoiler vSystem CARB EO” to “Scottoiler vSystem California Spec (review)“.] This latest chain oiler from Scottoiler …

The Motofx remote garage door opener is specifically designed for use on small vehicles with 12 volt electrical systems, including motorcycles.  The product is available from Motofx; it costs $74.95 (plus shipping); and it works with most modern garage door openers (see compatibility list below). It activates by pressing the “flash to pass” switch on the Triumph’s clutch …

Triumph Motorcycle Ignition Coil Replacement Hinckley Triumph motorcycle owners have been complaining about ignition coil failures since, well, probably since the first Bloor Triumph sputtered off the assembly line. This is Part 1 of this two-part series, which describes an ignition coil replacement on a Thunderbird Sport. Part 2, Triumph Motorcycle Ignition Coil Replacement describes a slightly …

Hinckley Triumph motorcycle owners have been complaining about ignition coil failures. In Triumph Ignition Coil Replacement Part 1 of this two-part series, we described a coil replacement on a Triumph Thunderbird Sport. Note that these tips can apply to most modern Triumphs and other brands of motorcycles. After riding for roughly thirty minutes to an hour, the …

Ducati 750GT Bevelhead Alternator Replacement Not too long ago I completed a custovation* of my bevelhead 1974 Ducati 750GT.  In every way, this is a marvelous example of early Italian sport bike engineering — except for the battery charging system. It’s weak and does a poor job of charging the battery.  The main fault is the …

BMW Airhead Spline Lube An Airhead spline lube is a necessary maintenance task. It is covered extensively in some of the online articles listed below. It’s actually a fairly easy job, and there are several good articles (see below) that cover all the details. I’m not sure if I’m adding anything to the general knowledge …

SW-Motech Wide Off-Road Foot Pegs For The Suzuki V-Strom 1000 ABS Continuing with the farkling of the Suzuki V-Strom 1000 ABS (Blog), I decided to add a set of SW-Motech wide foot pegs just to see what would happen. There’s nothing wrong with the stock foot pegs on the bike, although wider may be better if you’re …

Stainless Steel Brake Line Upgrade (Redux) We bring all of our senses to task when riding a motorcycle — with the possible exception of taste! — to operate the machines below us and maintain a certain level of safety. It’s as if we become part of that machine in some manner; there’s a constant flow …

Part 3: CANopener Installation Notes Installation Notes A wealth of information is available on the Clearwater Lights website with their usual excellent Installation Manuals covering generic and specific CANopener installations for various makes and models. The information also includes lots of background specifics and technical data. In addition, webBikeWorld has reviewed all of the Clearwater Lights …

Adjusting Hinckley Triumph Valves Adjusting the valves on a Triumph Thunderbird Sport, Trophy, Daytona, Trident, Sprint, Tiger, Speed Triple, Legend or Adventurer Motorcycle. My Triumph Thunderbird Sport had about 9,000 miles on it when I purchased it. The motorcycle was in beautiful condition, and the previous owner said that he had brought it in for …

Part 2: Working With the BMW CAN Bus Climb Aboard the CAN Bus The BMW CAN bus is a complex albeit logical amalgamation of technologies. It is based on a single-wire system and a bi-directional distribution network with multiple sensors and real-time processors for monitoring, diagnosis and control of virtually every component and capability on …

Ducati Evaporative Emissions Canister The evaporative emissions canister mounted on modern Ducati motorcycles is, in a word, ugly. I have no idea why they mounted it in such an obvious and noticeable location on the left-hand side of the motorcycle, hanging off the engine in a location that’s as obvious as a wart on a …

DuPont Motorcycle Chain Lubes   Summary The formula for the DuPont Multi-Use Dry, Wax Lubricant chain lube, which was a favorite for many years, has been changed. The new formula is no longer recommended by DuPont for motorcycle chain lubrication and it has dropped off our favorite list also. The company now recommends the DuPont …

Pressure is Pleasure: Compressed Air for the Custovation Shop My love affair with compressed air started a number of years ago when I got an entry level oil-less air compressor for Christmas. Looking like a bloated red fire hydrant lying on its side, it made a deafening noise while it crawled its way to 125 PSI. …

High-Tech Power Delivery for Today’s Motorcycles The Neutrino fits almost anywhere, depending mainly on access requirements. In reality, this should be minimal once everything is connected. The module is completely sealed and only the connection strip might need basic protection from the elements. That will depend on its mounting location; silicone grease or a small …

SW-Motech Bar Back Plus Handlebar Riser Combo for the Suzuki V-Strom 1000 ABS There are dozens of different bar riser, bar back and combination sets available for sale. The question is, which one works for your bike? Besides the problem of finding the correct fit, installing a set of bar backs or bar risers can …

Dispatch 1 Review This section describes typical installations for the Dispatch 1 system. I will use the BMW F 800 GS test mule and my new 2010 R 1200 RT that joined the family fleet last summer as examples. Installation Notes While the Dispatch 1 power management system will find some permanency on my 2010 …

Dispatch 1 Review This section describes how to initialize the Dispatch 1 system and how to connect the devices and accessories that will be powered and managed by the system. While my observations on the Dispatch 1 system are few, there are a few issues that could and should be addressed to further enhance this …

MachineArt Moto Avant Review The MachineArt Moto Avant fender extender is the newest member of the MudSling family. Like the original product, it is nearly flawless in its design, fit and function and therefore, a most worthy addition. There is now no excuse not to provide simple and extremely effective protection for both the back …

RIA2 Permanent Anti-Fog Coating for Motorcycle Visors A permanent anti-fog coating for motorcycle face shields that works and is a better solution than the Pinlock or temporary anti-fog coatings. Just a few weeks ago, in March of 2011, the Université Laval sent us a press release announcing a new permanent anti-fog coating for motorcycle helmet face shields. …

Rev’it Defender GTX Jacket Preview Defender GTX Jacket The next new jacket in the Rev’it Gore-Tex lineup is the Defender GTX, which looks somewhat similar to the famed Cayenne Pro jacket. It features a 500 denier genuine Cordura shell with DuPont Teflon coating to reduce water absorption at the shell layer.  The Defender GTX also …

Rev’it Gore-Tex Legacy GTX Jacket Preview Legacy GTX Jacket Technically speaking, the Cayenne Pro then comes next in the hierarchy of Rev’it jackets, followed by the Sand jacket we reviewed in 2010. After that comes the new Legacy GTX jacket and pants. The Legacy GTX is designed for riders in milder climates, such as Northern …

Rev’it Gore-Tex Motorcycle Clothing Preview August 2010 – In November of 2009, we reported on the new partnership between Rev’it and W.L. Gore, a cooperative effort to produce the “next generation” of advanced motorcycle clothing using the latest technologies and production methods from both companies. Then in January 2010, we added to that article the details …

Rev’it Everest GTX Jacket Preview Rev’it Everest GTX Jacket The top-of-the-line Rev’it jacket for Fall/Winter 2010 is the new Everest GTX (GTX = Gore-Tex). This is the top-of-the-line Rev’it GTX jacket, which includes the very latest Rev’it high-tech feature set and the best Gore-Tex guaranteed waterproof removable membrane. Jordan Levitt, the U.S. Director of Operations …

Rev’it GTX Base Layers Preview Rev’it also developed an entire line of windproof and insulating base layers to compliment the new GTX clothing lineup for Fall/Winter 2010. The Karma WSP (Windstopper) is a neck warmer that covers the front of the chest and upper back at the bottom and is designed to easily fit over …

Part 2: The GoPro Wide Helmet Hero Video Camera Kit Rick’s Take I also came into possession of a GoPro Wide camera recently. Bottom line? I agree with all of HBC’s findings in Part I of this review. The GoPro Wide is super-easy to use right out of the box and the wide angle lens …

Velocity Gear Motorcycle Armor We’re all amazed that you, our visitors, continue to ask for more motorcycle armor reviews. This is wonderful news, because it demonstrates that webBikeWorlders are focused on safety and performance, which pleases us to no end. So just for you, here’s another interesting piece of armored gear for your consideration. We …

Rev’it Ultimate Pants The Rev’it X-Vent pants were my favorite cool-weather motorcycle riding pants, bar none.  They fit well, they were comfortable and they kept me warm in throughout the cold winter months. There were two features that I wish were different though, and both of these (and more) have been addressed in the new …

TomTom Rider Motorcycle GPS The TomTom Rider is the first GPS designed for use on motorcycles and has just been released in the U.S.A. after its European debut. The TomTom Rider was developed from the successful TomTom GO line of automobile GPS units. The Rider features a hooded LCD display with an 89 mm (3.5″), 320 …

I can’t resist ad copy for new hand tools, especially when it announces a capability not currently resident in my toolbox.  The wilder the claim, the deeper I fall. Tools and chocolate cake have the same effect on me.  A glance at either immediately places my mind into some type of altered state, where all …

It comes with a calibration compliance certificate that certifies the wrench to MIL STD 45662A and ANSI/NCSL Z540-1-1994 with accuracy traceable to the National Institute of Standards and Technology. It’s accurate to ±1% from 20% to 100% of its capacity in either direction.  One percent calculates to plus or minus 0.25 ft/lbs. at its maximum …