Review
Motorcycle Touring
Ride North: A Memoir Of Northern Thailand In December 2011, I embarked with three other riders on a 7,000 km round trip from our hometown of Singapore to northern Thailand. Thailand and Malaysia are both popular choices for bikers here, since Singapore itself is only 714 square km (roughly 276 square miles) in terms of …
2012 REV’IT! Spring and Summer Clothing Preview
REV’IT! 2012 Spring and Summer Clothing It’s hard to believe another year has rocketed by and it’s now time to announce the REV’IT! Spring 2012 clothing lineup. I was introduced to the new lineup during a visit to the REV’IT! USA headquarters in New York back in October. I took some photographs there and in …
Delkin Wingman HD Video Camera
Delkin “WingmanHD” Review The new Delkin “WingmanHD” video camera has a few interesting features and, for the most part, it captures very good quality video. The accurate color rendition and excellent exposure management are class-leading, but the camera has a few quirks that keep it from top billing. But it’s a good first try from …
King of Fleece Motorcycle Seat Cover Review
The King of Fleece to Prevent Wet Butt Syndrome (WBS) Most stock motorcycle seats are perfectly fine for shorter rides in sunny weather. But if you spend a fair amount of time in the saddle — and not just the “Iron Butt” types — then chances are you do a bit squirming around on that …
Making a Cardo Systems Intercom
Designing and Testing a Cardo Systems Motorcycle Intercom I’m finally getting caught up from my visit the EICMA and the Cardo Systems R&D Center tour and back into the normal webBikeWorld routine. It was a wonderful trip and EICMA is an amazing event. It was also a lot of work; unfortunately without much time for …
Spidi T-Winter Gloves
Spidi T-Winter Gloves Review The Spidi T-Winter gloves are waterproof and insulated and designed for cold weather use. However, the insulation is relatively light, which means they are effective only down to about 40 degrees F. Also, the gauntlets are very narrow, making it difficult to fit the gloves over an insulated sleeve cuff. Bottom line? The …
Iasus Diablo Mobile Amp
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 …
AltRider Headlight Guard
AltRider Headlight Guard Review The AltRider Lexan Headlight Guard Kit is an example of what experience, knowledge and involvement in the motorcycling community can deliver: clean simple design, visual appeal and durability for the long haul. AltRider makes headlight guards and auxiliary light guards and both are worth considering for safety and protection. My experience …
2012 Roof Helmets
Roof “Bamboo” and 2012 Roof Helmets November 23, 2011 – Roof Helmets may be one of the least known motorcycle manufacturers in the world. The French company has had quite an impact on motorcycle helmet design, however, with products like the ahead-of-its-time Roof Boxer (review). The Boxer’s unique design, which allows the chin bar to be …
Nexx X40 Helmet Preview
November 22, 2011 – This has been the “Year of the Motorcycle Helmet”, with manufacturers pumping out new designs seemingly by the hour. We hadn’t heard much from Nexx since our review of the Nexx XR1R Carbon (review) back in August of 2010. I did see a revised Nexx X30 (review) at the 2011 Dealer Expo back in February …
Nexx XR1R Diablo
Nexx XR1R Diablo First Look November 22, 2011 – Let’s say you finally decided to buy thatDucati Diavel (report) you’ve been lusting after. Now there’s a big decision: what helmet to wear? Answer: The Nexx XR1R Diablo, of course! The Nexx XR1R Carbon (review) is one of the lightest full-face helmets on the planet and it has among …
Nexx Helmets
2012 Nexx Helmets Highlights of This Report: New Nexx Helmets announced. Nexx X40 and XR1R Diablo. Many new colors and bold graphics. More: 2012 Nexx X40 First Look 2012 Nexx XR1R Diablo First Look Nexx XR1R Carbon Helmet Review wBW Motorcycle Helmet Reviews 2012 Nexx X70 The big news from Nexx was the 2012 Nexx X40 (First …
Vemar Helmets
2012 Vemar Helmets Highlights of This Report: New Vemar Storm Helmet announced. Will be released in the U.S. at the 2012 Dealer Expo. Many colors and bold graphics. More: 2012 Vemar Storm Helmet First Look 2012 Vemar Attivo Flip-up First Look Vemar VRX7 Helmet Review Vemar Jiano EVO TC Flip-up Helmet Review wBW Motorcycle Helmet Reviews …
Vemar Storm Preview
2012 Vemar “Storm” Helmet Preview 2012 Vemar Storm Helmet Preview Vemar introduced the new “Storm” full-face helmet at the 2011 EICMA show. The Storm is a new low-to-mid priced helmet and the samples on display appeared to have very high quality, with tight tolerances in the split lines and parts. UPDATE: Vemar Storm Review! The …
2012 Spark Clothing – EICMA 2011 Live Report
Spark Clothing November 12, 2011 – We haven’t heard much from Lazer Helmets in a while and since they were displaying at EICMA, I decided to stop by. webBikeWorld readers may remember the Lazer Superskin helmet reviewed on webBikeWorld a few years ago and, coincidentally, one of the very first product reviews ever published on webBikeWorld was …
BikeComm BK02 Group Intercom Communications System Review
BikeComm BK02 Group Intercom Communications System Review Borrowing a page from the Editor’s playbook used to introduce the Sena SR10 Bluetooth hub (review), this article will first provide a brief initial overview of the new BikeComm BK02 system. The BK02 uses a Bluetooth hub as its core component. It provides a capability requested by many motorcyclists — …
Givi Luggage – EICMA 2011 Live Report
Givi Luggage for the Kawasaki Z1000 November 19, 2011 – Here’s a quick one, we passed by the Givi Luggage booth with this Kawasaki Z1000SX on display. The luggage looked very nice and well made and it turns the bike into a respectable sport-tourer. I picked up a Givi brochure that I thought described this …
Cardo Scala Rider G9 – EICMA 2011 Live Report
Cardo Scala Rider G9 Preview November 16, 2011 (Update from original posting) – Last year, in conjunction with the EICMA 2010 show, I was given an exclusive tour of the Nolan Helmet factory, which resulted in two reports. “How to Make a Motorcycle Helmet” is an inside look with photos and video of how a …
Delkin WingmanHD
Delkin WingmanHD Action Video Camera November 2011 – Delkin, the manufacturer of memory cards, USB card readers and the Fat Gecko line of camera suction cup mounts (review) has announced the “WingmanHD” video camera. UPDATE: See the wBW Delkin WingMan HD review. The Wingman HD is claimed to be “the lightest weight action camera in the world”, according to the …
Nolan N-104 Preview
First Look: Nolan N-104 Helmet Nolan N-104 Information and Photos From EICMA November 11, 2011 – I stopped by the Nolan Helmets display to see what’s new for 2012. Regular readers will recall that last year, the staff from Nolan gave me a personal tour through the factory, which was documented in words and video …
Alpinestars CR-4 Gore-Tex XCR Boots Review
Cool-Looking Gore-Tex Boots The Alpinestars CR-4 Gore-Tex XCR boots are brand new for Fall 2011. First announced in the summer of 2011, the boots are just now available for sale. Designed as a cross between a hiking boot and a motorcycle boot, with light protection, they’re as comfortable as they are good-looking and the inclusion …
Held Air Stream Gloves Review
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 …
Bluetooth For Motorcycle Helmets
The Future of Motorcycle Bluetooth Time and technology continues to march on and to survive, a technology like Bluetoothhas to evolve, expanding its horizons. Through iterative and progressive version specifications, Bluetooth has and is responding to the challenges and opportunities. The technology is now more widely recognized and supported than at any other time in its …
Vemar Jiano EVO TC Helmet Review
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 Earplugs
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 …
Arai Signet-Q Review
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 Preview
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 Magnus
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 Review
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
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
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 Dry Bags
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 …
Replay XD1080 Review
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 …
BMW Santiago Boots Review
BMW Santiago Boots Review The BMW Santiago boots are typically classified as an Adventure Touring boot, but don’t let the moniker fool you; they can do more — far more. Understated traditional styling hides most of the boots strengths and capabilities until they are worn and used. The Santiago boots are supremely comfortable with hard-to-beat …
Magnetic Drain Plug and Oil Filter Magnet for Motorcycles
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 …
2012 Falco Boots – EICMA 2011 Live Report
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
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. …
New Honda Motorcycle Engine
Honda Announces “Global” 700 cc Twin Cylinder Motorcycle Engine and Lightweight, Compact 2nd Generation Dual Clutch Transmission September 26, 2011 – Honda Motor Co., Ltd. made a highly detailed announcement today describing the development of a new motorcycle engine that will be fitted to European motorcycles. The 700 cc twin engine is said to have …
Vemar VRX7 Review
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 …
