review
Triumph Motorcycle Ignition Coil Replacement
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 …
Wide Foot Pegs
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 Lines
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 …
Clearwater CANopener Review
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 …
Clearwater CANopener Review
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 …
Evaporative Emissions Canister
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 …
Compressed Air System Basics
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. …
Arboreal Systems Neutrino Motorcycle Power Distribution System Review
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 …
Dispatch 1 Wireless Electronic Control Center Review
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 Motorcycle Power Distribution System Review
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 Fender Extender
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 …
RIA Permanent Anti-Fog Coating for Motorcycle Visors
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 Gore-Tex Defender GTX Jackets
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
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 Clothing
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 Gore-Tex GTX Jackets
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
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 …
GoPro Wide Camera Part 2
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
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
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 …
Dial Torque Wrench
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 …
BMW Summer Underwear
BMW Motorcycle Underwear Review Comfortable, breathable and seems to work as advertised. I’ve had mixed feelings on this motorcycle underwear thing. And that goes double when it comes to motorcycle underwear for summer. Sure, the pioneers in the Old West wore Long Johns under their wool bloomers…but what did they know from Coolmax? I mean …
Motorcycle Tire Air Pump
Motorcycle Tire Air Pump The search for the perfect motorcycle tire air pump continues. Our goal? To find a motorcycle tire air pump that has these characteristics: small, light weight, reliable, easy to stow on the motorcycle and easy to use. The correct tire pressure is crucial to the safe operation of a motorcycle, but many …
Holofiber Underwear
Holofiber Motorcycle Underwear Review Holofiber is claimed to “modify the spectrum of visible and invisible light, interacting with certain wavelengths, and altering them into energy. When Holofiber is worn as clothing, or placed near a person (in a bed sheet or pillowcase) it transmits the altered energy to the body”. Hard to prove, but we …
River Road Balaclava
River Road Balaclava Review Editor’s Note: A balaclava (aka balaclava helmet) is defined as “a cap that is close-fitting and woolen and covers all of the head but the face.” I did some research to try and find the origin of the word, but to no avail. However, I did come across some interesting British …
Heartech Earplugs
Heartech Earplugs – Ear Plugs: SilentEar, QuietEar, FliteMate Earplugs I’m a big believer in wearing earplugs. I lost part of my hearing as a result of what could basically be called ignorance on my part. Plenty of rock concerts in the ’60’s and ’70’s, working in a really loud machine shop and riding motorcycles! But …
Polar-Optics Motorcycle Helmet Face Shield Lens
Polar-Optics Motorcycle Helmet Face Shield Lens There are probably too many less-than-satisfactory methods to get some sun protection while riding. You could choose a tinted replacement helmet visor, but they can be expensive, and it’s usually a pain to remove the clear visor and replace it with the tinted one (or vice versa) when the sun plays fickle.And …
REV’IT! 2014 Fall/Winter Clothing
REV’IT! 2014 Fall/Winter Clothing Preview I made a quick stop at REV’IT! USA headquarters last week to check out the Fall/Winter 2014 lineup. Yes, you read that right! It’s time for winter clothing. Hard to believe, now that summer has just begun its hot and moist grip on most of us in the northern hemisphere. …
LED Headlamp Flashlight
LED Headlamp Flashlight My garage has three big windows and a combination lighting scheme that includes overhead incandescent, fluorescent and halogen lamps. But I never seem to have enough light when I’m working on a bike. Now it could be because I’m getting old and my eyesight isn’t quite as sharp as it was, say, 20 …
Motorcycle Theft
Motorcycle Theft Statistics and Prevention The purpose of this page to become a directory of links to information, data and statistics regarding motorcycle theft. We’re especially interested in listing information regarding motorcycle theft statistics for the U.S.A. Unfortunately, data on motorcycle theft is difficult to find. If you know of links to resources about motorcycle …
Quick Anchor Tie Down Review
Quick Anchor Motorcycle Trailer Tie Down I found an advertisement for the new Quick Anchor “movable trailer tie down” in a print magazine and it looked intriguing, so I figured we’d give them a try. The Quick Anchor is cut from a flat sheet of 1/4″ plate. I assume that the material is stainless steel. …
Motorcycle Accessories – New Product Information
Motorcycle Tank Pad I visited the Motografix motorcycle tank pad booth at the recent motorcycle Dealer Expo this spring in Indianapolis. The Dealer Expo is the single largest show for U.S. motorcycle dealers to see new products, clothing and accessories and to place their orders for the big spring rush. Motografix specializes in motorcycle tank …
Raising Motorcycle Fork Tubes
Raising the fork tubes in the triple clamp is a simple adjustment that can help make a motorcycle respond faster to steering input and can lower the motorcycle. This trick won’t be found in your owner’s manual, because the manufacturers spend a lot of time working out the best compromise for the motorcycle’s suspension, and …
Progressive Fork Springs
Installing Progressive Fork Springs on a BMW R65 After installing the Progressive Suspension 420-Series rear shock absorber on our 1986 BMW R65, we wanted to also revitalize the front end with a set of Progressive Fork Springs. The new-found control at the rear accentuated the front end’s slightly vague feeling, so we checked the Progressive online product lookup …
Custom Motorcycle Leathers
GiMoto Custom Motorcycle Leathers It was just about this time of year, long ago and far away, when Mom would drag me to the nearest department store to poke through the new crop of fall clothes for the upcoming school year. But we ran into the same problem every fall. I wasn’t short, fat or …
Vanson Leather Suit Review
Choosing and Purchasing a One-Piece Leather Motorcycle Suit I finally got to the point in my track riding where my two-piece Dainese Rock leather suit just wasn’t cutting it any more. Not that I am all that fast on the track… But when I originally purchased the suit I had no idea whether I would …
Leather With Lycra
wBW Special Report: Leather With Lycra Consider this — In the 130-odd years of motorcycling history, we’ve seen only three types of motorcycle clothing: natural fabrics (mostly cotton), leather and manufactured fabrics (nylon, acrylic, lastex, rayon, spandex, etc.). Cotton was found mostly in waxed waterproof variants, like the classic Barbour International and the equally famous Belstaff Trialmaster. Although this …
