reviews
Shoei RJ-Platinum R Review
The Shoei Open Face Helmet The Shoei RJ-Platinum R is a modern take on an iconic motorcycle helmet design. It’s a popular helmet with touring riders and cruiser owners. The RJ-Platinum R has an excellent build quality. It also has a comfortable interior that is somewhat different from other modern Shoei helmets. The solid-feeling shell …
Vessel JIS Screwdrivers Review
Vessel Motorcycle Repair and Restoration JIS Screwdriver Kit A well-made set of tools for the motorcycle mechanic who wrenches on Japanese machines. The shorter handle design may make it difficult to get a good grip with larger hands. In 2011, I reviewed a pair of JIS screwdrivers to see what, if any, differences there were between the …
Dainese Super Speed Textile Jacket Review
Dainese “Super Speed Tex” Jacket Review The Super Speed Tex (the official name) jacket is one of the most popular Dainese summer-weight textile jackets in 2013. In fact, it’s so popular that it has nearly sold out in every color and size this summer, with retailers asking for more. It’s functional yet stylish, with right on …
Maxxeon WorkStar 320 Pocket Floodlight Review
Comparing the Maxxeon WorkStar 320 and WorkStar 220 Pocket Floodlights The Maxxeon WorkStar 320 is a slightly enlarged version of the excellent Maxxeon WorkStar 220 Pocket Floodlight (review). The WorkStar 320 takes three easier-to-find AAA batteries, instead of the three AAAA batteries in the WorkStar 220. Two years ago, Rick K. described the Maxxeon Pocket Floodlight 220 …
Sidi Adventure Gore-Tex Boots Review
Sidi Adventure Gore-Tex Dual-Sport Boots Review The Sidi Adventure Gore-Tex boots are the top of the Sidi Adventure-Touring boot lineup. They’re a quality piece of riding gear and they’re not inexpensive, but serious riders may discover that these boots will probably outlast lesser types. The height of the Adventure Gore-Tex boots doesn’t work on my …
Dainese Dyno C2b Shoes Review
Dainese “Dyno C2b” Shoes The Dainese Dyno C2b shoes are located at the mid-point of the Dainese Dyno family. They are located below the Dyno C2b Pro and above the Dyno and Dainese Asphalt shoes (review). The Dyno C2b shoes are street focused. But they also have many high-end features borrowed from the Dainese motorcycle race …
Clearwater Darla Lights Review
Clearwater “Darla” LED Lights Review The high-quality Clearwater Darla light kit is indicative of the latest in LED technology and also reflects the best of what Clearwater Lights brings to motorcyclists. The Darla lights have nearly the same perceived brightness as the more powerful Clearwater Krista Lights (review) but with the small form factor of the Clearwater Glenda …
Cardo Scala Rider Q1 TeamSet and Q3 MultiSet Intercom Review
Cardo Scala Rider Q1 TeamSet and Q3 MultiSet Intercoms The Cardo Scala Rider Q1 TeamSet and Q3 MultiSet are new, small form factor Bluetooth motorcycle intercoms. The Q1 was primarily designed to be a simple, easy-to-use, short range, full-duplex intercom for a rider and passenger on one bike. The Cardo Scala Rider Q3 uses the …
Visorcat Review
The Visorcat Visor Cleaner The Visorcat is a motorcycle helmet visor cleaning system. It includes both a replaceable sponge and a wiper blade and a reservoir to hold cleaning fluid. The Visorcat attaches to the left hand with an adjustable nylon wrist strap. It feels awkward at first, but I quickly became used to it. …
Essential Buyer’s Guide Kawasaki Z1 & Z900
The Essential Buyer’s Guide by: Dave Orritt Paperback ISBN: 978-1-845845-23-0 Publisher: Veloce Publishing Publication Date: February 2013 60 pages. 195 mm x 139 mm x 4 mm List Price: $19.95/£9.99 Here’s another in the “Essential Buyer’s Guide” series from Veloce Publishing, which includes nearly 100 vehicles, from the Volkswagen Beetle and BSA Bantam to this …
Respro Sportsta Review
Respro “Sportsta” Mask Review Riders who commute regularly in urban environments with lots of congestion and/or air pollution have to take extra steps to protect their long-term health. UK company Respro makes masks to help you breathe a little easier Motorcycles are superior commuting devices in almost every respect. They’re light, efficient and fun. As …
Racer Stratos Gloves Review
Racer “Stratos” Waterproof Gloves Review The Racer “Stratos” gloves are a combination of leather and goat hide with a full-sized gauntlet. Also included is a leather-covered hard knuckle protector for the main knuckles. The Stratos gloves are an all-around, multi-season type but they’re not as heavy as true winter motorcycle gloves. They also feature the …
Shoei Hornet DS Review
Shoei Hornet DS Helmet Review The Shoei Hornet DS in its DOT guise is comfortable and feels very solid. It is also Snell M2010 certified. It has a huge eye port that provides outstanding visibility for the wearer. The Hornet DS may feel less like a dual-sport helmet than any other I have tried, and …
Dual Horn Relay Wiring Harness
Installing a Dual Horn Relay Wiring Harness For some reason, dual horn relay wiring harness kits are difficult to find lately. The Eastern Beaver dual horn relay harness (review) that I’ve used before is no longer being made, unfortunately. But I found a new source and added one to the BMW C 650 GT scooter. Rolling your …
2014 BMW Scooters
New 2014 BMW Scooter Colors Announced (July 2013) BMW announced the availability of three new colors for the 2014 BMW C 650 GT scooters. The 2014 scooters are available for order and deliveries will commence in August of 2013. BMW C 600 Sport As of model year 2014, the BMW C 600 Sport will be …
REV’IT! Levante Jacket Review
The REV’IT! Levante Men’s and Women’s Mesh Jacket The Rev’It Levante textile mesh jacket is a good, solid piece of gear that means business. It’s suitable for wear in all but the most extreme weather conditions. This was a rare opportunity to review both the men’s and women’s versions of the Rev’it Levante jacket, first introduced …
REV’IT! Horizon Jacket Review
A High-Visibility Basic Jacket The REV’IT! Horizon HV (High Visibility) jacket is a very nice upgrade from the REV’IT! Energy HV jacket we reviewed in 2011. The Horizon jacket, also available in light gray or black, would be an excellent choice for general four-season use. The major difference between the Horizon and the Energy is the addition …
REV’IT! Airwave Pants Review
REV’IT! Airwave Trousers for Women and Men Strictly for summer, the Airwave trousers offer excellent air flow combined with a good fit and protective armour. Easy to put on and take off, they’re great for commuting, and can stand up to longer trips too. The Airwave pants also work as overpants with a pair of …
Cyclops Adventure Sports LED Lights
Cyclops “Optimus LED Prime” Light Kit Excellent quality, ruggedized, lightweight, superb output are key descriptors for the Cyclops Adventure Sports Long Range Optimus Prime LED Light Kit. This kit has two lights, one with a 10 degree and one with a 20 degree lens. Mix and match is available. Both provide a distinctive and extremely …
Racer Limes Gloves Review
Racer “Limes” Gloves Review The Racer “Limes” (lee-muhs) gloves are made from leather and goat hide with a full-sized gauntlet. These gloves also feature a large and hard leather-covered knuckle protector on the mains. The Limes gloves have a lightweight feel with a comfortable fit. They also feel a bit more protective than the short-gauntlet Racer gloves …
Triumph Production Testers’ Tales
Triumph Production Testers’ Tales Softcover ISBN: 978-1-845844-41-7 Publisher: Veloce Books Publication Date: November 2012 160 Pages. 183 Color & B/W Photos. 21×25 cm List Price: $39.95 USD; £19.99 webBikeWorld.com Book Review by “Burn” Hughie Hancox was well-known in the vintage Triumph community as an expert restorer and successful author. He started his career at the Triumph factory …
Best Motorcycle Helmet?
World’s Best All-Around Motorcycle Helmet Bargain? I’m baiting you, of course. A little bit, anyway. After all, as we’ve said for many years, there is no such thing as the “best” helmet. Or jacket. Or gloves, boots, pants, oil, tires… The fact of the matter is, there are just too many variables involved to pick …
AGV Blade Review
AGV “Blade” Helmet Review The AGV Blade is comfortable, relatively lightweight and easy to wear. It has a different shape than the typical half-helmet or even the “Jet” styled European open-face helmets. The Blade comes in a variety of colors and graphics and it has an excellent finish and comfortable fit. The chin strap has …
Shark Vision-R GT Carbon Review
Shark Vision-R GT Carbon Helmet The Shark Vision-R GT Carbon starts with the unique Shark Vision-R helmet with its panoramic view. It then adds several small touches to improve comfort and weight for the touring or long-distance rider. These include an internal sun visor, an air pump bladder system in the liner and a new …
Gaerne Off-Road Boots Review – Part 2
Gaerne Off-Road Boots Review – Part 2 Introduction to Part 2 A promise made and although a tad overdue, a promise fulfilled: Part 2 of our Gaerne GX-1, SG10 and SG12 off-road boots review. At the time that Part 1 of this review was published in February of this year, I was very much looking forward …
Overlap Manx Kevlar Jeans Review
Overlap “Manx” Kevlar Jeans Review The Overlap Manx jeans may have hit the perfect formula for motorcycle jeans that look good on the street. They look as good as any street jeans and they’re very soft and very comfortable. The Manx jeans arrive fully broken-in, with that worn look that gives ’em lots of character. …
Overlap Imatra Kevlar Jeans Review
Overlap “Imatra” Kevlar Jeans Review The new Overlap Imatra jeans have many protective features, including SAS-Tec knee and hip protectors. A full-length Kevlar lining is included and the Imatra jeans have been tested and certified to meet several CE Level 1 and Level 2 protection standards, according to the company. The jeans are considered “PPE”, …
Sena SPH10
Sena SPH10 Bluetooth Personal Headset and Sena SPH10H Half-Helmet Intercom Sena is an industry leader in Bluetooth communications with an ever-expanding line of motorcycle intercom systems. So where do the Sena SPH10 Headset and SPH10H half-helmet systems fit in? The SPH10 is an excellent system with all the expected features of a full-bore Bluetooth helmet …
Racer Guide Gloves Review
Racer “Guide” Gloves Review The Racer “Guide” Gloves have a short gauntlet and perforated sections for cooler summer riding. The gloves also feature Clarino and goat hide palms and large Knox scaphoid protectors (sliders). The nylon tricot lining is attached using the “mcFIT” (Maximum Comfort Fit Technology) system described in detail in our introduction to the VQuattro gloves review. Perforations …
Racer Mickey Gloves Review
Racer “Mickey” Gloves Review The Racer “Mickey” Gloves are another short gauntlet summer type but with more protective features than the Racer Guide gloves (review). The most prominent feature of the Mickey gloves is the large bifurcated Superfabric-covered main knuckle protector. Another Superfabric-covered slider protects the scaphoid. Only the top of the inside of the gloves has a liner; …
Racer Summer Fit Gloves Review
Racer “Summer Fit” Gloves Review The Racer “Summer Fit” Gloves have a 100% leather (goat skin) outer shell and a full-sized gauntlet. The goat skin makes these gloves lightweight and comfortable. Soft padding knuckle protectors means the gloves are very flexible, another plus for hot-weather riding. The palms are lined with Kevlar and the Summer Fit gloves …
Shoei J-Cruise Review
Shoei J-Cruise Helmet Review The new Shoei J-Cruise replaces the popular and long-lived Shoei J-Wing helmet. The J-Cruise feels just like a full-face helmet…but without a chin bar. In other words, it has all of the features and build quality you’d expect from a Shoei helmet. This includes the outstanding ventilation that has become a …
BMW Scooter Oil and Filter Change
Changing the Oil and Filter on the BMW C 650 GT I finally got around to changing the oil and filter on the C 650 GT and here’s my report. It’s a relatively easy job, with no surprises. It would be nice if BMW had a shop manual though; I don’t know the torque values …
Fenix HL10 Review
A Miniature Headlamp and Flashlight Convertible The Fenix HL10 is a useful design that combines a headlamp with a miniature 90-degree flashlight. The headlamp case opens and the small flashlight can be removed. The flashlight also rotates through 100 degrees when it’s in the headlamp holder. The flashlight has the same high-quality machined aluminum and …
Liquid Image Ego Review
Small and Cheap With Good Results The Liquid Image Ego 727 is an extremely compact camera that takes very good videos. Its various user interfaces include a smart phone option, but leave a few things to be desired. On the other hand, the Liquid Image Ego is one of least expensive HD cameras out there; …
RHOK Gen3 Kevlar Jeans Review
RHOK “Gen3” Kevlar Jeans Review The “Gen3” RHOK Kevlar jeans are soft and comfortable. The “PEKEV” Kevlar lining is a special design that covers the seat down to just below the knee in the rear, along with a section at the hips. The RHOK Gen3 jeans come with removable knee and hip protectors. The knee …
Sena SMH5-FM Review
Sena SMH5-FM Intercom Review Sena keeps putting the good stuff together and getting it out to the market. The second iteration of the downsized but very capable SMH5 intercom, now endowed with an integrated stereo FM tuner, is an example. It’s also one of the reasons Sena was chosen as thewebBikeWorld Bluetooth Technology Provider of the …
