reviews
Triumph Motorcycles: From Speed Twin to Bonneville – wBW Book Review
Triumph Motorcycles: From Speed Twin to Bonneville by: Tim Remus Hardcover: 144 pages Dimensions (in inches): 10.1 x 10.3 x 0.7 Publisher: Wolfgang Publications, 2005 ISBN: 1929133219 Remus as the author of the excellent “Triumph Twins and Triples“. But as it turns out, Remus is also responsible for many different books on motorcycles, motorcycle history, …
GPA Helmet Review
GPA “Aircraft” Motorcycle Helmet Review Motorcycle helmets can be classified by types, such as open-face, full-face, flip-up or half-helmet. But beyond that, there really isn’t all that much to physically distinguish them, other than style, colors and graphics. A helmet looks like a helmet, more or less. Another word for this situation might be “boring”. …
TPro Forcefield vs. Bohn Monza Back Protectors
TPro Forcefield vs. Bohn Back Protectors The TPro Forcefield is the most comfortable and least obtrusive back protector we’ve tried so far. We’re still in shock, but for some reason the reviews of the Knox Ricochet and Knox Stowaway back protectors we posted recently are among the most popular articles on webBikeWorld, generating lots of …
PolyBrite Lighted Safety Vest Review
Electro-Luminescent High-Viz Vest Every once and a while, we find what could be called a “cross-sector” product. This PolyBrite lighted safety vest is a good example. That’s because it was originally designed for construction or road safety but it has potential for motorcycle use. It also meets one of our goals of providing our visitors …
Safe Lites BeaconWear Lighted Safety Vest Review
Safe Lights “BeaconWear” Reflective Vest Review From my own experience working with the Department of Transportation, I can tell you that the difference between being seen and becoming a statistic is simply this: visibility. Motorcycle riders are constantly exposed to risk because of their smaller outlines, so getting the attention of other drivers on the …
Chilli Heated Vest Review
Low-Voltage Warmth With Chilli The Chilli Heated Vest (or waistcoat) is nicely made. It includes a simple but strong wiring harness and assembly. But the 38 Watt output just doesn’t seem to provide that much heat. It’s available in men’s and women’s specific sizes and the size large weighs 323 g (11.375 oz.). I thought …
Belstaff Trialmaster Jacket Review
Belstaff Trialmaster Jacket This is it, folks – get ’em while you can. It’s the end of the ride for the very famous Belstaff Trialmaster jacket (which is also sometimes erroneously referred to as the Belstaff Trailmaster). We’ve been told that Belstaff has discontinued the manufacture of the Trialmaster waxed cotton jacket and pants and they are …
Vendramini Aero Motorcycle Boots
Vendramini Aero Motorcycle Boots Red suede shoes? Why not — Elvis and Carl Perkins would have flipped for these, I’m sure. It took me several days of peeking inside the Vendramini box to get up the nerve to actually try them on, but judging from the reactions I’ve gotten from others, they’re a hit. It’s …
Craft R2 and RX-6 Helmet Review
Craft R2 Aerospeed and the Craft RX6 Quiet, comfortable, excellent value, good quality for the price Craft Helmets are becoming popular in Europe, and they are now being distributed in the U.S.A. through SMF Cycles. One of the interesting features of all Craft Helmets is that they are U.S. DOT FMVSS 218. Also, they also …
Halo Helmet Band
Halo Helmet Band Review Inexpensive safety item that fits almost all full-face helmets Shoei helmets were once available in a bright orange color. I believe it was called “Safety Orange”. No one bought them, so that color was discontinued. Too bad… Think about it — a motorcycle rider’s helmet is normally the highest point on …
Knox Stowaway Back Protector Review
Pretty Big for a Stowaway We were surprised at the response we received to our recent review of the Knox Ricochet back protector. We didn’t expect that so many motorcycle riders would be interested in such a serious piece of safety equipment. But we should have known better! After all, webBikeWorld visitors are the smartest …
Reevu MSX1 Helmet Preview
“World’s First Helmet With A Built-In Rear-View Mirror” About one year ago we received a mysterious delivery of a Reevu helmet. I wore the helmet and took photos and started the process for a webBikeWorld review. Then I received a just-as-mysterious note asking us to return the helmet immediately and not to say anything about …
Lookwell One-Piece Leather Suit Review
A Lookwell Leather Suit The Lookwell Leathers one-piece leather suit is surprisingly comfortable. It has nice overall styling that looks better than the photos may indicate. The perforations and vents work well. It has good elbow and shoulder protectors but no hip padding and the knee protectors is not adjustable. We’ve been surprised at the …
NightStar Magnetic Shake Flashlight
Shake It to Power It! The NightStar “Shake” flashlight batteries are charged when you shake the light back and forth. This flashlight is waterproof and the manufacturer claims it can be stored for years with the expectation that it will still work when needed. It has a five-year replacement warranty. My flashlight obsession has most …
EDZ Neck Warmer Review
The EDZ Motorcycle Neck Warmer The EDZ neck warmer is light weight, stretchy and easy to use. It blocks some of the wind and provides light insulation over the neck and chin and keeps the bugs from your neck. The clocks have been set back one hour and the sun is setting earlier. The leaves …
GearWrench XL Wrench Review
BIG Ratcheting Wrenches Autumn has arrived in the northern hemisphere That means it’s time to start thinking about those winter maintenance projects! Maybe it’s finally time to install a set of heated grips or install a new set of tires? Or how about flushing and refilling the brake fluid or the fork fluid? Or maybe get to that overdue valve adjustment? Check …
Z1R ZRP-1 Helmet
The Z1R ZRP-1 Helmet The Z1R ZRP-1 helmet has a strange internal shape that may not fit all riders. It also has an uncomfortable and rough-feeling liner. Top if off with a very flimsy face shield and poor ventilation. So it supposedly transmits lower G-forces in a crash…but if it’s not worth wearing, who cares? …
Knox Ricochet Back Protector Review
The Knox “Ricochet” Back Protector Fits under most motorcycle jackets. Covers a large portion of the back. Lining is stiff and has little cushioning, but apparently it is designed to protect the rider. In a land where way too many motorcycle riders apparently believe that proper riding gear means shorts and a T-shirt, a back …
Racer Profile D3O Shorts Review
Add Comfort and Protection to the Ride The new Racer “Profile” D3O motorcycle shorts improve riding comfort and add some padding with their integrated D3O protectors and Lycra fabric. Shorts and underwear. These aren’t the types of apparel we often have the opportunity to review here at webBikeWorld, but occasionally it does happen, as you …
Pak-Lite LED Flashlight
A Snap-on LED Flashlight for 10V Batteries webBikeWorld was started back in 2000 (an eternity in Internet time) to provide our visitors with information on unique and hard-to-find motorcycle products and accessories. We get just as much of a thrill now as we did then when we find a really unique product, and the Pak-Lite …
Roadgear Adaptive-Tech Outlast Jacket and Vest Review
Outlast Adaptive Technology for Motorcycle Warmth The Roadgear Adaptive-Tech vest and jacket are soft, comfortable and stylish. They can be worn as liners for motorcycle jackets or off the bike for street wear. Outlast “phase change” material is relatively new to the world of motorcycling. But, our sport provides an ideal environment to evaluate the …
Tourmaster Advanced Jacket Review
Tourmaster “Advanced” Jacket Review I have a confession to make. With dozens of textile and leather motorcycle jackets, pants and every other type of motorcycle gear on the planet to choose from, my most frequently used article of clothing is an old pair of Tourmaster pants. Those pants were one of the first items reviewed on …
Motorcycle HID Headlight Upgrades
Installing HID Motorcycle Headlights Here is some information on HID light bulbs and HID light conversions from Bill Finch of SOL Lamps. SOL Lamps sells an HID headlight conversion kit that can be used on motorcycles. UPDATE: The SOL Lamps website is not operational as of August 24, 2006. The H4 kit we sell uses …
Radiantz Billet Turn Signals
Big Radiantz “Dogeye” LED Turn Signals The word “billet” has been used quite liberally in the world of motorcycling, mostly due to the rise in popularity of custom bikes and their builders. The word has several meanings in English, which probably has added to the confusion. For example, one definition for billet is the place …
Marsee Motorcycle Race Gloves Review
Marsee Motorcycle Race Gloves Thick gloves with lots of protective features and big, double-layered gauntlets. Three cinch straps on the gauntlets. Comfortable. webBikeWorld visitors may recall our recent article on the Held Ninja motorcycle gloves (review). These quickly became my favorites after riding for years with a now beat-up pair of Teknic Violator gloves (review). Well, love is fickle, …
Fog City vs. ProGrip Helmet Anti-Fog Visor Inserts
Fog City vs. ProGrip Review Review Anti-fogging properties are excellent, but photochromic ability does not meet expectations. Our search for the perfect solution to visor fogging has taken us from anti-fog coatings like FogTech and Cat Crap (apparently no longer in business) to visor inserts like Pinlock. We’ve had a few detours along the way for visor cleaners …
AGV Ti-Tech Rossi Helmet
AGV TiTech Helmet Review AGV is a very familiar name to motorcycle riders around the world. The company AGV (Amisano Gino Valenza) was established in 1947 as a manufacturer of leather seats and bicycle saddles. Gino Amisano was a motorcycle industry visionary, having pioneered the concept of motorcycle racer endorsements. I first remember seeing the …
Suomy Spec-1R Extreme Review
Suomy Spec-1R Motorcycle Helmet The Suomy Spec-1R Extreme has beautiful graphics and paint. The quality of the helmet overall is excellent, although the face shield doesn’t quite fit properly. It’s a bit louder than average and has a “Neutral” to “Slightly Narrow” internal shape. An emphasis on style over substance and the seemingly obligatory use …
Motorcycle Helmet Reviews: SCHUBERTH vs. Shark
SCHUBERTH S1 vs. Shark RSR The Battle of the Big Ones! You’re looking at about $1,400.00 worth of motorcycle helmets. These are two of the most expensive helmets on the planet. But decent helmets can easily be found for $200.00 or less, so are these really 3-4 times better? Is the SCHUBERTH S1 the “ultimate …
REV’IT! Cayenne Jacket Review
New REV’IT! Cayenne Adventure Jacket The REV’IT! Cayenne jacket is the perfect compliment to the REV’IT!! Ultimate pants (review). It has dual removable liners; one is waterproof and one is an insulating liner. It also includes Knox CE-approved shoulder and elbow armor. Large elastic panels in waist provide adjustment. The outer shell is also mesh lined. …
EDZ Motorcycle Underwear
EDZ Motorcycle Moisture Wicking Underwear Review Comfortable, breathable under layer for leathers or textile motorcycle clothing. Helps make it easier to slip in to or out of leathers, especially after a sweaty ride. I’ll take a wild guess and estimate that something like 99.998% of the world’s population of motorcycle riders don’t realize that there’s …
Zamp Motorcycle Helmet
Zamp JS-1 Helmet Review The Zamp JS-1 is a nice-looking open-face helmet. It offers a decent level of quality; certainly not the best, but we’ve seen much worse for more money. There are so many motorcycle helmets to choose from — so many styles, colors and types. How to pick one for a review? We’ve …
Marsee Rocket Pocket Tank Bag Review
Marsee “Rocket Pocket” Tank Bag The Marsee Rocket Pocket is a well made, smaller sized tank bag is just right for carrying a few items. But the zipper can be balky at times. Long-distance riders will probably laugh at the size of this tank bag. After all, it’s not uncommon to see 20, 25 and …
Marsee Mighty Mini Tank Bag Review
Marsee “Mighty Mini” Tank Bag The Marsee Mighty Mini tank bag is about as small as you can get. It should fit just about any size fuel tank. It’s fully lined, nicely made and the zippers have big pulls. The shape is narrow and tall, which maximizes the amount of internal storage space, but makes …
Motorcycle High-Viz Backpack
The BikeSeen High-Visibility Visi-Bag Several different types of motorcycle backpacks are available from a variety of sources, but most of them seem too large for casual use. Hard-shell backpacks are also available, but surely carrying something with a hard case on your back would be a liability during an accident. I also try to avoid …
Motorcycling Excellence Second Edition
The Motorcycle Safety Foundation’s Guide to Motorcycling Excellence, Second Edition Paperback: 192 pages ; Dimensions (in inches): 8.25 x 10.5 Full color illustrations and photos. Publisher: Whitehorse Press; (August 2005) ISBN: 1884313477 The original Motorcycle Safety Foundation’s Guide to Motorcycling Excellence (wBW review) was first published in 1995. The book has been updated to reflect ten …
