UClear HBC100 Moto Helmet Communicator Review
Greg Drevenstedt
December 20, 2012
As great as many helmet communicators are at enabling on-the-road conversations between a rider and a passenger, or between riders on different motorcycles, and at streaming music and taking/making cellphone calls, they can also be fiddly gadgets that require patience to master. Installing them on helmets... Read more »
Alpinestars Scout Waterproof Motorcycle Boots Review
Greg Drevenstedt
December 5, 2012
Adventure touring is king these days. Sales are up, model lines are expanding and, as Clem points out in this month’s Road Tales, dreams of around-the-world travel are widespread. Even though most adventure bikes never leave the pavement, many are kitted out with hand guards, skid plates, Baja-style... Read more »
Yamaha FJR Suspension Upgrades from Race Tech
Rich Cox
December 5, 2012
Some things we are sure of. First, there are a lot of FJRs running around out there; second, with the sagging economy, FJR owners are probably holding onto their beloved bikes longer than ever; and third, many would welcome a tightening-up of their bike’s suspension systems. So, in conjunction with... Read more »
HJC RPHA Max Modular Motorcycle Helmet Review
Clement Salvadori
December 5, 2012
I’ve sometimes found flip-up helmets a bit too noisy for my tender ears…although I do like the style and ease of communication with the chinbar flipped up. But when Editor Tuttle called up and said he had a genuinely new one from HJC that I might like, I told him to send it up. The box arrived,... Read more »
Olympia Moto Sports Nomad Motorcycle Jacket Review
Greg Drevenstedt
December 4, 2012
Versatility is the name of the game with riding apparel. There’s a lot of competition in today’s market, and manufacturers are always trying to outdo each other in terms of features, style and price. Kevin and Karilea Rhea, Olympia Moto Sports’ owner/designer husband-and-wife team, are 26-year... Read more »
Doubletake Mirrors Review
Greg Drevenstedt
November 26, 2012
The stock mirrors on my 1998 Kawasaki KLR650 died honorably, in the line of duty. The left one bit the dust when my KLR tipped over after a challenging hill climb. As three of us stood around catching our breath, the small foot of the kickstand sank into the soft dirt and the bike fell over, shearing... Read more »
How to Ride Off-Road Motorcycles (Book Review)
Greg Drevenstedt
November 21, 2012
No matter how many times street motorcyclists are told that riding off-road will improve their on-road skills, many of them brush it aside. Street riders and dirt riders are often like oil and water. You’re either one or the other, and never the twain shall meet. However, I can attest first-hand, having... Read more »
Bell RS-1 Motorcycle Helmet Review
Clement Salvadori
November 9, 2012
Three basic steps are involved in the testing of a helmet. The first thing I do is weigh it. Bell’s new RS-1 uses two shell sizes, one for XS-M and a slightly larger one for L-2XL. The size XL, which fit me, came in at an acceptable 58 ounces. In the smaller of its two shell sizes (XS-M), Bell says... Read more »
Budget Audio for Honda Gold Wings
Jerry Smith
November 8, 2012
I put a Gold Wing GL1800 on my dream-bike list back in 2001, and finally snagged a used ’01 last year. But I quickly discovered that one of the features I was so eager to get—a factory stereo—came with speakers so anemic they had to be cranked up to ear-bleed volumes before I could hear them at... Read more »
Cargol Turn & Go Flat Repair Kit Review
Jerry Smith
November 7, 2012
Along with better handling, cooler running and longer tread life, one of the less-appreciated advantages of tubeless tires is that if you get a flat, you can put in a temporary plug without even taking the wheel off the bike and ride slowly to a shop to have a permanent plug installed. Of all the emergency... Read more »
