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 »
Condor Pit Stop/Trailer Stop Wheel Chock Review
Greg Drevenstedt
October 29, 2012
Dozens and dozens of motorcycles pass through our doors every year. Test bikes arrive in vans, get transferred on trailers, get stored in “the cage” at the office and in our garages at home, and leave in the beds of pickup trucks. We’re awash in Battery Tender wires and tie-down straps. Typically,... Read more »
Sidi Tour Gore-Tex Boots Review
Mark Tuttle
October 5, 2012
All waterproof boots are not created equal. For starters, these Sidi Gore-Tex Tour boots have a genuine Gore-Tex waterproof, breathable liner, which means they meet the tough standards of W.L. Gore and Associates as well as Sidi’s. And mine, too, one of which is that I can stand in a tub of water with... Read more »
Wunderlich BMW GS Bolt-Ons Review
Mark Tuttle
October 5, 2012
There is some irony involved in riding a heavy adventure tourer offroad that is fitted with scads of bars, plates and screens to prevent damage when you inevitably dump it…rather than just riding a lighter dual-sport or dirt bike in the first place. Adventure touring usually means connecting long stretches... Read more »
Stop & Go Tubeless Puncture Pilot Tire Repair Kit
Jerry Smith
October 4, 2012
There are two parts to fixing a flat on a tubeless tire, the first of which—plugging the hole—every repair kit can do. But when it comes to reinflating the tire enough to ride to a shop for a permanent repair, most kits give you a few CO2 cartridges and wish you luck. The Stop & Go Tubeless... Read more »
