Motorcycle Gear Reviews
This section includes motorcycle gear reviews with testing conducted by Rider magazine editors. Gear reviews include apparel, parts & accessories, helmets, electronics and tires. If you are looking for a certain type of gear, use our browse by type option to see one gear category at a time.
HyperPro Motorcycle Shock and Fork Springs Review
Arden Kysely
May 7, 2013
It’s the rare motorcycle that leaves the showroom with stellar suspension, and my 2009 BMW F 800 GS is no exception. The stock male-slider fork is non-adjustable and the rear shock allows fiddling only with spring preload and compression damping. The kicker (literally) is that BMW’s ideal rider weighs... Read more »
Nolan B4 Motorcycle Communication System Review
Ken Aiken
May 6, 2013
Nolan’s new B4 communication system has all the functions of other top-quality Bluetooth motorcycle systems and some of the same limitations. It offers A2DP stereo from FM radio and MP3 players, linked GPS, pilot-to-passenger and bike-to-bike intercom, and of course, full cellphone capability. The... Read more »
Harley-Davidson Ultimate Riding Socks Review
Greg Drevenstedt
April 30, 2013
If shoes make the man, then socks make the man (or woman) comfortable. Now that I’m almost 40 (four months and 10 days to go, but who’s counting?), I can proudly boast that I get my cholesterol checked regularly and I have finally purged all of the blown-out, ill-fitting and itchy socks from my wardrobe.... Read more »
Racer Feeling Motorcycle Gloves Review
Mark Tuttle
April 16, 2013
When I started riding street bikes with my friends at the tender age of 16, there wasn’t a lot of specialized apparel around. Fortunately we just didn’t know how miserable we were because of it, since work boots, jeans, jean jackets and leather work gloves seemed fine for all of the fun we were having.... Read more »
High-Tech Bags: Motorcycle Luggage Buyers Guide
Bill Stermer
April 5, 2013
Some years ago, as part of the seminars I conducted at motorcycle rallies, I described how it was possible to carry many useful items on tour in a small bag affixed to your bike’s fuel tank. There would be a map displayed right there under your snoot in the convenient map pouch, and inside the tankbag... Read more »
Alpinestars Long Range Drystar Jacket and Pants Review
Greg Drevenstedt
March 29, 2013
Just as nothing beats the right tool for the job, nothing beats the ride gear for the ride. Based in Asolo, Italy, apparel manufacturer Alpinestars is known around the world for its suits and boots worn by on- and off-road racers, on two wheels as well as four. Lately the company has branched out into... Read more »
Joe Rocket Big Bang 2.0 Boots Review
Greg Drevenstedt
March 29, 2013
Imelda Marcos, the former first lady of the Philippines, was infamous for having 3,000 pairs of shoes. I don’t have that many, but I’ll admit it: I have a problem. And not just shoes, but boots. Like a lot of guys, I can’t seem to throw anything out. Even if a pair of boots has been buried in the... Read more »
LS2 MX453 Dual-Sport Helmet
Greg Drevenstedt
February 28, 2013
Not familiar with LS2 helmets? Neither was I until two of them—the MX453 dual-sport and FT2 FF396 full-face models—showed up at the office late last year. The LS2 brand was launched in Europe in 2007 by MHR Helmet Co. Ltd., a subsidiary of Xiqing Plastics, a Chinese company that has been making helmets... Read more »
Alpinestars Durban Gore-Tex Boots Review
Greg Drevenstedt
February 28, 2013
Durban, the third largest city in South Africa, is situated on the edge of the Indian Ocean. Why an urban area packed with more than half a million people would inspire a line of adventure-touring gear from Alpinestars is a bit of a head-scratcher. Maybe the name sounds cool. But, as it turns out, I... Read more »
Alpinestars Apex Drystar Gloves Review
Greg Drevenstedt
December 21, 2012
Winter is upon us, and if we all survive today’s Mayan-predicted apocalypse, we’ve got three long months of cold weather ahead of us. Some of you may think Southern California doesn’t get cold, but with lots of mountains in the area, even if the weather is mild near sea level it can get really... Read more »
