The RPHA MAX Modular that HJC so graciously sent to my passenger Chrissy Rogers for our recent Yamaha Star Venture first ride was such a nice-looking lid when it popped out of the box, I thought it was a new model. I was wrong; T. Roderick tested it five years ago.

Everyone likes to look fashionable, and that extends to our brothers and sisters who ride motorcycles. But many riders often choose riding jackets based on appearance at the expense of crash protection, and this is a mindset verified many times over by apparel manufacturers.

The sad truth is that some motorcycles go through extended periods of not being ridden. While some riders are lucky enough to own multiple motorcycles, Winter storage is the most common reason for parking our beloved motorcycles. When smart chargers first hit the market, they were a revelation. Prior to that, people rigged up all kinds of Rube Goldberg contraptions to make sure that their stored motorcycle battery kept a charge but wasn’t ruined by the constant input of the old, dumb chargers. (I know of people who rigged their chargers to stay on as long as their garage door was open so that their battery would get a little tickle of electricity a couple times a day.) Smart chargers that could sense a battery’s level of fitness and switch to a maintenance charge when the voltage was above a certain level are relatively common now, but they were a game-changer when they were first released. Today, in this more mature market, buyers are looking for features to differentiate the available chargers. This is where the Bosch SmartCharge Plus enters the field.

Alpinestars Crank Riding Jean delivers a subtle, euro-styled, option for those looking to find a balance between safety and style.

I don’t know why they call them “the fairer sex,” as they can be pretty unfair. When I offered Chrissy Rogers an all-expenses two-day paid vacay riding around on (back of) the new Yamaha Star Venture a couple months ago, I sensed some resistance. I sweetened the pot with a casual “maybe we can get you some new boots.” Fish on!

Recently I set off on a camping trip near the San Gabriel Mountains for the weekend. I had been assigned to attend a product launch on the Friday prior so my plan was to, after the event, point my front tire hastily toward the Angeles National Forest for some close-to-home camping over the weekend.

I’m not much of a cruiser guy, but this past July Motorcycle.com sent me to my first media launch for the 2018 Indian Scout Bobber ( which ended up being pretty rad). As I have mentioned in previous articles, I am a gear nerd and have amassed plenty of jackets, pants, boots, helmets, etc., over the past 10 years since I began riding. With all of that gear I still found myself without a subtle jacket that one might classify as a cruiser jacket. The folks here at MO tasked me with finding a jacket that might fit the bill and suggested I look at the new line-up from Rev’it!.

For 2018 Alpinestars has focused on making its Tech lines more technical. New technology has been brought to its Tech touring line and changed the way its looks at a touring rider’s needs. The 2018 launch will also see the roll-out of Alpinestars Tech-Air Race Vest system which can be used under compatible race suits as well as specific jackets to give the technology both track and street applications.

During the media launch of Yamaha’s significantly updated R6 at Thunderhill Raceway, the bikes were fitted with the GYTR Communication Control Unit (CCU) first available on the high-end YZF-R1M. This electronic device logs data incorporated from a GPS sending unit and the bike’s ECU that allows riders to analyze braking, throttle position, gear indication, as well as other data that can be helpful in evaluating performance of both bike and rider.

“So, if I’m going to go with you fellers on this 2017 Superbike Street Shootout, I’m gonna need a new helmet since all of my roadie helmets are so old they’re practically petrified.”

If you’d told me when I bought my Yamaha R6 – way back in 2003 – that one day I’d want a gear indicator, I’d have said you were crazy. However, years of having them on bikes that I have tested have worn me down, and now I’ve gotten accustomed to taking a quick glance if I’m ever unsure of my gear.

The one thing I’ve learned wearing Alpinestars’ GP Plus Leather Suit is trackside photographers have no problem picking me out of a crowded field of leather-clad motorcyclists. Whether I’m at a press launch with a bunch of other journos all outfitted with newish leathers, or at a trackday thick with fellow sportbike junkies in sometimes outlandish attire, the asymmetrical styling of the GP Plus suit is more obvious and attention-grabbing than a naked Margot Robbie (we should probably test that statement for accuracy…).

To some riders, adding a centerstand to a bike is heresy; to others it makes perfect sense. If you’re a member of the latter group, you’ll want to take a look at TwistedThrottle.com to see what centerstand options they have. As the exclusive U.S. distributor of SW-MOTECH products, TwistedThrottle sells centerstands for more than 75 motorcycle models. Since we’re beginning a project to turn a 2009 Kawasaki Versys 650 into an urban warrior for the mean streets of Los Angeles, our first step was to install a SW-MOTECH centerstand. The ease of chain maintenance that a centerstand offers at the end of a day’s long commute can’t be understated.

Summer is upon us, and that means that vented gear is in high demand. While the options of flashy, multicolored sporty bike jackets are numerous, finding a good looking black vented jacket that can be worn on a variety of motorcycle types can be a challenge. The Alpinestars Brera Airflow Jacket is a great option for someone looking for a classically styled black (or brown) leather jacket in a slim, European fit.

Klim’s a new player in the modular streetbike motorcycle helmet game. With a reputation of constructing technical apparel – oftentimes of the high-end, expensive variety – it should come as no surprise the company managed to create a quality modular lid for a price commensurate with competitors Schuberth and Shoei.

When did you buy your first smartphone? Were you in line with me on the first day of iPhone availability, or did you wait until the platforms multiplied and matured? Where are you on the early adopter curve? Do you relish the bleeding edge, or do you prefer to let someone cut a trail for you? I ask this because we’re at a similar juncture in motorcycling. The NUVIZ head-up display (HUD), the first HUD built specifically for motorcycling, is hitting the market, and the way we gather information while riding a motorcycle is about to change. Are you ready to jump in?

Some of the stuff in the Harley-Davidson Motorclothes catalog is too good not to wear, whether you ride a Harley or not. Case in point, this Sully jacket, possibly named for Tom Hanks’ character in the movie of the same name. Harley fixed me up with one when we went to Daytona in March to ride a couple of its new machines (Street Rod and Road King Special). I didn’t wear it while I was in Florida since my wardrobe was, as always, meticulously pre-arranged, but I have worn it quite a bit since then, when I’m able to get it away from a woman friend who keeps trying to steal it.

Firstgear Electric Apparel Review

MO Tested: Cortech Super 2.0 Saddlebags/Tail Bag Review

Almost two years ago, I reviewed the Healtech Quick Shifter Easy and finished my review with the following sentence: “The HealTech Quick Shifter Easy lives up to its name, and it will bring a smile to your face as you run through the gears, hearing the exhaust note seamlessly change as you snick through the gears.” Well, in the world of electronics, two years is a long time.

Sena wants you to have an action cam. How? By creating a low-priced entry into the action camera market in the form of the Sena Prism Tube. For just $119, you get a 1.0-inch diameter by 3.9-inch length aluminum cylinder capable of capturing about two hours of 1080p 30fps video and audio. Once mounted to the rider’s helmet via the included mounting system, operating the unit couldn’t be any easier. Simply sliding the ring around the outside of the tube forward turns the Prism Tube on and begins recording. It’s that simple.

Sena Cavalry Helmet Review

“Tire testing” is rapidly becoming my favorite thing to do here at MO. It always involves going on a great ride, sometimes even a race track, and no one can really accuse me of getting it wrong, can they? Especially when the main claim is greater tire longevity. I’d like to hang around Austin and eat more barbecue and put 6,000 miles on these new Dunlops, but oh dear, look at the time…

What if a tire manufacturer told you that their new street tire had the performance chops to take 3.5 seconds off the best lap of the previous-generation tire at Spain’s Circuito de Cartagena? That’d get your attention, right? It got mine, but then again, I was sitting in a press briefing in one of the pit boxes at the Losail International Circuit so soon after the first MotoGP of the 2017 season that the rider name boards were still in place.

Spidi 4Season H2Out Suit Review

I bought my first electric vest in the winter of 1989, and I’ve been using them during cold weather ever since. When Tom Roderick and I began planning our SaddleSore 1000 ride, I knew that an electric vest would be essential piece of my ability to keep warm in the cold temperatures that were forecast during our riding through the night. Thinking that this would be the ideal time to test Aerostich’s newest electric vest, I ordered a Kanetsu Airvantage Electric Vest to see if its internal air bladder was a worthwhile innovation.

The birth of Black Brand for women was announced with evocative names such as the Brazilian Waxed and the Sheared Beaver, both of which are part of Black Brand’s “Platinum Series” of women’s jackets. For ladies desiring a less suggestively named motorcycle jacket from Black Brand, the Mantra is a stylish high-end leather option.

In a world of motorcycle apparel where a single jacket can cost more than $1,700 (Klim Adventure Rally), it’s refreshing to know that basic, reasonably priced moto gear still exists. Of course you have to be willing to forego some niceties, but if you’re requiring shelter from the wet and cold, Firstgear’s Thermosuit literally has you covered.

A few months ago I whined bitterly about the lack of space inside my expensive new Schuberth E1 helmet for the earpieces of my favorite Ray-Ban Wayfarers. Dean Siracusa did not hear my pitiful plea, but about a month later my old pal (from the days when Road & Track shared a building with Cycle World) dropped me a serendipitous line re: his new business venture.

If you haven’t been keeping track, California has been a hot, dry state for the past several years. Which is a good thing when it comes to riding motorcycles year-round, but less so when you’re trying to test cold-weather gloves. Thankfully, that dry spell has come to an end this year, with bucket loads of rain bringing with it some chilly weather. Finally, a chance to put Joe Rocket’s Rocket Burner textile gloves to use.

Frankly, we at MO would not know that the biggest complaint among sport-touring riders, especially performance-minded ones, is tire life. That’s because we rarely put more than a couple thousand miles on any bike before it goes back to its maker. But we can see how tire life would be a real problem for big powerful beasts like FJR1300s and the sweet new KTM Super Duke GT – upon which I had the excellent fortune to sample Dunlop’s newest rubber upon.

As you probably know, taking pictures on motorcycles is part of the job as a moto-journalist. Being the narcissistic type we are, we moto-reviewers typically like getting photos of ourselves on motorcycles as it’s our time to ham it up for the camera – pulling wheelies, dragging a knee, smoky burnouts, whatever the situation may present. The best time for photos, however, is a small window roughly 60 minutes before sunset (or roughly 60 minutes after sunrise if you’re an early bird), often called the “Golden Hour.”

During the wet but not-too-cold Spring and Fall months a rider needs a lightweight suit that’ll keep him dry without overheating. Spidi’s Ventamax H2Out jacket fits the bill nicely, as does the company’s Thunder H2Out pants. Both have removable rain liners and removable body armor (some of which is optional), and both can be worn in a variety of riding situations and weather conditions. Pricing is marginally steeper than we’d like for this ensemble – better if the armor was included and not optional – but the apparel performs to its job parameters well, and both the jacket and pants are plucked from the MO closet often, proving their popularity.

The rainy season is underway in Southern California, home of the expansive MO Testing Center, and we have naturally turned our attention to seasonally appropriate riding gear. Today’s selection is a pair of Alpinestars Supertouring Gore-Tex Boots. These premium touring boots have all the features you’d want when you don’t know what kind of weather you’re going to encounter on an extended tour.

Okay, I admit it. I’m a gadget guy, and quite frequently, those around me have to suffer through endless conversations about the latest shiny technology that has caught my eye. (Just ask my long-suffering wife, whose patience in my current home automation project is wearing quite thin.) So, you shouldn’t be surprised that, at every weekly production meeting for the past couple months, I’ve tried to schedule a review of the new Power Hub1 from Innovv. Why is it so special? Well, it allows for switched power to be distributed to up to five accessories from one location – which translates into just one switched connection to be spliced into a bike’s wiring harness.

When Editor-in-Chief Duke asked who wanted to sample a $250 jacket of questionable origin from a brand unknown to us a few months ago, all our hands did not shoot up as one. We MOrons tend to sashay about in premium gear as much as possible in the interests of both style and safety, things that don’t generally square with a $250 price tag. For the sake of science, though, I volunteered.

A few years ago, riding jeans with armor were big news. Now, most of the major manufacturers are making them, and that’s good for riders who want protection but don’t want to look like Power Rangers at the office or when running their daily errands. As part of Alpinestars City Collection, the Copper Denim Pants continue this trend in the form of traditionally-styled jeans with removable armor.

Innovation, whether it be the motorcycle I’m riding or the gear I’m wearing, always piques my interest. I remember the introduction of 6D’s Omni-Directional Suspension (ODS) technology in MX helmets at the now defunct Dealer Expo show in 2013, and to now see it realized in a street-legal helmet a few years later satisfies my progressive inclinations.  

When it comes to AGV helmets, it doesn’t get any higher than the Pista GP R and Corsa R helmets. AGV bills the former as the MotoGP helmet – the exact same one Valentino Rossi wears – while the latter is considered the company’s “Ultimate Track Helmet.” Of course, when you’re talking about flagship products from premier brands, you’re also talking mega bucks. So let’s get that out of the way now: The Pista GP R starts at a staggering $1,399.95, ramping up to an even more jaw dropping $1,599.95 for the Rossi and Andrea Iannone replica colorways. The Corsa R is just a smidge more reasonable, its starting price is $799.95, capped off with the $999.95 price tag for the Rossi Goodwood replica.

A few months ago complaints began to filter down that somebody was wearing the same old wine-colored Shoei Neotec modular helmet in every dang photo shoot I was in (and unwashed black Aerostich suit). Action needed to be taken, and one of them was for me to track down the HJC marketing person (one very pleasant Molly Lang), and get myself a new helmet. Here it is, the new IS (internal shield) MAX II modular, in black/blue Elemental graphics.

Even though cargo shorts faded from acceptable summer style years ago, I continue wearing them. The fashion police aren’t dictating to me that I can no longer wear comfortably fitting shorts with enough pocket space to house my entourage of bric-a-brac. Thank God the same fashion faux pas doesn’t apply to cargo pants or Drayko may have passed on producing a pair for motorcyclists.

For years, I’ve claimed that self-canceling turn signals were the answer to a question I never asked. I’d yet to experience an automated system that didn’t introduce one or more problems or adaptations I had to make in order to utilize turn signals the way I preferred to use them. Some systems turned the signals off too soon while others kept them on for an eternity, but both forced me to take my eyes off the road to check if the signals were on or off before and after a turn.

Baby Einstein is my favorite, but I also like watching Keeping Up with the Kardashians with mom. Dad says there’s nothing better for turning your mind to mush than reality TV, and he tries to undo any damage every chance he gets by reading to me from books. He went so far as to dig out his own ancient baby books, which is cool, but I think he enjoys them more than I do. A new book we’ve been reading is called The Adventures Of Mimi and Moto The Motorcycle Monkeys. It’s a book we both enjoy.

Of the usual spiel targeted at cruiser riders about being independent and a maverick, riding apparel company Black Brand might have the best tagline yet: “You need to be the wolf, not the sheep to ride in Black Brand.” Those wolves, in the eyes of Black Brand, are those in the mid-line market. These riders don’t necessarily want the bulk or price of ultra-protective riding gear, but they also want something more substantial than bargain-priced items with no protection and shoddy quality. And for the cruiser riders especially rooted in their patriotism, Black Brand also wants you to know that proceeds from each purchase goes to helping returning veterans thanks to BB’s partnership with Home for Our Troops.

Bridgestone knows a thing or two about motorcycle tires. After all, the company supplied control tires to MotoGP for seven seasons. Another thing most riders should know but may not is that Bridgestone manufactures tires across every niche in the motorcycle industry, from state-of-the-art race tires to scooter rubber. However, the product development folks realized that, while metric cruisers were covered with the Exedra Max line, the Japanese tire manufacturer had not developed tires specifically for the American-made V-Twin cruiser market. So, Bridgestone’s engineers set out to remedy this situation, and the result is: “The Battlecruise H50 tire, the first of its kind from Bridgestone, expands the company’s motorcycle tire portfolio with a performance tire offering that is specially designed for large-displacement, cruiser-style bikes, which account for 50% of motorcycles on U.S. roadways.”

Wow, we’ve been waiting more than a year for Schuberth’s new modular to get here if the date on this MO story from last year is correct, but now it’s finally here, a brand-new E1 in Hunter Blue (one of 15 available schemes) in this case. At that coming-out party last September, Schuberth said the new E1 is a lot like the C3 modular it’s been manufacturing for years, but with an adjustable visor to make it an “Adventure” helmet. Mission accomplished!

Every Harley-Davidson owner and just about every motorcyclist knows that the Motor Company’s line of performance products is called Screamin’ Eagle. However, many may just look at the upgrades as being mostly the same as the multitudes of aftermarket hop-up parts available. Since the release of the Milwaukee-Eight engine in the 2017 Harley-Davidson touring models, the engineers and media people behind Screamin’ Eagle thought that now would be a good time to explain – in detail – what they feel sets these components apart from the others on the market. So, we were sent out to Milwaukee to learn about and experience first-hand how the Screamin’ Eagle kits can improve the ME’s performance without many of the compromises required by aftermarket kits.

I don’t want to look at other people my age in leather. Why would I put it on?
—George Michael

So, the other kids in the palatial MO offices make fun of me for being a gadget guy. That’s okay; I can handle it. Since I’m a photographer in the era of digital film, it comes with the technological territory. Besides, who is the one they come to, Lightning and USB cables in hand, wall-warts dangling limply, at dusk, in a campground with no electrical outlets? Do I remind them that my tank bag had a USB charging station set up in it for this very purpose while we were riding all day? Do I gloat and make them suffer an evening of electronics withdrawal? No, I just hand them my Goal Zero Venture 30 Recharger with its two 2.4A USB ports and tell them to make themselves at home. They were kept connected while I used the Goal Zero Sherpa 100 Power Pack to maintain the function of my camera and iPhone batteries.

Suzuki’s GSX-S1000 is another one of my personal faves; I like the way it looks, nobody can argue with the way the 140-plus horsepower four-banger goes – and the price is right too. Where else are you going to get that kind of grunt in a beautiful blue package for $10,499? Gabe was spot-on with his recent column.

In the past, I’ve called cleaning your motorcycle’s chain a messy-but-necessary task. Lubing the chain can also be messy if you’re careless, but neither chore needs to be that way. The secret is performing both frequently. After some time sampling the Velocity Chain Maintenance System, I think it could be just the ticket for simplifying both activities – and making a little less mess in the process.

Back in the Bad Old Days™, during rainy weather, riders had basically two choices when it came to gloves: bulky, hot “waterproof” winter gloves or wearing a pair of latex gloves under their regular hand protection. Neither were ideal. First, the bulky gloves didn’t offer either the feel or protection of regular riding gloves. Second, if the latex glove option was selected, the rider’s hands may stay dry, but the gloves would get soaked and require extended drying time.

Drum roll… And the award for most enthusiastic gear presentation goes to Alpinestars’ technical media guru, Heath Confran! Applause, cheers, whistles… Heath’s excitement for Alpinestars’ products is palpable and infectious. For good reason because coming soon Alpinestars has a variety of cool new kit for all riding disciplines. The marathon presentation included way too much to cover in entirety, so we chose our favorite five items. For viewing everything new that requires a license plate to ride, go here. For all you dirt-only guys, click here. To see our five faves simply continue reading.

Living on a budget is a fact of life, and MO staffers remember how buying our first motorcycles drained our available funds. So, like many young riders, we skimped a bit on our first riding gear. (I, for example, rode in a jean jacket until I could afford my first leather one.) The advent of textiles in the moto-gear arsenal of materials helped bring proper gear within reach of many budget-minded riders. On the flip-side, however, we’ve also noticed a ton of gear that went well beyond price-consciousness into the realm of cheap – as in crappy – gear that offers either little protection or sub-standard construction. The folks behind Pilot Motosport noticed this, too, and decided to create a price-point jacket that didn’t skimp on the protection or quality. The result is the Pilot Slate Air Jacket.

Pando Moto is a new riding apparel company from Lithuania specializing in riding jeans. On July 26, Pando announced on its Facebook page how stoked the company is to be celebrating its first U.S. retail location in Los Angeles at Beach Moto.

Wearing black leather on summer ride can very quickly turn a protective garment  into a sauna when not actively riding. A long stoplight can be torture enough to make some riders swear off wearing proper riding gear. Without putting too fine a point on it, let’s just say that they’re fools.

Even if you’re wearing fully-perforated or mesh riding gear, you’re going to get hot while riding in summer heat. The minimized airflow inside of less-than-fully-vented leather or textile jackets and pants only exacerbates the problem. However, no matter what protective gear you have on, your body will sweat during higher temperatures. The trick is getting air to flow over the sweat and cool your body through evaporation. Rev’It’s Oxygen Shirt and Pants aim to move moisture away from the rider’s body for a cooler, more pleasant ride.

At one time back there in the mists of time, a Bell helmet was the motorcycle helmet to have. If Bell didn’t invent the full-face helmet, they did have the first one everybody wanted. Things changed, the brand was sold, quality became poor or inconsistent, and those of us lucky enough to have our druthers started wearing Shoeis, Arais and other expensive foreign lids.

Companies that go racing love to promote how the lessons learned at the racetrack trickle down to the products we use on the street. Besides being great marketing fodder, the idea behind racing is to develop products that will benefit the everyday consumer. We generally think of sportbikes (and liter-class sportbikes in particular) as being direct translations of racetrack development trickling down to production models, but we sometimes forget about the only part of the motorcycle in continuous contact with the road: its tires.

I lovingly refer to my RSD Zuma as my Lynyrd Skynyrd jacket because this retro cafe racer piece of kit rocks. It’s “Timber” color is ’70s très chic, and the wing-footed RSD logo is a shoe-in for Aerosmith’s Greatest Hits album cover. In addition to being hipster fashionable the Zuma fits well, is protective, and is good for three out of four seasons.