We preview the action at Motorcycle Live, which takes place at the NEC from
November 23 to December 1
The UK's annual bike show, Motorcycle
Live, opens at the NEC on Saturday, November 23 and runs until
December 1.
The main new models for 2014 were unveiled earlier this week at the year's
first big international show in Milan, but almost all will be on display in
Birmingham. It might lack the glamour of the Italian city but Motorcycle
Live scores over the EICMA exhibition in Milan because if offers so much
more than just new bikes. In recent years the UK show has broadened to
provide a wide range of entertainment and has become a great place to ride
bikes as well as admire them.
This year that's more true than ever, with a spectacular new stunt display,
plus no fewer than nine
ways of getting some saddle time. These range from guided road rides
to off-road tasters for children as young as five.
Every day will feature entertainment on the main stage, with TV commentators
and former racers Steve Parrish and Jamie Whitham introducing competitions,
quizzes, games and interviews with racers and other celebrities.
we will present there- keep looking for further coverage.
I really love these helmets. Perfect for cafe racers good also for any custom and cruisers, bobbers and choppers.. The Davida Jet integrates the finest features of the traditional
open face helmet into a modern product that meets the latest European
Safety Standard ECE R22-05 Davida have developed a unique design
process to produce an open face helmet with superior fitting.The use of
extensive human head data has enabled us to produce helmets that are
proportional to head size. The unique shape of the Jet's
fibreglass shell and liner has been designed to follow the natural shape
of the head; narrower at the jaw than at the crown. When combined with
the interior, which also follows these lines and extends them past the
shell, the snug fit created ensures the Davida Jet is stable as a rock.
As well as completely eliminating 'lift', this ergonomic design hugs the
head reassuringly and makes for a pleasantly quiet ride. The
Jet comes in three shell sizes and six helmet sizes.The interior is
quilted leather with a satin crown.The fastenings are made from quality
leather and nylon, and there are studs optional peaks and visors.This
helmet is ACU approved for racing in the UK and is certified to the
European Safety Standard ECE R22-05 The Jet is produced in all the styles as standard. The prices are around 230 good British pounds. Bespoke colours and styles can be produced to special order.
Many
people ask us to personalise a Davida Helmet to match the colour and
paintwork design of their bike. All you have to do is supply us with a
sketch of your idea, the RAL Number of the colour of the paint along
with any stickers you may want. Because of the domed curvature of the
helmet shell, not all personalised designs are possible however Davida design team will advise you on whether your idea is possible or offer
more suitable alternatives
You will find on the site also elegant leather, goggles ans gloves all stylish. Do you like them?
It’s that time of year, when all the manufacturers drop their new models … like this hot-rodded FZ-09 from Yamaha.
The staff from Canada MotoGuide.com prepared a very good overview of the EICMA 2013:
With the big guns all having fired their loads at Milan’s EICMA show
this week, we thought it would be a good time to take a look at what was
released and what that tells us about the industry.
THE SMALL UNS
Since we’re all huge fans of smaller displacement rides here at CMG,
the continued growth and evolution of this segment is good to see. But,
it seems we’re already seeing a shift up in CCs with Honda unveiling their new CBR300
which we assume will come to Canada (though it is yet to be confirmed)
and so push out the 250. You can blame the increase in size on Kawasaki,
who cunningly refused to hit back at Honda in the 250 fight, instead
making their own new category, the 300, with the launch of the Ninja 300
earlier this year. Obviously Honda seems to think that this is where it’s at with their
CBR300 move. But, will big-boring their single-cylinder to 286 cc and
changing the bodywork be enough to take on the twin Ninja? MSRP is still
to be released, and we suspect that is where you’ll see the Honda
attack. If they can keep MSRP difference to about $800 with performance
at least close to the Ninja, then we’d have a real fight on our hands.
Here’s Honda’s CBR300, a shot over the bow of the Kawasaki Ninja 300.
We have to wonder if the move to 300 was just the first in the sadly
typical cycle of bumping up capacities, until what you thought was small
is now mid-range. But with Honda already having the 500s it would seem
like there’s a natural barrier, and besides, there are other players
entering the fray too …
The KTM RC390 splits the difference between the 250 class and the 500 class.
KTM has maybe made the biggest splash in this market with a trio of
new small capacity sport bikes. These include a race-styled RC125, RC200
and RC390
and although we very much doubt all three will appear here, we’re
betting that at least the 390 will (and maybe the 390 Duke naked bike as
well). After all, it was KTM’s Canadian importer who accidentally
posted info of the 390 last week and took all the thunder out of its
intended EICMA launch. This move effectively splits the 300 and 500 class down the middle.
It’s also going to add a lot of spice to smaller bikes as KTM is a
dominant power in the Moto 3 (250 class) world racing series, so they
know how to get a lot of power out of a small bike. Don’t expect it to
be priced to compete with the CBR and Ninjas though.
Triumph introduced a few new big models, like this Commander, but they are also working on a 250.
Let’s not forget Triumph. Up ’til now, they seemed to believe bigger
was better, reinforced with its presentation of new Thunderbird models
at EICMA. But then up popped a slide of their new 250 Daytona. Okay, it
was only a sketch, but apparently the motor is in the metal and they
seem to think that they have to let everyone know it’s coming at this
early stage, so we should see something around this time next year
(although it may be a 300 or 39o by then!).
Yamaha’s introduced their SR400 to western markets again.
Oh, and can you add Yamaha’s SR 400 to this fray? We think so,
especially since it’s a bike that has effectively been around since the
seventies and so likely comparable or slightly lower power than any of
the others. The interesting thing about the SR is that it’s a real retro
small bike (even going so far as to only have a kick starter with no
electric boot to help) and so likely will be in a class of its own.
Judging by the responses to it on the CMG comments section, if Yamaha do
decide to bring it here and don’t knobble it with an unrealistically
high price, Canada’s streets should have a lot of SRs booting about in
the near future.
OTHER NEW SURPRISES
If we hadn’t seen the leaks about the new Harley 500 and 750s,
then they’d have stolen the show, representing the first all new bikes
to come out of Milwaukee since the V-Rod hit the scene back in 2001.The
new bikes are actually made in India at Harley’s new plant, only to be
shipped and assembled in Milwaukee, to keep some Made in America aspect.
Whether this is enough for the faithful remains to be seen, but it can
be argued that these bikes are not aimed at the faithful anyway, but
instead a sensible move by the Motor Company to start people off on
their machines rather than try and convert them once they’ve already
begun.
This Hog – or is that a Piglet? – is Harley-Davidson’s first all-new model since the V-Rod.
Styling cues seem about right and Harley-Davidson even released a
sound file so you can hear the potato-potato sound that is a defining
attribute to the brand. It remains to be seen whether they will replace
the 883 Sportster or whether the riding public will embrace the new
Indian angle. Who knows, maybe it’s a cunning plan to piggyback on the
new Indians that are coming from Polaris, though those are made in the
US of course?
The new CBR650F is a return to practical sport bikes.
Honda have continued on its push to grab market share with yet
another big release of new models. We’ve already covered the CBR300 but
the new CB(R)650Fs deserve a look at. If you remember the old CBR600F4, then the CBR650 will remind you of
the days when 600 sport bikes had a modicum of practicality to them –
somewhat comfortable seats, higher bars and rearset footpegs that are
actually for the passenger, not the rider. Honda has boosted capacity a
little from the old 600 and produced two versions – a sporty CBR and a
semi-naked CB. Honda Canada hasn’t confirmed whether we’ll get either,
but the CB would make a good replacement for the ailing CBF600 that is
currently being listed on Honda Canada’s site with a hefty $2,500
discount, and the CBR is good competitor for the very similar Yamaha
FZ6R and Suzuki GSX650F.
The MT-07 looks fun, but likely won’t come to Nord America.
But what of the mid-range twin class, currently occupied by Kawasaki’s 650 Versys or Suzuki’s Gladius? Enter Yamaha’s new MT-07.
Yamaha continue to mess with other-than four cylinders with last year’s
FZ-09 triple (known in Europe as the MT-07) and now this year’s new MT-07 inline twin (likely to be
badged an FZ-07 if it comes here). Styling is similar to its FZ-09
bigger brother and at a claimed 178Kg wet it’s a good 25 kilos lighter
than the competition. Alas, supposedly it’s not coming to North America,
sigh.
The new CTX1300 takes the ST1300′s motor and puts it into a cruiser chassis.
Other new bikes include Honda’s CTX1300
cruiser-tourer that uses the aging but solid ST1300 motor in a CTX
styled chassis and a bit of F6B thrown in for good measure. We’re not
sure if the CTX styling is something that Honda should be adopting, but
it’s an easy way to add a new tourer to the line up. Then there’s BMW’s
naked S1000RR; the S1000R (losing one R with all the plastic) is BMW’s
new streetfighter coming in with a whole lot of power and $3,000 less
than its double R’d father (@$14,700). Keeping with sport bikes
reinvented, Ducati released a new 1200 Monster
onto the world that uses the Panigale’s 1198 cc Testastretta motor,
replete with 135 hp (at 8,750 rpm) and 87 ft-lb of torque. Who needs
fairings anyway?
Here’s the new Turismo Veloce. It’s got adventure-touring lines.
And finally, small but inventive Italian company MV Agusta seems to be finding their stride and launched a sport-touring Turismo Veloce. It
uses the same three-cylinder 798 cc motor that MV Agusta has in the F3
800 and Rivale but comes with taller suspension and hard bags and is
directed at bikes like Ducati’s Multistrada. The bike will be coming to
Canada but may take a while to get here.
Can you accomplish near-total motorcycle security for around $200?
Well, that’s how much my setup costs and, at home or on the go, it locks
my bikes to an immovable object, immobilizes a wheel and sounds a
piercing alarm if the bike or locks are messed with. Read all about it
in this Xena XX15 Disc Lock Alarm and Chain Adaptor review. The full setup pictured here includes a Kryptonite New York Fahgettaboudit Chain ($100 on Amazon), plus the Xena XX15 disk lock alarm and chain adaptor combo ($100 on Amazon). We’re going to focus on the Xena products in this review.
The Gear
The XX15 is the biggest, strongest disc lock alarm in Xena’s range. The
lock body is a very large, single piece of stainless steel with a large
cutout that will fit around any brake disc, leaving plenty of room for
the 14mm carbide steel locking pin to pass through. Inside that stainless body is a motion detector powered by an
included CR2 Lithium battery. If the bike or lock are jostled in any
way, it gives you a few seconds of warning beeps before sounding a 120dB
alarm. It’s as loud and as sensitive as any of the more-expensive
alarms that install inside a motorcycle and is probably harder to
defeat. There’s no way to unlock, open or even touch the XX15 without
sounding the alarm and penetrating its stainless body will be
exceptionally difficult. You access the alarm module and battery by using a special tool
(included) to slide a lever inside the base plate that will be totally
inaccessible if the lock is clamped around a brake disc. Addressing customer complaints that its previous disc lock alarms
were too sensitive to certain environmental occurrences like wind and
passing trucks, Xena has redesigned its alarm sensor to remove those
variables without reducing its sensitivity to tampering. The stainless steel chain adaptor neatly slots into the disc lock
without reducing the depth of its aperture. It can accept any security
chains up to 14 mm in diameter and the shackles of those chains protects
most of the adaptor’s length, eliminating any potential
vulnerabilities.
Xena XX15 Disc Lock Alarm and Chain Adaptor
The Good
Eliminates the need to modify a bike’s wiring harness in order to install an alarm. Won’t drain your bike’s battery. Excellent battery life; a single CR2 in my previous Xena lock lasted over a year of daily use. Adds two layers of security in a single, convenient product. Can’t lock without using the key, meaning there’s no chance of accidentally stranding yourself. Hugely strong and immensely reassuring security. Anti-tamper, anti-drill, anti-pick, anti-freeze lock. Shockingly loud alarm can be heard blocks away, from inside your
house or even outside your garage. Being near while it sounds is an
extremely unpleasant experience. Thieves will be forced to crop your chain or remove your anchor long
before they’ll be able to defeat the XX15, with it sounding that 120dB
alarm all the while. Attaching a disc lock is much quicker and easier than looping a chain
through the wheel and doesn’t cover your hands in road muck and brake
dust. The disc lock/chain adaptor combo effectively increases the useable
length of your chain as it no longer has to wrap through wheel and tire.
Anyone who’s ever tried to pass a chain around a thick lamppost or been
forced to lock up in otherwise awkward circumstances will appreciate
the extra four to six inches that nets you. The warning beeps double as a reminder if you hop on the bike after
forgetting to remove the disc lock. No need for a lanyard or other
reminder. Great for road trips. Park your bike outside your tent or motel room
safe in the knowledge that, if anyone touches it, you’ll be alerted.
Xena XX15 Disc Lock Alarm and Chain Adaptor
The Bad
The XX15 is large and heavy, making it difficult to squeeze under the
seats of modern bikes. If you don’t need the chain adaptor, the smaller,
cheaper XX6 is just as effective. For purposes of maximum security, the alarm will sound throughout the
battery swap process. We admire the no-loopholes approach, but man does
it hurt your ears. Using the disc lock as the means to lock the chain to your bike means you’re not securing both wheels. Inserting the key can be a fiddly process, especially in tight
quarters. I set off the alarm as a result for a few seconds once a week
or so. The Verdict
Extraordinarily effective security in one affordable, convenient
package. Paired with a quality chain and used with a paranoid mindset,
the Xena XX15 and Chain Adaptor combo will be the most effective tool in
your anti-theft arsenal. A must buy for any urban rider.
Is
your relationship with your bike a May-September romance? The love
affair doesn’t have to end just because the mercury is dropping! Iggy Pop once sang, “She's a motorcycle that I can't ride, She's a
precious jewel that I can't buy, She's a scene I'm playin' in which I
die, And I'll never fall in love again.” If this sounds like how you
feel at the end of an epic riding season, don’t despair. Yes, there is
indeed life after summer. There are quite a few good reasons to keep riding in the autumn.
First of all, traffic is usually lighter, especially in the parts of the
country that are usually swamped by tourists in the warmer months. This
not only translates to fewer accidents, but a more enjoyable experience
on the road overall. Secondly, your otherwise hot and sweaty safety gear is now the
perfect temperature for riding. While you may look cool in a leather
jacket and pants in the summertime, the fall is when you can look cool
AND be cool. (Plus safety is always in style.) Also, the smells and sights of autumn are always better on a bike. Do
yourself a favor and take a nice relaxing ride through a wooded area.
You will see the leaves changing color, smell the far-off scent of
campfire, and feel the cool breeze that reassures you that autumn really
is your favorite season. If you’re planning on making a date with your bike this autumn, here are three things to remember: Check the weather. In some parts of the country -- like along the
eastern seaboard -- autumn means hurricane weather. And if there is one
time in your life you do not want to be out riding your bike, it is
definitely in the middle of a hurricane.
Check your gear. Did you remember your gloves? Long pants? A sturdy
jacket? Autumn riding may be the best you ever experience, but if the
sun goes down and you’re caught off guard in just your vest and short
sleeve t-shirt, look out! Check the road. Falling foliage might mean a Kodak moment… or it
could mean the wipe-out of your life. When the road is slick, especially
with wet leaves, riding can be hazardous. Always be on the lookout and
stay aware of your surroundings. Since it’s unlikely many of you will be able to cruise like you want
to toward the end of the year, get all the best riding in now, during
the optimum months for riding. And until they make snow chains for
motorcycles, autumn is the best season to “hold onto that feeling”, as
Journey put it. So just like Freddy Mercury says… “Get on your bikes and ride!”
The plight of the adventure-touring suit? It should work in all
conditions, from cold and wet in Alaska to the hottest places in Africa.
That’s the goal of the two-piece, zip-together Dainese Teren.
Stretchy “Elasticated Cordura Comfort” makes up the outer shell, and
thermoformed external shoulder cups aid range of motion. Removable
CE-approved armor protects shoulders, elbows, hips, and knees. It’s all
well designed and fits comfortably.
Adjustability is a key feature. A pleasantly soft collar places
external Velcro adjustments on both sides of the central zipper—not at
your throat. Cord adjustments at the biceps and jacket hem, plus a strap
at the waist, ensure a flap-free fit. Sleeves have two-snap adjustment;
ankles use Velcro. Zip-in suspenders are a nice touch.
Ventilation is good but not great. Large chest, back, and thigh vents
do okay for torso and legs, but in 100-degree South African heat, the
sewn-in wrist gaiters made arms sweat. Back in the Northern Hemisphere’s
winter, zip-in thermal and D-Dry waterproof liners worked great for
cold, wet weather.
Fit on my Euro-size 54 frame (44 to 64 is available) is excellent for
both jacket and pants. Overall, the Teren is a great adventure suit at a
segment-competitive price but best considered a three-and-a-half-season
getup.
A British company is set to launch an innovative motorcycle helmet
heads-up display system, similar to Google’s Glass technology, that will
go on sale in the U.S. by the end of the year. Motorcycle Information System Technologies
(MIST) has spent the past three years developing an in-helmet dashboard
display unit that will be unveiled at the forthcoming NEC Motorcycle
Show (November 23 – December 1) in Birmingham, England.
Called the Bike HUD (heads-up display) it fits inside any motorcycle
crash helmet and consists of a small screen that displays a motorcycle’s
speed, engine revs, gear and time. Unlike other systems that are in
development or already available, you do not need to buy it already
installed in a helmet but can switch Bike HUD between helmets of your
choosing. MIST anticipates that Bike HUD will retail around $480 – $560
when it goes on sale in the U.S.
Bike HUD mounts a small screen inside your helmet. This is visible in your peripheral vision, but is said not to obscure sight.
“We have spent a lot of time and money researching the technology and
usability of Bike HUD,” explained Dave Vout, Managing Director of MIST.
“One thing that was apparent when we started out three years ago is
that there are systems already available with similar technology, but
you have to buy the whole package including a helmet.
“With our system you only need the hardware and computer and can fit
it to whichever helmet you choose. At the moment, it can be used on any
full-face motorcycle helmet. But by the end of next year we will release
Bike HUD for open face helmets too.”
Bike HUD is a heads-up display (HUD) system that shows motorcycle
riders key information such as speed, engine revs and gear selection via
a helmet-mounted display.
Bike HUD aims to make riding safer by increasing road awareness. It
would reduce the need to look down at instruments and helps ensure
correct gear selection for overtaking/pulling away from junctions – in
short, it lets motorcyclists concentrate on the road rather than their
instruments, making riding safer and more fun.
The system communicates speed, RPM, gear, revs and turn indicators
using text, graphics, colour and sound, all without distracting the
rider from the traffic conditions and riding environment.
Bike HUD consist of three parts; the display, which is fixed inside
the helmet and is mounted below either the right or left cheek and is
visible in the bottom corner of a helmet’s visor.
“We looked at projecting the information onto the inside of a visor
but there are some drawbacks to this. In bright sunlight you can’t read
it, which why we have opted for a small display screen, “ said Vout.
“There’s a flexible brace for the HUD that fits inside a helmet and the
display is mounted in such a way that the rider looks over the top of it
so they keep their head up and their eyes on the road ahead.”
Bike HUD collects its information from an on-board computer and GPS unit.
Bike HUD is connected from the helmet via a single cable to an
onboard computer and GPS unit, fitted under the seat of a motorcycle. A
toggle switch, which can be used with motorcycle gloves, is mounted on a
bike’s handlebars and allows a rider to scroll between the information
pages that they want displayed.
“The HUD’s computer is about the size of a cell phone,” explained
Vout. “It’s straight forward to install on a bike and you don’t need to
be an expert technician to mount it and it will work with any
motorcycle’s electrical system.
“We opted to use GPS on the HUD, as like other heads-up that use cell
phone technology which updates once every second, GPS does this five to
ten times a second and is more accurate.”
At the moment the GPS element of HUD is only for monitoring vehicle
speed but MIST plans to roll out a full GPS mapping system by the end of
2014 that will provide regular map information on the in-helmet display
screen too.
HUD currently has three riding modes to choose from including
commuting, touring and track days. Commuting mode will show gear
selection, indicators, speed and revs, while touring mode will add gas
mileage and range. In track day mode it will be possible to see
instantly your lap times and to mark certain points on a circuit to
compare your speed and time. It is similar to computer telemetry used in
race cars and the information can be downloaded from the HUD computer
afterwards to study lap times and cornering speeds.
“We wanted to make Bike HUD as simple for the operator to use as
possible, said Vout. “For example, when turning and you forget to cancel
the turn signals, the speed display will flash until you turn them
off.”
“You can also choose different background colors for the bike’s
speed. So, if you’re in a 35 mph speed restriction zone it will be
white, but it will then change to blue from 35-45 mph and so on.
“That way you just need to glance out of the corner of your eye at
the display to know how fast you are going by checking the color,” said
Vout. “It’s the same for the engine revs, which relies on a single
horizontal bar. You can choose a color for normal running but over
certain speeds the bar will change to a different color. This means you
can keep your attention on the road and only monitor the display with
your peripheral vision.”
Bike HUD will be shown to the public for the first time at the NEC
Motorcycle Show at the end of this month in the UK and will go on sale
immediately afterwards. For further information about Bike HUD and final
U.S. prices and shipping costs visit the company’s website.
And most important it was tested and is CE accredited
If you want to stay warm on your bike this winter, you’re going to
need to invest in some quality base layers. Heated gear is a great
option, but if your bike doesn’t support it or you want to buy some gear
that will keep you warm while off the bike as well, you’ll want to pick
up something off of this list.
Sub Sports COLD Men’s Thermal Compression Base Layer Long Sleeve Top ($37) and Sub Sports COLD Men’s Thermal Compression Base Layer Leggings / Tights ($36)
Camping and cycling base layers are a wonderful place to look if you
don’t want to spend the big bucks on motorcycle branded gear. While the
gear from these segments aren’t necessarily designed with keeping your
body warm while exposed to the elements at freeway speeds, sometimes you
can pay 50% of the price while getting something 80% as good as
dedicated gear. These layers from Sub Sports were designed for playing
cold weather sports and to keep your body warm while moving. They are
moisture wicking, and the extra compression fit helps keeps blood and
oxygen circulating throughout your body, which also helps improve
warmth.
WarmSkin Thermal Wind Break Shirt w/Zipper ($89.99) and WarmSkin Skinny Pants ($49.99)
We’ve worn these under full adventure gear while riding through
snow-covered mountains and under a simple leather jacket for a chilly
night out. The chest panel is made from a material they call Stormgear,
which is both windproof and waterproof, while the rest of its
construction is a thick microfiber. The off-center zip helps keep the
zipper (usually the easiest entry point for cold air) protected, while
also making the Wind Break Shirt look really cool when worn solo. The
sleeves are extra long and have those nifty little thumb holes, ensuring
no cold air ever gets in under your cuff. After a year or so, our only
complaint is that ours is starting to pill and we’re going to need
another one soon.
Forcefield Tornado+ Shirt ($119) and Forcefield Tornado+ Pants ($89)
Forcefield makes some of the highest quality armor available, so we were
very interested when we saw the Tornado+ shirt and pant. They’ve come
up with their own windstopper material for the outside and paired it
with Thermolite, which they say will keep you warm even if it get’s wet.
It’s also anti-bacterial and utilizes flat seams and a soft lining to
ensure the most comfortable fit possible. Look for more in-depth reviews
in the future.
Dainese Map Windstoper Shirt ($139.95) and Dainese Map Windstopper Pants ($119.95)
Looks like Dainse has been paying attention to the praise we’ve given
Schampa, releasing their own line of windstopper base layers. The Map
Windstopper shirt and pant utilize a windstopper front with the same
Thermolite as the Forcefield base layers. The one big thing we noticed
about these layers from Dainese is that they seem to have paid extra
attention to the cuffs, ensuring all the tech of the product won’t be
wasted by cold air getting underneath.
Aether Space Hoodie 60 – $265
Our good buddy Steve, creator of Wilderness Collective,
spent a solid half hour the other night singing the praise of this
seemingly simple hoodie. After the adventures that guy has had, and as a
former “guy who puts together those lists of cool gear for men’s
sites,” we trust his judgment. The Space Hoodie has a microfiber ripstop
and shell and is filled with 60 grams of Primaloft insulation. The
Space Hoodie looks beautiful and packs down incredibly small, so small
that Steve says he leaves it folded into its own pocket and then just
tosses the tiny roll in his day bag so it’s always available should the
weather change. This will definitely find its way onto our Christmas
list.
Most of the leading custom builders work on commission—they get a brief
from a client, a direction is agreed upon, and a motorcycle starts to
take shape. Compromise is inevitable, whether it’s around budget or
aesthetic direction.
But every now and then, as you can imagine, it’s good to get free rein. And that’s how Filippo Barbacane of Officine Rossopuro created this machine—a Moto Guzzi 1000 SP that he effectively built for himself.
“I wanted to make a very classic motorcycle,” he reports. “One that
looks simple and clean. A bike that’s both slender and ‘long’.” Filippo
wanted the color to look elegant too, so he selected a green hue from
Moto Guzzi’s racing heritage.
The 1000 SP arrived in exceptional condition, with only 24,000 km on
the clock—an unusually low mileage for a 1982 bike. And with a broad,
torquey powerband, little work was required on the engine.
The highlight is the hand-crafted aluminum bodywork, a huge improvement
on the somewhat chunky, squared-off standard paneling. The wheels are
now spoked, rather than alloy, and adjustable Bitubo shocks are fitted
to the rear. The front brakes have been upgraded to twin 300 mm Brembo
discs, retaining the excellent standard linked braking system.
The bulky 1000 SP instrument panel has gone, and Filippo has
flush-fitted a simple, single analog instrument into the custom
headlight. The bowl is painted green to match the new bodywork, and is
topped off with a hooded chrome bezel.
And why the name ‘Eroica,’ meaning ‘heroic’? “It’s to remember the
past,” says Filippo. “When bikes were ridden by heroes, lying down and
stretched out, the chin a few inches from the tank.” An apt name for a
long, low machine like this one.
‘Eroica’ is now for sale; interested parties should make contact via the Officine Rossopuro website.
There’s nothing like a good leather motorcycle jacket. The style
speaks volumes to who you are and the wear marks and scuffs speak to
where you’ve been. Here are some of the best motorcycle leather jackets
available on the market.
Dainese Avro Leather Jacket – $699.95
With co-injected shoulders with aluminum inserts, back and thorax/chest
protectors, and composite protectors at the elbows, the Avro is about as
safe as it gets without wearing a full race suit. The Avro saves you
few dollars, but adds a few ounces, by using cowhide leather in
combination with S1 elasticated panels to provide a contoured fit, which
aided by adjustments at the neck and waist. The Avro comes with a
removable liner, as well as reflective inserts to increase visibility,
and soft inserts to increase padding should you have a fall. We’re big
fans of the Avro’s sporty looks and fit.
Dainese R-Twin Leather Jacket – $699.95
Every time I post a picture of this jacket, I either get called out for
being a bad role model (wearing a fashion jacket while working as a
moto-journalist) or asked what model it is. Well, for you haters, it’s
actually made of wonderfully thick cowhide that is treated with resin to
give it that vintage look while still offering abrasion resistance, and
it has composite protectors at the shoulders and elbows plus a pocket
for a back protector. The elasticated panels help give this jacket a
nice fit, and the removable thermal lining does a good job at keeping me
warm when the temps drop. I’m a little too long and lean for Dainese
sizing, but if you aren’t as freakishly made as I am, this should fit
you quite nicely and look amazing in the process.
Alpinestars Black Shadow Hades Jacket – $699.95
Alpinestars call this minimal branding and maximum cool. We agree on
both accounts…. sort of. The branding isn’t actually all that minimal,
but the jacket is pretty cool. 1.3 mm full grain premium leather,
anatomically designed torso and sleeves for improved fit and to
minimized fatigue, and CE-rated armor at the shoulder and elbow, plus
the option to add a Bionic back and chest protector, make this jacket as
safe as it gets. Alpinestars have also added their fancy new
dual-density TPU sliders on the shoulders to improve abrasion resistance
and help protect your collarbone in a crash. Look for a more in-depth
review of this jacket coming soon.
ICON 1000 Chapter Jacket – $600
The ICON 1000 line is simply fantastic, and the Chapter Jacket is no
exception. It’s constructed from 1.1-1.3 mm antique finish Brazilian
cowhide, and then padded with D30 armor in the elbows, shoulders, and
back. It comes with a removable, quilted liner. We’re big fans of the
tobacco version as the red zipper on the black version just kind of
ruins that one for us
Roland Sands Ronin Jacket – $590
The Roland Sands Ronin Jacket, especially in the tobacco color, is my
favorite looking motorcycle jacket, period. A friend has had one since
the first run, and it gets better looking every single day. 1.2 mm
washed and waxed cowhide, pre-curved sleeves, and a dropped back length,
this thing is vintage levels of cool, even when you’re in a riding
position. The Ronin comes armor ready, with pockets in the shoulder,
elbows, and back. Just a warning though, we’ve gotten some of the latest
production run and it seems their fit has gone wide. We’re looking into
getting the one they sent us tailored, with a more in-depth review on
the way.
Vanson AR3 Armored Model A – $550 est. (Official pricing not released yet)
The people have spoken and their desires have been heard! Vanson
released news at the AIMExpo a few weeks back that they would be
releasing a production version of the AR3 they made especially for
RideApart’s own Wes Siler, complete with armor. Competition weight
leather that will last you your entire life, now with CE-rated armor
stock from the factory. Go down in it and all you have to do is send it
in for repairs, the only downside being you’ll have to put in all that
hard work again to get it broken in just right.
Alpinestars GP-R Leather Jacket – $449.95
The Alpinestars GP-R Leather jacket is a 2011 Revzilla product of the
year winner which, at it’s lower price point than the other jackets on
our list, speaks volumes about it’s quality. It features 1.3 mm
full-grain perforated leather combined with Aramidic stretch panels in
the shoulders and arms to allow for a better fit and better range of
motion. It has removable and adjustable CE certified Bio Armor in the
shoulders and elbows, and padding in the chest and back that can be
upgraded to a Bio Armor back protector and Bionic Chest Guards. It also
has a waist connection zipper, so you can connect the jacket to
Alpinestars leather or textile pants.
I bought it from ebay.com (for Europe from here ) It was fast and provided from the factory that are producing them for US market. It was 120 Euros and shipped with DHL
A very nice matte leather (black) with orange accents, it a very comfortable and fashionable. Provide with fully CE protection
The Vulcan VTZ-910 Motorcycle Jacket is made of premium cowhide leather. It features advanced design with underarm zippered vents that drop heat and reduce sweat. Its elastic panels on elbows and armholes allow for maximum comfort in riding position. Along with its many other feature are bright orange stitching, YKK zippers, high-visibility reflective stripes, and removable CE approved armor. PS- I have NO commercial interest in the seller on ebay :) I just shared my positive experience
), plus the Xena XX15 disk lock alarm and chain adaptor combo ($100 on 
). We’re going to focus on the Xena products in this review.
is just as effective.
and 
