Product Review

A collection of 34 posts

Product Review

Review: Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L

As a travel publication, we churn through luggage pieces around here. When I saw this Peak Design backpack, it caught my attention with its sleek design, loads of features, and—most importantly—how it can be used for motorcycle traveling. There are no gaudy logos, chrome zippers, buckles, or a

Product Review

Review: Adventure Spec Magadan MK3 Panniers

With motorcycle luggage, lighter is better for so many reasons: easier handling, less exhaustion, confidence on the more tricky sections… And if, like me, you ride a smaller bike, the engine is going to appreciate having to lug less weight around. All these reasons had me try out the Adventure

Product Review

Review: Klim Carlsbad Jacket & Pants

When I’m not riding with my motorcycle club on weekend rides and in faraway places, I lead motorcycle tours for a variety of tour operators. Since I spend so much time on a motorcycle, I look for the best gear I can find. I’m a street rider through

Product Review

Review: SW-Motech SysBag WP Pro Luggage

For many adventure bikes, soft luggage is the best solution. But, due to the design of the rear, you still need racks. When I recently had to get a Yamaha Ténéré 700 ready for touring duties and needed enough luggage capacity for clothes, layers, and camera equipment, I looked to

Product Review

Review: REV’IT! Sand 4 H2O Adventure Riding Suit

The REV’IT! Sand 4 H2O suit is a multi-season outfit meant to fall in the catalog between the time-tested Poseidon 3 GTX and the relatively new Offtrack2 H2O. I wore the Sand 4 H2O for a seven-day, 1,000-mile ride through Colombia. The journey included a virtual smorgasbord of

Product Review

Review: Bridgestone Battlax Adventure Trail AT41 Tire

The Bridgestone Battlax Adventure Trail AT41 motorcycle tire is a top-tier choice for adventure riders seeking a high-performance tire. It excels on pavement and is ready for the challenge when two roads diverge in a wood and you take the one less traveled by. The tire’s exceptional performance, durability,

Product Review

Review: Schuberth E2 Helmet

Two years ago, I followed a friend into the Kentucky hollers for a “dual sport” route he came up with. It ended up being more of a hard enduro ride and we got more adventure than we bargained for. The deep ruts and streams, slick mud, and quite a bit

Product Review

Review: Corbin Saddle for Honda Trail 125

The Honda CT125 (aka Trail 125) is a throwback model with a fascinating history and it has been a huge hit since being re-launched in 2021. Its looks make motorcyclists go into the garage at night to talk to it and non-motorcyclists stop and smell its roses.   While the bike

Product Review

Review: LS2 Jacket & Pants

LS2, having become a leading helmet manufacturer in Asia and Europe, has introduced riding gear to its catalog. I took LS2’s latest adventure riding suit on a test ride at the KTM 890 Adventure launch in Portugal. The wintery oceanside location proved a decent testbed. Dubbed the Norway Men’

Product Review

Ultimate Collector Motorcycles

It’s a rare motorcyclist that doesn’t love looking at rare vintage machines. Even if you’re not a collector yourself, browsing through riding history is always a thrill—and it helps you appreciate your own stallion that much more. Ultimate Collector Motorcycles, by Charlotte and Peter Fiell, takes

Product Review

Review: Nikon Z6ii

Documenting your trips is one of the most important yet often overlooked parts of moto travel. Stopping to snap the occasional photo is the best way to look back on special moments later—and returning home with a stack of spectacular photos is the best way to share these experiences.

Product Review

Review: Metzeler Tourance Next 2

Since 2013, Metzeler’s Tourance Next 90/10 tire has delighted street-oriented adventure riders. Designed primarily for on-road use, it set a real benchmark for what an adventure bike tire can do. Over the years, the competition has closed the gap, especially on the performance aspect, but a loyal customer

Product Review

Review: REV’IT! Sand 4 H20 Suit

The REV’IT! Sand 4 H2O suit [https://imp.i104546.net/5ggLRn] is a multi-season outfit meant to fall in the catalog between the time-tested Poseidon 3 GTX and the relatively new Offtrack2 H2O. I wore the Sand 4 H2O for a seven-day, 1,000-mile ride through Colombia. The journey

Product Review

Review: Helite H-MOOV Backpack Airbag

I tip my hat to Helite’s innovative H-MOOV airbag [https://imp.i104546.net/WqyXWP]. It combines protective airbag technology with the storage functionality of a backpack. The stylish backpack incorporates Helite’s Turtle technology. The CE-certified airbag inflates fully in less than 0.094 seconds, protecting vital areas including

Product Review

Review: Forcite MK1S Smart Helmet

The quest for a “smart” motorcycle helmet has been going on for years, with varying degrees of … mostly failure. The smart helmet mania really started with the Skully helmet saga, which fleeced thousands of riders by promising a high-tech hat featuring comms, GPS and a rear-view camera piped to a

Product Review

Review: Conti Road Attack 4

Marketing jargon is always littered with superlatives. The latest product update makes something naturally the best, until the next one comes out. We were already impressed by the handling and wet weather grip of the ContiRoadAttack 3. How much better could the ContiRoadAttack 4 [https://imp.i104546.net/gbLk4X], which

Product Review

Review: REV’IT! Expedition GTX Boot

REV’IT! has always marched to its own beat, blending high-tech riding gear with fashion. Many riders prefer a more subtle look while riding without sacrificing comfort and safety. Personally, I like a more casual style, because I’m always swapping between different types of motorcycles—cruising on an Indian

Product Review

Review: ATC Game Changer 2021

Travel trailers are very personal purchases centered around the activities you want to do, balanced against the cost and preferences of those that will use them. In my case, I needed a trailer suitable for a person with allergies that has enough open room to carry a few motorcycles, can

Product Review

Review: Klim Range GTX Boots

The new Range GTX boots from Klim [https://imp.i104546.net/BXD6Dx] offer practicality in terms of a crossover boot that provides decent protection while riding, yet operate as casual walking shoes and even as acceptable, dual-purpose hiking boots. The ankle-high boots have a stiff construction that supports the foot

Product Review

Review: Arai Contour-X

Arai has a new helmet for 2023, aimed at the sport-touring crowd. The Contour-X [https://imp.i104546.net/KeoDay] promises increased comfort and less weight, all the while delivering a high level of protection. The helmet also features better venting, intercom accommodation, and easier ingress. Like the Regent-X, the Contour-X

Product Review

Review: LS2 Explorer Adventure Helmet

Though only officially registered in 2007 as LS2, the Chinese helmet (and as of recent, gear) manufacturer has a long and storied history. Initially taking shape in 1990, founder Arthur Liao humbly began the business out of his 600-square-foot home. Over the following years, the company grew into a recognizable

Product Review

Review: Joe Rocket Phoenix Ion Summit

With 100-degree temperatures, it was a no-brainer to pick a mesh jacket. I was so sure of our weather luck, I didn’t even bother to bring the liners or extra rain gear. This jacket [https://amzn.to/3j524JH] does come with a two-stage liner system (full rain liner and

Product Review

Review: Mosko Moto Reckless 80L (V3.0) Revolver

The 80-liter rackless luggage system is a well-designed  universal fit bag with an overwhelming number of options. But it comes at a cost, literally and figuratively. It’s the most expensive soft luggage I’ve ever used, and the hardest to install. It took me two hours to assemble in

Product Review

Review: Schuberth C5 Helmet

Here’s a classic example of how a past experience shapes our future perception. I had a C3 Pro around 2013 when Schuberth opened its North American office in California. The helmet pressed against the top of my forehead very uncomfortably and I quickly asserted that I just don’t

Product Review

Review: Shiny Side Up Motorcycle Book

Author Ron Davis has published a book compiling his best stories and reflections on his 50-year motorcycling odyssey. Shiny Side Up: Musings on the improbable inclination to travel on two wheels covers such diverse topics as the typical “First Motorcycle Purchase,” an attempt at a money-saving “Do It Yourself Oil