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Alpinestars Apex Drystar Gloves Hands-On Review

It’s easy enough to make a cheap motorbike glove. There are plenty of them already on the market. Take some cheap leather, or polyester fabric, add some plastic armor at the knuckles, some Velcro at the cuff, and you’re almost there to having a ready-made motorbike glove. It’s a lot tougher to make a quality motorbike glove that actually goes some way to keeping a rider comfortable, warm, dry, and protected in the event of a crash.

Quality Design

On a good quality glove the fabric mix is different, the fasteners are well thought out, the interior doesn’t pull apart if your hands are a little damp when you take the glove off, and it has vital protection in all the right areas. The best gloves will have a CE rating which guarantees certain standards around the strength of the fabric, the stitches, and the overall burst strength of the glove.

Alpinestars Apex Drystar Gloves fabric contents and CE rating

This is all very technical but, at the end of it all, the phrase “fits like a glove” means a lot. A glove might be the most technically accomplished in the world but if you’re not comfortable in it then it’s potentially unsafe for you. A glove needs to fit, well, like a glove.

Apex Drystar Vs Richa Sport WP

This brings us on to my dilemma a few months ago when buying the Alpinestars Apex Drystar gloves that I now use on a daily basis. My old Richa Sport WP gloves had served me well, protecting my hands in a track-day off, proving to be extremely comfortable, but were in no way waterproof. When their leather outers soaked through in the winter my hands would be frozen, not to mention the stink that wet leather creates!

Despite all of this, they were supremely comfortable so I went to look for a new pair. With none available in my size, I reckoned the Apex Drystar would be a nice upgrade, doing everything the Richa gloves did but with added benefits in terms of waterproofing and temperature control.

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Fit

I find it’s always difficult to know how comfortable a glove will really be when you’re simply trying it on in the shop. The reality is you won’t know for sure until you’ve spent a few days wearing them.

True to Size

My initial impression was that the Alpinestars were slightly too long for me, my fingers not stretching the seams as they had done on other gloves. It turns out that this is actually very good because, according to Alpinestars own sizing guide, you need a small bit of space to allow warm air to move about within the fingers of the glove. Not to mention that if it’s too tight you constrict blood flow, which limits feeling.

A good way of testing whether a glove will offer decent feeling is to try and pick up a coin or something similar when trying on the gloves before purchase. I can confidently hand a euro coin to a toll operator a couple of days a week with these so the sizing and fit are spot-on.

Break-In-Period

I went on a 4-hour ride to break the gloves in the day after purchasing them, and although it was still winter, the gloves kept my hands reasonably warm (caveat – I was wearing them on a fully faired bike). This was despite the fact that these gloves don’t contain the bulk we usually associate with winter mitts.

The polyamide fabric used for most of the outer takes a little bit of getting used to after wearing full leather gloves as it tends to feel a little less pliable at the beginning of its usage. This isn’t a concern after a few hours with them on, and, almost a year later mine now feel like they were made for me.

Alpinestars Apex Drystar Gloves tested and broken in

Features

Waterproofing

The Apex Drystar glove has a good mix of conventional features mixed in with more innovative ones. On the conventional side, it has a decent Drystar waterproof lining as one of the main selling points, pre-curved fingers for additional comfort from the first use, and an interior which doesn’t pull apart when you remove damp or sweaty hands from the glove.

It’s a prime annoyance of mine that some manufacturers don’t adequately attach the lining to the glove interior, leaving a rider to struggle in frustration when attempting to put their hand back into the glove. Needless to say, but this struggle always happens when it’s either raining or the rider is in a hurry!

Armor

The armor contained within the glove is also on the conventional side but none the worse for it, although I’ve not tested its effectiveness, thankfully. There’s a molded plastic knuckle guard hidden underneath perforated synthetic leather sewn into the polyamide body of the glove. There are softer foam inserts placed on the palm and around the scaphoid area, with goatskin leather used on the palm.

Fabric

Alpinestars Apex Drystar Gloves palm made with goatskin leather

While polyamide offers decent abrasion protection, leather is still the king, so it seems a wise choice to use this on the palm area as this is likely to be the first part of the glove to touch ground in an off. The gloves also contain a section of synthetic leather between the thumb and the palm, layered over the glove body, but it is now cracking on my pair. It’s not causing any issues but with the constant flexing of this area, you can expect that this is not a one-off case.

All of this armor is worth little if the glove happened to slide off of your hand in a crash. This is where the innovative strap closure feature makes a difference. The large cuff, on which is printed the fabric mix and CE standards the glove has met, uses velcro to close it. Again, it’s a conventional design choice but one that works.

Wrist Closure

Alpinestars Apex Drystar Gloves friction wrist strap and closure mechanism

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However, the wrist strap, on which you depend to keep the glove on your hand, does not use velcro. Instead, it uses a friction strap like a rucksack. When doing up your glove just grab the Alpinestars tag at the end of the small wrist strap and pull it until it secures around your wrist. It’s an ingenious system, and far less fiddly than smaller velcro wrist straps. Both straps, the velcro, and the friction strap are easy to use with the other glove already fastened so Alpinestars deserve top marks for this area of the glove.

Finger Bridge

Another small detail that Alpinestars highlight in their literature on this glove is the third and fourth finger bridge. Alpinestars say this comes directly from their racing gloves and is a patented feature which “prevents finger roll and separation during impact”.

Alpinestars Apex Drystar Gloves finger bridge

It’s a feature which is hardly noticeable as it doesn’t get in the way of comfort but a cursory look at the finger bridge doesn’t fill me with additional confidence in the protection it can offer over and above standard armor. That being said, maybe it’s better to have it than to be wishing for it.

Touchscreen Compatible

Perhaps the most interesting feature of the glove is that the index finger of the gloves is touchscreen compatible. Don’t expect to do a pile of typing but it does work well enough that you can easily use a map app! Alpinestars were certainly thinking of touring riders and the use of sat-navs when building this feature into the glove.

Weatherproofing

None of those features would be of any use if the glove was consistently cold or consistently wet. Thinsulate is the fabric of choice for winter mitts and 100 grams of it is used in the back of each glove underneath the Drystar waterproof liner.

These are not the heaviest winter gloves and are best described as two season gloves (perfect for Fall and Spring, perhaps a touch too warm in summer, a touch too cold in depths of winter) although Alpinestars market them as winter gloves. If you have hand guards and heated grips then these will do just fine through the depths of winter but the chill of a naked bike might push their (or your) limits somewhat.

Waterproofing

When it comes to waterproofing Drystar is Alpinestars own version of Gore-tex in that it’s a breathable fabric which, in theory, should let vapor out but prevent water getting in. We have had a few weeks of near constant rain here in Ireland in the run-up to Christmas so the gloves were well tested on the daily commute and passed, although perhaps not with flying colors. Polyamide, the main outer fabric of the glove (wake up down the back there!), is partially hydrophilic so water will actually soak the outside and make the glove heavy.

The Drystar lining ensures that this water doesn’t leak through to your hand but, with continuous riding, you will feel colder than you should due to the outer soakage. This may also explain why, when I remove my gloves at the end of my commute my hands are dry (and maybe a bit cold) but when I put the gloves back on later the interior feels a bit damp. I’m guessing that this is due to the temperature difference when the gloves are brought into a heated building but, ultimately, my hands are kept dry so the lining does work.

However, be aware that the interior might be damp when you go to put them on a short time after taking them off. A friend of mine with a Drystar-lined jacket has said similar things but he doesn’t have the same problem with his Gore-tex gloves.

Verdict

Alpinestars Apex Drystar Gloves

Alpinestars are on to a winner here. This is a premium glove which takes the best features of a conventional glove and mixed them with some innovative touches like the touchscreen compatible finger and the friction strap at the wrist. It’s CE approved and feels like it’s been built to last. Although probably not a real winter glove, if you prefer to feel what’s going on with the handlebars rather than wrapping your hands in a veritable duvet, then this could be the glove for you.

Pros

  • Comfortable, breathable fit that’s true to size
  • Good tactile feel when handling bars and small objects
  • Features best of conventional & innovative designs
  • Touchscreen compatible
  • Waterproof inner lining keeps hands dry

Cons

  • Polyamide fabric not as protective as leather from abrasions
  • Third & fourth bridge impact protection effectiveness is unknown
  • Least effective in wet, cold winter temps
  • Outer layer is not waterproof & can lead to cold, heavy hands

Specs

  • Manufacturer: Alpinestars
  • Price (When Tested): $89.95
  • Alternative models & colors: Black only
  • Sizes: SM, MD, LG, XL, 2XL, 3XL
  • Review Date: January 2019

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Alpinestars Apex Drystar Glove Image Gallery

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Ladies Motorcycle Jackets Worth Wearing

Due to the lack of motorcycle jackets made specifically for ladies, in the past, a selection was made mostly based on what came the closest to fitting properly.

But with the huge influx in ladies on bikes, manufacturers have spent millions of dollars designing and creating motorcycle jackets and full lines of apparel that are sized and cut to fit the variety of sizes and shapes that set the ladies apart from the men on bikes.

Now ladies are facing a few new questions, and I hope to provide some helpful information on the choices out there and a few of my favorite selections.

Protection With A Purpose

With all of the amazing choices out there, many ladies are almost overwhelmed when it comes time to select gear. Some of the first questions that need to be answered are what is the piece of gear going to be used for, and what type of protection is desired from the gear.

In this case, we are speaking only of motorcycle jackets, but the questions are the same for pants, suits, gloves, footwear and even gloves. Different materials each have their own benefits, and in some cases drawbacks depending on how they will be used.

The three main categories for motorcycle jacket material are leather, textile, and mesh. I want to take just a few moments to describe and explain how quality motorcycle jackets are purpose built and how to determine which material is going to be the best fit for your needs, riding style and the environment that you will be facing.

Leather

Leather is known for its durability and ability to stretch and mold to form fit. As you might have guessed, the thicker the better for protection, but that thickness can require a longer break-in period for the leather to become soft enough to contour to your body. The other benefit is that leather in a large single piece is very durable.

The thread is going to be the weakest material in a jacket and therefore the less thread the stronger the overall jacket will be. Using single large pieces of leather will create a jacket that is less likely to shred or tear in the event of extreme abrasion such as sliding on the asphalt. And not everyone knows that all leather is not created equal.

Cow leather is considered to be strong, but kangaroo leather is both lighter and stronger. Tests have found kangaroo to have ten times the tensile strength of cow leather. The downside of leather is that it does require some care to keep the leather soft which helps to avoid cracking. It can also be tough to keep leather as weather resistant as a textile jacket, so rain and snow are not optimal for any type of leather.

And finally, there is a definitely noticeable weight to leather which can become a nuisance in warmer climates. Some manufacturers are offering perforated leather which does provide some airflow, but it is still very warm in hotter and more humid climates.

Textile

Textile jackets are man-made materials which are, in this case, designed to be durable and versatile. The fibers can be created with a number of features in mind. Durability and strength are always critical. Kevlar is a common fiber that is blended with other fabrics to create a very strong jacket that provides superior abrasion protection.

Another benefit of textile fiber is that it can be treated to provide excellent protection from the elements. Rain and snow protection, as well as the ability to block out cold wind, provide a huge added value for riders in a four-season environment.

Textile jackets are also very easy to maintain and clean. They are less susceptible to damage from being worn in the rain or snow and can be easily hosed off or sprayed off when they get dirty or smelly. On the downside, unless the textile jacket that you are considering specifically states that the material includes Kevlar, then it won’t be as durable as leather.

Many of the less expensive textile jackets do not include Kevlar and should not be considered as safe as the more expensive options. You really do get what you pay for when shopping for textile jackets, so invest in the best level of protection that you can afford.

Mesh

Mesh jackets are an adaptation of textile jackets, but one that is purpose-built for a very hot environment. I am including these because living in Phoenix, these jackets are critical in the summer months. The jackets have large panels of mesh which provide awesome airflow, but they offer very little protection in the areas constructed of mesh.

What you really get from these jackets is a means of protecting your skin from the sun and a way to get some armor protection in the event of an accident. I see too many riders in Phoenix in the summertime with nothing but a t-shirt on their upper body.

This is not only going to lead to catastrophic abrasion injuries and burns, as the asphalt is about 150 degrees Fahrenheit or more, but also serious damage from any impact like broken bones and crushed extremities. But a quality mesh jacket will provide some very durable armor and textile panels with Kevlar to protect the back and shoulders in the event of a slide or impact.

Ladies VS Men’s

Understanding the design differences between men’s jackets and ladies jackets can be very helpful as you begin to shop for a jacket that really fits your body well. Obviously, there are many different sizes and body shapes out there, but in general, ladies jackets will differ from men’s in a few specific areas.

Men’s jackets are cut fairly straight but the ladies jackets offer a more defined hip, waist and bust area. This allows for more flexibility and comfort across the shoulders and across the bust when the jacket is fully zipped. The sleeves in a ladies jacket are cut shorter than men’s sleeves and are surprisingly bigger around. And the shoulders are more narrow and less square on the ladies jackets.

All of these features will provide a more comfortable fit for the ladies and will make long rides much more enjoyable, as there are not tight areas that reduce circulation or areas that pinch or bind when you move.

The Choices

Alpinestars Stella Jaws Leather Jacket

Alpinestars Stella Jaw Leather
Alpinestars Stella Jaw Leather back view

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  • Sizes Available: 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50

The Alpinestars Stella Jaws is a leather jacket that will work equally well for a day at the track or just a day out enjoying a ride and looking sporty. This jacket is designed to be form-fitting, but the great part is that it has several adjustments so that ladies can really achieve a comfortable and safe fit.

As for the safety features, this jacket is cut from 1.2 to 1.4 mm cowhide leather and offers CE Bio Armor in the shoulders and elbows and includes pockets so that you can add Nucleon series CE Level 2 back and chest protectors. I have found it to be very common for even high-end jackets to require the added purchase of chest and back protection. This allows for more personal choices about safety level and comfort level and should not be seen as a drawback.

What is really great about this pretty much race ready jacket is the added features for rider comfort. The back of the jacket has been designed with poly fabric stretch panels near the shoulders to provide a full range of motion with no pinching or gouging into your arms or shoulders as you move. There are also accordion insets at the elbows for added comfort and flexibility.

A critical fit area for all ladies is at the hips. This jacket accounts for a variety of hip sizes with VELCRO brand D-ring waist closures to customize the fit.

The same great closures at the wrists allow for a custom fit regardless of the size and type of gloves that you may be wearing. In short, the Stella Jaws leather jacket offers ladies all of the same protection that is offered in the men’s jackets but with the shape and adjustment options that are critical to a safe and secure fit on a woman’s body.

At about $500, this jacket is in the higher price range, but for ladies who want to ride fast and look great while also being well protected, this is The Ladies Leather Jacket Worth Wearing.

Olympia Expedition 2 Textile Jacket

Olympia Expedition Textile front view
Olympia Expedition Textile Back View

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  • Sizes Available: XS, SM, MD, LG, XL, 2LX, 3XL

The Olympia Expedition is a textile jacket that can accommodate all four seasons with the comfort and flexibility that ladies have never really had before. With the ability to wear one, two or three layers, this jacket can handle everything from warm summer days to fall and spring rain and even winter temperatures.

The outer shell is made of 500 and 1000D Cordura for great abrasion protection and also includes a Mega Vent Panel System to allow for more airflow when needed. Layer two provides the rain gear protection, and layer three offers thermal protection for even the coldest rides. But it is the protection from injuries that make the Expedition a real favorite among the ladies.

The CE level 2 elbow and shoulder armor are removable and can also be replaced or upgraded, as can the CE level 2 back protector. This gives riders a nice level of protection to start off with and at a reasonable cost. Then you can upgrade or make changes after you decide what will work best for you.

The comfort features in this jacket start with the tailored hourglass shape and design to meet the needs of almost any female rider. The ability to adjust the fit of the Expedition is thanks to the D-ring adjustments not only at the waist and cuffs but also at the elbows and collar. This lets you customize the fit regardless of the weather and clothing that you are wearing under the jacket.

One thing that could stand out about this jacket is that it does not offer the gussets or accordion panels that the leather and mesh jackets did. But this is due to the cut of the jacket. Being a four season jacket, it is cut a bit more generously and is not as form fitting.

For that reason, it really does not require the same insets for flexibility. This jacket will always have a slightly less snug fit and, it will very easily accommodate an assortment of shirts, sweaters or sweatshirts without becoming tight or binding.

At close to $500, this jacket is somewhat of an investment, but the cost really is not that unreasonable when you think of it as replacing two or even three other jackets to meet your needs year round.

This one and done feature, as well as the safety and comfort, make this one of The Ladies Textile Jacket Worth Wearing.

Joe Rocket Cleo Elite Mesh Jacket

Joe Rocket Cleo Mesh Front ViewJoe Rocket Cleo Mesh Back View

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  • Sizes: Available in XS, SM, MD, LG, XL, 1 DIVA, 2 DIVA

The Joe Rocket Cleo Elite is a mesh jacket that is going to meet your needs for protection and airflow when you are riding in a hot climate.

This racing style jacket is small and lightweight for the hottest days of the year, but it can also be worn with the waterproof and windproof liner for less ideal weather. And you can add the insulated vest when the temperatures are starting to drop.

But what really makes this mesh jacket stand out are the safety features that are tucked in around all of these mesh panels. First, the Dynax reinforcements on the upper back, ribs, and forearms provide added abrasion protection in the event of an accident without eliminating the awesome airflow of the mesh panels.

The CE approved shoulder and elbow armor inserts are accessible from the outside of the jacket and can be removed or replaced as needed. And the back protector included with the jacket is dual density and can be removed or replaced to meet your personal desires for comfort and protection.

The comfort features on this jacket are equally as important as the safety in my mind because if a jacket is not comfortable, you are not going to wear it in the really hot weather of the summertime.

The Full Flex articulated back and hip expansion panels allow this jacket to snuggly fit the shape of your body without gouging or riding up when you lean forward. These panels also allow for full range of motion and the ability to change your riding position easily to avoid numbness or muscle stiffness on a long ride.

The jacket also has a full 8” connection zipper if you choose to pair the Cleo up with pants to provide even more protection in hot weather. And finally, it doesn’t add to the safety or the physical fit but the four color options make this a great fit for your personality. Riding in gear that fits great and makes you happy is the best way to stay focused and safe on your bike. All of these great features in one jacket make this one of The Ladies Mesh Jacket Worth Wearing.

The market for ladies riding apparel is finally changing to keep up with the increase in female bike owners and riders. With more options becoming available each day, and a little research and time, every lady who rides are certain to be able to find the perfect gear for both safety and comfort.

The only mistake that ladies can make now is not investing the time and money in great gear. To see what a difference quality gear can make, check out The Aftermath of Crashing with No Gear vs. All the Gear here at WebBikeWorld.

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Alpinestars Core Leather Jacket Hands-On Review

A Pleasant Surprise

I was very excited to test the Alpinestars Core leather jacket because it is offered in a perforated model which is perfect for the warmer climate of Phoenix. I have worn many textile and mesh jackets over the years and I like the comfort and fit but mentally I just don’t feel as protected as I do when I am wearing leather, so the Core is a great option.

Alpinestars Core Leather Jacket in all black

The jacket is offered in all black and a combo black and white in men’s sizes 46 to 60. It would be great to see Alpinestars add a women’s line to the Core series as there are many ladies out there who would be eager to have this aggressively designed sport style jacket. But for now, the men’s sizes will accommodate many of those ladies.

From the moment that I opened the box, I knew that I was going to enjoy this jacket and the quality that it offered. When I am willing to pay what I consider to be top dollar for a product which I expect to be of superior quality, I appreciate that the manufacturer also views the item as a quality product. Clearly, Alpinestars invests the time in carefully packaging this jacket to be sure that it arrives at the customer in perfect condition.

The jacket was wrapped in tissue paper and plastic and then carefully folded to fit into the box. Because of that care, it arrived in perfect condition with not a scratch or crease on the supple leather. Being ordered online, I view the packaging and care taken in the process to be the total effort of the salesmanship from a business and Alpinestars did not disappoint.

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New Alpinestars Core Leather Jacket

The Core is a three season jacket in most climates but in a warmer environment, I could see it working very well as a year-round jacket thanks to the removable thermal liner. The all-black version leans more to the classic all black biker jacket image while the black and white color scheme is more reminiscent of a euro cafe racer style jacket. I selected the black and white simply because there is nothing remotely comfortable about all black gear in 120 degrees.

Reasonable Pricing

The jacket sells for $589.95 US, currently (and Revzilla generously ships orders over $39.99 for free). That price is not what I would consider out of line for a quality leather jacket but it is more than some name brand competitors. After wearing the Core, I can attest to the value of the jacket and the fact that I would feel good about spending close to $600 on this jacket thanks to the level of comfort and the protection that it offers.

Full Feature Breakdown

Alpinestars Core leather jacket with tags

The Core is constructed of full-grain 1.1 mm leather with poly-textile accordion stretch inserts on the chest, arms and back for full range of motion and added comfort to the sport fit.

Fit & Comfort

Fit and comfort are very important to me as I get older. I have learned many lessons about getting what you pay for over the years, and I have decided that I am happy to pay a little extra to be comfortable. In the case of riding gear, I also believe that being comfortable adds to my safety as I am not distracted by a pinch here or a bulge of material there. That being said, I was very pleased with the fit and level of comfort as soon as I put the new Core on. I never felt like I was experiencing a break in period, as I had with many other leather jackets.

Sizing

Each person has a slightly different body type and I think that this style of jacket and cut works very well for me, but without including my sizing the information would be useless to most readers. I am 5’ 10” tall and weight in around 155 pounds on average. My height comes mainly from my legs as my torso is rather short in comparison. I say this to be able to add that my arms are proportionate to my legs giving me a wingspan of nearly 6’.

The sleeve length on the Core, size 40 US and 50 Euro, is perfect for me and allows me to reach the handlebars very comfortably with no binding at the shoulders or elbows. The length of the jacket is slightly long on me as it sits about 3” below my true waistline but the Velcro waist adjustment is more than sufficient to accommodate the size difference.

True to Size & Snug

I also have an all leather Ducati/Dainese jacket in a 52 Euro which is a little large on me now, a 50 would be perfect. That tells me that the Alpinestars sizing is very true for this style of jacket. The one feature that has taken me a bit of time to get used to is the snugness of the sleeves.

As I mentioned, my other leather jacket is full leather where the Core has poly-textile inserts on the inside of the arm. This provides a snug fit which I was not used to with the full leather sleeves.

But the inserts allow for great mobility and expansion when you are riding so don’t think that you will stress the seams as you move your arms or layer with a heavy shirt in cold weather. It’s a great fit and feature, just a bit different than I was used to.

Neck & Wrist Area

Alpinestars core leather jacket collar

Comfort has not been overlooked in any of the details of this jacket even though it is purpose-built to offer great protection that would work on the street or the track.

Collar

The collar is constructed of a soft 3D mesh and leather combination that offers breathability and comfort without the stiffness and abrasion of some leather collars. The single collar snap is large and easy to manage even when wearing gloves.

My only ding on the collar design is that the left side is nicely finished with a rounded upper corner while the right side is a square upper corner. I did notice that the square corner was annoying and jabbed my neck when I had the collar snapped. But in all fairness, with a little more than one month of wear, that leather might soften a bit and eliminate the issue.

Cuffs

The cuffs are constructed of the same 3D mesh and leather combination as the collar and are super comfortable. The tab for the single snap is smaller than some jackets but it is very functional and streamlined. I never had any issues getting the snap fastened or unfastened and it was nice not to have a bulky tab at my wrist to obstruct movement or cause issues with my gloves.

The cuff zippers are also very streamlined but work very well. The high-quality YKK zippers offer a semi-auto locking feature that locks in place in any position without the zipper tab flapping in the wind. The rubberized grips make them easy to grab and move very easily as well.

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Chest Area

The main zipper on the Core is also a high-quality YKK with an elongated leather pull. I never had any issues grabbing the tab and moving the zipper even when riding in a tucked position.

The chest offers integrated PE padding as well as internal pockets for optional chest protection which can be purchased for about $40 for the pair. The all leather chest is surprisingly comfortable yet feels very secure. I hope to never put it to the test but I am confident that it would handle some serious abrasion.

The Core offers the standard front slash pockets with zipper closures as well as two interior chest pockets with velcro closures that are larger than any I have ever seen before. And just inside the left side zipper is a waterproof compartment that is large enough to hold most cell phones, a wallet or even glasses case.

Airflow

The airflow and comfort features on the Alpinestars Core go beyond any that I have ever found in a leather jacket. Perforations at the chest PE padding allow for some airflow as well as the slant zipper air vents located just below the shoulders. These can be opened to allow a huge amount of airflow to regulate your body temperature in hot environments.

Alpinestars Core leather jacket chest

Back Area

The back of the Core is all leather with integrated PE comfort padding that sits on either side of the back protector. And the back of the jacket is definitely extended lower than many other models to offer abrasion and impact protection to the lower back and hip area. This is also where there is a grey on black Alpinestars logo that is easy to miss during the day but is a large safety reflector when riding at night.

The back protection that is included with the Core is my biggest, and maybe only real issue with the product. Not only is it just a thin piece of foam, but it is also much smaller than the average back protector.

I understand that Alpinestars has spent a good amount of time and money creating a new line of back protectors, such as the Nucleon KR-2i Back Protector Insert which provides CE Level 2 protection and is compatible with the Core, but the included protector is far below the quality and safety level of the rest of the protective gear in the Core.

Alpinestars Core jacket back protector foam

A Word Before Upgrading

A word about the upgrade for those who are interested in adding the KR-2i. There is a snap connector that attaches to the inside of the jacket roughly between the shoulder blades to install the added back protector.

Alpinestars velcro and snap back protector attachment system

The additional benefit to this installation system is that you can customize the location by moving the connector on the velcro pad in the jacket which is a unique feature. I have not tried the Nucleon KR-2i as of yet. To be honest, I was waiting until I completed my evaluation of the Core before I invested any money in the new back protector.

Internal Armor Pocket

In the past, I have only found a few jackets that offered the level of protection that I wanted in the back area, so I purchased a D1 Manis and used that in every jacket that I wore. It was a tight fit in some jackets as the back plate pocket was smaller but it did the job.

In the case of the Alpinestars Core, the internal pocket for the back protector is very small. I could insert the top two-thirds of the Manis but it wasn’t really a good fit, so I will likely be investing in the floating Nucleon.

Alpinestars Nucleon KR-2i Back Protector

Even with my concerns about the back protector that is included in the Core, I believe that this is still a great jacket and I would still be willing to pay the $650 that it will cost once I order the Nucleon KR-2i. No product is perfect for everyone but this one shortfall is definitely something that I can correct whereas the fit and comfort are not so easily changed.

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Shoulders & Sleeves

Alpinestars Core leather jacket with reflective logo

The shoulders were the first part of this jacket that caught my eye. The Dynamic Friction Shield protectors in the shoulders offer some great protection on impact as well as in a slide situation. When falling or being thrown, your shoulders tend to take a great deal of abuse with very little muscle to protect the bones.

The injection-molded shells with dual density foam padding work almost like a helmet for your shoulders. The removable CE shoulder protectors add even more comfort and protection while allowing for great mobility and a full range of motion and riding positions.

The removable CE elbow protectors offer more protection than I expected as they cradle your elbow and extend down your forearm almost to your wrist. Not only does this help in the event of impact but it also keeps the lower arms a bit rigid. This allows for better airflow and helps to keep the sleeves from sticking to your arms in hot weather.

The use of the poly-textile accordion inserts at the armpits and inside of the arms is what sets the Core apart from every other sport or race style jacket that I have worn. These panels provide the expansion and flexibility that just can’t be found in solid leather construction. The Core is designed to have a snug fit but these inserts allow for free arm movement that would tug at the back and should areas in a solid leather jacket.

Alpinestars Core Leather Jacket shoulder protection

Icing on the Cake

All of the areas that I have detailed above are the really big benefits and features for the Alpinestars Core Leather Jacket. But there are a few other features and items that deserve to be mentioned.

  • Waist offers some great D-ring adjustment straps with Velcro closures for a really personalized fit.
  • Full circumference zipper to attach the Core to Alpinestars pants.
  • Reflective Alpinestars logo is on both forearms, the chest and the lower back for added visibility at night.

Reflective Alpinestars logo on Core jacket

The Verdict?

As I mentioned earlier, the Alpinestars Core Leather Jacket could be my favorite piece of gear ever! I have never owned such a well designed and constructed piece of gear that was instantly comfortable. There is no breaking in period that you just push through in hopes of being rewarded with a super comfortable jacket.

I don’t often find a piece of clothing that fits me well enough that I am instantly sure that I will like it and continue to use it. And even though the Core is only offered in men’s sizes and cut, I was extremely satisfied with the fit and comfort of the jacket immediately.

In a month-long hands-on test, a jacket will only see a small amount of wear and tear as compared to a lifetime of use, but the quality of the materials and construction lead me to believe that this jacket will last as long as I do. I would be very surprised to not be wearing this in ten years barring any unfortunate incidents.

And if I do go down in the Core, I fully expect to have the best protection I could get or expect from a leather jacket.

I highly recommend the Alpinestars Core Leather Jacket for anyone who is looking for a leather sport style jacket.

Pros

  • Excellent comfort
  • Good abrasion protection
  • Packed with safety features
  • Great airflow
  • Quality construction and materials
  • Ample interior and exterior pockets
  • Removable full thermal liner
  • Available in perf or non-perf leather

Cons

  • Minimal back protection included
  • Quality back protection costs extra
  • Cost is above some riders budget

Specs

  • Manufacturer: Alpinestars
  • Price (When Tested): $589.95
  • Made In: China
  • Designed In: Cyprus
  • Alternative models & colors: All black on black or black and white combo
  • Sizes: EURO 46/48/50/52/54/56/58/60/62/64
  • Review Date: November 2018

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Categories
Gear Reviews Heated Motorcycle Clothing Reviews Knee, Chest, Vest Armor Reviews Other Motorcycle Blogs review Web Bike World

Mobile Warming Thawdaddy Heated Vest Review

Introduction

With winter getting into full swing here in the Northern Hemisphere some riders will be packing up their gear and winterizing their bikes until spring. Others will do our best to keep riding throughout the winter and as such, will be breaking out the cold weather riding gear.

Winter riding gear an excellent study in compromise. On the one hand, it allows riders to continue enjoying their two-wheeled addiction – activity during the colder times of the year. On the other hand warmer, insulated gear is going to be bulky and can be a bit restrictive thus reducing the overall enjoyment of motorcycle riding.

Electrically heated gear can be added to help keep riders warm when it gets really cold out but it could also be used for wearing lighter outer layers when it is only chilly outside. Of course, a heated jacket or vest can still add some bulk and might not fit well under more snug riding gear.

If only there was a happy medium, right? Enter the Thawdaddy from Mobile Warming.

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The Mobile Warming Thawdaddy

I believe it was a simple Google search that leads me to the Thawdaddy. I was looking for a “thin and light” heated vest that would fit comfortably under a variety of riding gear. I prefer my riding gear run on the snug side. Close fitting gear will do better at holding the armor in position in the event of a crash and many heated jackets and vests can be a bit too thick for comfort.

The Thawdaddy may be the least bulky heated vests of all, at least in my searches. It is seriously small and light (8.5oz / 241g) to the point I wondered how effective it could really be. We’ll look at that shortly but first, let’s have a look at the vest and what else is included with the vest.

What’s Included

In the small package from Mobile Warming is, of course, the vest but also included are the instructions, two batteries, and the charger. The vest itself is very small and, due to the nature of the construction, it can be easily folded small enough to fit in practically any tank bag or most any pocket found on a typical adventure jacket.

Mobile Warming Thawdaddy control button and front closure
Thawdaddy control button and front closure

The batteries are very small and one could easily fit the pair into an Altoids tin (if desired). Being Lithium Ion batteries, they are also very lightweight at 1.3 ounces (37grams). Extra batteries are also available from Mobile Warming for $14.99 each. Not a bad price to pay to double the use time.

The charger is an average size “wall wart” with a 48 inch (122cm) long cable which splits into two connectors which provide the ability to connect to both batteries at the same time. The charger is also small enough that it can easily fit in the tank bag or other small storage space.

On the wall wart, itself, are a pair of LED’s that indicate charge status. These change from red to yellow to green and the batteries are topped up. One thing I would have liked to see is an optional 12-volt charger. This would allow one to easily be charging a pair of batteries during a ride instead of having to stop at a 120v power source.

Thawdaddy wear test

Construction

The main body of the mostly black vest is polyester with two stretch panels connecting the front and rear positions of the vest together. At the lower portion of the front is a pair of tabs that connect via hook and loop fastener. This makes the process of putting on / taking off the vest very quick and easy.

The back of the Thawdaddy vest
The back of the Thawdaddy vest

The material on the outside of the vest has a bit of texture while the interior has a very smooth lining. On the front panels near the clavicle are two pockets that use a simple overlap for closure. These pockets house the batteries and the associated connectors. The overall design of the opening makes access easy but very secure at the same time.

Visibility

On the back and on the front left side panel is a bright white Mobile Warming logo. Phoslite ® is used to make the logos visible at night which makes a nice combination of marketing and safety. Even though my intended use is going to be under other gear there are plenty of cases where it could be the top layer of apparel so it’s good to see this has been considered.

Mobile Warming Thawdaddy battery packs out of and partly in their pockets
Battery packs out of and partly in their pockets

Heat Sources

Heating elements are located on the two front panels on the chest with one centrally located panel in the back. Each of the panels measures 2 by 5 inches (5 by 12.7 cm) and these small panels allow one to fold up the vest without much danger of damaging the heated areas.

LED Button

There is only one button used to control the vest and it is placed on the front right-side panel. The .75 inch (1.9cm) rubberized button has LED’s inside of it to provide visual feedback of the vest’s status. The button is pretty easy to find under most jackets but very heavy riding jackets might make it hard to tell if one has really pressed the button or not.

Mobile Warming Thawdaddy control button LED colors
Control button LED colors

Under my Pilot Trans Urban V2 jacket I was able to find the button and adjust the heat level without much difficulty. One needs to remember the sequence of levels though in order to make a setting change since one cannot see the button under a jacket.

Maybe a future version will have a mobile app where the setting can be changed or at least monitored? It’s possible as Mobile Warming offers a more traditionally designed battery heated vest that does include this very feature.

Fit & Sizing

The Thawdaddy is available in four different sizes with stretch fabric sides employed to help each cover the between sizes. The smallest, or SM/MD size, should work for chest sizes up to 40 inches (101.6cm) while the largest size (2XL/3XL) maxes out at 49 inches (124.5cm).

Mobile Warming points out these are “body size” measurements and are not meant to account for any clothing worn under the vest. Interested buys should make sure to include their clothes in the measurements when determining size.

With my 42 inch chest, I chose the LG/XL size which accommodates up to a 43.5 inch (110.5cm) chest size and it fits as expected. The stretch material has plenty of give so even if one maxes out the stretch I doubt it would ever feel constrictive. I typically wear a long sleeve t-shirt or Henley under the Thawdaddy and the vest is hardly noticeable.

The thin nature of the vest allows it to fit under most any jacket. My AGV Sport Compass jacket fits pretty snug in size medium on me. The Thawdaddy sits under this jacket without any noticeable bilk and the closer cut makes it easier to find and use the control button on the vest.

Mobile Warming Thawdaddy closeup of the battery pack pocket
Closeup of the battery pack pocket

Vest on Skin Contact

I should point out that one shouldn’t wear the Thawdaddy or any other heated vest directly against the skin unless it is designed specifically for that use. On higher settings, these vests could cause burns and also they have to be hand washed (don’t put them in the washer) so keeping them separated from your skin will help them stay fresh longer.

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In Use

Operation of the Thawdaddy vest couldn’t be much easier. Turning on the vest requires holding down the control button for four seconds and doing the same again turns the vest back off. The button LED’s will light up once powered on. The LED also indicates the power level and each setting has its own LED color indication. Red is the highest setting followed by orange, green and then blue.

A quick press of the control button will cycle through four power levels starting with the highest setting. Each subsequent press will lower the level until it reaches the lowest. From there it will cycle back up to the hottest setting and the cycle starts over.

Mobile Warming ThawdaddyThawdaddy batteries and charger
Thawdaddy batteries and charger

How Hot is It?

The amount of heat is more than I expected considering the coverage of the heated panels, the fact it runs on two 3.7 volt batteries, and the size of said batteries. On the highest setting, there is no mistaking the vest is on. Here was a recent use example.

Last month decided to ride to work and as I was getting ready to leave it was 39 deg (F) outside. I had already planned on wearing my Trans. Urban jacket but I didn’t want to mess with installing the liner. Instead, I grabbed the Thawdaddy. I turned it on and left it on high as I left the house heading out onto the secondary roads. After a few minutes, I had to turn the heat down a notch as it was too warm for the pace I was going.

My morning commute involves about seven miles of interstate and anticipating the higher speeds I powered the vest back up to high (pressing the button three times). While I wasn’t burning up at 70mph I wasn’t freezing either. And once I got off the interstate I had to turn the heat back down.

Windchill does make a difference on the effectiveness of any heated/insulated gear. I was pleased that I was able to ditch the quilted jacket liner in favor of the much thinner vest.

Mobile Warming Thawdaddy handling instructions

Out of curiosity, I broke out the laser temperature gauge and tested the panels at the highest and lowest settings. I tested at an ambient temperature of 70F (21C) and waited 5 minutes between setting changes. This isn’t very scientific as there are a lot of variables but it is a good starting point for an overall comparison of settings.

On the lowest setting, the temperature reached 83F (28C). Subsequent checks at each higher setting were 90F (32C) and 101F (38C) with the highest setting reaching 106F (41C) degrees. Not a bad showing at all. Of course, the effectiveness will vary depending on things like the ambient temperature, windchill, insulating properties of the apparel over the vest, etc. Keep in mind that these readings were taken with the vest laying on a table. The heat will build up much higher when it is up against clothing and one’s body.

Battery Life

Using only two small batteries means there will be a finite amount of heat one is going to get before those batteries are drained. Mobile Warming claims the Thawdaddy will deliver heat up to eight hours or nine hours depending on which part of the product page one reads. (Yeah, they should fix that).

Mobile Warming Thawdaddy closeup of one of the 3.7v lithium batteries
The 3.7v lithium batteries

It’s obvious this time is based on the lowest setting and I can imagine that might be true as the blue setting isn’t very warm. With a full charge and with the vest on the highest setting, it turned off after 2 hours and 23 minutes. Several factors can affect this measurement such as ambient temperatures and condition of the batteries but that is a pretty good run time for such a small pair of batteries.

Charging the batteries back up to full took just over three hours so not too bad a wait. As I mentioned earlier Mobile Warming doesn’t offer any sort of mobile charger which is a shame. On the other hand, extra batteries are only $14.99 each and one could actually fit them in the battery pocket with the connected batteries at the same time. A brief stop to swap them out could make them practical for longer rides.

Conclusion

The Thawdaddy heated vest is an excellent answer for those looking for a heated vest “lite”. It works very well for those looking to extend their riding into colder days without the bulk of other heated vests and jackets. Being battery powered also means no installation of wires and controllers.

Mobile Warming Thawdaddy interior labels

This vest is perfect for commuters who don’t need heat for long stretches of time and already have some insulated gear to go over a vest. Sports riders who want to be able to wear their favorite “track cut” leather jacket a bit further into the colder months will appreciate how well this vest will fit under those jackets.

The price of $99.99 (USD) seems very reasonable for this vest but I feel like the return on investment here is greater than the vest itself. The ability to fit under pretty much any riding gear can expand the seasonality of lighter and more close-fitting jackets. And don’t get me started on how many other uses this heated vest one can come up with.

Pros

  • Thin and light design
  • Battery power simplifies use
  • Simple, integrated controls
  • Reasonable price

Cons

  • No “vehicle” charging option
  • Not for coldest riding weather

Specs

  • Manufacturer: Mobile Warming
  • Price (When Tested): $99.99
  • Made In: Bangladesh
  • Color: Black
  • Sizes: SM/MD LG/XL XL/2XL 2XL/3XL
  • Review Date: December 2018

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Full-Face Helmet Reviews Gear Reviews Motorcycle Helmet Reviews Other Motorcycle Blogs review Web Bike World

The Shark Spartan Helmet Review

Introduction

It’s been a while since webBikeWorld reviewed a helmet from Shark. In fact, it looks like it has been nearly five years since we reviewed the “Raw” helmet. Maybe part of the reason was that Shark went through some changes in USA distribution? Maybe it was just simply that Shark was never quite the “household” name in helmets here in the USA like other brands such as Shoei, HJC, and Arai.

Whatever the case, I feel like the riders in the United States have largely missed out on one of the industry’s best helmet manufacturers. Maybe that sounds biased, but that bias is driven by having owned four Shark Helmets over the past 10 years and having the opportunity to test and handle a lot of other helmets from a variety of manufacturers.

I’m not trying to say that Shark beats everything out there but they compete very well in quality and design with other manufacturers from what I have seen. So when I was provided the chance to get a new Shark helmet in for review I jumped all over it. Would Shark still be bringing the heat and putting pressure on their peers?

Let’s find out.

In case you’re not familiar with Shark, they are not new to the motorcycle helmet scene. 2018 marked the 30th year since Shark Helmets was established by two brothers in the South of France. In fact, Shark was the first manufacturer to commercially produce a carbon fiber helmet with the XRC Carbon in 1991. You can find out more at their website.

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The Shark Spartan Helmet

The Spartan helmet is part of Shark’s “Pulse” line of helmets which includes the Skwal and Vancore models. These helmets are a “sporty” design with a bias towards the sport, sport-touring, and commuting style of riding. Those wanting an aggressive design for full-on sport bikes might be better served by Shark’s Race-R series.

For those familiar with Shark’s previous helmet lines, the Spartan essentially replaces the Speed-R series of helmets. The Spartan continues the mission of the Speed-R series being biased towards riding in clean air on bikes with low or no windscreens. Having owned an original Speed-R I can appreciate the evolution here that has addressed some of the issues I had with that helmet.

Shark Spartan Helmet with visor up

A drop-down visor (with a UV400 rating) is part of the feature set of the Spartan as well as cutouts in the EPS for helmet speakers. The Spartan’s main visor includes provision for a MaxVision Pinlock insert and a clear insert is included with the helmet that can be installed by the wearer.

The cheek pads and liner are all removable for cleaning and are well secured. The liner put up quite a fight at the brow attachment point but finally relented. Don’t get me wrong, I prefer these pieces be firmly in place, I just want to set expectations for those that feel they are doing something wrong trying to remove it.

A double D-ring is used to fasten the chin strap which is pretty typical of helmets bound for the USA market. Taking a quick look at European seller’s site it appears that other markets get D-rings on this helmet as well.

Shark Spartan Helmet interior

Speaking of the other side of the pond, Europe gets a significant increase in the color and graphics options for the Spartan helmet. The North American options are limited to solid white, black, and matte black plus a graphic pattern called “Karken”. It’s an attractive enough pattern available in a Hi-Viz / black gloss finish and two colors in a matte finish. A special edition “Lorenzo” graphic in the matte finish rounds out the color options.

The Shark Spartan is DOT rated for the North American units and ECE rated in other markets. Like some other helmets, it might pass a Snell rating test but Snell testing on helmets with an internal visor is a rare thing.

With the overview out of the way, let’s have at the details.

Paint & Graphics

When asked about reviewing one of these helmets I had requested a graphic style. I often do this and have a couple of reasons for doing so. One, I want to be able to evaluate the quality of the graphics placement and the overall finish. This is an easier judge when you have some details to view. Secondly, I prefer to ride in a helmet that provides some visibility and, a bit selfishly, I want to like the look of it in case it ends up as my daily helmet.

Shark Spartan Helmet top vents

So, of course, I received a new Spartan “Blank” in black gloss. At least it’s a gloss clearcoat. It may collect fingerprints but a smooth glossy finish makes it easy to see imperfections in the finish. As it was though there were no imperfections or dust under the clearcoat.

The finish is very smooth and evenly applied with the only noticeable areas of distortion present where the Shark logo and DOT labels are applied below it. Most clear coat finishes I’ve encountered on helmets tend to have a fine wavy pattern to them but the finish on the Spartan is much smoother with just a subtle bit of wave around the larger smooth sections of the helmet.

Despite the simple black paint, the overall finish is excellent and this extends to the vent pieces as well with most of them having the same paint and coating. Just a few trim pieces around the vents are in a different color with a dark gunmetal appearance but the same quality clear coat is present there as well.

Shark Spartan Helmet rear view

Construction

A fiberglass shell is this basis for the Spartan helmet providing the lightweight and stiffness associated with fiberglass based helmets. There is no carbon fiber option in the USA but, like the additional colorways, a full carbon fiber version is available in Europe in additional colors and graphics options.

Starting at the top of the helmet is a slotted opening for the top vent which has a sliding switch to open or close the vent. Just behind this going down towards the back of the helmet is a long slider that opens and closes the internal sun visor.

Shark Spartan Helmet top vent

On the back are two large spoilers that include the rear exhaust vents underneath. A lot of manufacturers warn not to try and pick up a helmet by spoilers like this as they can be a bit delicate… Now I can’t recommend that one do that on the Spartan but I have done so and they feel extremely solid. They aren’t going anywhere unless one makes a serious effort (but don’t try to break it, please).

Moving around towards the front are the visor pivots which are covered with a textured material Shark calls “Shark Skin”. The idea is the dimpling reduces wind noise as it passes over this area. Does it work? We’ll see in just a bit.

As we move around to the chin bar we have a standard left sided lift point on the visor to lower and raise it. Upon the front is the chin vent which opens/closes with a pivoting cover.

Shark Spartan Helmet visor mechanism

Inside the helmet, we have the usual with removable cheek pads and upper liner one expects in a modern full-face helmet. The rubber gasket along the bottom of the helmet widens at the rear providing some extra sealing that should reduce low frequency booming (that’s my guess anyway) and we’ll see if it works a bit later.

One thing I nearly missed is the included chin curtain. Most helmets have a curtain that is removable or in the case of my current HJC RPHA70 ST, offers an add-on piece to extend its coverage. The Spartan has a retractable chin curtain that appears like it could be removed but I can’t imagine the need.

Shark Spartan Helmet interior Shark Spartan Helmet interior

In the folded position one would likely completely miss the curtain is there. Opened up to the fully deployed position it covers a good portion of the chin area. When deployed it bows down a little bit to help push air down to reduce airflow up into the helmet. Be aware if it is not fully extended it can actually cause more air to come up in the helmet than when it is completely closed.

Overall construction is very good with all the switches and visor operating with a solid and durable feel. The slider for the internal visor is maybe the weakest link with the friction varying as it slides through the runner. It’s not bad but it isn’t as fluid as the mechanism on the Shark Vision-R GT Carbon I once had.

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Helmet Weight

Placing the Spartan on a scale, this size large helmet weighed in at 3lbs 8 oz ( 1588G). This places it around to 80 marks out of the 270+ full-face helmets we’ve weighed here at webBikeWorld. It’s in good company on this list matching the Nexx XR1R which at the time was one of the lightest non-carbon fiber helmets around.

Shark Spartan Helmet side view

The lightweight is let down a little by the large feeling shell and as such, it feels a little top heavy. Not so much that it is a problem but there is so little fault to find I’ll pick at it where I can :).

There may be a reason behind the large shell as I’m guessing that there are only two shell sizes in use. I can’t confirm it but the EPS sections in the helmet are labeled to fit from XS up to XL which has me believe that the only one shell is used for all sizes except XXL.

Fit & Comfort

For those with an intermediate oval or medium oval head shape that typically fit in a size large helmet, the Spartan is going to be a very good fit. The size large is slightly more giving than the same size in my RPHA70 ST but is completely in line with most other size large helmets I’ve owned.

The bamboo fiber lined cheek pads fit well without too much “squish” in the cheeks and the overall light weight makes the Spartan a nice place to be for an all day ride. The top liner tends to sit a little high for me as do most helmets of this shape. If one has a bit more “dome” to their skull than I do they should fit just fine.

Shark Spartan Helmet interior closeup

The bamboo fiber interior lining is some of the best I’ve felt in a motorcycle helmet. While the material is not quite as plush as, say an Arai liner, it’s pretty close. Shark has struck the right balance between firm padding and plush feel against the skin, at least for me. I believe one would be hard pressed to find a more comfortable liner in this price range.

Comfort at speed can be compromised a bit but this depends on the rider’s height and the height of the windscreen if present. I found at above 60 mph that the helmet was very stable if sitting upright-ish. In fact, it was easy to move one’s head around with it trying to twist back at speed.

If one sits in a mildly aggressive position or full tuck, the helmet might try to lift a bit at speed. This would be annoying over a long time to me. I also was able to test this with my windscreen on the Ninja 1000 at all three heights. The higher the screen, the more lift was induced, as expected. It’s not terrible in any case, but for me, this helmet seems to work best with a very low or no windscreen and in the more upright position.

Ventilation & Noise

Ventilation is provided by a chin vent, a top vent, and a pair of exhaust vents. The chin vent is operated via a large rocker panel on the front of the chin bar. It has a prominent ridge at the lower edge and series of raised dots along the top edge making it easy to feel with gloves on. The rocker opens and closes positively and has only open and closed positions without any intermediate settings.

Shark Spartan Helmet chin vent

The chin vent pulls in air and directs all of it up towards the visor in front of the included breath guard. There is no path directly through to the face which I think would have been nice to include for those hotter days.

The top vent has a sliding switch which is easy to find with gloves on to open or close the vent there. Like the chin vent, this is an on or off switch. No intermediate settings here. The air enters through a slotted scoop and exits through two 10mm holes in the shell and EPS liner. The path is pretty direct and one can easily see light shone through the vents.

The rear vents are designed to exhaust internal air out under the ends of the spoiler. Like the opt vent, there is a very direct passage from the interior to the outside as light can easily be seen through these vents as well.

Shark Spartan Helmet rear vent

Overall ventilation is not bad but not much better than the average modern full-face helmet. The quality feel of the switches does instill confidence they will last and when shut they are definitely shut and do not leak much if any air.

Noise Levels

Here is where the Spartan really shines. This is the quietest helmet I have had the pleasure of wearing. That’s not to say there aren’t quieter ones out there but in my experience with about three dozen helmets, this is the quietest one.

There is some noise of course and it starts with just mid-range wind rushing noise around 25 to 30 mph. There is little to no booming I can hear. This remains pretty much steady until highway speeds of about 60 mph or more. At that point, the noise gets a little louder and “busier” but it is still well subdued.

Shark Spartan Helmet side view

At 70 mph a little bit of low-frequency booming can be heard but it is never intrusive. As expected when raising my windscreen height does induce more wind rushing noise but it is still well controlled compared to any helmet I’ve worn in recent memory. However, one should keep the following in mind.

I always wear custom-fitted earplugs when I ride and of course when testing helmets like this. Also, rider height and motorcycle specifics such as fairing, non-faired, etc can affect noise levels.

Shopping Now? We Recommend:

webBikeWorld has worked closely with RevZilla over the years to provide our testers with products to review. In addition to being a great site to shop from, they’re also a great partner.

RevZilla

Free shipping on orders over $40
30-day no-nonsense return policy
Excellent selection of all major brands
Awesome pricing

Buy This Helmet on RevZilla

Amazon

Free shipping (with Amazon Prime)
30-day return policy
Excellent selection
Competitive pricing

Buy This Helmet on Amazon

Visor & Outward Vision

The view out the eyeport of the Spartan is about what I would consider average from side to side with good, if not great, peripheral vision. The top to bottom view is a bit less than average, especially when the breath guard is added to the mix. This may sound like a poor showing but I’m not sure everyone would agree.

For my part, I used to love the idea of a huge view out of the helmet. This is something I experienced in the Shark Vision-R GT Carbon I reviewed. All was beautiful until one is riding toward the sun in morning or evening.

Shark Spartan Helmet closeup of front with visor up

In fact, with the giant opening on that helmet, even late morning and afternoon could become a pain as the sun was in clear view. Other helmets with more modest openings can help shield eyes from the sun in these cases as internal sun visors are often not enough to cut back the sun’s brightness enough. As such, I had a love/hate relationship with the panoramic visor view.

When it comes to the internal sun visor, Shark has got it right. The visor is darker than a lot of built-in shades like this (although it could still be darker) and it actually comes down far enough. It covers far enough down that the center half of the shade leaves no gap between the optical line where it meets the lower part of the eyeport. Only about 25% on each side does it show a small gap. This is lack of shade gap is something a lot of riders are looking for from these type of internal visors.

Optical Quality

Whatever one’s feelings are on the size of the opening, the quality of view is also important and the visors fitted to the Spartan are excellent. Both the main visor and internal sun shade offer very good optical quality with very low distortion. Usually, the internal sun shades are the weak part as optical purity seems to take a back seat to the tinting. Not here.

Shark Spartan Helmet full view

While I was on my first evaluation ride, I was noting how distortion free the view was through the main visor. I reached up to drop the sun visor in place to discover I had already lowered it down. I was impressed.

Visor Mechanicals

An elliptical setup is used on the main visor mechanism so as the visor closes it pulls in close against the eyeport seal. This makes for a tight seal and a very reassuring “thunk” as the visor closes. This is hard to describe but it reminds me of closing a door on a well-built car, and it gives the visor actuation a high-quality feel.

One of the best features of this visor is the removal setup. There are no buttons or levers to move here. Just raise it all the way, lift the edge away from the side a little and pull. The visor just pulls out from the pivot point. Putting it back in place is just as easy. I’ve seen this on other Shark helmets before and it so simple and elegant I’m surprised no one else uses it. Perhaps it’s patented?

Shark Spartan Helmet visor mechanisms

As for the internal visor mechanism, it may not be as refined as other moving parts on the helmet, but it has enough friction to remain at any position between up and down. I might not have much use for this but others might appreciate the versatility.

Conclusion

Starting at $369.99 for solid colors and $429.99 for graphics options, the Spartan is not a budget helmet but it is a good bargain when compared to other helmets in the price range. The fiberglass shell is strong and light and feels very solid and secure.

The liner is one of the most comfortable places to place one’s head for a day of riding and the hushed wind noises make that ride a peaceful one. Even the limit placed on the top to the bottom angle of view is offset by the excellent optical characteristics of both the main and internal visors.

Shark Spartan Helmet full rear view

One can surmise I’m rather smitten with his helmet, and I am but there just a couple of things that keep me from giving this helmet a 5-star rating. I would like to feel a bit more ventilation for when the weather gets hot. Direct air through the chin bar would be helpful. Also, the helmet tends to lift a bit at highway speeds, at least on my head on my bike. Your mileage may vary.

For those looking for a quiet and solid riding companion that will also protect their melon if things go wrong on the ride, the Spartan is definitely a lid to check out.

Pros

  • Lightweight composite shell
  • Very comfortable liner
  • Good venting and solid controls
  • Optically excellent visors

Cons

  • Top to bottom outward visibility a little short
  • Top mounted visor slider can be a little awkward

Specs

  • Manufacturer: Shark Helmets
  • Price (When Tested): $369.99 to $429.99 (USD)
  • Made In: Thailand
  • Alternative models & colors: Black, White, Matte Black, plus Graphics
  • Sizes: XS to XXL
  • Review Date: December 2018

Shopping Now? We Recommend:

webBikeWorld has worked closely with RevZilla over the years to provide our testers with products to review. In addition to being a great site to shop from, they’re also a great partner.

RevZilla

Free shipping on orders over $40
30-day no-nonsense return policy
Excellent selection of all major brands
Awesome pricing

Buy This Helmet on RevZilla

Amazon

Free shipping (with Amazon Prime)
30-day return policy
Excellent selection
Competitive pricing

Buy This Helmet on Amazon

Shark Spartan Helmet Image Gallery

The post The Shark Spartan Helmet Review appeared first on Web Bike World.

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2Wheel eCommerce Site Review

Introduction

So this holiday season I was presented with a request to do a review unlike I have done before. Our content editor asked if I would check out an eCommerce site that sells motorcycle, atv/utv, and snowmobile gear and accessories.

I was sort of struck a bit sideways at first as I have never really thought about reviewing a site as part of my reviews for webBikeWorld. I thought about this for a few minutes and I realized I should be able to offer some relevant insight after all. (We’ll see) 🙂

I have been purchasing motorcycle gear for myself and for reviews for over ten years and have used a variety of online stores during this time. I also manage and design websites for myself including MotorcycleWords.com, MotosportPhotos.com, and Jacksonphotoworks.com so I’m not uninformed as to what it takes to build an effective web presence.

Since this is a new genre of review I needed to determine what aspects of a website would be of most interest to our readers. Here is what I came up:

  • Overall site experience including:
    • Speed of site response
    • Mobile device display
    • Search options
  • Range of products on offer for motorcyclists and pricing
  • Ordering process
  • Customer service
  • Received product packaging and shipping speed
  • Return Policy

2Wheel.com street bike helmets

I want to encourage our readers to let us know if there are any aspects you feel got overlooked in this review that should be included in future ones.

It should be noted that 2Wheel.com was not aware I was reviewing their site and I didn’t use an email address that might tip them off. The intent here is to be treated just like any other buyer so we can get an unbiased and objective look at how they operate.

With that out of the way let’s dig in.

2Wheel.com Site Experience

2Wheel.com is definitely a sales vehicle. There is no mistaking this fact the moment one first pulls the site up in their browser. I suppose it’s neither good or bad since one has likely come to the site to make a purchase or at least do some price comparison.

The upper portion of the page is quite a busy space with a gray toolbar at the very top. This toolbar has links to one’s account and other personalized information as well as a brace of drop down menus with information about the company and a comprehensive list of customer service options. I have to say that placing this info in easy reach for customers is well done and certainly covers all the bases I can think of.

Under the toolbar is the 2Wheel logo sitting next to a large search box which is in turn bookended by a shopping cart image. Below this is a multilevel menu breaking their products into categories such as Street, Dirt, Snow, and more. The sub menu under each category changes color depending on which category one has chosen which is a subtle, but convenient touch.

2Wheel.com categories

Beneath this is a banner showing a weekly “on sale” advert while underneath the banner a coupon code is displayed. I wasn’t kidding when I said this site is a sales vehicle but I’m not quite hating it for this as they have some clever design touches that I appreciate. For instance, as one scrolls down the page the top toolbar, category menu, Sale banner, and coupon code all disappear.

This rolling up of these elements allows for more browser space for perusing the site contents. One can scroll back up to the top of the page to have these elements reappear if needed. This feature does help reduce the overall sense of “clutter” I first felt when landing on the 2Wheel.com site.

Speed & Search

I found the 2Wheel.com site very responsive and quick to work with. Pages load quickly and filtering results when viewing large amounts of items is pretty quick as well. I can’t find fault with the experience as far as speed goes. Search has an issue, however.

I found if I searched for a certain item that I knew was on their site using a pair of words that should have returned this item in the results, it didn’t appear in the results. Here’s an example I was able to consistently reproduce.

I was browsing their offerings from Bell Helmets and noticed they had the Bell Star MIPS Equipped Classic helmet still in stock in a few sizes and on closeout. The next time I went back to the site I wanted to look into getting one of these and searched for “Bell Star” from the main search.

2Wheel.com Bell Helmets

Several items were returned in the search including several other Bell Star variants (including closeouts) but the MIPS equipped Classic I saw earlier was not included. Just to make sure it was still available, I used the menu navigation and pulled up all the full face Bell helmets. Sure enough, the one I was looking for was still there and appeared available in most all sizes.

I get it that search can be a bit wonky at times but I think a top priority for a site like this should be getting accurate search results. In this case both the buyer and seller would have missed an opportunity.

Responsive Design

Not to be confused with site response “speed”, responsive design refers to how a website layout changes when being viewed on a mobile device. Testing on my Android phone demonstrated a nicely abbreviated version of the top bar and a the replacement of the main navigation menu with the mobile friendly “hamburger” menu. This is the type of menu that appears as three horizontal lines in the upper left corner that expands when clicked.

2Wheel.com responsive app design 2Wheel.com responsive app design 2Wheel.com responsive app design

Viewing the site on an iPad Air showed little, if any, difference from the desktop experience. All the menu elements appear to remain in place and the site reacts just as it does on a laptop or desktop screen with the same “roll-up” effect. This seems about right as the site appears a little “narrow” when viewed on a standard 1080p computer display.

Site Security

The site does have a valid security certificate issued by GoDaddy which is currently valid through 12/11/2020. When I viewed the main page there were 30 cookies in use. That may sound like a lot but it is actually less than some of the more popular motorcycle apparel and accessory sites out there.

As is typical of a lot of online retails sites, there were some external connection made to other sites such as googlecommerce.com and affirm.com. I only counted 9 in total (4 of which my ad blocker blocked) which is also much lower than some other sites offer similar goods. Overall this is a good showing in my book.

Product Range (Motorcycles)

Since this is a review for webBikeWorld.com I focused on motorcycle related items specifically for this review. Plus I wouldn’t feel qualified to pass judgement over ATV/UTV and snowmobile gear and the breadth of what one should expect to find.

The website breaks down motorcycle related products by Street, V-twin, and Dirt. While I feel “cruiser” might be a better title than v-twin I know what they mean. Still, I don’t think the gear and equipment listed in this category would be at home on the typical SV650 rider much less some Aprilia riders, and practically all Ducati sportbike riders. Just sayin’.

2Wheel.com product ranges

Semantics notwithstanding, the various sections have a good range of products listed. For instance, clicking “Jackets” under the Street category returns just over 500 results from over 20 manufacturers. That’s a good showing and seems on par with other online retailers.

Pricing

Pricing was very good and in line with other major online retailers. In some cases the pricing was exactly the same while some items were a little less. There were also a few that were more pricey on 2Wheel.com than say, a site with a name similar to a large radioactive lizard.

Looking at the areas where there were differences both high and low seemed to be items on closeout in one site and not in the other. This is not unsurprising. 2Wheel.com makes it clear they will price match competition so they might be able to match that lower price from other dealers.

One thing I’d like to say about pricing is I don’t feel it is the most important standard by which a retailer (online or otherwise) should be judged. Customer service is most important to me and I believe many riders will agree. Paying a few dollars more from a dealer that will stand behind their products is worth it to most of us.

Return Policy

Since it is often the case that one hasn’t had a chance to try on a new helmet or article of riding gear when ordering online there can be concerns about getting the correct fit. Since sizing can vary from manufacturer to manufacturer or even different lines within one makers’ lineup, a flexible return policy is helpful.

2Wheel.com does offer a free return policy for an item that doesn’t fit properly and will send the buyer a shipping label to return the item if that is the case. Like most sellers, the returned item must be in original condition with all the packaging and tags.

2Wheel.com return policy

Ordering Process & Customer Service

I was concerned that the ordering process might be a bit cumbersome given the “busy” first impression I had of the 2Wheel.com website. It turns out it was one of the smoothest online purchasing experiences I’ve had.

As part of the review process I was directed to make a purchase so I could evaluate the ordering and payment process. At the same time I wanted to get an item that could also be reviewed on its own so I went looking for a helmet we had not reviewed before. After reviewing the options in the price range I was given by webBikeWorld I found what I wanted and shortly after was looking at my chosen item in the shopping cart.

2Wheel.com ordering process

From there it was a pretty quick process to provide the usual information required for an online purchase and get to the payment portion of the transaction. I do have to say that whoever put this part of the site together did a good job with the interface because it stepped one through the input process smoothly and quickly. My concern about a cumbersome process was unfounded.

Back to the payment process, one is given several choices for payment beyond just credit cards including PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay and Affirm Payments. In addition there is an automated system (chat bot) that will appear if there are any potential discounts that may apply to your purchase.

I wasn’t fortunate enough to receive any such discounts but the item I purchased was at a pretty good price anyway as it was on closeout. From there I completed the process using a credit card and that was it.

2Wheel.com checkout process

Within the first minute after ordering I received an email confirmation of my order and a subsequent email minutes later informing me that the helmet was located and was in process. The next business day I received an email that the item was packaged and awaiting tracking info. That’s a lot of emails but I can’t fault them for giving me too much information regarding the status of my order.

I haven’t had cause to reach out to customer service but the contact options are easy to find. In addition, they provide a staggering amount of details surrounding their policies, discounts, terms, Someone spent some time trying to anticipate consumer questions and it shows.

Product Shipping & Packaging

All was looking pretty promising up to this point. The site works well enough and the prices are in line with other major online retailers being better in some areas, and not as good in others. Shipping seems to be where one should be careful about expectations.

Looking at the “About” section of the 2Wheel.com website they claim, “We provide fast 1-3 day shipping utilizing the closest location in a network of nearly 100 warehouses across the United States.” This doesn’t exactly meet up with the reality of how long it took to receive my specific order. Let’s go to the details.

First off, I want to say that I did choose the worst time to place an order. It was placed on the morning of Monday, December 24th (Christmas Eve). I doubted much would happen until Wednesday the 26th. I was surprised however to get two automated messages on the 24th saying that one, my order had been queued and then two, it had been processed and was awaiting packaging. Fair enough.

On the 26th around noon CST, I received another email from 2Wheel.com saying that my order had been packaged and that tracking information would soon follow. These emails are based on a template and I noticed a new sentence had been added to the current status of “Packaged” saying that “One or more of your items have longer lead times”.

2Wheel.com order confirmation process

I didn’t see that new phrase until I went back through the emails to research for this review. This helped me understand why it took until Friday evening, December 28th, for me to receive notice from 2Wheel that the package had left the building. By the way, Los Angeles is pretty far from Nashville, TN so the “utilizing the closest location” mentioned earlier didn’t pan out in this case.

The box actually left LA in the wee hours of the morning on Saturday the 29th with an expected delivery date of Monday, January 7th. Even with the Holidays and Sundays removed that left 6 business days from the shipping date. That’s double the claimed 1-3 days time mentioned earlier plus two more business days from the date I placed the order for 8 business days required to get this helmet.

Is this typical? Since I have only purchased one item I would like to think this is an aberration but it does give me pause about ordering in the future. I can order from places in New York and Texas that will ship their items out the same day if I order before noon and they often arrive in two days. I may have saved some money in this case but I would rather have paid a little more and gotten the product in less time.

Packaging

The helmet I ordered arrived packed well in what I would consider standard helmet packaging. The helmet box itself was placed inside another box and arrived undamaged.

Unboxing the helmet revealed the unit in perfect new condition with all tags and sundry visor covers in place. At the very good discount closeout price, there’s always concern about getting a returned or open-boxed item but this was undoubtedly brand new. It even had that new helmet smell.

Conclusion

The overall process for ordering merchandise from 2Wheel.com was very smooth and despite the lag in the shipping, the helmet I received was exactly as it should have been. I do appreciate the status updates from their site on the order progress and even though I didn’t have to reach out to customer service the ease of finding contact information is appreciated.

Reason to buy from 2Wheel.com

At this point, I will give a solid “give them a try”. As I understand it, webBikeWorld.com will be getting some more items for product reviews from 2Wheel.com in the coming weeks. I intend to follow up with our team to find out how their own experiences are with shipping times.

If you, our reader, decide to give them a try I encourage you to let us know how your transactions go whether good or bad.

Pros

  • Site responsiveness is quick
  • Responsive design works well on desktop and mobile devices
  • Ordering process is very smooth
  • Super fast order verification and information emails

Cons

  • Pages are busy with offers and sales
  • Search results inconsistent
  • Shipping process slow in this transaction

Details

The post 2Wheel eCommerce Site Review appeared first on Web Bike World.

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4SR 96 Stingray Racing Gloves Hands-On Review

4SR: The New Kid In Town

While attending AimExpo in October I happened upon a display booth for 4SR products.

4SR leather racing suit.
4 Street Racing is a Czech manufacturer well known in Europe on the race track and in the everyday riding gear market but is a new arrival to North American shores. After speaking at length with Jerry Nickell Sr and Junior (the father and son team from Texas who are distributing the product line here) I was eager to review some of the gear.

4SR leather racing suit.
Jerry Sr had recently sacrificed his body in the name of testing one of their race suits when he low-sided at 70 mph. As you can see in the photos the suit held up well in a slide and Jerry was unhurt. The leather used is thick yet supple, the seams are double or triple stitched and the armor is all CE Level 2 in everything 4SR makes.

4SR leather racing suit.
The 96 Stingray Race Gloves

4SR 96 Stingray gloves

The Nickels happily presented me with a pair of 96 Stingray gloves to review. These are arguably the best and most expensive ($190) racing gloves in the 4SR lineup.

First Impressions

Carbon Fiber

4SR 96 Stingray gloves

The knuckle area has hard resin-covered carbon fiber armor along with peanut sized caps over the finger joints of the first and second digits. I love the look of these purely white on black gloves, but adding in the carbon fiber makes good seem even better.

Weightless

I didn’t bother weighing the 96 Stingray because they’re virtually weightless thanks in part to the carbon fiber goodness.

Leather and Viscofoam

Holding these gloves and massaging them with my fingers reveals hidden protection covering the entire top half other than where the wrist bends. There’s Viscofoam (memory foam) everywhere underneath the goatskin leather exterior.

4SR 96 Stingray gloves

It ranges from about a ¼ inch thick padding on top of the thumb nail bed to ½ inch at the thickest area covering the ulna bone.

Goatskin and Pittards Leather

Goatskin is softer and stronger than cow leather. It’s also water resistant and twice as tough as kangaroo skin from what I’ve read.

In handling these gloves I definitely see how the soft part is accurate. They freely move in my hands and I haven’t even put them on yet!

Pittards leather covers the palms of these gloves. It’s the preferred leather for cricket and baseball batting gloves because it offers unbeaten tactile feedback to the fingers. Pittards stays flexible even after repeated doses of sweat saturation from hands.

4SR refused to compromise on the quality of material used to construct these gloves.

Stitching

4SR 96 Stingray gloves

Some of the stitching isn’t uniformly sewn along the sections of leather on these gloves. Specifically stitching on the leather surrounding the finger armor isn’t completely straight. Disappointing to see this, but it does help explain how they keep the price point lower than the competition.

The Kevlar Connection

The ring and little fingers come connected together with a leather patch as is commonplace with racing gloves in order to help protect the pinky in a crash situation.

4SR 96 Stingray gloves

What catches my eye on this leather covering are several fuzzy, yellow hairs hanging off the edges of the leather patch. It looks quite shoddy, to be honest.

Then it occurs to me leather doesn’t produce yellow strands like this, but Kevlar can.

4SR 96 Stingray gloves

Despite the ugly appearance this turns out to be another pleasant surprise about the 96 Stingray gloves: Kevlar reinforcement running beneath the leather on top of the hand below the foam. The Kevlar lining is also found in the high-stress palm areas under a shiny black covering.

These are some skookum gloves and I haven’t even gotten to the reason behind the Stingray moniker yet.

Palm Area Protection

I flip the gloves over for a look at the palm/scaphoid area to find two large patches of black stingray skin.

4SR 96 Stingray gloves

Stingray Skin

I’ve touched the skin of living sharks and rays before (what a thrill!). I would describe it being the consistency of heavy sandpaper with larger lumps of grit embedded in it. The stuff on these gloves is similarly abrasive, yet has a plastic or TPU slippery quality to it all at once. It would be excellent in preventing injury in a crash from what I can tell when combined with the thick Viscofoam padding and Kevlar lining running behind it.

4SR 96 Stingray gloves ray skin palm.

I’m shocked to find it on these gloves at this price point.

Fitment

I finally pull on the gloves for a try after inspecting them. I’m immediately happy with the fit. It’s evenly snug all around without pinching in any area. I credit the kevlar, goatskin and Pittards leather content for this bliss. It stretches just enough, but not too much.

4SR 96 Stingray gloves

These are brand new gloves! They’re not broken in at all but almost feel like they are. Typically leather gloves give about 10% after break-in and I wonder if these will go limp after some aggressive test riding with my Ninja.

Time will tell.

My Size

4SR 96 Stingray gloves

My hand measurement is just about 8.5 inches across the widest part and I would class my fingers average in length but slightly thicker than the norm at the knuckles. These size Large/10 glove fingers all fit right to the end of my digits except for the thumb which comes up about a ¼ inch short. The narrow middle section of my thumb doesn’t fit as tightly as the fingers do either.

I guess people in Czechoslovakia have larger thumbs than I do?

Triple Closure Feature

Closure One

4SR 96 Stingray gloves

The first closure is a velcro covered tunnel strap that rides through a steel loop and back on the wrist area to tighten up any small amount of slop there. I again note how nicely the goatskin leather gives ever so slightly when you pull on this strap. It feels slightly elastic.

Closure Two

4SR 96 Stingray gloves

A large flap of Viscofoam-infused leather used to cover the velcro tunnel strap closure in order to prevent it from being damaged in a slide. It’s a bit awkward to get closed and there are better closure systems on the market in other gloves. After donning and doffing the Stingrays a few times I’ve got the hang of it but I still don’t love it. The Velcro is effective at holding it shut securely.

Closure Three

4SR 96 Stingray gloves wrist closure.

The final closure is a large flap of leather impregnated with even more Viscofoam that hinges from the outside of the wrist inwards towards the thumb side.

I would have preferred a longer strap that reaches fully across the gauntlet portion of the glove instead of this style which only goes about halfway, but it catches and holds on the velcro solidly and doesn’t give. I feel confident even in a crash there’s no way these gloves would back off one iota and expose my hands to slide injury.

With the gloves on and fully adjusted it’s time to hit the road.

On The Bike Testing

I managed to test these gloves at 85 degrees while in Las Vegas and back home in Canada down to a low of 40 degrees.

Air Flow

4SR 96 Stingray gloves.
In the hot weather testing, my hands did perspire noticeably, but the perforations in the leather around the wrist area and between the fingers allowed cooling to occur fairly well even in traffic.

4SR 96 Stingray gloves finger vents.
The thin leather palm side of the gloves has two small holes in each finger to allow easier insertion and removal of fingers to help prevent a vacuum from forming. I figure they aid somewhat with exhausting perspiration too.

4SR 96 Stingray gloves palm.

I wonder if these small holes will enlarge over time and eventually wear away into larger openings and the gloves wearing out prematurely? Thus far, over the course of 600 miles riding there was little to no change in the size of these vents.

Warmth

I was very surprised at how well these gloves did in the colder weather testing, but shouldn’t have been. All that Viscofoam definitely acts as an effective layer of insulation to keep my hand temperature comfortable down into the 50s. At those temperatures, I found the heated grips on my bike necessary to stay comfortable, but as far as the wind chill bothering me goes – no problem at all.

Touch Sensitivity

The supple leather on these Stingrays allows for easy manipulation of buttons and controls on the handlebars. The extra length on the end of the thumb got in my way a couple of times, but not enough to make me unhappy with them.

There aren’t any touchpad-friendly areas on any of the fingertips to allow a wearer to use their touchscreen phone, but it would surprise me if there was. There’s little doubt these really are racing-specific gloves with that single purpose in mind.

The thinner palm area leather impressed me with the fact I could faintly feel the ridges in my bike’s grips through them, but also makes me wonder about long-term durability despite the fact my research shows goatskin lasts longer than cowhide.

Grip Numbness

I often have an issue with numbness forming gradually (sometimes quickly) due to stitching in the palm area of gloves being too thick. When I grip the throttle a vein/vessel running close to the base of my index finger becomes easily irritated and limits blood flow to my thumb and finger when squished.

Many gloves fail this test for me, but the Stingray ones did quite well overall. I only noticed minor numbness on two occasions out of the 6 rides I’ve taken wearing these gloves.

Final Verdict

The 96 Stingray is above average in every category I can think of especially when factoring in the low purchase price of $190.

4SR 96 Stingray gloves and Simpson Mod Bandit helmet.

If I ever end up crashing on a bike I hope it’s these 4SR gloves that I’m wearing out of all the gloves I own. They would make a bigger difference than my other ones for sure.

Competitors

Dainese D1 Druid gloves
Yes, $190 is still a pile of money to spend on gloves, but comparatively, it’s a bargain. Refer to Brandon’s recent review of the Dainese D1 Druid long gloves which retail at $229.99. That’s $40 more without the same level of protection or comfort.

Held Phantom II gloves

These 4SR gloves should be closer to the $300 mark as evidenced by more similarly outfitted gloves on the market such as the Held Phantom II. Those Phantom II gloves have titanium knuckle protectors, Rayskin and even Superfabric along with more ergonomic closures which do make them the best, but are they really $135 better? Almost twice the price of the 96 Stingrays?

Maybe…

I haven’t tested the Held Phantom gloves myself but they are the best selling race gloves on the market for good reasons. I’m sure a seasoned racer would be able to show exactly why I should drop the extra $135, but I doubt I would deem them worthy of the extra cost in my more limited sphere of use. If you race regularly perhaps the choice is easier.

Alpinestars GP Plus R gloves

The Alpinestars GP Plus R gloves are considered a bargain-priced race glove at $199.95 with decent protective qualities. They’re good value, but don’t quite have the level of protection these 96 Stingray ones do from what I can tell.

Coming Soon

As I mentioned Jerry Sr and Jr are close to finalizing distribution of these and other 4SR products with sellers in the US like our friends at Revzilla, but at the time of this writing, it’s not yet there, unfortunately.

You can still order the gloves from the Czech HQ from the 4SR website in the meantime.

The Jerrys hope to have us review more products from their lineup moving forward and that feeling is mutual.

Pros

High quality materials used in construction
Excellent price
High protection
Race proven design
Ergonomic curve shape
Surprisingly warm
Decent airflow

Cons

Fuzzy edges on leather and Kevlar
Lacks Hi-Viz or reflective elements
Triple Closure is awkward
New product to North America
Some stitching isn’t straight

Specs

  • Manufacturer: 4 Street Racing
  • Price (When Tested): $190
  • Made In: Pakistan
  • Alternative models & colors: Three color schemes
  • Sizes: Small to XXL
  • Review Date: November 30, 2018

4SR 96 Stingray Gloves Image Gallery

The post 4SR 96 Stingray Racing Gloves Hands-On Review appeared first on Web Bike World.

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Gear Guide Gear Reviews Motorcycle Clothing Reviews Other Motorcycle Blogs Race Suits review Suits Web Bike World

Gear Guide: Best Leather Race Suits

Not every rider is looking for the maximum protection available from head to toe, but if you are that street rider who likes to push the limits on occasion and sail into a curve or corner just a bit faster than ever before, then a leather race suit could be one of the best pieces of riding gear that you ever purchase. Likewise, if you have a true need for speed that can only be satiated on a track, then a full leather race suit is a must not only for body protection but also for meeting the equipment requirements of most tracks.

Leather has been the material of choice for motorcycle riders since the early 1920’s when Irving Schott began creating purpose-built leather biker jackets in his lower East Side Manhattan factory. The material had survived nearly two decades of use as the jacket of choice of the early aviators and the durability appeared to transfer well to meet the needs of motorcycle riders as well.

Not only is a leather race suit going to provide the best abrasion protection but it is also going to allow you to have maximum impact protection and armor. Sliding across pavement can leave some devastating road rash but hitting an object or high siding off of the bike and suffering a hard impact against a vehicle or the ground can also cause life-changing injuries.

But a leather race suit offers the riders the ability to add impact protection and even extra abrasion protection on every part of the body other than your head, hands, and feet which should be protected with other gear. Check out the other “best of” articles on Web Bike World for awesome boots, gloves, and helmets to complete your safety gear package.

Now, back to leather race suits. There are a great number of variables when looking at leather race suits starting with the leather itself. You will want to check out the thickness of the leather as well as the type of leather. A solid piece of natural hide is always more durable than a man-made material or smaller pieces which are stitched together. Gear is only as durable and strong as its weakest segment, and in the case of a leather race suit, that could be the thread used in the stitching.

Next, check out the armor that is provided with the race suit as well as the upgrades or additional armor that can be added to increase your level of protection. Not every manufacturer will include the top of the line armor simply to make the entire race suit more affordable. But a quality suit will allow you to upgrade the armor.

While fit and comfort are not as critical to your safety as the physical durability of the race suit, they are very important. You need to be comfortable and have a full range of motion to get the most out of every ride, your skill, and your bike. The distraction of a suit that is too short waisted and binds in the seat area each time you move your upper body is not a good thing.

Either you will try to reduce your upper body movement or you will wait until the last second to move, knowing that it will cause a “discomfort” in a delicate region. And both of these can be dangerous on the track or even on the road. So find a suit that fits your body size and type. A big factor for comfort on long rides is expansion material and gussets. Quality gear is designed to accommodate your body in motion and still provide great protection.

Be sure to check back regularly with us here at Web Bike World to read about our latest hands-on reviews of leather race suits and other great products for riders.

Recommendations

  • Best overall: Alpinestars GP Plus V2 Venom Race Suit
  • Best value: Cortech Adrenaline RR Race Suit
  • Fully loaded: Dainese D-Air Race Suit
  • Other great options: Rev’It Spitfire Race Suit, Alpinestars Atem 2 Piece Race Suit, Dainese Assen 2 Piece Women’s Race Suit

Leather Race Suit Buyers Guide

The two choices that you will have for leather race suits are a one-piece true suit or a two-piece jacket and pants combo that most likely zips together. Each of these has their own benefits and drawbacks and you will need to weigh these points for yourself to determine which is YOUR best choice.

True One-Piece Suit

Pros

  • Solid leather is the best protection against abrasion
  • No zipper to fail and separate the jacket and pants
  • Leather panels offer more flexibility than a zipper
  • One piece suits can cost more

Cons

  • Must be worn as a full suit not just pants or a jacket
  • Some body types or shapes are difficult to fit in a suit format
  • Can feel restrictive until it breaks in or you get used to the new fit

Two Piece Suit

Pros

  • Easier to find pants and jacket that fit in some cases
  • You can mix sizes if upper or lower body needs extended size
  • Pieces can be worn independently or just not zipped into suit format
  • Pieces can be purchased separately to be more affordable

Cons

  • A zipper could break or be damaged causing a suit failure
  • A zipper can be uncomfortable
  • Total cost for a two-piece suit could be more than a one piece suit

Taking all of these criteria into consideration WBW has compiled a list of some great leather racing suits for you to consider when making your next purchase. Not only will this provide you with some great details about these six suits but it will also show you which criteria we felt were critical to the success of the gear so that you can evaluate other suits for your own use. And as always, be sure to check back regularly to read more evaluations and the results of our hands on gear tests.

Best Overall: Alpinestars GP Plus V2 Venom Race Suit

Alpinestars leather venom race suit front view Alpinestars leather venom race suit rear view

Shopping Now? We Recommend:

webBikeWorld has worked closely with RevZilla over the years to provide our testers with products to review. In addition to being a great site to shop from, they’re also a great partner.

RevZilla

Free shipping on orders over $40
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Excellent selection of all major brands
Awesome pricing

Buy This Leather Race Suits on RevZilla

Amazon

Free shipping (with Amazon Prime)
30-day return policy
Excellent selection
Competitive pricing

Buy This Leather Race Suits on Amazon

  • Price: $1,199.95

The GP Plus V2 Venom is a true one-piece race suit constructed out of durable 1.3mm bovine leather.

  • The sleeves and legs are pre-curved for added comfort and mobility.
  • Large accordion stretch panels on the lower back and knees provide additional range of motion and comfort in a tuck position.
  • Stretch fabric panels in the sleeves, crotch, and chest add to the comfort and fit of the suit.
  • Calf expansion gussets allow for unrestricted movement of the legs when launching, tucking or leaning into a curve.
  • Ergonomic back hump provides better airflow and performance at high speed.
  • Perforations in the leather increase airflow and comfort.
  • Aramid fiber inserts in the arms and legs provide reinforcement at the critical seam areas for added abrasion protection.
  • Suit offers inner cuff and calf adjustors, a removable mesh liner, an inner wallet pocket, and a 3D textured fabric collar for added comfort and convenience.

The list of added safety features on this race suit is amazing considering the very reasonable price of just a nickel shy of $1,200.

Included in this price are DSF external, dual-density TPU shoulder and knee sliders, CE certified GP-R protection on shoulders, elbows, and knees, sport knee sliders, reinforced knee construction with grip texture for enhanced contact with the bike and chest pockets with PE padding. The suit is also equipped with a snap system to accommodate an upgrade to the CE Level 2 Nucleon Back Protector which is sold separately.

All of these features, the ability to add even more protection and a great price make the GP Plus V2 Venom from Alpinestars our selection for Best Overall Leather Race Suit.

Best Value Leather Race Suit to Buy: Cortech Adrenaline RR

Cortech adrenaline leather race suit front view

Shopping Now? We Recommend:

webBikeWorld has worked closely with RevZilla over the years to provide our testers with products to review. In addition to being a great site to shop from, they’re also a great partner.

RevZilla

Free shipping on orders over $40
30-day no-nonsense return policy
Excellent selection of all major brands
Awesome pricing

Buy This Leather Race Suits on RevZilla

Amazon

Free shipping (with Amazon Prime)
30-day return policy
Excellent selection
Competitive pricing

Buy This Leather Race Suits on Amazon

  • Price: $799.99

The Cortech Adrenaline RR is a leather one-piece race suit that is ready for a day at the track or on the open road.

  • This race suit is constructed of top grade cowhide leather with the thickness varying from 1.2mm to 1.4mm and a combination of perforated and non-perforated panels.
  • Rotated sleeves and pre-curved legs add to the comfort as well as the quality of the fit.
  • Accordion style expansion panels at the shoulders, elbows, waist, and knees along with stretch panels in the arms, inseam, and calves increase the flexibility and comfort as well.

For a very cost effective leather race suit, the Adrenaline RR offers some added features that you might only expect to find in a suit with a much higher price tag.

  • Seamless panels in the bottom and rear thigh area provide added durability for increased abrasion protection.
  • Stitching throughout is a high strength bonded nylon thread in a triple stitch pattern, and the cuffs offer spring-loaded zippers to eliminate flapping.

The list of safety features is equally impressive on this economically priced race suit.

  • The aerodynamic race profile speed hump offers great protection while the perforated leather and its hollow body provide awesome airflow for added comfort on a hot day.
  • Shoulder and elbow protection begins with TPU molded stainless steel external armor and also includes removable level 2 CE protection at the shoulder and level 1 protection at the elbows.
  • Level 1 internal protection is also in the knee area while the included knee sliders can also be added for external protection.

A few bonus comfort features include a soft neoprene collar, neoprene stretch panels at the cuffs for a custom fit and a removable and washable mesh liner with a zipper chest pocket.

For a leather race suit with a price tag well under a grand, the Adrenaline RR is a superior option. Hands down the Cortech Adrenaline RR is our choice for Best Value Leather Race Suit.

Best Fully Loaded Leather Race Suit: Dainese D-Air

 Dainese d-air leather race suit front view Dainese d-air leather race suit rear view

Shopping Now? We Recommend:

webBikeWorld has worked closely with RevZilla over the years to provide our testers with products to review. In addition to being a great site to shop from, they’re also a great partner.

RevZilla

Free shipping on orders over $40
30-day no-nonsense return policy
Excellent selection of all major brands
Awesome pricing

Buy This Leather Race Suits on RevZilla

Amazon

Free shipping (with Amazon Prime)
30-day return policy
Excellent selection
Competitive pricing

Buy This Leather Race Suits on Amazon

  • Price: $2,079.96

The Dainese D-Air leather race suit takes safety to the next level using the Intelligent Protection System.

This amazing gear combines a wireless airbag system and technology package which includes:

  • Three accelerometers
  • Three gyroscopes
  • GPS
  • 4 GIGs if internal memory
  • LED user interface mounted on the right forearm.

In addition, proprietary software manages this state of the art race suit to instantly evaluate the accident conditions and severity to activate the safety features as quickly as 15 milliseconds for a violent crash or with a slightly longer trigger time for precise protection at a lower speed.

For the aspects of this race suit which have similar peers and can be compared, the D-Skin 2.0 leather is full grain cowhide but with added long fibers to increase the strength and durability of the leather while still remaining soft and supple. Added resin and silicone wax also increase durability without creating any added stiffness.

The D-Air includes all of the comfort features that you would expect from Dainese including:

  • Pre-curved arms and legs
  • Double calf zippers
  • Suit to boot fastening system
  • NanoFeel removable sanitized liner

When it comes to added protection, Dainese makes the standard protection appear mundane in comparison to their technology-laden bells and whistles, but they include only the top of the line all the way around.

  • Suit is certified to CE Cat II – 89/686/EEC Directive
  • Includes a back protector, composite protectors and Pro Shape soft protectors on the sides.
  • Aluminum inserts at the shoulders and titanium inserts at the elbows.

If you are looking for the latest technology combined with superior quality solid protection, then the D-Air is the suit for you. Testing demonstrated that this suit reduces the force transferred by traditional armor by an astounding 85%. And at a cost of just under $2,100, that is an amazing feat to offer any rider.

Technological breakthroughs, as well as the Dainese, continued high standards for excellence make the Dainese D-Air our selection for Best Fully Loaded Leather Race Suit.

Other Great Options

Rev’It Spitfire

Revit spitfire leather race suit front view Revit spitfire leather race suit rear view

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RevZilla

Free shipping on orders over $40
30-day no-nonsense return policy
Excellent selection of all major brands
Awesome pricing

Buy This Leather Race Suits on RevZilla

  • Price: $1,399.99

The Rev’It Spitfire is a one-piece race suit constructed of Monaco cowhide.

  • The arms and legs are pre-curved for comfort and mobility with Kevlar stretch inserted in key areas for flexibility and comfort when tucked without sacrificing superior protection.
  • Gussets at the knees, elbows, and back provide excellent flexibility while the sleeves crotch and legs add to the comfort and fit by using the less bulky Kevlar material.

The protection package includes:

Dual composition protectors at the shoulders, elbows, and knees which includes type A knee sliders, Betac CE elbow protection, Betac CE adjustable protection at the shoulders and knees and SeeSmart CE-level 1 type B hip protector inserts. The suit also includes a back protector pocket which can be purchased separately.

The Rev’It Spitfire is a great choice for a one-piece leather race suit offered in a variety of sizes and color patterns. Comfort, flexibility, and safety are all important features that are offered in this race suit.

Alpinestars Atem 2

Alpinestars two piece leather race suit front view Alpinestars two piece leather race suit rear view

Shopping Now? We Recommend:

webBikeWorld has worked closely with RevZilla over the years to provide our testers with products to review. In addition to being a great site to shop from, they’re also a great partner.

RevZilla

Free shipping on orders over $40
30-day no-nonsense return policy
Excellent selection of all major brands
Awesome pricing

Buy This Leather Race Suits on RevZilla

Amazon

Free shipping (with Amazon Prime)
30-day return policy
Excellent selection
Competitive pricing

Buy This Leather Race Suits on Amazon

  • Price: $1,299.95

The Alpinestars Atem is a full leather two-piece race suit.

The suit is constructed of 1.3mm full grain leather with inserts and armor for the comfort and protection that you expect from Alpinestars. The two-piece feature works well for riders who want to have the flexibility of wearing a race quality jacket only or a full suit.

  • Added comfort is provided by an array of stretch panels which are located in the torso, arms, crotch, and back of the knee area.
  • Accordion stretch panels also provide added range of motion to increase both safety and comfort.
  • Perforated leather panels and the full mesh liner provide great ventilation, increase comfort and promote wicking in hot conditions.

The protection begins with external Dynamic Friction Shield at the shoulders, elbow, and knees.

  • Added lower body protection is provided by the CE approved GP-R knee/shin protector featuring floating construction for a more customizable fit.
  • Upper body gear includes an Aero hump for improved aerodynamic performance and added impact protection.
  • Chest pad compartments with PE padding are included and the armor can be upgraded if desired.
  • Integrated PE foam padding on chest, hips, tailbone, upper arms and back.
  • Multiple snap button systems provide the option to integrate Level 2 CE certified Alpinestars Nucleon protectors, which are sold separately, throughout the suit for added safety.
  • A neoprene comfort edge is added around the collar and cuffs to prevents chafing and skin irritation.

The Alpinestars Atem 2 piece leather race suit is a good option for any rider who is looking for the ability to have a full race suit as well as a track quality jacket and pants which can be worn separately.

Dainese Assen Two Piece Women’s Race Suit

Dainese ladies two piece leather race suit front view Dainese ladies two piece leather race suit rear view

Shopping Now? We Recommend:

webBikeWorld has worked closely with RevZilla over the years to provide our testers with products to review. In addition to being a great site to shop from, they’re also a great partner.

RevZilla

Free shipping on orders over $40
30-day no-nonsense return policy
Excellent selection of all major brands
Awesome pricing

Buy This Leather Race Suits on RevZilla

Amazon

Free shipping (with Amazon Prime)
30-day return policy
Excellent selection
Competitive pricing

Buy This Leather Race Suits on Amazon

  • Price: $949.95

The Dainese Assen two-piece women’s leather race suit is a great option for the ladies who just can’t find a men’s race suit that fits properly. The Tutu leather, accordion elastic panels, and the bi-elastic fabric inserts provide an ergonomic fit and the flexibility needed to ride comfortably and safely on a track or roadways.

And an added benefit of this platform is that ladies can purchase the race suit complete or the jacket and pants can be purchased separately to accommodate anyone needed varied sizing for upper and lower body. At the time this article was written, buying the pants and jacket separately will actually reduce the above-quoted price to $824.91 before tax and shipping.

  • Replaceable external aluminum plates on the shoulders
  • EN 1621.1 Level 2 standard composite protectors at the elbows, knees, and shoulders
  • Pro-Shape certified Standard EN 1621.1 soft protectors are located at the hips.
  • The safety features are rounded out by the interchangeable knee sliders and a 10mm jacket-pants connection zipper to provide security and durability in the event of a slide.

For the ladies who are having difficulty finding a men’s leather race suit that fits well and provides adequate protection for the street or the track, the Dainese Assen two piece leather race suit is a great option for extreme comfort and safety as well as the flexibility to fit almost any body size and shape.

The post Gear Guide: Best Leather Race Suits appeared first on Web Bike World.

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Gear Reviews Leather Motorcycle Clothing Leather Motorcycle Jacket Reviews Other Motorcycle Blogs review Vaktare Web Bike World

Worn & Tested: Vaktare M.G. Pilot Racer Jacket

Several months ago Estefan Duarte from Vaktare Moto Gear got in touch with us about reviewing one of their riding jackets. A bit of back and forth landed us on the Pilot Racer jacket. Estefan then went dark for a bit before notifying us of shipment. His reason for disappearing? The jacket needed to be made first.

Vaktare Moto Gear is a boutique brand based out of Los Angeles that focuses on American-made riding apparel that is also fashion-forward. Almost every component and material used in the Pilot Racer is American-made or American-sourced. Apparel is made in small quantities and with exacting detail. These qualities help Vaktare stand out in a crowded marketplace, but they also mean that Vaktare’s products come at a premium compared to some other brands.

Personally, I’m fine with paying a premium so long as that premium is worth it. I’d rather purchase one more expensive thing vs 2 or 3 less expensive things that need premature replacing.

Vaktare Pilot Racer Motorcycle Jacket - Front

The Pilot Racer arrived approximately two months ago and I’ve taken every opportunity to wear it, both on the bike and in general.

My experience has been very positive: the Pilot Racer is a near-perfect example of how fashion and function can blend together. It’s not perfect, but it’s close… real close.

Available Directly From Vaktare

Vaktare provided us with this Pilot Racer for the purposes of this review. You can order directly from their website.

Vaktare Moto Gear

VaktareMG.com

About Vaktare Moto Gear

Since I was unfamiliar with Vaktare prior to receiving this jacket for review, I wanted to spend some time getting to know them as a brand. Who a brand is and what they’re about is important- these qualities provide a brand with its personality and purpose. I quickly learned that Vaktare is very much a boutique business, with my contact, Estefan, at the helm.

Estefan began designing motorcycle jackets at age 19 after realizing that there wasn’t anything available on the market that satisfied his need to be fashionable with his desire to also be safe.

“I was tired of looking like a stormtrooper in bulky leathers and wanted something that could protect me and look good at the same time. At the time, nothing satisfied me so I decided I would have to create something unique and locally made. That’s how our first wool collection was born.”

In their LA studio, Vaktare designs and develops their products. Apparel is handmade. This process has numerous advantages to it:

  • They support local industry by using American-sourced materials (in particular, high-grade leather)
  • They employ local artisans and professionals
  • They support the local economy
  • They have 100% control over the quality of a garment
  • They can customize individual orders to suit specific measurements or requests

Founded in 2013, Vaktare is a small crew of just six people. These six people design and manufacture their gear in-house.

“Everything we make comes straight from our Los Angeles workshop, nothing is ever outsourced. This is simply so that quality control can be maintained at the highest level. Its easier to use proven manufacturing techniques or even correct mistakes when the producing is happening right before your eyes. Watching a jacket go from raw materials to a finished motorcycle jacket is rewarding for all of us at the shop. Its a great privilege of knowing someone is going to use our garment over a lifetime, and with the right care, it will last generations.”

There’s is a rare story in today’s competitive apparel landscape. It’s refreshing, too: the more integrated into the powersports industry I get, the more I begin to see trends: outsourced products, rebranded and re-sold domestically. Very few companies produce in America.

This isn’t to take away from the value brands that utilize outsourced manufacturing can bring to the equation. A well-made piece of gear is well-made, regardless of where it comes from. But, in my opinion, something made domestically, and with care, is deserving of a little more consideration.

On Being “Made With Care”

After receiving the Pilot Racer I emailed a few questions Estefan’s way, specifically surrounding how the jacket is made and the steps that are followed throughout its production. There are a few things that stand out to me:

  1. Nothing is outsourced – All aspects of construction, from design to cutting to sewing to tailoring, are handled in-house. Estefan is a self-proclaimed stickler for quality and looks, so it’s important to him that they are able to oversee every step of manufacturing. Even the zippers are made by an American company (G2 Zippers).
  2. The typical jacket takes 3 days to be made – Production starts with picking out a full-grain cowhide and hand cutting it. This process is laborious: since each jacket comes from one specific cowhide, only one can be cut at a time). Once the leather is prepared, the materials are then sent to the tailors to put it all together. The jacket is then hand-waxed and laid down to set.
  3. A bespoke jacket just for you? No problem – One thing about Vaktare that I found interesting is that they can make your jacket to your specific measurements. This is a byproduct of the handmade process, as it empowers them with a certain level of flexibility not possible in a mass-produced environment.
  4. Only high-end materials are used – From the leather to the hardware, Vaktare only uses high-end materials. This is why they’ve chosen to use full-grain leather for the Pilot Racer, for example, in place of less-expensive varieties.
  5. Vaktare offers free lifetime servicing of their garments – This includes waxing, re-waxing, or minor repairs. In Estefan’s words, “if it’s repairable… we’ll repair it.” Repairs specified include patches, seam repairs, zippers/snap hardware, and other small problems.

It is because of these five qualities that the Pilot Racer starts at $849 without armor.

Specifications

From Vaktare:

  • 1.1 – 1.3mm American sourced Full-Grain Cowhide.
  • Sleeve darts for natural arm movement.
  • Extra sleeve length for riding position.
  • 100% American-Made. Produced in small batches to ensure the highest quality.
  • Stretch cotton body lining for move-ability.
  • Luxury G2 Zippers made in Los Angeles sourced from UCAN LA Company.
  • Adjustable cuff zippers.
  • American-made snaps.
  • Genuine Shearling wool collar. 3 heavy-duty snaps to keep it in place.
  • Stitched with size 96 industrial nylon 6,6 thread. Double-stitched on integral seams.
  • Designed, Sourced, Made in Los Angeles, California, USA.
  • 4 Zippered pockets.
  • Breast pocket.
  • Pockets for back, shoulder, and elbow armor.

The Pilot Racer is a Damn Good Looking Jacket

Vaktare Pilot Racer Motorcycle Jacket - Back

The Pilot Racer is a homage to the Pilot style that made its debut via WWI fighter pilot jackets. It’s a blend of traditional style and modern cafe racer influences, and it’s holistically beautiful. This isn’t a case of “all show and no go”, either. No compromise was made with respect to build quality anywhere that I can discern.

Style is subjective, and as a colorblind fella, I tend to shy away from speaking too heavily to aesthetics. To be fair, I’ve been rocking the same “jeans and a t-shirt’ style since I was 14, so you should take my sentiments regarding style with an appropriate amount of salt.

But there’s no salt needed here. The Pilot Racer is one handsome jacket and everybody that’s seen it agrees. It’s the only moto jacket I’ve ever worn that attracts unsolicited compliments. I’m not complaining, either: when wrapped in this cognac-colored beauty, I very much feel as good as I look.

Poppin’ Collars & Making Dollars

Vaktare Pilot Racer Collar

The Shearling wool collar sits securely in place thanks to three snaps: two on either side of the lapel, and one centered at the rear. The snaps keep the collar even and properly aligned, even after many hours of wear.

The wool itself is a tad warm for hot weather riding, but beautifully appropriate once the temperatures drop somewhat. Living in the great frozen nation of Canada, the Pilot Racer proved that it’s more than capable of keeping you warm during autumn riding. More on this down below.

Hand Sewn Details & Texturing

Vaktare Pilot Racer - Shoulders

The shoulders are given emphasis thanks to hand-sewn accents in the leather that sits directly above the shoulder armor pocket. The attention to detail here succeeds in making the shoulder area attractive and successfully masks some of the bulk that shoulder armor adds to this area. A similar effect is given to the lower back.

Vaktare Pilot Racer Motorcycle Jacket - Back

Other hand-sewn details throughout the jacket include accent seams and partitions in the leather – such as at the elbows – that draw the eye and break up the leather without relying on gimmicks, flashy logos/graphics, or over the top embroidery. As a result, the jacket feels polished and looks high-end.

Bomber Style

Vaktare Pilot Racer - Shoulders

As you can see from the photos, the Pilot Racer is a bomber-style jacket that will fit right the waistline of most people. You may be able to get yours made a bit longer if you request it. Personally, I like the long-leg/short-torso look a bomber jacket gives me. However, I also have some questions with respect to safety. Namely, will the jacket’s short cut expose my lower torso if I decide to do some sliding on the pavement? This concern is emphasized by the lack of adjustability in the torso. More on that below.

Fit

Vaktare Pilot Racer Motorcycle Jacket Review

For reference, I am 6’2″, 195lbs, and have a V-shaped upper body: broad shoulders and a largeish chest at 45″. I’m wearing a size XL, which I find to be fitted but not snug. I’d describe the fit as “athletic”. 

The sleeves are a bit longer than your typical jacket which I’ve found allows them to extend that crucial extra inch you need when you’re in the riding position. However, the sleeves are also wider than you’d expect and this has the unfortunate side effect of letting in a bit of a draft. I’m also worried that they would ride up should I have an unfortunate meeting with the pavement.

Vaktare Pilot Racer Motorcycle Jacket - Interior Breast Pocket

Range of motion in the arms is mostly good, though you can feel the tightness of the fit when trying to raise your arms to shoulder level. The jacket comes along, but you’ll feel snug in your upper back and shoulders. Happily, you can give a pretty decent hug while wearing the Pilo Racer.

Comfortable, But Not Particularly Adjustable

The Pilot Racer is a comfortable jacket to wear and, for the most part, fits me as good or better than any other jacket I’ve owned. This is awesome because if it didn’t, my options in terms of customizing the fit are limited. Save from having Vaktare bake my measurements into the jacket when manufacturing it, there’s little else you can do if you want to expand or compress fit in some areas.

Vaktare Pilot Racer Motorcycle Jacket - Adjustable Sleeves

Wrist-zippers along the forearms allow you to open up the sleeves, but you are unable to tighten them once the zippers are closed. If you’re wearing gauntlet-style gloves this won’t be much of an issue for you, but everyone else will notice the large wrist opening. Then, as I mentioned before, there’s the issue regarding the potential for the sleeves to ride up should you find yourself sliding around on the tarmac.

You have no ability to customize the tightness of the waist, either. It comes as it’s cut, so if you get yours as an exact match, make sure you keep the same measurements.

The lack of adjustability shouldn’t be much of a problem for you if you conform to their size chart (or have your jacket customized to suit). Wearing the XL, at no point did I feel that I needed to bring in the waist at all – I find the fit quite good in this area – but the same is not true of the sleeves. I’d love to be able to compress the cuff to restrict airflow.

Safety

At $849, a lot of people are going to be surprised to hear that the Pilot Racer does not come with any integrated armor. However, you do have the ability to place your own armor into the shoulder, elbows, and lower back. Vaktare also sells armor on its website for a reasonable fee, though most armor will work.

Vaktare uses 1.1 – 1.3mm full-grain leather for the PIlot Racer. Most “heavyweight” leather riding gear is 1.1 – 1.4mm, so the Vaktare fits right in line with that. It certainly feels it: the jacket carries a heft that similarly sized textiles and lightweight leather doesn’t come close to.

Vaktare Pilot Racer Zipper

When it comes to leather goods and safety, the quality of the stitching and supporting hardware is equally as important as the leather itself. Jim thinks I’m a bit of a stich-snob (after my recent review of the Velomacchi Speedway gloves), but I disagree- I just think that something ought to be made well, and seemingly small things can make a big difference. After all, having leather panels rip away while you slide along doesn’t do you any good.

In this area, Vaktare doesn’t disappoint, with excellent and uniform stitching throughout. Major areas are double-stitched. The hardware used for zippers/snaps is also good and well-integrated into the jacket.

However, there are two areas that I think Vaktare could improve on here:

  1. Reduce the diameter of the sleeves, or allow the wearer to compress the opening via a strap/zipper/buckle/etc. I recognize that this may detract somewhat from the overall look, but I’d rather a jacket look 3% less cool than have the cuff ride up right when I’m face down staring at the pavement. Road rash sucks.
  2. Include a belt loop to bind the jacket to your pants. There’s nothing to secure the jacket to your pants, meaning that the bomber-style of the cut may come back to bit you in the butt in the event of a crash. Admittedly, this isn’t super likely… but sewing in a belt loop or two is such a trivial thing that why even have the risk at all?

Comfort, Storage, & Quality of Life

Vaktare Pilot Racer Motorcycle Jacket - Pockets

High-level: I love this jacket. I like how it feels when wearing it, I love how it looks when riding with it, and I think that Vaktare’s done a great job making it a very livable jacket.

Note: this is not a waterproof jacket, but it is water resistant. Make sure yours is waxed if you think you’re going to get wet while wearing it.

Overall Comfort

There is no area on the Pilot Racer that is uncomfortable, even when in a sport/touring riding position. It feels great, thanks largely to the natural qualities full-grain leather possesses. It’s soft, compliant, and warm. The cotton liner is soft and pleasing to the touch; it doesn’t catch or get snagged on your shirt.

The Shearling wool collar feels luxurious against my neck and, happily, didn’t irritate my freshly-shaved skin. I also felt it does a pretty good job insulating your neck from wind- given that I was riding in weather where the temperature dipped slightly below 48F, keeping my neck cool is a major plus. If collars aren’t your thing, though, you can get the Pilot Racer without one. In its place, there is a simple leather strap and two snaps.

But come on, the collar is awesome 😉

Depending on where you live, the Pilot Racer would be a warmish jacket to wear during the hot summer months, but I’d have no issues riding with it in the spring/summer/fall. Then again, I’m a Canadian and everyone knows we were born into – and molded by – the snow.

One thing to note: I found that wind would buffet up the sleeve to about my elbow if I was wearing thin gloves. The wide cuff can let in a lot of air (and water, I suspect, but I didn’t test this).

Storage

Vaktare Pilot Racer Motorcycle Jacket - Pockets

The Pilot Racer is four zippable pockets on its exterior – two waist-pockets and two breast pockets – and a single unsealed interior pocket at the left breast. All the pockets are huge, easily fitting a smartphone, set of keys, and wallet… with room to spare.

Vaktare Pilot Racer Motorcycle Jacket - Pockets

That said, I wish the interior pocket could be sealed somehow. As big and as cavernous as it is, I’d still prefer a way to seal it up.

Call it a quirk of mine, but ever since I got a little throttle-happy over an oversized speedbump and had my phone slide right out of the interior pocket, I’ve been paranoid about it ever since.

Build Quality & Long-Term Durability

Admittedly, I am not a tailor (shocking, I know) and so my assessment of the build quality comes from anecdotal experience vs. professional experience. The long and short of it is that the Pilot Racer appears to be impeccably made.

Throughout the jacket, stitching is even and nearly flawless. Panels are symmetrical and there are no irregularities that I can see. After two months of regular wear, both on and off the bike, the jacket looks almost brand new…

… with the exception of the full-grain leather itself, which attracts markings and imperfections. This is part of what gives leather its charm: the story it tells after years of wear and use. But if you’re someone who likes things to perpetually look “new”, a full-grain leather jacket shouldn’t find its way into your closet. Look for something synthetic or textile, both of which are more resistant to wear marks.

Case and point: while riding down the highway, a passing car spat out a rock that hit me square in the chest. I remember this clearly, both because it felt like getting hit by a hammer at the time and because there’s a mark on the Pilot’s chest to commemorate the experience.

Leather wear aside, after scouring the Pilot Racer looking for any sign of flaws, I found one – and only one – along the inside left breast: marks where the leather had been scratched or torn? I’m unsure as it’s difficult to tell because it is hidden away on the inside of a seam. Considering that the leather comes from a single cowhide, a single flaw is certainly acceptable.

All Said, The Pilot Racer is an Excellent Riding Jacket

Vaktare Pilot Racer Stock Image

Fellow writer Jim Pruner remarked that the Pilot Racer is a bit too pretty for him. He loves his waterproof and well-insulated textile riding gear. I get it. If safety is 100% your focus, this Vaktare will prove capable but ultimately insufficient.

I’m not saying or (even implying) the Pilot Racer is unsafe – quality leather, room for CE-level 2 armor, and great construction provide plenty of protection – but safety isn’t why you buy the Pilot Racer. You buy the Pilot Racer so you can roll up to a restaurant, hop off your Triumph, and meet your friends on the patio. It’s the perfect “get together” riding jacket because whoever you’re meeting won’t know that it’s a riding jacket.

If you aren’t concerned about being able to ride in the rain or pair up to a full leather riding suit, I think you’ll find plenty of reasons to really appreciate the Pilot Racer. I definitely have.

I think it’s worth supporting products from companies that stand behind their product. Vaktare offers no-charge lifetime servicing and small repairs when you buy a jacket from them. At $849 ($949 kitted out with armor), the Pilot Racer is a pretty serious investment. Considering that the jacket itself is going to last for many years with just basic care, it is good to know that the company that made it will take care of it should something happen to it.

If you’re wanting a high-end leather jacket that is safe, comfortable, and stylish, you may have found your match with the Pilot Racer.

Pros

  • Awesome looking
  • Very well made
  • Comfortable
  • Huge pockets
  • Excellent fit

Cons

  • Wide sleeves may be problematic
  • Now way to connect jacket to pants/belt
  • Interior pocket doesn’t seal closed
  • Have to buy armor separately

Specs

  • Manufacturer: Vaktare
  • Price (When Tested): $849
  • Available Sizes: S- XXXL
  • Made In: America
  • Review Date: November 2018

Available Directly From Vaktare

Vaktare provided us with this Pilot Racer for the purposes of this review. You can order directly from their website.

Vaktare Moto Gear

VaktareMG.com

Gallery

The post Worn & Tested: Vaktare M.G. Pilot Racer Jacket appeared first on Web Bike World.

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Dashcam Gear Reviews Motorcycle Accessory & Parts Other Motorcycle Blogs review Web Bike World

Halocam M1 Motorcycle Dashcam Installation & Review

Dashcams are becoming more and more popular in cars and trucks in recent years and not without good reason. With costs of vehicle repairs and associated injuries always on the rise, having a video of an incident might provide crucial evidence in determining fault in the event of a crash.

Finding dashcams for a car or truck is rather easy with a lot of choices available at various price points. Motorcycle camera systems, however, are much fewer in number. This is likely due to two factors:

  1. Motorcycles require more durable systems that can cope with the elements as at least some parts, the cameras, for instance, will be exposed to the great outdoors.
  2. Motorcycles are greatly outnumbered by cars and trucks (in the United States anyway) making the potential market for motorcycle specific devices much smaller.

Halocam M1 Motorcycle Dashcam full contents for installation

These factors have lead to very few systems available that will work for the motorcyclist. There are several inexpensive systems on eBay and Amazon that hover around the $100.00 (USD) mark and then there are systems such as the Innovv K1 that run over $250.00 which we reviewed back in 2015. (The new Innovv K3 system currently available runs over $330.00!)

While I haven’t handled the very inexpensive systems the price makes me wonder about their quality to the point where I wouldn’t be willing to risk time and money on them. Recently, a thread on the popular adventure riding website Adventure Rider popped up with someone mentioning a new system he just purchased called the Halocam M1. This system cost under $200.00 and his opinion was that the system performed well considering the price.

Of course, I had to find out for myself what this system was all about. Let’s all have a look.

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The HaloCam M1

After learning about the HaloCam M1 I reached out to our editor at wBW and asked if he would be interested in a review. He was very interested and gave me the green light to order the system. I mention this because less than two weeks after I placed my order he contacted me letting me know that the HaloCam rep reached out to him to see if we wanted to review the system.

Halocam M1 Motorcycle Dashcam lenses

Obviously, we told them that we already had begun the process but thanks for the offer. Frankly, in a case where we have a lesser-known vendor, I prefer the maker not to be aware the unit is being purchased for review so that I can be assured I’m getting the same experience as any other consumer.

Presentation is Everything

Once I received my box from Amazon containing the HaloCam system and opened it, I was impressed. Not by the camera system but just by the box itself. Instead of the plain white box I expected, the system came in a nice looking brown box with some nice printing and design on it.

Opening the box presented me with a white foam interior cut to fit the major parts of the system. Everything had its place and was well packed in a thoughtful design. Their marketing team certainly wanted to make a nice impression and it worked. Looks aren’t everything and despite the adage “presentation is everything” – results are much more important than a pretty box. Before we get to the results though, let’s see what’s in that box.

Halocam M1 Motorcycle Dashcam packaging

What’s in the Box

The contents of the packaging provide pretty much everything required to completely install the system (few more zip ties would have been nice). However, zip ties notwithstanding, the system is comprehensive. Here’s the rundown:

  • The DVR Module
  • (2) Cameras
  • A remote switch
  • A GPS antennae
  • Camera mounting brackets (with screws)
  • The power supply module
  • (3) Extension cables
  • A USB power supply adapter
  • A magnetic mount for the DVR module
  • 3M dual lock fastener pad
  • A rubber cover for the DVR module
  • A printed quick start guide

The DVR module is a compact unit measuring 3.5x 2 x.3 inches (89x 51 x 8mm) and, despite the advertising photos, has a blue casing instead of black. The unit is also very lightweight though it’s hard to quantify since the connection cable “pigtails” is permanently attached. Suffice to say it’s not the most sturdy feeling device.

On the DVR unit is a 2.75 inch (70mm) screen for viewing live and recorded video as well as menus for device setup. The top edge has a single button to power on the DVR module. On the long lower edge are four buttons for navigating the menus as well as a MicroSD card slot.

Halocam M1 Motorcycle Dashcam side view of control buttons

The slot is actually labeled TF which refers to the TF Card standard but the term is now considered interchangeable so Micro SD cards will work fine. As always I would recommend a card from a major manufacturer with a good reputation for best results and durability.

On the subject of durability, it’s evident via a cursory examination that the device is not waterproof or even resistant. A “waterproof” rubber sleeve is included with the device but since one side is almost entirely open it is best to assume it will help reduce shock and vibration and a little bit of water resistance. As such it is best to find a reasonably well-protected location for installation of the DVR module.

Halocam M1 Motorcycle Dashcam wire connectors

Cameras, power, and control switch connections use keyed connectors so they can only be installed the “correct” way. The camera and switch connections are (fortunately) all cross compatible so if one should accidentally run the “front” connection cable to the “rear” camera, it will still work just fine. I’ll demonstrate this in the installation section in a minute.

The camera units are a little larger and heavier than I expected but they have large coated glass elements which are a good sign for creating contrasty video footage. Also, the weight suggests a pretty solid metal housing which is warranted considering the durability required for long life being attached to a motorcycle.

The advertising for the HaloCam M1 claims that these are Sony lenses and Sony sensors. I can give the benefit of the doubt on the sensor side of things as I can’t take them apart but the lenses, I have doubts. The omission of “Sony Lens” and focal length printed on the front is very unusual for a product from Sony and most any major camera/lens manufacturer.

Now let’s see how all the pieces come together and install on my Ninja 1000.

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Installation

Installation is not complicated but it can take some time. In my case, I wanted to avoid cutting or drilling any plastics on my bike. At the same time, I wanted to have a relatively “clean” installation so I spent almost as much time planning as I did the actual installation.

Before We Begin

Something important I want to point out is that the Green connector on the DVR is for the front camera and the Black one is for the rear. I want to save others the trouble of trying to figure this out as it is NOT called out in the meager instructions. I found this after some trial and error. I didn’t know at the time but there is an image (shown below) on the Amazon product page that calls all the parts out.

Halocam M1 Motorcycle Dashcam full component diagram

Where to Start

Since every bike is different I’m not going to go into too much installation detail here (thank goodness, right?) and instead we’ll just take a high-level view. The main things to consider are locations for cameras, the DVR, GPS module, and lock button. Also, power needs to be considered.

Powering Up

I’ll start with the last point first. The power supply module should be connected to a switched power source such as running lights or other “ignition on” source. I already have an Eastern Beaver fuse panel installed under the seat of my bike so I have switched power already available.

I mention all this because the advert on Amazon states “Constant Power Supply & Connect then forget”. This isn’t very clear but it could be taken to mean just connect to a constant power supply like the battery. Do not do this as the system will remain on all the time until it runs the battery down.

Halocam M1 Motorcycle Dashcam installation process

The HaloCam M1 comes with a USB power connector which allows one to power up the system away from the bike. This was very handy for doing the initial set up inside at the table using just a USB power bank.

There was an initial concern on my part about how the system would be able to gracefully stop recording once the ignition is turned off. This seemed to me like it could cause corrupt files but it turns out there is an internal rechargeable battery that can provide the unit with power to run for several minutes (or more?) after the power has been turned off so files are saved properly once the bike is turned off and the unit shuts down a few seconds later.

Spot for the DVR

After getting the power sorted, the next step should be to find a suitable location for the DVR unit. Since it is not waterproof I would recommend a location that is well protected such as under a seat or other storage compartment. In my case, I placed the unit under my passenger seat.

Placing the Cameras

Next, place the cameras. I wanted to put the cameras in unobtrusive locations that also offered a decent view. The rear was easy enough on my bike as I just attached it under the top case rack. This offered a good view of the rear which, while it does cut off some of the tops of the view, provides more than enough view to do the job as a “dashcam”.

Halocam M1 Motorcycle Dashcam installed Halocam M1 Motorcycle Dashcam installed

The front was a little more difficult as I couldn’t find a place I felt good about. Right under the fairing nose posed the possibility of the camera contacting the front fender over a big bump and there weren’t other places I liked. Eventually, I attached it to the side of the front fender. This location does have a portion of the fender blocking some of the right side views but still offers enough view to do the job of “dashcam”.

I didn’t want to drill holes in the plastics to attach the brackets for the cameras with the included screws so I used Scotch Extreme Mounting tape to attach the brackets to the bike. This tape has worked very well for me on other projects and has held the cameras in place for weeks now in the summer heat with no issues. *Your “mileage” may vary so if that stuff doesn’t work for you please don’t come after me :).

Motorcycle subframe

GPS Antenna

With the cameras and DVR in place, the last piece of the puzzle was to find a good spot for the GPS antenna. Since I had removed some of the rear plastics around the subframe during the wire routing planning, I found a good spot on the left side of the subframe which will be covered by the plastics once they are re-installed.

The thin plastic shouldn’t cause an issue with the GPS reception and since the unit was able to locate satellites from inside our house during initial testing I felt pretty good about this.

Potential “Gotchas”

While I was planning my wire routing I found there were several routing options that were not compatible due to the relatively large size of the waterproof connectors for the extension cables.

Some areas that might have been large enough to allow the cable to pass through discreetly were much too small to get these larger connectors to pass through. In some cases, removal of more parts from the bike could have made this work but the return on time investment didn’t seem worth it to me.

The other thing to be aware of is that the small metal brackets for the cameras are not that robust and in the kit I received, the loop portion of the bracket that encircles the cameras were too large to securely keep the cameras properly positioned.

Halocam M1 Motorcycle Dashcam brackets

That isn’t to say the cameras would fall out but they were too loose to maintain their correct rotational position allowing them to twist in the mount. This was a pretty easy fix using a very small strip of tape on the interior of the metal band. Once in place, the bracket could be tightened down enough to hold the camera firmly in position.

One last thing to keep in mind is that the extension cables are quite long and a bit thick. Since they contain several conductors (wires) they are not easily cut and spliced. As such I ended up with a lot of excess wire to bundle up and “store” under the seat. I had sufficient space to tuck this wire bundle on my Ninja 1000 but not every bike will have space like this so be sure to include room for this in your installation if you want to have a “neat” final installation.

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In Use

Once installed and underway, the system is automatic. Recording starts a few seconds after the ignition is turned on and shuts down a few seconds after being turned off. It really couldn’t be easier.

Setting up the options is fairly straightforward. Resolution can be set for 720p or 1080p and if using the 1080p setting, a high-speed card is recommended as two 7mbps video streams are being captured at the same time.

Halocam M1 Motorcycle Dashcam control screen

Settings can be adjusted through the phone app (Android or iPhone) over Wi-Fi. The DVR unit acts as the access point so one will need to connect their device to the Wi-Fi specs called out in the manual. The Wi-Fi settings can be adjusted if desired.

Control Button

The included control button allows one to capture a 15 second “Wonderful Video” and a photo by pressing the button briefly. Holding it down for a long press (more than one second?) will lock the video preventing it from being overwritten. Depending on the size of the SD card, this might be unnecessary but it can be done nonetheless.

Halocam M1 Motorcycle Dashcam control button

Just to be clear, “Wonderful Videos” are simply video clips that start from 5 seconds before you press the button and then run for a total of fifteen seconds from that point. This doesn’t appear to interfere with regular recording but rather it just “clips” this segment and saves a copy to the Wonderful Video folder on the card. These videos come from only the front camera and are really for the convenience of finding that brief moment of desired footage later.

Accessing Your Video Clips

One of the settings is the clip length with the shortest being one minute and the longest, five. I chose the five-minute clip length simply as it makes fewer files. Keep in mind this is just the length of each clip that is recorded. They are continually recorded and “stack” upon the card until it is full, then the oldest files are overwritten as a new video is captured.

Halocam M1 Motorcycle Dashcam recordings Halocam M1 Motorcycle Dashcam recordings Halocam M1 Motorcycle Dashcam recordings

The menu system on the DVR module is pretty easy to sort out and it can be used to view the live video as well as recorded clips and still photos. The phone app includes the same access to settings and offers a more robust interface for viewing photos and videos.

There is also the option of signing into the HaloCam sharing service where one can upload their videos. The sharing function has an easy to use editor allowing one to trim the video, remove the audio, and even choose some music from some included options. The videos are shared with their server and can also be sent to Facebook, Twitter, Wechat, and Moments. Strangely there is no YouTube option.

Where Was I?

The HaloCam M1 comes with a GPS antenna but how exactly to access the GPS data was a bit of a mystery. As I stated earlier in the review, the included instructions are rather brief. Fortunately, the support from the vendor was very quick to respond.

While they were quick to respond, the actual instructions were a bit vague and consisted of a series of screenshots from the phone app. After following along I understood that one has to connect their phone to the DVR unit via the DVR Wi-Fi. Then, the data gets synchronized to the phone.

Halocam M1 Motorcycle Dashcam GPS feature Halocam M1 Motorcycle Dashcam mileage tracker

After the synchronization, one has to switch back the phone back to their cellular or Wi-Fi internet connection and then upload the data to the HaloCam server. After this step one can view the GPS data.

Historical GPS data can be viewed by date on the phone app but be sure you are not connected to the DVR unit or it will not show. It’s a bit counterintuitive but I was able to view the routes I took on the days when the system was running. Furthermore, there is a small “speed” icon that allows one to see various mph data along the route. The only thing I would like to see is a way to download the GPS data to a computer.

Video Quality

Video quality from the system is a mixed bag that leans more toward utility than “pretty”. For the mission of this camera system, I think that is just fine. The footage from both front and rear cameras is certainly sharp and contrasty making it easy to decipher details like license plate characters and street signs.

[Insert Video Sample Here]

Colors are a bit flat and the wide angle optics induce the expected distortion typical of the breed. The effects of rolling shutter can be seen as well indicating the slow readout speed of the CMOS sensors used in these cameras.

All that may sound harsh, and it would be if I was expecting GoPro levels of image quality. Instead, I am happy to give up some aspects of the quality of the footage in order to get those important details that could be necessary for the event of a crash. Law enforcement (if it comes to it) isn’t going to be concerned about the precision color of the footage.

About Law Enforcement

It’s important to note that the legal use of dashcam’s and similar devices for judging fault in the event of a crash will likely vary from state to state (or country to country). I highly recommend one research the proper use regulation of these devices for their local area before relying on them as legal evidence.

Conclusion

In the end, the Halocam performs adequately. The video footage is good enough to provide clear enough details for recording events happening in front and behind the motorcycle. While the video isn’t going to win any awards for color and exposure, it looks pretty good.

Like the video footage, the interface on the DVR as well as that in the phone application does the job but isn’t particularly intuitive. The email support is quick enough but trial and error may likely be part of the recipe for learning the ropes of using the Halocam M1.

Motorcycle subframe

As far as the build quality and durability of the DVR unit, it has held up well so far but the unit is so lightweight it doesn’t instill confidence that it will take a lot of punishment. Obviously, the device should be placed in a “safe place” on the bike but motorcycles make a lot of vibration and are subject to varying weather conditions. Time will tell how long it will hold up.

Pros

  • Small and lightweight DVR module
  • Video quality good for the intended purpose
  • Well packaged
  • Price is reasonable for the quality of video footage

Cons

  • Camera cables are a little bulky
  • DVR module feels “cheap” and doesn’t inspire confidence in long-term durability
  • Instructions are very basic, some experimentation required to sort out settings
  • Included brackets needed a little “adjustment”

Specs

  • Manufacturer: AiDrive
  • Price (When Tested): $179.89 (USD)
  • Made In: China
  • Review Date: November 2018

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Excellent selection
Competitive pricing

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Halocam M1 Image Gallery

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