Every motorcycle helmet seems to have a retro model after the recent Arai Rapide Neo and now the Shoei Glamster road helmet.
Shoei already has the Ex-Zero which is more of a retro adventure helmet.
While the Glamster is a handsome looking helmet and has all the usual Shoei hi-tech, quality finish and protection, the name is perhaps one of the lamest we’ve ever heard.
It’s as cringe-worthy as the hipster video to announce the helmet’s release.
It shows riders on neo-retro BMW and Ducati scramblers heading to the beach for some racing with their hipster friends before heading home.
Glamster
Shoei Australia spokesman Jade says the Glamster is going into production now and due to arrive around April.
“We will have them on our website closer to the date of arrival and images will be uploaded for viewing and purchasing on our website,” Jade says.
There are no Aussie prices yet, but they cost £399.99 in the UK (about $A760) for a choice of eight plain colours while the graphic Resurrection is £499.99 (about $A950).
Glamster will come in three shell sizes for five head sizes from XS-XXL.
Inspired by ’70 and ‘80s race helmets, it uses modern material and production techniques.
It has an AIM built outer shell with organic fibre and multi-composite fibre in various layers for shock-absorption and rigidity.
The interior liner is removable and washable. It is made from multi-density EPS with different densities to protect different parts of the rider’s head.
The visor is Pinlock ready with three-position adjustment and a wide aperture.
Ventilation is provided by air inlets in the chin and forehead and exhaust outlets at the rear.
By the way, some people pronounce Shoei as “shoe-ee”, others say “showy”, while the Japanese say “show eye”.
Motorcycle clothing armour can be stiff, hot and make your gear tight, but new, thin Ghost limb protection armour from D30 is expected to cage all that.
The CE-approved armour was unveiled by motorcycle clothing companies Furygan and Richa at the recent EICMA motorcycle show in Milan.
D30 brand manager Blanche Maass says their protectors will be “integrated by D3O brand partners starting (northern hemisphere) Spring ’20 as part of their collections”.
Problems with traditional armour
Traditional armour is often stiff and creates sweaty patches on your body.
Some riders I know hate it so much they even pull it out of their gear.
In fact, many manufacturers don’t supply armour, just the pockets where it can be placed.
However, this D30 armour could change all that.
GM Mostyn Thomas says their Ghost range is the “most lightweight and flexible armour” they make.
“When you’re riding we know that comfort and flexibility is of the utmost importance,” he says.
“You want to ride with freedom and confidence – knowing that you’re protected without being inhibited by armour.
“The D3O Ghost range allows for just that – world-class impact protection, coupled with superior comfort.”
How it is made
It is produced using Impact Print technology, a new process for imprinting D3O material directly on to fabrics and substrates.
D3O Ghost limb protectors are printed on to a lightweight black lycra fabric so it is ultra-flexible.
They say their knee/elbow and shoulder/hip protectors are designed for use as “fit and forget armour”.
So, instead of pockets to put the armour in, it is already part of the article of clothing.
A safety feature of this would be that it doesn’t shift out of position in a slide.
D30 also claim it is breathable so it is comfortable even on a hot day.
There are no technical details on weight or thickness, but it looks pretty light and thin.
D30 is a design and technology company with offices in the UK, US and China.
They have partnered with brands such as 3M, ZAGG, Schutt Sports, Under Armour, Furygan and Richa.
Motorbikes usually last for approximately 12 to 15 years, provided you take care of them throughout their lifetime. It shouldn’t meet with an accident or take a nasty fall. High-end bikes can last longer if you spend enough time and money on their maintenance and upkeep. And one of the ways to keep the performance of the bike going is by replacing a few parts now and then.
Checking motorbike parts
If you want to increase the lifespan of your motorbike, you should check some of the crucial parts frequently. Some of these parts may have to be replaced. Don’t hesitate to replace them as soon as possible. This will ensure that the bike maintains its performance until it is finally time to replace it entirely. So, what are the parts that you need to replace frequently? Let’s find out.
1) Brake pads
Squeezing the brake lever triggers several events in the brake system. The brake pads pass the rotors to forcefully stop the bike. This causes the brake pad to deteriorate over time. Regular wear and tear corrode the brake pads quickly. So, you should always change the brake pads frequently.
There is another advantage of maintaining your bike. You will get a better resale value if you want to buy a new motorcycle. If your bike is in good shape with new brake pads, get a quick online quotation of its resale value. Price My Car, for one, is a reliable site that will provide instant quotes for your bike.
2) Battery
Motorbikes run on battery and gas. Most motorbikes come with maintenance-free batteries. However, they also have a lifespan. You cannot expect the battery to last for a lifetime. These batteries have a shelf life of approximately two years. You need to replace them once they cross that line. You wouldn’t want to be stranded on the highway because the battery died on you suddenly.
3) Fork oil
The fork is a crucial part of the bike connecting the axle and front wheel to the mainframe. It consists of two tubes between which the fork is sealed completely. The fork oil doesn’t allow the bike to get affected by uneven or bumpy roads. In fact, it is responsible for lubricating different parts of the bike when you are riding it. The first symptom of replacing the fork oil is when you see oil leaking from the tubes of the mainframe. Car dealers advise riders to replace the fork oil during the annual maintenance of their bike.
4) Bike chain, belts, and driveshafts
These are the most durable parts of a motorbike. They usually have a lifespan of 15,000 to 30,000 miles. But you should always check every now and then if the bike chain is slack or not. It should be well-oiled and clean. The mechanic should replace it if it becomes slack.
If you consider your bike as your baby, you shouldn’t think twice before replacing these parts. They will improve the bike’s performance significantly once you install the new items.
Furygan is the latest company to add an airbag vest that goes inside your jacket and can be easily reset at home after being triggered.
Most airbag suits and jackets include the airbag and some airbag vests go over the top, while others go inside.
We weren’t sure how an airbag exploding under your jacket in a crash would work if the jacket is tight!
However, the French motorcycle clothing brand says the vest will work just fine if you zip out the thermal layer.
It is compatible with most jackets as well as the 2019 and 2020 Furygan jackets with the airbag connect logo.
Their jackets feature an additional inner zip allowing users to zip the Fury Airbag into position in less than 15 seconds.
Furygan says the advantage is that the vest is comfortable, fits all sizes and is invisible from the outside.
It also uses 3D breathable mesh technology to create a “thermal bridge” between the outside temperature and the body.
The breathable material also stretches to provide extra comfort.
How it works
The vest includes an In&Motion “brain” that measures the position of the user 1000 times per second and works with an algorithm that improves as it receives more data.
If the algorithm believes you are in an accident, it deploys and the bag is inflated immediately in just 60 milliseconds.
Designed to protect the neck, back, chest and abdomen areas, the Fury Airbag protects areas often left vulnerable in the event of a crash or impact.
The airbag stays inflated to prevent any resulting injury and to protect the user from any further injuries after the accident.
The system – which takes three hours to fully charge – offers up to 25 hours of active riding and 15 days on auto-standby mode.
Once connected with Wifi or mobile data it will automatically look for software updates.
Furygan spokesman David Robert says it has different modes for road and track.
“Putting it into perspective, braking on a MotoGP bike from the long straight at Mugello causes the same force and level of deceleration as a scooter hitting a car at 50km/h, so it’s important to tell the computer what it should expect as ‘normal’,” he says.
The inflation module is housed above the vest’s CE-approved back protector for extra protection and to ensure the inflator doesn’t cause injury.
Instead, the Sygic add-on displays a green or red light countdown timer at each traffic light.
They claim it will encourage motorists to slow down, increasing safety at intersections, reducing CO2 emissions and improve traffic flow.
Sygic CEO Martin Strigac says their artificial intelligence add-on “will have a major impact on safety and the time of arrival”.
“The kit will be continuously upgraded with additional assistance features, including detection of speed-limit signs, lanes, and obstacles on the road, and collision detection,” he says.
“We are also exploring the idea of integrating it with rail-crossing warning systems.”
Comments
Two out of every three motorcycle accidents (66.7%) occur at intersections and motorists running red lights is one of the major causes of those crashes.
Anything that can reduce that would be welcome.
However, we are unsure if a countdown feature for a green light to turn red might actually encourage motorists to speed up to catch the light.
Also, a countdown to a red light turning green might encourage motorists to jump the lights.
We are also concerned that drivers who already don’t look for motorcyclists might be more intent on watching their satnav traffic light countdown feature than scanning the road for riders.
Technology is great when it is proven to increase safety, but the jury is still out on this, as far as we are concerned.
Meanwhile, the CES 2020 Innovation jury of 82 technology experts says the Sygic GPS Navigation’s Traffic Lights add-on “showcased innovative features that scored highly across the evaluation criteria and joins a special group of other products given this honour.”
However, Dutch company Porteos takes all the worry, muscle and skill out of the process.
They are updating their self-loading motorcycle ramp with a lighter telescopic ramp that can be easily fitted to most utilities and vans.
It features a telescopic ramp that slides out and down and will lift any size motorcycle up to 400kg using a motorised pulley system.
Easy loading
Porteos have been making the self-loading ramps in Europe out of steel but have now started an Indiegogo crowd-funding campaign to make their new lightweight ramp.
It is made of aerospace-grade aluminium which is lighter, but also more robust.
The Porteos ramp includes rollers so the 60kg device can be moved around easier and can be moved from vehicle to vehicle more easily.
The new Porteos motorcycle ramp has a “power tilt” feature that allows it to fit the bike quickly in tighter places.
It is not cheap starting at $2652 but crowd-funding supporters can get it for $2074. (We recommend caution on supporting any crowd-funding camapaign as prodjuct delivery and refunds are not guaranteed.)
Porteos says they will ship their new ramp worldwide and they estimate it will cost about $500 to get one to Australia.
It consists of a slim unit stuck with adhesive tape that lights up whenever the rider slows, whether using the brake or just engine braking, as is often the case.
“Asking a police officer at the local cop shop hasn’t shed any light. He was just guessing at the answer and gave the safe answer of ‘no’ but to ask VicRoads,” he says.
“I’m trying to find out if it is a clear cut black and white NO to sticking anything to your helmet, or if it’s still open to interpretation depending on the policeman or under review for clarification.
“If it’s still a grey area, then I am prepared to risk a fine and increase my safety by testing the unit.”
Illegal in some states
Our understanding is that Victorian and South Australian police still believe it is illegal to attach anything to a helmet by any means, while NSW Police have held off issuing fines until Australian helmet rules are homogenised across all states.
That could take some time.
Meanwhile, Raphael and other supporters of this safety device to avoid being rear-ended are in a legal abyss.
The device is similar to the Smart Brake Light that we sell on our website because we believe it is a key safety feature.
However, that does not affect the compliance of helmets.
‘Expert advice’
We asked police and relevant departments in all states for their advice on whether Raphael would be fined for wearing the helmet.
A few replied and none was particularly certain.
Queensland Police HQ flat out refused to give legal advice. That’s strange since their officers give legal advice when they issue a fine!
How can a police officer on patrol confidently issue a ticket? How can they possibly have more knowledge on all the relevant road rules and laws than police HQ and relevant transport departments?
Interestingly, Queensland Police have no concerns about action cameras and a previous state Police Minister actually suggested riders wear them for evidential reasons!
VicRoads just quoted us the usual Australian Standards stuff.
When we pointed out that the standard only applies at the point of purchase, they agreed.
They also admitted there is “no road rule specific to brake lights fitted to helmets” and said it would be open to police interpretation of the rules.
On both issues, most police say that so long as the attachment doesn’t interfere with the function or safety of the helmet it can be attached.
But how do we know it won’t affect the safety of the helmet?
Safety experts say helmets are designed so that in a crash and slide, nothing will catch on the ground and rotate your head, leading to neck injuries. But there is no empirical evidence to prove it does adversely affect safety.
Victorian Police were the sole objectors to Santa and other novelty helmet covers.
On the issue of the brake light, they said helmets must comply to the Australian Standards.
“As far as I am aware (the standards) do not allow for the attachments to motorcycle helmets to be made,” the spokeswoman said.
South Australia police said it was an ADR issue, but the brake light is not attached to the bike, so how could that affect helmet compliance?
Western Australia police flick-passed it to the light manufacturer to work with each helmet manufacturer to ensure that the helmet remains legal according to Australian Standards when the light is attached.
That’s virtually impossible. Do they know how many helmet manufacturers there are in the world!
WA police say you cannot alter the structure of an approved helmet by drilling holes, placing stickers or painting a helmet.
“So sticky adhesive pads for accessories are dependent on the quality of the helmet,” they say.
Conclusion
Our answer is “user beware”!
If you’re like Raphael, you may think your safety is more important than risking the off-chance of a fine.
ChainBath could make the messy job of cleaning your motorcycle chain easy, either with or without a paddock stand.
Canadian inventor Daniel Chiriac, 45, has a patent pending on his ChainBath device which he now plans to licence and produce.
The brilliance of this simple device that sets it apart from others is that it can be used with or without a paddock stand, you won’t get your hands dirty and it is light and portable so you can take it with you on a long trip.
“I found chain maintenance on my Kawasaki Versys was killing the fun of riding and I hated it,” Daniel tells us.
“That’s why I designed the ChainBath to make chain cleaning easy, fast, mess-free and environmentally friendly.”
“I hate chain maintenance: the dirt, cleaning solution, the cardboard, the mess, the uncomfortable position, the fact that I was never able to give it a good clean,” Daniel says.
“First I replaced cardboard with a plastic sheet but it was still dripping on the ground, so I used a plastic tray to collect the solution and all the dirt from the chain.
“However, it was not possible to use it on the road and I do a few long trips every year with my wife and my son.”
He says he hated the cumbersome routine of spraying a bit of WD-40, moving the bike, spraying again, moving the bike, etc, all while dripping the dirty solution on the ground.
“I wanted a clean-hands, easy and quick solution,” he says.
“The best solution is to completely submerge the chain in a bath of solution. But it’s laborious to remove the chain every 500km.
“So if I cannot bring the chain to the bath, maybe I can bring the bath to the chain?”
ChainBath design
There are quite a few chain cleaners on the market but they work on the straight portion between the two sprockets and the gunk drips down on the sprocket.
Daniel’s design accesses the lowest spot on the travel of the chain under the rear sprocket to create a “bath” to collect the gunk.
Because it collects all the cleaning solution, it can be responsibly recycled and it doesn’t end up draining into the gutter and into our river system.
Daniel started first with a cardboard form then had a friend weld some metal sheet to make the shape for testing.
“It worked! I could have the chain take a bath on the bike,” he says.
Daniel also designed a system that made it quick and easy to fit and remove.
“Out on the road I can install it in less than 30 seconds.
“It completely submerges and cleans all the chain parts just by ‘walking the bike’ for a few metres. It also collects all the solution and the dirt.
“In less than four minutes, I can install the device, clean the chain, remove it and be back on the road.
“My first chain was changed at 19,000km, but now I see the big difference a clean chain is making to its life.”
Daniel has used WD40 but now prefers kerosene as the cleaning fluid because it is cheap and effective.
You can buy special chain cleaners, but we’ve also found kerosene to be very effective and cheap.
“I now want to bring this to all riders who have had enough of dirty hands, cardboard, back pain, grease, oil, rust, mess and money thrown away on expensive cleaning solutions,” he says.
Daniel is also considering a permanent fixture and bristles on the inside which would help clean really grubby chains such as on off-road and adventure bikes.
The prototype was 3D-printed, but his production version will be mould-injected plastic which is cheaper.
There is no date yet for the product or its price, but we will update you when Daniel goes into production.
About the inventor
Daniel is a mechanical engineer with experience in R&D, testing and aerospace.
“I’m also an inventor in my free time. I’m trying to solve problems with interesting solutions,” he says.
“My first idea that just hit the market is the Shrinkable Sofa.”
“I’ve always wanted to ride a motorcycle and finally in 2010 I got my licence and my first bike, a new 2009 Kawasaki Versys 650.”
MotoCAP has rated six more jackets to reach 150 safety and thermal comfort ratings for jackets, pants and gloves, including only their second women’s jacket.
The world’s first safety and comfort ratings system for motorcycle clothing began in August last year.
It has now rated 150 items of clothing, including 41 pairs of pants, 47 pairs of gloves and now 62 jackets, including their second women’s jacket.
While some claim the ratings system is flawed, it at least now has a decent amount of clothing rated and provides a guide for buyers.
Women’s jackets
The first women’s jacket was the Dainese Mike Lady jacket which only joined the list last August.
It scored a protection rating of three out of five stars while this round the women’s Macna Freeride textile jacket scored only one star.
However, it rated three out of five stars for thermal comfort.
MotoCAP is a partnership between Transport for NSW, State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA), VicRoads, Transport Accident Commission (TAC), Royal Automobile Club of Victoria (RACV), Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR), Motor Accident Insurance Commission (MAIC), Lifetime Support Authority (LSA), Western Australian Police: Road Safety Commission, Department of State Growth, Insurance Australia Group (IAG), Australian Motorcycle Council and Accident Compensation Corporation in New Zealand.
Three open-face helmets scored just one star (Bell Scout Air, Eldorado EXR and R Jays Navona II) two scored two stars (LS2 Spitfire and Scorpion Bandit) and only one scored three stars (Arai SZ-R VAS).
The RXT 817-Street was the only full-face helmet to score two stars.
Top rated
The top-rated motorcycle helmets in this year’s tests with four stars are:
Airoh Valor
Bell Star (with angular acceleration management system)
CRASH tests 30 helmets a year and releases the details every spring.
Aussie testing
It seems strange that helmets are still tested in Australia when European-standard helmets have been available here for four years.
However, Centre for Road Safety active executive director Craig Moran says that while all helmets sold here meet either Australian Standards or global standard UNECE 22.05, CRASH ratings “give riders more information so they can chose the best helmet for their situation”.
By “more information” they mean ratings out of five for safety and comfort. The standards just say they passed the tests, but don’t provide ratings.
For example, a helmet only has to achieve the lowest one-star CRASH rating to pass Australian and Euro helmet certification.
AS/NZ 1698 and UNECE 22.05 certification make no mention at all of comfort which is important for reducing rider fatigure which can distract your attention.
Helmets rated
CRASH has now tested and rated 52 full-face helmets since 2017 and 102 pre-2017, 24 open face helmets since 2017 and 35 prior and 14 dual-purpose helmets since 2017 and 23 prior.
It is not as comprehensive as the similar British SHARP helmet safety scheme which has tested and rated hundreds of helmets, almost all of which are now available for sale in Australia.
“The helmets are chosen based a number of criteria including their approximate number of sales or popularity or if the consortium identifies a particular helmet as requiring further performance testing,” Craig says.
“Helmets are proven to reduce the severity of head injuries as well as the likelihood of death and disability.
“We also recently launched MotoCAP which is a consumer information program designed to provide riders with scientifically-based information about the protection and comfort of a range of motorcycle jackets, pants and gloves available in Australia and New Zealand.”
CRASH is run by a consortium of NSW government agencies and Swann Insurance.
It assesses and compares motorcycle helmets in terms of their ability to protect the wearer’s head in a crash and how comfortable the helmet is to wear.