Motorcycle helmets are still being crash tested in Australia despite European-standard helmets being available here for several years because they provide riders with “more information”.
The NSW Consumer Rating and Assessment of Safety Helmets (CRASH) crash-tests 30 helmets a year and releases the details every November.
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”.
Helmets tested
CRASH has tested 34 full-face helmets since 2017 and 1012 pre-2017, 17 open face helmets since 2017 and 35 prior and nine dual-purpose helmets since 2017 and 23 prior.
It is not as comprehensive as the similar British SHARP helmet safety scheme. It 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.
CRASH testing
“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.
Michelin Anakee Adventure tyres have now arrived in Australia with more sizes arriving in May.
The tyres, unveiled at the EICMA Motorcycle Show in Milan in November, are designed for riders who do about 80% tarmac touring and about 20% dirt riding.
Michelin Australia has now announced the sizes and pricing:
Rear:
170/60 R 17 M/C 72V, $299, now available
150/70 R 17 M/C 69V, $279, now
150/70 R 18 M/C 70V, $299, now
130/80 R 17 M/C 65H, $249, May
140/80 R 17 M/C 69H, $259, May
Front:
90/90 – 21 M/C 54V, $179 now
110/80 R 19 M/C 59V, $229, now
120/70 R 19 M/C 60V, $239, now
100/90 – 19 M/C 57V, $179, May
The tyres have also been approved for the new BMW R 1250 GS and the coming Moto Guzzi V85 TT as well as many other big-capacity adventure bikes.
Moto Guzzi V85 TT
Anakee Adventure
The tyre joins their adventure range consisting of the Road 5 Trail for 100% road use and Anakee Wild for 50% road and 50% off-road.
Michelin claims the Anakee Adventure has exceptional grip on wet roads due to its new-generation silica-enhanced compound.
It is also claimed to have dry weather stability and long wear thanks to two Michelin-patented technologies.
Dual Compound 2CT means the front tyre combines different all-silica compounds for the crown and shoulders. This aids grip, especially on wet ground, with no detriment to dry weather performance or tyre life.
Michelin’s 2CT+ technology uses a rubber compound for the tyre’s crown that serves as a rigid ply passing under the edges of the shoulder compound. This makes the tread stiffer in depth for improved stability when leaning.
Anakee Adventure also has a new, open tread pattern for traction on unsealed tracks and trails.
Michelin won in the first year in 2015 and again 2017.
The 2018 Canstar Blue customer satisfaction survey of more than 350 riders reveals some startling findings about rider attitudes to their motorcycle tyres.
Almost half of Aussie motorcycle riders have not checked their tyre pressures in the past three months.
Riders looking for premium motorcycle suspension should welcome the new ownership of Swedish company Öhlins Racing by tech company Tenneco.
The American company has worked with Öhlins on their CES valves over the past 20 years.
It will lend technological and logistic support that should lead to more products for more models, more outlets, faster delivery and probably cheaper prices.
Öhlins boss Henrik Johansson has welcomed the “strong owner”.
“Tenneco has everything we need that we currently do not have,” he says.
“We have technology, engineering capacity and a global brand name. Tenneco has global production, technology and a distribution network.
“By using Tenneco’s capabilities in purchasing and product development, we can reduce cost, increase profit and increase penetration of Öhlins products.”
He says the ownership deal will also bring new products to market faster.
“Competition is getting stronger, lead times are getting shorter; technology is getting to market faster,” he says.
“Tenneco will benefit from our ability – as a smaller, more agile organisation – to act much quicker and more efficiently in bringing new products and technologies to market.
“My objective is to continue to develop technology, open new doors in some areas and keep them open.”
Öhlins ownership
Öhlins is well known in racing and recreational circles as one of the world’s top suspension companies for motorcycles, mountain bikes, cars and in motorsport for the past 43 years.
It not only provides aftermarket suspension components but also factory-fitted suspension.
Manufacturers using Öhlins include Aprilia, Ducati, Honda, Kawasaki, Moto Guzzi, MV Agusta, Norton, Triumph and Yamaha who used to own 5% of the Swedish company before it was bought back in 2007.
Öhlins will be incorporated into Tenneco’s Aftermarket and Ride Performance company which will begin operations this year.
Despite the new ownership, Öhlins will continue to operate as a stand-alone business.
Tenneco boss Brian Kesseler says Öhlins will remain a premium product and there are no plans to bring it into the mid-market, mass-market motorcycle segment.
Tenneco also bought Italian motorcycle and bicycle suspension company Marzocchi in 2009.
Racing support
Ohlins Racing Moto 2 forks
The company will continue to play an important part in motorsport.
“Öhlins has never sponsored a rider or a team,” Henrik says.
“We actually sell what we produce for Formula 1, Formula E, MotoGP, Nascar and others because we make the best products.
“I’m convinced that Tenneco will continue with that strategy and we can work on further building the Öhlins name in racing.”
The ownership deal is yet to be approved by the EU.
Shoei is the first major motorcycle helmet manufacturer to join the growing smart helmet revolution with the announcement of their IT-HT helmet.
The IT-HT helmet will include Bluetooth intercom and head-up display which includes a translucent screen that shows vital information to the rider without them having to take their eyes off the road.
Shoei IT-HT screen
Information can be customised by the rider to include bike data such as speed and revs, but also navigation, incoming phone calls, etc.
Revolution
The revolution is yet to get off the ground.
While there are many start-ups with smart helmets and aftermarket add-on devices such as Hudway, Nuviz and Seemore, few have made it to the market or proved their reliability.
HUdway
Nuviz-770
Seemore
Shoei has a long history of making safe and quality helmets, so their addition to the smart helmet revolution is welcome.
If it wasn’t for the ride-sharing and mountain and wriggly route options on our TomTom Rider 550 GPS we might never have discovered a hidden gem of a mountain road.
Riding partner and map expert Peter “Worldmapman” Davis recently reviewed the TomTom Rider 550 for us and has been using it now for some time.
Usually one of our riding group decides where to go and then leads the pack. It’s usually me and I’ve almost run out of routes in the South East Queensland area.
I think I know every twisting, winding scenic roads in this region. But I was wrong.
TomTom decides
“Plan a thrill’ with TomTom Rider 550
This time we decided to put the TomTom unit to the test and let it decide a route for us.
Since it was hot, we thought a ride up to Toowoomba at the top of the Great Dividing Range would give us a respite from the heat.
So we put that in as one waypoint, plus Hampton and Flagstone Creek.
You can select the waypoints by typing in a place name or simply pressing a point on the screen to drop a waypoint “flag”.
We then selected a return journey with maximum mountain and winding roads options. There are two levels of each and we chose the top levels.
That increased an out-and-back journey on the highway from about 160km to about 250km.
Because we were riding cruisers, we chose the “avoid dirt roads” option. You can also choose to avoid toll roads, highways and even roadworks in the settings menu.
Sharing a gem
Sharing a route is easy
Route selected, we shared it among ourselves either with other TomTom GPS units or via their MyDrive app platform on their phones.
Sharing a route like this is great because it means you don’t have to bother about corner-man systems as riders can’t get lost.
You can plan your route on the GPS unit, or on the TomTom MyDrive app on your phone or your computer. Each allows you to share with other TomTom users via Bluetooth, email or message.
When we headed off on the Brisbane Valley Highway TomTom almost immediately took us off the highway on to back roads.
TomTom will include scenic back roads
This led us the long way round to Esk before heading up the only sealed road to Hampton.
In fact, it even bypassed some of Esk.
Peter says a good tip in selecting waypoints on this sort of route is to never select a town’s CBD or the name of a town.
Following the route
Always select a waypoint on a road past the town. That will actually throw in a nice little deviation and avoid sending you down every suburban street.
In fact, you should even start your journey out of town or it may take you on a wild goose chase around the suburbs first.
The great thing about the TomTom Rider 550 is that you can change your mind along the way.
If you decide to go into town for a coffee or toilet stop, just head on in and the unit recalculates the route very quickly.
In fact, it is the fastest of any unit Peter has used in his extensive mapping career.
You can also add more waypoints, or change the winding road option from super wriggly to less wiggly or to the fastest or most direct route if you are getting tired and want to head home.
Wriggly route
All it takes is a touch of a button on the screen.
If you decide to bypass a waypoint, the unit will try to recalculate you back to it, so it’s a good idea to delete the waypoint by going to your list of stops and deleting it.
Gem discovered
We largely followed the directions, but also chose to ignore them a little and explore.
But we are glad we did not ignore its advice when we came down the Range on Flagstone Creek Rd.
It pointed left on to Blanchview Rd which we have done before and enjoyed, so we followed.
Silver Pinch Rd is a gem
But shortly after TomTom took us right on to Silver Pinch Rd which looks almost like someone’s driveway. We’ve ignored this road in the past … but not today.
Just as well as it is a real rider’s gem.
It traverses several narrow ridges past Table Top Mountain, overlooking beautiful fertile farmland with jaw-dropping views on either side.
The road really does wriggle along and it seems it has only recently been paved along its entirety until it becomes Topps Rd and ends at the T junction with the Back Flagstone Creek Rd.
What a rollercoaster of a road it is with plenty of elevation, looping corners, esses and switchbacks.
We enjoyed it so much we stopped along the way for photos and doubled back a bit to ride some sections again.
Consequently we ended up running a little behind our schedule return time.
So at Laidley we simply decided to switch to the shortest destination and head home.
When we got home, we shared photos and maps with each other via MyDrive so we can do it again another time … maybe in a reverse direction.
You can do that by simply shuffling the order of the waypoints. Just drag and drop the last stop to the top and make the rest of the changes accordingly.
Peter Fonda famously throws away his watch in the cult 1969 movie Easy Rider, starting a fad with riders and other travellers to discard their watches and disregard the constraints of time.
A watch is a symbol of “the man”, society and capitalism that constrain us.
Motorcycles are freedom machines that allow us to escape the rigours of timekeeping.
In a hilarious parody of the famous Easy Rider scene, John Travolta and his buddies throw away their mobile phones before a cross-country ride in the 2007 movie Wild Hogs.
“You don’t need a GPS to discover America; you need a bike and you need the road, ok? Freedom,” says Travolta.
Exactly!
There are no deadlines on the open road. Even sunset is no limit.
So there really is no need for a watch. Besides, you can’t see it under your jacket sleeve and gloves when riding.
Besides, most bikes these days have clocks, although I have my bike’s screen set to the trip meter, rather than the clock.
Time collaborations
Yet motorcycle companies have had a long association with watch companies over time.
The latest is the Ducati-Locman collection with prices ranging from €299 to €598.
Other motorcycle manufacturers have had similar exclusive watches in recent years so devoted fans can wear their “heart” on their sleeve – or wrist!
Shoei has updated its GT-Air touring helmet with a longer internal sun visor, better venting and more aerodynamics to make it quieter.
The GT-Air II will be available in April. Australian pricing is not yet available, but in the USA it will cost $US599 (about $A840) for single colours and $US699 (about $A980) for graphics.
The GT-Air II model should improve on that status.
Aussie riders will appreciate that the internal sun visor is now 5mm longer for improved glare protection.
Shoei has also redesigned the main visor so it has a “first position” opening for better venting and to prevent fogging. However, it also comes with a Pinlock EVO anti-fog insert.
Tourers often fit bluetooth intercom units to their helmet and the GT-Air II now has a special recess on the base to fit the new Sena SRL2 unit.
Another new addition is a micro-ratcheting buckle instead of the conventional double-D ring.
While racers use double D for security, the quick-release buckle is more convenient for tourers who often stop for fuel, coffee or a toilet break. It makes it easier to fasten, remove and adjust.
Streamlining
Shoei has streamlined the new shell in a wind tunnel so it is more compact and more aerodynamic which reduce the amount of fatiguing wind noise inside.
While most helmets have a couple of intake vents and one exhaust vent, the GT-Air II has three intakes and five exhausts, so it should be a lot cooler in the summer.
It comes with the 3-D Max Dry System that is removable, washable, replaceable and adjustable.
They claim it absorbs sweat twice as fast as nylon and is shaped to match a rider’s head. But if you’ve got a weird head shape, you can buy thicker and thinner pieces to ensure an optimum fit.
Like the GT-Air, the new model has the Emergency Quick Release System (EQRS) that allows first responders to remove the helmet from an injured rider’s head without further injuring their neck.
It will come in a range of sizes from XS to XXL and colours.
(Sponsored gear heads post for our North American readers)
If you’d rather ride on two wheels than step inside a car, then you should check out these must have motorcycle accessories.
In 2017, the number of registered on-road motorcycles in the United States totaled 8.4 million. That’s a 100% increase from the 4.2 million registered units back in 2002!
Granted, not all share the love for these two-wheelers. But they’re still pretty popular, with dealers having sold 470,000 new bikes in 2017.
Let’s not forget about motorcycle gear that makes these bikes even more worth riding. On a global scale, this market made a whopping $2.87 billion in 2017.
Which now brings us to the main topic of this post: The must have motorcycle accessories. There are a lot of bike tools, gears, and techies for motorheads out there, which can be pretty confusing.
Don’t worry though, as we’ve rounded them up for you so you don’t have to. Check out this list of the motorcycle essentials you can’t do without!
1. A Bluetooth, Aerodynamic Helmet
What better way to start this list than with every rider’s primary protection?
Only three states — Illinois, Iowa, and New Hampshire — don’t require a motorcycle helmet. The rest, plus D.C., are serious when it comes to their helmet laws. But even if you live in IL, IO, or NH, you should never go for a ride without a helmet.
Aside from helping keep your gray matter stay where it should, it also wards off bugs and other critters. Today’s helmets are no doubt smarter, even letting you connect Bluetooth devices! Plus, the right look and fit will make you look more badass than if you don’t wear one.
You’d want to invest in a helmet with an aerodynamic design though. This lets you ride with that needle on the right side, but with as little noise as possible.
One last thing: Go for a lightweight, yet sturdy and DoT-approved helmet. Be prepared, as you may have to spend a bit more for the best motorcycle protective gear. But it’ll be worth it, especially if you plan on riding for speed.
2. An Armored Leather Jacket
Only a few things scream kickass louder than a thick, and solid motorcycle jacket. But it’s more than a cool-looking piece of motorcycle riding gear. It also protects your precious skin, taking the brunt of skids and drags in case of an accident.
Look for armored features on the elbows and shoulders, which often sustain injuries. Also, consider the weather in your area — if it rains a lot, you’d want weatherproofing features. Airflow, thermal body warmers, and waterproof materials are what you’d want.
3. Palm Sliders
The body’s instinct is to put the hands out during slips, trips, and falls. In fact, if you think about it, it’s the hands that you use to shield your body from, well, almost anything, right?
To put things in perspective, consider this:
More than one million U.S. workers visit ERs due to hand injuries every year. 70% of them got these injuries because they weren’t wearing gloves.
In Australia, 93% of surveyed organizations reported experiencing hand injuries too. That makes them among the most common injuries in Oz workplaces.
So, imagine how much damage the hands can get when one gets catapulted from their bike. The hands will try to lessen the impact on the body, which may lead to the wrists snapping. The friction put against the palms by the asphalt is a scary enough thought.
A little too visual? Well, that’s the truth, and all beginner riders should be aware of that.
That’s why you’d want to slide your hands into palm sliders too, whenever you go out for a bike ride. With these, plus your helmet and jacket, you’re (almost) done protecting your upper body.
Low-friction, yet quality plastic gloves are good enough to protect your palms. For something longer-lasting (and better-looking), invest in leather sliders.
Better gloves out there have adequate cushioning and armor for the entire hands. With these, you’ll have better protection for your knuckles and wrists too.
Completing the list of upper body must have bike gear is a pair of high-quality earplugs. Contrary to popular belief, they don’t make it hard to stay focused and connected to the road.
The only thing they cut riders off from is the noise of the high-pitched wind. This then protects the sensitive inner workings of the ear. That actually makes you feel more relaxed and less tired after a long ride!
5. Riding Pants
You’ll rip those jeans sliding on pavement faster than you can say 0 to 60. Even if you think they’re the thickest, most durable pair you have, they’re not built for safe riding. What you want is road armor, and luckily, there are now jeans out there with Kevlar lining.
Their prices are a bit on the hefty side though, so your other option is Cordura textile. The best ones out there offer good abrasion resistance without being too bulky.
6. Tough Boots
Apart from your hands, your feet and legs are at most risk of damage in an accident. So, keep those encased in sturdy, protective riding boots! Don’t worry about losing style, since the best riding footwear out there still looks amazing.
Features like reinforced toe tips, soles, and padding protect the small bones on your feet. They have enough cushioning to make them comfortable and breathable. Although typical work boots have protective toe boxes, they lack feet protection features.
7. Tool Kit
Get a complete roadside toolkit with wrenches, Allen sockets, screwdrivers, and pliers. Get a few cable ties too, a multi-purpose tool, and microfiber towels for cleanup.
Pro Tip: If you’re looking to take your ride out for long road trips, you’d want extra fuel storage. If you’ve got the budget, go for a self bunded fuel tank. This’ll help you reach point A to B with as few stops and top-ups as possible.
Start Shopping for these Must Have Motorcycle Accessories Now
This list of must have motorcycle accessories is far from being extensive. But they’re the best motorcycle gear you need, not to mention the most important. So, before you start shelling out money on bells and whistles, start with these seven first.
Want more two-wheeler riding/safety tips and travel advice? Then make sure you head over to our Tips and Training section! We’ve got more nuggets of wisdom to share with you there.
Map and satnav expert Peter (World Mapman) Davis provides some interesting background information for riders on GPS in this fourth instalment in our satnav series.
Global Positioning Systems (GPS) use satellites that are in a geo-stationary orbit. That means they rotate at the same speed as the Earth so they remain in the same place above the globe.
You need at least three satellite beams to “triangulate” your position, which means it is the average position between the three beams.
The original satellites were sent into orbit by the US military for their use in navigation.
However, tech-savvy people soon found out how to communicate with them and use their navigation services.
When US authorities discovered that their satellite navigation systems were being used by civilians, they allowed what they called “selective availability”.
They actually built in some positioning inaccuracy.
Map expert Peter Davis
Military GPS
If the military needed to use their satellites for operations, they would simply turn off selective availability and suddenly people would get very accurate positions.
It became evident that this was a very useful tool for the civilian population, so the last Bill President Bill Clinton signed was the abolition of selective availability.
These days we now get more accurate readings as there are a lot more satellites in orbit that belong to other countries and even commercial operations.
To obtain an accurate position, a GPS device needs to have at least three satellite connections.
A satellite is a transmitter, not a receiver. It transmits a signal which the GPS picks up.
The more satellites you get the more accurate your position.
Early GPS
Early GPS devices had a very narrow beam of reception to gain signals from satellites.
This made them lose satellite reception very easily if you were riding in dense forest or even through cities with tall buildings.
All GPS units need line of sight with satellites.
However, newer GPS units have a broad spectrum of reception which is basically horizon to horizon.
Consequently, so long as you can see some sky, it works. The satellite doesn’t need to be straight above.
They also now work in some tunnels that have repeaters in the roof to beam the satellite signal.
Land beacons
Satnav has become even more accurate with the introduction of ground-based GPS nav beacons or “differential nav”.
Your position can be triangulated using a combination of satellites and land beacons which can be radio transmitters or mobile phone towers.
Motorcycle helmets are getting smarter all the time with head-up display, crash alerts, air-conditioning and active noice-cancelling, while some riders (or pillions) are not so smart (watch this video!)
It’s not yet certified for Australia and may have some difficulty getting Euro approval as some European countries ban Bluetooth and/or earphones in helmets.
Helmet AC
If you believe in global warming, then airconditioning for helmets will be vital for the survival of motorcycles.
There have been all sorts of strange contraptions to add to helmets.
The biggest problem with all this smart motorcycle helmet technology is that it will make helmets more expensive, so you will not only need to lock your bike from thieves, but also your helmet.
So here comes the Kobe Smart Helmet Case which electronically secures your helmet to your bike when parked and neatly folds away when not in use to be visually discrete and aerodynamic while riding.
Sounds like a good idea, but it will cost you €199 (about $A310, $US225).
Kobe Smart Case
While tech tries to make our heads smarter and safer, some people would prefer no helmet or even a turban!
