If you prefer a glove that’s so light and fits so well you can hardly tell you’re wearing it at all, take a look at the Mill from Z1R ($29.95). With a stretchy spandex performance backhand and texturized Clarion palm with high grip overlay, the Mill will conform perfectly to your hand yet offer great feel and control. Plus it has D3O armor at the knuckles for the best in protection, and touchscreen capability in the thumb and index fingers. Available in men’s sizes S-3XL.
Ride Italy like an Italian with Hear the Road Motorcycle Tours. Check off some bucket-list items with tours like Tuscany & Umbria: Heart of Italy, the Amalfi Coast and Southern Italy, Mugello MotoGP and the Italian Ride, or the Italian Alps and the Dolomites. Tours include bike rental on a BMW, Ducati, Moto Guzzi or Harley-Davidson, and you’re guaranteed to experience history, great food and amazing accommodations. See website for schedule and pricing.
Headlights are expensive, headlight guards from AltRider aren’t. AltRider offers headlight guards for most modern ADV and scrambler models, including the Honda Africa Twin, BMW R 1250 GS and F 750/850 GS, Triumph Tiger 800/1200 and Ducati Scrambler. Stainless steel mesh guards come in silver or black finishes, and both they and the polycarbonate clear guards mount securely with fasteners, not straps, with quick and easy removal for cleaning.
Add security, weather resistance and convenience to your 2019 Electra Glide Standard’s glove box with the GD-3R Sealed Glove Box Door from eGlideGoodies ($179.99). The hinged design allows quick and easy access to your items, and a black powdercoat finish matches the inner fairing and the rest of the motorcycle. Available in several lock finishes/options, it can even be keyed to your bike’s ignition. Ride with convenience with the GD-3R!
Black Dog Cycle Works skid plate on KTM 790 Adventure.
Outfit your KTM 790 Adventure with the rough, tough ADV-ready accessories from Black Dog Cycle Works. Its Ultimate Skid Plate ($349) will take a beating and protect your bike’s vulnerable underbelly; its Traction Footpegs ($229) give you more purchase in wet, muddy conditions; its Rear Rack ($175) is a conveniently large, flat platform for attaching luggage; and its Trail Stand ($42) makes road- or trailside tire repairs easy. More accessories are available online.
A new generation of HJC helmets has arrived with the F70, with a fresh, unique design and must-have features. The F70 includes a fiberglass shell, a unique curved shield, two top vents, a mouth vent, five exhaust vents, an aggressive-looking breath guard and an integrated drop-down sun shield, and it’s compatible with the SmartHJC Bluetooth system. Available in sizes XS-2XL in a variety of solid colors ($269.99-$279.99) and graphics ($299.99-$319.99).
The newest addition to Michelin’s lineup of V-twin cruiser and touring tires, the Commander III, is designed to deliver exceptional wet grip and extraordinary durability, exceeding its predecessor’s performance on both counts with new tread compounds. The distinctive tread patterns and patented velvet-textured sidewall designs of the Commander III will also enhance the styling of all V-twin motorcycles. Available in a variety of popular sizes, the Commander III will go on sale in early 2020.
Pyramid Plastics Rear Hugger and Handguard Extensions for the Yamaha Tracer 900/GT.
Pyramid Plastics has launched a new Rear Hugger and Handguard Extensions for the latest Yamaha Tracer 900/GT. The Hugger ($119.50), which uses the original mounting points and requires no modifications or brackets, improves coverage and protection of the shock and underside of the tail. The Handguard Extensions ($67.50) are also easy to fit to the existing mounting points and offer greater protection as well as giving the bike a unique look.
Touratech Zega Evo panniers installed on a Honda Africa Twin.
Looking at a set of “panniers” (from the French panier, or basket), or hard locking saddlebags, most of us probably wouldn’t think of them as a “system,” like a suspension or electrical system. But with its Zega Evo Panniers, Touratech has indeed elevated a pair of motorcycle side cases to that level. Available for a number of BMW GS, KTM ADV and Honda Africa Twin models, I chose them for my AT because they sit a few inches lower and farther back than some others, yet still have plenty of ground clearance. But the quality and comprehensive features of the Zega Evos pleasantly surprised me once they arrived.
The primary Evo advantage is a slick but secure quick-release latching system, which allows you to pop them on and off the stainless steel mounting racks with a single locking lever outside, rather than having to unscrew and fiddle with a pair of knobs inside the bags. So the Evos can be installed or released quickly and easily whether they’re closed or open, and have fold-flat ergonomic handles on top that make them easy to carry.
Constructed of sturdy aluminum with no welded seams, the base of each Evo is secured with stainless-steel rivets and a silicone gasket, and the raised lid has a tongue-and-groove aluminum edge with an integrated, waterproof silicone seal that is recessed out of harm’s way. Both bags passed the hose test with nary a drop of water entering. A waterproof vent prevents vacuum from forming when changing elevation so they always open easily.
The Zega Evos feature dual hinging latches, a detachable nylon strap that holds the lids open, lashing loops on all four corners and integrated mounting pins for Touratech accessories like water or fuel bottle holders.
I went with the 31- and 38-liter pair of Evos (10 and 10¾ pounds, respectively) for the Africa Twin; the smaller one mounts on the exhaust side for a mostly symmetrical fit. Together they provide plenty of storage for a long solo ride, and the overall width is 40 inches – about 4 inches wider than the AT’s handlebar. There is still plenty of room for a passenger’s feet on the pegs, too. Touratech also offers a 38-/45-liter pair of Evos that it says end up 42 inches wide; the 45-liter bag can hold a full-face helmet.
The Zega Evo System comes with stainless tubular-steel mounts that are offset for the exhaust. They took me about two hours to install because the rear turn-signal extensions on 2018 and later Africa Twins have to be removed, an easy but time-consuming job, and the AT’s middle rack supports were a challenge to fit. Once they’re on, though, the sturdy, well-made racks provide solid support for the Evos or soft saddlebags.
Other nice Evo Pannier features include dual hinging latches, so you can remove the lids entirely or open them at either end – a detachable nylon strap holds the lids open. Lashing loops on all four corners of the lids – inside and out – let you utilize the inner lid space and secure additional gear on top. Integrated steel mounting pins are preinstalled in back for attaching Touratech accessories like water or fuel bottle holders.
After installing the Evos I loaded them up for a two-night trip to Lake Arrowhead, and gave them and the Africa Twin a good thrashing on some of the rocky, rutted forest roads in the San Bernardino Mountains. They held fast, kept the dirt and water out and popped right off at the hotel. At $1,799 for the complete Evo system you’ll pay about $450 more than Touratech’s Zega Pros for quick-release convenience.
For more information, call (800) 491-2926 or visit touratech-usa.com.
In 2016 we tested the ATS-1, the first full-face street helmet from 6D, a new company that had developed a patented system called Omni-Directional Suspension (read the review here). Inside the helmet are two nested EPS liners connected by an array of hourglass-shaped elastomer dampers. The dampers allow the EPS liners to move independently in six axes, so the outer shell moves independently of the head. Upon impact, the liners compress together and/or shift laterally relative to each other before they crush like EPS liners in other helmets, absorbing and dissipating kinetic energy and reducing the amount of force transferred to the head. Independent tests have shown that ODS significantly reduces linear and angular (rotational) acceleration compared to other helmets, reducing the likelihood of concussions, traumatic brain injuries or death. The innovation and wide-ranging applicability of ODS helped 6D win the Grand Prize in the NFL’s Head Health Challenge III competition.
6D’s new ATS-1R improves upon its predecessor in a number of ways. Advancements in ODS technology are said to provide “significant improvements in both linear and angular acceleration mitigation” while also reducing weight. My size-medium ATS-1R weighs 3 pounds, 5 ounces, which is 9 ounces lighter than the ATS-1. Designed with input from professional racers, the ATS-1R’s carbon fiber, intermediate-oval shell has an aerodynamic shape with a rear wing to reduce drag, buffeting and lift. With four intake vents, 15 transfer ports and five exhaust vents, the ODS Air-Gap ventilation system, which takes advantage of the space between the nested EPS liners, moves a significant amount of air. With all of the vents open the ATS-1R can be noisy, but it’s suitably quiet when wearing earplugs.
This cutaway graphic shows the 6D’s proprietary Omni-Directional Suspension system that reduces brain damage in rotational impacts.
Other changes to the ATS-1R include a larger shell opening, redesigned cheek pads (optional pads allow sizing to be customized), a redesigned chin curtain, a removable neck cuff and a new self-tensioning face shield base plate, which improves sealing. The anti-scratch, UV-blocking shield offers 10 positions as well as a lockdown lever and a Pinlock 120 anti-fog insert is included. Changing the shield is a no-brainer and requires no tools. The ultra-plush comfort liner is removable, washable and compatible with eyewear, and inside the helmet are integrated speaker pockets.
Comfort, fit and finish, ventilation and ease of use are first rate, and the price of the DOT- and ECE-certified ATS-1R is significantly lower than that of its predecessor. It’s available in sizes XS-XXL for $695 in Gloss Black or $745 in graphics, and comes with a deluxe helmet bag.
For more information, see your dealer or visit 6dhelmets.com.
