Daily motorbike news, views & reviews
The motorcycle jacket has transformed into a wide variety of styles and types. There are leather and textile jackets suitable for dirt biking, cruising, racing, touring, adventure riding and more. They offer a variety of levels of weather and crash protection, and some offer style both on and off the bike. We preview coming jackets and road test current jackets for practicality, comfort, protection, cooling, warmth, fit, value and more, sorting our the good from the bad.
Many motorcycle shops only pay lip service to women’s riding gear, says Black Arrow fashion designer and motorcyclist Hannah Smith of Sydney. “Female motorcyclists are a fast-growing sector worldwide; fact,” she says. “So it is surprising to me that many motorcycle stores still think that they only need to cater to men with a token …
Unless there is black ice on the road, cold weather is really no impediment to winter riding when you have Venture Heat powered riding gear. Their range includes jacket and vest liners, gloves, pants liners and even inner soles which you can connect to your bike’s battery to keep you warm. Venture Heat sent us their …
The best motorcycle rain suit is one that is not only waterproof, but also easy to put on and take off at the side of the road without having to remove your boots. One-piece rain suits can often be the most most waterproof, but they can be a nuisance to put on and take off. …
Rider Karen Curley of Canberra recently sent us photos of her wearing a Helite airbag vest at Mount Panorama Circuit on a ride with my fellow FRoCers (Female Riders of Canberra). She won the Helite airbag safety vest earlier this year in a Motorbike Writer competition to launch the safety product via our new online shop. “As …
When most people think of a motorbike jacket, they usually automatically think about a generic black leather jacket. The truth is that many of the motorbike jackets being sold offer very little when it comes to actual riding. Actual motorbike jackets come with a variety of different features and aren’t focused mainly on design per …
Motorcycle riding jackets, pants and gloves from European company Macna is now being imported to Australia by Link International. The company has been making riding gear since 1991 and features a range of jackets, pants, gloves, safety protectors and casual wear for all riding styles. However, Link International will only import men’s and women’s jackets, …
The new Ixon Zephyr HP textile men’s motorcycle jacket is claimed to be a three-in-one versatile jacket for year-round riding in all conditions. The textile shell allows air to flow through thanks to the fixed ventilation grids on the top of the back and zippered vents on the chest and forearm. It also has a …
We panned a leather jacket we received from Pakistan in August 2016 and warned riders against buying cheap motorcycle goods over the internet. Read our scathing report here. However, another Pakistan motorcycle leather goods company then got in touch with us and pleaded to give the country’s goods a second chance. They also said they …
There is no such thing as an all-season motorcycle jacket. You either have a winter jacket or a summer jacket. All else is a compromise. And if you really want to be realistic, you also need a jacket for the in-between spring/autumn (fall) seasons when it’s warm during the day and cool in the mornings. …
Motorcycle jackets don’t have to make you look like you’ve just set the fastest lap at Phillip Island or ridden around the world with Charley Boorman. Blackbird Motorcycle Wear makes fashionable motorcycle jackets that offer all the abrasion and crash protection for the road, but can still be worn to a fancy restaurant. It’s the brainchild …