Tucano Urbano off-road and custom-bike cover, £40.99Time owned: Nine months What’s good: Some covers I’ve used rub on bodywork under the motion of the wind, damaging paintwork over time. This has a silky-soft lining which should prevent that. It’s easy to sling over the bike, roomy enough to accommodate a top box and has holes along the hem for a ...
- Motorcycle Products
- Parts & accessories
- 25 June 2012
Tucano Urbano Nano rain jacket, £49.99, and trousers, £39.99 Time used: Three months What’s good: This is rainwear that fits in your pocket. They’re lightweight – the jacket is 180 grams, the trousers 170 – and compact. Both fold into tiny 50cl bags, the size of a small bottle of water. With some squishing, they should fit in even the ...
- Motorcycle Products
- Leathers, jackets & suits
- 21 June 2012
R&G Superbike Cover, £43 Time used: One year What’s good: It has an elasticated hem to keep it on the bike, plus holes to thread a security chain through. There are air vents to let moisture escape and a foam insert to protect your tank. It’s waterproof (as you’d expect), heat resistant and affordably priced. What’s not: It’s small. R&G ...
- Motorcycle Products
- Parts & accessories
- 21 June 2012
Skidmarx fairing lower, £99.95Time used: One year What’s good: Like many riders I’m sure, I’m slightly addicted to accessorising my bikes, often needlessly. So when I saw that Skidmarx still produce a bellypan to fit my 1986 GPz550, I couldn’t stop myself getting one. I thought it would smarten the old nail up. I’d seen GPz550s with bellypans, and thought ...
- Motorcycle Products
- Parts & accessories
- 21 June 2012
Tucano Urbano satchel, £59.99Time used: Three months What’s good: It’s a smart and practical shoulder bag. There are lots compartments inside and out. When you’re riding, it stays where you want it – on your back rather than under an arm – thanks to an additional strap that goes around your midriff. Off the bike it can be carried over ...
- Motorcycle Products
- Parts & accessories
- 15 June 2012
BMW GS Enduro bodywarmer, £77 (discontinued)Time owned: Nine months What’s good: Wear it under a jacket while riding or on its own while not. It’s got pockets inside and out and it’s warm with a soft lining. It’s so comfy I wear it about the house and am constantly being told to take my coat off by my partner. Typically ...
- Motorcycle Products
- Parts & accessories
- 10 April 2012
Arai Tour-X3, £354.99 (£299 on MCN Shop; superseded by Arai Tour-X4) Miles covered/time: 3500/one year What’s good: It’s an off- and on-road lid in one. Detach the peak and you have a normal helmet for the road. Put it back on and it’s an off-road/adventure lid with a visor. The Arai name gives you a certain confidence in the level ...
- Motorcycle Products
- Helmets
- 02 February 2012
Xena XX10 Disc Lock Alarm, £64.99Time owned: 18 months What’s good: It’s a formidable disc lock and self-arming alarm. By means of jiggery pokery, it can tell whether or not it’s attached to a disc. When it is, the slightest movement will set off a piercing alarm. When it isn’t, it won’t. It’s a handsome gadget in stainless steel. What’s ...
- Motorcycle Products
- Parts & accessories
- 20 January 2012
Keysinthepost.com replacement ignition key, £7.49 Miles covered/time: 500/two months What's good: An easy way to get a replacement key for motorcycles manufactured between 1970 and 2010. Just enter the number stamped on the original when making the online purchase, or upload a photo of it, and a new one will arrive by First Class post the following day for under ...
- Motorcycle Products
- Parts & accessories
- 23 November 2011
Garmin Zumo 220 satnav and Scala Bluetooth headset, £399.99Miles covered/time: 500/two months What's good: It’s waterproof and designed primarily for motorcycling but also has modes for driving, walking and cycling, with mounting brackets for motorbike and car included. The maps are decent, easily updated via a computer and cover Europe, and the device seldom struggles for a signal. It’s got ...
- Motorcycle Products
- Parts & accessories
- 23 November 2011
