Bike Kit

Year: ALL

Peaky blinders: Best peaked motorcycle helmets chosen by MCN

31 August 2023 by Justin Hayzelden

From adventure biking and trail riding to motocross, enduro and trials, there’s a peaked motorcycle helmet out there to suit every off-road occasion. The peak serves two main functions – to shield...

Italian flair: MCN picks the best AGV helmets on the market

31 August 2023 by Jim Blackstock

When it comes to motorcycle protection, AGV helmets are considered to be up there with the best of them. Their lids protect the heads of many of the world’s leading racers, with both Valentino Rossi...

Jacket review: Oxford Dakar Dry2Dry Air 1.0 Textile tried and tested

31 August 2023 by Adam Binnie

The Oxford Dakar jacket is a sports-adventure garment that promises to cope with anything a British summer can throw at it – from scorching hot sun one minute to barbecue-dowsing rain the next, and...

Jacket review: Furygan Narval tried and tested

31 August 2023 by Jim Blackstock

The Furygan Narval is designed specifically to take its cues from the company’s sports leather jackets but with that flexibility that being formed in textile material offers. It’s a relatively short,...

Textile suit review: Spidi Alpentrophy tried and tested

31 August 2023 by Jim Blackstock

The Spidi Alpentrophy is my second suit from the brand and is even more impressive than the predecessor, which I also had. It’s a very highly-specified combination that has seen me through several...

Textile suit review: Oxford Mondial tried and tested

31 August 2023 by Jim Blackstock

When it launched, the Oxford Mondial jacket was £250 and the trousers were £200, making a laminated textile suit for well below £500 – a huge achievement. However, many other manufacturers have caught...

Jacket review: Alpinestars T-Fuse tried and tested

31 August 2023 by Jim Blackstock

The Alpinestars T-Fuse is a short, sporty motorcycle jacket that was first released a couple of years ago. It has now been discontinued, but you can still find it online if you go looking, bear in...

Winter warmers: Best heated motorcycle jackets and vests

31 August 2023 by Jim Blackstock

Riding in winter and unpredictable spring can be tedious – and incredibly dangerous – if riders are not adequately prepared for it. However, heated vests and motorcycle jackets are the perfect...

Brace for the cold: Best winter motorbike jackets

31 August 2023 by Jim Blackstock

Winter motorbike jackets are a crucial purchase if you ride year round because, if there’s one thing you can be sure about motorcycling in winter – at some point it will be cold. But while that...

Double glaze your helmet: How to fit a Pinlock visor insert

31 August 2023 by Jim Blackstock

The adoption of the Pinlock anti-fog visor insert has been huge – virtually all helmet manufacturers now offer this system to prevent the inside of the visor from misting and for some, an insert is...

Visor spray review: Muc-Off Premium anti-fog spray tried and tested

31 August 2023 by Jim Blackstock

Muc-Off Anti-Fog Spray is an inexpensive way to avoid misting up when wearing goggles or a helmet visor with no Pinlock option. Most riders will know by now that the best way to keep the inside of...

Visor spray review: Nikwax Visor Proof tried and tested

31 August 2023 by Jim Blackstock

Nikwax Visor Proof works by forcing the water on your helmet to band together so that the droplets get big and heavy enough to run off. Now most helmet visors will do this though you may need to...

Jacket review: Merlin Edale tried and tested

31 August 2023 by Jim Blackstock

The Merlin Edale is a waxed cotton motorcycle jacket that combines protection, a classic look and some waterproofing performance. When I think of waxed cotton jackets, I either conjure images of...

Jacket review: Merlin Drifter tried and tested

31 August 2023 by Jim Blackstock

The Merlin Drifter is part of the firm’s Explorer range, so it has a definite touch of adventure to it though it looks and feels equally at home on a retro or worn with a pair of riding jeans. One...

Jacket review: Spada Ascent tried and tested

31 August 2023 by Jim Blackstock

The Spada Ascent is a touring/adventure style textile jacket that’s good to go whether you’re commuting through winter or taking on a round-the-world trip. There are some genuine bargains around...

Textile suit review: Duchinni Hurricane jacket and Pacific pants tried and tested

31 August 2023 by Jim Blackstock

It’s a fallacy that you have to pay top money for top protection when it comes to motorcycle clothing. Sure, there are benefits to spending more, like extra features but that doesn’t mean that you...

Safety in style: Best casual textile motorcycle jackets

31 August 2023 by Jim Blackstock

Casual textile motorcycle jackets offer all the comfort and style of a fashion garment but also carry some level of proper protection to the rider. Sometimes, you want the full-length protection...

Tailored to your needs: Best high-end textile motorcycle suits

31 August 2023 by Jim Blackstock

Nothing protects like leather, but by using the very latest materials such as Gore-Tex, sophisticated waterproof yet breathable membranes, removable thermal linings, CE-rated protectors and armour and...

Fabulous fabrics: Best textile motorcycle jackets

31 August 2023 by Jim Blackstock

A motorcycle jacket has so many functions, that cramming them all into a single garment can sometimes seem impossible. Back in the day there wasn’t really much choice. However, there are plenty out...

Woven winners: Best sporty textile motorcycle jackets

31 August 2023 by Jim Blackstock

While leather can offer the highest levels of protection rating, a sporty textile jacket can come close and add functionality such as breathability alongside waterproofing (generally mutually...

Textile suit review: T.ur’s J-Zero jacket and P-Zero trousers tried and tested

31 August 2023 by Adam Binnie

The T.ur J-Zero jacket and P-Zero trousers promise long-distance comfort in hostile climates, with a cut and style more suited to spoked wheels and crash bars than plainer touring...

Autumn bargain: Oxford Hinterland tried and tested

31 August 2023 by Jim Blackstock

The Oxford Hinterland is the flagship textile jacket-and-trouser combination from the British brand’s product range, which is itself already famous for among other things, great value riding kit and a...

Getting fresh: How to wash textile motorbike kit

31 August 2023 by Jim Blackstock

It’s a fact of life that if you ride year-round or in all conditions, then you will probably need to wash your kit sooner or later. Mud, salt and road grime make a right mess of clothing. While it...

Divide and conquer: Best two-piece motorcycle touring suits

31 August 2023 by Jim Blackstock

A two-piece motorcycle touring suit offers great protection, warmth and waterproofing for riding long distances in comfort. You have the option of zipping the two pieces together or you can match the...

Textile suit review: Dane Drakar tried and tested

31 August 2023 by Jim Blackstock

In its most basic form, the Dane Drakar is a mesh suit that is lightweight and comfortable and allows masses of cooling air to keep the rider cool – essential for any tour in warmer climates. However,...

Textile suit review: RST Pro Series Adventure X-CE ladies tried and tested

31 August 2023 by Saffron Wilson

Since I have the Aprilia Tuareg as my long-term test bike this year (2022), it was the perfect opportunity to try out some off-road kit, and the RST Pro Series Adventure X suit has been my go-to every...

Hit the dirt: Best enduro helmets as picked by MCN

31 August 2023 by Jim Blackstock

If you’re an off-roader, then the chances are that somewhere along the line, you’ll decide you want a proper off-road enduro helmet. That’s not to say that adventure-style helmets are not for you –...

Helmet review: Shoei GT-Air II tried and tested

31 August 2023 by Michael Neeves

The Shoei GT-Air 2 motorcycle helmet replaced the original GT Air and has been around since in 2019. In that time, it’s received plaudits from customers and awarded a Ride magazine ‘Best Buy’ green...

Off the beaten track: Best adventure bike helmets as chosen by MCN

31 August 2023 by Jon Urry

Adventure bike helmets are usually full face and come with a visor but also feature a peak like an off-road helmet. They also usually feature lots of venting to keep you cool when Adventure bike...

Helmet review: Nishua NFX-3 Carbon tried and tested

31 August 2023 by Jim Blackstock

The Nishua NFX 3 Carbon flip-front carbon helmet is a bit of an odd-looking beast, it has to be said. But below that slightly unconventional exterior lies a comfortable and very useful helmet that is...

Helmet review: Nolan N70-2 X tried and tested

31 August 2023 by Jim Blackstock

Adventure helmets, like the Nolan N70-2 X are a bit of an odd beast and have several seemingly mutually exclusive requirements. They are intended for bikes that can be used on-road as well as off so...

Summer breeze: Best open-face motorcycle helmets

31 August 2023 by Jim Blackstock

We’ve all seen plenty of movies and TV shows – most notably from across the Pond – where bikers wear open-face motorcycle helmets and are bathed in glorious warm sunlight as they ride care-free along...

Helmet review: Klim Krios Pro tried and tested

31 August 2023 by Michael Guy

The top of line Klim Krios Pro adventure helmet takes a revolutionary approach to protection, employing several cutting edge features to set it apart from the competition. Top of the list is the use...

City slickers: Best jet motorcycle helmets

31 August 2023 by Jim Blackstock

Jet motorcycle helmets are the best helmets to feel the freedom you get from an open face without sacrificing all the safety. For many, the feeling of wearing an open-face motorcycle helmet and the...

Next-gen safety: Best kids’ motorbike helmets

31 August 2023 by Jim Blackstock

A kids’ motorbike helmet should be the very first thing on your mind before you let your little one loose on a motorbike for the first time. Most parents would put their children’s safety and...

Peewee adventures: Best kids dirtbike helmets

31 August 2023 by Jim Blackstock

When kids make their start in motorcycling it’s likely to be off-road somewhere, so of all the helmet options a kids dirtbike helmet would be ideal. There are a variety of reasons for this, not least...