Product Reviews

What’s good about the Ultimate Ear custom filtered earplugs? Opinion on custom earplugs has always been divided, it seems you either get on with them or you don’t. I fall into the first category and...

What’s good about the Alpinestars Nucleon KR-2 back protector? This is Alpinestars’ top of the range, Level 2 CE certified back protector, designed for adventure touring. What’s the difference between...

MCN ShopCheck out the selection below, in no particular order...   Bell Custom 500 RSD Check It £159.99 Bell were in right at the beginning of jet helmets and that gives this helmet instant...

What’s good about the Barbour Black Shadow International Jacket? This is an absolute classic of a jacket, originally developed in 1936 for the International Six Day Trial (ISDT); it has been the...

What’s good about the Richa TG1 overboot trousers? These are the best off-the-peg leather jeans I have ever seen. You get cooling zips on your thighs, zips to join the jeans to a jacket (all-round or...

What’s good about the Drift Stealth 2 action camera? It’s small, relatively cheap, easy to use and easy to mount to a bike and the footage is decent enough. The main plus is the ease of use. There are...

A great lid at a great price, the Compact shows it’s a polycarbonate helmet only with its hefty weight. It has a decent field of view, and a two-position sun visor operated by a lever on the side. On...

What’s good about the Rev’It Climate mid-layer thermal? The Climate mid-layer is a tight fit and slips easily under my motorcycle jacket, compressing to my body. It’s exceptionally light and probably...

What’s good about the Shoei J-O helmet? It only took a few miles to feel comfortable and when riding on a warm day it’s cool, literally, and I definitely feel the experience of riding. The visor is...

The super-slick visor opens easily with a secure two-lever pinch system. It’s light and comfortable, with a plush liner, though the chinbar is close fitting. Vision is decent, with a variable-position...

What’s good about the Wolf Spirit leather jacket? The Spirit definitely looks the part. The leather has a rich, attractive colour and feels heavyweight and tough, the removable cotton lining is nicely...

What’s good about the Bullet Clear View visor shine? This visor cleaning kit is a great value product that comprises carnauba wax polish in a spray bottle and also comes with two microfibre cloths;...

Very well made, with decent vents, a plush interior and a glove-friendly flip mechanism. Vision is excellent. The sun visor is a good size and is steplessly adjustable. It’s not a light helmet, most...

What’s good about the Shark Speed-R Carbon Series 2? I love the look of this lid and it feels lovely and light (the carbon version weighs just 1370g). I like the internal sun visor and use it often. I...

What’s good about the Roland Sands Clash jacket? This stunning jacket has to be one of the most stylish on the market. Every time I’m pictured wearing it in MCN I get emails asking where it’s from and...

This is super light for a flip-front lid – as light as most top-end full-face sports helmets. It’s made of carbonfibre, with large areas exposed beneath the lacquer to show the weave (including the...

What’s good about the Rev’It Freemont boots? Out of the box, these fashionable full-grain leather short boots feel really robust and well made, especially with their injection-moulded ankle...

What’s good about the Racer Stratos 2 gloves? Racer have thought everything through to come up with a pair of gloves that do the job without looking flash or being packed with extraneous features.

What’s good about the Acerbis bike stand? Occasionally you stumble across a tool you hope might prove reasonably useful over time but instead becomes an instant, integral and indispensable part of...

What’s good about the Alpinestars Yari Drystar gloves? Off-road gloves are invariably lightweight to give the rider the grip and feel they want, but this means those gloves offer no weather protection...

What’s good about the Teng Tools Soft Face Hammer? It’s a hammer! Hammers are inherently good. While you might think they’re all the same, this is the best soft-faced hammer I’ve owned in my 35 years...

What’s good about the Alpinestars Oscar Charlie denim jeans? These retro-style, armoured riding jeans are comfortable on and off the bike. They’re made from stretch denim, for comfort, and I like the...

What’s good about the Wolf Euro leather jacket? This gear takes me right back to the start of my biking life, riding around Margate in a black leather jacket with metal zips and buckles. Sometimes you...

What’s good about the Aldi Leather Jacket? Well-designed considering the price tag, this jacket has good Velcro-type cuffs and zips, a double popper on the neck and soft padding round the collar. This...

What’s good about the Overboard phone bike mount? I used Overboard’s standard waterproof phone case back in 2014 for about 7000 miles. It’s a fantastic bit of kit which keeps your phone 100% dry (I...

What’s good about the Draggin Jeans Next Gen? I wanted a pair of jeans I could wear on my 20-minute ride to work that I could then wear through the day and on the ride home again. Messing about...

What’s good about the Held Spire two-piece leather suit? Two-piece leather suits like this aren’t as common as they used to be, but there are benefits. They fit like a one-piece but give the...

What’s good about the Oxford Hardcore chain? The chain is just about long enough to wrap twice around a 200-section rear wheel so as to leave no part of the chain trailing on the floor. The shackle...

What’s good about the Fuelperformance XT660R fuel pump? It’s worked perfectly. My son Fred and I restored a Yamaha XT660R which had been to the Himalayas and back, and then sat in a garage for six...

What’s good about the Shark helmet racing bag? This is a simple and easy way to keep your helmet safe, secure and in one place with your spare visors. It easily accommodates a full-face lid with room...

What’s good about the Bell Bullitt Carbon RSD Mojo? With styling based on the Bell Star 120 from the 1970s (as worn by Evel Knievel) the RSD Mojo Bullitt is a close reproduction of that model but...

What’s good about the 6t9 Navy Motorbike Wash? This spray wash for motorcycles has been developed in conjunction with former racer and TV pundit James Whitham; himself a serial motorcycle restorer,...

What’s good about the Prexport Custom Boots? From first wear these have been a comfortable boot, both on and off the bike. The little heel sits nicely against the footpeg and helps me when I’m in the...

What’s good about the Knox Meta-Sys back protector? If you’re after a small, light back protector, then this probably isn’t for you. But if you’re looking for great back coverage and serious...

What’s good about the Richa Infinity jacket & Colorado trousers? The jacket reaches between the cracks of budget and mid-priced and features both waterproof and thermal inner layers for the...

What’s good about the Rev'IT Bellecour Ladies jacket? Beautiful quality and fit with a really distinctive cut, the Bellecour feels more like a fashion jacket than an item of biking kit, especially...