Product Reviews
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Review: Bell Star, £399.99
08 December 2016 by
Time tested: 6500 miles/six months What’s good? My very first helmet was a Bell RT, back in 1981 when I started riding on the road – and they have certainly come on since then. The Bell Star was...
Review: Mashed Green Davida Jet Helmet £298.99
08 December 2016 by
Time Tested: seven years/10,000 miles What’s Good: I don’t often wear an open-face lid, but each time I do I’m surprised by how comfortable and quiet they are. This Davida is so good that I...
Review: BKS Prowess ladies leather suit, £649.99
30 November 2016 by
Time tested: 2000 miles What’s good: In 2008 the great British made-to-measure leathers manufacturer BKS created a range of off-the-peg items for the Frank Thomas Group, which included this top-spec...
Review: Dunlop Trailsmart tyres
30 November 2016 by
Time tested: Five months/2500 miles What’s good? Should you be unhinged enough to want to take a 650cc trail bike on a trackday, you need these tyres. I fitted them myself to the wheels of the XT660R...
Review: Bullit shock
30 November 2016 by
What’s good? Built by British firm K-Tech under their Bullit brand, this shock has made a major difference to my Ducati Scrambler. The Scrambler’s stock item is quite soft and also lacks finesse when...
Review: S-Doc Chain Cleaner Power Gel
30 November 2016 by
What’s good? This is an incredibly effective chain cleaner which works effortlessly to remove S-Doc chain lube and will tackle most other brands with ease too. The process is simple; spray on, leave...
Review: Schuberth SR2
30 November 2016 by
What’s good? The new SR2 is a development of the excellent SR1, Schuberth’s most sporting helmet to date, so there’s plenty to get excited about. I wore an SR1 for three years and particularly liked...
RiDE Review: Altberg Roadrunner
25 November 2016 by
Traditional-looking boots, with nothing to grab the eye and no novelties that leap out of the spec sheet. But they work, and feel like they’ll keep on working forever. We’ve been wearing these for six...
Rated: Hideout Hi-Pro textile jacket and trousers
16 November 2016 by
Tested by Rupert Paul, Editor of MCN Sport Time tested: one year/5000 miles What’s good? One look at the price tells you this suit belongs among the poshest winter protection gear, alongside...
Rated: BMW Rallye 3 gloves
16 November 2016 by
Tested by: James Archibald, Web Producer Time tested: four months/3000 miles What’s good? The Rallye are a light glove designed primarily for warm weather and off-road use, and they’ve been great over...
Rated: Sigma slipper clutch for Kawasaki ER-6
16 November 2016 by
Tested by Adam Child, MCN Senior Road Tester Time tested three months/ two racing weekends at Oliver’s Mount What’s good? My Lightweight TT bike is producing just short of 90bhp and the standard ER-6...
Alpinestars neck warmer
16 November 2016 by
Time used Three months/3000 miles What’s good? It’s probably my age, but unless it’s tropical outside I can’t ride without something to keep my neck warm. For the past three years I’ve been wearing my...
Rated: Held Zorro jacket and Vader jeans
09 November 2016 by
Tester: Tony Hoare Time tested: six months/3000 miles What’s good? The standard of construction on this simple textile suit is excellent and the combination offers very good value for money. The...
Review: Shark Spartan helmet
09 November 2016 by
Tester Adam Child Time tested Six months/5000miles What’s Good? I should have listened to MCN’s Consumer Editor years ago and opted for a specific touring helmet rather than wearing one of my race...
Rated: GT85 Lubricant
09 November 2016 by
Time tested: Three months What’s good? GT85 has so far proved itself to be immensely useful. It’s incredibly good at cleaning chains, and even better at removing stubborn wheel grime which every other...
Alpinestars GP Pro jacket
09 November 2016 by
Time used Five years/20,000 miles What’s good? Everyone has their favourite, slightly scruffy black leather biker jacket – one they adore and just keep coming back to again and again. This is mine:...
RiDE Review: Sidi Armada GoreTex
04 November 2016 by
Excellent boots with more going on than meets the eye. Velcro flap over the zip can be removed to put the boots into a more summery mode. There’s a stretchy top panel at the rear, and an elasticated...
Rated: Area 22 anti-slip adjustable short levers for Suzuki
02 November 2016 by
Area 22 Anti-Slip Adjustable Short Motorcycle Levers for Suzuki (£74.95) Tester Dan Sutherland Time tested: 1700 miles What’s good? These are the first short levers I have ever used on a bike and I...
Rated: AIM SmartyCam GP HD
01 November 2016 by
Tester Emma Franklin Time tested Two race meetings What’s good: This professional-spec bullet camera both records all your on-track action in 1280p HD and also instantly creates data overlay graphics,...
RiDE Review: Daytona Road Star GTX
01 November 2016 by
Lower than other touring boots, these heavily built Daytonas are instantly comfortable. The calf width is adjustable, and there’s the choice of a wide fitting at no extra cost. They’re good to walk in...
Petzl Tikkina head torch review (£13.11)
27 October 2016 by
What’s good about the Petzl Tikkina head torch? This is very much at the budget end of the head-torch spectrum, but I took the plunge on the basis that it was from a solid brand, and had attracted a...
Top 5 outdoor bike covers
24 October 2016 by
MCN Shop Winter is coming and that usually means that the weather will be wetter than its usual average. Protecting your bike from the elements is one of the biggest concerns for those who park outside and one...
RiDE Review: Shark Skwal
13 October 2016 by
The slightly square back of the Skwal doesn’t affect its stability, even at speed. It is a squeeze to get on, but it’s comfy with a pleasantly non-sweaty liner. The field of view is deep and wide,...
Reviewed: Tucano urbano Diluvio waterproof jacket and trousers
12 October 2016 by
Time used: Six months/6000 miles What’s good? These have kept me dry on numerous big-mile cross-continental trips, commuting and MCN test riding. They have the reassuring durability and protection of...
Rated: Oxford Products X30 Tailpack
12 October 2016 by
Time tested: Six months/1500 miles What’s good? This pack has its own bungee straps and Velcro attachments so it’s easy to get things in place. The size suits a day trip or a weekend break for one and...
Rated: Aldi balaclava
12 October 2016 by
Time used: 2000 miles What’s good? If you feel the cool, then this is just the job. I always hold off with the extra layers until I really need them. I don’t worry on short runs, but if I’m out for...
Suomy Halo review
12 October 2016 by
Time used: Five months/600 miles What’s good? I used to really like Suomy helmets and for as long as they were being brought into the UK they were my helmet of choice – they fitted my head perfectly.
Top 5 race boots for under £300
12 October 2016 by
MCN SHOP Race boots represent the pinnacle of riding protection for your feet, ankles and shins. Solid cups should keep your heels and toes guarded against crushing, as should a solid shank in the sole that...
RiDE review: Nolan N87
12 October 2016 by
The N87 is quiet at low speed but gets a little noisier above 100mph. The field of vision is good and the seam of the Pinlock never obstructs the view. The multi-adjustable sun visor, operated by a...
RiDE review: HJC FG-ST
11 October 2016 by
The FG-ST feels like a high-spec lightweight lid, from the smart matt-finish paint to the smooth, non-itchy liner. The field of view is good and deep, so the seam of the Max-Vision Pinlock never gets...
Caberg Drift helmet review (£209.99)
10 October 2016 by
What’s good about the Caberg Drift helmet? Caberg are normally associated with cheaper helmets with thermoplastic shells, but this is part of the Italian firm’s attempt to move upmarket. The Drift has...
What's good and what's not about Spada's Curve Evo Boots?
07 October 2016 by
Time tested: Six months/4000 miles What's good? Considering the price, these boots have been excellent. They've stood up to lots of wear, have been comfortable and haven’t made my feet excessively...
What's good and what's not about Draggin's Selvedge jeans?
06 October 2016 by
MCN Shop Time tested: Two months/1500 miles What’s good? At £200, these are a stylish addition to the Draggin Jeans range and are a welcome alternative to so many pairs of grim, stone-washed...
What's good and what's not about Richa's Falcon jacket?
04 October 2016 by
MCN Shop Time tested: One month/1700 miles What’s good? A great jacket on a budget. The red and white design offers a good level of visibility without being too extreme and there is enough neutral...
Spada Pilgrim riding shoes review (£99.99)
04 October 2016 by
What’s good about the Spada Pilgrim riding shoes? These look great. When you ride a retro like my Ducati Scrambler it seems daft turning up with full-on boots, but wearing footwear that’s not designed...
Segura Nomad jacket: 'Great fit for my 6ft 5in frame'
03 October 2016 by
Time tested: Four months/850 miles What’s good? At 6ft 5in I have a difficult time finding jackets that fit properly. Usually they’re too short in the body or made for someone who’s more rotund around...