MO Tested: Dainese Smart Jacket Review

The first wave of motorcycle airbag systems largely involved built-in components within a suit or ones that required that they be installed in airbag-specific gear. Although there were some outliers, most notably the Helite Turtle Airbag Vest that requires being worn over the jacket with a tether to the bike, the airbag era is entering the phase where the safety system is garment-agnostic. These systems from Alpinestars, Dainese, and Klim take the form of vests that can be worn inside or outside a rider’s regular gear. While we’ve had the opportunity to wear the first wave of airbags in their specific jackets/suits from multiple vendors, the Dainese Smart Jacket is our first shot at a second wave airbag system. Although I’ve been lucky enough not to crash in it during my time testing the Smart Jacket, it has very quickly become part of my regular riding kit. 

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MO Tested: Alpinestars SP X Air Carbon V2 Glove Review

The thing I love most about the change of seasons is getting reacquainted with different pieces of riding gear. Case-in-point, the recent late spring weather made me pull out my vented gear, and I’ve discovered, again, how much I like the Alpinestars SP X Air Carbon V2 Gloves. How much is that? Well, I wear them with riding gear that doesn’t begin with the letter A, which the PR representatives of the other gear manufacturers will say is not an appropriate thing for a moto-journalist to do. Let’s take a look at what goes into a glove that I have gotten quite fond of, shall we?

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Best Vented Motorcycle Boots

Updated March 2020:

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Best Motorcycle Touring Suits

Motorcycle touring, traditionally, means we’re sticking pretty much to pavement. Though you can wear any of these for Adventure riding, we have a whole other list of  suits more suited to life off the beaten path, designed for the most part with even more freedom of motion and impact absorption. Every suit here, from the one-piece Aerostich to the jacket/pants combinations of the others, are a bit closer-fitting for reduced drag at highway speeds, with plenty of ventilation but not too much, and with enhanced abrasion resistance as well as armor. When you’re caught out in the rain after dark, you’ll be glad to find yourself inside any one of them.

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Everything You Wanted To Know About MIPS

Stop and think about helmets for a minute. Undoubtedly the most important piece of safety equipment motorcyclists wear, have you thought about what goes into testing a helmet? Basically, a helmet is dropped straight down onto a surface and the results of the impact are measured. That’s all well and good, but there’s more to a crash than the impact itself. And besides, how many accidents involve the rider falling straight down, as if dropped from a building?

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Best Winter Motorcycle Jackets

Updated: November 2019

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Alpinestars Ride Day

Recently, Alpinestars threw open the doors at Willow Springs Raceway for a day of motorcycle-focused fun. With the famed Big Track open to all comers – many who were experiencing a closed course environment for the first time – it was hard for the attendees not to have a good time. All of this, however, begs the question: What’s in it for Alpinestars? Yes, we were all wearing gear made by the apparel company (and if we didn’t have any, it was loaned to us), but this wasn’t an introduction where we were to experience a new piece of protective riding gear. The point was, it seems, to simply have fun riding motorcycles with friends. Oh, and hopefully create some new fans of track riding. You see, some of the first time track riders were name-brand Alpinestars-sponsored athletes in other disciplines. You know, influencers who have the means to preach the racetrack riding gospel and hopefully get more people interested in riding motorcycles. 

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Alpinestars Missile Ignition Suit Review

Full disclosure before we begin: I’m a former Alpinestars employee. But don’t take that to mean I’m a fan of all its products. There are definitely some duds. A perplexing one was the first-generation Missile Tech-Air suit. At a thousand bucks, it was a novel idea as a relatively affordable entry-level airbag-compatible suit. The thing going against it was fit (at least for me) – I didn’t like the fit at all. At 5-foot, 8-inches, 150 pounds, with a 30-inch inseam and 31-inch waist, I’m about as average as they come in regards to body size and type. Still, the Missile was uncomfortable. The proportions were wrong and it was tight in the hips and knees, making it difficult to move my lower body the way I wanted.

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Best Deals On Motorcycle Gear At Revzilla For The Week Of July 15

A certain Seattle-based online retail giant is holding a big sales event this week, but retailers like Revzilla are holding sales of their own. In this week’s edition of Revzilla deals, we see a few dirt bike-focused items and riding jackets.

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Best Deals On Motorcycle Gear At Revzilla For The Week Of July 1

Happy first week of July, everyone. With summer in full swing, you’ve hopefully had the chance to get some riding in. If you have, by now you’re probably aware of any potential upgrades or replacements you need to make to your moto wardrobe. In this week’s edition of Revzilla deals, there are an assortment of products for Adventure, touring, and even off-road riders.

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Best, Hot New July 4th Motorcycle Deals!

Anniversaries are a time for celebration, and this July 4th holiday, what better way to celebrate the 243rd anniversary of America’s independence than by getting some killer deals on gear to make your motorcycle ride even better. Here, we’ve rounded up a bunch of items that are on deep discount this July 4th holiday, with some big tickets items being offered at almost half-off full retail pricing. Take a look around, and if you see something that catches your eye, now is the time to act – these deals won’t last forever.

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MO Tested: Alpinestars Supertech R Boots Review

Yes, that’s right, you get two pairs of boots when you purchase the Alpinestars Supertech R boots. There’s a catch, though. You have to wear both pairs of boots at once. Well, I suppose you could walk around your house in the inner booties so that your family can mock you, like mine did, when I first tried on the Supertechs, but really, the inner booties are a secret best kept between you and the outer Supertech boot. In case you’re wondering why two sets of boots, I’ll tell ya, and once you consider it, the idea makes a lot of sense. The two different boots that combine to make the Supertech R serve different purposes. 

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Gear Deals For Women Riders

We thought we’d take the time to look at some riding gear specifically designed for those who now make up a growing 19% of the motorcycle market in the United States. Whether the woman in your life is either a rider or a passenger – or perhaps the woman in your life is you – quality motorcycle gear is essential to a pleasurable and safe riding experience. The good news about this guide is that most of the gear is discounted from 10% up to 65% off its retail price, based on the current status of the sale page.

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Eric Bostrom Giving Away Race Leathers To Spread Awareness For Natural Pain Relief

You might remember Eric Bostrom from his days racing Kawasakis on both the national and international level. While highly successful, E-Boz’s post-racing life has seen him dealing with the lingering injuries he sustained in racing while continuing to live an active lifestyle. He decided to tackle the source of the pain with natural remedies instead of relying on medications. His solution is a company he’s founded called Backmate. Here you can find information related to natural healing as well as dedicated products to help relieve pain. And to spread awareness about natural, lasting solutions for pain, Bostrom is giving away memorabilia from his racing career. It started with this custom Kawasaki jacket and continues now with one of Eric’s Alpinestars leather suits. Says Bostrom:

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Best Summer Motorcycle Jackets

Summer, as in hot weather. So hot it’s tempting to take the car instead of the bike and turn up the AC. Don’t fall into that trap. From there it’s a short trip to sloth and gluttony, followed shortly by despair. It’s always going to be tough to stay cool when you’re stopped, but once rolling, the miracle of convective cooling means you can remain reasonably chill even when the temperature starts climbing into triple digits – if you’ve got the right gear. The key is being able to adjust the airflow around your body, staying hydrated, and using your built-in cooling system to convect heat away from yourself. Here’s a quick sampler of the right stuff.

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