New Ideas

NEW IDEAS

Kryptonite Krypto-Cable lock

Unlike its namesake, Kryptonite’s new cable-lock won't put the fear into Superman, but it sure ought to put the hurt on would-be thieves. The 6.5-foot-long, vinyl-coated, 9/16-inch-diameter steel cable weighs a claimed 1.7 pounds and features a tubular keyway similar to that used in Kryptonite’s other locks. It’s available in any color—so long as it’s black—for a suggested retail price of $34.95. To find out more, contact the Kryptonite Corp., 95 Freeport St., Boston, MA 02122; (617) 288-2336.

Works Performance fork springs

You can't tune a fish, but you can tune a guitar—or a pair of Works Performance dual-rate fork springs. The Works coils use a nut-and-bolt arrangement offering approximately 1 inch of adjustment to fine-tune the point at which the stiffer spring comes into play. They’re available for a wide range of street bikes for $69.95 from Works Performance Products, 8730 Shirley Ave., Northridge, CA 91324; (818) 701-1010.

Bel-Ray MC-11 grease

Grease your palms—or your bike—with Bel-Ray’s waterproof multipurpose grease. The slippery stuff uses an aluminum complex formula that prevents melting, and it’s unaffected by salt or fresh water, according to the manufacturer. It comes in 14-ounce tubs or cartridges for $2.95, and you can find out more by sliding down to your dealer, or squirting off a letter to Bel-Ray Co., 10015 Muirlands Blvd., #G, Irvine, CA 92714; (714) 859-0933.

Kushitani back protector

Getting down off your bike at speed during a day at the races might mean a night in the hospital. Rather than harp on the possibility, though, consider wearing Kushitani’s back protector to make those off-bike excursions less painful. It’s made of dual-density, closed-cell foam with plastic panels riveted down the center of its 23-inch length. A nylon-web belt secured with Velcro holds the protector in place. Suggested retail price is $57, and it’s available from the California Superbike School Inc., P.O. Box 3743, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266; (213) 484-9323.

Cool-Power refrigerated helmet

A hot summer sun beating down on your helmet can make your head feel like it’s being parboiled. To help you keep your cool, though, Cool-Power offers its refrigerated helmet. Underneath the fiberglass shell, a solid-state, thermoelectric module cools a liquid-filled vinyl bladder that lies against the wearer’s scalp. In addition, the system draws its power from the bike’s 12-volt battery, and features a temperature controller to adjust the amount of cooling. The DOT-approved helmet comes in M-XL, in black, white or red, for a suggested retail price of $499. To find out more, contact Cool-Power Inc., 538 Haggard St., Suite 412, Plano, TX 75074; (214) 424-5770.

Fox Comp-2 boots

Tired of barking up the wrong tree in your hunt for the ultimate off-road footgear? If so, try a pair of Comp-2 boots from Fox Racing. Fox drew heavily on design input from Ricky Johnson, then had renowned bootmakers Alpine Stars construct the Comp-2s. Features include Fox's Quick-Draw lacing, dual Velcro closures and Cam-Lock buckles for fine fit-adjustments. They come in sizes 4-13 in white or blue for a suggested retail price of $175. To find out more, skulk on down to your dealer, or contact Fox Racing, 520 McGlincy Lane, Campbell, CA, 95008.