New Ideas
NEW IDEAS
Twisted Throttle Denali D2 LED Lights
Twisted Throttle offers a wide-ranging selection of aftermarket add-ons for Triumph’s new mid-size threecylinder 800 adventure-tourer and its more offroad-oriented sibling, the 800 XC. Among the multitude of parts showcased here are new dimmable (high/low) Denali D2 LED lights ($349.99). These compact night blasters are said to provide 70 percent more luminous flux (effective brightness) than the original Denali D1s ($249.99) without increasing the 10-watt/0.75-amp per-lamp draw on your bike’s electrical system. D2s have rugged die-cast aluminum housings and unbreakable polycarbonate lenses. Mounting brackets and wiring harnesses are included.
Twisted Throttle, LLC, 570 Nooseneck Hill Rd., Exeter, Rl 02822; 401/284-4200; www.twistedthrottle.com
Blackstone Tek Carbon Fiber Yamaha VMax Wheels
Yamaha’s V-Four-engined VMax may be the ultimate musclebike, but tipping the scales at nearly 700 pounds, it sure is heavy! Blackstone Tek’s five-spoke 18-inch carbon-fiber wheels weigh a claimed combined 25.2 lb—8.25 lb. for the front and 16.95 for the rear—and are said to dramatically improve handling. Aluminum hubs are CNC-machined for a perfect original-equipment fit, and the clear-coated carbon complements the VMax’s aluminum trim. Per-pair price is $5290; add $150 for ceramic bearings.
Brock’s Performance, 4064 E. Patterson Rd., Dayton, OH 45430; 937/912-0054; www.brocksperformance.com
Brooks By Everest Criterion Mk1 Jacket
The classic British riding coat is alive and well! Except that the bespoketailor Timothy Everest-designed Brooks Criterion Mk1 (S-XL;
$1400) makes traditional waxed-cotton enduro jackets look and feel like zippered potato sacks.
Lightweight, breathable and weatherproof, the densely woven Ventile cotton shell is cut for riding comfort, has angled chest storage and a rear map pocket and is finished with subtle reflective piping.
Fox Brothers & Co. tweed wool lining is coated to shrug off perspiration, and all hardware is finished with genuine copper. Just 500 of these hand-numbered and signed jackets will be produced.
Bench & Loom; www.benchandloom.com
Vans Ryan Villopoto Shoes
Ryan Villopoto had an incredible year in 2011.
The Kawasaki factory rider won both the AMA Supercross and Motocross titles, led a U.S. sweep in the FIM Motocross of Nations and scored a $1 million payout at the Monster Energy Cup. Vans rewarded the California native with not one but two styles of his own signature shoes: Fontana ($70) and Ruark ($65). Both models feature Vanslite midsoles and come in black with green, yellow and blue accents, as well as Villopoto’s signature and number on the footbed.
Vans, 6550 Katella Ave., Cypress, CA 90630; 714/889-6100; www.vans.com/mx
Saddlemen Heated Road Sofa and Explorer Seats
Saddlemen has added, ahem, a hot new feature to its top-of-the-line touring seats: heat. Now, in addition to hand-sewn covers, dual-density foam and gel inserts, the Road Sofa ($711.95; $879.95 with backrest) and Explorer (shown; $664.95; $849.95 with a backrest) can be ordered with a five-level bun-warmer in either High or Low versions. Temperatures for rider and passenger are adjusted through separate single-button hand-held controllers.
Saddlemen, 17801 S. Susana Rd., Rancho Dominguez, CA 90221; 800/397-7709; www.saddlemen.com
Scorpion Assailant Jacket
Here’s a riding jacket that offers more than meets the eye. The Scorpion Assailant (S-XXL; $359.95) is constructed of tough, 1.2-1.4mm top-grain leather, trimmed with reflective NightViz and bolstered by Exo-Stitch reinforced seams. Inside, you’ll find CE-approved, ventilated Exo-Tec armor at the shoulders and elbows, plus a back pad and a removable EverHeat thermal liner. When the mercury rises, perforated panels in conjunction with Scorpion’s AirVent system keep air flowing throughout the jacket. S3
Scorpion Sports, Inc., 25921 Atlantic Ocean Dr., Lake Forest, CA 92630; 888/672-6774; www.scorpionusa.com
Dunlop Sportmax Roadsmart II
Okay, Dunlop’s new Sportmax Roadsmart II isn’t built for barreling lap after lap through mega-high-speed Turn 1 at Road America. But for anything that commuters, sporttouring riders or even hard-charging racer-replica pilots can throw at it on city streets, backroads and interstates, the dual-compound replacement for the original Roadsmart is engineered to surpass expectations, rain or shine. In fact, when it was developing the new-look Roadsmart II,
Dunlop placed a premium on “multiple-tire expectations”—linear and responsive steering characteristics, dry traction on par with pure sport tires, greater durability and outstanding wet-weather grip. Suggested retail prices range from $201.59 to $213.54 for front tires (four sizes) and $266.62 to $292.95 for rears (eight sizes).
Goodyear Dunlop Tires, N.A., Ltd., P.O. Box 1109, Buffalo, NY 14240; 800/845-8378; www.dunlopmotorcycle.com
