Motorcycle Equipment News and Reviews
RoadCarvin' Labs discovers, tests and reviews motorcycle equipment from mundane to strange and exotic.
Taylormade Racing announces 2009/2010 Suzuki GSXR 1000 GP Style Exhaust
Once again, the TaylorMade Racing’s team has created a totally unique clean style for your 2009/2010 Suzuki GSXR 1000. Combining high design with race proven engineering, the new S9 kit will blow you away with both looks and performance. Our underbelly muffler is dedicated to maximizing volume in the space available under the engine. Our exhaust has a fantastic sound that will stir the soul without going overboard.
The TaylorMade Racing 2009/2010 Suzuki GSXR 1000 kit is a slip on that eliminates the stock box and muffler, saving more than 20 pounds! The kit comes with both right and left side carbon fiber trim panels to blend the stock fairing into that aerodynamic MotoGP style. TaylorMade Racing’s carbon trim panels are 100% carbon fiber, with a natural lightweight race finish.
On the dyno combined with a PowerCommander V, the performance is an additional 10hp at the peak and +8hp mid range, that’s a 10% increase in power midrange! The kit comes with detailed installation instructions and all mounting hardware.
Click here to continue...Buying a replacement motorcycle battery? Who made it, and how to make it last longer.
YUASA Motorcycle Battery
Here are a couple of resources that can help you choose a new motorcycle battery.
First, here's a Consumer Reports automotive battery article that says, in part:
Click here to continue...Most auto batteries are made by just three manufacturers, Delphi, Exide, and Johnson Controls Industries. Each makes batteries sold under several different brand names. Delphi makes ACDelco and some EverStart (Wal-Mart) models. Exide makes Champion, Exide, Napa, and some EverStart batteries. Johnson Controls makes Diehard (Sears), Duralast (AutoZone), Interstate, Kirkland (Costco), Motorcraft (Ford), and some EverStarts.
Photography Equipment
Roadcarvin examines photography equipment.
Olympus PEN Camera: great for motorcycle trips?
Here's an awesome promo for the Olympus PEN camera
The Olympus PEN camera
| Related Products | |
|---|---|
 | Olympus PEN E-P1 12.3 MP Micro Four Thirds Interchangeable Lens Digital Camera with 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 Zuiko Digital Zoom Lens (Silver Body/Black Lens) ASIN or ISBN-10: B002CGSYKS |
9 New Models for 2010 - 2010 Harley Davidson Models Announced
Here are the highlights from the 2010 Harley-Davidson motorcycle model line-up announcement on July 25, 2009. The announcement includes 9 new models—here is a list of the 9 new models:
FLHTCUSE CVO Ultra Classic Electra Glide
2010 Harley-Davidson CVO Ultra Classic Electra Glide
The CVO™ Ultra Classic® Electra Glide® is a limited-production motorcycle for the discerning touring rider that combines custom paint, a potent powertrain and a well-chosen array of top-line accessories.
The CVO Ultra Classic Electra Glide is built on the innovative Touring chassis introduced by Harley-Davidson in 2009, based on a single-spar, rigid backbone frame and a stout swingarm developed to withstand the demands of long-haul touring riders and today's more-powerful engines.
Click here to continue...2009 Harley-Davidson FLHX Street Glide - First Ride
Photo by Kevin Wing.
The 2009 Harley-Davidson Street Glide, part of the 2009 Harley-Davidson Touring lineup is new from the ground up.
This lean and mean bagger features a lowered rear suspension and a smoked mini-wind screen. There are attractive styling features on the Street Glide, and the Black Pearl bike I rode looked great.
2009 FLHX Street Glide features
- New 2-1-2 exhaust system
- New engine isolation system
- New Isolated Drive System
- New Black Slotted Disc cast aluminum wheels, 17" front and 16" rear
- New Dunlop 407 tires, 130/80-17 front and 180/65-16 rear
- GTX hard saddlebags with color matched latches
- Optional ABS brakes - $795
- 40-watt Harman/Kardon audio system with CD/AM/FM/WB/MP3
Flossie, the Castrol robotic motorcycle rider...
Flossie, the Castrol robotic motorcycle 'rider'...: Photo courtesy of and copyright by Castrol
The uber-techs at Castrol have been hard at work perfecting a bad-ass robotic test "rider". Well, it doesn't really ride, but it can sit atop the motorcycle and do all the throttle, clutch, and shift actions that a human rider does.
Among the many stated benefits:
- Flossie can be fitted onto any bike or scooter for testing on a chassis dynamometer.
- Flossie can act like a new rider, learning how to operate all the controls, gaining proficiency over time.
- Flossie will perform the same gear change or the same acceleration time after time.
- Flossie doesn't get tired or saddle sore
- Flossie doesn’t mind the excruciating noise of the bike in the chamber as its engine screams away
- Flossie doesn't worry about riding in extremes of temperature
- And, most importantly, Flossie is a safe rider
(Source: Castrol)
Of course, I think this is complete bull. Castrol engineers built Flossie because it was just a wickedly-cool looking 'bot!
Here's a short YouTube video showing Flossie in action and one of the techs giving background details...
Lowepro Slingshot 200 All Weather Backpack Product Review
What do you do when you love to ride and shoot photos once you've graduated from a point-and-shoot camera? How do you bring along your digital SLR camera, spare batteries and memory cards, accessories, zoom/telephoto and other lenses, cleaning materials, and other goodies?
Sure, you can stuff everything into your garden-variety backpack, tank bag, or hard or soft luggage (if you have any), but your precious gear probably won't have much protection against dust, dirt, and damage. Improvised storage usually lacks convenience, and you may find yourself digging through your backpack for just the right item.
I've been packing a Canon digital SLR, lenses and accessories for several years now, and I have been seeking safe and convenient storage for combined motorcycle rides and photo shoots. A non-motorcyclist photographer friend gave me a quick demo of one of his Lowepro backpacks, and I soon began looking for a smaller Lowepro pack for motorcycle rides and other uses—when I found the Lowepro Slingshot 200 All Weather Backpack
Lowepro Slingshot 200 AW Backpack: Photo courtesy of and copyright by Lowepro USA
There's plenty of room for a digital SLR and accessories, and one or more medium-body telephoto/zoom lenses, such as a Canon EF 70-200mm telephoto zoom lens 
| Related Products | |
|---|---|
 | Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras ASIN or ISBN-10: B00006I53X |
 | Sigma 50-500mm f/4-6.3 EX DG HSM APO RF Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras ASIN or ISBN-10: B0009F3MPQ |
 | Lowepro Slingshot 200 All Weather Backpack (Black) ASIN or ISBN-10: B000B9O83A |
Scorpion EXO-1000 Helmet Product Review
Scorpion Sports offers helmets with Snell M2005 and/or DOT certification. The Scorpion EXO-1000 RPM full face motorcycle helmet
Scorpion Helmets - EXO-1000
| Related Products | |
|---|---|
 | Scorpion EXO-1000 RPM Full Face Motorcycle Helmet Red Large New ASIN or ISBN-10: B001THSX0M |
 | Scorpion 05-100-03-06 EXO-1000 Solid Black Extra Large Street Helmet ASIN or ISBN-10: B001ZUQI0U |
2009 Harley-Davidson XR1200 Review and Road Test
Introduction
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