Gearbox: Superbike Forks, Z1 Movie, Red Wing Boots, Motor Monitors

Lots of press releases for new apparel, accessories and other motorcycle-friendly prodycts come across our desks and through our inboxes every month. These are some recent arrivals that caught our roving editorial eyes.

Red Wing

It's said that experience counts for a lot, and experience—the boot-making kind—is something Red Wing has plenty of. Red Wing, best known for its high-quality work boots, has now entered the competitive arena of motorcycle footwear with a full line of bike boots in a wide range of styles and sizes. Red Wing's been making tradesmen's footwear for nearly 100 years, so you know you're getting boots with the highest comfort and technical cred. Here, our very own Gina sports the 969 boot. The 969's puncture-resistant Vibram sole comes with an anti-slip tread, and there's steel in the shank to preserve the boot's shape. To keep offending odors away, the comfortable and removable insole is coated with an antibacterial polyurethane. The boot's outer is made with full-grain, water-resistant Titan leather, and the whole package has a retail price of $190. Before you go running to the store, check out Red Wing's entire lineup on its website.

www.redwingshoe.com
(800) 328-9453.

AmericanClassix

If you're a classic Japanese bike fan, you may already know about Z1: The Movie. It celebrates the Kawasaki Z1's 30th anniversary and is currently a big hit in Europe. If you don't, know that the DVD includes all manner of classic Kawasaki stuff, from racing history and various Z-based two-wheelers, starting with the most famous of all Z-bikes, the original 1973 Kawasaki 903cc Z1. Now, thanks to AmericanClassix.com, the website devoted to serving Z-1 (and other early Kawasaki 4-stroke fours) owners, the 64-minute DVD is now available in America. We know...you're green with anticipation.

www.americanclassix.com

Ohlins

From the "look but don't touch file" comes -hlins' new Superbike fork assembly, which retails for the princely sum of $9632. Now that you've caught your breath, remember that this fork benefits from four years of roadracing experience with top AMA and World Superbike teams. These baddest-of-the-bad legs use a new pressurized damping system that delivers immediate damping response whenever the fork compresses or rebounds. Separate oil systems for damping and lubrication mean less debris in the mix for better performance. And the fork bottoms have an integrated bracket designed specifically for Brembo radial calipers. We're not sure how wife- (or husband) friendly these are, but good luck trying.

www.parts-unlimited.com
(608) 758-1111

Veypor

Ever wonder what peak horsepower you hit (and at what rpm) after a nice back-road flog or track session? For $279.99, this Veypor until will tell you, along with information about torque, acceleration and braking. The bike-mounted gauge obtains and analyzes performance information via dual-motion sensor architecture using both a three-axis accelerometer and a wheel rotation sensor. It's a data-acquisition geek's dream, with on-screen graphing, quarter-mile timing functions, gear indication, a programmable shift light, configurable display options and more. The two-button interface allows total operation without ever pulling off your riding gloves, and it mounts easily to any motorcycle.

www.veypor.com
(866) 221-3638

EngineChek

Whether you're on a late-model Ducati or a clapped-out Honda Rebel, dirt is the enemy of all engines. You could monitor the internal condition of your engine by cutting the oil filter apart and studying the insides, but what a mess. For a few bucks every oil change, EngineChek makes it easy to spot unwelcome engine debris. Just pop one of these high-flow stainless steel screens on your standard oil filter before installing it, and EngineChek does the rest by trapping debris before it enters the filter. Manufactured by Stewart Development, this unique and simple gizmo comes in various sizes to fit all motorcycles, autos and light trucks. Stop dirt before it hurts. Each package contains four screens for $9.95.

www.enginechek.com