STEEL THESE BOOTS
Vendramini VR700 Race Steel
Although they're not exactly new, Vendramini's VR700 Race Steel boots deserve recognition just for the sheer amount of big-think that's gone into them. The Italian boot-maker pulled out all the stops for these: They're made of 1.8-2.0mm double-tanned leather, and utilize carbon-fiber-and-kevlar inserts at the heel and toe, a fine steel-mesh reinforcement at high-stress areas, an anti-crush sole insert that Vendramini says can withstand 400 lb. of lateral force, a claimed waterproof lining, an Outlast phase-change lining--and still more. The VR700 boots retail for $479.
www.bikerworldusa.com, (631) 234-1114
BODE COULD HAVE USED THIS AT TURN
Olympia Ast Jacket
Bode Miller didn't exactly live up to the hype at the Olympics, especially when he smacked a gate with his face in the men's super-G. Maybe if he'd been wearing Olympia's AST (All Season Touring) it would have been a different story. The AST, Olympia says, features a coated 500- and 1500-denier Cordura shell with a waterproof and breathable membrane, plus a removable Thermolite-insulated liner (which can be worn separately) for particularly cold, wet, nasty weather. For warmer weather (or when Miller's overheated from trying to stay upright on one ski) the AST offers shoulder-to-forearm and torso vent systems, and a mesh lining. If none of that helped, he'd at least appreciate the CE-spec Motion Flex armor and back protector. Available in men's sizes S-4XL and women's sizes XS-3XL in pewter or neon yellow for a paltry $289.99. Boehm says he's gonna test one soon.
www.olympiamoto sports.com, (866) 473-4327
XAUS' THREADS IN THE HOUSE
MotoGP Berik Titanium Suit
Reuben Xaus knows crashing. In fact, the young Spaniard has hit the deck so many times he makes Carlos "Careless Chucker" Checa look like a piker. And Xaus' choice of leathers? For years it's been Berik, now imported into this country by Tucker Rocky (as is all MotoGP-licensed apparel). The one-piece cowhide suits feature exterior titanium armor at the shoulders, knees and elbows, along with the usual features: perforated panels to keep you cool, pleated elastic stretch panels for freedom of movement, pre-curved sleeves and knees for comfort, CE-approved armor at the shoulders and elbows, and more. Berik's Titanium suit retails for $1099.95.
www.motogpapparel.com
QUICK SILVER
Pro Feet Silver Motorcycle Socks
Calling these little numbers socks is tantamount to calling the Mona Lisa just a painting. The Pro Feet Silver Motorcycle Socks are far more sophisticated than your average pair of soggy cotton footwear. To begin with, the Pro Feet feature reinforced heels and toes, with a comfort seam placed away from the toes; arch support; stay-up tops; shin padding; and more. Then there's the fabric itself, with both a silver material that prohibits bacteria growth to prevent odors, and phase-change material to regulate temperature. Available in blue/gray, black/red and black/gray in men's and women's shoe sizes and retail for $20.
CIMA International, (866) 243-5638
ON THE DOT THEFT PREVENTION
DataDots PowerSports Kit
If you've had your motorcycle stolen, you know the horrible feeling of seeing empty space where the bike ought to be. DataDots' PowerSports kit, though, can help prevent that from happening. The kit consists of 500 tiny polyester dots (about the size of a grain of sand), each laser-etched with a PIN, suspended in a clear, water-soluble ultraviolet-light-sensitive adhesive, plus a foam applicator brush. You brush the dots onto various places on your bike, and register with the National Insurance Crime Bureau. Consequently, even if your bike's parted-out, every piece with DataDots can be identified as yours upon recovery.Retail is $109.95.
www.datadotusa.com, (800) 546-4454
AIRY ARMOR
RXR Protect Body Armor
There's such an abundance of air around the planet, you'd think someone would think up more ingenious ways to use it. Well, it seems someone has. The people at RSR Protect have come up with a series of body armor consisting of little more than lightly inflated PVC bladders placed in abbreviated vests that cover the back and chest. Although primarily targeted toward off-road riders, the vests should fit inside a street jacket or leathers if they're not too snug to begin with. RXR Protect says its inflatable body armor transmits approximately one-sixth the force allowed for Level 1 CE certification. Specifics of prices and sizing had not been determined at press time.
www.rxrprotect.co
NEW STAR DISCOVERED
Alpinestars S-MX 4 Boots
Ground-bound observers have noticed the evolution of a new star in the moto-boot galaxy, Alpinestars' S-MX 4. The 4 takes the place of the popular, now-departed S-MX 3, and got a thorough makeover in the process. The microfiber upper has polyurethane armor for the shin, ankle, calf, toe and heel area for impact and abrasion resistance, while the nylon lining is laminated with open-cell foam and high-density padding for additional impact resistance. Mesh with a waterproof membrane covers vents at the shin, calf, heel and forefoot, a dual-compound-rubber sole provides good grip, and an extra-wide Velcro flap over the side-mounted zipper sewn to elastic makes the boots easy to don or doff. They come in black/red and black/blue in men's European sizes 40-50 (36-50 in black) for $199.95; also available in women's sizes.
www.alpinestars.com, (310) 891-0222
WOULD YOU LIKE A BEVERAGE WITH THAT?
Spidi JP3 Hydroback Leathers
Have you noticed it too? There's never a Starbucks or the like outside Turn X when you're on a racetrack in the middle of the summer. You don't want to wait till you get back to the pits for a drink; you need one now. You just might want to offer to buy the Spidi guys a tall, cold one when you next see them, because they came up with the JP3 Hydroback one-piece suit, the first production leathers with a 0.5-liter drink system integrated into the hump. Even apart from that ingenious addition, these are dandy leathers, made from 1.2mm top-grain cowhide, and with all the bells and whistles you'd expect of a premium suit, including Spidi's own Biomechanic elbow and shoulder armor. The JP3s can be had in blue or red in European sizes 50-56, black in 46-58, for $1499.99.
www.motonation.com, (877) 789-4940
LET THOSE BAGS BE SEEN!
Respro Hump Backpack Cover
Those who consider being highly conspicuous while riding a good thing know that the higher off the ground you can get bright colors and reflective material, the better. So we wear jackets and helmets with as much brightness as we can stand. (Art Friedman wears an all-blaze-orange Shoei all the time!) But what of that common backpack sitting way up high? Fortunately, Respro makes the Hump, a Day-Glo yellow/orange backpack cover with elastic edges that fits over most backpacks and offers Scotchlite panels for night-time visibility. It's waterproof, so it'll protect your pack's contents during rainy rides, and it folds away in its own pouch when you don't need it.
streetandcomp.com, $49.99
OPEN, SESAME!
Mito Homelink
Not all of us are as fortunate as the Arabian Nights' Ali Baba, who only needed to utter, "Open, sesame," to get into the robbers' cave. We need something such as HomeLink, now available for motorcyclists. Since its introduction in 1996, HomeLink wireless transmitters have been installed in some 30 million vehicles. Now--manufactured by Johnson Controls, the same outfit that developed the device for autos--the water-resistant HomeLink for motorcycles offers the same features, with three buttons to remotely operate garage doors, home security and lighting systems and other electronic convenience devices. Available through the Mito Corp., the device retails for $149.
www.mitocorp.com, (574) 295-2441