When the shop manual for the bike I’m working on calls for a such-and-such “special tool,” I relish the challenge of finding a way to complete the task with what I have on hand or, better yet, making my own special tool. But when it comes to splitting crankcases, I’m not too proud to accept that a purpose-built tool is the best solution. So when it came time to delve into the bottom end on my Kawasaki AR80, I sprang for a crankcase separator from Tusk, a popular off-road parts-and-tools company.

Modular helmets are motorcycling’s equivalent of the pocket protector: Hugely functional, but undeniably geeky. Tourers, commuters, and law enforcement love them because it’s not necessary to remove the helmet to sip a soda, sneak a snack, or chew out a speeding motorist. In truly hot weather, you can flip them open for maximum cooling. But modulars aren’t without compromises, which include weight, cost, and complexity.

Today’s riders have a bounty of boots to choose from, covering everything from casual wear to serious competition gear. Roadrace boots are one of the most specialized categories, and of the many different pairs I’ve tried in the last few years, Alpinestars’ Supertech Rs have become my favorite for track testing and racing. Inside and out, they’re complete with armor and bracing to keep your feet, ankles, and shins protected in a crash, yet they offer freedom of movement and are comfortable enough to walk around in. It’s a divine balance.

I keep a clean bike, but no matter how simple the task—lubing the chain, checking the tire pressures or oil level—my hands always seem to get at least a little grimy. And when you’re on the road, there isn’t always a sink and soap handy for washing up.

Your handlebar grips are the primary points of contact with your motorcycle, helping you steer the bike as well as serving as information conduits for what the engine, suspension, and tires are doing. Whether they’re worn out or you’re just looking for a simple upgrade, new grips are one of the cheapest and easiest ways to make your bike feel fresh.

As we do every year, MC was on hand to slink around the Indianapolis Dealer Expo in search of new products that are making a stir. Here are a few tidbits from this year’s show that we think are worth talking about.

The bearing assembly in your bike’s headstock is the only thing securing the front wheel, fork, and handlebar to the rest of your bike. Seems like pretty critical componentry, right? Odds are, however, that those stock steering head bearings are the old-fashioned spherical variety, offering just a few dozen tiny contact points to support some serious cornering and braking loads. Adequate, yes, but hardly ideal.

Seeing and being seen are two of the most important aspects of safe riding, especially after sunset or in crummy weather. Here’s a compilation of lights and lighting accessories that will help make your motorcycling experience a little brighter.

Held's Warm N Dry touring gloves find exactly the right balance between traditional cold-weather mitts and sportier but less thermally protective pieces. Using a full Gore-Tex liner, the Helds are said to be fully waterproof yet retain enough breathability to stave off the dreaded "clammy hands." The rest of the features are equally high tech, including double layers of leather in selected areas, goatskin palms for improved control feel, and "superfabric" palm inserts said to be 14 times more abrasion resistant than leather. Leather covers plastic knuckle guards, and there's Held's traditional visor wiper on the left hand's index finger. The gloves also include a number of flex panels for comfort, and reflective strips for conspicuity.

Nothing sours a tour faster than being too hot or too cold. There's not so much you can do to beat the heat, but modern electric motorcycle gear can extend your tolerance for chilly weather, improve your on-the-road endurance, and make you safer. Are you a sharp rider while shivering uncontrollably? Didn't think so. We used these four garments on our recent 2200-mile sport tour-and used extensively, as in every day and for nearly every mile. Here's what we think.

Garmin makes a zillion auto-specific GPS navigators, but so few for bikes that you wonder if were getting the rough end of the pineapple. Right now, Garmin's moto-intended lineup consists of just three units, but at least one of them is substantially new: the zumo 350LM.

There are a lot of options for anti-fog products, but which ones are wheat and which ones are chaff? To find out, we asked our friends at Rockview Farms in Downey, CA, to borrow a corner of their sub-40-degree warehouse. Among the crates of icy-cool milk, cream, and seasonal eggnog we gathered a handful of anti-fog products and a pile of standard face shields (with no anti-fog coating). Our methodology was simple. Each product was applied to the left half of the shield, while the right side was left untreated. Then we donned the helmet, breathed normally for 60 seconds, and waited for the magic to happen. In most cases, results were obvious within 20-30 seconds, and after 45 seconds the control side of the shield stopped accumulating fog.

Coconut isnt just a cute name for Roadgears riding socks, it's what they're made of. The Coconut socks are woven from Cocona, a yarn spun from coconut husks, a waste product of the food industry. Into this yarn is mixed activated charcoal, which complements the coconut yarns comfort and durability with improved moisture transfer and odor absorption. Or so says Roadgear.

I try to stay away from straight roads, but sometimes they’re unavoidable. If they’re long enough, you might find your right wrist aching as it strains to hold the throttle steady. That’s when a clip-on cruise control can really save the day.

At first glance the new 6D off-road helmet looks like any other, but under that conventional-looking shell is a revolution in helmet design. 6D’s patent-pending Omni-Directional Suspension (ODS) is described as a “fully active, in-helmet suspension and kinetic energy management system.” Company founders Bob Weber and Rob Reisinger designed the 6D ATR-1 helmet specifically to improve protection against low-velocity impacts and to reduce angular acceleration—both causes of concussions.

New for 2013 in Arai’s line is the Defiant, and it goes a little bit against the grain for Arai as it reaches for an “urban, street-fighter look.” Arai was quick to point out that safety was not compromised in the design of the Defiant, and in fact is shares the same “intermediate oval” shell as the steadfast RX-Q. Inner padding is lifted from the current Signet-Q lid, while a new material has been used in the bottom half of the cheek pads, dubbed “Dry-Max,” that is said to be water resistant.

Battery chargers are part of life for most motorcyclists. Whether for seasonal reasons or because the bike doesn’t get used as often as we’d like, we all seem to own at least one charger. Joining the established players on the market is the XC100 charger from PulseTech, which serves as both a maintenance and a bulk charger, and promises longer battery life thanks to proprietary desulfating pulses that are said to break up harmful lead-sulfate crystals that form during regular use.

Many motorcyclists will hang their helmets up for some part of the winter season. This month’s Gear spread is intended to ease winter’s impact on your riding, or at least make storing your bike a little easier so it will be ready to ride come spring.

While a normal pair of pliers can be had for a couple bucks, the VamPLIERS cost $34.95. At first, I was skeptical that they’d be worth the steep price, but since adding the VamPLIERS to my toolbox a few months ago my other pliers have gone mostly unused. Moreover, I’m ready to buy a few pair to gift to friends.

I wore a Bell Moto-8 a few years back and loved it, so when I got word that the Moto-9 was supposed to improve on the previous model’s assets, I was excited to try it. The new lid uses a carbon fiber and fiberglass blend for the shell with a standard EPS liner covered by a removable, antimicrobial comfort liner. All told, the 3-lb. 4-oz. Moto-9 picks up about five ounces over the Moto-8.

Here’s the problem. Your adrenaline-pumping supersport is stupidly fast and skinny as a runway model. Okay, so that’s just your fantasy, but here’s some truth: It may be speedy but there’s almost no place to mount a decent set of luggage. In case, you know, you want to go somewhere. It’s duffle bag and bungee cords for you, pal.

As motorcyclists, we make compromises when we climb into all that gear and put our earplugs in, not least of which involves communication. Any rider who has frantically tried to get his gear off to answer a phone or struggled to tell his riding partner, “I’m ready for lunch, but not Mexican this time,” can attest to this. We at Motorcyclist recently dipped our toes into the communicator pool and were pleasantly surprised. Answer the phone in-helmet with the touch of a button? Warn your buddy that there’s gravel in the next turn? All for a few hundred bucks? We’re sold, so we sampled a handful of high-end systems to see what the market has to offer, listed in ascending order of our star ratings. (Also see our primer on communicator setup and testing in Street Savvy, pg. 86.)

Until recently, I carried my belongings in a backpack when I rode. But when I inherited this tank bag from one of the guys here at the office, I ditched the pack! The magnetic Cycle Case bag hugs my Ninja 250R’s tank and has room for the stuff I want to carry. I usually roll with extra gloves, snacks, and a brush and straightening iron—you never know when there will be an impromptu photo shoot here at the office, and we all know how unattractive helmet hair looks! Well, maybe not Ari...

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. - Bell Helmets today announced during the Media Preview Day at the 2012 Long Beach International Motorcycle Show, the release of the Mag-9 Sena, an open-face helmet designed specifically to accommodate the Sena SMH10 Bluetooth® stereo headset communications system. An upgraded version of the Mag-9, released in February 2012, features thehighly popular Sena SMH10 and Bell is the first helmet manufacturer to integrate a docking system for the SMH10 system, allowing for convenient attachment. The all-new helmet and communications device combination will be available for media and consumers to see during the three day motorcycle show at the Long Beach Convention Center.