The must have merchandise. Hot items from field armor to motorcycle windscreens.
SSB Tested: Icon Field Armor
Photo: Brian Ebner
You've got to hand it to Icon, a company that's really hustling to provide legitimate protective gear that appeals to a segment of the riding population who are--let's be perfectly honest here--not necessarily the most safety-conscious riders. Icon steps that effort up big time in 2005 with its Field Armor line of body armor, offering hardcore, track-type protection that won't cramp your street style.
Face it, most racing armor just doesn't cut it on the street. Spine protectors are too long and stick out from under street jackets, and the leg armor in most track pants is too bulky to work in anything but a full tuck--definitely not good for stunting or anything else that requires moving your legs. We recently sampled all three pieces of the Field Armor line: vest, leg armor and abrasion-resistant shorts. (We didn't bother snapping our editor in the underdrawers--trust us, you don't want to see that!)
The vest ($100) is a standout piece--unlike most spine protectors that get by with a kidney belt and two thin shoulder straps, Icon's vest is built on a full-coverage "chassis" (made of breathable mesh and lined with foam padding) that keeps things put even under loose clothing. Four-point elastic adjustment (both sides and both shoulders) lets you customize fit, and everything is low-profile so the vest easily slips under properly fitted jackets. The articulated spine armor is extra wide for better coverage and stops at the waistline to work with street jackets; a rubber front pad offers bonus chest protection. Plus, it looks like 50 Cent's flak jacket--probably why you see so many stunters rocking this piece outside their shirts.
The high-impact leg armor (one size, $65) offers a similar blend of style and safety. Solid plastic armored panels provide complete coverage for the kneecap and shin, and a breathable mesh chassis with a hook-and-loop mounting system similar to the vest keeps things comfortable and stable. Note that this isn't your typical hockey gear--a slim design means they even fit under cowboy-cut jeans, if that's your style. And size-88 baggies? No problem. Pair the leg guards with the mesh-lined Field Armor shorts ($80), featuring a bicycle cut that extends nearly to the knee and a stretch Aramid shell for maximum abrasion resistance, and you can roll in your fave jeans guiltfree knowing you're fully sheathed underneath. www.rideicon.com
--Aaron Frank
Head Games
Get all Top Gun on your next street ride with this heads-up display (HUD) for motorcyclists from Nonlinear Engineering. An industry first, Nonlinear's Sportvue HUD brings fighter-jet technology to street riders, working in conjunction with its Veypor motorcycle data gauge (sold seperately) to beam critical riding information directly into the rider's field of view so you can monitor your bike without taking your eyes off the road. Using a custom, 2.4 GHz wireless link that plugs directly into the Veypor dash unit, the $299.99 Sportvue mounts to any helmet and uses patented optics to put pertinent info--including current speed, rpm, gear and shift indicators and lap/timing data--directly in your field of vision. Unique optics focus the information well in front of the user, producing a clear, easy-to-read image that requires little or no focus time, improving reaction times and safety. "This is Maverick, requesting permission for flyby..." www.veypor.com
Too Kewl
Freakin' ingenious was the first phrase to pop into mind when we spied these super-sano bar-end helmet locks from Kewlmetal Inc. Designed to work exclusively with Kryakyn's billet ISO grips, these chrome-plated billet locks replace the bar ends entirely and offer custom sportbike enthusiasts a secure and stylish option for storing helmets when the bike is parked. Pricing is $39.95 for one or $69.95 for a pair keyed alike. Grips are sold separately. www.kewlmetal.com
Be Chatter Free
Slipper clutches: Not just for superbikes anymore thanks to these new STM slipper clutch kits for Japanese and Italian sportbikes now available from Lockhart Phillips USA. Designed to eliminate rear-wheel chatter and the resulting chassis instability that occurs with aggressive downshifting, STM's tunable, ramp-ball-type slipper clutches reduce engine braking for smoother deceleration and corner entries, as well as increasing clutch life and reducing lever effort. Available for most Japanese sportbikes (including CBRs, GSX-Rs, R1s and R6s) as well as most Italian machines (all dry-clutch Ducatis as well as Aprilia Milles, Tuonos and MV Agusta F4s), STM streetbike clutches start at $1145.95 and are available in the U.S. exclusively through the Phillips Motorsport Group. www.phillipsmotorsportgroup.com
Snake Eyes
Co-owned by Team X-Treem's Todd Colbert and sponsoring top street freestyle riders Kyle Woods, Darius Khashabi and Joe Brown, upstart Venom Sprockets appears to have the stunt sprocket segment wired. Although the company has made its name with stunt-ready rear gears available with as many as 66 teeth, Venom also has standard-sized sprockets available to fit nearly every Honda CBR and Suzuki GSX-R, with fitments for most Kawis and Yamahas coming soon. All Venom sprockets are individually machined in the U.S.A. from high-strength, 7075-T6 aluminum and hard-anodized for improved wear characteristics. www.venomsprockets.com
Window Dressing
Clear factory windscreens are just one step up from a sissybar on the cool meter--if you're still running the see-through piece, it's way past time to upgrade your sportbike to a sexier chrome or carbon-fiber-look windscreen from Sportech, which offers both to fit most sportbikes. Both styles are DOT-approved and molded from 0.125-inch-thick acrylic. The $84.95 Show Chrome screen uses an exclusive metallizing process to produce a mirror finish on the outside (with flamed trim), but is opaque so you can still see through it. If you prefer a more stealth, low-flash look, the carbon-fiber graphic screen is also offered for $79.95. www.sportechinc.com