Bike Kit

Year: ALL

The Richa Atlantic 2 jacket and trousers are tough textiles for both sides of the Atlantic

28 February 2024 by Dan Sutherland

I’ve been using Richa’s AA-rated Atlantic 2 jacket and trousers since the onset of autumn 2023. Used for both commuting and leisure rides, I’ve experienced surprisingly warm weather, harsh winter...

The Halvarssons Gruven jacket and Laggan pants make a tailored all-season motorcycle suit

26 February 2024 by Justin Hayzelden

Swedish brand Halvarssons have been motorcycle kit since 1946, but the Gruven jacket and Laggan pants are my first experience of the brand. Together they make a laminated textile suit designed for all...

Litelok X1 Moto review | A diamond-rated D-lock designed to destroy angle grinder blades

22 February 2024 by Justin Hayzelden

Environmentally friendly and high security don’t necessarily go hand in hand, yet Litelok fuse them together in much the same way as the ceramic composite armour they use to make the X1 Moto D-lock...

RST TracTech Evo 5 range | Popular range updated for 2024 is now in stock at Sportsbike Shop

19 February 2024 by Phil Clarke

RST have updated their popular TracTech range of sporty kit with the new Evo 5 leather suit, jackets, and trousers, focusing on improved practicality, comfort, and safety. This includes level 2 armour...

Shoei Hornet ADV helmet for review | Can the Hornet still hold its own against the latest adventure helmets?

19 February 2024 by Richard Newland

This is my first Shoei motorbike helmet, ever – and it’s made me regret not picking one up sooner. The quality, fit and features are all superb and more than on-par with the Arai Tour-X 4 I’ve worn...

Spada turns 30 | British bike kit brand celebrate milestone with major range overhaul

16 February 2024 by Charlotte King

To mark their 30 year anniversary, Spada have released a total range refresh with their new City, Urban and Explore collection. Spada say the range is aimed at bringing modern style to motorcycle...

Quad Lock release new 'Handlebar Clamp Mount' range of phone mounts for motorcyclists

15 February 2024 by Phil Clarke

Quad Lock have released a new handlebar phone mount, which expands their range of mounts aimed specifically at motorcyclists. The Australian based firm says its new ‘Handlebar Clamp Mount’ range is...

TCX Jupiter 5 Gore-Tex boots | Sporty short boots with touring practicality

15 February 2024 by Justin Hayzelden

The TCX Jupiter 5 Gore-Tex is a short, sports styled motorcycle boot designed for all-season use. Priced as a premium product, it has all the features expected of higher end urban or touring footwear,...

Arai MX-V review | The off-road helmet so good that Michael Guy has had four of them!

15 February 2024 by Michael Guy

The MX-V has been Arai’s dedicated off-road helmet for well over a decade and has evolved conservatively during this time. Arai don’t do gimmicks; they stick to their beliefs on safety and quality and...

Alpinestars Domino Tech review | A practical, casual A-rated jacket ideal for city riding

15 February 2024 by Michael Neeves

The Alpinestars Domino is a CE-approved wind and water resistant, softshell, unisex motorcycle jacket, designed for town riding and casual wear. It’s packed with useful features and available in black...

Oxford HotGrips Pro review | Keep your hands toasty without lifting a finger - currently 30% off!

14 February 2024 by Justin Hayzelden

Heated grips like these Oxford HotGrips Pro are essential kit these days, and not just to stop your hands freezing in winter. There are occasions all year round when I find they come in handy, such as...

Trilobite Parado motorcycle jeans | No need to stretch the budget for comfortable, practical jeans

13 February 2024 by Justin Hayzelden

Whilst most manufacturers approach riding denim as a low profile option, these Trilobite Parado motorcycle jeans are unashamedly bike gear. Designed in the Czech republic and manufactured in Pakistan,...

The HJC RPHA 91 proves you can't put a price on safety: a top quality flip-front helmet

08 February 2024 by Alison Silcox

I’ve been a fan of HJC’s motorcycle helmets for years and was keen to try the latest flip-front offering. I’m happy to say, I’ve not been disappointed with the quality, comfort and fit of the RPHA 91.

QBag Tail Bag 4 review | This top-quality motorbike luggage has a bargain basement price

08 February 2024 by Ben Clarke

QBag are a German motorbike luggage firm that have won a lot of hearts with their ultra-low priced but quality kit. At £69.99, the Tail Bag 4 tailpack actually sits at the top end of the product range...

Oxford SmartFingers review | The missing functionality you can't quite put your finger on

08 February 2024 by Justin Hayzelden

Oxford SmartFingers are self-adhesive pads designed to add touch screen connectivity to motorbike gloves not otherwise equipped. Six pads are included in the pack, and each covers a significant area...

Dainese Avro 4 review | A two-piece suit that promises the best of both but misses the mark

07 February 2024 by Dan Sutherland

Dainese have been making two-piece leather suits for a very long time, as part of their 50-plus year history. The Avro is just one of six options currently on sale at the beginning of 2024, and I...

Here's your guide to preparing your bike for winter storage so it's good to go in spring

05 February 2024 by Bruce Dunn

Plenty of bikers in the UK prefer not to ride through the winter months – whether that’s because they don’t want to expose their pride and joy to road salt, they ride focused sportsbikes that wouldn’t...

RST Axiom Mid CE touring boot review | Comfy waterproof boots can still be great value

01 February 2024 by Emma Franklin

The Axiom is RST’s entry-level range meaning that this mid-height motorcycle boot is the cheapest footwear available from the British kit brand. They’re made from faux leather backed up with a...

Forma Arbo Dry review | These boots will keep you warm and dry - but won't win any fashion awards

01 February 2024 by Ben Clarke

The Forma Arbo Dry sit at the lighter end of the Italian firm’s waterproof touring motorcycle boot range with the shorter Latino boots below them, and the Frontier, Jasper and Voyage above. Despite...

The TCX Airtech 3 GTX are as waterproof as wellies, without feeling like them under foot

31 January 2024 by Richard Newland

Traditional all-weather touring motorbike boots always feel like wellies to me, and from my first winter of discontent as a biker with a set that impressed less than wellies would have, I’ve always...

Lego Kawasaki Ninja H2R sells out within 72 hours! Back order yours now for a mid-March delivery

26 January 2024 by Nye Davis

Lego have sold out of their latest Kawasaki Ninja H2R Technic kit and have started taking back orders for online purchases of the £69.99 model. Providing customers aged 10 and over the chance to...

Bag a bargain and keep bad weather at bay with the RST Paragon 6 Ladies gloves

24 January 2024 by Emma Franklin

RST’s Pro Series Paragon range is the British firm’s top-spec touring line, which on paper make the Paragon 6 RST’s best motorcycle gloves for bad weather. Related: RST Paragon 6 heated gloves...

2024 deadline brings huge savings on ECE 22.05 helmet stocks | Grab one while you can

19 January 2024 by Justin Hayzelden

Now is the perfect time to bag a huge saving on your next motorcycle helmet, with retailers selling off the last of their ECE 22.05 stock, following a change of regulations. Back in 2020, a new ECE...

The Forma Hyper Dry boots will keep you riding in urban style, come rain or shine

15 January 2024 by Justin Hayzelden

Low profile protective footwear is a popular choice for urban riding, and these Forma Hyper Dry motorbike boots provide an option that is both lightweight and waterproof. They have a distinctive...

The Zerofit Heatrub Move strives to keep you chill-free without falling apart at the seams

12 January 2024 by Saffron Wilson

Zerofit may be a relative newcomer to the UK base layer scene, but they’ve quickly established themselves as a favourite in the MCN offices thanks to products like the Heatrub. Related: Best...

RST Paragon 6 heated gloves are selling like hotcakes – here’s why they’re so popular

11 January 2024 by Justin Hayzelden

These RST Paragon 6 heated gloves are the latest version of the firm’s popular cold weather mitts and the second generation to have an integrated heating option. They’ve been available since 2020,...

Arai Tour-X 5 review: Does this latest adventure lid still have the X-factor?

09 January 2024 by Justin Hayzelden

The Arai Tour-X 5 is the latest version of the iconic Japanese manufacturer’s versatile adventure touring motorcycle helmet. It features a raft of improvements over the previous model, the Tour-X 4,...

The Alpinestars HT-7 heated gloves aim for the top spot of winter kit to save your digits

05 January 2024 by Michael Neeves

The HT-7s are Alpinestars’ top of the range, battery-powered heated, leather/textile CE-certified winter motorcycle gloves. They also produce a cheaper heated glove for town riding (HT-3 Heat Tech...

Keeping customers safe: MCN joins trading standards for a look around Motorcycle Live 2023

24 December 2023 by Justin Hayzelden

Bike shows have always been a rich hunting ground for anyone looking to bag a bargain on new kit, but how can you be sure that the gear you’re grabbing at discount prices is everything it’s supposed...

Touratech release suspension upgrades to take Ducati DesertX to another level

20 December 2023 by Dan Sutherland

Premium German accessory brand Touratech have come up with uprated off-road suspension kits for Ducati’s £14,995 DesertX retro-styled adventure bike. The new ‘Extreme’ shock absorber and matching...

Adventure-ready: Dunlop Trailmax Raid 50/50 tyre review

15 December 2023 by Michael Guy

In-line with the exponential growth of the adventure bike class, motorbike tyre manufacturers (including Dunlop) are working overtime to develop their products to meet the ever increasing demands of...

Tyre test: Metzeler M9 RR sports tyre review

15 December 2023 by Michael Neeves

Seven years after their launch, Metzeler’s Sportec M7 RR sports motorbike tyres can still mix it with the best. Related: Metzeler Roadtec 01 SE review But under attack from new rivals in the...

Verdict: Metzeler’s Karoo 4 raises the bar for on and off-road riders

15 December 2023 by Michael Guy

It’s a question that gets asked constantly. What’s the best motorcycle tyre for my adventure bike? It obviously all comes down to the type of riding you intend to do, but if your answer is a...

Pirelli's 2022 Diablo Rosso IV Corsa is a real world easy to manage trackday tyre

15 December 2023 by Michael Neeves

If you put adventure and dual-purpose rubber to one side there are three basic motorcycle tyre types for the road. Sports touring, sports and trackday. That all sounds simple enough, but there’s...

Tyre test: Metzeler Roadtec 01 SE review

15 December 2023 by Michael Neeves

Metzeler’s Roadtec motorbike tyre has been at the top of the sports touring tree for a decade now, firstly the Interact Z8 version, followed by the 01 in 2016 – both offering class-leading levels of...

Vredestein Centauro ST tyre review: new kid on the block

15 December 2023 by Michael Neeves

This is Vredestein’s first big bike radial tyre. The Dutch firm, better known in the car world, have been owned by the Indian Apollo group since 2009 and are kicking off their motorcycle range with...