New Ideas
NEW IDEAS
ÖHLINS CHASSIS COMPONENTS
Got some extra coin to invest in your sportbike? Then check out Öhlins’ high-end hydraulics. The inverted fork ($2495), shock absorber ($1041) and steering damper ($572) use technology derived from the company’s more pricey racing components. Hence, they're endowed with high-tech features such as friction-reducing coatings, lightweight metals and CNC-machined bracketry. All three are externally adjustable, and available for select late-model sportbikes. Parts Unlimited, P.O. Box 5222, Janesville, WI 53547, 619/448-8467
PRO PAD TOP PAD
Taking care of your tush doesn't necessarily mean buying a new saddle. Rather,it can be simple as strapping on a Pro Pad Top Pad. Designed to reduce vibration and therefore increase comfort, it fits cruisers, standards and touring bikes. The polymer-infused pad is covered with black leather or quilted fabric, and has a non-slip bottom. It secures with an elastic strap and adjustable clips. Price ranges from $40 to $110, depending on saddle size.
DP BRAKES HH+ PADS
Stop the presses! DP Brakes’ newest pads are said to have the highest friction rating available for street use. Designated Supersport HH+ (as opposed to HH), they fit front applications only. Their “extreme” stopping power is due to new sintered-metal compounding. The pads also contain graphite to reduce rotor wear and noise. Suggested retail price is $37 per set. DP Brakes, 4401 Walden Ave., Lancaster, NY 14086; 716/681-8806
KURYAKYN ISO-GRIPS
Every little bit helps when you’re touching up your motorcycle. Which is where Iso-Grips from KuryAkyn come in. Designed to inhibit vibration, the chrome grips incorporate black rubber for a soft, non-slip surface. Bonus is that recessed areas between pads allow for cooling during warmer weather. Colorful inserts add flair. They cost $50 per set, and are available in both 1and ⅞-inch versions to fit most cruisers. KuryAkyn Holdings, P.O. Box 37, Stillwater, MN 55082; 715/247-5008
LEATHEREM
Moisturizer is necessary for keeping skin-any skin-supple. Just ask your wife. And since leather is cowhide, enter Leatherem, a liquid enrichener that’s been in the works for 10 years. Said to contain 70 percent more natural oils than its competitors, it applies easily, penetrates deeply and dries quickly. Plus, its scent is supposed to mimic that of, well, leather. Leatherem is available in 8-ounce bottles for $24, or 4-ounce containers for $12. A plastic scrub brush is also included.
Asad Enterprises, 3400 Irvine Ave., #206, Newport Beach, CA 92660; 888/949-2723
MOTORAX
Off-roaders everywhere, rejoice, because the Motorax makes it easier and safer to haul dirtbikes. Constructed from sturdy but lightweight steel tubing, the powdercoated rack locates up to three dirtbikes. It also accommodates two 5-gallon gas containers. Easy to install, it fits any size pickup, van or trailer. Available in red, red or red, the Motorax costs $250.
Motorax, 15851 Dundalk Ln., Huntington Beach, CA 92647; 877/977-8412
HELIMOT HELI-BELT
Helimot European Accessories, 1141 Old Bay shore Hwy., San Jose, CA 95112; 408/298-9608
Considering how pricey one-piece leather suits are, post-ride posturing while the sleeves drag the ground is criminal. A cure comes in the form of Helimot’s Heli-Belt. Simply doff the upper half of the suit, then secure the 1.5-inch-wide leather-and-elastic strap at your waist via velcro. No more droop! XXS-XXXL waist sizes are available, as are a variety of colors. Suggested retail price is $15.
JARDINE TITANIUM SLIP-ONS
Love the look and weight savings of a titanium exhaust, but can’t cotton to the cost of a complete system? Jardine offers a more affordable alternative with its titanium RT-One slip-ons. Fitted with stainless-steel cores, the mufflers are available for most late-model sportbikes (Honda VTR1000F shown) and mount in minutes. Prices start at $436, and hardware is included. For best results, Jardine recommends also installing a Dynojet carburetor-recalibration kit.
Jardine Performance, 1220 W. Railroad St., Corona, CA 92882; 909/371-1744
