I just flew into Indy and boy are my feet tired… Because I’ve been walking the convention center all day looking for cool new items to show you. Remember, I’m competing with Chris to see who can find the coolest product of the show. We’ll put together a top 10 early next week and let you guys vote. So here are the products, including the Fulmer helmet I’m wearing here, that I found today that I give a big thumbs up to –
DRC makes this cool aluminum throttle tube that is not only a quicker pull on the cable (so you don’t have to wrist your wrist as much) but the end pops off so you can run this with handguards.
Park Tools makes some great stuff, including really big specialty items like this upper triple clamp bearing puller, and this hand held digital caliper that with the push of a button will convert from metric to inches. This is great for everyone who loves working on their bike but isn’t as big a fan of math.
Acerbis stepped up with some very innovative items. First there’s this hand guard with LEDs in it that you can use as your dual sport’s blinkers, or you can use this DOT approved headlight with the built in blinker lights. Acerbis also has two items designed to work with the Leatt Brace, this sweet chest protector, and this jersey that unzips around the collar in the front so you don’t have to cut it to let the brace front slide out. Pretty cleaver, huh?
Smith had a ton of cool new goggle colorways, but this is my favorite. The convention center lights dig it, too. Look how they add to the spotted pattern. This is the piston frame but check out Smith for more cool colorways in all their frame models.
Scott boots have their own graphics now, available from Scott. They have a bunch of different colors and all sweet. Once your boots look this cool you’ll really avoid riding through mudpuddles.
Fly’s Formula helmet is just totally cool. They have a bunch displayed at their booth, and I just think it would be cool to be a fly on the wall and listen to everyone reactions when they see this helmet. Woah, I’m starting early with the cheesy jokes! They also make this chest protector that unlatches at the shoulder so it’s easy to put on and take off when you’re wearing a Leatt Brace.
Hey, after two mentions, the Leatt Brace itself makes an appearance. They now have these cool covers that you can stretch over your brace to make them match your bike better. Or maybe you’re the kind of guy who wants the opposite color of his bike. Either way, they have enough choice that you should find a color and design that either looks really good or really bad with your bike.
Nightpro has this cool helmet light that did a good job of blinding me, and the coolest part is the tiny battery pack it runs off. I don’t think attaching it so it bounces off your body right below the belt like they had demonstrated here would be the hot set up, though. They claim a burn time of 4 to 16 hours.
ASV is developing [edit: likely available summer 2009] this triple clamp that has adjustable offset built into it. It’s pretty wild. The steering stem hole can be adjusted on top, and the bottom clamps have a sort of ‘ball’ that the fork tubes slide through. The ‘ball’ can rotate in the lower triple clamp, so as the top changes adjustment, the bottom clamp can ‘float’ and allow the fork tube to angle. This clamp changes the rake slightly with offset change, but ASV tells me the rake change is not too significant. The offset varies from 4mm to a few over 24, which is a huge range, and the ASV guys have gotten it down to a one minute and twenty second affair to change a bike’s offset during testing. This could become a regular adjustment to fine tune your bike to different riding conditions. ASV also had this cool cable with two wheels so you can route cable without putting bends in it. I bent the center section here for the photos, but straight cables should give less resistant and drag that curved ones, so this could be helpful in getting that elusive perfect clutch lever pull we’re all searching for. The wheels can also be adjusted to give more or less leverage to the pull. Very nice!
Fastway has this sweet case saver that attached to the frame, bringing some real strength to combat a chain that doesn’t know its place. This is one of those items you get as a precaution and then hope you never need it, but provides peace of mind on each ride. Fastway also has this cool brake pedal tip that bolts onto your stock brake lever to provide what feels like some amazing grip. It uses their peg cleats so the grip is adjustable with different cleats. I tested these sharp F6 spikes and can say they’re grippy enough to draw blood.
Shoei has this amazing-looking Kevin Windham replica helmet. This was a custom painted one but is exactly what the production unit will look like, and will be available around June. Shoei helmets have amazing fit and a great reputation for being one of the best made helmets out there, and this new design on the outside just makes them that much more desirable.
Dubach racing has this cool end cab with spark arrestor. They have them available now for all popular four-stroke models except KTM and the new Yamaha, but those should be available by the time you read this. Wait, this is the internet; you’re reading this now. I’m used to the magazine’s lag time. But don’t worry, they’ll be available for all the popular four-stroke models very soon.
EVS gets a bum wrap because you have not idea how many people use their products because most of their protective items are hidden under riding gear. Well, they came out with some great Takt helmets, and now add this very affordable version called the Factor, which sells for under 170 dollars. Okay, maybe just a nickel under, but that’s a nice helmet for a good price. Check out the lower edge, designed with cushion in it to prevent injuring your collarbone in a crash.
Spy has some great new colorways in their all-new Klutch goggle. I like this one the best, but they also have a pink one called “Pop Rock.” If you’re old enough to remember Pop Rocks, you’re probably too old to get away with pink goggles.
Rockhard has added some cool new colorways to their helmet, but none are as cool as this Evel Kneivel design. But then again, when you consider Evel’s jump-to-crash ratio, do you really want to wear that helmet? Yes, it’s that cool.
As I like to say in this groovy 1960’s-themed Fulmer hippie helmet, “Peace out,” and watch the blogs tomorrow for even more cool items as I wear down some more tread on my running shoes looking for cool things to show you.
