SDG Speed Mini, Top Fuel Smith Sport Optics - Dirt Rider Magazine

Smith
Top Fuel Goggle
Smith released its Fuel line of goggles a few years ago, so if you are a new-product junkie, you might wonder why we are just now doing a test. The reason is Smith updated the face foam on its upper-end goggles (Top Fuel, Fuel TI, Warp Star and Warp TI), and that makes them much-better goggles. For 2005, it also added an "Articulating Outrigger Positioning System," which is designed to improve the fit within the helmet's eyeport. The original Fuel was a favorite of many of our testers, so an improved version is worth noting.The Fuel is a pretty conventional style of goggle. Most of the previous Smith models were a little out there designwise. The rather large-framed Violator was the company's most-popular model for years, and the Warp, with its more-extreme outrigger strap attachment and unique shape, created a lot of buzz when it was released in the late 1990s. The Warp is still available and is a good choice for riders who like that model's aggressive look and high airflow. For those who prefer a more-conventional style and fit, the Fuel series is a great choice. Smith's tear-off system works well, and its Roll Off's system, which is available for the Fuel series, still sets the standard for nasty conditions. The frame is on the small side, which may be a concern for some, but it allows the product to fit well into pretty much any helmet.I liked the new articulated strap attachment. It allowed the frame to float a little more and therefore provided a snugger fit. The new three-layer face foam was what really improved this goggle, however, and it offered two advantages over the previous foam. First, it was much more comfortable. The previous Smith "no-sweat" foam worked well at keeping sweat out of your eyes but was a little thin and stiff, which made it slightly harsh on the face. The second advantage was the sweat-absorbing properties. The added foam sponged more sweat and, more important, somehow locked it in and did not spray out on those inevitable heavy impacts. Most goggle companies have made big improvements in face foam over the past few years, and this latest version from Smith puts its performance right in the mix with the best on the market. Suggested retail is $47.95 for the Top Fuel and $57.95 for the Fuel TI (in a blue, Graphite or red frame with a matching mirrored lens). -Sean FinleySDG
Speed Mini
In the last few years, the adult minibike scene has blown out of control. Honda dealers are selling CRF50Fs faster than they can stock them, and more aftermarket companies are producing trick parts to squeeze better performance out of the tiny fun bikes. With performance demands growing every day, the price to have a relatively trick 50 is absurd; it can range from $3500 to $6500. So it came as no surprise when the guys at SDG, being avid minibike enthusiasts, decided to join the frenzy. Over the years, SDG has become known for building seats for mountain bikes and motocross bikes. Now it's aiming to build a complete minibike that is adult-ready, competitive and affordable.The Speed Mini is a 107cc, air-cooled four-stroke with a four-speed transmission, which is equipped with a clutch just like a big bike. Its chrome-moly frame is designed like that of a CRF50F but sits much taller. The Speed Mini has a 36mm long-travel fork along with a long-travel rear shock that mounts to an aluminum swingarm. The bike uses hydraulic brakes front and rear. All the components are oversize; the shifter, rear brake lever, footpegs, handlebar mounts and seat are ready to fit big and small riders alike.The Speed Mini is fun to ride on the track, and the 107 motor offers decent power off the bottom, pulling into good midrange without a lot of top-end. The transmission is smooth but doesn't like to shift under power, and sometimes neutral is hard to find. The ergonomics are comfortable and ready for any adult who is willing. The hydraulic brakes offer decent stopping power and showed no signs of fading. Because the bike sits fairly high, straight-line stability is a bit on the scary side as the bike gets speed wobbles easily as with most 50s. Overall, you can't build a trick mini for even close to the low $2399 cost of the SDG Speed Mini. It's a great bargain if you don't want to spend the big bucks on a custom. On the flip side, some of the parts, such as the disc brakes and calipers, look and feel cheap compared with some of the super-trick aftermarket parts that are available for today's minis. -Corey NeuerCyclops
Battery-Powered Helmet Light
Dirt Rider had the chance to race the 24 Hours of Glen Helen in San Bernardino, California, and the brutal conditions we encountered formed the ideal testing situation to really see how the Cyclops battery-powered helmet light holds up. We sampled the original Cyclops system during our 24-Hour (June '04), but this has an improved battery-powered system.The folks from Cyclops hung out all night to keep all the riders charged up on battery power. We ran mostly 35-watt bulbs as they were bright enough for our distance of sight due to the heavy dust, and a fully charged battery pack lasted for about 111/42 hours. While we could have tethered two batteries together, which would have given 3 hours of illumination, the life of one battery seemed to be the ideal amount of time because we switched riders about every hour. Bryan rode with the 50-watt unit and two batteries connected and enjoyed the light on the MX track-but the dust turned into a blizzardlike whiteout in the boonies.We liked the low-tech attachment-other than the permanent hook-and-loop fastener on our lids-but some had the helmet light knocked off by branches; a few crashes also popped it off. Another gripe was that the wire from the light runs along the back of the helmet, and no means of attaching it to the helmet is provided; we used a strip of duct tape to keep the cord in place. Finally, we carried the battery packs in a tool bag or in the extra pouch in our drink system; this could be a problem if you have neither.All in all, the helmet light worked fine all night despite our intense abuse. We really feel it is a useful addition to a bike's lighting system, but we would like to see a better means of securing it to the helmet and some sort of pouch carrier for the battery packs. Suggested retail for the 35-watt light is $295.95, and it includes two batteries and an overnight trickle charger; a 50-watt bulb costs $11.95, and a 45-minute quick charger retails for $129.95. -Joe McKimmyGaerne
SG10 Boots
Gaerne boots used to be hit or miss, but with the new SG10 boot the Italian company is definitely back on the hit list. Using our new and improved rating system, the boot gets a 97 out of 100, and here is why.First off, the boot has a really attractive new look, with the new hinged-calf-style ankle-support system not only supporting the ankle from side to side but also easing the pain of breaking in the boot where it hinges. I'm all for the styling: 20 points!The SG10 is very comfortable and fits nicely around the entire ankle and foot; but the sizing seemed to run a little big, requiring a thick sock. I really liked the buckles: They were very easy to adjust, they stayed snapped into place and they were easy to unsnap, allowing you to get the boot off quickly, which is important at the end of a long day of riding. The soles held up well, and I didn't notice any signs of unusual wear on any friction areas or the soles. My only minor complaint was, at first, the toe of the boot felt a little stiff; but after a few outings it seemed to soften up some, which gave the boot a little more sensitivity on the shifting toe. The boots cleaned up really well and seemed to keep their whiteness, and there were no signs of the white leather cracking anywhere.The great styling, good comfort and protection and ease of use definitely made the new SG10 boot worth the high rating. Suggested retail is $289.99, and it is available in black, blue, red and white. -Joe McKimmyFox Racing
Light Proforma Socks
Turn two things into one and create a new product. Fox did this with its new Light Proforma Socks for the knee-brace-wearing crowd. It combined a moto sock with a knee-brace sleeve into one long sock. Simple, really. The mid-thickness of the foot portion slims down at the ankle to a thinner material that continues up the leg to about mid-thigh on a standard 6-foot man. Topped with an elastic band, the Proforma will hold itself up or can be folded down over the top of the brace. Getting it on is simple, even if it takes a little longer than a normal sock; and it is still one step less than the usual two-step process with a knee-brace sleeve. And without the overlap between sock and sleeve, you feel cooler as the temperature rises. The venting on the Lycra back portion is a nice touch, but I couldn't actually feel it working. While the light poly/spandex leg cover is thin, some testers preferred a thicker material to add more cushion to the brace's contact points. With a good-fitting brace, I experienced no chafing problems. There were no seams that irritated even sensitive spots on our legs. Available in Medium for foot sizes 8-10 and Large for the 10-13-sized crowd, the Proforma retails for $29.95. Overall, it seemed every bit as sturdy as most socks. And the biggest plus is you'll cut your chances of forgetting a sock or a sleeve. -Jimmy LewisScorpion EXO
VX-14 Helmet
Some folks avoid budget helmets like a bum on a street corner, but I've spent some time in several mid-level helmets and feel they often offer nearly the same level of comfort and protection as a brain bucket demanding another $100 from your wallet. So in the name of science and testing, I bit the bullet and volunteered to try the latest entry in the dirt helmet market: the $129.95 Scorpion EXO VX-14.I took it to the 24 Hours of Glen Helen. The first shock was that it was comfortable and fit decently. The padding's texture was nice. On the downside, its cheek pads gave me a serious case of chipmunk cheek-they are too thick at the top and front and rather tall. Just trimming them 10 to 15mm on the top and sides would cure this overstuffed feel, which focused the blazing Glen Helen temperatures in one hot spot-especially when standing around waiting for my turn on the bike. That was my major snivel.The unique chin vents are funneled through a smaller opening to perhaps blast the air more forcefully onto the rider's face. Riding when it's 90-something is definitely an acid test for a helmet, but I never smelled my brain cooking so I'll have to say the airflow, while not feeling like a wind tunnel, was sufficient. Another detail not usually seen on helmets in this price range is the black coating on the underside of the visor, which meant no glare issue at night from the headlight-I liked that.And, of course, the postride details, such as the ease of cleaning: I am happy to report this is one of the helmet's best features. Its KwikWick helmet liner and infamous cheek pads attach via snaps, so removing and then reinstalling everything after a trip to the washing machine is a breeze. I'm not sure how long the plastic snaps will last, but they look durable enough to live as long as the helmet. The VX-14 is available in blue, green, orange, red, silver and yellow in the Flashback (pictured here) and Lightning paint jobs; and solid black is only $119.95. -Bryan Nylander