What’s up people? There was a new AGV helmet on Valentino Rossi’s head at the Sepang MotoGP test.

Rossi has been loyal to the Italian brand for years and has worked closely with the research, development and design team and there’s no doubt that Rossi has had some input into this sleek looking new shell shape.

There was no official word from AGV about the carbon fiber lid, but, since it was free of paint and most of his trademark graphics, you can see the attention to aerodynamic sleek-ness that has been paid to the shape. No doubt at super-humid Sepang the anti-fogging and ventilation elements were given a proper work out.

Interestingly, Rossi alternated between this prototype and his regular AGV.

Stay tuned for more updates, and be sure to order your copy of our new Winter/ Spring 2012 print edition of Inline Performance Magazine HERE. Don’t worry, shipping is free!

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Aye, what’s good y’all? I finally decided to buy a racing suit and I have to admit this was something I was dreading. I’ve had temptations of buying a racing suit before, but to be perfectly honest they were all a bit too expensive for me at the time. It has been a great fortune that I’ve found a two piece leather suit priced at $199.00 that is race legal.

This two piece racing suit comes equipped with the standard dual density armor which makes it race legal. It has dual stitched main seams for tear resistance and YKK zippers throughout the suit. The Top Gear Racing suit has perforated sleeves as well as the sides of the jacket to keep the rider comfortable and cool if they ride in hot weather. I have not been able to test this aspect of the suit out because it is now turning cold in the city of San Francisco. But I can honestly say that it does its job well in keeping the rider warm with its 1.4-1.5mm of thick drum dyed, top- grain cowhide leather.

The dual density armor is removable just in case you decide to wear the suit without its armor for regular street riding and this is my favorite part of the suit as it proves its versatility. The suit also comes with velcro patches so that a person can take this suit to the track and drag knee. Overall, there is nothing special about this suit except for the fact it has an inside pocket in the jacket to carry a few items that you might have with you. But when you think about it, you won’t be needing many items if you plan to do some serious riding. The suit comes in several different colors and sizes that provide adequate protection as well as nice flexibility, along with the unique styling of your choice.

Another thing that I like about this suit is that the jacket is detachable from the pant so that you can combined them to any other leathers you have, or you can just wear the two separate for different occasions. The suit does not come with a spine protector, but you can definitely buy one and easily install it in the jacket. I also forgot to mention that this racing suit is unisex! I’m sure this is music to a lot of people’s ears as they find it hard enough to find clothes that fit their body type; be it man, woman, or child. To put it simply, the suit comes in various sizes that will accommodate your body type.

I have worn this suit only a few times, but I can honestly say that it bolsters my confidence. It is very basic but for a person on a budget, this is exactly what you are looking for. You want a suit that you feel will take care of you and will fit you just right. Not only do I feel confident in this two-piece leather suit, but it provides me with a good classic look. I turn heads while wearing this suit, and there is nothing like a race suit that is affordable and makes you look awesome.

Aight folks, this is Studdly signing off but be sure to stay tuned for more updates on more Essential Stuff.

Stay tuned for more updates, and be sure to order your copy of the 2011 print edition of Inline Performance Magazine HERE at the pre-order price for a limited time.

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Hey what’s going on guys? For today’s session of Essential Stuff, we have a pair of riding gloves sponsored by Lee Parks Design. We had the pleasure of meeting Lee at the Progressive International Motorcycle Show last week. Very cool guy! Here’s a quick overview of the DeerSport model.

The first thing I thought when I felt these gloves, was that they were super-supple. And as I put them on, I got this “creamy” feeling from the deer skin. That’s the only way I know how to describe it in words. You definitely do not get the same feeling from typical cowhide or even kangaroo leather.

Another gripe I have with typical race gloves is that you have to break them in. Rough stitching underneath all of my fingernails is not comfortable. With the Lee Parks Design DeerSport model, there is no need for that hassle.

As I mentioned in the video, all of Lee’s products are proudly handcrafted in the United States. They are all trimmed and ironed to provide unrivaled fit, comfort and dexterity. Of course, the seamless palms are the reason for the ultimate in feel without pressure points.

The dual-duty thread provides the strongest seams and won’t cut through leather like Kevlar thread. There is a double-stitched ErgoTech palm patch on each glove that doesn’t bunch up, and provides strong abrasion-resistance. The double layer elkskin backing on knuckles also provides for additional abrasion protection.

That’s it for now. Check back in a few for a follow up review after I have worn these badboys for a while.

Stay tuned for more updates, and be sure to order your copy of the 2011 print edition of Inline Performance Magazine HERE at the pre-order price for a limited time.

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Graham here with a quick update for our Essential Stuff section.

I’ve been using Sedici’s Monza jacket as my primary riding jacket on and off for about 7 months or so, and I’m sad to report that this first update is not a positive one.

The jacket’s zipper had been getting more and more finicky as the jacket got older, and it finally came apart in my hands one day, leading to a less-than-comfy ride home with my jacket flapping in the wind behind me.

Obviously, just over half a year is an appallingly short lifespan for a jacket that’s listed 300 dollars. Luckily, Cycle Gear offers a one-year warranty, even if you’ve long ago lost the original receipt as I had.

Rather than replacing the jacket, though, our local Cycle Gear store in San Francisco chose to pay for the zipper to be replaced. This would have been fine if Cycle Gear had dealt with the repair themselves. But instead, I not only had to take the jacket to the leather repair shop myself, but also pay for the 85 dollar repair out of pocket, before going back to Cycle Gear yet again to collect my reimbursement. By the time the jacket was fixed and I’d gotten my money, it had been a week. Fortunately, I have a car and don’t have to rely on my motorcycle as transportation, but for someone who exclusively rides, it could have been a real problem.

The good news, however, is that Johnson Leathers in San Francisco did a fantastic job, replacing the small, low-quality zipper that failed with a much meatier black oxide version, which not only looks better, but also is much easier to zip up.

So, in short, high marks for Johnson Leathers for their friendly attitude and great work. A passing grade to Cycle Gear San Francisco for covering the repair, but points off for how involved they made the process. Finally, I’m sorry to report, but a failing grade for the Sedici Monza jacket. Even if 300 bucks is cheap for a motorcycle jacket, it’s still far too much for something that breaks in less than a year.

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Some people want smaller helmets, like Jessica Dunn’s Proteus three-quarter folding helmet, or no helmet at all. However, Arai is bucking the trend and making larger helmets. Their new three-quarter helmet for this year is the XC and the XC-RAM. The abbreviation standing for Extended Coverage, it is in contention to be the largest three-quarter helmet ever produced and extends the lower portion more than three centimeters further forward on each side than traditional three-quarter helmets.

Available in four colors, the XC, and the upgrade model, XC-RAM, were designed for more comfort in a safer helmet, says Arai. The larger full-face helmet styled cheek pads are removable and washable. The padding at the rear of the neck is also vented to help dissipate heat buildup. The only place the XC is thinner is at the attachment for the face shield. The attachment covers are mildly sleeker than Arai’s previous three-quarter helmet. The XC has the same ventilation ports as the RX-Q line in the front as well as the rear.

The higher priced XC-RAM offers considerable improvements over the base XC model. In addition to the large removable and washable cheek pads, and the vented neck padding, the rest of the interior is padded with a removable and washable Dry-Cool moisture-wicking liner.

The enhancements are not just on the inside, the outer helmet also has a few nice features. The XC-RAM uses the ventilation ductwork from the Corsair V but includes larger vent toggles. The same slimmer face shield attachment covers are on the XC-RAM, but for further aerodynamic improvement, the top of the helmet has been fitted with a Fixed Air-Wing. Basically, a nifty spoiler to prevent the helmet from lifting off your head at high speeds.

Stay tuned for more updates, and be sure to order your copy of the 2011 print edition of Inline Performance Magazine HERE at half off the cover price for a limited time.

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