I had the opportunity to try out a lot of motorcycle gear this past season and wanted to share some of my favorites. I have always worn Shoei helmets and have been very happy them. I picked up a the new Bell RS-1 in April to see how it compared. What I found was a very comfortable (for my slightly narrow head shape) fit with a nice finish and solid build quality. The ventilation and visibility were great. It's first trial on the track was on a rainy spring day at NJMP. I found that fogging was not an issue, although traction was, but that is another story. The liner is nice, although the micro fiber can feel a little clammy after a few sessions if it does not get a chance to dry out. The face shield mechanism is second to none and makes shield changes effortless. Of note, adding the Bell Transitions SolFX Photochromic Face Shield provides a nice balance of glare protection in overcast days where the sun comes out intermittently. It also works great for commuting. I was pleasantly surprised by how well the Transitions shield actually worked. Aerodynamically the RS-1 functioned just as well on my Monster as it did on the track. Moving on to other features, the MagnaFusion strap keeper is a nice touch, as is the shield lock on the left side that lifts the shield up a fraction for venting or locks the shield in place. The only real negatives that I found were the detents on the vents, which do not have the same positive feel of those found on a Shoei or Arai helmet. The other issue is a lack of compelling graphics. I know that Bell can do better, hence the custom pinstripe job on my gloss black lid. Overall, this is a great helmet and would be a recommend alternative to a Shoei RF-1100 or an Arai Vector 2.
The next item I tested out (really tested out) was the Forcefield Back Protector Pro Sub 4. I have used quite a few back protectors in the past, starting with a 7 plate Teknic back protector in 99. The Sub 4 is quantum leap in technolgy from that back protector and I found it to be form fitting as well as non restrictive. It is definitely thicker than most other back protectors, so make that you have room for it. I particularly like the concept of the repeat performance technology and knowing that it Sub 4 shows a mean test result of 3.38kn transmitted energy during the standard CE test for an EN1621-2 rating. Making it the first motorcycle back protector in the world to attain this level of performance. Back to the lack of traction comment from the RS-1 review. I completed a few sessions without incident and I was starting to feel pretty confident in the Super Corsa Pro's ability to deal with the cold damp conditions. It was the second to last lap of the fourth session in the chicane at NJMP when I found my self sliding on my back after the quick right left transition. I was probably going only 45 mph or so and ended up sliding safely to a stop next to my bike in the grass. I did a quick body check and found that I was all in one piece and that bike only had cosmetic damage. The moral of the story is that DOT race tires are not rain tires, don't get cocky. Consequently I was more sore from riding that day than my impact on the ground. The Sub 4 did exactly what is was supposed to do and I feel that it is a worthy addition to your protective set up. Moving on. It was time to change out my REV'IT GT-Corse gloves (which also fared very well in the lowside), so I upgraded to the REV'IT Jerez gloves. The Jerez gloves represent a substantial amount of protection and have been validated numerous times by GP racer/ part time crasher Randy De Puniet who always seems to make it to the next race on the schedule. All kidding aside, these have proven to be very comfortable and broke in quickly. They have great feedback on the controls and have shown minimal signs of wear after a season of track days and street riding. There really are not too many things to complain about except for maybe price, which I feel is justified for this level of glove. My 4 year old Sidi Vertigos took a couple of hits during the April crash and it was time to replace them anyway. I had looked at the Sidi ST as a potential replacement and found that didn't fit quite right. An associate of mine suggested trying a pair of Dainese boots. After trying on a few pairs I selected the Dainese Torque Pro Outs. These were like wearing a pair of protective slippers. They were immediately comfortable and the rear entry system makes them easy to put on and take off. On the bike they have pretty good feel, although I still prefer the sole on the Sidis. The D-Axial ankle protection is well thought out and while I hope to never need it, it looks like it will minimize unwanted ankle movement in an off. I feel that Dainese could improve their boots with the addition of replaceable hard parts like the higher end Sidi boots offer. This would help to extend the use of the boot after a minor get off and I feel would add value. If you are looking for new boots, these should be on your short list. There is a lot great new gear that was just released and more on the horizon. 2012 is going to be another great year. Stay tuned. Sanrtini
Source: http://motorcycleracingtrackdays.com/2011-gear-wrap-up
Jarno Boesveld Jean Paul Boinet Karel Bojer Juan Bolart Gerhard Boll
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