Showing posts with label accecories. Show all posts
Showing posts with label accecories. Show all posts

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Icon Alliance Redeemer Helmet Review

UAC.com - A recent study by J.D. Power and Associates confirmed what we already know - Icon makes some sick graphics. Sure, people want a helmet that fits well, meets safety standards, has a visor that swaps out easily, doesn’t fog and overall is fairly lightweight. But c’mon, what grabs your attention
Redeemer Helmet
We agree with J.D. Power and Associates recent survey - Icon does make some wicked graphics. The Alliance Redeemer Helmet not only looks sharp, it circulates plenty of air, doesn't fog easy, fits comfortably and meets a slew of safety standards. And did we mention it just looks freakin' cool?The Thunderbird Storm sports the same dual headlight set-up as the Rocket III and Speed Triple. Fuel Gloss Black Large Viper Full Face Helmet
more than wicked styling? The graphics on the Icon Alliance Redeemer Helmet are sharp like the sword of redemption with its dizzying array of wings, skulls and swords. The helmet is swathed in base colors like white, black and grey but the combination still pops. In the J.D. Power report, Icon tied with Arai for the top ranking in “Motorcycle Helmet Satisfaction” according to consumers, stating “Icon performs particularly well in color/graphic design.”

So we admit we like the style of the Icon Redeemer Helmet. But styling is subjective and we wouldn’t be doing our job if we stopped there, so let’s take on objective look at the Redeemer.

First off, the full-face helmet is fairly lightweight at 3 lb. 11.2 oz., tipping the scales a touch lighter than my older Shoei which weighed in at 3 lb. 11.6 oz. Its outer shell is injection molded from polycarbonates. The interior is lined with a protective Styrofoam-like EPS layer which is covered by mesh and a removable HydraDry liner. The cheeks are fairly thick and nicely padded. Above them is another ring of padding that circles the head and further provides a snug, comfy fit. The HydraDry liner is moisture-wicking and greedily soaks up sweat. When the helmet starts to get funky, the cheek pads and head liner snaps out for easy cleaning. A D-ring closure system cinches the Redeemer down tight on your skull and comes with a snap for the excess strap.

One area the Icon Alliance Redeemer excels in is circulation. At the crown of the helmet sits two slits which circulate a healthy dose of cool air over your dome. Positioned in line with the top vents are dual rear exhaust ports that suck the air out. The two front vents easily click open and closed, even with gloves on, but the two exhaust ports aren’t adjustable. A good-sized chin vent opens up easily with a little push up and helps keep the visor from fogging up too bad. The Redeemer also comes with a removable breath deflector. Additionally, two breath exhaust ports allow expelled air to escape. Little dials inside the helmet open and close the exhaust ports, but you have to do it before you put your helmet on because they sit too close to your face to do it when riding. The one strike against the overall design is the two channels on the top of the helmet which are made of thin plastic. One of them got crushed and cracked when bag attendants piled luggage on top of my gear bag because they are fairly flimsy.

The Icon Alliance Redeemer has a fog-free Pro-Shield. Teamed with the chin vent, breath deflector and exhaust ports, fogging never became an issue on cold mornings. The shield is held in place with Icon’s locking system which isn’t the fastest system to use, but the process becomes easier after you’ve done it once or twice. To swap out the shield, open it up completely. Push the orange locking levers forward. This is the most challenging part because not much of the lever shows and it’s not easy to get enough pressure on it without a little assistance so you might want to use a key or some other small, hard object to push it back. Then simply pull the shield outward away from the helmet and the whole thing pops right off. The Redeemer has color-matched side plates and if you’d like to take them off when swapping out visors simply lift them from the front of the plate after you’ve taken the shield off and they’ll snap out.

To put the shield back on, line up the inner tabs on the face shield with the locking levers still in the open position, then push the levers back until they snap closed. Click the side plates back on after the shield is in place. If you’ve done it right, the visor will easily slide open and closed. If it’s not doing this fluidly, the locking levers probably aren’t in the correct position, so check them again. The Redeemer also comes with a small metal tab to lock the visor in place when you’re riding.

As far as quietness goes, the Icon Alliance Redeemer Helmet runs about mid-pack. It’s not the quietest helmet I’ve tested, but it doesn’t allow an exceptional amount of wind and road noise in either. But most full-faced lids that meet DOT, ECE, SAI and SG safety and testing standards don’t cost a measly $210. With its combination of excellent air circulation, a comfortable fit and killer graphics, it’s hard to beat what the Icon Alliance Redeemer Helmet offers at that price.

The Icon Alliance Redeemer Helmet is available at the Motorcycle Superstore.
Sizes Large to XX-Large
MSRP - $210
Source : http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/

Thursday, June 9, 2011

40 MPG Cars – Affordable and Fuel Efficient

2011 Chevy CruzeUAC.com - With fuel prices continually rising, 40+ mpg cars are looking like a great option for consumers who can’t afford or don’t want hybrid technology. Without breaking the bank, these affordable fuel efficient cars range from $15,000 to about $20,000 and all provide 40 mpg or more highway mpg driving. Companies that have joined the 40-mpg club are Ford, Honda, Kia, Mazda, Hyundai, Chevrolet, and Smart.
Automakers are achieving the 40 mpg mark by using lighter-weight materials, modern gasoline powered engines with direct injection and six-speed automatic transmissions along with additional fuel-saving technologies such as low-rolling-resistance tires.

40 mpg Cars (gasoline) City mpg Highway mpg Price
2011 Ford Fiesta SE sedan w/SFE package 29 40 $16,110
2011 Ford Fiesta SE hatchback w/SFE package 29 40 $17,285
2011 Chevrolet Cruze Eco* 28 42 $18,995
2011 Hyundai Elantra 29 40 $15,695
2011 Smart ForTwo 33 41 $15,440
2012 Ford Focus SE sedan w/SFE package 28 40 $19,655
2012 Honda Civic HF - 41 Debuts Spring
2012 Hyundai Accent - 40 Spring
2012 Hyundai Veloster - 40 Summer
2012 Kia Rio - 40 Fall
2012 Mazda3 - 40 Fall
40 mpg Cars (diesel) City mpg Highway mpg Price
2011 Audi A3 2.0 TDI 30 42 $30,250
2011 VW Golf 2.0 TDI 30 42 $23,225
2011 VW Jetta 2.0 TDI 30 42 $22,095
2011 VW Jetta SportWagen** 30 42 $24,995
*42-mpg Cruze requires a manual transmission
*42-mpg Jetta SportWagen requires a manual transmission

2011-Ford-Fiesta--SE2011-Chevy-Cruze2012-Hyundai-Veloster
Source : http://reviews.carreview.com/

BMW “Don’t Txt & Drive” Ad Campaign

UAC.com - BMW is launching their “Don’t Txt & Drive” national advertising campaign of tv, print, online and radio messages designed to raise awareness and show the consequences of distracted driving. The campaign theme of “Don’t Txt & Drive – When the Engine Starts the Texting Stops” will illustrate different situations of careless parents endangering their children with distracted driving and will run from June throughout the year.
The U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood states that, “Distracted driving is an epidemic in America, and it has deadly consequences for thousands of people on our roads each year”. The U.S. Department of Transportation also provides shocking statistics that nearly 5500 people died in car accidents in 2009  involving distracted drivers, while the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found http://popsop.com/wp-content/uploads/bmw_logo.jpg iPod Adapter Charge and Audio Cable with USB and 3.5mm for Select BMW and Mini Cooper Car Models - Control From Your Wheel
that nearly 87 percent of teens admit they text while driving. All of this has prompted BMW to become involved in this campagin of urging drivers to put down their phones and focus on the road. Jim O’Donnell, CEO of BMW of North America states, “We developed this campaign to be impactful in hopes of evoking emotion and conveying the serious dangers of distracted driving and its potential consequences.” In efforts to reach out to teens, the “Don’t Txt & Drive” message will also be incorporated in more than 100 teen driving schools across the United States.
The first television ad from BMW’s “Don’t Txt & Drive” campaign shows the contradiction of being an overprotective parent and the carelessness of texting while driving with the fatal effects of picking up a cell phone.  
Source : http://reviews.carreview.com/

Monday, June 6, 2011

Alpinestars GPX Glove Review

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Alpinestars GPX Glove topAfter the helmet, the next piece of gear that must fit well for protection and comfort is a pair of gloves. With so many choices available to choose from it’s always a crapshoot whether or not your newly selected hand protection is going to be a good fit, especially if you scrimp on the price. So that's why I’ve always selected my gloves like my helmet; walk past all the cheap stuff and reach for the top shelf goods, and there is no denying Alpinestars is on that shelf.

A few weeks ago a box from A-stars showed up with a new Alpinestars GP-R Leather Perforated Jacket to test along with a matching pair GPX Gloves. Reviewing a jacket takes some time for me, but I can tell you in just a few days of riding how a glove performs. So stay tuned for my thoughts on the jacket, but right now let’s get into how this short-cuffed glove performs.

The GPX resembles Alpinestars full-on race offerings, the GP Pro and GP Plus glove, and shares some of the same technical features. The most obvious of these is A-stars’ thermoplastic polyurethane knuckle protection system. These plastic knuckle covers are not only cool looking, but are cool literally. Built into the covers are small air scoops that help keep the top of the hand cool in warm weather. As the weather has begun to heat up in Southern California, these vents are a welcome feature on the GPX. They may not be the best for cold weather, but all the other perforated leather sections on the cuff and palm signal this glove is for temperate climates.


Alpinestars GPX Gloves PalmDecade Motorsport Street Black and Gray Medium/Large Gloves
The padding on the palm of the GPX Glove is not too bulky, upping the comfort level on warm days.
For street duty a short cuff is the way to go in my book. There is less to fasten, making putting them on less of an ordeal. Another strong argument for a short cuff for an everyday glove is big watches. I like to take a look at my watch from time to time while riding and pulling a cuff down to take a look at the time is distracting and basically a pain. Granted, the protection from a shorter cuff is less than a full gauntlet, however the GPX still covers the outside of the wrist with another dollop of PU plastic. A Velcro wrist closure holds the whole enchilada in place if things go bad.

The fit of the GPX is spot on and comfortable thanks to the pre-curved fingers. After hours of riding in warm weather the GPX never bunched up in the palm or fingers. Sometimes gloves with internal finger stitches can be uncomfortable with the seams rubbing on your digits, but not so on these gloves. You hardly even know the stitching is in there. Another racing feature on these gloves is the conjoined ring and pinky finger, which takes a little getting used to but is a smart design to keep your small finger intact if you go down. The palm profile is nice and thin without too much padding allowing a very solid feel.

The GPX is now the first set of gloves I reach for when I head out for a street ride thanks to the great fit. A great fitting glove is worth its weight in gold, so at $119.95 the Alpinestars GPX Gloves are a smoking deal.

you can also make purchases online by selecting the following image:
Fox Head Men's Dirtpaw Glove, Black, Large(10)Raider MX Silver Medium Adult GloveRaider Black Large Leather Fingerless GlovesRaider Black X-Large Leather Motorcycle Riding Gloves 
Source : http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/

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