Motostrano Blog

ICON Represent Helmet

2009-07-15T13:46:00.000-07:00

A novel idea from the lid junkies at ICON Motorsports! The new ICON Represent Helmet is based on the Alliance SSR Helmet model and comes in one color version, with 7 different side graphic treatments, each "representin" various parts of the United States. There's NOR CAL, SO CAL, DETREOIT, NEW YORK, DIRTY SOUTH, DETORIT and PHILLY as options for you to show your geographic roots or dedication. And if you just like the helmet but you're from, say, Hawaii, you can opt out and just get the ICON branded one.

2009-06-23T14:28:00.001-07:00

We are now taking pre-orders for the all new graphic models of the famous AFX DS FX-37 Supermoto and Dual Sport helmet. If the blah color schemes of the solid color models were keeping you from pulling the trigger on this great low priced Supermoto helmet, check out the great colors available for this one now.

MV Agusta STOLEN on FILM

2009-06-19T10:03:00.000-07:00

[I'm reposting this for a good friend of ours who had their bike stolen from their locked garage the other day in San Francisco. JW]

Hi everyone,

I am sending this to all my fellow motorcyclist who are some how associated to me thru motorcycling. One of my dearest friends had her MV Agusta stolen and the douche bags were even caught on film taking the bike! Take a long close look at these mother fuckers and let me know if any of you knows these pricks ASAP. god I hate these fucking guys. Don't they know there's a moral code between bikers?

Look, I don't ever get all chain letter on anyone but if you can forward this email to as many local bikers it would really help. I just need ONE person to know where we can find these guys. Just ONE pissed off ex-girlfriend of theirs to gimme a name or location. I don't want to know who they are or how they know. I just need to fix this NOW. Do this as a personal favor to me folks, we need to right this.

This happened last night so let's hurry this thing up and see if we cant get this bike back.

Here's the bike they stole on 6/17 at 10:15pm:

2004 MV Agusta, Red with lots of carbon fiber and fold in mirrors, stolen by a short Asian and another tall white guy

VIN# ZCGAJFLJ44V100012
PLATE#16U5134

From 730 Florida Street

They entered the building with a key code at the front door and rode the bike out the garage.

3 Limited Alpinestars T-Shirts

2009-06-16T14:02:00.000-07:00

We have some limited edition racer t-shirts from Alpinestars available for purchase while supplies last:

Visit our web site now to purchase!

Akrapovic's Highest End High End Exhaust for the BMW HP2 Sport

2009-06-16T12:18:00.000-07:00

Akrapovic is known worldwide as the most advanced aftermarket exhaust manufacturer for motorcycles in the world. So you know the company is up to something special when it releases their most expensive exhaust to date. Designed for the 2009 BMW HP2 Sport motorcycle, the all new Akrapovic Full Exhaust unit retails for $4,183.95 and is made for track day and competition use.

Based on the Akrapovic Evolution system, this exhaust is advertised as being all hand built; and I can tell you that if I had an HP2 Sport and bought this exhaust I'd want to be sure that mine was hand-built by luscious Slovenian women engineers wearing little but bikinis and white doctors coats and sun tan lotion.

And, we really don't know anything else about the Akrapovic BMW H2 Sport Evolution exhaust, but that it will be available soon.

Alpinestars T-Monterey textile jacket

2009-06-15T15:59:00.000-07:00

Alpinestars T-Monterey Jacket, $129.95

Ahhh, Monterey, California. A magical place. Home to giant kelp forests, prickly sea anemone, Cannery Row and Laguna Seca race track. When I think of Monterey I think of these things and an always moderately cool temperature made soothing by the area's ever present fog that rolls in each day from the Pacific. I think of bubbly beer and dangling calamari, and the thunder of motorcycles in the background.

So it's fitting that Alpinestars made a textile jacket seemingly titled after this great place. The Alpinestars T-Monterey textile jacket was introduced just last year and is a fine jacket to own wherever you ride, as long as it's in the street. Made of Nylon fabric with non-water absorbing mesh construction it has all the usual bells and whistles you find in the Alpinestars non-leather jacket line-up: removable CE approved soft elbow and shoulder protectors, removable and water/wind resistant long sleeve liner, multiple stitched main seam construction for maximum tear resistance, back protector pocket compartment with a foam back pad. It's looks aren't bad either.

"And....? So.......? another jacket I can't afford!?" you say..............!

Well, this great jacket is also now on sale! That's right. In fact it's on sale for just $129.95! (regularly $189.95) A good deal for you or your t-shirt sporting buddy.

And, speaking of Monterey- heads up this year if you are going to Laguna and used to seeing us in the vendor area: Motostrano will NOT be wearily slaving away all weekend at MotoGP race weekend selling Alpinestars as we have for the past five or more years. We'll be sipping on beer and eating fresh Calamari at Cannery Row with you and maybe catch a race or two! See ya there.

And, Twowheelsteals.com has been updated too.

AGV Rossi We gonna Celebr-8 and have a good time

2009-06-15T15:54:00.000-07:00

It's up to you, what's your pleasure
Motostrano.com

We've been notified by our secret spies on the loading docs of AGV USA that the all new limited edition AGV Rossi helmet, the AGV Rossi Celebr-8 is now shipping! If you are among the lucky few who got their orders in early, sit back and wait for that tracking number shortly. If you haven't got an order in and want this helmet, we suggest acting now. Only a few units in a few sizes are left. We have a number of M, L and Xl still unspoken for, but not many.

Rossi rode with the Celebr-8 helmet after his eighth Moto GP World Championship and has been wearing it during the cold and brutal winter testing months. Available in Black. Very limited helmet. Only 250 will be introduced into the American market.

And, Twowheelsteals.com has been updated too.

Check Your Speed

2009-06-15T15:50:00.000-07:00

All that noise, and all that sound, All those places I got found.
Motostrano.com

Next time Johnny Law calls you over for a one-on-one meeting on the side of your favorite back road with lights flashing, make sure you at least have a vague idea of how fast you were going with one of our specialized speedometers. We've recently beefed up our catalog of speedometers and guages for supermoto and street bikes and now offer three brands to choose from and multiple configurations and sizes to suit most bikes. If your supermoto's guage is not reading properly or simply doesn't exist, these kits are a great option; easy to install and nearly guaranteed to reduce your ticket expenses in most counties.

And, Twowheelsteals.com has been updated too.

Yoshimura RS4 Dual Carbon Exhaust

2009-06-15T15:46:00.000-07:00

Dual Shorty Low Bow for the DRZ 400

Our first pallet of the all new and very cool Yoshimura RS4 Dual Carbon Exhaust for the Suzuki DRZ400 arrived this week. Until recently, this exhaust was available only to pro racer boys like Kevin Schwantz. Mere mortals can now enjoy this highly developed system from Yoshimura, available for the Suzuki DRZ400.

This system is unique (to say the least) and you must know by now that we like stuff that fits in the category of no category at all. In fact, if it's nearly down right weird, all the better, we say.

We're told that Kevin Schwantz helped design the system and that he directed the engineers at Yosh to develop a "Hot Rod" exhaust system: "We obliged and one of our most sought-after-yet-unobtainable pipes was created, which, up to now, was not available to the general public."

For 2009, Yoshimura is offering these incredible "Twice Pipes" which are completely fabricated by hand and TIG welded to perfection. "They certainly sit at the high end of what is available for the mighty SM... but that's what Kevin wanted!" The pipes have a stainless steel header and Y pipe mated to twin carbon fiber RS-4 mufflers for incredible looks and performance. The kit also comes with a custom Yoshimura kick-stand.

Available at Motostrano.com

ICON Dia De Los Muertos Helmet

2009-06-02T10:40:00.000-07:00

ICON has a penchant for making bad-ass things. In that tradition, ICON has released their newest Alliance SSR graphic model, the ICON Dia De Los Muertos helmet. Reminiscent of one of my own bad acid trips from High School, the Dia De Los Muertos works with some freaky imagery and super bright Mexican colors to make a work of art on your head. I'm waiting for the accompanying comic book that should come with helmets like these, but for $180 i'll make up my own!

Motostran Outlet Store Deals

2009-05-14T14:00:00.001-07:00

There's some smoking hot deals to be had in the Motostrano Outlet store right now. Our Outlet Store is where we move all of our in-stock clearance, over-stock and close-out items. All items are marked down typically 50% and some items are marked down as much as 80% off retail. All items are in stock ready to ship.

Our Outlet store is currently selling Off-Road aluminum sprockets for $15.00 and ProGrip road and off-road grips for as little as $3.00! There's Supermoto rotors for just $99 and plastics for 50% off. There's Alpinestars clearance gloves, boots and suits online as well.

Check it out, tell a friend.

And, Twowheelsteals.com has been updated too.

Supermoto Racing Featured During AMA Superbike Weekend in Sonoma

2009-05-14T12:04:00.000-07:00

by John Cardinale

SONOMA, Calif. -- Infineon Raceway will host more than just AMA Pro Road Racing at the Kawasaki Superbike Showdown, presented by Supercuts, May 15-17. There is also a full weekend of Supermoto action slated for the Infineon Raceway Karting Center.

The Supermoto weekend will be headlined by the second round of the 2009 AMA Supermoto XTRM Championship Series on Sunday, May 17. This marks the first time a Supermoto XTRM Championship Series national event will be held the same weekend as an AMA road-racing event at Infineon Raceway.

The addition of the XTRM Championship Series will give Infineon Raceway three full days of Supermoto racing at the kart center. Supermoto USA, which has competed during the AMA road-racing weekend each of the last four years in Sonoma, will be featured on Friday and Saturday.

On Sunday, XTRM Supermoto racing will take place in three professional categories: Premier 450 Supermoto class, the Unlimited Supermoto class, and the 250 Supermoto Lites class.

The XTRM event will feature a number of Northern California riders, including Vacaville native Joey Pascarella, who will vie for the Lites championship, as well as recognizable names like Jeff Ward and Mark Burkhart.

“I’m feeling good,” said Ward, 2008 Summer X Games gold-medal winner. “The series looks good this year and I am really stoked on our bike.”

This will mark the series’ second visit to the Sonoma Valley — it hosted its national championships at Infineon Raceway in October.

Kawasaki AMA Superbike Showdown

WHAT: Big O Tires Racing Season Presents: Kawasaki AMA Superbike Showdown, presented by Supercuts

WHEN: May 15-17

CIRCUIT: 12-turn, 2.22-mile road course

NOTABLE: The weekend will also feature three days of Supermoto racing, with Supermoto USA running on Friday and Saturday, and the AMA Supermoto XTRM Championship Series on Sunday. There will also be SBFreaks Street Freestyle all weekend.

TICKETS: $15-$35 single day/$60 weekend; 12-and-under FREE and parking FREE.

Racer Gloves are back!

2009-04-24T14:42:00.001-07:00

After a long pause, Motostrano now again carries Racer Gloves. A true favorite among street riders and track racers who appreciate a well fitting, high quality leather glove, Racer Gloves are known for the use of kangaroo and soft aniline leather.

Selling Racer Gloves again, after about a two year break-up, is a lot like getting back together with an old hot girlfriend. Familiar and comforting and you know just what to do, sort of.

A couple of new models have been introduced. An even higher end glove above the High End Gloves, the "Racer High Racer Gloves" are a full gauntlet specimen with added protection where other gloves fall short. Extra palm protection, a longer gauntlet and hard pads at the base of the palm.

The Racer Sport Short Gloves are another new model. Great 3/4 short glove.

Motostrano on Twitter and Facebook

2009-04-02T10:58:00.001-07:00

We'll be updating our Twitter Page with new product links, sale announcements, clearance specials and racing news. Get updates to your mobile device whenever new products are added to TwoWheelSteals, Motostrano.com and Motostrano.net.

You can also find us on our Facebook page.

Alpinestars Shibuya

2009-04-01T14:48:00.000-07:00

Alpinestars Shibuya Shoes

Alpinestars has been dipping its toe in the sneaker and quasi-riding shoe-boot-ride-walk-work-do-it-all category for a few years now. I had to fly to Italy and shop at their outlet store to find some dusty old MK3 boots from a few years back. (Next time you're in Northern Italy, be sure to hunt down the Alpinestars Outlet shop.) I put them in a time capsule in my basement and plan to put them into service in the year 2015. Then there were the sturdy ankle height Stunt shoes in 2006 that folks still ask about. Scoot boots. A little toe protection, flexible. Undercover moto boots. After these went into Sunset status, it was a dark long night if you wanted a good looking, comfortable, shoe to wear both at the local whiskey bar or zipping through crazy traffic during lunch break.

Enter the Shibuya. Say it with feeling.

They come in 4 varieties and sell for between $129 and $189.

We've been pre-selling the Shibuya shoes for about two months now. They're now here and they were worth the tortuous little wait.

I've been testing mine now for about 24 hours and like them. They are not riding shoes, but they certainly will perform better than regular tennies, flip-flops or penny loafers, blah-blah-blah. We've moved them on our web site from the "Touring Boot" category to the "Casual Shoes" section. We've also interviewed three attractive women about their thoughts on them and we've concluded that chicks dig them.

Sizing is correct. Feel is soothingly comfortable. They make a subdoed leathery squeak with each walk that reminds you that they are made by the largest motorcycle footwear manufacturer in the solar system. After a long hard work day, when all you want to do is peel off the day and get the Stewart/Colbert sequence started, the Shibuyas fly off your feet and hit the wall with a surprising freedom.

The Shibuya's are styley. You'll see MotoGP addicts wearing them. F1 fans, MX punks and Supermoto announcers sport these for the next couple years.

Goodbye Cat Pants, It's Been Fun

2009-03-25T14:10:00.001-07:00

Meow

It's an inevatibility with all products. Eventually, all things go away; some times unexpededly, some times with great fanfare and a kick in the behind on the way out. Some products you come to love over the years. Others, you're glad to see them go and usually you forgot they were even there in the first place. Some products provide daily cheer and good times without asking anything in return. Selling them and buying them can be a highlight of a day, or even a week, for any average Joe parts counter guy.

The Alpinestars Cat Pants (recently relagated to Discontinued status and on sale for just $129.95) have been one of those products for the last three or four years. Pick up a pair while they are still around.

You see, working the day shift at the parts counter on the daily grind can come to wear on a guy. First of all, parts counters are greasy, worn out and full of stickers. Big greasy guys with guts looking for a Keihin carb jet kit. There's a lot of "Yea, we got that tire", "Nope, we're out of that spark plug", or, "No, that exhaust for a 1997 250 Ninja will not fit your 2002 Subaru".

But the opportunity to consult with a potentional high end client about the fit, features and merits of the Alpinestars Cat Pants, has always been a high point of the work week, not far behind Friday, 5 o'clock.

"Well, in fact, we DO stock those pants ma'am." I'd say, with a quiver in my voice.

"oooooo-ohhhhoooo great, Ihhh've been looking all over for these. So can I come down to try them on?", might be the reply, in a soft whisper dreamy fantasy kind of voice.

Then there would be the anticipation and the waiting. When the prospective customer entered the building, we'd be on our best behavior, trying not to appear like we were falling over ourselves to assist our distinguished procurer with a fruitful transaction.

The plain truth was, that it didn't matter whether the pants were actually purchased. The experience of selling them was always uplifting enough and, most times, the pants didn't fit most girls anyway.

Running a size or two small, the Cat pants tend to fit only a specific and usually imagined female figure from French or Japanese magazines. If you eat more tha one meal a day, or have ever even thought of having kids, they probably didn't fit. If they did fit, keeping them on would be a secondary barrier to a sale.

"Well, they fit, but I can't get the snap to stay" she would say.

"That's a feature", we'd reply.

Some things designed by men have intentional flaws that are part of their hidden beauty, just like the Mona Lisa, or a perfectly tuned race car pulling out of pit lane. Perfection comes with sacrifice.

Alpinestars Clearance Sale up to 70% Off

2009-03-17T17:21:00.000-07:00

Fresh Deals on Top Selling Products

The deals on clearance Alpinestars products keep flowing in! Select models of Alpinestars boots, gloves, jackets and suits have been posted. Here's some noteworthy deals you'll want to snag or tell a friend about:

Alpinestars Effex Gore-Tex Boots - normally $215.95 are now just $161.95 while supplies last. These are excellent touring waterproof boots. Great for commuting as well.
The track or street road boots, the Alpinestars SMX R Boots - normally $259.95 are now $195.00. The SMX R boots are a great boot for track days and racing, or just plain old back hill "spirited riding".
Alpinestars Octane and SG-1 Suits are on sale for just $499.00, down from nearly $700! These are moving quick, so if you think you want to buy a suit this year, act soon.
The very best deal we have right now on gloves is the Alpinestars GP Tech Glove, on sale for just $169.95. The $109 price on the GP Plus gloves is also still in effect.

There's more. All leather Alpinestars jackets like the TZ-1, SMX, or Interceptor are on sale at practically 50% off. Visit our web site.

We have also updated our TwoWheelSteals.com web site with more products, including some smoking deals on SIDI Vertigo boots, other Alpinestars and more.

Day of Stars Thursday July 2, 2009

2009-03-17T17:18:00.000-07:00

When:
Where:
Cost:

Thursday, July 2^nd 2009, 8:00am – 4:00pm
Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Turn 4
$500 tax deductable donation per person*

Join us for an exclusive behind
the scenes look at MotoGP!

Held on the Thursday immediately before the Red Bull US Grand Prix weekend, this one-day exclusive event provides you an opportunity to meet MotoGP stars, both past and present. Grand Prix legend and Riders for Health co-founder Randy Mamola is emceeing the event so it promises to be entertaining!

Day of Stars benefits Riders for Health – the international charity that uses motorcycles to save lives in Africa. Learn more about Riders at: www.riders.org. Day of Stars is supported by Riders for Health USA Chapters. Find your local chapter at www.riderschapters.org.

Each year more MotoGP Stars attend. 2008 attendees included: Loris Capirossi, Randy DePuniet, Colin Edwards, Tony Elias, Sylvain Guintoli, Marco Melandri, Ben Spies and James Toseland in addition to Grand Prix legends, Randy Mamola, Eddie Lawson, Wayne Rainey and Kenny Roberts.

Space is extremely limited so don't delay. To secure your ticket for this memorable event CLICK HERE (and scroll to bottom of tickets page)

Day of Stars Event Schedule

7:30 am

Turn 4 VIP Suites parking area opens

8:00 am

Continental breakfast at Turn 4 VIP Suites

8:45 am

Briefing on the day’s activities

9:00 am

Motorcycle tour of Carmel Valley wine country

1:00 pm

Arrive back at the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca Turn 4 VIP Suites

1:30 pm

Lunch with special guests Randy Mamola, Wayne Rainey, Don Emde, MotoGP Stars and other celebrities

2:30 pm

Exclusive behind-the-scenes MotoGP paddock and pit lane tour

3:30 pm

Motorcycle parade laps around Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca
(van provided for those who are not on a motorcycle)

*Please note: Your ticket for Day of Stars is a tax deductible donation made to Riders for Health II, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization. Your ticket includes a VIP parking pass for the entire weekend (motorcycle or car) but does not include general admission or seating for the MotoGP events.

Can you say "Akrapovic"?

2009-03-05T11:33:00.000-08:00

If you can't, you're not alone and you're in good company! A quick feeler over at Google for "Akrapovic pronounce" pulls up all kinds of linguistic struggles with this name. "Ack-rap-o-vich" seems to be the best rendition but doesn't convey the guttural juice that's probably really needed to give it flavor. We find that your chances of pronouncing it correctly and with feeling depends on how much Vodka you've had that day. "Acerbis" is another common tongue twister for us Yankees, among others.

However the word is said, it's common knowledge that Akrapovič makes some fine exhaust systems. They are the kind of exhaust that other exhausts look up to like an older, more refined, naturally endowed and elegant female distant cousin from eastern Europe who spends a lot of time traveling to exotic cities to go shopping. I mean, name one other motorcycle exhaust company that produces it's own glossy magazine that looks like it would be in good company in the seat back pocket of a private jet en route to watch practice in Qatar.

For 2009, Akra has kept the bar in the raised position, with a long list of new products for 2009 street and off-road bikes, as well as redesigned systems for earlier bike models. If you're in the market for a new exhaust and you enjoy over-the-top quality, then plan on a daily diet of Top Ramen and Snickers bars from the company kitchen until your next pay check rolls around, because performance+quality comes at a price. No worries. You've endured far worse for far less in the past!

We invite you to review the Akrapovic 2009 line-up at our web site. And ICON makes an Akrapovic Jacket!. Twowheelsteals has been updated too.

Alpinestars SMX Plus Boots

2009-02-19T13:09:00.000-08:00

With the downturn in the economy manufacturers have been finding ways to squeeze out as much profit as they can out of existing products, often by charging the same, or more, for less. Buy a bag of chips and you'll pay the same as you did last year, but you get half the amount of chips in the bag. Portions are shrinking, stuff gets made more cheaply but you pay the same or more.

Alpinestars SMX Plus Boots are on item that haven't changed for the worse over the years, though a price adjustment did take place recently pushing them over the $300 mark at $349.95. They are, we feel, one of, if not the, best boot you can own for serious sport and track riding or racing.

The SMX Plus is Alpinestars top selling roadrace boot and for good reason. Great fit, super comfortable and full blown protection. They last and protect for many years and miles of use and provide excellent ankle, toe and shin protection.

The specs read like this: Contoured shin plate protector is injected with high modulus PU for superior impact and abrasion resistance.* U shaped calf protector is impact resistant and protects the ankle and calf area. Additional protection is provided by the top recessed buckle structure.* Interchangeable bi-injected PU toe sliders with snap-in assembly.* Wide and ventilated heel counter extends to the ankles and is combined with a shock absorbing padded insert and self-molding foam ankle protectors.* Replaceable sliders are positioned in the back and external section of the heel to allow the boot to slide and absorb shocks.* Injected PU material extended to the to area.* Large instep flex zone for maximum comfort and flexibility.* Lorica and leather upper.* Sole has been designed for improved feeling between the rider's foot and the pegs of the motorcycle.* Instep speed lacing closure and a unique lateral zipper.* Replaceable ratchet buckle closure on the calf features a hidden strap for security and is integrated with a calf slider.* Synthetic forefoot lining laminated with open cell foam. Highly breathable lining on ankle and leg areas.* Alpinestars anatomical and replaceable countered footbed provides arch support and forefoot pedal feeling.

A great boot. For 2009 Alpinestars has put out some new color options. The WHITE/ RED Vented is the ticket. The best part? They haven't changed a bit, as far as we can tell. Nothing's thinner, smaller, or less in these boots.

New Helmets from Icon & Scorpion

2009-02-18T00:05:00.000-08:00

Though these two brands may not enjoy being in the same room together, both ICON and Scorpion put out some new helmets for 2009 that will stir the stagnant pot of 2008 and earlier helmets. ICON kicked off their product launch a few weeks ago with a long and gritty behind the scenes online videotizement bounced off their web site that is well worth a watch. Particularly hilarious is the honking chew loogy the guy drops on the scorpion bug in the first few seconds of the desert scene.

ICON's 2009 graphics are great, especially if you happen to be a Buccaneer. The Jolly Roger waves mightily on the Crossbone helmet and there's a women's Hella Crossbones jacket to match.

Since November 2008, Scorpion has been trying to keep up with the huge demand of their EXO 700 Neon helmet. Scorpion was literally caught off guard by the huge demand this helmet has enjoyed and this means you just can't get one without waiting for a lengthy back order. It is, without a doubt, the brightest most visible helmet you can own, short of strapping a disco ball to your head and roaming around with that. It should glow in the dark! Wow, there's an idea huh? A glow in the dark helmet, with a glow in the dark jacket to match.

Even if you don't have a Hayabusa, the Hayabusa Airframe helmet looks cool. Based on the Airframe, it's part of a whole line of Suzuki ICON products available now.

Our favorite two Scorpion helmets are the Predator and the Chameleon. The Predator graphics are very animalistic and aggressive, while the Chameleon's are dark and subtle. Very cool colors in each of them too.

In the ICON line-up, the ICON Burn Baby Burn helmet unashamedly capitalizes on the eternal marriage of motorcycles and sex. This Airframe helmet displays a boysterous and bouncy cowgirl with giant tits bull riding a giant screw and really enjoying it.

Kali Protectives MX Helmets

2009-02-17T23:50:00.000-08:00

For the past two months Motostrano has been secrety selling a new line of helmets put out by local SF Bay area clan Kali Protectives. Call it "test selling", maybe. The good people at Kali kindly visited our showroom recently to introduce the helmet to us and we were intrigued, evnetually leading us to let the products into our catalog. Actually, our first impression of the helmet was something a lot like "Holy shit! that is light!"

Yet another MX helmet on the market you say? Not really, but yea, a little. But these do stand out, both technically and graphically. Super light weight and feature packed. The EPS liner of the Kali helmets are sprayed into the helmet shell, rather than made outside the shell and glued in as other helmets. This creates a lighter and stronger helmet, more solid.

The Kali Aatma helmets are very vented and have all the usual higher end features as far as removable liners and so forth. Priced at $299.00. They say "From the dreams of riders to the scratch pads of aerospace engineers, revolutionary Composite Fusion™ technology is introduced with the Kali AATMA helmet. Weighing in at 1200 grams (*), the AATMA represents one of the lightest, most durable and best fitting motocross helmets imaginable.UNIVERSAL SELLING POINTS Fiberglass Shell with Composite Fusion EPS Liner. Integrated Airflow System. Antibacterial, removable, washable liner. Meets or exceeds AMA, FIM, CCS, Formula-USA racing standards"

The Kali Mantra helmet is a step down and a great value for the buck. They say "Kali MANTRA Helmet is our most elemental helmet, featuring an ABS shell for overall toughness and impact resistance. The MANTRA Helmet is both feature and graphic rich, providing a new reference in head protection.Product Features: • ABS Shell with EPS Liner • Integrated Airflow System • Breakaway visor design • Antibacterial, removable, washable liner • Safety certifications include ECE22.05, DOT (FMVSS 218) • Meets or exceeds AMA, FIM, CCS, Formula-USA racing standards"

Michelin Power One Tire

2009-02-17T23:38:00.000-08:00

The new Michelin Power One Tire is available now. This is the tire to replace the all powerful Pilot Power and the word on the street is - it's great. Michelin has even designed a nifty Power One web site devoted entirely to, what else, the Michelin Power One tire. The web site allows you to plug in various parameters and specifications to then dictate which version of the Power One is right for you. Tell it what you ride, where you ride, how fast you ride, whether you ride in the rain or not and the Michelin man then zaps out a response.

There's not much tread on this DOT tire. Very slick-ish. Could be good for zzzzupermoto?

Supermoto On A Budget

2009-02-13T21:56:00.000-08:00

The past 12 months have been economically hard on everybody. On a personal level, my bonus down at the mortgage finance company where I work was only $4 million this year so, jeesh, having to sell the Ferrari to pay for the Lambo, not being able to buy that ranch on Maui that I had planned on, and only being able to vacation 3 months out of the year instead of 4, it's been almost unbearable. And yet, human kind's great March of Progress continues on, to what destination, we'll never know.

With budgets strapped and wallets full of lint or "postcards" from the bank, many folks are struggling to get the biggest BANG for the buck when it comes to supermoto these days. For others, like the permanent Mr. Cheap-o, it's a buyer's haven. With that in mind, here's some comments about getting into Supermoto on the cheap.

For starters, there's currently a glut of both new and used bikes on the market with folks needing to sell their used moto inventory to help pay other bills or for things like, breakfast. Some bikes are fully equipped professional rigs and others stripped to the bone skeletons or botched up Frankenbikes with two heads and a twitch. If the hurdle of affording a bike has been in your way before, it's a great time to find a bike on the cheap.

If you've got the cash, circle around your prey like a giant patient vulture. Craigslist and Ebay are obvious places for the Great Bike Hunt, but discriminating buyers will peruse the dark allies of the Classifieds on Supermotojunkie and other boards for that lonely post for the used bike and a garage full of parts that may go with it. Heck, you may even find a second hand wife in there! At the right time, crouch down and move in on your wounded prey like a Puma pouncing on a limping baby deer. Drag your near-dead catch back to camp and spend the rest of the night telling the tale of your hunt to your fellow tribesmen.

And there's tons of used parts out there. When buying used parts, make sure you're really getting a good deal will ya? I hate seeing guys buying used stuff for the same or more than new. If you're going to do that, just by the new stuff! Compare retail and sale prices from vendors like Motostranoand others. Otherwise it's just no fun. Used parts should sell for at least half the new price as a rule and if you're not saving big bucks by buying used, you may as well buy new to take advantage of warranties, fresh parts and the security you get from knowing all your virgin parts are there ready for their first love.

Baby stepping into Supermoto is just fine and nothing to be ashamed of. "Sportsman" supermoto racers are the true grunts, the first responders, of the track and the street. Often with little more than some less knobbyish tires, these guys are a terror and in it for the thrill alone. They're not pretty and don't usually dress much for the part either. You don't want to mess with these guys.

Going Sportsman at the caveman level can mean running some Avon Distanzias or Gripsters and forget the rest. For a few hundred bucks you're on the street or track with some DOTs. Done. Finito. Now let's go have pasta.

Dip your other toe in the water and upgrade your brake disc to the big 320mm. That's right, the big TREE, TWO, OHHHHH. EBC's Supermoto Brake "kit" is an easy gamble and even gifts you some sharp looking bling with the fancy red anodized rotor buttons free of charge. Free is good right? It's a full floater and even shakes a little. They should have called it the EBC Fancy Supermoto Rotor Kit. And since you're doing this on the cheap, make sure to shave less and run this rotor till there's no metal left at all. Use it till you can put a finger through the worn out holes carved from miles of use. For Sportsman riders, the more raggedy looking, the better.

For Sprortsman, that's really all you need. And why go further? Your're doing this supermoto thing just to hang out more with your buddies who are all supermoto red-eyed addicts, unlike you. You, you have control. You know when to say to NO, even if all your bad demons are telling you "YES, MORE".

And when you give in to those voices, you'll need to get wheels. Seventeens. The "streetbike wheels". Yes, Mr. Freebie, you won't be able to stretch 17 inch tires on your MX wheels to do supermoto. Fortunately for you though, various aftermarket companies knew you were coming and have paved a path of savings that let you "go all the way" with supermoto by, for instance, simply spending less time at your favorite strip joint.

One way to do it is to simply cut your MX spokes off with a heavy duty wire cutter and throw the scraps over in the neighbors yard. There, you've just done what the tree hugging Californians have been begging you to do for years. Next, get shorter spokes and wider rims that measure 17 inches and weave them on to those now naked hubs. It's almost like knitting.

But if the thought of doing that sends a chill down your spine as you look up with sad eyes and fantasize about more days ahead in the dirt, ripping away at the earth's thin crust, there are complete bolt-on-ready wheelsets you can now get for something around eight hundred bucks. Keep your dirt wheels handy. Baby them even. Tighten a spoke or two for once, fondle a nipple, and then spin on some brand new wheels from DNA, Warp 9 or Gleiss, all of which you can get at Motostrano. These wheels work, are typically as good or better than OEM type wheels and keep you rolling on the cheap.

And that's it! Welcome to the Hotel Supermoto. You're in room 669. You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave.

AGV Rossi Celebr-8 Helmet Pre-Ording Now!

2009-02-03T15:52:00.000-08:00

The 2009 Spring release of the AGV Valentino Rossi Celebr-8 Helmet has been made official. The helmet will ship some time in April 2009. Motostrano is taking pre-orders on this limited and rare collectible helmet now.

Rossi rode with the "Celebr-8 helmet" after his eighth Moto GP World Championship and has been wearing it during the cold and brutal winter testing months. Available in Black. Very limited helmet. Only 250 will be introduced into the American market. Shipping in AprilCertification DOT/ECE 22-05 Liner Fully removable and washable (including neckroll). Multi-featured fabrics with hygienic treatment for maximum comfort; humidity and sweat absorbing CoolMax for forehead, temples, and at the back of the neck; hyper-breathable material for the top and rear are for effective air-flow; micro-fiber material on the cheekpads to guarantee comfort and coolness Retention System Double D-Ring Shell SSL (Super-Super-Light) Carbon-Kevlar construction. 3 Shell sizes for the perfect fit. Ventilation System IVS (Integrated Ventilation System) with wide channels hollowed directly in the shell for enhanced air-flow into the helmet and improved aerodynamic penetration; 3 intake vents; 5 exhaust vents

AGV Valentino Rossi Celebr-8 Helmet at Motostrano.com