As I sit here typing after another solid day at the Indy trade show, I’m simply shocked at how many sweet goodies that I saw at the show. If anyone tries to tell you that the economy is crushing the two-wheeled market, don’t believe it for a second: the Dealer Expo is proof that our sport is alive and well. Without further ado, here’s another radical lineup of sweet products that I found at the Dealer Expo:
This wild one-piece seat from Acerbis is as original as it is cool. With no seat cover and a textured, rubberized feel, the X Seat is available now and comes in a variety of colors for the major models of off-road bikes. With no staples to come out, no seat cover to get holes in and no inner foam to get waterlogged, this sweet item could become very popular in the next few years.
Need a tie-down that wont come loose? The shock strap may just be the trick. With no knots to tie, adjustable length and a sweet rubber shock absorber to lighten the load, this innovative product takes a new approach to transporting your bike. I want a set to test!
If you’re like me, you loath the fact that modern MX bikes come with black, dark tanks that make it hard to see how much fuel you have. But with the Fuel Miser, this is a thing of the past: simply dip the big straw in your tank, put your finger over the end and pull it out to see how much gas you have. That’s a lot better than the old "slosh and pray" trick!
With new colors, new style and a whole new look, the Gaerne SG12 boots are some of the most top of the line footwear items in the industry. With several colors to choose from, a unique dirt skirt to keep debris out and a fully functional support hinge, you have to see these boots in person to appreciate how totally awesome they are.
This radical new tire combo from Kenda was developed for Arenacross and Supercross applications, but Kenda’s best test riders (Randy Hawkins and company) have found that they work awesome for off-road conditions as well. The lightweight, four-ply casing structure and reinforced sidewalls make this one of the most high-tech, high-traction tires we’ve seen from Kenda. One of the machines in our Torture Test featured this sweet rubber setup, and I can tell you first hand that they totally rip!
6. UFO Reactor Two Evolution Chest Protector
UFO’s new chest protector is super original in the fact that it is designed to fit under a Leatt Brace, not over one. This means that in the event of a front or back impact on the Leatt, the force is distributed over a wide area rather than just where the brace sits. Pretty cool, huh? Personally, I think this is the best Leatt-compatible chest armor I’ve ever seen. We’ll see how it works on the track soon enough!
7. Boyesen Factory Racing Clutch Cover
Riders with pride in their bikes are all about custom, and the Boyesen Factory Racing Clutch Cover is about as cool as custom comes. You can get your name and number engraved in one of these bad boys for under $95, and as if that wasn’t enough you get your pick of silver, black or magnesium finish. Get factory!
8. BBR MM12P Complete Bike
The wait is over: BBR’s complete production bike is here, and it is awesome. Starting at $3,999, the MM12P comes with Marzoochi forks, a Daytona motor and a BBR perimeter frame. Seriously, this bike is race ready and super high quality, meaning that you can trust it to give you BBR quality results for several seasons. Better yet, the MM12P is made in the USA!
Another great innovation from the leader in technical bag technology, the Ogio Stepup ramp represents a bold foray into a brand new market for Ogio. Here’s how it works: you push your bike up to the top step, then climb up onto a bike stand or milk crate and push it the rest of the way in. Essentially, this ramp allows you to break up your loading process into smaller, easier steps. With quality construction and a load of other great features, this was certainly one of the most talked-about items of the show.
10. Motion Pro TiPro Light Titanium Wrenches
Your fanny pack is heavy enough; do you really need to tote about a bunch of too-heavy tools? Well with these new Motion Pro Titanium Wrenches, you can now keep your tool kit to a featherweight without skimping on supplies. Show here is the 13mm wrench, but a complete kit of 8mm, 10mm and 12mm wrenches is also available. This is a must-have for any serious trail or desert rider who won’t leave home without his tools!