Motorcycle Gear

Flare Audio Isolate 2 Earplugs – The Gear

Posted on by BMotoUK

When I first entered the world of motorcycling there were a number of factors I failed to fully appreciate. One was certainly the impact on my poor ears. As a keen musician the addition of biking to my life was a step too far and about a year in I began to notice my hearing wasn’t appreciating my passion for 2 wheels. I’ve since come to the conclusion that however well your bike cocoons you and however many hours your helmet spent in a wind tunnel during development earplugs are a must. Enter the Flare Audio Isolate 2 earplugs.

Earplugs are something of a minefield, there are as many brands, types and styles as there are people. But not all are equal and I think I’ve found my favourite in the form of Flare’s Isolate range. Flare have been around for a little while now but seem more prominent in the world of musicians and sound engineering (which is where I first came across the brand). Flare have grown through several iterations of their Isolate ear plugs widening their range with inovative products such as their ‘Sleep’ and ‘Calmer’ plugs.

Like many bikers I spent years using disposable plugs, cheap and relatively cheerful. Specifically I used the 3M Ear FX plugs that are without a doubt a great plug if a little on the big side. I pondered moulded plugs for a while but decided against it on the basis that contrary to popular belief they don’t last forever and realistically need replacing routinely. Instead I set about trying the various reusable off the shelf products. Most were useless, popping out like annoying little rockets at random intervals or simply never blocking the sound in the first place. Auritech’s plugs did a fair job and will work for some but I ultimately decided to give Flare’s offering a go following some favourable reviews on sound engineering forums.

The Isolate plugs stand out from the crowd with the inclusion of a metal core to the foam plugs. Available with either aluminium (Standard) or Titanium (Pro) this allows for certain frequencies of sound to still be clearly audible to the wearer whilst the undesired sounds are reduced to a manageable level. That might sound like marketing bumph but it really works. From the outset the difference to the way the Isolates reduce sound was remarkable. My preferred disposable plugs mentioned above cut sound well, specifically an SNR of 39dB, but this reduction is to all sound leading to a sensation similar to swimming underwater. The Flares by contrast claim a reduction of slightly less at 32dB but not evenly across the sound spectrum. This means desired sounds like conversation with people when stopped, engine noise or even the sound of cars within your proximity aren’t as heavily cut out while the droning hum of wind and road noise remains reduced from it’s excess. Again not marketing bumph but my personal experience is that the Isolate plugs do this incredibly well, the sounds I don’t want to hear are just as well contained as with the 3M FX disposables. The desired sound makes a huge difference, I feel significantly more aware of my surroundings with these on and conversations as I’m getting going no longer involve people channeling their inner Brian Blessed. Another unexpected side benefit came in the form of my intercom’s volume. Previously I was having to bump this up to near max volume when wearing my plugs, impressively with the Isolate 2’s I had to drop that volume to 50% all while still being protected from the excess sounds of wind and road.

In terms of comfort the Isolates are fantastic, supplied with various sizes of tip I quickly found a fit that was both comfortable and effective. I had anticipated the metal element would add a level of discomfort when in use but they are equally as comfortable as the disposables I’ve used if not more so as the body of the plug is actually quite compact (even more so with the newest version available now). I’ve had no problems with the plugs coming dislodged when putting my helmets on or off and there’s plenty of clearance with the helmet liner in both my Shoei Neotec 2 and NXR despite bulky intercom speaker pods.

The earfoam tips themselves do harden over time becoming less effective at blocking out sound and Flare recommend replacing them once a month. That being said I’ve used mine daily for a year and roughly 5000 miles but have only replaced them once or twice in that time and even then I hadn’t noticed a huge loss in sound protection but did note the tips no longer holding their shape when squished. The cost is reasonable too with replacement tips available in packs of 6 for just £4.99. The metal body has also held up well with only limited scuffs despite my persistent clumsiness.

All in all these are a fantastic product that make riding a far calmer experience. Without a doubt Flare’s product will remain my go too and I’d highly recommend giving them a go. The version reviewed above has recently been superseded by a newer version simply named Isolate with a few improvements. They’ve now introduced a clear plastic version at £12.99 with the aluminium remaining at £19.99 and the pro Titanium coming in at £29.99. The updated design also features a new rounder Earfoam shape for a better sound seal finished off with a thinner centre shaft to improve comfort. I’m yet to try these but they look to follow in their predecessors footsteps and I look forward to giving them a go.

Disclaimer: As with nearly all the products reviewed on my blog the Isolates were bought with my own money and I have no link with Isolate. However here’s my customer referral link that gets you 10% off if you do decide to give them a try!

Atlas Throttle Lock

Posted on by BMotoUK

It’s no secret, I have a huge amount of love for my plucky 2016 Honda CB500X (check out my review here), but it isn’t without it’s compromises and shortcomings. One of those for me is the lack of cruise control. Even the fancy new 2022 model lacks ride by wire, modes and indeed cruise, and so it should, the CB is all about dependable, affordable adventuring and arguably the CB does that better than most.

That’s where the Atlas Throttle lock comes in. Now of course throttle locks aren’t anything new, they’ve come in many shapes and styles over the years but rarely with any great degree of success (in my experience). The principle is simple, some kind of mechanical lock that holds the throttle in a set position, not so much fixing the road speed but holding the engine speed. After coming across the Atlas on various reviews, in particular this article by ABR (Adventure Bike Rider) and a full review by ultimatemotorcycling.com I was persuaded to give it a try.

Those reviews do a great job of outlining the details that make the Atlas so good. But safe to say this is a beautifully engineered and well put together product. From the outset I was massively impressed by the strength of the mechanism, versatility of the design and the robustness the the product as a whole.

After nearly 10,000 miles of riding here’s how I found the Atlas in action:

Fitting + Setup

I would describe fitting the Atlas as fiddly not difficult. The most time consuming part was deciding where to position it vertically so as to keep the buttons in easy reach at motorway (or highway) speeds. All in it probably took less than 15 minutes with a little fettling after my first few rides once I got a sense of exactly where I wanted it positioned.

Worth noting the Atlas is available in 2 kit variations, top and bottom. The top version has the bulk of the mechanism above the bars and conversely the bottom kit has the mechanism below. The Atlas website has a handy list of which version is suited to different bikes. The CB can utilise both but due to my heated grips I opted for the top kit.

A single simple torx blot hold the lower clamp to the main body of the unit.

The large buttons give an extremely satisfying click when engaging/disengaging the Atlas and once in place it does a good job of holding the throttle with only slight slippage in the rain or on bumpier road surfaces. The unit works by friction holding the throttle in place against the fixed control pods of the bike via a sticky pad attached to a locking tongue on the Atlas. The CB500X isn’t ideal as the control pods are relativly small and a very rounded meaning there’s only a small contact area for the grippy pad however this doesn’t prevent it from working extremely well. That being said a bike with larger or squarer control pods will probably perform even better. The kit comes supplied with various thicknesses of grip pad to ensure a good fit for your bike and in hindsight the hold might be better on my CB with a slightly thicker pad (something I intend to try soon).

Impressively slim and loads of options with the included adhesive grip pads.

On the Road

In practice the Atlas serves a couple of really useful functions. The first is the most obvious, allowing me to rest my throttle hand on longer journeys, in particular motorway slogs. It does this really well, get up to speed lock the Atlas and then adjust slightly to maintain the desired speed. The fact the Atlas works via friction means the throttle remains movable both in the event of an emergency and for fine tuning speed.

The second big benefit I’ve discovered is in those inevitable moments when you need to quickly adjust a mirror, reposition a glove or faf with something. Assuming the road is safe ahead you can lock the throttle, free up your right hand for whatever adjustment you needed to make clicking it off once done, super simple and extremely useful. In fact I’d dare say this is my favourite benefit to having the Atlas fitted to my bike.

Blends into the control clusters really well.

Durability

After 10,000 miles in all weathers from a summer of heat waves to snowy commutes the Atlas has performed really well and looks as good as new. I had assumed the friction pad would thin over time but I can’t see any evidence of that yet and even if it does the kit came with several so I’m set for many miles to come.

Summary

Not long after fitting the Atlas I posted a picture of it on instagram with the caption “Probably the best motorcycle product I’ve bought” and I think 10k miles in I still agree with that. It’s a product that just works, does a job every day that makes riding that bit simpler and I’m not sure you can ask more than that.

The Gear – Kriega R22 Waterproof Rucksack

Posted on by BMotoUK

Arguably one of the most respected accessory brands in motorcycling today is the brilliant UK outfit Kreiga. Peruse any major motorcycle magazine or website and you’ll likely notice how many moto journalists out there seems to don one of Kriega’s various rucksacks and it’s easy to see why. Each and every piece of Kriega kit seems to be made to a exceptional level of quality and they have a long standing tradition of innovation on every level of design placing their end products above the competition.

One of Kriega’s most popular products seems to be the R20 rucksack. Perfectly sized for the commuting rider, utilising the fabulous Quad-lock Lite strap system and 10 years warranty, what’s not to like. Well for many years one factor seems to have held the R20 back and that was the lack of waterproofing. Anecdotally the R20 does actually manage surprisingly well in the wet but Kriega have finally bowed to customer feedback announcing the R22, fully waterproof and ready for adventure (or a soggy ride to work). After a couple of weeks and several 300 miles working and riding here’s my thoughts of the latest and greatest from Kriega.

With 22l of storage in total the R22 utilises an 18l removable dry sack to the rear of the bag with a deceptively large 4l pocket to the front. Both ‘compartments’ are super simple with a small key holder tab in the 4l front pocket but no other organisers or pockets. To the outside there are various strapping points to add a range of Kriega’s smaller pouches and US-drypacks great if you need to add a little extra space for a bigger ride. As it stands the 22l is perfect for day to day use swallowing loads more stuff than expected and the adjustable side compression straps make it really easy to adapt the bag to the contents.

The front pocket is the full length of the bag comfortably taking my iPad, notepad wallet, keys and all my odds and ends but worth remembering this compartment isn’t waterproof should you get caught in the rain. That being said previous Kriega rucksacks don’t claim any waterproofing credentials but seem to do a fair job of keeping the wet stuff out.

The 18l dry bag to the rear is where it gets interesting. The dry bag itself is fully removable, secured in place at the opening by velcro. This is great for so many different reasons from the ability to remove it when drying the outer rucksack after a wet ride through to cleaning and even the option of replacing it should the dry bag tire quicker than the main bag. Removing the dry bag also allows access to the space for fitting Kriega’s hydration pack neatly feeding the tube through concealed openings on the straps. The dry bag rolls shut to maintain its water tightness securing in place with adjustable clips to each side with a third compression strap across the top to hold it in place. Neat, simple and well thought through.

Like the R20 the R22 utilises the tried and tested Quad-lock Lite rucksack strap system and it is simply the best setup out there. Slightly toned down from the full on Quad-lock system on their bigger bags the Lite system’s structured straps and central clasp distribute weight away from your shoulders and arms avoiding any restriction on your movement when riding. It does this remarkably well and feels like no other bag I’ve used before. A small waist strap completes the setup and each piece is comfortable, hugely adjustable and solidly designed. Where the strap system really counts for me is weight in the bag. Day to day the amount I carry varies massively but even when packed full of stuff, multiple computers or even all my stuff for a weekend away I felt very little difference to my level of comfort and control.

Without a doubt Kriega’s build quality is some of the best out there and the R22 is no different. From the outset every bit of it feels like it was made to last and each material feels a cut about the rest. It’s no surprise that every time their products are mentioned on a forum or reviewed on a product page there’s multiple people saying they are still using theirs 10 years on with little to no noticeable wear. I have absolutely no doubt I’ll still be running round with the R22 in 10 years time, I dare say it’ll likely age better than I will. Coming in at £169 it certainly isn’t cheap but the quality difference is worth every penny.

Whilst I’m yet to put too many hard miles in, my R22 will be getting used and (carefully) abused over the coming months so I’ll update along the way but simply put if you need a rucksack that can do it all, last well and look good I don’t think you’ll beat the R22. It’s a massive thumbs up from me and well worth your consideration.

UPDATE:- Having ridden through some torrential rain over the last couple of days I can confirm the waterproofing is impressive even the front pocket that claims water resistance has remained bone dry. The dry sack naturally has been prefect too.

Fobo 2 Bike Bluetooth Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)

Posted on by BMotoUK

Outside of the world of bikes it would be fair to say I’m a geek. I love a good gadget especially when it makes a boring a tedious task far simpler. Enter the Fobo Bike 2 Bluetooth Tyre Pressure Monitoring system.

Fobo Bike 2 Bluetooth TPMS

We all know tyre pressures make a huge difference especially on bikes and if you’re anything like me you probably don’t check them as often as you ought to. In December last year I stumbled across the crowd funding for the upcoming Fobo sensor system. Having previously had a ‘retrofit’ style system on my car I figured this was a great opportunity to keep an eye on my pressures without having to hard wire anything into the bike or add an unsightly display/control unit.

The Fobo system connects to a smartphone app via super low power Bluetooth 5 giving a constant reading on the tyres pressure when you are in range of the bike. It constantly monitors pressure and temperature giving warnings when the pressure reaches your pre defined limits and can be used in ‘overlay’ style so if like me you use your phone for navigation the pressures can be easily seen alongside your directions.

The hardware is beautiful. My previous experience of the aftermarket systems is that they can be bulky and cheap feeling however the Fobo ouses quality arriving with a simple locking system to secure the valves to your bike and replaceable cosmetic covers allowing you to tailor the look to your wheel for a discrete fit. The sensors also feature a digital anti theft system in that they can’t be paired with another device until unpaired from yours meaning if taken from your bike they are useless. The compact sensors are powered via coin style batteries and claim to last as much as a year. Battery levels are displayed in the app warning you in readiness for a change. So far mine are still displaying full charge after a few months daily use.

To backup the hardware is the mobile app. I’ve only had experience of the Android version which is good. Simple to use, once installed and setup a notification remains on your phone popping up with warnings if the pressures are beyond your preset limits (which are changeable within the app according to your bike/tyre specs). Within the app you can add multiple bikes so if you have a number of bikes all with sensors you can track them all. A number of features have been added to the app over time showing the manufacturers commitment to this growing platform and support have been great at getting back to me whenever I’ve had an issue. They recently added an overlay option which allows a small box displaying to pressures to remain on top of other apps. For me this sits alongside my navigation day to day so I can keep a constant eye on the tyres.

All in all I can’t fault the Fobo 2, my only tiny gripe is that you have to take the sensor off to top the tyre up but this isn’t really any more taxing than a conventional valve cap. It’s really well thought through system, simple to use, great quality and something I’ll be adding to any future bikes.

The Gear – Lomo Crash Bar Dry Bags (2 x 6.5l)

Posted on by BMotoUK

I’ve got a confession to make……I’m a bag hoarder. My wife has shoes, lots of them, I have rucksacks, dry bags, messenger bags, little travel organiser bags and did I mention rucksacks. But after nearly 18 months with a ‘adventure’ style bike I was yet to find a set of crash bar bags I was happy with, that is till once again Lomo stepped in with their take on the humble crash bar bag.

Some of you may have seen my review of the brilliant 15l Lomo tail pack earlier this year. I also spent the summer blasting around to different youth festivals fully loaded with Lomo’s throw over panniers which I plan to review soon. Much like both of these products the crash bar bags are extremely high quality, solid bags with well thought out touches and a price that tickles my Yorkshire genes.

Each bag is made from a thick tarp material with a roll top to ensure the contents is dry at all times. Although I haven’t had these out in the wet yet their sister product the 30l panniers were bone dry following a 8 hour ride in torrential rain and these will be no different I’m sure. The backs of each bag are toughened with an extra layer of hard grippy material giving some shape and protection to the bags (and engine bars).

Each bag has 3 straps, 2 horizontally that attach at the front on either side with standard loop buckles. The third strap is vertical compressing the roll top and or bracing some of bags weight at the top on the bars attaching with a clip. Obviously every bike will be different but this combination of strap provides loads of options for getting the bags strapped up to the bike nice and tight. For my CB500X I had the horizontal straps looped through in 3 places (2 on the top strap, 1 on the bottom) then the vertical strap over the top. Each strap has a number of loop holes on the bag (back and sides) which is a nice touch and shows the well thought out design that’s gone into them. After 6 hours of mixed riding yesterday on everything from motorway to bumpy and twisty single track roads the bags were solid, no movement or flapping around, I forgot they were even there!

Each bag is 6.5l and honestly I’m not sure I’d want anything bigger. I’ve previously tried 2x12l engine bar bags and they were cumbersome, bulky and I simply couldn’t get them to sit right (maybe a factor of a lightweight/smallish bike). Packed up yesterday with a couple of extra layers, snacks, water, flask, tool and puncture kits there was tonnes of room left. For bigger trips these are going to serve well as the home for easy access bits out on the road giving me just a bit more space to organise my gear.

All in all these are the perfect answer to my engine bar needs and they are highly recommended. When you factor in the £39 price tag you just can’t beat them.

Available direct from Lomo – Click Here

Check out my review of their 15l tail bag Here