Wilcox Boots
Hello fellow Adventurers!
So a few months back, I saw an ad come across my Facebook feed for Wilcox Boots with a nice picture of mud, dirt, and the great outdoors! I decided to click on the ad and within a week found a pair at my door step.
The company was originally a Kickstarter design which I thought was pretty cool. What really caught my interest in purchasing these was the well done company video, expressing the quality, handmade workmanship, and “Made in North America” brand.
I was in the need for a good pair of American-made leather boots and these looked like they would fit the bill. The price was on the high end at $190.00, plus shipping, but I decided to take the plunge.
I now emphasize “Made in NORTH America” because I misunderstood the video by assuming the boots are made in the good ole’ USA. I later found out the footbed was made in Connecticut and the boots were made in Mexico.
Initially, I was pretty upset and almost sent the boots back because I really wanted to support the American workforce. However, I decided to put them on and was instantly blown away by the glove like feel on the interior and comfort of the footbed. They come pre-waxed which aids in the waterproofness and smooth finish.
I have since spent many days and long hours in these boots, which included roughly 10 hours straight walking around the 2016 AIMExpo. I can say these are the most comfortable boots I have ever owned. The quality and workmanship is second to none. With new designs and colors coming out, I know these will not be my last pair!
Relaxing after a long day at the AIMExpo!
In the end, I’m extremely happy with my purchase and highly recommend them for anyone looking for a great all around boot!
Below is a link to the site and they have provided a coupon code “2wheeladv” for 25% off.
http://bit.ly/2f0sq8F
Posted in Gear Review & Thoughts and tagged #bmwmoa, #bmwmotorrad, #explore, #madeforadventure, #makelifearide, #spiritofgs, #xladv by admin with comments disabled.
Klim Krios Karbon Adventure Helmet
All aboard the KLIM KRIOS train!
Several months ago, I had the opportunity to meet one of the KLIM Regional Managers who happened to be at my local dealership (EuroCycles Of Tampa Bay). After checking out some of the new products coming in, I was asked about providing my input on a review regarding the new helmet they would be releasing soon.
Of course, I said I would be glad to, but did I actually think I would receive the helmet? Eh… 50/50. However, true to their word, the UPS man arrived a few weeks later and left a brand new Klim Krios Karbon helmet at my door.
After unboxing the helmet and looking over the features, I turned to my wife and told her to go pack for a camping trip!
My initial impressions of this helmet was that it’s super light, looks awesome, and has an easily interchangeable face shield. Included inside the box was the dark tinted shield.
We packed the R1200GSA and headed north to Helen, GA, through Deal’s Gap, around to Gatlinburg, TN and finally had to head back down south to Florida. I acquired approximately 1400 miles in total with the Krios and my longest day was roughly 550 miles, not to mention we were two-up.
With this helmet only weighing approximately 3.25 lbs, and being almost a pound lighter then my older helmet (Shoei Hornet X2), it was a considerably noticeable difference. In the past, due to a old injury, I would feel neck and shoulder fatigue within an hour or so of riding. Not the case with the Krios. Its low weight and well thought out peak design helps eliminate excess pulling from wind and diverts it to the open cutouts which in turn, either force air into the helmet for ventilation or create a stabilizer as it passes to the rear spoiler.
If I could change two things, it would be to add a windscreen opening on the right side, and to be able to raise the windscreen just a crack to add additional venting when in serious humidity.
All in all, I think this helmet was well thought out, looks good, and priced very reasonable at $549.99, which is well below what I believe it could sell for.
They have a transition lens as an option, and the ability to equip a Sena 10U headset, which is made specifically for the Krios. Currently two color schemes are available including, Element Matte White and Stealth Matte Black. Klim will be soon releasing several other color options which look pretty awesome!
I want to give a big thanks to Dustin and the staff at KLIM for making this happen!
If you have further questions about the Krios, hit me up! Until next time…
Krios enjoying the view.
Our waiter liked the helmet so much, he moved the table over just to sit it on top!
Posted in Gear Review & Thoughts and tagged #bmwmoa, #bmwmotorrad, #explore, #madeforadventure, #makelifearide, #niagarafallstourismcanada, #spiritofgs, #xladv by admin with comments disabled.
Cayenne Pro by Rev’It
Just picked up a new pair of the Cayenne Pro’s.
At first these were pretty stiff and controls where difficult to feel. After 400+ miles these feel and function great! Good airflow and awesome protection. Kinda pricey but worth it in the end.
Ride safe✌️🏍
Posted in Gear Review & Thoughts and tagged #bmwmotorrad, #explore, #madeforadventure, #makelifearide by admin with comments disabled.
Ducati Multistrada 1200 Enduro
Hello Adventure Enthusiasts!
I recently had the opportunity to briefly test and evaluate the all-new Ducati Multistrada 1200 Enduro. Upfront disclaimer: The following feedback is based on non-scientific facts and is solely based on opinions from a somewhat decent rider (debatable)…
To start off, I want to give a big thanks to Euro Cycles of Tampa Bay for allowing me to evaluate this new machine.
I started off with a street ride, getting the feel for the raw power of 160 ponies! The engine and riding characteristics are right in-line with what you would expect from Ducati. It’s got the sound, looks, and ergonomics features, which makes riding it that much better.
Living where I do, we don’t have fantastic swoop back curves and winding roads. However, we do have a decent little loop not too far away. The Multistrada felt right at home while leaning into the curves and powering out of them. I rode in sport mode, enjoying a positive throttle response which felt right at home with my style of riding.
Two legends hanging out
Now for the off-road portion. Disclaimer: Street tires and light off-roading.
Bike was just too pretty to get dirty, so I mostly explored hard-packed dirt roads and grass. I ran it through the basics, as far as serpentine with cones, slow mo balancing, and the ability to kick the rear end around.
What I noticed right away was that the Multistrada is heavy off-road and I mean heavy… All the weight sits up high, unlike some of the other adventure motorcycles I’ve ridden in this class. The braking system in Enduro mode seemed confident to handle the task.
The ergonomics of the electronic riding modes was by far my favorite feature. The display screen was easy to read and change between riding modes. The screen is bright and provides a cell phone style display.
Taken at night
Another awesome feature which is seen on other Ducati lines is the lighted handlebar buttons. Still waiting for the Germans to catch up on this one…
To sum it up, the Ducati name will always have a loyal fan base. I’m grateful to have been given the opportunity to ride this beautiful motorcycle. It has many great features, and plenty of accessories are coming out to make this a fully capable adventure bike!
Posted in Gear Review & Thoughts by admin with comments disabled.