Motorcycle Closeouts is North America's 1rst destination for new motorcycle clothing and safety apparel at beyond cheap prices! The Fast Gear Fast blog is a matrix of all the info we share across the social-sphere. We strive to bring you the best deals for your bike and the best of everything else about bikes as well! Enjoy!
Yesterday, we had a visit from our local Fly Racing rep who brought in the new Valor MX neck brace!
It's a new year, so new gear is a given and we are seeing new stuff nearly everyday. This time around, we got our hands on the new hybrid neck brace from Fly Racing, the Valor.
Last year's Leatt-built brace, the Zenith was also a hybrid, mixing the front table from the Adventure GPX series with the adjustable rear of the Club GPX. The Valor is taking the same approach but with the front table inspired by the Leatt Race, having a more aggressive and steep angle which should allow more freedom of movement when wearing an MX helmet. The front is now split but non-adjustable whereas the rear is adjustable for table height.
The Fly Racing Valor neck brace comes in at $323 and is available now at MotorcycleCloseouts.com
Another Look At The Gm78 Motorcycle Helmet
A quick "walk around" of the Gmax GM78 full face motorcycle helmet with integrated sun shield and rear brake light.
http://viddy.it/V5l9po
New Gmax GM78 Full Face Motorcycle Helmet
full face helmet with led rear brake light and internal sunshield at MotorcycleCloseouts.com
http://viddy.it/S3iuxQ
It's sunny and snowing on this Sunday here at work so while I'm waiting for videos to render I looked up sound of GOD on Youtube. It came up with the 1967 Honda RC181.
As a fan of motors, the RC series has always got me going, but the sound..
That's what you get with the new for 2013 Shoei GT-Air.
John dropped by the shop to show off some of the new 2013 designs by Shoei including the GT-Air full face helmet and the J-Cruise 3/4 helmet.
Both helmets share many features with the now famous Shoei Neotec helmet:
Internal sunshield
AIM shell construction
3 shell sizes
Integrated shell spoiler
Quiet design
QR-N Base Plate system
CNS-1 shield
removable liner system
Multi-Piece EPS liner
Chin curtain
Breath Guard
Pinlock Anti-Fog System
Like other Shoei helmets, the GT-Air comes with a 5-year warranty and should be available super soon at MotorcycleCloseouts.com
***
The other new for 2013 lid John showed up with was the J-Cruise which would be like taking a Neotec and pulling off the modular chin-bar. This 3/4 helmet still shares a lot of the features of the Neotec such as the integrated sunshield, liner, EPS system and AIM shell construction but also has a number of features that are unique, including 4 shell sizes and a CJ-2 Shield.
Both helmets should be available soon at MotorcycleCloseouts.com!
To see our slideshow of the helmets, check it out below!
We don't reblog much here on the FGF blog, but we should! Check out this chop and tell me it doesn't make you want to go find a long winding road covered by tree shade and flickering bursts of sunshine!
Leatt Braces Just In!
Motorcycle Closeouts JUST got in a bunch of Leatt Neck Braces, all ready to go on super sale! -- #Leatt at MotorcycleCloseouts
http://viddy.it/UD5ewO
No, this isn't a movie prop, this is an actual DOT approved motorcycle helmet! It's called the Bell Rogue and it's a little bit of cruiser, a little bit of naked sportbike and a whole lot of raw aggro Mad Max-ism.
From the Bell press-release:
"Category-Defying Helmet Bridges Gap Between Open-Face and Full-Face, with Innovative Detachable Muzzle-System for Coverage Against the Elements
"The innovators at Bell that pioneered the first racing helmets in 1954, are blazing yet another new trail for the industry with the company’s latest category-defying product introduction. Today, Bell unveiled “Rogue,” a totally unique open-face helmet, designed to provide facial coverage from the elements that previously had not been provided by any other open-face helmet on the market.
Designed with the cruiser market in mind, but appropriate for a wide variety of motorcycling applications, Rogue addresses a long-standing gap in the market for an open-face helmet that provides increased coverage against the elements. Particularly useful in cold-weather conditions and for long-distance touring, Rogue is equipped with a first-of-its-kind, adjustable and detachable “muzzle” system, allowing riders increased comfort and protection against the elements. The muzzle benefits are also aesthetic, creating an ominous-look to the Rogue, ideal for the attitude and lifestyle synonymous with the cruiser category.
“For years, our sales reps and dealers have had cruiser riders lamenting about the need to lose their bandanas for an open face helmet that’s got the attitude and style that they seek, but also provides some facial coverage for wet, cold or other harsh riding conditions,” said Chris Sackett, General Manager, Bell Powersports. “Rogue fulfills this need from both a standpoint of function and form, with an edgy design that makes it hands down the meanest-looking helmet we’ve ever made. So far, pre-orders from our dealers have been extremely strong, and we’re excited to see the consumer reception for this unique new design.”
Rogue is based on a lightweight composite shell that looks like a half helmet, but is actually a three-quarter design, thanks to an EPS that extends from the rear portion of the shell into a comfortable neck roll pad. The innovative muzzle is constructed from molded thermoplastic polyurethane, featuring air vents and a removable fleece liner for added comfort and protection. The muzzle fastens to the helmet through a FidLock magnetic connection system, easily fastened directly into the system’s magnetic receptors and removed by simply sliding the muzzle piece in an upward direction. Length is also adjustable through straps on either side of the muzzle that ratchet into the helmet shell.
"The helmet’s shell and EPS are available in three sizes for more expansive size range and maximum comfort, with the liner being removable and washable. Rogue is DOT certified, and available in Solid Black, Solid Matte Black, Army Green and Solid Gunny finishes."
Personally, I'm extremely excited for this new lid. It's lightweight, has a great feel and finish and looks pretty comfy.
And it obviously looks pretty bad-ass. That's a bonus.
This lid should be available sometime late March and retail for about $250 at MotorcycleCloseouts.com!
Caption:Set at the WIDE view, the GoPro Hero 3 takes typical GoPro pics, but note that this was in my living room with only natural light. Previous version of the camera would produce grainy images as the camera would try to compensate.. And fail.
We recently received our initial shipment of GoPro Hero 3 Black Edition cameras - finally - at Motorcycle Closeouts. Like a lot of shops, we had been on the waiting list for nearly two months before they unceremoniously appeared in large boxes full of the cameras and a bevy a mounts to go with it.
The next question was "When do we get a demo to play with?" Well I got one and had planned a lot of hooligan antics to test it out.
And then we were hit with a snowstorm.
Caption: Despite the upgraded 12 megapixel sensor on the Hero 3 Black, there can still be blooming defects if you try and push for them. However, the fact that you can still make out details in the window treatments and wintry mix outside speaks volumes about the performance of this new unit!
The initial plan was to film some footy on board a motorcycle or two (or three) and take some stills in various lighting conditions to showcase the cameras low-light performance and upgraded image sensor. Unfortunately, I woke up to a snowstorm that closed many roads and prohibited travel by car, much less on a motorcycle. Instead of using that wasted time to catch up on drinking, I decided to take a couple of pics anyway, and those are what you see posted throughout.
In playing with the Hero 3 Black Edition, there were somethings that I found notable, especially over the Hero HD that I own now:
The menu system is much, much easier to navigate than the previous iteration. The front facing LCD screen is of higher resolution allowing you to read actual words instead of memorizing codes and symbols. Scrolling through the numerous menus with only two buttons is still a pain in the ass, but it is harder to second guess what you're doing since the symbols that are present along with legible text help out greatly.
The camera is tiny. I know that sounds obvious but if you've handled a Hero, Hero HD or Hero 2, the new 3 feels itty-bitty in comparison. It's thinner and maybe even shorter from top to bottom. As a result, the Hero 3 does emit a bit more heat, especially from the battery compartment.
Speaking of compartments, the charge/video out/mic out/sd card access has a pop out panel that protects the connectors from getting dirty, which in my case means i'm going to lose the tiny little door anyway and be angry about it later. I'm assuming GoPro couldn't build the door to attach to the body permanently due to cost but I wish they had.
Micro SD cards. The new camera takes an even smaller memory card than the previous units. The micro sd card is almost a quarter of the size of a standard SD card, but is more than twice the price in standard box stores. Whereas a 32 GB SD card can run you $30 at BestBuy, a micro SD card of the same speed and capacity can burn up $119 of your simoleans! OH, and you cannot cheap out on the cards: you have to use a class 6 or faster! Trust me on this one!
There is an initial download that has to be completed after purchase. The download is simply a firmware update, but holy cow! It's a frustrating one. It took me HOURS to figure out how to download the update due to my previous experience with GoPro firmware updates clouding my ability to read directions. Seriously, if you've owned a GoPro camera before, this update process is quite different, especially if you're a Chrome or Safari browser user. I had to download Mozilla Firefox in order to get download to work.
You have to delete files using your computer. This is a design flaw in that if you use the in-camera delete/format function, it will delete your camera update and you have to DOWNLOAD THE UPDATE AND REINITIALIZE THE CAMERA ALL OVER AGAIN! Quite frustrating.
The GoPro app works quite nice on my Android handset - I have not had the chance to try it on my Motorola tablet - and surprised me with the range that I can detect the GoPro before finally dropping the signal. The app allows you to do everything that the included remote control can do but with the addition of being able to preview your images before deciding to record. The lag is minimal, especially if you're close to the camera, and it works pretty smoothly. The UI could be a little bit easier to look at, but I have no real complaints about it.
Caption: Again, this image was captured with natural light only coming from the window and the door. Sure there is lack of detail around the edges, especially on the bottom right corner, but everything else is crisp. There is still blooming from the window and the light pouring onto the ceiling, but it's better than I expected overall. The camera still has no macro mode: notice how far down the dog's snout you have to go before the image becomes sharp.
As we get the chance to play with the camera more, we'll post an update, until then, take a look at the images which -excluding the last photo -are not touched up and are directly from the camera. If you've used the older units, you'll appreciate the clarity the new unit provides. Later we will touch on the video quality.
Caption: This image has obviously been desaturated, but while black and white, you can see how detailed and sharp an image it is. It's no pro photo, but it looks rather good considering the conditions of which it was taken in.
No, seriously. One of my favorite new shows is Comedians in Cars getting Coffee. Every 15 minute episode I watch, I want to make a cup of coffee. It's ridiculous, but true.
So, in a related story, VonZipper made a video look book of some of their fashions, but used a "Moped Gang" to do it.
Now I want a moped. Damn!
Well, we don't sell VonZipper, nor do we sell mopeds, but if you have the latter and happen to be near our retail shop in KC, stop on in and say hi. And bring a towel to wipe up my drool.
Midland XTC Wearable Video Camera Sneak Peek
Midland gave us a camera to test. We plan on using it at these weeks Hare Scramble to see how it holds up. -- #Video at Agency
http://viddy.it/UN1Y1u
Over the past few days, we asked some of the Motorcycle Closeouts employees and friends of the shop here in Smithville to tell us what they would like for Christmas. The idea was that if anyone was needing help deciding what to buy as gifts for the holiday, then the short vids could offer some inspiration...
Well, that was the idea...
Instead, what we got was a number of quick glimpses into the quirky personalities that pepper the shop and the hilarity that ensued.
Enjoy!
Be sure to subscribe to the Motorcycle Closeouts FastGearFast YouTube channel for more videos as well!
Early this morning (and I mean early!), we sent out a new newsletter with arguably the best deals of the year.
Saving the best for last!
The Big Boss went on a price schopping spree and came up with a dozen deals to help those in the gift buying mood. Here's the run down:
1/2 Price T-shirts
1/2 Price Hoodies
1/2 Price Hats
A "Fun in the Sun" deal where if you're already tired of the cold and dreaming of warmer weather, you can save on the swag you need
Goggles for $1 w/ select off road helmets
Up to 70% off MX combos
50%-80% off Fox Eyewear
GoPro Hero 2 Cameras with a FREE 8 GB card for only $199
Exclusive Bell Street Helmet Deals
Arctic Suits for only $49.99
Gloves for $1 with select Shift jackets
Free shipping on ALL orders over $99
So yeah, there are some great deals out there for you if you're not sure what you're on the hunt for this gift-giving season. Be sure to head over to Motorcycle Closeouts and give them a try!
Well, it always has been a go, but now, the Cardo Community platform is open to Mac users!
If you're not in the know and own or have been thinking of owning a Scala Rider G9 communication setup, read the details after the jump.
The Cardo Community online platform (now available for OS X 10.5 or later versions) is the best way adjust and personalize the settings for your G9. You can:
Adjust FM radio presets
Change languages
Adjust AGC and VOX sensitivity
Setup Click-to-Link Intercom
Perform software updates
& more!
Follow this Link to learn more or if you haven't seen the G9 yet, follow this link and head over to MotorcycleCloseouts.com for your new favorite motorcycling accessory!
It was a chilly morning today in Kansas City. One of those not quite cold, but definitely not warm mornings that required a lot of motivation to make the commute to work. Even after arriving at the job, all I wanted to do was pull the Snuggie out of my locker and cozy up. So, what does one do during days like these? What motorcycling videos, of course!
Today's distraction comes via the XDL Chapionship series. The XDL is pretty much the stunt biking league of awesome with such household names as Aaron Colton, Nick Brocha, Chris "Teach" McNeil and KC's hometown hero, "Crazy" Dan Jackson.
Check out these clips from this year's action or jump to the XDL TV Channel on YouTube for more.
After you get all nice and toasty from watching this stunt pr0n, be sure to peep the gear and then head over to Motorcycle Closeouts and get some gear of your own!
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