Bike EXIF » Motorcycle Accessories

Bike EXIF Motorcycle T-shirts

Chris Hunter — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 17:30:22 +0000

You’ve asked for them—in hundreds of emails over the years. And now we’ve got them. The first motorcycle t-shirts in the Bike EXIF Collection go on sale for $29.99 in the USA today, showcasing three of the world’s top custom builders.

#1 is ‘The American’ from Deus Ex Machina (below). A thick slab of Milwaukee muscle crammed into a C&J Low Boy dirt track chassis. It’s a roll call of high performance illuminati: J&E high comp pistons, Edelbrock big valve cylinder heads, Buell forks and Sun Rims.

#2 is Ritmo Sereno’s BMW R100 RS race replica (below). Perfect for racing down neon-lit Tokyo streets at night. We’ve joined forces with Japan’s legendary resto-mod builder for this exclusive limited edition t-shirt.

#3 is the Hammarhead Jack Pine (below). James Hammarhead mixes old-school style with modern engineering in his Philadelphia lab, to get your dopamine receptors firing. And this is the bike that put Hammarhead Industries on the map—a Triumph Scrambler on steroids, being ridden as nature intended.

All three motorcycle t-shirts are constructed from high-quality super-soft 150 gm cotton, with a discreet Bike EXIF label on the hem.

They cost $29.99 and are shipped from Deus’ online store in the USA. Order yours now.

Win moto gear from Urban Rider

Chris Hunter — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 17:30:31 +0000

Today we’re joining forces with longstanding sponsor Urban Rider to offer some great prizes for Bike EXIF readers: three pieces of premium motorcycle gear worth £600. (That’s over $900 for those of you in the USA.)

Urban Rider has a central London store and is also a leading online retailer of some of the world’s best motorcycle clothing—including Belstaff motorcycle jackets. So our first prize is one of the most iconic pieces of moto gear ever made. It’s a Belstaff Trialmaster Tourist Trophy jacket, in the style made famous by Steve McQueen. This jacket has a 10-ounce wax cotton outer layer, a detachable quilted lining in a Belstaff check pattern with 120-gram Valtherm padding, and removable CE-approved armor in the shoulder and elbow.

Second prize is a pair of Draggin Next Gen jeans—the world’s first seamless Kevlar motorcycle jean. These have a straight-leg cut in indigo denim, plus slits in the lining to insert knee armor. And third prize is a pair of Belstaff Classic gloves, crafted from soft leather and double stitched with extra padding in critical areas.

How to enter
It’s simple. Head over to the Urban Rider Facebook page, click ‘Like’, and follow the instructions from there. Urban Rider will contribute up to £50 towards shipping for each prize, no matter where the winner lives, and the sweepstakes close at midnight GMT time, Tuesday 4 October 2011. That’s all there is to it!

Bike EXIF readers also get 10% off at Urban Rider
We realise that not everyone uses Facebook. So until 4 October 2011, we’re also giving you 10% off any product from the Urban Rider online store: just enter the discount code ‘EXIF10’ when you check out. How’s that for a deal?

Schott motorcycle jackets

Chris Hunter — Tue, 25 May 2010 17:30:23 +0000

When it comes to motorcycle jackets, Schott NYC is the real deal: The company has a heritage that money can’t buy. It goes back almost a hundred years to 1913, when brothers Irving and Jack Schott started the business in a basement on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. They branded their jackets with the name of Irving’s favorite cigar, the Perfecto—and then revolutionized the way we dress by becoming the first manufacturers to put a zipper on a jacket.

Selling for just $5.50, the new Perfecto was rugged and stylish. It didn’t take Hollywood long to catch on, and after World War II the Perfecto became a style icon. Marlon Brando wore a Perfecto astride his 1950 Triumph Thunderbird in The Wild One, and it became synonymous with the the excitement, adventure and danger that fuels the spirit of motorcycles. Today, Schott is run by third and fourth generation members of the Schott family, and unlike most brands they still make their jackets in the USA in their own factory.

Check out the full range of Schott jackets here. Or head over to our review of the five best classic motorcycle jackets on sale today.

Tachibana motorcycle helmets

Chris Hunter — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 17:30:08 +0000

Here in Australia, it’s harder and harder to get hold of a vintage motorcycle helmet that complements a classic or custom motorcycle. Australia implements its own standards, an utterly pointless exercise given the accepted standards elsewhere. So when I see gear like these Japanese Tachibana helmets, it makes me envious. Tachibana has moved beyond the usual metalflake treatments and created a wider range of reproduction vintage motorcycle helmets. And with prices starting at around ¥12,000 (US$130), they’re good value too. Here’s a selection of their more oddball models, but rest assured, there’s some conventional Bell 500 type gear here too.

Sponsor intro: Vitesse Moto

Chris Hunter — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 11:50:41 +0000

Today is a big day for Bike EXIF: we have our first site sponsor, the new premium motorcycle boot maker Vitesse Moto. We’re especially pleased because Vitesse Moto is a great fit for our philosophy, as well as helping to secure the future of Bike EXIF. Founder John Mollanger shares our interest in iconic motorcycles and aesthetic design:

“It’s not just about the bike—whether it’s an Italian twin, a Japanese four or an English triple. It doesn’t matter if it’s recent or pre-war, a commuter in the garage or a classic in your living room. It’s about the passion for motorcycles and having a love for all things special. It’s about motorcycles as a form of art, and talking about them like others might talk about wine.”

Vitesse Moto boots are engineered for performance, but comfortable enough to be worn every day. And there’s no compromise on safety levels. Vitesse has created ‘V-Cockpit’ technology, a patented ankle management device that gives you the best possible protection-to-comfort ratio: “Our ambition at Vitesse Moto is to help you live your passion with style and safety,” says Mollanger.

There are three boots in the Vitesse Moto range:

Hunt Inspired by traditional work boots, Hunt gives riders a great dose of comfort and protection. Featuring an American saddle leather upper with adjustable lace–up construction. €175.00 (around US$235).

Glove A sleek, fitted piece of soft, breathable leather with racetrack features. For riders who want comfort through the day and the freedom to drag their knees on Sundays. €200.00 (around US$265).

Vulcan The lowest cut in the range, but still incorporating V-Cockpit technology. Inspired by vintage athletic sneakers, Vulcan uses a waxed canvas upper material. Just €150.00 (around US$200).

Vitesse Moto boots are available worldwide and sold exclusively via a secure online store, with downloadable fitment tools to ensure accurate sizing. Check out the Vitesse range here; you can also find the company on Facebook and Twitter.

Vitesse Moto

Chris Hunter — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 17:30:19 +0000

The trouble with most motorcycle boots is that they’re a compromise. If you’re looking for a helmet or jacket, you’re spoilt for choice. But with boots, you normally have just two options: racing-style boots that are safe but not particularly comfortable, or street boots that won’t protect you very well. So it’s good to see a third, more stylish option, provided by a new company called Vitesse Moto. It’s the brainchild of John Mollanger, a bike nut who’s worked at the top level of both Nike and Puma and now headed out on his own. “Our boots are inspired by everyday footwear—from dress shoes to sneakers, from work boots to casual styles,” he says. And yes, they look terrific. Even better, these boots should have the performance to match their styling. Vitesse has patented a construction system it calls ‘V-Cockpit’, with a monobloc chassis that integrates the comfort and protection elements of the boot. There will be three styles to choose from, as shown above, with prices ranging from US$200 to US$260. Get more details from the Vitesse Moto website.

NYC Motorcycle Federation

Chris Hunter — Sun, 17 May 2009 18:30:12 +0000

There’s a new motorcycle-themed café and clothing store on 6th Avenue in NYC called Motorcycle Federation. The shop, just across from celeb hangout Da Silvano’s, has already attracted attention from local style blogs such as Thrillist. There’s a bit of attitude with the Federation guys and gals: they’re focused on ‘Outlaw Couture’ and boldly state ‘Car customers not welcome’. (But if you’re a ‘sucker without a bike’, it’s okay to get the subway.) Inside, you can browse the vintage leather jackets, sip an Illy coffee, and partake of the free wi-fi. Sounds better than Starbucks. [Via Southsiders M.C.]