How to Be Your Own Personal Motorcycle Gear Shopper

Motorcycle Gear Buying Guide and How-To by Joanne Donn of GearChic.com:

As an avid RevZilla customer, you understand the level of customer service and product knowledge that TeamZilla strives to provide its customers both online and off. They even provide video reviews, including fit tips and how to measure yourself properly to order the correct size!

But with anything you purchase either online, or in your local dealership, it can be difficult to figure out whether or not something you've purchased fits right. After working the International Motorcycle Shows for the past couple of months, I’ve learned that places like RevZilla are few and far between, literally. Not all dealers have dedicated apparel employees, or knowledgeable sales staff to help ensure that you know what all the options are or can show you proper fit. So you may need to provide yourself a little customer service in order to get what you want. I hope these tips will help you get the most out of your shopping experience, and help you make the best purchasing decision when it comes to investing in gear. You might even teach your dealerships a thing or two about how to sell gear!

Tip #1: Try on everything ON a motorcycle. I cannot emphasize this enough. You’re about to spend your hard earned money for something that you plan to spend thousands of miles in. After you walk up to that mirror, check yourself out, then ask your significant other how you look, go sit on that gorgeous motorcycle, and then check fit. If you don’t have access to a motorcycle, I want you to assume riding posture, bring your arms forward and simulate your riding position. The slightest change in lean angle can really have an impact on the way you perceive fit. One jacket may not work on 2 different bikes, whether it’s the handlebar reach, longer wheel base or the placement of the foot pegs. Keep that in mind when you sit on different ones and try to find something that fits as close to your motorcycle as possible.

Tip #2 Try not to make fit decisions in front of the mirror. If something is properly articulated for riding, it should actually feel More comfortable on the bike, in riding position with your hands on the handgrips and ready to ride. If it’s the other way around, it may not be a ‘real’ riding garment. Anything can say that it’s “motorcycle” wear. But that might not mean that it’s meant for riding for more than 5 miles in a straight line.

Tip #3 Fit, then Budget. 
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t expect you to throw down a couple thousand dollars on your first trip to the dealer. I know how hard it is for people to make purchasing decisions, especially with how difficult the economy has been on everyone. However, if you limit yourself to trying on only the items you can afford, you’ll never know how they fit. I want you to pretend that you have so much money that you don’t know how you’re going to spend it all. Even if you find that the $800 Dainese gear won’t work with your budget, but fits you like a dream, at least you know how it fit. Now you can go shop for gear in the budget section, and find something that fits close to it. Dealers can only afford to put out 1 or 2 options from the catalog. Generally, you'll find that fit differs from one manufacturer to the next, so if you find "the one", you’ll find everything else they make will fit you too.

Tip #4 Ask to see the catalogs. Dealers can only put what they think will sell on the floor for display. They are choosing from dozens of options, and it can be difficult to make the right one. So ask to see the catalog or the dealers website, to see what else the dealer can order direct from the manufacturer. Chances are, whatever your size is in one style should be the same size in another within the same manufacturer. And, the manufacturer probably makes at least 50 other motorcycle jackets/pants that you *can* afford, and the dealer can special order just for you. Size charts will also be in there somewhere, and should help you figure out how the sizes run (European/American sizing, etc). You may notice that many American manufacturers cut everything to fit Americans. The cuts might be more generous in certain places and not others. For example, if you have ever tried on anything from Cortech or Tourmaster then you might have noticed how the shoulders are broad, the torso and the arms are cut short and wide. If you have a tall, lean frame, with narrow shoulders, a narrow waist and a long torso, then you know that a European fit from a company like REV'IT! or Alpinestars is going to fit you far better than either of those.

Tip #5 If it’s too comfortable, it’s probably too big. 
If you’re like most of us, the minute you get home from work, you change right out of those work clothes and get into something loose, comfortable, plush and easy to move around in. Then you jump on the couch and turn on the tv. I love that part of my day. But when it comes to riding my motorcycle a couple hundred miles every weekend, I need something that fits and works while I’m sitting on my bike. When you try on a protective jacket the first time, it’s going to feel awkward. It’ll feel nothing like what you’re used to wearing at home, work or school. The garment should feel *most* comfortable in riding position. It should feel short across the chest, weird when you stand up straight and a little more snug than you’re used to, and probably a little hard to put your hands in your pockets. Because you won't have time to do that while you're winding down the twisties!

I know not everyone *loves* to shop like me. I know it can be hard, tedious and difficult to find what you want/need in one trip. But I hope these tips will make the next trip a little shorter and simpler to help you decide whether or not something is worth spending your hard earned money on.

Joanne Donn is the founder of GearChic, an affiliate of Revzilla.com. She can be reached via email: joanne at gearchic dot com.

REV'IT!'s MotoGP Victory Suit, Jerez Glove and Gear Lineup for de Puniet and Bautista

This press release hit my radar this morning from REV'IT!. It basically breaks down the gear that Randy de Puniet and Alvaro Bautista will be rocking in the MotoGP this year. I know I have posted about it often before, but this is a press release right from the horses mouth, so I deemed it worth sharing.

From REV'IT! Holland:

When the REV'IT! R&D team set out to design the 2010 line, we aimed to make gear that could withstand every situation their customers might throw at it. This meant setting the toughest possible product specifications, to go above and beyond what average non-professional motorcyclists would need – whether they were everyday riders, track-day riders, or serious sports riders.

To find the most demanding conditions possible, there is only one place to look: the MotoGP. From this comes the REV’IT! design philosophy: if a product is good enough for a MotoGP racer, then it will definitely provide REV’IT! customers with the ultimate in safety, comfort, and performance.

In 2008 REV'IT! entered into its first MotoGP sponsorship, with racing star Randy de Puniet. During that year Randy crashed a record 24 times. Thanks to his gear, however, he escaped without a single severe injury. With results like these, there might not seem much room for improvement – but REV'IT! isn’t known for settling.

The combination of the new Victory one-piece suit with the Excellerator undersuit is a perfect example of how REV’IT! is constantly making improvements to its professional-level gear, which work in synergy for superior performance. Developed with the feedback of Randy de Puniet, the VICTORY and EXCELLERATOR offer unprecedented quality and safety to the public consumer market.

VICTORY ONE PIECE SUIT

Our new VICTORY one-piece suit has been designed to provide the ultimate in comfort and protection. The suit features the brand-new REV'IT! knee protector and reinforced shin pieces for safety. Comfort and convenience are enhanced by suede in the collar, an extra calf-zipper for easy on and off, an inner pocket on the belly, and a full climate-control inner suit with aero cool 3D mesh panels on the back and underarms (including air channels for ventilation). The new VICTORY gives you great protection in comfortable style.

EXCELLERATOR SPORTS UNDERSUIT

The lightweight EXCELLERATOR suit uses moisture-wicking and thermal-regulation technology to keep you comfortable in all seasons and under all conditions. Anatomically shaped to be worn under a leather one-piece suit, the EXCELLERATOR prevents overheating in summer and hypothermia in winter, with stretchable PE that offers comfortable support for the body and reduces muscle fatigue. For additional comfort, this under-suit features thumb and ankle straps to accommodate all types of racers.

JEREZ GLOVE

The JEREZ glove is the number one choice for the serious racer who puts safety first. The JEREZ combines premium-quality materials like kangaroo leather and Superfabric with great protective features. The glove has a completely new range of dual compound hard parts, most prominent among them the hard-shell knuckle and hard palm slider. Inspired by Moto GP feedback, the Kevlar stitching is positioned on the outside of the glove, giving these gloves the ultimate sensitivity every racer demands.

TRITON RAIN JACKET

For great water-repellant properties during races, the TRITON rain jacket is the choice of professional riders. Worn by MotoGP rider Randy de Puniet during the 2009 MotoGP season, the TRITON shields the seams and perforations of your leathers to prevent them from getting soaked. The transparent design leaves the racing leathers visible, while the snug but flexible fit preserves your freedom of movement so you can perform at your best.


Two Wheels Down!

Jason Britton Joins Two Brothers Racing - and installs his full system!

You gotta love Jason Britton. We have all seen a million stunters at this point, but once you see Jason do a demo in person, you quickly realize why he has been at the top of the heap for some time.

I saw Jason ride up close for the first time a few years ago and was really impressed - and normally I think circle wheelies and stoppies are yawn inspiring after about 5 minutes. Not so with Jason. The doesn't just go out and ride haphazardly, he puts on a performance with charisma to spare. Credit where credit is due.

I hate to sound like a fanboy because I am by no means a die hard stunter, but I am genuinely impressed with Jason Britton as a brand and what it stands for in our moto-universe. The dude is also good to his fans. I have seen him in action. Bravo.

This morning a video of Jason's official 1st day with Two Brothers Racing hit my inbox. Its a well done video showcasing a gnarly new Two Brothers exhaust jovially being installed by Jason. Look at Jason work the wrench!

Go on with your bad self, Jason Britton. See you at the next GP.

Anthony Bucci

New 2010 REV'IT! Sand Gloves in Stock

The new adventure styled REV'IT! Sand Gloves have come in and the production version looks great. All we had previously seen was a pre-production sample.

Check out the candid.



I am a fan of the move to go black / safari vs black / silver. The production version also has some nice finishing touches on the palm.

They are mesh based, lightweight ad functional; geared toward warm weather dualsporting.


Anthony

Vemar Helmet 48 Hour Flash Sale - Up to 57% Off

For the Next 48 hours we have pulled out pants down on 4 Vemar Helmets. It's a fact.

Our closeout prices were good, but when we start getting short on warehouse space its time for the stock to move. For the next 4 Hours or until the stock is toast you can save up to 57% on the Eclipse Carbon, CKQI, VSREV R&S and the Eclipse Under the Pillow. We're not being pushy, but these are some of the best deals we've given in a long time and they end promptly on Wednesday at 12pm EST.

Click to See the Vemar Helmet 48 Hour Flash Sale

Only the best for our loyal RevZillans...


BoochZilla

RevZilla Core Value #19: Lend a Helping Hand

At RevZilla we believe in lending a helping hand.... even to washed up internet celebrities. See what happens when a washed up internet celebrity breaks into our warehouse and eventually wears out his welcome.

Note: This video is a satirical reenactment full of melodramatic dramatizations (think rescue 911 style circa 1992). No animals were hurt in the making of this joke film.

Nate Kern rocking Daytona on his BMW s1000RR in a matching 2010 REV'IT! Victory Suit

(img courtesy of Brandon Bones via REV'IT!)

Nobody ever said Nate Kern wasn't a stud on a bike. In 2010, he is just making it look that much better.

Most know Nate is racing the BMW S1000RR which in the red, white and blue color scheme which is a complete beast. What many folks don't know is that Nate is sponsored by REV'IT! this year and is wearing a matching red white and blue Victory Race Suit. It's a red, white and blue version of the same suit that Randy de Puniet and new for 2010 Alvaro Bautista will be rocking in this year's MotoGP.

Nate Kern took a 2nd place, and several 4th place finishes at Daytona during the CCS/ASRA weekend! Check out some of the shots we got from our friends at REV'IT! with Nate. We posted them to RevZilla's live blog live.revzilla.com

On another note, I got to spend some time with Nate at the IMS show in NYC last month and shoot the sh*t a little bit. It's easy to see why he has a solid following. He's great racer and a cool guy.

And, as we posted yesterday, we are giving away a free pair of REV'IT! Race Gauntlet's with every REV'IT! Victory or other REV'IT! Race Suit we sell. Check out the details on the Fresh Suit, Free Gloves Program Here.

Two Wheels Down, Nate!

BoochZilla

Free Pair of REV'IT! Race Gauntlet's with REV'IT! Race Suit Purchase at RevZilla.com

For a limited time when you purchase any REV'IT! Race Suit from RevZilla we will give you a pair of REV'IT! GT Corse or 2010 SLR Race Gauntlets for FREE. No promo or discount code necessary, just throw any REV'IT! Race suit in your cart and then add a SLR or GT Corse in your color and size. The price of the pair of gloves when in your cart will be adjusted to $0. (Click here for full details)

Our gift to our loyal customer base this Spring is helping them get race-ready for a little less coin than normal.

For those who are not familiar with the REV'IT! suit or glove lineup, please keep reading and I will break down the gear.

REV'IT! is featuring two new suits for 2010, the REV'IT! Victory Suit (Pro Level worn by De Puniet, Bautista and Kern) and the REV'IT! CR Suit (entry level). The Victory has all of the top-end bells, whistles and protective features. The CR, which stands for Cafe Racer and has a retro feel, has a few less space age technologies but is a solid suit in with a great look at a thousand bucks. REV'IT! is coming back this year with the REV'IT! TT Suit (pictured above being worn by de Puniet in '09 GP class). The TT has only a few less features than the Victory and was their previous pro model, the catch on the TT is that the price actually cam DOWN for 2010 to $1299.99 which we love it at. Check out the video below for the suit breakdown.



With regard to the gloves, the REV'IT! GT Corse (left) was REV'IT!'s top end glove up to 2008 and actually got Warm Weather Race Gauntlet of the Year from Motorcycle.co.uk . It features a double cuff system, Kevlar, Carbon Fiber, Superfabric and external hardparts. The GT Corse is priced at $160 and was eclipsed by the REV'IT! Jerez Glove  for 2009 at the pro level. The Jerez uses some additional hard part TPU's, sliders and is slightly beefier which give it the edge.

Also available as the Free Glove with suit is the new 2010 REV'IT! SLR Glove (right) which will not be available until mid march and is slated to be $139 out of the gates. The SLR is newer with a slightly more forgiving cut than the GT, but it does not have some of the space age features like SuperFabric sliding panels. As a corollary, the SLR does have a new dual compound palm slider and styling that the GT Corse wished it had in its bag of tricks. Check out the SLR video below.



Either way, both gloves are a track-ready win. I think the decision comes down to availability and styling. If you have any questions don't hesitate to give us a ring for help. Navigating the suit buying waters can be tricky. We are here to help.

As always we have a limited supply of free glove inventory and we will run this deal until that stash is toast.

BoochZilla from RevZilla HQ - Out.

ZillaFact #26 : We Aspire to be Customer Service Gods

I know we harp on it a lot, but customer service at RevZilla is something that keeps us all up at night.

Based on customer feedback, we have done it right to date.

The biggest challenge that we face moving forward is that as the company grows dramatically bigger, the level of service and support we offer can never falter. We won't let it. But it will take careful planning and a lot of work to keep the status quo.

Everyone who joins TeamZilla has to have the potential to be a "Customer Service God".  Now we know that Customer Service Gods are usually trained, not born, so we typically try to come up with new ideas to keep things fresh on the front lines. The hope is to allow a team member to fully realize his potential and take his skills to the next level.

In the end we have kept the bar high and our customers win.

The above picture is a great example of "keeping things fresh". Stealing a page from "Boiler Room", we told Patrick to "act as if". Act as if he was the god of all things customer service and all things metal. So we gave him a new Icon Metal God Jacket, a set of Ti-Max Original Gloves and cranked up Dio on the stereo to 11.

Sometimes you would be amazed at what a little creativity can do for office morale.

After this he hung up the phone, he went on to smash that TV in true metal god fashion. I guess there are pluses and minuses to every training approach. At the very least, it's entertaining.

Happy Friday RevZillans...

BoochZilla

Held Steve 2 Glove Video Review

Finally the long awaited Held Steve 2 Glove ($159) has arrived. Over the last few years the original Held Steve Glove has been a best seller for numerous reasons including comfort, functionality and bang for the buck factor. Its a great mid range touring or adventure touring glove from Held which will cover at least three seasons.

Check out the video above. We shot it with Tommy of Held USA at the Indy dealer show.

The new Held Steve 2 Glove has kangaroo leather palm, riveted heel studs and leather reinforced upper like the original Steve, but now with an updated design which will be more comfortable and protective. The Steve 2 also features a Nomex and Kevlar reinforced outer layer for further protection from a fall. The new Steve 2 has a grey palm, carbon reinforcement in the wrist and a left finger visor wiper which it did not have previously.

The Held Steve 2 Glove is available now at RevZilla.com.





Shut up and ride ;-)

BoochZilla

Sidi Fusion Boot Video Breakdown

Recently we blogged about the new Sidi Fusion Boot, replacement for the original B-2 at a $200 price. We got some great feedback from our customers and quickly edited our Sidi Fusion Boot video from the Indy show. Check the quick video rundown out and let us know your thoughts.

How's that for a quickie followup?

BoochZilla

Jack Broomall's 2Wheels2Alaska Ride Covered by BMW Motorrad Blog!

I gobbled this right off of BMW Motorrad's Blog - They picked up the Jack Broomall ride to Alaska for Pediatric Cancer story internationally. Notice the RevZillans in the second picture.. pretty cool.

===================== Begin Post ==============

Charity begins at home

Self-confessed ‘petrol head’ Jack Bromall has completed a 60-day motorcycle ride to Alaska from his home in Philadelphia. His aims were to raise funds and awareness for a charity close to his heart. Not only did he succeed in his ambitions, but he also experienced the awesome surroundings of the Canadian Rockies and the thrill of a long-distance motorcycle ride.

Jack, a retired engineer, has a lust for all-things petrol powered. Ever since he first sampled the joys of motorcycling from the pillion seat of his school friend’s bike over 40 years ago, he’s been hooked. However, it wasn’t until recently that Jack fulfilled a long-held ambition to undertake a marathon motorcycle journey into the wilds of Canada from his home in Philadelphia in eastern America.
“In 2008, me and a friend flew a light aircraft to Alaska and had a great adventure,” he explains. “We had talked about taking our wives there as neither of them had been to Alaska so I started looking into organising a trip. Then there was a gap in my schedule and I began to think that riding to Alaska on a motorcycle would really be a great idea. I spoke to my friend about it and he wasn’t so enthusiastic, so I decided to ride while they flew and I would meet them there.”

Over recent years, Jack has used his spare time working as a freelance engineer in the four-wheeled American Le Mans race series and the Grand Am championship. He has also set several records at the legendary Bonneville Salt Flats on two wheels and believes that somebody would be missing a trick if they didn't have a go for the 1000cc record there on a BMW S 1000 RR. It was through his speed trials activities that Jack first began to support the Austin Hatcher Foundation – a paediatric cancer charity set up by two friends who tragically lost their child to cancer.

“I have been a supporter of the Austin Hatcher Foundation since it was set up in 2006 through my speed trials and other motorsport activities, so I thought the ride to Alaska and back would be a fantastic opportunity to raise awareness and funds for the foundation,” Jack continues. “Initially, I wanted to raise a few hundred dollars and maybe get my story in a few magazines; however I ended up raising around $4,000 and significantly increasing awareness of the foundation.”
The Austin Hatcher Foundation’s mission is to support research towards the diagnoses, treatment and development of a cure for paediatric cancer and to provide support and hope to children and families undergoing treatment, as well as to those who have lost children due to cancer. With this humble statement in mind, Jack wasn’t short of motivation during his ride.

“I think the best moment of the whole experience was when I received a donation from somebody I didn’t even know,” he adds. “Donations had been made by friends, family and contacts, but not by a complete stranger. The first time somebody read my story online, saw what I was doing and felt compelled to donate was pretty special.”

With a route planned and his fundraising goals set out, all Jack had to do was choose which bike to take. “I own a BMW R 1200 GS and an F 650 GS, and both get a lot of use,” he reveals. “I bought the F 650 GS with the Alaska trip in mind as it has all the attributes of a mixed use bike without the size and heft. It had only covered 700 miles before the trip and had done about 12,000 by the time I got back. Smarter people than me tell me that it equates to half way around the world!”

During the 60-day ride, Jack continually updated his www.2wheels2alaska.com blog and kept his supporters up to speed on the numerous forums he had registered to prior to the trip in order to raise awareness. Despite spending hours on his laptop, Jack still found time to appreciate his awesome surroundings. “Once I got above Edmonton – the last major city on my route – and I saw a sign which read ‘Welcome to Yukon’ I knew why I decided to go on the trip. The scenery, the culture and the vastness of it all was overwhelming. My goal was to make it to the Hatcher Pass and that was a highlight, although there was a surprise around every corner.”

However, the trip wasn’t without its difficulties, but Jack was able to retain a sense of perspective. “There was one moment on Summit Pass (the highest road around Alberta) that was particularly challenging,” he adds. “As I made my way to the summit, it kept getting colder and wetter, and soon I came across a stretch of unpaved road which was essentially a mud hole for as far as the eye could see. It was the first really tough part of the ride. There were no other vehicles around and if I’d have had an accident, help was a long way away. But I kept reminding myself of the Austin Hatcher Foundation and the challenges the people it supports face, and the mud hole really didn’t seem too bad.”
After 44 days, 20 American states, two Canadian provinces, four time-zones and 12,019 miles, Jack returned home, safe in the knowledge that he had succeeded in raising funds and awareness for the Austin Hatcher Foundation. But no sooner had he arrived home then Jack was planning his next charity ride.

“I plan to ride in South Africa in the next few years, but it depends on whether I’ll be able to finance the trip,” he concludes. “The Austin Hatcher Foundation is really important to me though, so I keep putting coins in my jar and saving!”

For more information on the Austin Hatcher Foundation, please visit www.hatcherfoundation.org

========== End Post =================

International Ink is always cool.

FirstGear Colorado Adventure Write Up in Dealer News

Last September I flew out to Colorado with FirstGear to beat on the new TPG line of Adventure Jackets and Pants and offer my feedback and impressions. I wore a TPG Rainier Jacket and a pair of TPG Escape Pants on the trek and was impressed with their performance and how they held up when I crashed. Yes, I crashed on Day 2.

Some other industry friends were along for the ride, notably Dennis Johnson, Editor of Dealer News. It's taken some time but last week he posted his account of the adventure which saw many climates and temperatures over 4 days of dualsporting and road riding. I promised a full rider report at some point. It only happened halfway at best. Read Dennis' account. He's a good writer.

Check out Dennis's full account here: Ripping through the Rockies with FirstGear and Tucker Rocky.

We even shot some video on the street in Crested Butte detailing the gear mid-journey.

Two Wheels Down,

BoochZilla

2010 TeamZilla Indy Dealer Show Recap Video

We went to Indy last weekend. I have said it 16 times at this point. We made it back in one piece and I have been talking about it all week. It's always enlightening in many ways and we always manage to have a good time out there. We also always try to manage a comp'ed steak somewhere. This year was no exception.

Enjoy our Indy 2010 Deler Expo Recap.

I will continue to rant and rave as I trickle out more nuggets from the show, but for now I hope you enjoyed our video, the creepy youth sport bike jacket mannequin and the haggeredness of our cab ride. We were as out of gas as they come by the end of that trip. I just had visions of pushing that cab out of a snow ditch and wanting to die. I am happy that was not the case.

Happy hunting,

BoochZilla

Mo Money, Mo Helmets - Momo Gear Coming soon to RevZilla.com

We like really very functional products and gear. We also like "sex on wheels". Momo Helmets kind of cover both bases.

At Indy we had the chance to check out the first assortment of Momo gear coming to the states in the form of a nicely styled stitched open face helmet. For right now there will be one option in a few different colors and will be a first stab at th US market with hopefully a broader line to come. We expect this helmet to go over really big with the Cafe Racer and Scooter crowd.

Check out our Momo Helmet First Look Gallery

More to come as we find out...

As always all feedback welcome.

BoochZilla