NEW AND NOTED: MOTORCYCLE GEAR

This month we’re looking at new vintage gear from Italy, a retro helmet with modern technology, a new urban moto jacket, and an incredible deal on selvedge denim riding jeans.

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Premier Trophy Helmets with retro styling are fast catching on, but there’s often a niggling doubt about how safe they are. If you’re the type who prefers a full-face lid, here’s a new option for you from Italian maker Premier.

We’re told that the Trophy is the first retro full face to get full ECE R22-05 homologation for both the helmet and the 2mm-thick anti-scratch visor. There are several different models, but they all have a clean and elegant look similar to the Premier lids worn by racers like Phil Read back in the day.

The shell is made from a mix of Dyneema plus carbon and aramidic fibers, and weight is under 1300 grams. Prices range from £180 for the gloss white model to £220 for the upcoming Carbon model, via online retailer Urban Rider. Proof that you don’t have to sacrifice safety for style.

Dainese 36060 In 1972, Lino Dainese made his first pair of leather motocross trousers in a tiny workshop in the Italian village of Molvena. Since then, the company has stayed on the cutting edge of motorcycle gear, but it’s now taking a look back to its past.

The new ‘36060’ range launched a couple of days ago in New York. Named after the post code of Molvena, it fuses modern materials with vintage looks. The company describes the styling as ‘masculine’ and ‘classic,’ and it’s right up our street.

Pricing and availability hasn’t been confirmed yet, but we know that there will be several jackets, reinforced trousers, and four different styles of footwear. Plus goatskin gloves and a matching range of casual gear to wear off the bike.There’s a preview here.

Maple Jeans We’re big fans of the Kevlar-lined selvedge riding jeans made by Maple Moto in England. But at £300 ($500 or more), they’re out of the range of many budgets.

So Maple have created eight new styles of jeans, and shifted to a direct sales model. By cutting out the middleman, they’re able to bring down the price without compromising quality.

There are four new styles of Kevlar-lined jeans for £178, and four styles of unlined jeans for £98. Ordering is via Kickstarter—and in less than two days, orders worth more than £25,000 have been placed. The goal is to reach £30,000 by Christmas Day, so we can safely say that this project is a Go.

Reserve your pair of Maple jeans right here.

REV’IT! Elysee Weatherproof gear seems to be getting more stylish by the month. This is one of our favorite new releases, an overcoat-styled jacket designed for urban and commuter riding.

There’s a Hydratex coating on the inner shell for complete rain resistance, a thermal liner, and knitted collars and cuffs to keep out the wind. Shoulder and elbow armor is CE-approved Knox Lite, and there’s a pocket for a heavy-duty back protector.

The styling is discreet enough to take into the office, even if you’re the type who has to wear a suit to work. Available in black or dark brown, and for around $350.

The 2015 Bike EXIF calendar (now with $10 Revzilla gift card) Our motorcycle calendaris back with a bang, showcasing machines from the Wrenchmonkees, Classified Moto and Cafe Racer Dreams. And this year, our friends at Revzilla are offering a special bonus—a $10 Gift Card.

The 13-month calendar is a mighty 17 x 12 inches in size. It’s printed on 128gsm art paper with a 260gsm laminated art card cover, discreetly hole-punched.

Each calendar is delivered shrinkwrapped with a board stiffener for protection, and is remarkable value at just $15.99. And with a $10 Revzilla Gift Card included when you order direct from the publisher or Amazon … well, you do the math.

US and Canada: Order direct from the publisher Octane Press for fast shipping.

UK, Europe and Japan: Order from Amazon UK.

Australia and New Zealand: Order from Calendars.com for the cheapest shipping (but minus the Gift Card).

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URBAN SCRAMBLER: CAIMAN’S HONDA CX500

By Wesley Reyneke | Rather Be Riding

South Africa is a motorcycling nirvana—especially for dual-sport riders. From the winelands in the Western Cape, all the way across to the Midlands in KwaZulu Natal, great riding and idyllic scenery abound.

Commuting in Johannesburg is a far cry from traversing the countryside though. Jozi has it all: congestion, potholes, traffic lights that don’t always work and lawless minibus taxis.

Caiman Urban ‘n Dirt are dead set on building motorcycles that thrive in this environment. “Many people say that Africa is not for sissies,” says Caiman’s Walter Stander. “Our motorcycles need to look the part: rugged, and with earthy color schemes that resonate with our sometimes edgy city.”

Caiman’s latest release is this Honda CX500 scrambler. Robust and purpose-built, it sums up the Randburg shop’s blunt aesthetic.

“The CX has a wonderful frame that lends itself to modifications on the rear suspension, subframe and seat,” explains Walter. “We decided not to make any dramatic changes to the fuel tank and front end.”

Gone are the CX500’s twin rear shocks. They’ve been replaced by a mono conversion, using a Yamaha YZ250 shock with an upgraded spring. The front suspension has been left alone, but treated to a new set of fork gaiters to help keep muck out.

The subframe is now shorter and supports a custom solo perch. To clean up the area under the seat, Caiman ditched the airbox and tidied up the wiring. Everything runs on a smaller battery now—hidden away behind a hand-made skid plate. A pair of blacked-out reverse cone mufflers has been installed too.

Up front are a set of tracker bars, an Acewell speedo and a smaller headlight. The turn signals and side-mounted tail light are a style that we’re used to seeing on cruisers, but they suit the CX500 well.

For paint, Caiman coated the frame brown and treated the tank to a subtle two-tone paint scheme. The wheels were powder coated black—along with a select few other parts—but the engine cases were left raw to maintain character.

Knobbly tires from Kenda were fitted for both their visual and practical appeal. “Thick knobbly tires and longer travel suspension make riding a lot easier in Joburg,” explains Walter.

“With very little demarcated parking, they help with climbing onto kerbs and embankments to find safe parking—while you enjoy a beer that certainly does not adhere to the Reinheitsgebot.”

Sounds lekker to us.

Follow Caiman on Facebook | Photos by Louis van Zyl.

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Cars we love: ‘Ferrari’ 246 Dino

Everywhere you look, you find the ‘Ferrari’ 246 Dino for sale at ever-increasing prices. The car once scorned by Enzo, who wouldn’t even agree to its wearing a Ferrari badge, is more popular than ever – and quite right too.

Once scorned, now loved

The concept of a small, lightweight, mid-engined sports car with a V6 engine at its heart is, in retrospect, a milestone in the history of the brand. And for some, the Dino is one of the most beautiful sports cars ever designed. Women in particular find the two-seater sexy, or so we were told earlier this year by a model expert. Thankfully, the 246 Dino is not just a pretty face, but also a good driving machine. The chassis is well-balanced and the weight perfectly distributed thanks to the mid-mounted engine. True, the sound of the 2.4-litre V6 is rather underwhelming, and the low seating position gives you the feeling of being in one of the early Ferrari prototypes. Nevertheless, the Dino is a classic well-suited to everyday use.

Sale-toppers in 2014

Anyone who follows the auction scene is likely to remember some significant results for Dinos this year. Such as the mid-October sale of a 1972 Ferrari Dino 246 GT from the estate of F1 driver Harald Ertl that went for 330,000 euros; or what about the ex-Keith Richards Dino that sold at auction in Monaco last May for 249,400 euros? In March, RM Auctions dropped the hammer in Amelia Island on a silver 246 GT from the model's final year of production for 429,000 US dollars (345,000 euros), while Gooding took 627,000 US dollars (500,000 euros) for a 1972 ‘Chairs & Flares’ Dino.

More to come in 2015

More Dinos, such as the 1974 246 GTS shown here, have already been entered for the major auction week that takes place in Arizona early next year – with an expectation of new price levels, too. If you have a bit of a crush on the Dino, don’t wait too much longer to buy one.

Photos: RM Auctions

There are numerous examples of the 'Ferrari' 246 GT and GTS Dino for sale in the Classic Driver Market.

HD