Category: Gear

EVS RC Evolution Dirt Bike Neck Brace Protection – Review


Broken collar bone injuries are very painful, yet they are one of the most common injuries in motocross. To help prevent it, many riders have started wearing a neck brace, and for a good reason. A neck brace is kinda’ like a seat belt for your neck; absorbing most of the impact instead of your collar bone or shoulder in the event of a crash. There are different levels of protection that neck braces can offer, but if you want full protection at a low cost, the EVS RC Evolution Neck Brace is here to save your neck (no pun intended). EVS is the official sponsor of protective gear for motocross, so you can trust in their products.

Made With The Help of Orthopedic Professionals

Not only does the EVS RC EVO brace protect your neck and shoulders, but it’s built to reduce extension in the back; the cause of major spinal injuries. Neck and back problems come too often in this sport, which is why motocross protective gear companies teamed up with top orthopedic pros to construct the best possible solution. Ordinary neck rolls have been in use for road and kart racing for decades, but they only helped prevent neck injuries.

EVS RC-Evolution

The EVS RC-Evolution is a new kind of neck brace with its layers and modular collar. It also has straps and hooks that go around your body. All of this ensures a tight, yet ergonomic fit to your neck and shoulders. Although, it’s not a one-size-fits-all brace, so it’s a good idea to try one on and see which size fits you before buying. You can custom fit it to your liking as well with the adjustable height.

“The ultimate in neck protection provides protection against axial compression, hyperflexion, hyper-extension and lateral hyperflexion.” – EVS Sports

Pick Your Color!

Say goodbye to boring old neck supports… The EVS RC Evolution has five different colors to choose from to match your color gear and bike: black, blue, red, white/yellow, and pink (you can also get the RC EVO in Nitro Circus style as well). And for those that like to “pimp” out their rides, some graphics companies can sell you a customized graphics kit for your neck brace.

Isn’t It Like Having A Cast On Your Neck?

Now you may be thinking, how can you move around with all of this protection? In my own experience, yes, it does restrict your head movement to an extent. Does it stop me from doing anything needed? No, I can still look over in both directions, and that’s with my body armor on; which brings up another question. I wear an EVS BJ22 ballistic jersey, and the neck brace fits just fine even with the harness on.

It not only fits on most chest protectors, but it is ventilated and has soft rubber around the edges that make it more comfortable to wear. The sculpted bio-foam liner lets your neck breathe, and it doesn’t chafe against your skin.

I have been wearing the RC EVO neck brace when on motocross tracks, but I usually just wear the EVS RC2 Race Collar when I’m going for a trail ride or putting around the farm. I move around a lot on single-track trails, but still want protection, so the RC2 is perfect because it works and I don’t even notice when it’s on.

I’ve Heard It Can Cause An Injury Though…

Do seat belts kill people? It’s a controversial topic, but  at least 9 out of 10 times the seat belt is going to save your life. The same goes for a neck brace such as this. More often than not, the EVS RC-Evolution is going to help prevent or even stop an injury from happening when you have a bad crash. The odds are in your favor, which is why I don’t want to be caught not wearing mine while on the track. Yes, I’ve heard of people still getting injured with a neck brace on, but what are you going to say if you break your collar bone from a crash without having a neck brace on?

All in all, it’s a personal preference. Some people can’t stand wearing all these braces and extra padding. I know that it can limit my range of motion, but I’m plenty fine with that if it saves me an injury and a hospital bill.

Click Here To Buy My EVS RC-Evolution Neck Brace

Have fun, and ride smart!

-Tom Stark

CamelBak MULE NV 100 Oz: Best Hydration Pack System Review


Gas fuels our bikes, but water fuels our bodies. So, if we don’t get enough of it then we start to shut down. This is a crucial part of dirt bike racing. It’s even more important if you are doing a hare-scramble or enduro race because they often go for 1-3 hours of straight riding time (except the pit stop for re-fueling). To prevent your body from shutting down you have to drink a lot of fluids (preferably water) before, during, and after a race.

If you just use water bottles then you have to stop every lap or so, depending on how long the loop is, causing you to lose precious time and positions. The solution…. a hydration pack. When I started looking for one I assumed they would be pretty similar; a small backpack that holds a container of water. What I didn’t realize is that hydration packs can have many useful features. After doing some research, I ended up picking Camelbak’s MULE NV 100 Ounce Hydration Pack as the best overall because of its practical abilities and compartments.

CamelBak M.U.L.E. NV 100

Doesn’t It Get Your Back All Wet?

The padded back panel system on the MULE NV pack has multi-directional ventilation, keeping your back breathing. The reservoir compartment is built-in, so it gives you a balanced center of gravity and easy access to water.

I Hate Carrying More Things…

Carrying a hydration pack does add some weight to your back, but it’s worth it for the water. The Dynamic Suspension™ harness that the Camelbak NV 100 uses maximizes load stability, and removable waist-belt gives it a good fit even when going through rough trails.

What If My Body Is Abnormally Large/Small?

You can adjust the location of the strap with Camelbak’s Slider SternumStrap™. This makes the NV 100 customizable to fit almost any rider.

You Suck On A Tube & Let It Hang Out?

While I don’t like that the tube you’re sucking on to get water hangs out in the open, there’s not many other ways to drink when on-the-fly. Luckily, the MULE’s HydroGuard™ technology prohibits bacterial growth on reservoir and tube surfaces (but does not protect user from disease organisms; you have to wash reservoir after you use it).

Filling It Is A Breeze

Camelbak’s NV 100 oz. hydration pack is a piece-of-cake to fill up.  It has an easy-grip handle and a big-mouth, so you can fill it full of water without getting yourself all wet. This may seem like it’s not very important, but hydration packs that have a small filler mouth are extremely annoying when it takes ages to fill up because you keep spilling water everywhere. Also, the water reservoir compartment has an a simple-access perimeter zipper, so taking the it out is no trouble.

I Like My Water When It Tastes Like Water…

Everyone has tasted it, everyone hates it. When you drink something, you shouldn’t have added flavors like plastic, cardboard, or rubber. Fortunately you won’t have to, because Camelbak’s PureFlow™ delivery tube keeps your water fresh. No more plastic-tasting water. Instead it will taste like yummy bottled water if the source was good.

It’s Not Just For Carrying Water!

The MULE NV 100’s main purpose it to produce you an on-the-go hydration system, but it has other features that can come in handy. It has three compartments that zip shut, so you can bring tools, parts, snacks, or other necessities if you go on a long ride.

Just Because It Holds Water Doesn’t Mean Things Can’t Get Wet

If you ride in rainy weather, you won’t need to worry about things getting wet because this Camelbak comes with a built-in rain cover. It’s stuffed away on the bottom side of the hydration pack so it doesn’t get in the way. It also features an overflow storage that quickly latches down rain shell layer with two sets of bungee/compression straps.

Sick Of Listening To Your Bike?

After riding for so many hours, your dirt bike exhaust can get quite annoying while riding on it, so instead you can listen to your favorite tunes or podcasts. The Camelbak MULE 100 has a pocket specifically designed to hold your precious iPod or Media player.  It’s a waterproof compartment, so you don’t need to worry about it getting rained or roosted on.

No Loose Straps To Get Caught!

I hate loose things flapping around when riding. Since I’m a small rider, I have to tighten things down more than usual if it’s a one-size-fits-all. Camelbak has it figured out when it comes to loose ends with their strap management system. It secures the straps, preventing them from flapping around in your face or getting caught in something.

Be Seen In The Dark

Riding at dusk or nighttime is far more dangerous than during the day. Not only do you have to pay more attention to the terrain, but for other people. The MULE NV hydration pack comes with reflective highlights, allowing other riders and people to see you sooner when it’s dark out.

What Are Others Saying?

This hydration pack has received much applause from consumers like you. It has an average of 4.5 out of 5 star rating on Amazon. Here’s what some are saying:

  • Awesome pack just got better!
  • Great bag!
  • Great hydration pack
  • Totally AmAAAAzing
  • Excellent Camelbak

Any Complaints?

It was difficult to find complaints on the MULE NV 100. I eventually found that one person said his back still got sweaty after riding for a while, but he also stated that he could feel the air flowing to help keep cool. Another person expressed that after wearing this pack for a day he noticed that it left a few circular worn spots on his shirt from the abrasive back pads. He did use it for hiking, though, so if you’re riding a bike that shouldn’t be a problem with much more air-flow.

Where Can I Buy The CamelBak M.U.L.E. NV?

You can buy this Camelbak Hydration pack from Amazon. After doing some price research, it appears that Amazon does have the best deal for this water pack.

Where Can I Read More Reviews For The CamelBak NV 100?

The best site for reading reviews from other people that actually bought and used this product is Amazon. Click here to read more.

Click Here To Buy My Camelbak

-Tom Stark

Alpinestars Bionic Freeride Shorts MX Compression Review


Are you looking for the ultimate butt, hip, and thigh protection? Look no further, because the Alpinestars Bionic Freeride Motocross Compression Shorts offer more protection than all of the other competitors. No more falling on sharp rocks or landing on your butt and feeling the pain for days or weeks. These protective shorts are made to cover your vulnerable waist areas.

Hot or Cold

Yes, they can help in the cold as an extra layer under your Riding Pants. But, what about when it’s hot?? Don’t worry, the Bionic Freeride shorts are made with a mesh and lycra (spandex-like) material, letting your skin breathe even in the hottest of riding days. As long you are moving, the air alone will be enough to keep you cool. You can wear these while dirt bike riding, mountain biking, or any other activity you feel the need to wear protection. The Freeride shorts compress against your legs and waist, keeping “everything” in place while riding and in the event of a crash.

Alpinestars Bionic Freeride Shorts

Padding All Around

If protection is what you want, protection is what you’ll get! Unlike most other compression shorts that have little to no padding, these have impact and abrasion resistant pads that are on your hip, thigh, and tailbone areas. So whether you’re falling on rocks all day, or sliding across hard-pack clay, the Bionic Freeride compression shorts protect your skin from punctures and abrasive burns.

Is It Worth The Price Tag?

Yes, the Alpinestars Bionic shorts cost more than other compression shorts. But that’s just it; they aren’t just compression shorts. Almost every consumer that buys these shorts says that they are worth the price because of how much protection they offer. Doubled up with Body Armor, you get the ultimate leg and upper-torso protection. Alpinestars is a well-known brand, so you know you’re going to get a quality product. The question is, do you want the protection now, or later?…

Any Complaints?

Most consumers give the Alpinestars Bionic Freeride Shorts 4-5 stars. The only concern was the fit on some peoples body’s. The leg openings can be tight, so some people suggest getting a size larger if you have large thighs.

Buy My Alpinestars Freeride Shorts Here


-Tom Stark

 

VHoldR ContourHD 1080p: My Best Motorcycle Helmet Cam Review


I’ve been in the market for a helmet camera for a while now. I knew I wanted to get a high-quality cam (HD), but didn’t know nearly how many features a helmet camera has or could have. I have done a lot of research on them because I want the best possible one without digging too far into my pocket, and the one that kept coming back was the VHoldR ContourHD 1080p Full HD Helmet Camera.

What To Look For In A Helmet Cam:

ContourHD Helmet Cam

I Want HD!

The ContourHD helmet camera records in high-definition. It ranges from 720p to a full 1080p. A 1080p camera is the highest definition for any helmet cam, and VholdR’s ContourHD is the first to do it. It also records in 960p, which is good for taller HD video. It’s basic 30fps (frames per second) is pretty good, but the 720p at 60fps is twice as good! It’s great for action and high-speed sports.

Camera Sensor?

The VholdR cam features a 5 megapixel CMOS sensor. More mega-pixels is better, and with many helmet cams using around 2-3mp, 5 is a big step up. Complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (aka CMOS) has low static power consumption, and high noise immunity. This means that it produces less heat, uses less energy, and allows a high density of logic functions on a chip.

It Has A Mic?

An internal microphone is used on the Contour helmet camera. It saves weight, allows the camera to be smaller, and has low wind noise on feedback. Helmet camera companies still haven’t figured out how to get great sound quality because wind is a big issue. One common complaint about VHoldR’s ContourHD helmet cam is that the sound quality is low and muffled. They use a screen or a plastic part of the camcorder body to cover up the mic so that the wind noise is low, but this makes for fairly poor sound quality. On the flip-side, every other helmet camera company has yet to solve this problem, so if you’re looking for one with perfect sound then you’re wasting your time…… for now.

Batteries Can Make It or Break It

Do you want a helmet camera that only lasts 20 minutes before needing a charge? Neither do I. That’s why the Contour HD has a lithium-ion removable battery pack. This allows up to 4 hours of recording time, which should be plenty if you’re going for a day-long trail ride. Lithium-ion batteries have better energy-to-weight ratio than most other batteries. Another feature is that there is no memory when using this battery, as well as a slow loss of charge when not in use.

Is It Durable?

A very important question for those of you that will be using it for extreme sports, high-speed activities, and various climates. VholdR’s ContourHD helmet cam is known for its compact and light-weight design. It has an Aluminum and Fiberglass Water Resistant Body, so it will hold up to the abuse that a dirt biker, skier, or race-car driver will throw at it. You can use it in pretty much any weather conditions, and even go in water down to about ten feet deep. Its patent TRail mounts “slide and lock” onto mounts that fit on goggles, helmet, handlebars, vehicle, or anything you can fit it on.

What’s Hot?

-Dual-laser pointers to align the camera and tell you it’s on

-Very easy to use

-Light and sleek design

-Aluminum body is tough

-Full 1080p HD

-60 FPS (frames per seconds) at 720p

What’s Not?

-Cannot upload videos in 60fps to certain sites, such as youtube. You can use it and stretch the clips out to half speed for smooth slow-mo action.

-The main factory mount has been known to be unstable at high speeds and on rough terrain

-Video exposure can be dim, but there is new firmware you can download from Contour’s site to fix the problem

-Can’t view recording until uploaded on computer

-Wind noise can be bad at high speeds, but almost every helmet cam has this problem

 

Where Can I Read More Reviews or Buy The Contour HD Helmet Camcorder?

You can read many more reviews, or buy it on Amazon. It has some of the best prices around, and includes free shipping.

What’s Included:

  • ContourHD Camera
  • MicroSD Card (2GB)
  • Goggle Mount
  • Flat Surface Mount
  • Extra Adhesive
  • Rechargeable Battery (3hrs)
  • USB Cable

What Others Are Saying…

  • Absolutely the best bang for your buck!
  • Great Picture Quality and Super easy to use. Worth the Money!
  • Very good camera, not dust proof, buy extra-case.
  • Splendid Camera for the Price
  • Great point of view camera

Click To Buy My ContourHD And More Reviews Here


-Tom Stark

Fox Racing HC Jersey & 180 Pants – Review


When I first started racing motocross I was surprised by how many riders that were wearing motocross jerseys and pants. I guess it’s almost a must in this sport because you have to ‘look good’ while riding. I got the Fox Racing 180 Pants and HC Jersey. Being that Fox is one of, if not, the biggest company that sells motocross gear and apparel, I had higher expectations for these.

Comfort

HC Jersey
Fox Racing HC Jersey

The Fox Racing 180 jersey is comfortable to wear with anything. I got a couple sizes bigger (XL) than usual because I have EVS BJ22 body armor. My legs and waist are abnormal, so I always have trouble finding pants with the right size waist and leg length. For the Fox 180 pants I got size 28 and haven’t had any problems for the couple seasons I’ve used them. They fit great and are comfortable to wear. The Fox 180 jersey and pants have never bothered me while riding, and they don’t rub or scratch any part of my body. The air flow on the jersey is decent, but on warmer days I get a little sweaty. The 180 pants didn’t have as much air flowing to my legs as much as I had hoped, so they got sweaty almost every ride. Although, my legs are usually the warmest part of my body, and I hardly feel the dampness until I am done riding and take off the pants.

Protection

180 Pants
Fox Racing 180 Pants


Most jerseys usually don’t offer a whole lot of protection, and the 180 jersey isn’t much different. It just gives a layer covering your upper body and arms. It doesn’t have any extra elbow padding, but the jersey helps keep another layer of skin on if you crash and skid on the ground. The Fox 180 pants, on the other hand, do give me good protection all the way from the waist to my feet. These pants are double-layered, so they have a lot of padding to protect my legs. It has panels that stretch so I can be more mobile, but they are strong in case of a crash. The inner knee panels are leather, which makes them heat and abrasion resistant. At the waist there is padding all the way around. That is really helpful because falling on your side and butt can happen a lot.

Style

Fox Racing is known for their cool and unique designs that they put on their gear. Although the 180 pants and jersey are their less-expensive combo, I still think they look great and match well with any bike. I got the blue because I have a Yamaha, and they look awesome together.

Racing with Fox gear.

Quality

Well, I’ve had these for a few years while riding and racing both BMX and Motocross, and they still look hardly used. Does that say anything about their quality? They may not last as long for other riders because many don’t take good care of their gear. I just wash mine every couple rides or if they get really dirty, and there are no noticeable stains on them still!

The Fox 180 Jersey & Pants Combo are perfect for beginners or riders that want a little of everything for a good price. They’re a great combo and I would definitely recommend them for all riders that want to ‘go with the flow’.

Click Here To Buy My Fox Gear


-Tom Stark