Here’s some great new adventure gear we have been testing at AMCN recently.

ARAI TOUR-X5

I have run this Arai Tour-X5 helmet for almost a year and there’s no doubt it’s an impressive adventure lid… and a marked improvement on the Arai XD-4 I ran previously, a helmet I was also a big fan of.

Of course, the number-one requirement for a helmet is that it offers good protection. I have no doubt this is the case with the Tour-X5 after having seen the helmet manufactured firsthand on a tour of Arai’s production facilities in Japan last year. 

The shell features Arai’s rounded design to enhance ‘glancing off’ characteristics in an impact. It is made using the company’s tough Complex Laminate Construction (CLC), with a Super Fibre Belt reinforced forehead that allows the fitment of an air duct beneath the Arai logo at the front of the helmet. A one-piece EPS liner features 11 different densities in key areas to maximise protection, and this is produced in different sizes to suit different shell sizes.

A secondary but vitally important requirement of a helmet is comfort, and in this regard the Tour-X5 excels. It is easier to put on than an XD-4 thanks to a wider opening, and the interior is lined with a plush, moisture-wicking material. The cheek pads and temple pads are customisable, and the T-X5 incorporates Arai’s Facial Contour System (FCS), which enhances helmet stability and comfort by offering a snug fit along the jawline. An Emergency Release System (ERS) allows for easy removal of cheek pads in case of an accident and someone needs to take the T-X5 off your head. There’s also a retractable Air Flap at the chin to reduce wind intrusion into the bottom of the helmet.

A Variable Axis System (VAS-A) Max-Vision Visor has improved optics and it can now be removed and refitted without tools. The T-X5 also seems to offer an improved seal around the visor, which results in less wind noise when riding on the road.

The liner is removable and washable, there are speaker pockets and a removable neck roll, and the shell shape has been optimised for fitment of a comms device. A wide eye port provides great visibility and allows for the use of goggles. The peak is also easily removable if you want the Tour-X5 to double as a road helmet.

On the downside, the Tour-X5 is not the lightest lid at 1640g, but Arai has had to put more material into its construction to achieve the highest possible safety standards (it exceeds ECE 22.06). There are plenty of spares and accessories available, including clear and tinted visors starting at $119.95 and Iridium visors at $199.95. DEAN MELLOR

Arai Tour-X5
Price: $1199.95 (solids); $1299.95 (graphics)
From: Cassons
Website: www.araihelmets.net.au
Phone: (02) 8882 1900

ANDY STRAPZ A BAGZ

With an upcoming bike trip in the works, I decided to shout myself some luggage that I’d been eyeing off for a  very long time. And I was more than happy to fork out for it because, after doing countless touring kays with the fella who not only designed it, but who has lived with it, assessed it, tweaked it, improved it over two decades, and who uses it on nearly every trip we do together, I know how good it is. 

A sleek tailbag offering 30 litres of storage, it’s the clever little details that has had me coveting this gear. Because while I’ve been fumbling around with other stuff – either on the side of the road searching for something, or I’m out of our digs earlier in the morning, or still removing gear from the bike later in the evening – Andy’s always got his wet-weather gear on before me, has his alarm set 10 minutes later than me or is at the bar washing down the dust well ahead of me.

Some of those details include the way the thing’s designed to keep water out, the nylon rods that give it support where you want it, the cargo net under the lid, the double-layered top, the high-quality zipper, the fact that all compartments are completely accessible once it’s tied down – and I’ve never met a bike it can’t attach to.  Oh, and it’s Australian made.

There’s a couple of different sizes and a couple of different fabrics. I opted for the oilskin version but Andy will try and talk you into Cordura. As both are as waterproof as each other, it comes down to abrasion resistance.…which I don’t plan on testing. 

I love how Andy’s brain works. It’s the reason his gear is so good. And I’m not just saying it ’cos he’s a mate, either. KEL BUCKLEY   

Andy Straps A Bagz
Price: $310
From: Andy Strapz
Website: www.andystrapz.com
Phone: (03) 9786 344

MOTOPRESSOR MICROPUMP

The claim is the new MotoPressor microPUMP is tiny, yet it will inflate three motorcycle tyres from flat on a single charge. To test this, I pulled the valves from the front and rear tyres on a CFMoto 800MT in my garage and then set about using the microPUMP to re-inflate them.

The rear tyre is a 150/70R17 Metzeler Karoo that was set to 34psi; the front tyre is a 110/80R19 Metzeler Karoo set at 30psi. To set the desired inflation level on the compressor, you just turn it on, select your units (psi, bar, kPa or  kg/cm2), select A, B or C, and press the arrow button for up, or double-tap the set button and then the arrow button again for down (it’s easier than it sounds). I set A to 34psi for the rear tyre and B to 30psi for the front.

The small, flexible hose makes it easy to attach the compressor to the valve stem. It took 4m30s to inflate the rear from 0 to 34psi. 

While the compressor felt warm after it had done the job, it certainly wasn’t hot.Nevertheless, I let it cool for a couple of minutes before inflating the front tyre, which took just 2m01s from 0 to 30psi. I then deflated both tyres again and the compressor was able to re-inflate both on a single charge, so it exceeded expectations in this regard. 

I really like how compact and light this unit is. It weighs just 323g and measures 78x72x35mm. You could carry it in a jacket pocket and you’d hardly know it was there. It’s also easy to use and features an easy-to-read digital pressure display.

The microPUMP can be recharged in one to three hours and will pump to a claimed 130psi. It is supplied with a hose, charging cable, Schrader adapter and instructions. 

To sum up in a word, brilliant. DM

 

MotoPressor microPUMP
Price: $126.95
From: Rocky Creek Designs
Website:  rockycreekdesigns.com.au
Phone:  (02) 6689 5703