Motorcycle Gear: AGV K6 Helmet Review

The term “good head on your shoulders” is widely used and for a good reason. So when throwing a leg over your ride, I’d say it’s apt to reflect on this term and protect that hat rack best you can.

Tires and gear are two places you want to avoid cutting corners. Helmets, especially! This is arguably the most important item when riding. That is unless you don’t have a good head on your shoulders and decide it’s not worth protecting.

AGV K6 Helmet Review

I spent a riding season testing AGV’s new K6. A super lightweight lid sporting a carbon and arimid fiber shell. Design cues taken straight from their high-end race series. When this helmet arrived at the shop I thought AGV sent a pair of socks disguised in a helmet box. Yeah, it’s light, only 2.7lbs.

Aside from weight, the fit is spot on with their sizing chart. It’s a little snug, but that’s what you want. Not a, my gosh, I can feel my pulse snug, but you don’t want your helmet moving around. Plus, the padding will form to your noggin after a few rides, improving comfort and fit.

AGV K6 Helmet Review

After putting it on, one thing that struck me was how close the chinguard was to my mouth. I’ve worn tons of helmets over the years. Before the AGV I wore a Shoei GT2, a good helmet but larger and focused on touring. I spoke with a colleague whose go-to helmet is an AGV and he said the smaller size is typical with this brand.

While at speed, this smaller lid absolutely cuts through the wind in basically any position. Meaning when I look left or right, my head isn’t caught in the wind causing mild whiplash.

AGV K6 Helmet Review

The interior is comfortable, well-padded and set up for bluetooth communications. Venting is well sorted with openings on the top and front to eliminate sweltering conditions plus keep the visor from fogging.

Another welcome feature is the visor itself. The K6 has a wide opening that provides a great view. This visor securely fastens to the chinguard using a hook and loop push button closure. AGV calls this their “micro-lock” system. What’s cool about this? It allows the visor to open slightly while staying securely fastened to the chinguard. And it works great.

AGV K6 Helmet Review

The design and look is awesome! This helmet looks like a top-line racer with tons of striking options. I chose flash matte with black, red and grey graphics. You can jazz it up further with tinted visors, iridium visors, bluetooth adapters, all the good stuff.

The AGV K6 kicks in with a reasonable price also, starting at $399.96. That’s a damn good price for one of AGV’s high-quality DOT approved helmets. So if you do have a good head on your shoulders and feel protecting it is key, check out AGV’S K6. This way, you’ll continue to have a place to hang your hat post-ride. RC

Motorcycle Gear: Mychanic Sidekick Toolbox Stool

How would Batman have saved the world from destruction without his faithful sidekick Robin? Similarly, how would I be able to complete motorcycle maintenance without my Sidekick stool? OK, maybe I’m exaggerating, but the Mychanic Sidekick stool SK2 is a clever garage aid that actually does help projects get completed more easily by housing the tools I need within reach while offering a comfortable seat.

The stool is actually two tools in one: a toolbox on an adjustable rolling stool. Measuring 23″ x 18.63″ x 18″ high, the 16-pound steel frame can support up to 350 pounds. It comes with a large drawer, two side storage trays, a drill holster, and a tool caddy. It comes unassembled, so your first project with the Sidekick will be putting it together.

Mychanic Sidekick toolbox on an adjustable rolling stool

The stool’s thick cushioned seat is nice and wide at 11″ x 16″ and can be height-adjusted from 17.4″ to 20.5″. You’ll need to choose your height during assembly because you have to remove the screws and nuts to make the adjustment, so once you choose a height, you’ll likely keep it set up that way. This is my biggest beef with the stool. I don’t always work at the same level, so I’d prefer a hydraulically adjustable stool.

The included tool caddy fits perfectly between the seat and the drawer and can be removed from the Sidekick from either long side. I like to keep a complete wrench set in the caddy, and when I’m working on a project, I’ll put only the wrenches I need in the side storage trays, keeping everything quite organized.

Large 3″ castors make rolling around the garage easy, but depending what you’ve got in the toolbox and side trays, you need to take it easy unless you don’t mind your stuff being scattered all over. My garage’s textured floor tends to create a bumpy ride no matter how slowly I roll, so I have a hard time keeping everything organized. But having everything necessary for the job within reach is what the Sidekick is all about. RC

Motorcycle Gear: Kuryakyn Freeloader Motorcycle Travel Bag

Some material objects just speak of adventure. Motorcycle tool kits, good knives, 40mm grenade launchers…and bandannas that have been freshly laundered to remove blood and oil stains, come to mind. A good motorcycle travel bag also opens the floodgates of wanderlust for me.

The Kuryakyn Freeloader motorcycle travel bag is one of those objects that screams “itinerant journey.” After I packed this thing with all I needed for a long weekend, I headed out of Columbia, South Carolina, and rode to Ocracoke Island, off the coast of North Carolina. Everything I needed for a three-day trip fit easily. I had plenty of room left if I wanted to purchase any Blackbeard souvenirs. Over 300 years ago Blackbeard used to hunt in the waters off Ocracoke Island, and, honestly, who wouldn’t want Blackbeard souvenirs?

Motorcycle Travel Bag

This bag is clearly designed by someone who rides. It attaches solidly to a sissybar without any extra straps required. I really like the system used to secure it to the bike, and it has been rock-solid for several trips now. It has a pocket for small incidentals like sunscreen and earplugs (or a flask and dry powder depending on the nature of your foray). There is a nice bungee that holds a bedroll and an external pocket will fit a bottle of Gatorade and some beef jerky.

Motorcycle Travel Bag

It’s an attractive bag that comes in solid, pirate-black and is made of Anne Bonny-tough 1200 denier. I hit a few small rain showers and nothing inside was even damp, even though I didn’t take the 35.2 seconds necessary to slide the included rain cover over the pack. The bag has a zippered, roomy, bottom compartment that can be used to hold the rain cover without any wrestling and more importantly, without removing any straps from the bag. Sweet.

The Kuryakyn Freeloader bag is tough and affordable. It’s well made and even stylish. If Calico Jack rode a chopper, he would want this bag. I’m keeping mine. RC

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