Christmas Presents 2025

For biking Christmas.... a compact tyre inflator to go with my puncture repair kit!

 

I was lucky enough to get one of these.

Merlin Hixon II

 

I was lucky enough to get a bit of a windfall this Christmas and have ordered the helmet I have been obsessing about ever since it came out......it will be worth the wait, delivery expected in March....

 

No need to tell you what i got as i get every day and i have posted about the Honda. My Darling Tracy just keeps saying just get it.

 

Good old Amazon - looks pretty good, and won't get any serious use as it's only for a few weekends away each year!

 

A great choice, it has the same theme as my helmet, the history behind the graphics is extremely interesting, and there is a huge cult following in Japan. My younger son has a really good knowledge of the history and customs. I saw that helmet at Motorcycle Live. Shoei does a personal custom fitting service at a number of retail outlets, from memory it works out around £50, but it seems well worth the money. I hope you really enjoy the helmet. Personally, I prefer the Shoei helmets to those of Arai any day.

 

I saw it at Motorcycle Live too and liked it even more . I have tried Arai helmets on but my head shape is just wrong for them; the XS is massive side - to side on me in Arai even thought it is on paper for the same size head circumference as a Shoei XS.

I am certain I will enjoy it, thank you .

 

And how many is that now?

 

I've got 2 Arai helmets. The latest is flawed because the visor opening mechanism is far too fiddly, which means I usually ride with it cracked open so that I can open it fully when I stop (at lights, etc) without a struggle.
Also switching visors is ridiculously complicated. It's Arai being unnecessarily clever. Unless they change the visor issue I won't buy another one.

 

It will be four when this one arrives, expected end of Feb / start of March. First full price one I have ever ordered. I did notice several days after I ordered it that Sportsbikeshop had dropped the price by £125....so I emailed them and they have refunded me the difference which is very good of them.

 

Funnily enough, the friend I met up with yesterday has recently got an Arai (the beautiful Taka Nakagami rep the I have loved for years!) and she was telling me that she had real difficulty opening the visor as it was so fiddly.....

 

That's interesting. I wonder if she'll get used to it. After nearly 2 years I haven't.

 

Excellent choice! I, too, have both along. I was stuck in a remote place with a flat rear tire (and riding 2-up). Those would have saved me from hours of working out a remedy.

 

No idea, I will ask. I always use the supplied silicone oil on my Shoei lids.