Top 10 Products From AIMExpo 2016

For the 2016 edition of the American International Motorcycle Expo (AIMExpo), the Motorcyclist staff was on the ground and looking for stories. Wandering the floor for a few days, we saw hundreds of different products aimed at the motorcycle and powersports market. In no particular order, here are 10 products that caught our eye.

SCORPION BIRMINGHAM JACKET
Scorpion (as well as Klim, AGV Sport, and Rev'It!) debuted classically styled waxed-cotton jackets at AIMExpo this year. The Birmingham's isn't entirely cotton, and it doesn't rely exclusively on wax for waterproofing. Scorpion wove nylon into the fabric to add strength, and laminated a waterproof layer to the back of the fabric to make it properly waterproof. It looks old-school, but the Birmingham has CE-certified armor at the elbows and shoulders. It's available in black and green for $300.
scorpionusa.com

LIFAN KPMINI 150 MINIBIKE
Yes! Another mini. We love small bikes and were excited to learn that Lifan's KPMini 150 will be arriving in the States in March. The specs: It'll have a 149cc (carbureted) single-cylinder engine, disc brakes front and rear, an inverted fork, and costs just $2,099. That's almost a grand less than Honda's Grom and Kawasaki's Z125, which makes the Lifan a really affordable and presumably really fun way to get into motorcycling.
americanlifan.com

MOTION PRO CABLE LUBER
Team Blue introduced a ton of new tools at AIMExpo (yes, Ari was geeking out), including this updated version of Motion Pro's popular cable luber. MP's previous luber debuted over 20 years ago and worked great for its intended purpose, but it could cause a mess. This redesigned tool is easier to use and totally encapsulates and seals the cable end so that lube goes straight into the sheath and nowhere else. It'll run you $20 and make you happy every time you use it.
motionpro.com

SBS CLASSIC BRAKE PADS
The spindly forks, funky tires, and cast-iron rotors on older bikes don't always jive with the strong bite and aggressive friction materials of modern brake pads. That's why SBS developed its Classic line of pads. The dual-carbon friction material has gentle bite, progressive power, and won't chew up rotors like a modern sintered pad. Classic pads run about $50 a set (per caliper) and are available to fit most popular vintage bikes from the early '70s on up through the '90s.
sbs-friction.dk

SCOTCH & IRON APPAREL
It's not all big names at AIMExpo. Scotch & Iron is a small apparel company based out of Ft. Lauderdale, FL, and the S&R crew came up to Orlando to peddle their moto-themed apparel line to the huge AIMExpo audience. We dig the simplicity and relaxed attitude of the designs. Announce your allegiance to the United States of Motorcycling with a snap-back hat or subtly broadcast your love of two-wheels with one of many stylish t-shirts and button-ups.
scotchandiron.com

BATES ADRENALINE BOOTS
Nope, this isn't the same company as Bates Leathers. This Bates is strictly footwear, and it's been making boots since 1885. While military and "tactical" kicks are Bates' main focus, it's recently decided to point its 130 years of footwear experience at the powersports segment. One of the results is the Adrenaline boot—waterproof, armored, and supposedly supremely comfortable, they go for $200.
batesfootwear.com

DUNLOP SPORTMAX GPR-300 TIRES
When a large part of the tire market is leaning toward race-grade grip, it's nice to see an economic option for those that appreciate performance but don't need to drag knee. The new Sportmax GPR-300s incorporate lots of Dunlop technology—like tread design, Jointless Band radial construction, and modern tread compounds—all at an affordable price. Fronts run from about $80 to $100 and rears are about $110 to $130. The range includes sizes that will fit small bikes like the RC390, R3, Ninja 300, and CBR300R.
dunlopmotorcycletires.com

KLIM KODIAK JACKET
Frankly, the ADV gurus over at Klim are pumping out products faster than we can test them. In a lot of ways, this Kodiak is more of the same—D3O armor, tons of vents, and a burly, GoreTex shell. The reason we're excited about this particular jacket is that it offers a slightly different cut. The arms are longer and the torso is a slightly tighter fit. Call it "European" if you like. In the case of the Kodiak it also has circumference adjustment in the arms, an integrated kidney belt, and a chest protector. It's premium ADV kit, there's no two ways about it, and it comes at a pretty committed price: $999.99. Yup, a cool thousand bucks for this piece, so you better have a premium adventure planned to match.
klim.com

FORCEFIELD TORNADO ADVANCE MID-LAYER SHIRT
The season of AIMExpo is also the season of cooler weather, which is one reason this Tornado line from Forcefield caught our eye. It's a windproof thermal layer—available as a shirt, pants, gloves, bib, and balaclava—made out of Thermolite and Defender performance fabrics, desgined to keep you toasty on rides that edge into winter. And if that means a longer riding season we're all for it!
motonation.com

BIKECAPSULE MOTORCYCLE COVER
This is a product that has been around since the late 1980s, but it's different enough that we thought it was worth a mention. The idea is pretty simple—create a bubble around your machine to protect it from dust, dirt, and even weather. A small fan circulates filtered air through the capsule and keeps pressure up to keep the device inflated (the pictured version inflates its own structure, then pressurizes as a supplement). CarCapsule, the parent company, makes systems for both indoor and outdoor use. For motorcycles and powersports applications, the capsules are available in 8- and 12-foot long versions, depending on how large your machine is, or how many you want to cram inside. Cost varies on size and application—for the smallest indoor unit, pricing starts at $289 and runs all the way up to the fanciest 12-foot version at $995.
carcapsule.com