Inside Products

Zox Zenith Helmet

By Sophia Vassiliadis

For the most part, I like buying new gear. Jackets, jeans, gloves and footwear are relatively easy to choose. Helmets? Not so much. Good helmets tend to be expensive, and a proper fit doesn’t tend to feel good, just constricting. Add to that a preference for full-face covering, and it can be a stressful purchase. Enter Zox, a Canadian helmet manufacturer offering great value DOT lids of all kinds. I realize that pedigree has no bearing on fit, function and style, but when the product is good, and rings in at a suggested MSRP under $200, it’s easy to be hometown proud.

The Zenith is made up of a thermoplastic shell covering an EPS liner with three shell sizes: small (XS), average (S-L) and large (XL3XL). Weight is often a concern in less pricey helmets. On first wearing, the helmet stayed on for the majority of a four-hour period. Had it not been for the rest stops in stifling heat and humidity, I might have kept it on the whole time. It’s that comfy.

The visor is so clear, I thought I hadn’t put it down. Not as true of the convenient internal sun visor, which had a teensy bit of distortion. However, on days when the sun and clouds keep trading, it’s easier to flip a visor than struggle with sunglasses; although my wire frames did easily slip into place.

I was also pleasantly surprised at how quiet it was, even at full highway speeds, which was especially surprising considering the lovely breeze constantly cooling my cranium. The airflow felt just as good when the visor was down, thanks to front and back air vents. Additionally, Zox has remembered what we might forget while choosing a lid: strategically placed cut-outs for communication system installation with enough chin space for any microphone, grooves for sunglasses and an intuitive lever for the sun visor. And finally, the “micrometric” (a.k.a. ratchet) chin strap system is brilliant. First-time use met with first-time success.

As is often the case, less pricey helmets have bulkier shells. This is true of the Zox Zenith but it didn’t create any extra drag nor wind noise. Add to that the incredible visibility, comfort, practicality and ease-of-use, and this affordable, DOT helmet is a winner. Visit www.motovan.com to complete details. IM

MSRP: $189.99 Sizes: XS to 3XL Colours: Matte black and glossy black

Pros

+ Excellent ventilation, beautifully clear visor

Cons

– A bit of distortion with the sun shades, only available in black

DP Brakes

By John Sharrard

My 2019 Yamaha WR450F is a fantastic woods bike. The engine, suspension and chassis engineering are amazing; except for the brakes. Since new, I have struggled with a spongy lever and weak stopping power, especially from the front. I changed brake fluid multiple times with no noticeable improvement. I then changed the brake line to a smaller diameter braided steel unit, but again, no improvement. That is when I reached out to DP brakes.

They quickly sent up a set of pads for both front and rear calipers to test. I knew that new pads shouldn’t really cure a spongy lever feel, but being significantly thicker than the worn stock pads, I thought it may help. To give the pads the best possible chance, brake fluid got changed again and the stock rotors resurfaced to give the new pads a fresh surface.

The rear pads were an instant success, not only providing fantastic feel and tire locking power, but I could modulate the brakes very well, able to slide the back tire out just the right amount on corner entry when needed. The front, however, took quite a while to bed in. I have a grassy field on our property, so I spent 10 or 15 minutes just building speed, then applying the brakes hard with some cooling in between. The friction was good – better than stock – but stopping power was still limited by the soft lever coming in right to the grip. Larry at DP Brakes then suggested we try an aftermarket front rotor. DP has a partnership with Moose Racing, and Larry sent me up a new rotor compliments of DP Brakes. When it arrived, I noticed it was quite a bit thicker than the thin stock unit and as such kept the brake pistons much further back in the caliper, eliminating a lot of caliper and piston flex. The brake lever feel was improved, and the pads adapted to the rotor much quicker and much better, making a significant improvement over stock. I highly recommend DP brakes for your next brake service, and also suggest the rotor at the same time for the absolute best result.

Visit www.dp-brakes.com for complete information on the DP Brakes products designed to elevate your motorcycle’s performance and safety. IM

Pros

+ Amazing customer service + Perfect fitment

Cons

– Excessive brake dust – Lever feel improved but still spongy