Best motorcycle gear advancements of 2022

Here's our annual look at the innovations in motorcycle gear from the past year that we thought were the most interesting advancements.

Schuberth’s return to form: The C5 modular

Premium German helmet maker Schuberth debuted the C5 modular helmet line this year, replacing the less-than-stellar C4 line and bringing the brand back to the top of the industry. The C5 is a return to Schuberth’s traditional helmet shape with a major improvement inside. 

The fit is more of an intermediate oval instead of the round oval shape used in the last generation. This means it will fit a broader range of riders. Fit can be fine-tuned using swappable interior pieces. Overall weight is just under four pounds including the built-in speakers and antenna. (The speakers can be removed if you’d rather use another type.) Drop in an SC2 communicator, which is basically a Sena 50R/50S with fewer installation steps, and you’re ready to ride. We’re glad to see Schuberth return to the top of the modular helmet game after listening to customer feedback.

Airbag technology for everybody

Alpinestars is on a roll. Following up the release of the Tech-Air 5, there is now a more affordable Tech-Air 3 vest for under $600, and a Tech-Air 10 full body airbag. The vest uses the same algorithms as the Tech-Air 5 in a smaller, slimmer package that can be worn under any street jacket, or on top of whatever you’re wearing while you ride. In fact, it’s the lightest Alpinestars airbag ever. The integrated lithium ion battery lasts around 40 hours per charge, and it can charge back to full in four hours. It’s never been easier to own, wear, or store an airbag system.

At the other end of the spectrum, the Tech-Air 10 is a true innovation with full-body airbag protection. It covers vital areas from the neck to the hip. This is the first time that a full-body airbag system is available to the general public right off the shelf, and it’s probably best for riders who spend a lot of time at the track. If you’ve ever watched MotoGP racing, you’ll know why the best riders in the world depend on airbag technology during competition. Now, we’re just waiting for the off-road Tech-Air system to round out Alpinestars’ lineup. 

Cardo’s magnetic communicator mounting system

Magnets? Really? We had our doubts about the new PackTalk Edge’s Air Mount system too, but we’re big fans after experiencing Cardo’s new kit for ourselves. It’s never been easier to remove your communicator for charging, and if you like to swap a single Bluetooth unit between multiple helmets, the Air Mount should be at the top of your list. Simply hold the unit near the mount, and it locks into place hard with a surprising snap. There is a small retainer tab that needs to be pressed to release the unit. If you watch the 2022 Pastranaland Pit Bike Championship, you can see riders crash over and over, even ripping their helmet peaks off, but the Cardo PackTalk Edge units never leave the helmets. That’s good enough for us!

The rise of the double zip vent

Ventilation is always an issue with motorcycle jackets. Manufacturers try their best with zippered vents, perforation, and mesh panels, but some hot days seem to overpower even the lightest summer jackets. REV’IT! pioneered the double front zip concept with the Sand 4 jacket, which places a secondary zipper behind the main zipper with flanking mesh panels. Opening the main zip creates a central mega vent that doesn’t compromise the jacket’s safety due to the backup zipper behind it. Now Icon offers a similar design, and the idea will probably spread to more jackets because it just works. As motorcyclists know from their engines, there’s no replacement for displacement, and that large central channel flows more air than any chest vent or side zip we’ve tried. 

StaCyc grows with the 18eDrive and 20eDrive

Before this year, StaCyc’s electric balance bikes were for small kids just learning to ride. Our man Spurgeon’s nephew started on one with 12-inch wheels at the age of three. A slightly larger model with 16-inch wheels was also available, but after that, you had to look elsewhere for a machine of appropriate size and power to develop riding skills.

That changed with the new 18eDrive and 20eDrive models. We’re ranking these two electric balance bikes among the best moto gear advancements of 2022 because they’re such outstanding tools for teaching kids to ride. The 18eDrive and 20eDrive offer larger wheels, three power modes, brushless motors, and hot-swappable batteries, effectively bridging the gap between StaCyc’s micro models and 60 cc to 150 cc motorcycles from other manufacturers. There are even StaCyc racing events across the United States where your kid can try a little competition. Some of our colleagues saw more riders on the grid for a StaCyc race than they saw for the adult races later that day. These sturdy little electric bikes could have a huge impact on the riders of tomorrow.

Honorable mention: Sena debuts some specialized Bluetooth communicators

Most Sena customers will be best served by popular communicators like the 50S, the 50R, the 20 series, or even the older 10 series. That said, there are a few new options in Sena’s lineup if you need something a little different for your helmet. The first is the new mesh-only Spider ST1. This is a fantastic budget option if you frequently ride in large groups, since it only uses mesh networking to pair with other riders. A Spider ST1 won’t be much use for communicating if other riders in your group aren’t using mesh, but for groups of up to 24, there is no better way to stay connected at an entry-level price point. The Sena 50C deserves a mention for finally combining mesh connectivity and a camera for tech-obsessed customers, and Sena also added mesh to its SRL line of integrated communicators for the Shoei Neotec II, GT-Air II, and J-Cruise II.

There’s no doubt that mesh is the new dominant technology for rider-to-rider communication, and we’re glad to see it spreading beyond Sena’s top-shelf models.

That’s a wrap for this year’s best gear advancements. Stay tuned for more Year in Review articles here on Common Tread as 2022 draws to a close.