Kelly Callan, Author at Ultimate Motorcycling

Rev’It Trucker Ladies Jacket Review [Classic Denim Look]

Kelly Callan — Fri, 21 Jun 2024 05:56:53 +0000

The Rev’It Trucker Ladies Jacket immediately caught my eye, as I’ve been a fan of traditional denim jackets since I started wearing them as a teenager. The relaxed boxy cut is comfortable, fits over everything, and has been a mainstay in my closet. I wouldn’t have thought the design would lend itself to riding jacket […]

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2024 Triumph Scrambler 400 X Review [13 Fast Facts]

Kelly Callan — Tue, 28 May 2024 05:11:06 +0000

For those who appreciate the scrambler aesthetic and are looking for an attractively priced and sized model, the 2024 Triumph Scrambler 400 X may be just the ticket. As a smaller sibling to the Scrambler 900 and 1200, the Scrambler 400 X is lighter and more manageable, as well as being everyday practical and affordable […]

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Ultimate Motorcycling 20th Anniversary – Kelly Callan Reflects

Kelly Callan — Tue, 09 Apr 2024 13:19:55 +0000

You know how they say time flies, and it speeds up as you get older? Totally true. It’s the only way I can fathom that Ultimate Motorcycling is hitting its 20th anniversary. While I wasn’t there from the beginning, I truly don’t feel 17 years older than when I started contributing. But, of course, that’s […]

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Rev’It! Liberty H2O Heated Gloves Review [Wintertime Comfort]

Kelly Callan — Fri, 23 Feb 2024 03:38:40 +0000

From a survival standpoint, our bodies don’t care about our extremities. When temperatures drop, the body focuses on protecting its vital organs. Fingers and toes? Expendable! Happily, Rev’It! Liberty H2O heated gloves are designed to keep our hands at the “ideal temperature” of 91.4 degrees. As someone whose fingers can turn white in the grocery […]

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2024 Triumph Speed 400 Review [13 Fast Facts]

Kelly Callan — Mon, 05 Feb 2024 08:32:56 +0000

The Triumph Speed Twins—the 900 and 1200—have a new sibling. The 2024 Triumph Speed 400 is the first single-cylinder Triumph street bike since the brand was revived 41 years ago by John Bloor. The Speed 400 also draws on the Speed Triple, which features a single shock, more modern styling, and a sportier demeanor than […]

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2024 Royal Enfield Shotgun 650 Review [14 Fast Facts]

Kelly Callan — Thu, 18 Jan 2024 07:35:11 +0000

The latest iteration of Royal Enfield’s versatile 650-Twin platform is the bobber-styled Shotgun 650, a visually pleasing and easy-riding motorcycle. Built around the same smooth-powered and friendly engine found in the INT650 standard, Continental GT 650 café racer, and Super Meteor 650 cruiser, the 2024 Royal Enfield Shotgun 650 carves its own niche with a […]

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2023 Honda CRF250F vs. Kawasaki KLX230R S Comparison Test

Kelly Callan — Sun, 31 Dec 2023 09:17:07 +0000

When we were formulating this 2023 shootout of fuel-injected quarter-liter four-stroke trailbikes, the immediate pairing was the Honda CRF250F and the Kawasaki KLX230R. However, a closer examination of the spec sheets revealed that the low-seat KLX230R S is a closer match to the CRF250F, so that’s what we have here. The first thing we can […]

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Bell Bullitt Helmet Review [Premium Retro Full-Face Styling]

Kelly Callan — Sat, 30 Dec 2023 08:21:38 +0000

Bell’s fantastic-looking Bullitt helmet references the company’s Star helmets from the 1960s and ’70s, and borrows its name from the iconic 1968 Steve McQueen action-thriller. The result is a classic-looking helmet that is the perfect accompaniment to any motorcycle in the retro-modern, café racer, or standard genres. The design of the Bell Bullitt is decidedly […]

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2023 Beta 350 RR-S Review [High-Performance Dual-Sport]

Kelly Callan — Wed, 20 Dec 2023 09:43:44 +0000

At five-foot-six and 115 pounds, the world of dual-sport bikes is tricky for me. On the one hand, I like the lower seat height of motorcycles such as the Honda CRF300L/LS and the Kawasaki KLX300, but they both weigh over 300 pounds, the suspension is basic, and the power modest, though reliable. Frustratingly, there’s a […]

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EarPeace Moto Pro Earplugs Review [Hearing Protection Test]

Kelly Callan — Wed, 13 Dec 2023 06:56:39 +0000

By the time EarPeace began handing out hearing protection to concertgoers in 2010, I had already developed tinnitus in one ear. Too many years of playing drums in clubs without ear protection had been hard on my ears. It didn’t help that I had also started commuting to work on two wheels 15 years ago […]

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2024 Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 Review [17 Fast Facts]

Kelly Callan — Sun, 03 Dec 2023 06:34:11 +0000

The new 2024 Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 slots into the lightly-represented mid-size cruiser market with a novice-friendly and highly approachable machine—only the Kawasaki Vulcan S is a direct competitor. The British-designed, Indian-built motorcycle is a handsomely finished machine that feels anything but budget, despite its sub-$7k price tag. For anyone interested in the cruiser […]

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2023 KTM 390 Adventure Review [15 Fast Facts]

Kelly Callan — Tue, 24 Oct 2023 05:30:00 +0000

Whenever a KTM hits the Ultimate Motorcycling garage, my eyes light up. The Austrian company’s catchphrase—Ready to Race—was an inspired marketing choice, and it rolls off my tongue as soon as I see the orange-and-black motif. The 2023 KTM 390 Adventure took over commuting chores first, followed by proper adventure duties through the mountains and […]

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Ducati ST3 S and Moto Guzzi Breva V 1100 Test [Colorado Tour]

Kelly Callan — Wed, 30 Aug 2023 05:49:32 +0000

There’s no doubt that there was symbolism in the air. We were at the Handlebars Bar and Saloon in Silverton, Colo., enjoying an authentic western lunch celebrating the 25th anniversary of our first ride together. Of course, this time, rather than two-up on a 1981 Yamaha 550 Seca in Southern California, we arrived on a […]

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2023 Honda SCL500 Review [A Dozen Scrambler Fast Facts]

Kelly Callan — Sat, 26 Aug 2023 09:02:30 +0000

Motorcycle riding has this magical ability to transport me from my day-to-day whirlwind full of the pressures of modern life to a time that almost stands still. No matter what has been going on in my day, as soon as the faceshield clicks down or the goggle strap settles on my helmet, everything else fades […]

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2024 Alpinestars Stella Techstar Gear Set Review

Kelly Callan — Wed, 23 Aug 2023 06:12:45 +0000

Alpinestars’ new 2024 Stella Techstar gear set gives women an upscale jersey and pants option for hitting the off-road trails and motocross track. This is a welcome addition to Alpinestars MX offerings for aggressive women, as the Stella Fluid line’s pants are not cut wide enough to accommodate knee braces—at least my Pod K-4 2.0 […]

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Cycplus G1 Review [Mini GPS Wireless Bike Computer Tested]

Kelly Callan — Wed, 16 Aug 2023 06:29:41 +0000

We’ve been testing a lot of dirt bikes in the desert this year, taking advantage of the unusually cooler temps to enjoy riding in areas such as California City and Spangler Hills. With the many miles of wide-open terrain, it’s easy to lose track of time and miles, and we didn’t want to run out […]

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Rev’It! Apex Air H2O Ladies Jacket Review [Summer Ready]

Kelly Callan — Thu, 10 Aug 2023 04:22:35 +0000

The weather in Southern California has been weird this year. Our usually mild winter was quite cold, it rained a lot, and then spring skipped through here like a flat rock on a lake, and we went straight into summer. That brings me to the Rev’It! Apex Air H2O Ladies jacket, which I’ve been enjoying […]

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2023 Triumph Speed Twin 900 Commuter Test [Arrive In Style]

Kelly Callan — Thu, 03 Aug 2023 05:54:11 +0000

I’m almost always running late when I head out the door for work. That means I’m pushing the speed limit instead of smelling the roses. Fortunately, the 2023 Triumph Speed Twin 900 has been doing commuter duty with me for the past couple of months, and it’s been a satisfying match. The newly named Triumph […]

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2023 Honda CRF300LS Review (A Dozen Dual-Sport Fast Facts)

Kelly Callan — Tue, 01 Aug 2023 01:39:23 +0000

In a welcoming move to further entice new riders into the market, Honda has lowered the seat height of its already hugely approachable CRF300L dual sport motorcycle, bringing us the 2023 Honda CRF300LS. It is difficult to oversell how much fun this small displacement bike is, and for newer riders who are still building their […]

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Alpinestars J-6 Shoes Review [Not Just Made For Urban Riding]

Kelly Callan — Mon, 24 Jul 2023 06:18:56 +0000

I’ve never thought of myself as a shoe person. I’m not one of those women with a closetful of shoes for every occasion. However, I have noticed that the bottom of my closet is getting overrun with Alpinestars riding shoes. I find myself going to the Italian company’s website to peruse the options I haven’t […]

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Roadskin Taranis Elite Ladies Jeans Review [Motorcycle Pants]

Kelly Callan — Sat, 22 Jul 2023 01:02:46 +0000

Roadskin specializes in motorcycle riding jeans that the British company claims offer protection “comparable to leather trousers.” That intrigued me, as I don’t always feel like putting on leather riding pants when heading off for a short sprint through my favorite mountain twisties. The Roadskin Taranis Elite Ladies Jeans meet Europe’s EN 17092-2:2020 standard with […]

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Fly Racing Women’s Lite Racewear Review [Off-Road Tested]

Kelly Callan — Tue, 18 Jul 2023 19:29:21 +0000

Fly Racing’s Women’s Lite Racewear is light, silky, and has one of the most flattering fits in women’s dirt bike apparel. The line, first introduced in 2019, is Fly Racing’s premium offering for women who like to get out in the dirt for some serious moto fun and look good while getting dirty. We are […]

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2023 Suzuki SV650 Review: For Commuting and Canyons

Kelly Callan — Wed, 05 Jul 2023 14:33:58 +0000

For over two decades, the Suzuki SV650 has slotted into the mid-size, upright naked sportbike niche, providing riders with a supremely capable commuter and a credible canyon bike for weekend fun. Six years into its third generation, the 2023 Suzuki SV650 continues to be one of the easiest handling and most confidence-inspiring bikes in its […]

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Alpinestars Stella Bionic Action V2 Protection Jacket Review

Kelly Callan — Thu, 01 Jun 2023 08:21:47 +0000

Back in the mid-1980s, when I rode lots of dual sport events, including the classic LA-Barstow To Vegas two-day soriée, I wore a proper helmet, boots, and gloves, of course, but not any upper body protection. Granted, the Alpinestars Stella Bionic Action V2 Protection Jacket didn’t exist then. Looking back, it’s surprising that I would […]

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2023 Beta Xtrainer Review (18 Fast Facts From The Trails)

Kelly Callan — Tue, 28 Mar 2023 17:21:45 +0000

Introduced eight years ago, the Beta Xtrainer has always been the red-headed stepchild of the boutique Italian brand’s dirt bike lineup. Designed as something between a trials bike and an enduro bike, featuring a more compact frame and lower seat height, the Xtrainer never lived up to its potential as a novice-friendly trail bike capable […]

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