The latest motors gadgets reviewed by Paddy Comyn
Kriega R25
Price: €105
Buy: highergear.ie or tel: 01-652 7100
The Kriega R25 makes an ideal motorcycle commuter rucksack. When 26 rucksacks were tested in RiDE magazine, the Kriega R25 came out on top. This was thanks to a great performance in all categories, including being easy to adjust and having a shape that's easy to pack. Also, it didn't leave paintwork vulnerable to scratches or let water in after opening the zip.
Alpine ex-10 CG Lock
Price: €145 (including shipping) Buy: caraudio.ie
An advanced iPod controller with Bluetooth capabilities, the ex-10 enables users to easily connect an iPod to any existing factory car stereo.
It gives you full control, including the Quick Search function, along with an easy to read dash-mounted display.
It features an FM transmitter that broadcasts to the car radio - and it can also be used on an auxiliary input within your car.
Radio Controlled Knight Rider Kitt
Price: €50.99
Buy: Maplin Stores
So it may not be the 1980s any more, but you can still bring back a little bit of your childhood with this radio controlled Kitt. It comes with working front lights and is really well finished.
Price: €11.85 (including shipping)
Buy: craptrumps.co.uk/shop.html
You might be familiar with the game of top trumps, where you try and beat your opponent by having a better car on your card than theirs. Well, here is a bit of a laugh for car enthusiasts. The guys at Crap Trumps have come up with an ensemble of utter automotive rubbish.
If your vehicular self-esteem is running on fumes, then look no further, as clearly there are untold masses with less aspirations. These are guaranteed to make even the lowly banger owner feel an overwhelming sense of road-going superiority.
When a solid oak Lamborghini CounTrash flexing its sparse muscles against a state-of-the-art Korean toilet go-kart (sporting a pink seat) runs into the Italian tank division in full retreat, you just know all is not well on automotive planet earth.
Crap Trumps
Price: €46
Buy: cg-lock.co.uk
The CG-Lock is the first consumer automotive product that dramatically improves driver control. The device easily attaches to the tongue of an existing seat belt to provide improved driver control and greater comfort.
Typical automotive-type seat belts do not tighten. They are designed to stay loose. The CG-Lock lets your existing seat belt work like an aircraft seat belt: when you pull the lap belt tight, it stays as tight as you want.
With a CG-Lock installed, you can easily tighten the lap belt portion of your existing seat belt by pulling up on the shoulder harness. The CG-Lock lets you remove as much slack from the lap belt as you want.
A little tightness adds comfort on long trips or during "turbulent" off-road driving. A lot of tightness provides a driver with better control during aggressive driving on track days or off-road. The shoulder harness stays loose (just like normal) so you can still easily reach controls on the dashboard.