Your favourite product stories online of 2009

As we draw to a close on an eventful 2009 for new product releases, background features and interviews, we’ve compiled the top three most viewed and best rated product stories as voted for by you this year. 

Over 1,000 new product stories have been published on www.motorcyclenews.com in 2009 covering all biking gear and the latest news.   

And here’s the top three viewed and rated by MCN.com readers.

1. World Exclusive: Have your ‘Face’ on the Valentino Rossi helmet
MCN exclusively broke the news in February that you would be able to design your own version of the Valentino Rossi Face helmet the now nine-time World Champion wore to victory at the 2008 Mugello GP. The helmet proved to be the fastest selling replica of all time for AGV when released in November 2008. And the Italian manufacture responded to the demand and in February announced though MCN that you’d be able to design and buy your own design of the famous helmet using a specially constructed website. The designs would have to be hand-painted and a lid costs over £1000 to be made.

2. Valentino Rossi Donkey lid exclusive
Yet again MCN broke the news first of the special Donkey helmet design the MotoGP star wore to win the 2009 Misano MotoGP race. Rossi called himself the Donkey after crashing out of second place at the race previous at Indianapolis, allowing closest title contended Jorge Lorenzo to move 25-points closer to him in the title standings. Last month we broke the news before anyone else that the helmet would be going into production, and just 300 would come to the UK.

3. Gore-Tex launches revolutionary new waterproof zip
Back in August MCN was invited by Gore-Tex to attend the official launch of their new Lockout zip closure system. The new closure is a self lubricating, toothless construction that opens and closes silently and delivers 100% waterproof protection. Like a traditional zipper, the metal slider moves up the garment to close. But the difference is that it smoothly interlocks the two double channeled polymer tracks to create a flat-fronted finish that changes the look of a garment, and removes the need for a storm flap. Lockout is now going onto new garments for 2010 from a number of different manufactures so keep an eye out in stores for the new system.