Winter
GEAR GUIDE Our expert guide to staying warm, safe and dry on two wheels SUITS
HELMETS
GLOVES
BOOTS
THE BEST GEAR AT THE RIGHT PRICES
PLUS Heated kit, layers and top tips on winter kit care
WINTER GEAR GUIDE
WELCOME
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WELCOME TO OUR second annual Winter Gear Guide. As with the 2015-2016 version, it showcases some excellent new products. And this time around, weÕve ramped up the amount of advice weÕve included. The aim is to help you identify the combination of gear that will help you get through winter in good shape, find it at the right price, and take care of it so it serves you well for years to come. Enjoy the guide, and enjoy riding through winter.
COLIN OVERLAND, EDITOR
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What’s inside… 4 Gloves vs heated gloves 6 Choosing and using gloves 8 Essential heated kit 10 The right heated kit for you 12 Heated jackets 14 Wired vs wireless gloves 16 Essential layers 18 How layers work 20 Textiles, boots and gloves 22 Choosing and using textiles 24 Winter wisdom for every rider 26 Solutions for women riders 28 Great helmets 30 Choosing and using helmets 32 Heated grips 34 Where to buy the best gear
Compiled by Colin Overland Designed by Dave Clow Studio photography by Jacques Portal and Jason Critchell Free with the January 2017 issue of RiDE © Bauer 2016 RiDE, Media House, Lynchwood, Peterborough, PE2 6EA 01733 468081 Join us online www.ride.co.uk and on Facebook www.facebook.com/RiDEMagazine
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GREAT KIT ADVICE EVERY MONTH 12
This special Winter Gear Guide magazine has been brought to you by RiDE. Every month, RiDE publishes world-renowned tests, buying guides, maintenance advice and behind-the-scenes stories about motorcycle kit. That’s as well as our unique mix of travel stories, new and used bikes and workshop wisdom. Buy RiDE in the shops, or visit www.greatmagazines.co.uk/RiDE to get RiDE sent to your home, tablet or smartphone.
WINTER GEAR GUIDE
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COSY HANDS
GLOVES vs HE Designed and built to the same high standard – the choice is yours Weise Montana Element WP £199.99
www.thekeycollection.co.uk Full-grain leather and polyester on the outside, with a Hipora waterproof, windproof and breathable lining inside, plus cosy Thinsulate. A heated filament runs around the fingers and across the back of the hand, with two heat settings. A rechargeable battery gives up to three hours of heat. There are built-in reinforcements to the knuckles and fingers, and twin-layered leather on impact points. The McFit lining fixture system stops the liner coming out with your hand. Other neat features include a storm cuff with adjustable pull cord, Chamude panel on the palm for better grip, 3M Scotchlite piping for night-time visibility, and stretch panels for better fit and flexibility.
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WINTER GEAR GUIDE
E AT E D G LOV E S Weise Outlast Diablo WP
?
www.thekeycollection.co.uk
Who are Weise?
£99.99
A mix of full-grain nappa leather and nylon outside, with a Hipora waterproof, windproof and breathable liner, temperature regulation from Outlast, plus Thinsulate. There are padded finger inserts, twin-layered leather on impact points, and shell armour on the knuckles. The inner storm cuff with an elasticated hem works in conjunction with an elasticated wrist with adjustable Velcro retaining strap and a pull cord on the outer cuff. Other neat features include the McFit lining fixture system, stretch panels to aid fit and flexibility, a Chamude panel on the palm for improved grip, and a visor wipe on the left thumb.
Weise products come from The Key Collection, award-winning wholesalers of motorcycle clothing. Launched in 1987, and designed in Britain, the range is focused on jackets, jeans and gloves for men and women. They use many hi-tech fabrics including Outlast (for temperature regulation) and the McFit system (which keeps glove linings in place without the use of stitching).
Weise Legend £65.99
www.thekeycollection.co.uk
Weise Outlast Sirius WP £69.99
www.thekeycollection.co.uk There’s a mix of textile and full-grain leather on the palm and fingers. Inside, there’s an Outlast temperature-regulating lining and fleece inner lining. It’s waterproof, windproof and breathable, even at this bargain price. There’s extra padding on the palm and knuckles, and a double layer of leather on the fingers. An adjustable Velcro restraining strap closes the elasticated wrist, with stretch panels on the fingers. The women’s version is the same price, same look and different sizes.
Inside there’s a waterproof, windproof and breathable Hipora layer with a PrimaLoft inner lining, and outside a mix of full-grain leather and Nyspan. There’s twin-layered leather on impact points, plus padded inserts on the knuckles and fingers, and the McFit lining fixture system. A Chamude overlay panel gives improved grip, while an adjustable Velcro strap on the wrist secures the glove. The women’s version is same price, similar look, but with different sizes.
“Waterproof, windproof and breathable at a bargain price” WINTER GEAR GUIDE
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BUYING ADVICE
CHOOSING THE RIGHT GLOVES Whether heated or conventional, you need to demand a perfect fit Fit
Protection
It’s a miracle if you can find gloves that fit properly without a lot of searching around. And if they do fit when you buy them, chances are they’ll soon stretch to the point where they no longer fit. Held do a custom-fit service that’s reasonably priced.
Most serious motorcycling gloves offer a decent compromise when it comes to armour: it’s focused on the parts of the hand most likely to come into contact with the road, but doesn’t restrict your hand movement. When trying them on in a shop, make sure you’re wearing your usual bike jacket and sitting on a bike similar to your own to check that you can operate the controls in a natural way; scaphoid protectors can make a huge difference in a crash but can also clash with your grips.
Warmth Good gloves tend to be expensive. There are lots of different materials and different techniques involved in making them, and they’re tested to a high standard. Some of the cheaper gloves provide decent crash protection but tend to cut corners on temperature regulation. Using something very much like a plastic bag for a lining will keep out the wind and rain, but will soon result in sweaty, uncomfortable hands. This is where breathable membranes – Gore-Tex and the like – come into their own, by keeping rain out without trapping sweat in. Some of the best year-round gloves work this way. Heated grips can upset this sort of membrane, which works on the basis that it will be colder outside than in; if the grip makes it warmer outside, the membrane may get confused and start working in reverse.
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WINTER GEAR GUIDE
? F I T
? P R O T E C T I O N
Lining ? WA R M T H
? L I N I N G
When you try gloves on in a nice dry shop, those that come with a soft, loose lining might feel the most comfortable and luxurious. But on rainy days, when you’re putting a moist hand back into a glove, that lining can easily snag and never again sit entirely properly inside the glove. The best way to avoid this is to go for a glove with a bonded lining, ie one that’s completely attached to the outer.
PICTURES FOR ILLUSTRATION PURPOSES ONLY. PRICES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTIFICATION. SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY; WHILE STOCKS LAST; ERRORS AND OMISSIONS EXCEPTED.
FOUR
S E T T I N G T H E STA N DA R D
S E ASO N s
PERFORMANCE
FOR ALL SEASONS COLUMBUS JACKET £159.99 BLACK / S - 5XL WITH TOUGH 600 DENIER RIPSTOP CONSTRUCTION AND A WATERPROOF, WINDPROOF & BREATHABLE LINING, THE WEISE COLUMBUS JACKET CAN BEAT EVEN THE HARSHEST WINTER RIDING CONDITIONS.
OUTLAST SIRIUS GLOVE £69.99 BLACK / SM - 2XL ®
ORIGINALLY DEVELOPED FOR NASA, OUTLAST ® TEMPERATURE REGULATING MATERIALS ABSORB, STORE AND RELEASE HEAT FOR OPTIMAL COMFORT WHATEVER THE WEATHER.
T F E W
0117 971 9200 0117 972 5574 info@thekeycollection.co.uk www.thekeycollection.co.uk
FOR YOUR PEACE OF MIND, ALL WEISE PRODUCTS ARE COVERED BY A
NO-QUIBBLE TWO-YEAR WARRANTY
12v GEAR
H E AT E D K I T ESSENTIALS
Bike-powered basics to keep you at a comfortable temperature
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VEN IF you don’t like the idea of heated kit, this fuss-free combination could win you over with its easy installation and fuss-free operation. Just wire it into your battery and you’re ready to plug and play. They provide quick and evenly spread warmth without excessive drain on your battery. And the beauty of these gloves and this vest is that they can be used year round, because when they’re switched off they work a treat as conventional riding gear.
Oxford HotGloves £149.99
www.oxfordproducts.com Oxford’s first heated gloves draw on the firm’s years of experience of making heated grips and conventional motorcycle gloves. They are warm and waterproof, made from a mix of leather and nylon, with Thinsulate insulation, stretch panels to improve comfort and fit, and suede for better grip. There are also reflective areas to make the rider more visible, and a built-in visor wipe. And when plugged in to your bike’s battery (via the provided connection kit) they offer three heat settings and an impressively low drain on your battery.
“They’re great riding gear whether switched on or off” 8|
WINTER GEAR GUIDE
? Who are Oxford?
Established in 1973, they’re still expanding at their Witney HQ, with worldwide subsidiaries and partner operations. They are distributors of other brands and an awardwinning brand in their own right, with a range of Oxford kit that includes luggage, clothing and accessories for bike and rider.
Oxford HotVest £149.99
www.oxfordproducts.com A very easy and effective way to make a real difference to your riding comfort when the temperature drops. You simply plug it into your bike’s battery,
using the provided battery connection kit, and turn it on using the inline heat controller, which offers four heat settings. There are woven stainless steel heated pads on the chest (on both sides of the zip) and back. The collar is heated too. As with all heated gear, it’s best to not go too baggy – the closer it sits to your body, the more
effective it can be. With no arms, it won’t restrict your movement. It’s available in sizes from XS to 3XL, all with side stretch panels. It’s not just the electrical heating that makes this an extremely useful bit of kit: it’s a windresistant vest, with a mesh liner, that works well as a mid-layer even when it’s not turned on. It can be washed by hand too.
WINTER GEAR GUIDE
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BUYING ADVICE
DO I NEED H E AT E D K I T ? Do you need heated clothing or heated gloves? Or both?
H
EATED KIT isn’t to everyone’s taste, but it definitely makes a difference on cold days. Most modern bike electrical systems can cope with the extra drain, so long as you take care to wire the gear in properly.
Heated grips have a massive advantage over heated gloves: they’re always there. The best heated gloves in the world are completely useless if they’re 50 miles away, on a shelf in your garage, when the temperature drops.
If your bike is fitted with hand guards as well as heated grips, you may find you barely need winter gloves, let alone heated ones. But on really cold days heated gloves will let you keep on riding in comfort and safety for longer.
D O I N E E D H E AT E D K I T ? First things first: do you ride in winter?
NO
YES
Then heated kit is no use to you, unless you’ll be heading into the Alps, where low temperatures extend way beyond winter.
You might benefit from some heated riding gear. How often do you ride?
E V E RY D AY
ONCE A WEEK
How far do you go?
How far do you go?
How far do you go?
30-ODD MILES TO THE DEALER
LONDON TO DUNDEE FOR CHRISTMAS
Save your money for the service – put on an extra jumper.
Heated kit will definitely help. How much do you want to spend?
20-ODD MILES TO A M AT E ’ S
ANYTHING FROM 10 TO 200 MILES
120 MILES EVERY F R I D AY E V E N I N G
Heated gear won’t do any harm, but you really don’t need it.
Heated kit could help. Where do you feel the cold?
Heated kit will definitely help. How much do you want to spend?
10-MILE COMMUTE Do you really need the expense and hassle of heated kit? Decent winter kit (and thermal socks) will probably be better for your purposes.
70-MILE COMMUTE
40-MILE COMMUTE
Heated kit will definitely help. How much do you want to spend?
Heated kit could help. Where do you feel the cold?
HANDS
FEET
EVERYWHERE
Heated gloves are the solution: better than heated grips as they warm fingers all the way round, rather than just the palms.
Innersoles or socks – the choice is yours. Socks warm all the way round, but we’d take innersoles (worn with good thermal socks).
Heated kit will make a difference. How much do you want to spend?
BUDGET
A heated waistcoat is the answer. There are plenty of affordable power-pack units available. Smaller heated items like kidney belts aren’t worth the bother, in our opinion – a decent heated vest will really warm you. For long journeys, buy a second power pack.
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ONCE IN A BLUE MOON
WINTER GEAR GUIDE
PREMIUM
For the full monty, look at a stack of integrated kit. Jacket, trousers, socks and gloves, powered by the bike’s battery with temperature adjusted by a multi-controller. A pricey solution – the full monty could set you back as much as £550 – but it will allow great warmth all day long.
12V GEAR
H E AT E D JACKET
Simple, effective – and improved for 2017
G
ERBING PRIDE themselves on listening to their customers, and to potential customers: riders who hadn’t previously seen the benefits of heated clothing, but see the light when the right item joins the range. This revised jacket – like the two new gloves over the page – has been developed in direct response to public demand.
The Gerbing 12v Heated Jacket Liner has a new style to go with its proven heating technology. The XRS-12 glove has a muchrequested short cuff, while the XR-7 has its own in-glove power source. And they’re just three items in the broad – and expanding – range of top-quality heated gear from Gerbing, which comes with a lifetime warranty on the heating element.
Gerbing 12v Heated Jacket Liner £189.00
www.gerbing.co.uk Significantly revised for 2017, the Gerbing 12v Heated Jacket Liner has tried and trusted heating components but a better cut, designed by a fashion house, and now fits better than before. There’s heating for the front, back, arms and neck. Powered from the bike’s battery, the jacket has two circuits: one for the jacket itself, one for whatever’s plugged into it, usually gloves. The two circuits can be controlled separately – so if your hands need more heat than your body, you can tweak the temperature to achieve optimal comfort.
“Tried and trusted heating components but with a better cut”
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WINTER GEAR GUIDE
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Who are Gerbing?
The leading brand for electric heated clothing in Europe. In 1976 founder Gordon Gerbing began developing unique heated clothing using ideas from the aeronautics business. Today the 12v heated range – powered from the bike’s battery – includes gloves, jackets, trousers and socks, while the 7v range – powered by rechargeable batteries – includes jackets, vests, gloves and socks.
There’s more to this jacket than just the electric heating, excellent though that is. It’s a top-notch mid-layer in its own right, made from a soft nylon shell for comfort and warmth. It’s water resistant and wind resistant. You just need a base layer underneath and an outer layer on top and you’re ready for just about anything.
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GLOVES
H E AT E D G LOV E S
WIRED VS WIRELESS Two new gloves from Gerbing highlight the wide choice available XRS-12 Heated Gloves £149.99
www.gerbing.co.uk The new XRS-12 from Gerbing has short cuffs, in response to countless requests from riders who prefer to tuck their gloves inside their jacket. The glove itself is waterproof, windproof and breathable, with a Hipora lining inside the soft and supple leather outer, plus hard knuckle armour. It’s a 12v heated glove, powered by your bike, with a controller (included in the price, along with the battery harness) that lets you adjust the heating.
“It’s your choice: gloves that plug in to the bike or run off their own batteries”
XR-7 Rechargeable Heated Gloves £189.99
www.gerbing.co.uk The new XR-7 gloves from Gerbing are at a glance very similar to the XRS-12, but there’s a crucial difference: they have their own batteries, contained in the cuffs, and a handy built-in temperature control button. It’s your choice. This makes them ideal for those riders who’d prefer not to have wires going from the bike to their jacket and then to their gloves. Instead they’re just like conventional unheated gloves – until the temperature drops and you activate the 7v batteries. They’re recommended for commuting and chilly mornings, rather than all-day riding in bitter cold.
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Don’t hide your bike away this winter...
See us at the ow NEC Sh 5 2B0 Stand
“The jacket cut is nice and adjustable. It’s spec-sheet reads like a RIDE editor’s dream. Quality feels ‘top-end’. The range is wellpriced, considering the high spec and quality materials involved. Overall I’m very impressed” Matt Hull, RIDE
www.daneclothing.uk
www.gerbing.co.uk
...our 2016/17 range keeps you warm and dry all year T: 01892 457373 | Unit 15, Colebrook Industrial Estate, Longfield Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN2 3DG
UNDERGARMENTS
L AY E R S
There’s a huge choice for different conditions and different tastes, all designed to regulate your temperature Oxford WarmDry Layers Long-sleeved top £29.99, trousers £29.99 www.oxfordproducts.com The Warm Dry range from Oxford’s extensive offering of layers can be worn all year round, but they really come into their own in colder weather. They trap warmth against your skin to keep you warm, and they wick away sweat to stop you getting chilled. They have an anti-bacterial treatment that fights odours, and are designed to be free of uncomfortable seams in awkward places. We’ve highlighted the trousers and men’s long-sleeved top, but the Warm Dry range also ed top, women’s versions and includes a high-necked a one-piece garment.
Oxford Base Layers Top £19.99, trousers £14.99 www.oxfordproducts.com A simple but effective way to stay comfortable and keep a steady temperature when the weather takes a turn for the worse. These competitively priced layers are made of a breathable fabric that’s fast wicking and fast drying. They keep you warm when it’s cold and cool when it’s hot. Their compression-fit construction supports your muscles to reduce fatigue, and the seams have been kept to a minimum to maximise comfort. They’re even machine washable.
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WINTER GEAR GUIDE
Oxford ChillOut Windproof Layers Shirt £59.99, trousers £49.99 www.oxfordproducts.com The ChillOut range is designed to provide an effective barrier against wind chill. They’re windproof, water-resistant and breathable, and there’s an insulating fleece lining for extra warmth and comfort. There’s also an anti-bacterial treatment to eliminate odours, and tough but unintrusive flat-lock seams. The shirt has one main fulllength zip and a shorter neck zip, which work together to allow a close fit without clashing with central zips on other layers. The trousers have underfoot hoops to stop the legs riding up. We’ve highlighted to shirt and trousers, but the ChillOut range also includes gloves, knee warmers, socks and an overjacket that can be worn off the bike as a casual top. They’re designed to go on top of Oxford’s base layers – whether that’s CoolDry (lightweight layers for year-round use), WarmDry (mainly for colder weather) or the all-round budget Base Layers. They’re unisex.
“There are also gloves, socks, knee warmers, an overjacket and more” WINTER GEAR GUIDE
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BUYING ADVICE
L AY E R I N G MADE SIMPLE The hidden secret of year-round comfort Top layer
Mid-layers
Base layers
The outer layer is the one with the biggest responsibility for keeping wind and rain at bay. If it’s constructed using a breathable membrane, it gives the other layers a better chance of doing their job properly, and vice versa.
Like a base layer, they can draw moisture away from the body. But they also have a greater role in providing thermal insulation. They tend to have a looser weave and be looser fitting, allowing pockets of air to be created by body heat. The layering system is about trapping air. If the layers are too tight this doesn’t work. Some mid-layers are soft and light enough to be worn next to the skin. Others are tougher, designed to keep wind at bay.
Worn next to the skin, they take sweat away from your body. Modern, technical fibres are often better at this than natural fibres, which tend to absorb sweat, although merino wool is popular. Summer base layers are mostly about wicking. Those intended for cooler conditions also need good thermal properties, to help maintain core body temperature.
“The layering system is all about trapping air”
…and consider another layer on top
Top tips for staying warm
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Carry spares
Be ruthless
Improvise
Layers are generally small and light, so it’s not difficult to carry spares on every journey, ready for the temperature to drop, or as replacements if you get soaked through.
Decent base and mid-layers are much better at their job than most detachable jacket linings, which tend to be a poor compromise. Get rid of under-performing liners and use base layers instead.
Don’t let the manufacturers’ labelling dictate your behaviour. If you find that wearing two base layers and no mid-layer works for you, then it works. The result is all that matters.
WINTER GEAR GUIDE
A lightweight waterproof overjacket can be more effective than a removable waterproof liner – it stops the main outer layer getting a soaking, and will generally dry out more quickly. And, as with a fleecy mid-layer, it can be useful off the bike, keeping your luggage simple.
OUTERWEAR
TEXTILES Impossible to imagine riding in winter without a good jacket and trousers
? Who are RST? Founded in 1988 as Rhino, then Rhino Sport, then Rhino Sport Technology, RST began by making gloves and have expanded into a wide range of leathers, textiles, boots and gloves for men and women. Throughout, the aim has been to combine cutting-edge style with exceptional value and quality. To this day, all the products are designed at RST’s Derbyshire HQ and tested on the world-class biking rounds nearby.
RST Pro Series Paragon V jacket and jeans
Jacket £219.99, jeans £175.99 www.rst-moto.com
This is the fifth generation of RST’s highly acclaimed touring jacket and jeans. There’s a water-resistant outer made of Teflon-coated Maxtex and Ballistic, with a breathable and waterproof Sinaqua membrane inside. The zips are waterproof, and the main front entry is double zipped, with a gutter system inside. There’s a removable storm collar and removable full-length quilted lining in both jacket and trousers. There are size adjusters on the sides and arms, vents on the front and rear of the jacket, a good selection of pockets, and some braces to hold the trousers comfortably in place.
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Also from RST... RST Thermotech Heated Waterproof Gloves £169.99
www.rst-moto.com RST’s first heated glove, designed to protect you and keep you warm through the harshest British weather. You can expect up to four hours of heat and three levels of warmth from the compact rechargeable battery found in the cuff of each glove. You can switch the heat on or off, and to three levels (red hot, amber medium, green low heat). Pliable, rust-resistant microfibres run through the gloves, heating the back of the hand and the fingers. The gloves themselves are soft textile, with palm and scaphoid reinforcement, adjustable Velcro wrist restraint, adjustable drawstring closure on inner storm cuff, and DuPont ComforMax Classic insulation.
“They’ll keep you warm through the harshest British weather” RST Adventure II Waterproof Boots £109.99
www.rst-moto.com These adventure-style all-year riding boots have a leather outer with a tough heel, ankle, toe and shin protection. Inside there’s a Hipora waterproof and breathable membrane, and a soft lining. There’s a thick, grippy sole that’s ideal for standing up on the pegs and good for walking too. Closure is by two adjustable buckles and Velcro flap. There are stretch panels on the front and back for fit and comfort.
WINTER GEAR GUIDE
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EXPERT ADVICE
CHOOSING AND USING TEXTILES The right gear at the right price – and how to take good care of it Finding the right jacket and trousers To get the top and jeans that are best for you, you might need to buy separately, rather than trying to buy a suit. Your ideal jacket and trousers won’t necessarily be from the same suit, or indeed the same manufacturer. But of course they do need to be compatible, so make sure you try them on together, checking for a zip that will join them at the waist. It’s a bonus if they look good together. Some textile suits are essentially
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WINTER GEAR GUIDE
oversuits that can be worn over work clothing. At the other extreme there are close-fitting riding suits using as much armour as a leather race suit in combination with weather-beating breathable membranes and vents. For many the best compromise is a relatively loose-fitting but high-spec adventure suit that, if worn over technical base layers, can serve you all year round. Comfort is the single most important factor. You won’t necessarily get a more comfortable suit by paying more, but you will get a more comfortable one by trying on as many suits as you can; you’ll know the right one when you find it.
How to keep your textiles in good shape
How to clean your textiles
Hang them up after every ride. This is especially important when they’re wet. The best way is to get a RiDE Award-winning BikerTidy – a metal rack designed to stand in your garage – and some of their heavy-duty hangers (www.bikertidy.com), or the super-tough hangers from Dritek (www. dritekproducts.com). Whether your kit is wet because you’ve been riding in the rain or because you’ve just washed it, drying it promptly and properly can be critical. For many bits of bike gear, from cheek pads to waterproof membranes, the best approach may be tumble drying, or putting it in an airing cupboard, or blitzing with a hairdryer, or hanging outside on a washing line in the sun. If there are no helpful instructions, best to go for the gentlest available option. Drying when you’re at home is one thing – but drying when you’re on the road can be a much greater challenge. If you’re camping, with no heat and no airing/drying room, you should regard it as a good result if your helmet/gloves/boots end the night less moist than they were when you got off your bike. Hotel rooms offer a lot of scope. Shower rails, towel rails, radiators, chair backs, hairdryers, irons and ironing boards – they can all help. Stick your gloves and boots upside-down on the legs of an upturned chair to help them get some air while they drip dry. And it’s always worth asking hotel staff if there’s somewhere warm and dry that you can use.
Most winter riding gear can be cleaned in a washing machine at home. Remove anything that can be removed: armour, thermal linings, buckles etc. Also loosen arm and waist adjusters to allow the entire garment to be cleaned. It’s best to wash just the jacket or just the trousers at one time, to avoid straining the machine. The instructions are likely to tell you to use a cool (but not cold) wash cycle. Don’t use fabric softeners (hell for membranes). Your best bet is a
How to reproof your textiles Most decent riding gear relies on a membrane for its water resistance, and usually the process of cleaning it properly will be all that’s needed to get it back up to full strength. So why bother reproofing? Because that will restore your garment’s ability to repel water. The DWR (durable water repellency) treatment on the outer stops water soaking in, making your gear heavy and cold; instead, the rain will bead and roll away. As the DWR’s effectiveness fades, your gear will be more inclined to get soggy, and even if the membrane still stops the water penetrating as far as you, it will make for a much less pleasant riding experience, and take longer to dry. You have two main choices for reproofing a freshly cleaned garment: a wash-in or a spray-on reproofer. Grangers, Nikwax, SDoc100 and Muc-Off all do them. The wash-in option is slower but easier and less messy, and could become part of your routine once or twice a year: wash your kit, then reproof it immediately afterwards. Some manufacturers suggest reproofing every third wash. You need to use something designed for the purpose; other water repellents – such as boot
One wash per garment should be enough, unless it’s been years since the last wash
technical washing liquid, such as Nikwax Tech Wash. Then dry it. If you’re tumble drying, keep the heat low. Some garments are coated with a treatment that will benefit from tumble drying or ironing.
Useful addresses www.gore-tex.co.uk www.scrubbersleathers.co.uk
wax – could ruin the breathability of your kit by bunging up the tiny holes in the membrane. Motorcycle shops (and outdoors shops, which are often better stocked) will sell you all sorts of cleaning and proofing sprays, washes, wipes and additives. We’ve had good results with Nikwax TX Direct Wash-In for textiles; DucksWax for leather; and the Visor Vision range for helmets. And don’t underestimate the usefulness of simple unperfumed wet wipes: widely available, cheap and extremely versatile.
Useful addresses www.grangers.co.uk www.nikwax.co.uk www.gore-tex.co.uk www.muc-off.com www.sdoc100.co.uk
GEAR GUIDE 2016
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DRESSING ADVICE
WOurIgolden N rules T can E help Ryou beat WtheIworst SofD O M the weather Carry an oversuit That lightweight, compact bit of nylon in your rucksack or tankbag can provide vital extra warmth and waterproofing. Oversuits dry out quicker than thick, complex textiles. That’s good because it improves your prospects of starting your next trip in dry clothing; and it’s good because riding in wet textiles can make you cold.
Get wired Many riders find that once they’ve experienced heated kit there’s no turning back. Vests and jackets are good at keeping your core warm. Heated gloves can give an overall glow out of proportion to their size. If you’re nervous about plugging yourself in you might be happier with heated grips. They only warm the palm side of the hand, not the back, but that can still make all the difference between rigid digits and full control and comfort.
Dry everything carefully Whether you’re at home or on the road, it’s important wherever possible to hang up wet gear in a warm and/or ventilated place, so that you at least start the next day dry. The purpose-built Biker Tidy system is unbeatable, and Dritek do some sturdy hangers that can cope with waterlogged clobber.
Be realistic Sooner or later you probably will get cold and wet, and you’ll definitely need to stop to clean your visor. If there’s a chance to have a coffee, take it – it’s time well spent.
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WINTER GEAR GUIDE
Don’t wear too much Don’t just think about individual items – think about the combination. If you end up with too much bulk, especially around the neck and cuffs, you may restrict your movement and indeed your circulation. A small but extremely irritating version of this problem is clashing zips: if base layer, mid-layer and outer layer all have zips that are trying to occupy the same square inch under your chin, it will hurt.
Cover your core A good mid-layer – perhaps a technical zip-up windproof inner jacket, or a cosy fleece – will help both your base layer and your outer layer by sharing some of the sweat-wicking and wind-cheating duties, and providing an extra layer to trap warm air. And a good mid-layer with sleeves will also work wonders with your wrists. A mid-layer’s sleeve will be thin enough to go inside your glove, while the cuff of the jacket goes over the glove.
Protect your neck Not everyone likes storm collars, but the good ones get the balance right: plugging the gap between the top of the jacket and the bottom of the helmet, without restricting your movement or being too fiddly to do up. A neck tube won’t keep you dry for long but won’t bulk you up either.
Choose your boots wisely In motorcycling as in so many aspects of life, if your feet are warm and dry everything seems a little more rosy. Time spent finding the winter boots that are right for you is an investment in your future happiness.
Which style? It’s baffling. There are waterproof sports boots, and a glut of adventure boots that have their origins in off-roading but make fine road boots. Some of the more serious race or trackday boots are complex and fiddly to put on, but once they’re in use they are supremely comfortable, highly protective and offer unrivalled feel. By contrast, some heavyweight touring boots are so thick-soled and clumpy that you’re guessing where the brake pedal is. And some of the more hardcore enduro boots offer great protection in a crash and shield you from flying stones, but are painful to walk in. Try before you buy.
Keep them at their best Like all riding gear, boots need cleaning. Yes, they’ll get dirty again within minutes of starting your next ride, but it’s important to remove any mud, which can cause leather and rubber to perish. If the boot involves a breathable membrane, that won’t work properly if its pores are clogged. Most boots have some kind of screwed-on protection or adjusters. Check these screws are tight every so often.
Buy cosy undies One of the less trumpeted virtues of a breathable, wicking base layer is that it can make a cheap textile suit bearable. Some of those cheap suits are genuinely waterproof, but they achieve that result by being essentially plastic bags. If you’re not careful, you can get sopping wet from your own sweat, trapped inside the suit. But base layers will wick that sweat away from your skin, keeping you much more comfortable.
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BUYING ADVICE
A WOMAN IN WINTER The problems female motorcyclists face all year round are even trickier in winter
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VERY DAY of the year, female motorcyclists have to deal with a two-pronged problem that barely registers on the radar of most male riders. There’s a lack of good gear at the right prices. And there’s a lack of places to try it on and buy it. Maybe you can get away with wearing something that’s not quite right in summer, but the harsher conditions of winter take no prisoners. If your gear isn’t a perfect fit, genuinely waterproof and all-day comfortable, then you’ll be not just miserable but also at risk of losing control of your bike; cold, numb hands can’t operate effectively, and you’ll struggle to concentrate. Some dealers have effectively given up on female customers, but others have found that if they go to the trouble of getting the gear in, then the customers will come. And there are a couple of specialists who are in business purely to provide a much-needed service for female motorcyclists. We’ve featured Girls Bike 2 in the past, but here we’re looking at www.ladybiker.co.uk, which has been run for the last couple of years by Daisy Bell. She learnt the hard way how important it is to have the right gear when she went on her first big bike trip with husband Mark on their Honda Africa Twin. Travelling through South America they experienced extremes of climate, which cruelly exposed the inadequacies of most of Daisy’s gear. Although it’s an online business, she’s found that personal interaction is crucial to helping females get the gear they need.
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“You need to have the conversation. Where doesn’t it fit? What do you use it for? What do you ride? When we have the conversation it’s about what you ride, where you ride – cost never comes into it. I still remember my own problems. I wasn’t given the right advice. “People like to know that you’re there at the end of an email or a phone. We can offer people honest advice. If I’ve been helpful to them when they’re on a tight budget, they’ll come back to me when they need something more expensive. There’s an element of personal shopper; they can trust me to find the right gear. I can’t
compete on price, but I can offer support and advice.” She’s found that too few manufacturers offer jackets and trousers in a wide range of sizes, prompting Daisy to offer some own-brand gear to plug the gap. “Too many trousers are only made in regular length, but many women need short or long leg. I’m told there’s not the market, but there is. There’s a lot of women in their fifties coming into motorcycling for the first time, and some of them are a long way from the sizes and shapes that manufacturers assume them to be. The good stuff is out there – but it’s an absolute maze.”
ARMOUR
JACKET
If a men’s or unisex jacket is comfortable on a woman’s chest, it may well be too big to fit her properly around the waist. And longer jackets are rarely compatible with womanly hips.
Wearing clothing that’s not quite the right size or shape can have consequences beyond comfort: it can mean your armour isn’t in the right place. Wearing motocross (or BMX) armour that straps directly to your body can sidestep this problem.
TROUSERS
A female body shape usually requires female-specific trousers, especially if your legs are short.
BOOTS
HELMETS and GLOVES
Areas where men have just as many problems as women in finding a perfect fit. Shopping around is the only answer.
Women tend to have thinner ankles and thicker calves. Daytona are often singled out for praise for their wide range of female boots, although many women find that men’s or unisex boots actually fit them best.
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SAFETY WITH STYLE
HELMETS
When it comes to crash helmets it makes sense to aim high FULL-FACE ICON
Arai RX-7V Kenny Roberts £649.99
www.whyarai.co.uk The RX-7V is Arai’s range-topping road and race helmet, created using decades of experience, with input from top racers and road riders. Compared to previous Arai full-face range-toppers, the RX-7V has a new outer shell, new visor system, new liner and new vents. They say it’s closer than ever to the ideal helmet shape, for on-bike comfort and for crash protection. Its iconic design is the one used by Kenny Roberts, one of the living legends of motorcycle racing: the first American to win a grand prix motorcycle racing world championship; two-times winner of the AMA Grand National Championship in the USA; world 500 champion in 1978, ‘79 and ‘80; and later a successful team owner. Throughout his career, the bald eagle design adorned his helmet, most iconically in the Yamaha combination of yellow, black and white. But as Arai wearers have known for many years now, what works on the track can also work brilliantly on the road, all year round. Prices start at £549.99 for plain colours.
Arai’s visors are renowned for being optically excellent, giving a clear view out. What’s changed for the RX-7V is the location of the visor pivot points. They’re an inch lower than on previous Arais, allowing an even smoother shell shape. The side pods have also been revised to make it easier to change the visor.
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The vents have had a major upgrade, for better cooling in summer and better mist-beating ventilation in winter. The main air inlets are easier to operate and will shut more securely to keep out wind and rain. The side channels take air away from the visor, and the exhaust vents help keep warm air moving away from the mouth.
? Who are Arai?
Formed 90 years ago as a hat maker, the company is still run by the Arai family. Founder’s son Mitch Arai, in 1976, made the decision to step up a gear and “make Arai better”. After much experimentation, he put the focus on perfecting a smooth shell shape and consistent shell thickness. Arai are riders who set great store by race testing. The range consists of a variety of full-face, open-face and off-road helmets, plus some for car racers, all hand-made to the same high standards.
Why have a fancy graphic, especially on a helmet that’s inevitably going to get grubby when you do battle with the mix of drizzle, mist and flung-up road muck that characterises even the mildest of British winter rides? Because it’s good to feel proud of both your bike and your gear on every ride – to be the rider who stands out from the crowd and makes envious onlookers smile and start dreaming of the return of the sun in springtime.
The Arai RX-7V’s shell is carefully shaped to ‘glance off’ impacts where possible. But it isn’t just smooth, it’s also strong and flexible, so it can absorb impact energy when it needs to. It’s made of multiple layers of different materials, including a band of Super Fiber running across the helmet above the visor.
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EXPERT ADVICE
CHOOSING AND U Make sure you spend wisely, or you’ll regret it on every ride Want to get ahead? Get a good helmet It’s unarguably the single most important item of motorcycle kit, and it’s the one that needs replacing most frequently – at least once every five years, we’d recommend. Get it right and you’ll be comfortable and well protected. Get it wrong and you’ll be distracted, deafened and steamed up. For on-road use a good helmet should work well all year round, although for summer use some riders prefer a lid with the focus on ventilation.
Does it suit your specs?
Try loads on There’s no substitute for visiting as many shops (or show stands) as you can and trying on different styles and sizes. An increasing number of dealers – especially those selling high-end lids such as Arais, AGVs, Sharks and Shoeis – have been trained to help you find the lid that’s right for you. One manufacturer’s L will be another’s XL; and in some cases, the sizes will vary from model to model. It’s not just size that’s critical, the shape has to be right too. Make sure you’re trying these lids on while wearing your usual riding jacket – see what happens when you swivel your head to look over your shoulder. If the helmet has a drop-down sun visor, check that it’s compatible with your specs and your nose.
Full-face or flip-front?
For glasses wearers, it’s tempting when you’re trying on a load of helmets to save time and fuss by not putting on and taking off your glasses. But you need to be sure that your specs sit properly on your nose without putting any pressure on the side of your head.
A good full-face helmet will keep out the wind and rain, protect you from flying debris and minimise injury in a crash. They also tend to be well ventilated. The best flip-fronts offer all that, with the bonus of being able to drink, chat, smoke etc without taking your helmet off. But flip-fronts tend to be heavy, and some have sub-standard ventilation in front-down mode.
Look it up Once you’ve found the one that fits you best and suits your purpose, check that it’s got a decent rating in the government’s SHARP safety ratings (sharp. direct.gov.uk).
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USING A HELMET “Start using anti-mist solutions as soon as the autumn sets in”
Winterproof your helmet At this time of year you can pretty much guarantee that your visor and helmet will get dirty on every ride. Even when it’s not raining, there will be overnight moisture that creates a top layer of easily flung road filth that is irresistibly drawn to your lid. You can’t fight it, but you can be ready for it. Clean your helmet at the end of the day, so you’re not rushing the job in the morning, and ideally store the cleaned helmet somewhere warm and well ventilated or the padding will retain the previous day’s half-dried sweat and drool. Nice.
Sort out misting up
As well as being clean, your visor needs to be braced for warm breath on a cold day. Whether it’s hardware, such as a Pinlock or a breath deflector, or an anti-mist potion such as Fogtech spray, put it to use as soon as the autumn sets in.
The big issue that can arise with even the most wisely chosen helmet is misting up in cold and/or wet weather. Different solutions suit different riders. A coating of Fogtech (www.visorvision.co.uk) usually works. Fitting a Pinlock insert (www.racevisors.co.uk) will be the answer in many helmets. For some riders, the best approach is the Foggy Breathguard (www.respro.com), which diverts warm breath away from the visor.
Be ready and willing to clean your visor mid-journey. A strategically deployed finger can work, or it can easily add to the smearing. Best to stop and whip out your microfibre cloth and small squirter of Shift-It or SDoc100 visor cleaner. SDoc also do highly convenient and very effective visor and helmet wipes (which are good for several uses, so not as pricey as they might first appear).
What comes in the box? For your money, do you get a spare or dark visor? A Pinlock anti-mist insert? A breath guard? A beard cosy?
Visor Vision do excellent helmet care kits that include everything you need for the ‘big clean’ at the weekend and top-up cleans and anti-mist treatment in between, as well as Raincoat to keep rain rolling off your visor. The one thing missing is something that’s easy to provide yourself: cotton buds that can de-crud your vents, thus allowing the helmet the air it needs to keep you cool and your visor clear.
Useful addresses www.visorvision.co.uk shop.shift-it.co.uk www.sdoc100.co.uk
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GRIPS
H E AT E D G R I P S Whatever your bike, heated grips are now within reach Oxford HotGrips Premium Sports £79.99
www.oxfordproducts.com Optimised for grip and feedback, these grips are designed to help you feel safe and comfortable on your sportsbike as the weather moves from summer to autumn and winter, extending your riding season at minimal expense. They give you a choice of five heat levels, and the intelligent heat controller will turn the grips off to save your battery when the engine’s off. They’re easy to fit, easy to use and visually unintrusive.
Oxford HotGrips Premium Cruiser £99.99
www.oxfordproducts.com Designed specifically for the 1in diameter handlebars typically found on cruisers, these are finished with a chrome end cap to fit in with the chromed finish cruiser owners love. They are made from soft, grippy rubber for comfort and control. Oxford’s Intelligent Heat Controller has five heat levels and an auto-off mode to stop you flattening your battery.
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“They’re easy to fit, easy to use and visually unintrusive”
Oxford HotGrips Premium Adventure £79.99
www.oxfordproducts.com Designed to offer the same practical performance and easy fit as Oxford’s other HotGrips, these have the addition of a rubber pattern formulated specifically for the unique demands of adventure bikes. They’re shaped to provide the right mix of comfort, feel and feedback, whether you’re in the saddle for a long day’s road riding or standing on the footpegs for some off-road exploration.
Oxford HotGrips Premium Touring £79.99
www.oxfordproducts.com Formulated for long-distance comfort, these grips have been ergonomically engineered for maximum comfort and control,
with thicker rubber in areas of maximum wear, and a ribbing pattern that changes from rhombus for vibration absorption to diamond shaped when grip is the priority. There are five heated settings, and a battery saving mode that switches the grips off if you forget to. They’re easy to fit, with all the necessary hardware provided.
Oxford HotHands £69.99
www.oxfordproducts.com Heated over-grips are the quickest and simplest way to get heated grips on your bike. They don’t replace your regular grips – they go over the top. So simply wire them into your battery, fit them over your grips and you’re ready to go. They’re operated by a simple on-off switch. And when the weather improves, simply remove them and your bike is back to standard in just a few minutes.
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SHOPPING ADVICE
WHERE TO BUY THE BEST WINTER GEAR It’s no coincidence that the good shops are run by bikers
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OU’RE LUCKY if you live near a dealer that stocks a good variety of kit. Chances are you don’t. You have options: travel to a well stocked dealer; wait for one of the big shows, and hope they’ve got something suitable; or buy online. Shows can be cheap, but it’s easy to get swept up in bargainhunt fever and end up with something you don’t really want. A good real-world shop has the advantage of knowledgeable staff who can guide you towards the best gear, with the chance to try it on for size. There’s no doubting the huge
choice available online, sometimes at good prices. But you do need to be patient and prepared to send back kit that’s not quite right. Top tip: don’t wait until your current kit falls apart before you start thinking about replacing it. Do your homework, draw up a shortlist of the gear you’d ideally want, find out what the going rate is – and then you’ll know a genuine bargain when you see it. And when your gear starts looking a bit frayed and faded, don’t assume that it needs replacing. A lot of gear can be repaired or refurbished.
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Some of the best online and real-world shops SPORTSBIKESHOP www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk + a store in Lincolnshire
MOTO LEGENDS www.motolegends.com + a shop in Surrey
INFINITY www.infinitymotorcycles.com + branches nationwide
J+S www.jsaccessories.co.uk + branches nationwide
JTS www.jtsbikerclothing.com + a shop in Leicestershire
GHOST BIKES www.ghostbikes.com + a showroom in Lancashire
BIKE STOP www.bikestop.co.uk + a shop in Hertfordshire
GIRLSBIKE2 www.girlsbike2.com + a showroom in Hertfordshire
MOTO CENTRAL www.motocentral.co.uk + a showroom in Leicestershire
GET GEARED www.getgeared.co.uk + shops in Leeds and Surrey
ADVENTURE BIKE SHOP www.adventurebikeshop.co.uk + a shop in Suffolk
MSG BIKE GEAR www.msgbikegear.co.uk
FOWLERS www.fowlers.co.uk + a superb shop in Bristol
HARPERS www.harpers.eu + a shop in Essex
M&P www.mandp.co.uk + a superstore in Swansea
ON YER BIKE www.onyerbike.net + a shop in Buckinghamshire
MEGA MOTORCYCLE STORE www.megamotorcyclestore.co.uk + a huge superstore in Swindon
TOURATECH www.touratech.co.uk + a shop in South Wales LADY BIKER www.ladybiker.co.uk 34 |
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INTO GEAR www.intogear.net + a shop in Hull DEMON TWEEKS www.demon-tweeks.co.uk + a superstore in Wrexham
What the smart shopper looks for
service above and beyond your statutory rights? The label, or packaging, or online blurb, should spell this out.
Has it been tested? What does the label claim it will do? Do the manufacturers say it’s warm, or waterproof, or protective? For instance, some jackets are intended for dry-weather use only, but that may not be obvious at a glance. And is there a warranty promising a level of aftercare
The test standards for back protectors and body armour are well established. Look for a label that says EN 1621. Level 1 is good; Level 2 is better. For crash helmets, you need to look for the ECE 22.05 sticker. An ACU gold sticker says it’s good for track use. The government’s helmet testing scheme is called SHARP: visit sharp. direct.gov.uk for details.
How do you care for it? Can you detach helmet padding for machine washing? Can a jacket be tumble dried? Can replacement parts be bought when you wear through the toe sliders? Will you need to reproof it; and is a proofing spray provided?
What if it’s the wrong size? If you’re buying online, you must assume that you’ll order the wrong size. This shouldn’t be a problem, so long as you’ve checked that the sellers have a clear, simple returns policy.
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