HEATED CLOTHING G WORTH
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WINTER R HACK HACKS ACKS KS H Here’s all you need to know n w
Small Bikes
BIG MILES
PAGES OF TRAVEL & ADVENTURE
BMW G310GS December 2017 No. 687
Suzuki V-Strom 250
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PLUS:
TRACK TEST: Suzuki GSX-S1000F, Ducati Multistrada 1200 S & KTM 1290 Super Duke GT LAUNCH TEST: BMW K 1600 B Bagger CUSTOM SPECIAL: Royal Enfield Brass Rajah CLASSIC TEST: 1976 Suzuki GT550A TOURING TEST: Harley-Davidson Ultra Limited
HARLEY GETS COOL (AGAIN) The all-new Softail range in action
WHO SAYS SPORTS TOURERS ARE DEAD?
Sporty mile-munchers tested
Light at the end of the tunnel Mikko Nieminen
I
t always comes as a bit of a shock – that first autumn ride home from work when you realise that it’ll be dark by the time you get off the bike. The glimmer of headlights on the tarmac in front of you looks strangely unfamiliar after the sunny months and there’s no longer any need to whinge about the low sun in your eyes – the sun’s well on its way over the Atlantic by the time I’m riding home. But it’s not just the nights that are getting darker, there are some dark forces at play when it comes to riding bikes in our cities too. Years ago, when I lived in London, I used to love riding around town. The lights of Piccadilly Circus, the sounds of Soho and the smells of Chinatown were a heady mix of excitement and decadence, perfectly enjoyed on the saddle of my little old Yamaha RX-S 80 that I rode in the capital. It was a great bike in many respects; only 80cc, no bigger than a push bike, and a bit of an old banger – all of which made it perfect for London. It was small enough for the gaps in traffic, fast enough to keep up with cars and buses (although not ‘fast’ by any means), and if the traffic got really bad you could always just lift it up the kerb and push it around the blockage. And nobody would ever steal it as it wasn’t worth anything. I called it Sebastian, after a friend who moves at a glacial pace. I loved that bike! But these days, listening to the news you’d be excused for thinking that you need a stab vest, an acid-proof helmet and more chain locks than Houdini’s stage manager before you even contemplate venturing into the capital. And even if you decide to chance it and hope for the best you’ll soon have to pay for the privilege unless you ride a new bike. In a few years, if I want to take my 2005 Yamaha Fazer FZS 1000 to the Bike Shed for a cup of coffee for instance, I’ll be looking at a £12.50 bill just to ride into the
Ultra Low Emission Zone, or ULEZ for short (I know, catchy, right?) – that’s an expensive cuppa even by London standards. The same charge would have been demanded of poor old Sebastian too, a bike that was near-impossible to ever get stuck in a jam. This is, of course, bonkers. While the new, supposedly environmentally-friendly (no funky emissions cheating software here, no sir!) cars sit in traffic jams for ages, I will have filtered my way though on a bike, and reduced not only emissions, but also congestion and my blood pressure in the process. It’s a shame the powers that be don’t see it that way. I can only assume that none of them ride bikes, understand how motorcycles can bust congestion, or have much imagination. Or maybe they simply enjoy the impotent rage of sitting in a stationary car while bikes are whizzing past – after all, someone must do, otherwise everyone would ride bikes. But it’s not all doom and gloom. There’s light at the end of the tunnel, with the international motorcycle shows just around the corner and – hopefully – lots of exciting new machines being unveiled. But until the covers are pulled off the bikes only a handful of giddy engineers in white lab coats know what lies beneath those shapely sheets. Who knows, maybe this year we’ll finally see the rarest of all things – a bike that is so appealing to mid-rank civil servants in the traffic departments of councils around the UK that they will finally be tempted to ride a bike and realise how much sense they make. I reckon that’s our only hope. That, or Boris Johnson signing up for a British Superbike ride next season. I honestly don’t know which is more likely...
Mikko Nieminen, Acting Editor
Motorcycle Sport & Leisure’s contributors... Alan Cathcart Alan Cathcart has been writing about bikes for more than 30 years, and riding them for even longer. He’s regularly given the keys to factory prototypes and being on first name terms with the bosses of bike companies around the world allows him to bag many scoops.
Roland Brown Has ridden for 37 years and been a bike journalist for more than 30. At Bike he ended up as deputy editor before going freelance. An author of 11 books, as a racer he was Bemsee 1300 champion 1984 and raced UK F1, Superstock and Superbike, plus World F1 races.
Chris Moss Mossy has raced the Isle of Man TT, dispatched in London and ridden everything from CX500s to fullblown GP prototypes. A former chief motorcycle tester for Motorcycle News, the veteran journo admits he’s still loving two-wheeled life, and still learning.
Peter Henshaw Peter knows his stuff – he’s a former editor of this very magazine. Now a freelance journalist, he’s got the same enthusiasm for anything with wheels he’s had since he was a child. An all-year-round biker who doesn’t own a car, he has more than 40 books to his name.
Leon Mannings Doc Leon is a man on a mission to promote the rights and interests of motorcyclists in the corridors of power where policy is shaped. He advises various groups including MAG, and reveals what’s really going on behind the scenes...
www.mslmagazine.co.uk 3
Contents
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22 NEWS & OPINION 7 News The latest bikes, kit and technology
12 COMPETITION
Heated kit up for grabs
14 Latest waterproofs Get ready for the wet season
16 Your letters Our readers have their say
20 Subscription offer Subscribe now and save £££s
32 Leon Mannings
12
TOURING & ADVENTURE 69 Touring news More travel book goodness
70 Day ride Day and night ride
73 Richard Millington Music or mute?
74 Mid ride Four points France
78 Long ride The road to Casablanca
84 Ultra touring Harley-Davidson makes a great tourer
Moving on, moving forwards
42 Maynard Hershon Real motorcycles
54 The High Sider All the racers are kids
28 34 4 Motorcycle Sport & Leisure – established 1962
44
December 2017
TEST FLEET 90
Termers on track Track day at Donington is go!
98
Benelli TRK502 We can’t get Finchy off the Benelli
99
BMW R1200GS TE Exclusive Roger says goodbye to the GS
ROAD TESTS 08 BMW K 1600 B Bagger from Bavaria
22 BMW G 310 GS Mini-GS tested in the Pyrenees
28 Suzuki V-Strom 250 Small bike, big adventures
34 Softail Harleys New range of big twins
44 Sport tourers group test Latest sport tourers from Suzuki, KTM and Ducati
56 Custom cool Royal Enfield Brass Rajah
112 Classic test 1976 Suzuki GT550
100 Honda NC750S DCT It’s back to biking for Peter
101 Suzuki V-Strom 650 Mossy swaps steeds
KNOWLEDGE 62 IAM Masters programme How hard can it be?
102 Winter hacks Buying guide to a perfect winter bike
108 Tried & tested Crash test special
110 Kevin Cameron Technology changes everything
122 Tony Carter ‘Is it a good one? It is? I’ll have it!’
62
ACTING EDITOR: Mikko Nieminen: mnieminen:@mortons.co.uk ASSOCIATE EDITOR: Tony Carter: tcarter@mortons.co.uk SENIOR DESIGNER: Justin Blackamore DESIGNERS: Fran Lovely, Charlotte Turnbull PRODUCTION EDITOR: Dan Sharp PICTURE DESK: Paul Fincham, Jonathan Schofield, Angie Sisestean PUBLISHER: Dan Savage: asavage@mortons.co.uk GROUP KEY ACCOUNTS MANAGER: Steff Woodhouse: swoodhouse@mortons.co.uk 01507 529452 / 07786 334330 DIVISIONAL ADVERTISING TEAM LEADER: Zoe Thurling zthurling@mortons.co.uk 01507 529412 ADVERTISING SALES: Sam Lawson: slawson@mortons.co.uk 01507 529468 SUBSCRIPTION MANAGER: Paul Deacon: pdeacon@mortons.co.uk CIRCULATION MANAGER: Steve O’Hara: sohara@mortons.co.uk MARKETING MANAGER: Charlotte Park: cpark@mortons.co.uk COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR: Nigel Hole EDITORIAL ADDRESS: MSL Magazine, Media Centre, Morton Way, Horncastle, Lincolnshire LN9 6JR WEBSITE: www.mslmagazine.co.uk GENERAL QUERIES AND BACK ISSUES: 01507 529529 24 hr answerphone help@classicmagazines.co.uk www.classicmagazines.co.uk ARCHIVE ENQUIRIES: Jane Skayman jskayman@mortons.co.uk 01507 529423 SUBSCRIPTION: Full subscription rates (but see page 20 for offer): (12 months 12 issues, inc post and packing) – UK £50.40. Export rates are also available – see page 20 for more details. UK subscriptions are zero-rated for the purposes of Value Added Tax. SUBSCRIPTION AGENTS: Media Centre, Morton Way, Horncastle, Lincolnshire LN9 6JR CUSTOMER SERVICES NUMBER: 01507 529529 TELEPHONE LINES ARE OPEN: MONDAY-FRIDAY 8.30AM-7PM SATURDAY 8.30AM-12.30PM DISTRIBUTION: Marketforce UK Ltd, 5 Churchill Place, Canary Wharf, London E14 5HU. 0203 787 9001. PRINTED: William Gibbons & Sons, Wolverhampton The publisher accepts no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts or photographs. If you are sending material to us for publication, you are strongly advised to make copies and to include a stamped addressed envelope. Original material must be submitted and will be accepted solely on the basis that the author accepts the assessment of the publisher as to its commercial value. © Mortons Media Group Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage retrieval system without prior permission in writing from the publisher. ISSN: 1478-8390 MOTORCYCLE SPORT & LEISURE (USPS:001-522) is published monthly by Mortons Media Group Ltd, PO Box 99, Horncastle, Lincolnshire LN9 6LZ UK. USA subscriptions are $66 per year from Motorsport Publications LLC, 7164 Cty Rd N #441, Bancroft WI 54921. Periodical Postage is paid at Bancroft WI and additional entries. Postmaster: Send address changes to MOTORCYCLE SPORT & LEISURE, c/o Motorsport Publications LLC, 7164 Cty Rd N #441, Bancroft WI 54921. 715-572-4595 chris@ classicbikebooks.com
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NEW Need to know ◆ Your letters ◆ First rides
TWO NEW HERITAGE MODELS FROM MT TRIUM RIUMPH The Bobber Black and Speedmaster enter the Bonneville range for 2018.
One button cruise control.
O
ne of the first manufacturers to start pulling the covers off new 2018 bikes, Triumph has revealed the new Bonneville Bobber Black and Bonneville Speedmaster at a launch event at its factory in Hinckley. The Bonneville Bobber Black puts a darker stamp on the existing Bobber, but also adds performance updates, enabling Triumph to call this a whole new model. As many components as possible have been blacked out, from exhausts and wheel hubs to the gear lever and headlight rim. Performance-wise, the new model gets a 16in fat front wheel (as opposed to the 19in on the standard Bobber), chunkier Showa cartridge forks (47mm versus 41mm), twin brake discs at the front with Brembo calipers, a higher spec LED
headlight and single button cruise control as standard. The updates mean that the Bobber Black is 9.5kg heavier than the standard bike at 237.5kg. The 1200cc High Torque parallel twin engine remains unchanged, with the peak power at 76bhp and torque at 106Nm. The Bonneville Speedmaster is a comfy cruiser option for those who don’t want to go all the way down the Bobber road. It features the same 1200cc High Torque parallel twin engine (76bhp/106Nm) and even the same tune as the Bobber, but in a much more easy-going package, with the swept-back beach bars and feet-forward setup, together with the two seat arrangement. Two riding modes (Road and Rain – both giving full power), cruise control and a 12-litre tank add to its touring ability, and Triumph claims 172
miles from a tankful tankful. Compared to the 2015 Speedmaster, this is a giant leap forward with 42% more peak torque and 25% more peak power. Like the Bobber Black it gets 16in wheels and twin disc brakes at the front, but retains the slimmer 41mm KYB forks from the standard Bobber. The dry weight of the new Speedmaster is 245.5kg. There’s a host of accessories available including screens, exhausts, luggage and more. Essentially, both new models are about adding choice for customers already into the Bonneville range rather than revolutionising the line-up. Prices and availability will be announced at a later date. For further information: www.triumphmotorcycles.co.uk
Black, blacker, Bobber.
Stretch out on the Speedmaster.
Speedmaster accessory screen.
www.mslmagazine.co.uk 7
Test Ride
2018 BMW K 1600 B
UNEXPECTED ITEM IN THE BAGGER AREA BMW has turned its gargantuan K 1600 GT tourer into an American-style bagger. But how does it work on UK roads? WORDS: Mikko Nieminen PHOTOGRAPHY: Mark Manning
T
he new BMW K 1600 B bagger is big, brash and full of beans. Based on BMW’s heavy-duty tourer, the K 1600 GT, the Yankee-style bagger was originally revealed as the Concept 101 two years ago, and then confirmed as a production bike last year. Now it has landed in the UK, and you know what – for a bike that looks like it belongs on a dead-straight desert road, it handles pretty sweetly on the pot-holed and nadgery back lanes of Northampton.
LOTS TO CHOOSE FROM
From the front the bagger bears a striking resemblance to its sister, the K1600 GT because a lot of the components are shared. But cast your
eyes to the rear of the bike, and the German bagger starts to look a lot more American. The seat unit (750/780mm) and the whole rear profile are low, with the teardropshaped fixed panniers and massive silencers creating a stretched look. There are three different bagger variants to choose from: the standard B, which features traction control, semi-active suspension, ABS with dynamic brake light and costs £16,750; the middle option B SE gains an adaptive headlight, daytime running light, centrestand, hill start control and tyre pressure control for a total of £17,760; and the top of the range B LE trumps the others with added audio system and reverse gear, all for £19,405.
8 Motorcycle Sport & Leisure – established 1962
The bagger handles rough back roads surprisingly well.
LAUNCH Specification BMW K 1600 B (2018) Price: £16,750-£19,405 (depending on model) Engine: 1649cc, 6-cylinder inline, two overhead camshafts, four valves per cylinder, liquid-cooled Power: 160bhp (118 kW) @ 7750rpm Torque: 129lb-ft (175Nm) @ 5250rpm Frame: Aluminium bridge frame, load-bearing engine Suspension: BMW Motorrad Duolever, (R) BMW Motorrad Paralever, central spring strut Brakes: (F) 320mm twin disc brake, 4-piston fixed calipers, (R) 320mm single disc brake, 2-piston floating caliper. BMW Motorrad ABS. Seat height: 780mm Weight: 336kg (fully fuelled) Tank: 26.5 litres Contact: www.bmw-motorrad.co.uk
WHO’S A BIG BOY?
The fully-fuelled bagger weighs in at a whopping 336kg. But when you sit on the bike, take off the side stand and tilt it from side to side, it feels surprisingly light. If you’re not used to the BMW dash and menus, it takes a little while to familiarise yourself with all the options from suspension profile (choose from plush Cruise setup or slightly harder Road option) to the radio station in the inbuilt audio system. Once you’re used to the system it works well, with the scroll wheel and menu button on the left bar. The only slight annoyance for me was that because the scroll wheel is placed between the grip and the switchgear it makes using the indicators a bit more of a stretch.
ON THE MOVE
From the engine to the semi-active suspension, and the ride modes to the ABS brakes, everything on the bagger runs with an almost eerie efficiency and a complete lack of fuss. Cruising along, it feels more like steering a ship than riding a bike, as the big BMW seems to glide over the tarmac. I started with the semi-automatic ESA suspension in the Cruise mode, which is the softer of the two options, and the ride mode set to Road (the middle option between Rain and Dynamic), and felt instantly happy with the bike’s setup. The firmer Road setting is better for faster and sportier rides, but this is a cruiser after all, so I was happy taking it steady and enjoying the ride with Classic FM cranked up to eleven on the bike’s stereo. The ride modes control the immediacy of the twistgrip as well as the level of interference from traction
ABOVE: The styling is new, but most of the chassis is from the existing GT model. LEFT: The scroll-wheel makes using the extensive menus easy.
control and ABS, but to be honest I didn’t find a huge difference in the modes, so I spent most of the day in Road mode. The K 1600 B doesn’t drop into corners like a smaller more agile bike, but it allows fairly sharp cornering and keeps its line faithfully through the corner. The foot pegs and the feet-forward rest boards soon touch down if you ride into bends too hot, but it would take a lot of effort to really scrape them to the degree that it becomes scary. The riding position is upright with your feet either on the pegs or on the rest boards (I couldn’t decide which I preferred – both were comfortable).
RIGHT: The fixed panniers make the bagger useful as well as a bit of a looker.
ABOVE: The long silencers give the bagger a stretched look.
WHEN PUSH COMES TO SHOVE
The six-cylinder engine that powers the bagger is one sweet piece of engineering. The figures are impressive in their own right (160bhp and 129lb-ft), but it’s the smoothness of the power delivery that really makes this such a pleasant bike to ride: as you’d expect from a 1649cc engine, there’s plenty of pull across the rev range, and even with a ridiculously high gear selected at a slow speed, the bagger still pulls without hesitation. You couldn’t call the engine very characterful, but with a chassis like this, the predictable and smooth power is absolute bliss and adds to the luxurious feel of the bike. Braking is not super-sharp, but the heavy bike stops quickly with a good squeeze of the front brake lever. The levers, by the way, are excellent, with a very slick span-adjustment system that makes finding the right reach easy. Overall the bagger is a thoroughly pleasant bike to ride, and it handles with surprising elegance. It’s unlikely to be a huge seller in the UK simply because of its styling, and the fact that most potential punters will pick the GT or GTL models in favour of the bagger. But if you fancy something a bit different, with impressive comfort and performance levels, this is definitely a bike to try. www.mslmagazine.co.uk 9
Top Stories For the tinkers
RUGGED MOTORCYCLE TURNTABLE
• motorworks.co.uk | £135 The Rugged motorcycle turntable uses a 46cm ball bearing race and has a 42cm diameter tread-plate platform. Heat-treated replaceable feet keep the solid base off the ground so minor irregularities are not a problem. Overall height is only 25mm, so lifting your bike onto the stand is straightforward.
BIKETEK PRO LEVER GUARDS
• www.bikeit.co.uk | £39.99 These lever guards protect the brake and/or clutch lever from accidental activation. These bar end fitting lever guards feature adjustable guard blade for lever type variation, CNC machined guard mount, dual 13mm/18mm fitment, gunmetal/black anodised finish, laser-etched Biketek detail.
MSL receives MAG Media Award The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) has awarded Motorcycle Sport & Leisure magazine its annual Media Award. It’s official: MSL is an award-winning magazine! The MAG Media Award is presented to a journalist or a publication for informed, accurate, balanced and ethical reporting of issues related to motorcycling and motorcyclists. Andy Carrott, MAG vicepresident said: “I nominated Motorcycle Sport & Leisure as it is perhaps the only mainstream motorcycle magazine that has consistently reported on riders’ issues and has done so for many years. With the exception of custom magazines that have regularly featured riders’ issues, riders’ rights tend to only get to the fore when there is a degree of sensationalism involved. “MSL has, with Dr Leon Mannings’ column, various editorials, and other features covered political (with a small ‘p’) matters and riders’ issues in every issue.
“MSL definitely ticks the boxes to receive this award.” Mikko Nieminen, MSL acting editor, said: “This award is a testament to the talent and commitment of everyone who’s involved in putting the mag together each month. “We have a great team working on a high-quality product, and the best readers in
the world – we couldn’t be happier to receive this award!” The Motorcycle Action Group is the country’s leading organisation when it comes to representing riders’ interests. If you are interested in becoming a member, call 01926 844064. Single annual membership costs £27 (just over 50p per week).
Triumph factory visitor experience opens The doors of Triumph’s Hinckley factory have been opened to the public in the company’s latest venture. The new Factory Visitor Experience was launched on November 1, 2017, allowing fans of the iconic British brand to go behind the scenes and journey through 115 years of motorcycling history.
SILICONE HOSE KIT FOR APRILIA RSV4
• racebikebitz.com | £80.60 This five-piece Samco Sport silicone hose kit is claimed to improve the cooling system's efficiency, while also lowering the engine’s running temperatures. All hose kits are handmade and hand-inspected in the UK, with a manufacturer’s lifetime warranty and unlimited mileage.
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Based at the Triumph headquarters and UK manufacturing facilities in Hinckley, Leicestershire, the Factory Visitor Experience is free and showcases an exclusive collection of never-before-seen exhibits centred around the design, engineering and manufacture of Triumph’s most iconic models.
Among the most exciting exhibits will be the most famous movie star Triumph of all time: the Triumph Bonneville on which Steve McQueen attempted to jump the border fence in The Great Escape, which has been lovingly restored to working order. Elsewhere, the two-wheeled stars from road, track and screen include the very first Triumph No1 from 1902, the Speed Triple ridden by Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible 2 and the latest race engine prototype for the 2019 Moto2 championship. Visitors will be able to book a guided tour of the Hinckley factory, sample the Triumph 1902 café, and access the Triumph Shop. Admission to the Factory Visitor Experience is free of charge, while the 90-minute factory tour can be booked online in advance for £15 per person. For further information: www.triumphmotorcycles.co.uk
WIN WIN WIN WIN!
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CHANCES TO WIN KEIS HEATED CLOTHING
hinking about putting your bike away for the winter before it gets too cold? Think again! We have teamed up with the UK’s leading brand in heated motorcycle clothing, Keis Apparel, to bring you eight chances to win heated motorcycle clothing to keep you warm on your travels during the winter. The total prize fund is over £1000 and the best thing is that the competition is completely FREE to enter – all you need to do is go to the competitions page on the MSL website www.mslmagazine.co.uk/win and put your details in. Good luck!
PRIZE 1:
Keis Premium Heated Jacket V501, £199.99 Plus Keis Heat Controller, £34.99
KEIS HEATED JACKETS
The ultimate in heated clothing, Keis Heated Jackets deliver warmth across the back, kidneys, chest, arms and collar. The Premium Keis Heated Jacket features the very latest heat generation technology, using micro carbon fibre heat pads. It also features a breathable lightweight soft fabric shell and elasticated sides for maximum comfort. The Keis Heated Jacket can also be integrated with: Keis Gloves (inner or outer), Keis Trousers, and Keis Boot Insoles.
TECHNICAL DATA
PRIZE 2:
Voltage: 12V
Keis Comfort Heated Bodywarmer B101, £159.99 Plus Keis Heat Controller, £34.99
Approx. Current: 7A Typical Power: 85W
PRIZE 3:
Shell: 94% polyester, 6% Spandex
Keis Premium Heated Vest V501, £149.99 Plus Keis Heat Controller, £34.99
PRIZE 4:
Keis Comfort Heated Vest V106, £1 119.99 Plus Keis Heat Controller, £34.99
PRIZE 5:
Keis Heated Inner Gloves, £69.99
PRIZE 6:
Keis Heated Inner Gloves, £69.99
PRIZE 7:
Lining: 100% polyester
KEIS INSOLES
Keis Insoles provide up to 15 Watts of warmth to toes and soles and are available in four sizes: Small, Medium, Large and Extra Large, designed to be trimmed to provide a custom fit to your boots. The Keis Insoles are dual-powered, so they can be powered via the supplied on-bike wiring harness or with an optional Keis portable battery.
Keis Heated Insoles, £59.99
PRIZE 8:
Keis Heated Insoles, £59.99
KEIS BODYWARMER
The Keis Heated Bodywarmer features a heated collar, and larger heating panels front and back, to provide a greater spread of warmth. Also, like the Keis Heated Vest, the Keis Heated TECHNICAL DATA Bodywarmer has built-in Voltage: 12V connection plugs, so that you Approx. Current: 3.3A have the choice to power your Keis Gloves, Trousers and Boot Typical Power: 39W Shell: 94% polyester, 6% Spandex Insoles, directly from your Lining: 100% polyester primary garment.
12 Motorcycle Sport & Leisure – established 1962
TECHNICAL DATA Voltage: 12V Aprox. Current: 1.3A Typical Power: 15W Material: PU Foam
For more information on Keis Heated Apparel or to locate your nearest stockists, visit www.keisapparel.com or call 01256 704909.