GEAR LAB Avon Storm 3D X-M Tires Barkbusters Handguards Umberto Luce Crimson Boots

GEAR LAB

Avon Storm 3D X-M Tires

CONSTRUCTING A MOTORCYCLE TIRE is complicated, but the important aspects for me are durability and handling. How long will it last, and how does it feel when cornering?

Nobody can say how long a tire will last, because that depends on how the rider uses the throttle, the type of bike, and the road conditions. I needed a new set of rubber for my Honda ST1100, and Avon Tyres offers two models appropriate for my use. Both Spirit and Storm radials are in their sport-touring lineup, with the Spirit being sportier and the Storm 3D X-M lasting longer. I opted for the X-M, with those two letters standing for eXtra-Miles.

The 3D means Avon uses a 3-dimensional system in the way the tread pattern is arranged, said to improve stability and grip and to squeeze out water more effectively when riding on a rainy day. Avon also uses SRS (Super Rich Silica) in the tread to enhance grip.

The tires arrived wrapped in plastic, which I tore off and began looking at all the numbers and letters on the sidewalls. On the rear tire was writ: A-VBD (Advanced Variable Belt Density), meaning the wires which give the tire strength are closer together in the center of the tire, further apart on the sidewalls. This allows the footprint of the tire to expand as the bike leans into a curve. Stamped with a ZR rating, the Storm tires have a maximum speed capability that exceeds 149 mph.

Let’s get them on the wheels and try them out. Installation is handled by my local technician, Herb. Air hose on, 42 psi in the rear, 36 in the front, and I’m away on a 150-mile break-in ride. The next morning, I check the pressures, all is well, and then I’m off to the Big Sur highway, closed that day at a point halfway up the coast because of a minor landslide. That gives me 40 miles of trafficless curves.

Good grip, and pleasantly soft in the curves due to the malleable sidewalls, but certainly not too soft, and the ride is very comfortable. Good feel on the brakes, which are not ABS, with the tires gripping well when slowing fast. Over the next 1,000 miles I get some rain-riding in, and those 3D sipes do work well.

For a fun bit of history, the Avon India Rubber Co. Ltd. began in 1890 in the English town of Melksham, about 100 miles west of London, with the Avon River flowing through. In 1997, Avon was bought by the Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. of Findlay, Ohio. And in 2021, Cooper was bought by Goodyear. The mysteries of big business.

The front has an MSRP of $159.81, rear, $213.06, but there are always deals to be had out there. — CLEMENT SALVADORI

FOR MORE INFORMATION: SEE YOUR DEALER OR VISIT AVONMOTO.COM

Barkbusters Handguards

BARKBUSTERS HANDGUARDS were one of the first accessories I installed on my then-new 2009 BMW F 800 GS. Over the ensuing years they survived numerous drops, dumps, and branches, suffering only scratches. Most importantly, my hands and levers remained intact. Their performance on my GS made it a no-brainer to install them for up-front protection on our long-term Yamaha Ténéré 700.

Made by Rideworx in Australia, Barkbusters have been in production since 1984. There are two basic types, differentiated by their mounting systems: single-point mounts are designed for wind protection only, whereas two-point mounts provide impact protection as well. In either case, Barkbusters attach to the handlebar with a stout, heat-treated aluminum mount. The two-point style is reviewed here.

Bike-specific builds are available for all kinds of motos, from naked bikes to adventure machines. I chose the whole enchilada for the T7: aluminum backbones ($109.95), VPS plastic handguards with wind deflectors ($49.95), and skid plates for the backbones’ impact zones ($19.95), for an all-in price of $179.85. Of the several hand-fairing styles available, the VPS units come in the widest variety of colors. Their wind deflectors mount to the fairing with two screws and are easily removable for warmer rides.

Following the clear instructions, the installation took less than an hour. New bar-end weights replace the stock units, providing a mount for the 10mm x 20mm aluminum backbone at the end of the handlebar. The second mount is fixed by a clamp that attaches farther down the bar. Finding the sweet spot for the clamp on the handlebar and adjusting its angle took some fiddling, as did getting the left and right backbones aligned. But the most difficult part of the install was tightening the stainless-steel clamp screws, which wouldn’t be an issue with a bit more room to fit a wrench on the nuts. The skid plates go on the backbones before securing the bar ends. The final steps include snapping the hand fairings onto the backbones, securing each one with two screws, and fitting the wind deflectors.

In use, the Barkbusters don’t interfere with the levers or other controls; they just mind their own business while keeping the wind off your hands. But when branches lash at your knuckles or a get-off threatens your levers, they rise to the challenge. I’ve ridden mine into the ground more than once, saving my hand from getting pinched by the handlebar, or worse. Twelve years in, I’m still using Barkbusters. — ARDEN KYSELY

FOR MORE INFORMATION: SEE YOUR DEALER OR VISIT PACIFICPOWERSPORTS.COM

Long before I got into motorcycles, I was into boots. As a rebellious middleschooler, I stomped around in army-

Umberto Luce Crimson Boots dreds of miles of trails in the Appalachians, Rockies, and Sierra Nevada. Thirty years later, I still have them, and surplus combat boots. In high school, their Vibram soles have been replaced I bought a pair of Danner hiking boots multiple times. When it comes to boots, that have protected my feet over hun- as with other gear we depend on, quality is worth paying for. Umberto Luce boots first popped onto my radar last November at the IMS Outdoors show in Southern California. Peter Jones, Rider’s resident fashionista and shoe aficionado, and I both admired the stylish kicks, which look cool but are also designed to withstand the rigors of knocking about on motorcycles. We met Humberto Luce, the company founder and designer, who exudes energy and passion. In January, Peter and I ran into Humberto again at AIMExpo in Las Vegas, and this time he sent me home with a pair of Crimson boots. I tried them on at the show, and they were so comfortable that I kept them on. For the past few months, with rare exception, the Crimson boots have been on my feet both on and off the bike. Part of what makes them so comfortable is a flexible, durable sole made from a stack of leather, EVA (ethylenevinyl acetate), and an anti-slip vulcanized rubber with a lugged tread. The outer sole has a unique speckled pattern that Photos by Kevin Wing reminds me of a terrazzo floor. The full-grain leather upper has an oil-tanned suede finish and a butter-soft, odor-resistant interior. Getting in and out of the lace-up boots is made easy with a quick-entry side zipper. Protective features include CE-certified D3O ankle protection, secure lock stitching, and a frontal-impact-protection cap toe, all of which are tastefully incorporated into the stylish design of the boots. I’ve spent full days in the saddle of a motorcycle, as well as full days tromping around city streets and airports, with these boots on, and they’re among the most comfortable I’ve ever worn. You’ll have to pry them off my cold, dead feet. Umberto Luce Crimson boots are available in men’s sizes 7 to 13.5 and priced at $329. They’re made in small batches by craftsmen in León, Mexico. Check out the website for other styles. — GREG DREVENSTEDT

FOR MORE INFORMATION: VISIT UMBERTOLUCE.COM

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