Longterm Test: Continental Road Attack Tyres

Long termers: Continental Road Attack tyres


Fitted: End of August 2009


Mileage so far: 600 miles


Well, how do you write up a product as well respected and regarded as these tyres?


I suppose that's the reason why I decided to start 6GBR in so much as to make all of the reviews more personal and less mainstream, otherwise what's the point???

As for the Road Attacks, I don't think that I have ever known a tyre with such a varied personality. Continental have had these tyres available now for a good few years, and from day one they have received repeated praise by the motorcycle press, and have launched four other commercially available variants, Trail Attack (to suit adventure trail bikes), Sport Attack (lower tread depth version of the Road attack, with higher silica content), Race Attack (track use only, with Slick, Intermediate, Wet variants), and Race Attack Custom, (for custom bikes and cruisers).

Warp factor 9 Sulu.
Beamed up grin on the rider comes as standard with these little jazz pups.

As for the Road Attacks, I can tell you for a fact that they are the scariest tyres ever that I have ridden on un-scrubbed, displaying some very odd and unpredictable behavior for the first 10 or so miles. Even most other tyres will warn prior to actually doing anything of a sinister nature. However, after this short period of re-evaluating life insurance as a sensible family investment; their performance started to shine very quickly, enabling normal cornering angles to be achieved on still relatively shiny tyres. This is something that I would never generally suggest or recommend to anyone to do, but you just find yourself doing it without thinking consciously of still being on fresh road rubber; unlike most other tyres I have ever ridden on new, including the BT021 Bridgestones.

One half of the reason why is based on the fact that when looking at the unmounted tyres inside, it is quickly realised that the Road Attack is endowed with a very lightweight and supple carcase. This allows for the heightened comfort when on the move, and consequently the factory claimed 12% increased footprint sizing on the tarmac.

The other reason is the Silica enriched rubber the tread is made from is so soft and squidgy even cold, which means heavily shortened warm up times. Combined with the trademark Star Trek insignia tread pattern with its deep (8mm rear, 6mm front tread depth) swoopy grooves to allow good water dispersal at all cornering angles. This ensures a more secure road holding feel, which in turn boosts confidence no end, in various unlikely conditions which would be commonly associated with just dry riding conditions on most other tyres.

So there you have it then surely?

You guessed it, no; as the front tyre's crown profile (the cross sectional shape of the curved tread and carcase), is almost semi elliptical, or egg shaped, with steeply curved tread shoulders, This shaping allows the bike to naturally “fall” into corners without conscious provocation from the handlebars, and is very disconcerting at first with a bike that is used to being man handled round corners at speed. This sensation though soon becomes reassuring that the bike is doing what it wants to and IS gripping securely.

Being the very first wet ride proper today (well, Tuesday anyway), I was actually looking forward to whether the Conti's would find their ceiling of brilliance and literally come unstuck. Well actually, no. The tyres performed more than predictably well. And thats it; no drama's, just business as usual, allowing you to get on with enjoying the ride.

Well that was until I got off the bike after getting home and noticing a loud hissing noise coming from the back of the bike, then discovering a shard of long, thin flint hanging out from the tread.

Oh shit.

Sods law has had it's fun again, but luckily not in the middle of nowhere.

Unbelievable to think that having a puncture could make such a gunky mess, especially when you see how big the hole in the tyre is.

Well luckily (I thought), I've got some foam just to tide me over, only to find that the damage was too much for the foam to find and seal up completely, resulting in a puddle of foam on the driveway, and the rest of the contents flung all over the back of the bike when trying to set the foam off. Nice.

Temporary, er how about non existent tyre repair. Thanks to this muck I now have a driveway that looks like a mutated giant Seagull has taken a shit on it, and it has also covered the rear of the Versys convincingly with this goopy crap. Thanks.

Well lesson learned, now after three days of struggling without my bike, the tyre has now been plugged. Great.

As for the reason why I've ended up with a puncture so soon has got me thinking; is it because the tread layer is just too soft, allowing debris to just get pushed in and through the thin carcase? The plain and more than likely reason for it occurring is the crappy, gritty, and mucky lanes near to home, but I'm sure we'll see in time.


Conclusion.

For the money, there really is no comparison performance wise, with an almost supernatural dry and wet weather handling ability, with a very noticeable and pleasing difference in comfort when compared to other brands products of a similar price. I am concerned however with the wear rate and overall durability of these tyres, thanks to the incredible softness of the silica rich rubber compound used for the tread, and the remarkably supple carcasing which I am not convinced helps much to keep out nasties like flints and glass.

As they say, the proof is in the pudding, and so I'll keep you posted on the Road Attacks progress. Hopefully, the puncture just suffered was purely a freak instance, which can happen to any tyre given the right conditions.

Thanks Continental, I've got the grip, I now just don't want anymore punctures....

Ride safe,


Gordie.

Longtermers: Kawasaki Versys

Mileage: 18000 miles


Just a quick update on my partner in crime, as they say things come in three's, well to happily coin a phrase, “No shit Sherlock”.

The side stand first off has been stretching, (or bending, however you want to view this annoying phenomenon), allowing the bike to have a quite alarmingly unsteady looking rest angle, but in all fairness was sorted on warranty, only to have it start to happen again! I think this is a battle that won't be won, so I have resigned myself to the inevitable nature of a tall relatively heavy bike on a relatively lightweight prop.

Secondly, the front pipe decided to crack all the way around the point where the collector clamps up to the silencer and completely separate itself from the silencer/catalyst resulting in some amazing noises that I thought a relatively sober twin could produce in a million years. Asides the usual panic every time I saw a police car or bike, there was a definite improvement in top end power, plus the bike produced some amazing misfires and even more entertaining flame-outs when shutting down in the dark. This also has has been sorted on warranty as this is an apparently common weak spot in the original ER6's and Versys models. Although the next time it decides to let go I think I will change it for a complete system, such as the rather gorgeous Akropovic I've currently got my eye on.

Thirdly, the bike started to run hot on one cylinder, which I investigated, only to find that both of the coils are looking pretty nackered, plus a slight air leak on the offending cylinders lower inlet rubber mounting (just below the throttle body.). These coils are luckily also being honored by Kawasaki which is a relief, as these each are just within the order of £100 each!

Some shots of the old coils that came off the Versys, nice! The second and third pictures obviously show the cracks caused by water forcing it's way down past the sealing rubbers and boiling away on to the plastic insulating sleeves making them split. At roughly £100 A pop each, the new ones have been thoroughly packed out with the magic grease to stop moisture getting in and causing the same failures again. (Well at least for the time being anyway)

The other delights (yes, it is actually more than three things!), are the tyres which have been ditched thanks to being slightly on the wrong side of illegal, in favour of a pair of rather lovely looking, and more reasonably priced Continental Road Attacks. There should be a report coming up soon on these wee pup's, as well as a conclusive report on the last two sets of Bridgestone BT021 sports touring tyres, so keep your eyes peeled.

There is some silver lining to be had, as the bike has still got a considerably large proportion of it's original brake pads left, and I am still in love with the Versys, despite it's lack of top speed, and even bigger lack of long distance pillion comfort, and child scarring ugliness. (Not me smart arse, the bike!)

So, far so good? Well in short, mmm, ok I suppose, although I am disappointed with the durability of the ignition coils and the front pipe on the exhaust, as these items are usually seen to be high mileage items on most other bikes. The crux I suppose is the fact that the humble motorcycle is a modern machine with higher stresses imposed upon it than most average road vehicles, with the obvious exception of high performance sports cars. The problem also added to this is that my bike, like undoubtedly many others is used daily, all year round, and maybe justifies the shortened life of some componentry, but with correct maintenance surely should keep most annoying failures at bay?

Well hopefully soon before the winter sets in there should be at least a Fender Extender winging it's way if not also a rear hugger in readiness to catch the worst of the salty, muddy minging shite that has wreaked havoc on the underside of the Versys for the last two winters.

Something that I have always managed to find time to do is make sure all the exposed electrical connectors are packed with grease to seal out the damp and stop things fusing together. It always happens at some point that you need to get something electrical apart to get to something else, and to find that the connector has invariably corroded together, or alternatively have the connector or cables badly damaged after disassembly. Both are a pain in the arse if and when it happens. This can be put at bay if you are prepared to spend some time with a pot of grease (not copper based!), and go round popping each pair of connectors apart and smearing in a small blob of grease, and pushing them back together. Simple.

Just the job! Silkolene's workshop quality RG2 Red grease, is so flexible, and ideal for pretty much most bike jobs requiring a damn good lubing, (er, quite). Whatever you decide to use though, don't sod about, go for a tub of the stuff, tubes split, aren't as clean to use, and don't last as long as you don't get so much of it, stupid! Also being a funky colour doesn't really make a huge difference, except for being a funky colour, and oddly slimy, like grease is usually. GREAT.

The ER6F and N, and the Versys have their voltage rectifier/regulator unit positioned out in the open air, which is great for keeping the unit cooled (as it dissipates a lot of heat), but what is not so great is where exactly it's placed. Positioned below the riders seat and main frame of the bike, it is in the direct line of the spray off the rear tyre, and has no protection except for the sealing of the electrical connector between the main loom and the unit, which is pants. These can fail thanks to water working it's way past the connectors joint and shorting out between the copper connection pins eventually causing the unit to stop working altogether. Expensive, and annoying, as it means having a bike that will run until one day when literally nothing happens! Lovely.

Shots showing the view from the top of the bike looking down the left hand side, and clicking on the right hand picture gives away a glimpse of the greased and re-assembled connector.

Even this can be prevented to a reasonable degree by popping the big multi-pin connector apart, freeing it from the main unit, and smearing in a small quantity of grease in the units socket and carefully squeezing the two parts of the connector and electrical assembly back together. In the case of some bikes like the Versys, it is easier to remove the one (or in this case, two), 8 or 10mm AF mounting bolts and carefully remove the unit to the extent the connector can be more easily accessed and removed/reassembled.

Voila! Clicking on this picture shows close up the cleaned and re-assembled regulator/rectifier unit, and the unbelievable accuracy of the spray from the tyre in line with the connector. This is just one of the areas of most modern bikes that tend to suffer as many electrical components are literally placed anywhere if there is a shortage of room anywhere else.

It also allows the option to examine the unit from physical damage from road debris, and also a chance to give the unit's exterior a spring clean. Whilst doing this, pay attention to the finned heat sink, removing any mud or other accumulated muck, all of which can affect the units cooling ability, and shortening it's life eventually. For cleaning, an old toothbrush and a water repellent such as WD-40 work reasonably well, finishing off with drying the unit with a wipe down using a soft rag. The loom and the connector are also worth checking for damage prior to reconnection too, and a wipe down as well.

It's sounds like a pain the bum for sure, but for the sake of 30 minutes of fumbling and some elbow grease and care (don't go dropping the regulator/rectifier, as they are easily damaged!), you will have some peace of mind at least that you have helped prevent an inevitable failure. If you have no inclination for the dirtier side of owning a bike, (or worried about losing out on the next high profile hand modeling contract), then your local dealer can check this out, along with a recommended winter check over, for not a huge amount of money. At least you will benefit from having the knowledge that there is more chance of having a reliable bike over the winter months.

Ooh, get you.


Gordie.

Longtermers: Bridgestone BT021 Tyres

Longtermers: Bridgestone BT021 Tyres


Mileage total: 12500 miles (7000 1st set/5500 2nd set)


Contact: www.bridgestone.co.uk/tyres/motorcycles


Looking for a tyre that can offer outstanding grip, confidence inspiring cornering, good comfort, and higher than normal durability can be a gamble, as bikes are far more destructive and demanding to their tyres than their four wheeled counterparts. The BT020 sports touring tyre managed to set a benchmark for a quality sports touring tyre, and gained a respectable following allowing Bridgestone to eventually have the opportunity to supply various manufacturers to use it as an original equipment fitting.

To design and produce a successful replacement to this can only be imagined to be a major challenge, and the fruits of this challenge became the BT021.

Launched around 2 years ago, the BT021 has started to become a popular tyre to the extent, like it's predecessor, to be used as standard fitment to various new bikes including the new Kawasaki ER6-N and F, to full on sports tourers like the versatile continent crunching Yamaha FJR1300.

Bridgestone appear to have pulled all the stops to create a technically exciting specification, including ultra stiff polymer cord belts, quiter tread patterns, and a dual compound tread cap to allow enhanced grip when the bike is cornering. With all of these features plus a reasonably competitive pricing, is it all Bridgestone aspired these new tyres to be?

BT021 Bridgestone's sports-touring flagship tyre.
Notice the distinctive front tread, cut in such a way to reduce "Air Bumping".
(Sounds like some sort of French eighties dance craze, nice.)

I have owned two sets of these tyres over a 12500 mile period on my Kawasaki Versys, and I must say I am perplexed and disappointed with some aspects of these tyres and the way they behave.

I was initially impressed with the relatively low mileage to completely scrub these tyres in, which was achieved well within the usual 100-120 mile mark of most bigger bike tyres. The grip levels of these though after a couple of months started to vary, but not for the better.

During the colder months these would take a good few more miles than some others to develop enough heat to give a secure level of cornering grip, whereas the hotter summer months would have the tread overheating causing some alarming squirming, and odd slides.

Wet weather performance was predictable most of the time, but on more than a few occasions the steering would go dead, losing feedback and in turn knocking rider confidence.
The consequences of these “funny moments” has to be accepted to differ between different bikes and different riders reactions, but nevertheless an unwanted trait when least expected.

It's not all doom and gloom though, as the first set lasted a commendable 7000 miles, which on a bike that is used all year round, for commuting and holidays, and the odd fast Sunday ride; is very impressive for any bike tyre generally.

This first set were subjected to two extremely long motorway journeys which would have had most other tyres fairly much squared out to the wear bars. This only became apparent after the second of these journeys which was a 2800 mile round trip to Italy and back, and still had two months of constant use until they were deemed too knackered to carry on riding with.

However, the second set managed a hell of a lot less mileage, which was down to some experiments with lower air pressures to try and alleviate the odd wet weather handling quirks , but unfortunately this was not a complete fix.

With the pressures reduced from 36psi/42psi to the handbook pressures for my bike which are 32/36; the wet weather grip appeared to be far less skittery and more predictable. In the dry the bike felt more confidence inspiring at most speeds, although now the offset of all this improvement was now an overall increase of tread wear, which eventually took it's toll on the front, at an alarming rate.

The front tyre when it recently parted company with the bike was in a shocking state; both shoulders nearly flat to the extent that the cross section of the tyre's crown was egg shaped, whereas the rear was carrying all sorts of damage and sharps through having minimal tread depth.


Conclusion:


Value: 7/10
Performance: 7/10
Durability: 8/10

Overall: 7/10

Bridgestone have managed to produce a tyre which is kind of on a par with the BT020's, but I personally do not think that it surpasses them in most aspects of use except for comfort which is partly in thanks to it's belting and supple soft compound shoulders. Price wise the BT021's are out smarted by others, namely Continental's Road and Sport Attacks, which are cheaper and are more capable performance wise. Despite this, the BT021's are a jack of most trades, but unfortunately are master of none; in other words they are capable in an average kind of way, they perform reasonably, but don't expect them to be the best sports touring tyres you'll ever part cash over.


(sorry folks)


Gordie

Too Tyre-d to care?

1st September 2009
Too Tyre-d to care?


Well I know that everybody who has the combined joy's and heartaches of owning their beloved bikes will have at some time or will be very soon looking at the bewildering and annoying prospect of having to replace their tyres.

With the internet becoming a major retailing tool in it's own right, fierce pricing has made the once fairly simple task of sourcing tyres from a local shop a thing of the past.

Getting a good deal may not necessarily mean getting the best price, as for some being able to find a trustworthy company to deal with can be one of the biggest issues, as buying on the internet can be a nervy prospect. Passing card details on to individuals you may never meet or get to know in person is one of the main concerns, along with complex returns procedures /order discrepancies or the risk of not seeing items ever turn up are all worrying problems.

I myself last week had the joys of having to replace the cooked Bridgestone 021's on my bike, and like most people dread the gut wrenching feeling when having to spend out at a time when money is tight. Sods law has a lot to answer for.

After phoning around a few tyre shops and dealers, I turned to the internet, to, I suppose kill my curiosity of what deals are there to be potentially had if any, and what could be saved.

Having an idea of what tyre to go for in the first place is always a good start, and ultimately saves a huge amount of time. There is such a bewildering choice of manufacturers and products within them, which in turn adds even more arse-ache before you have even started.

It is so easy to see several similar tyre types with varying prices that you will have the potential to go awry very quickly and end up with a product that may not suit you or your bikes usage. For instance a set of Super Corsa 3 Pirelli's may not suit if you want good mileage for commuting, or stable behavior for your sports tourer, so seeing them cheap may not mean you will save any money in the long run, so beware of falling prey to false economy,whether it being financial or worse still a compromise to your safety.

Another shortfall which can be very easy to overlook, is finding an amazing price for what you are looking for, only to find that there is still carriage to be added, making the overall costs no cheaper than approaching the local bike shop AND paying the labour for having the sodding things fitted!

That is another very serious aspect to consider before trying to save some cash; is the question of who is going to fit the tyres to your machine.

We all like to save money whenever possible, but if you are not prepared to fit your own rubber then you will need help from someone who does know how to fit them properly, as the results if bodged don't even bear thinking about.

If you are at a loss and can only have the local bike shop to do this, then check first if they will object to fitting tyres supplied from elsewhere, as later on at some point you can guarantee that you will be glad of their help in a situation where only they can help.

If you are the sort that find workshop tools and skin disorders exciting, then this is the most worthy route to saving a respectable amount of money, not just on the tyres you have just bought, but also saving on having to pay someone else to fit them. Result!

However, back to the matter in hand; after about two hours of boring myself senseless on the computer checking out various tyre and bike sites to get some prices I stumbled across www.sticky-stuff.co.uk.

Like most sites, there is the promise advertised of deals on pairs of tyres, but Sticky Stuff goes one further, by offering triple deals too which is ideal if your bike has the habit of lunching on one tyre more than the other, which can be the case if you do a lot of fast road or track day rides.

Looking in further detail, it is a very impressive site, with a simple layout, and a good selection of tyres and respective manufacturers to choose from, allowing you to search via manufacturer, tyre /rim sizing, or by pairs or triple deals. This search feature allows the rapid narrowing down to a specific product relatively painless.

It must be noted that the site does have sub menus which are well displayed to one side, so in turn easy to access for double checking the carriage charges (up to 10kg FREE OF CHARGE-NEXT DAY UK MAINLAND DELIVERY), as well as returns and dispute procedures. Adding to this the ability to place an order over the phone with the shops owner, if you are a bit nervy of using the secure sage banking site to make your card payments (which by the way was incredibly easy and painless to use).

I will say though that I would always recommend to either phone or e-mail the vendor concerned (not all on line stores have a easily accessible phone number) to double check the weight of the complete order (to ascertain relevant carriage costs), as well as stock availability.

Just a note for buying on-line: if you have the option of paying by credit card, then do so, as the card will insure the purchase against possible losses, such as plain theft by a bogus vendor or other discrepancies or damages relating to that particular purchase.

As for Sticky Stuff; after looking through the selection on offer and finding a pair deal on the intended set I was after, I completed the order within about five minutes, had the payment and dispatch details confirmed via e-mail within ten minutes later. added reassurance is the order tracking facility which is available if you register you personal details (securely) which adds another five minutes to the overall time spent, which is worthwhile if there is an item out of stock for example.

Stocking a product like tyres can be costly and a imminent nightmare, so Sticky Stuff tends to have most tyre orders dispatched directly from the manufacturer/distributor to customer to lessen the chance of a customer order shortfall.

Errors are always a possibility, and can occur, which was the case in this instance with myself making the fatal (or so I thought) error of ordering the wrong front tyre profile (120/60/ZR17 instead of 120/70/ZR17). After receiving the tyres (WITHIN 24 HOURS!), I noticed the error and e-mailed and phoned to confirm the problem which was dealt with minimum fuss and an exchange taking place within another 24 hours.

To think of some of the things that do take place these days, card cloning, fraud, and general mistrust, mostly thanks to the internet's unstable and abused reputation; it is refreshing that there are individuals that are genuine and offer a quality of service that far exceeds some of the most respected high street concerns.

Just out of interest, the tyre selection I went for was Continental's ever respected road attack radials, with the 120/70/ZR17 – 160/60/ZR17 pairing coming in at £141.99 loose, (WHICH COINCEDENTALY WAS THE CHEAPEST PRICE I FOUND) with the most expensive competitor online being nearly £60 more expensive.

If you have the time to look, and can either get the tyres fitted yourself or by someone for a minimal (or reasonable) sum, then there are savings to be had.

Just remember that tubeless tyres must be fitted by a suitably trained fitter for obvious safety reasons. Cutting costs is one thing, cutting corners can be fatal, so be warned.

Sticky Stuff's website can be found on www.sticky-stuff.co.uk, and Mick the proprietor can be phoned on: 01952 502 703, if you are unnecessarily wary of buying on-line from the site. As for the tyres, there will be a longtermers report coming up soon, and also in the very distant future too, ( if they are as durable as hoped!) to see how they have faired.

In the meantime, happy shopping......


How good is Sticky Stuff?

Site navigation and general ease of use: 9/10

Factual access (carriage details/refunds etc) 9/10

Stock availability: 10/10

Site Security (Taking Payments etc) 10/10

Customer service/order queries: 100/10

Delivery service: 10/10 (24 hour courier service)

Conclusion: Trustworthy, friendly service, extensive selection of competitively priced goods, and exceeded initial expectations for a first time internet buying experience. Thoroughly recommended!

Sunny Sundays, worth getting up for, the aftermath...

Just a few pictures to show off the extent of the insect slaying mission carried out on the May Tenterden to Brighton ride-out.

It must also be mentioned that it did take a week of contemplation to get the courage together to clean off this mess, which as feared did take quite a while to get off!

Mirror bashers, the bolt on miracle for bikes, just think all that crap would have been on my gloves mmm, nice.

That's all very well, but look at the rest of it, squashed and baked on bugs, and I thought trying to keep a bike clean during the winter was a hassle......

If you look closely at just under the seat, there is some exposed frame, which is the area that would be covered by the busted plastic.

I mentioned in the first ride out post about a small trim panel that had decided to give up the ghost and start flapping around. Well after getting the bike home I popped the offending plastic off completely, which is only a two minute job with two fixings holding it to the frame. The two separated pieces where cleaned up and re-bonded as they were a clean break with a two part industrial super glue. This was used as the moulding is made from ABS, which is a plastic used greatly for it's ability to be moulded easily, but is also renowned for it's ability to refuse to bond with most glues.

Photos showing the inside and outside of the newly bonded panel clearly highlighted by the excess glue and painfully parted editors fingertips, ouch!

Once the two pieces were stuck together, and myself generously donating most of the skin from both fingers and thumbs, the panel was left overnight to cure completely, (finish bonding and harden). I then polished off the excess glue residue with 800 grade wet and dry, and two minutes simply remounting, and voila!

All done, just waiting for final polishing, and then job done. All ready for the next time something decides to break it, hopefully not my arse like last time.

News May 2009

13th May 2009


YAMAHA PRESENTS A TOUGH CHOICE


Yamaha has produced some very cool 125s in its time, but this year’s
line-up of Yamaha 125cc motorcycles could be considered the best yet.
Customers now have a bit of a choice to make. Having decided to buy a 125
Yamaha, they then have to choose between a great 0% finance* deal OR free
insurance* (with heavily subsidised upgrades) on a selection of these great
Yamaha 125's.

WR125, Ideal for riding relentlessly around in circles round arty looking car parks, or riding flat out round run down war zones, Fantastic.

The choice of models ranges from the top spec WR125s, the award winning
YZF-R125 or the two versions of the commuter’s choice, the YBR125.

The easy bit is to get down to your local authorised Yamaha dealer ? the
tough choice is deciding which great option you should take advantage of to
start your Yamaha experience!

Full terms and conditions plus details of authorised Yamaha dealers can be
found at www.yamaha-motor.co.uk



11th May 2009


BMW Motorrad unveils new S 1000 RR (where's the key's for this Bimmer)

New production supersport motorcycle has highest in-class power to weight ratio

Just nipping to the offy for some cheap Sherry and some Dorito's, ah yeah!!!

BMW Motorrad’s highly-anticipated new entrant in the supersport motorcycle sector made its debut at last weekend’s Monza Italy round of the World Superbike Championship. Europe’s largest motorcycle manufacturer unveiled its new S 1000 RR model, the production version of its World Superbike racer.

After several years of planning, design and development, BMW Motorrad has reached a new level in the world of sports machinery with the S 1000 RR. The power-to-weight ratio, along with optional Race ABS and DTC Dynamic Traction Control technologies, have all contributed to attaining a new benchmark in terms of riding dynamics, safety and innovation.

Despite being as silver as a sardine, it's packed to the gills with technological goodness, and not tomato sauce, although I'm sure it's not as good to eat; can't please everybody can you.

The race version of the motorcycle was unveiled at the Intermot international motorcycle show in October, 2008 and has been campaigned by Troy Corser and Ruben Xaus in this year’s Superbike World Championship.

The new S 1000 RR will be available in four finishes: Mineral silver metallic, Acid Green metallic, Thunder Grey metallic and – based on the BMW Motorrad racing colours - Alpine White/Lupine Blue/Magma Red.

Another BMW first, side stand free bike levitation technology.

The serial production machine BMW S 1000 RR is already available to order in BMW Motorrad dealerships with deliveries expected at the end of the year following its 5th of December launch.
The price of the S 1000 RR in the UK has yet to be fixed but it will be priced competitively within the 1000 cc supersport sector.


11th May 2009


SUZUKI LAUNCH NEW SECURITY MARKING SYSTEM


Suzuki GB has launched a new motorcycle and scooter security marking and registration system, in conjunction with makers Retainagroup, offering an easy to apply and permanent anti-theft solution for all Suzuki owners.

Available through all authorised Suzuki dealers, and with a one-off fitted retail price of just £49.00 inc VAT (with no annual membership fee), the Retainagroup system enables anyone to check a bike's identity, making it the most effective system of its type on the market.

Talking about the new system, was Suzuki GB's Michael Le-Flay, who commented, "This new anti-theft marking and registration system offers exceptional value and protection. With theft still a major concern for all motorcycle and scooter owners, not to mention the cost of insurance, we believe this new system offers additional peace of mind. WIth a combination of overt and covert markings, the Retainagroup system is a great deterrent, but should the unthinkable happen offers owners a much greater chance of recovery."

With a 24 hour telephone number provided for vehicle checks, anyone can check a bikes identity, be it the police or potential buyers of a used machine. Receiving data from the Police National Computer on a daily basis, the system is also the only one of its kind to meet the latest Thatcham TQA accreditation too, and for owners who insure through Suzuki's own scheme at Express Insurance, a further 3% discount on their insurance premium is available.

The system is also applicable to non registered off-road machines too.

For more information on the system visit your local authorised Suzuki dealer.



8th May 2009


Bigger, Better and Bikes For Brindley Honda

Brindley Honda has moved its Wolverhampton operation to an all-new site in the city, and is now selling motorcycles as well as cars.

The successful family-owned dealer group has relocated from its historic base at Codsall, to a state-of-the-art facility on the corner of West Street and Stafford Road.

And for the first time, Brindley Honda will be selling Honda’s diverse range of motorcycles, from its smaller capacity ‘twist-and-go’ scooters and UK’s best seller CBF125 geared motorcycle, through to larger machines across the whole naked, adventure, touring, cruiser and sports bike categories. The new showroom has space for around 50 new and used machines, plus a massive clothing, helmet and accessories store.

Brindley Honda can be found at West Street (off Stafford Road - A449), Wolverhampton, West Midlands WV10 6HT, online at www.brindley-honda.co.uk or by calling 01902 393220 for sales, servicing, parts and accessories, or to book a test ride or drive of one of Honda’s range of motorcycles and cars.



8th May 2009


YAMAHA HOT WHEELS, HOT DEALS FINANCE ANNOUNCED


The temperature is rising and Yamaha are today, following that theme with
the hottest deals around.

Until the end of June, Yamaha are offering some hot finance deals on some
of the best bikes available.

From the amazing YZF-R6 through the adventure class XT660Z Tenere to the
ultimate sport-tourer FJR1300A, with 3 years to pay, no interest and only
£99 deposit, you can make sure that you are armed with a brand new Yamaha to
make the best of the BBQ Summer we are just about to experience.

For full terms and conditions and more details, visit an authorised Yamaha
dealer or click onto their website at: www.yamaha-motor.co.uk.

Models included in the promotion are: YZF-R6- FZ6 S2- FZ6 S2 Fazer- FZ6 S2
Fazer ABS- FZ1-FZ1 ABS - FZ1 Fazer - FZ1 Fazer ABS- XT660Z Tenere - XT660X-
XT660R- FJR1300A- XJR1300- XVS950- XVS1300A- XV1900



7th May 2009


ISDE 2009 - Ready to Ride Orange in Portugal?

KTM's impressive support tent, a must for any large back garden

With the promise of a full blown summer and the joys of the great outdoors calling, its time to start planning for the International Six Days Enduro (ISDE), the oldest 'off road' motorcycle event on the FIM calendar.

Being held in and around Figueria da Foz on the central coast of Portugal from October 12-17, 2009, this annual event, eagerly awaited by all Enduro enthusiasts, is a unique opportunity to test personal riding skills against the elements and nature while enjoying six days of unparalleled camaraderie with like-minded people.

The perfect machine for the ISDE

KTM is once again a partner of this classic event that was first held in 1913 and it goes without saying that all KTM Six Days participants have the opportunity to either buy or hire the ideal, made-to-measure machine. Based on the new 2010 EXC model series, the special Six Days edition is equipped with a whole range of special features for this incomparable event.

KTM support staff alongside some of last years lucky participants

Rental Bikes, Spare Parts and Special Race Service

Rental bikes lined up ready for action, not Acton, thats a place, silly.

Racing is in the blood and is the shared passion of all those with a relationship to the Orange cult-brand, Austrian made machines. That's why in 2009, KTM offers again full support to riders who want to share this unique experience. KTM, together with KTM Spain is offering exclusive leasing of the KTM EXC Six Days motorcycle. All KTM riders will also be able to take advantage of the KTM spare parts service. Again this year KTM and KTM Spain are also offering customers a limited number of race service packages to ensure participants can get down to the serious business of riding, competing and having fun in a great atmosphere.

KTM Paddock and Technical Training

KTM technicians ponder the likelyhood of fitting spokeydokeys for a laugh, while elsewhere we are witness to the worlds first musical bike contest

Orange will be again the dominant colour for the KTM Paddock presence in Portugal for the official KTM Support Team, KTM's professional factory team and KTM Spain. Here KTM writes "Service" with a capital "S" to ensure all orange riders get the maximum pleasure and satisfaction out of their IDSE experience.

KTM Spare parts counter: "Some 'bar tassles and a quater pound of wine gums please" Service guy, "!Que!?"

In addition, the KTM Support Team will be offering a technical workshop with the professional mechanics on the rest day before the official start of the race. This follows on from the successful introduction of this activity in Serres, Greece at the 2008 ISDE. KTM riders will be shown how to get the best out of their bikes over the entire six days and as well as tips on fundamental changing of tyres and air filters etc., there will also be advice on how best to handle each of the race stages.

Be one of the KTM Toughest Club Riders

KTM has always understood that committed riding takes heart and guts. That is why there is going to be an additional unofficial competition to find the six KTM Toughest Club Riders. At the conclusion of the race, each of the top riders will be presented with a unique award by the KTM factory riders, this item is not purchaseable!


7th May 2009


SUZUKI LAUNCH WHITE-HOT LIMITED RUN RANGE: OUCH!


Suzuki GB has launched a limited run of white colour scheme models this month, with new variants of the GSX-R1000, M1800R and Bandit 1250SA arriving at UK dealers now.

GSXR-1000: striking looks for an already striking bike

Headlining the limited range is the all-new GSX-R1000. Taking its first global race win in the UK earlier this season, where Sylvain Guintoli piloted his Worx Crescent Suzuki to victory in the British Superbike Championship, the new white colour version of the 2009 model features a glass splash white and silver paint scheme with gold wheels. Limited to just 100 machines, this model is available at the normal recommended retail price of £9,800.

M1800R: wolf in sheeps colouring

Featuring GSX-R technology, the M1800R offers a fresh alternative to the more traditional cruiser offerings, but the new 'Z' model goes one step further, bringing a glass splash white colour scheme, with distinctive blue stripe to the model. With a recommended retail price of £9,500, only 50 versions will be available in the UK.

Bandit 1250SA: a well trusted favourite, just don't get it dirty

Bringing white to Suzuki's street bike range is the new Bandit 1250SA 'Z'. Featuring a pearl mirage white paint scheme, with revised graphics and metallic silver wheels, the new 1250 will be available for £6,300, with 100 examples coming to the UK.

Suzuki GB sales and marketing director, David Taylor, commented, "These limited run models offer the unusual combination of exclusivity and value. With the GSX-R1000 offered at the same recommended retail price as the standard colours, and a small premium on the Intruder and Bandit, we expect demand to far outstretch supply."

With such limited availability, interested customers should contact their local authorised Suzuki dealer without delay. Visit www.suzuki.co.uk for more model information.

Editors note: What about brown, eliminate cleaning forever...


6th May 2009


FINE VISION – THE NEW ANTI-FOG VISOR INSERT FROM PHOENIX

Keep your visor down all year round with Fine Vision

Fine Vision is a new range of anti-fogging motorcycle visor inserts from Phoenix Distribution.

Made from optical grade polycarbonate, the adhesive fog-free lens comes in a choice of clear or photochromatic versions in either a universal fit for most visors or an Arai-specific version, designed to flow round the eyebrow vents fitted to the visor.

Clear universal insert shown fitted

Starting at £9.99 and manufactured on behalf of Phoenix by Pinlock – the market leader in anti-fog visor systems – Fine Vision offers built-in protection from harmful UV (ultraviolet) rays as well as maintaining a fog-free visor, whatever the weather.

Arai specific Photochromatic insert shown fitted to the visor , ready to go

For all-year riders, the Photochromatic* Fine Vision insert offers further versatility thanks to light reactive technology. Depending on the brightness, the insert changes from clear to a subtle shade of green right through to a deeper shade of blue within seconds, significantly reducing glare.

Simple to fit and maintenance free, Fine Vision can be cleaned using lukewarm soapy water and a soft cloth.

Classic Universal (clear, 0.1mm film) - £9.99

Premier Universal (clear, 0.175mm film) - £15.65

Premier Arai (clear, 0.175mm film) - £15.65

Photochromatic Arai* (0.75mm film) - £29.49

Photochromatic Universal* (0.75mm film) - £29.49

* Recommended for track use only


For more information or to find your nearest dealer, visit www.phoenixnw.co.uk or call 01782 569800.


4th May 2009


Alpinestars latest spring/summer 2009 releases...

Product Name- Dual Air Jacket: SRP £179.95

Category – Sport Riding Textile Apparel

They say – The Dual Air is designed to offer riders a jacket that will work well through spring and summer, when you may need an additional liner for morning or evening riding with effective ventilation in the day. The Dual Air also features a special windbreaker and water resistant over jacket stored in a safe pocket positioned in the lower back to give true riding convenience and adaptability.

Product Name – Harlem Air Boot- SRP £149.95

Category – Touring Boot

They say – A stylish boot made using a combination of full grain leather and mesh, featuring integrated ankle, heel and toe protection, providing the rider with excellent levels of performance and mobility. Excellent breathability and distinctive design features mark the Harlem Air Boot as a natural for the heat of the city streets.


1st May 2009


BMW's new F800R official UK release date revealed!!!


Motorrad Dealerships across the country will be celebrating the official launch of the latest model from BMW Motorrad, when Europe’s largest motorcycle manufacturer unveils the most desirable, distinctive and agile F 800 R on Saturday 09 May 2009.

During the course of ‘The Thrill Seekers Convention’ launch weekend, customers will have the opportunity to book a test ride on the brand new motorcycle – plus the chance to win a copy of stunt rider Chris Pfeiffer’s new DVD. Refreshments and other special offers will also be on offer at selected dealerships in the UK.

This exciting and sporty new roadster, a naked BMW bike in the mid-market segment, has been designed to deliver uncompromising handling, agility and steering precision, as well as maximum riding enjoyment. Alongside the K 1300 R, this is the second BMW roadster to be launched this year.

This latest addition to the BMW Motorrad range comes fitted with a parallel twin engine with 4-valve technology and a capacity of 798 cc - similar to the F 800 S, but with power uprated to 87hp. The parallel twin cylinder engine with its strong pulling power, spontaneous response and low fuel consumption has received rave reviews in the F 800 S and F 800 GS models.

The F 800 R has already gained fame and an outstanding reputation with Chris Pfeiffer, the indoor Stunt Riding World Champion. Pfeiffer pushed this motorcycle to its limits on his way claiming his third consecutive Indoor stunt riding world title earlier this year.

The new BMW F 800 R available in Dealerships as of 09 May

The F 800 R comes in alpine white, white aluminium or orange and is priced at £5,925 on-the road.

To locate your local dealer, or for more information on the BMW Motorrad range of Motorcycles, Rider Equipment or Accessories, please visit www.bmw-motorrad.co.uk or call our customer service line on 0800 777 155.


1st May 2009

SUZUKI LAUNCH VAST INTEREST FREE FINANCE OFFER ON 14 MODELS

Suzuki GB has launched one of its biggest ever finance campaigns this month, as the Japanese manufacturer offers no less than 14 new models with 0% APR finance.

With a vast choice of models, a small deposit and low payments, customer's literally have the best of both worlds. Available in the promotion, with just a £500 deposit are the GSX-R600 and 750 models, all Bandit 1250 models, V-Strom 650 variants, as well as the GSX650F, SV650 Sport and DR125SM.

Talking about the promotion, Suzuki GB's general manager, sales, Paul de Lusignan, commented, "This campaign represents one of our biggest finance offers ever. With 14 different models included, a low deposit of just £500 and real-world repayment options, like the GSX-R600 at just over £200 a month, this is one of our most exciting and exceptional offers to date."

Models included in the promotion are: GSX-R750, GSX-R600 Bruce Anstey, GSX-R600, Bandit 1250SA Grand Touring, Bandit 1250 SAZ, Bandit 1250SA, Bandit 1250 Streetfighter, Bandit 1250, V-Strom 650A Grand Touring, V-Strom 650A, V-Strom 650X, GSX650F, SV650 Sport, DR125SM.
As well as the interest free offer, Suzuki authorised dealers are able to offer bespoke finance terms to suit individual customer requirements, with special low rate offers too.


Typical Example:

Model: GSX-R600

On the road price: £7,703.00

Deposit: £500.00

Advance: £7,203.00

35 Payments of: £200.08

Final Payment: £200.20

Total Amount Payable: £7,703.00 APR

Typical: 0.0%


Model: DR125SM

On the road price: £2,670.00

Deposit: £500

Advance: £2,170.00

35 Payments of: £60.27

Final Payment: £60.55

Total Amount Payable: £2,670.00

APR Typical: 0.0%


For further information on either of these offers, please contact your local authorised Suzuki dealer or visit www.suzuki.co.uk

Sunny Sundays, worth getting up for.....

Unlike some people that always look like they have their weekends completely at their leisure, I like many others have very limited time to be off riding for the pleasure of it.

It all started when I managed to catch up with a good friend of mine who I had not seen for a good 4-5 months since he has moved jobs, to become a mechanic at a bike shop at Heathfield, East Sussex. As these things go, we got around to sorting out a sunday ride, regardless of the weather and out of sheer desparation to ride our bikes for the fun of it, rather than just to work and back.

The following week came and went, and was excited like a kid at christmas by the time Sunday came along, sad I know, but was looking forward to riding wherever and in good company.

As with most things for most people these days, time really has become a precious comodity with work and family commitments, so even things like cleaning the bike and checking it over became something that had to be sorted out on the morning I was due to go out with my mate. I foolishly had got up too late, so I ended up leaving the cleaning for another day, but had enough time to check the bike over, get the oil topped up, and one last cuppa and a ciggie and I was off to meet up at my mate John's house.

The journey up to the town where he lives is a good ride, albeit there was traffic, but the A28 from Ashford is a quick road, with some good clear overtaking spots, but gets bendy as you get closer to Tenterden making quick riding more challenging with the regular sleepy Sunday drivers stuck in a part of the road where for the love of God you just cannot get past.

When I got to my mates house, I got the first glimpse of his bike, a 2002 GSX-R600, an ongoing running restoration that he picked up from the shop where he works, in a tired and sorry looking state thanks to the first owner using it for a year round hack, and despite having a full dealer history was apparently incredibly dirty. Since having the bike in his charge, he has completed roughly 75% of the restoration and repair work so far, as well as a major service and new tyres. The plastics are all original, and are completely immaculate, which for a sports bike is a miracle in it's self, as they usually get scratches and pits from all the crap flying around in the hot weather. The main thing though that struck me was the engine, smooth like it was just from the crate no rattles or odd noises like you sometimes get with the 4 cylinder Suzuki's at high mileage, just crisp and smoke free.

I must admit I was worried about the pace we were about to embark on, as my mate John doesn't exactly hang around, and with my lack of two cylinders and at least 40 horsepower, was a little bit concerned about keeping up on open stretches of road. Surprisingly, I was shocked at the pace that my Versys was managing to run at, and keep well matched cornering speeds too.

The one thing, asides the obvious lack of top end power is the braking power available, but with progressive lever control, the braking was acceptable, but certainly not on a par with the stoppers on the GSX-R. This was offset though by the dry cornering grip the setup on the my Versys will allow, meaning that I could enter and hold the same corner speeds as the gixxer, but had to be ready with third and a generous dose of throttle to keep the pace coming out of the exits.

John has fitted a set of BT014 Bridgestones which when we left his house were still just starting to scrub in, with generous chicken strips on the front and rear. By the time we had covered most of the lanes and villages on our way to Brighton he had seen off most of the crap from the tyre's shoulders to about 3mm off of each outside edge and were nice and sticky. Another thing that was spot on was the weather, which was loverly, and a pain, as amassed insect culling was in abundance for the whole journey. Whilst looking interesting to say the least as a micro sized pebble dash finish on the plastics, radiator and screen, I am dreading the thought of having to clean all that crap off again!

When we got to Brighton, Madiera drive (the main seafront promenade road) had been shut off meaning that our usual parking spot had gone, so we managed to find a spot on the promenade itself further along by the Grand Pier. Whilst locking the bikes up, two other bikers parked next to us started having a chat about my bike, it turned out they were father and son, of which had just bought a Versys himself, and was as pleased as a dog with two dicks. All this was great until I went to put the seat back on and noticed that the small gloss tail unit trim on the LHS had snapped off from it's front mounting point, meaning it had been flapping around. Looking more closely I think the cause was either my fat arse cheek pushing down on it cornering hard, or a stone flying off the top of the tyre and hitting the trim from underneath.

After watching John throw a fry up down his neck, we had a short walk and headed back down towards Newhaven docks, and back towards the A27 on a road, which frankly is like a piece of track. Whilst John was behind me, we both kept up a decent pace, and devoured the bends as they came up, no cambers, wide, flat and angled, meaning the speed could be maintained providing you got a good view on any traffic ahead first.

We persisted along the A27, which was a big mistake on my part thanks to the traffic, but soon cleared up when we re-joined the A28 from St.Leonards to Tenterden, which has loads of varying corners, some fast, and some to be taken at lot slower, but combined with the weather made for a memorable ride home.


View 6GBR DAY OFF Sunday Ride out 10th May 2009 in a larger map

After we got back to John's, I then headed home, hot and tired, and full of various ache's from climbing all over the bike for most of the day, but satisfied for having a change of scene for the best part of the day in wonderful weather, and on great roads.


Long live bikes and the summer, oh, and pressure washers, actually no, self cleaning bikes.

Alpinestars Supertech R Vented Boot

LONGTERMERS BIKEWEAR REVIEW


Words: Gordon Compton

Pictures: Becci Russell

Alpinestars Supertech R Vented Boots

SRP: £259.99

Mileage so far: 5000


How many times have we all been out on a hot day and enjoyed ourselves so much that we have ended up spending all day out, instead of the “promised” couple of hours, getting home and prising off hot boots. Thats not so bad, it's whats lurking underneath that is the problem. After fumigating the house several times, and having the rest of the family treated at A & E for fume inhalation, it can be deducted pretty quickly that those boots aren't doing anybody any favours. Time for a change maybe?

Well Alpinestars may have the answer to this in the shape of the vented Supertech R boot, which is closely based on the actual boots developed for and worn by racers the world over.

This revolutionary boot design has been in circulation for a few years now, but it has evolved every year alongside the development of the racers boots, adding new features when they are proven on the track.

Even from the first glimpse over these boots it is apparent that there really isn't anything quite like them, and quite frankly, I don't think there actually is in all fairness.

One of the first striking features that you'll notice is the fact that the Supertech design actually is comprised of two boots, an inner and an outer. this unusual feature came about from track side research, as it became apparent that the ankle and lower leg is an incredibly weak part of the body and will hyperextend through excessive ankle twisting, causing in some cases, irreparable damage.

Alpinestars looked at this problem extensively, and found that the structure of a standard boot could not be reinforced to the extent required without losing freedom of movement, and creating unnecessary bulk.

The result of this research was found in the Supertech design.

The Supertech inner boot (or bootie), is the part of the boot that actually has the task when called upon to resist this twisting tendency, via a patented four link system that effectively links the calf collar to the reinforced heel cup. The inner boot is made from a very lightweight mesh fabric which covers most of the inner boots surface, and allows the air that enters the outer boot to get through to the riders feet, helping them stay cool.

The supertech R shown in it's two main constituent parts, the inner bootie (foreground), and the outer boot (background). Note the articulated link connecting the armoured heel cup to the calf collar on the inner bootie. This is a very simple (and patented) design which allows natural degrees of movement for the ankle, but prevents and eliminates excessive twisting between the foot and ankle.

The protection continues onto the outside edges of the inner boot that are attached to the sole, but not at the sides to allow the sole to flex naturally with the foot, but at the same time providing side impact protection. Glued to the bottom of the boot is a thin fine rubber sole with variations in thickness along the soles length, to aid unidirectional flex.

The bootie is held to the foot by an internal lacing system, which draws around the front of the shin, leaving the foot free from any undue pressure, but is still secured to the lower leg safely. The lace is actually a Carbon/Kevlar mix to ensure a long service life and to avoid fraying, and displays the technological depths Alpinestars have gone to to perfect this design.

The inner bootie is held securely to the riders foot by this very thin looking but ultra strong Carbon/Kevlar lace designed to keep weight and bulk down, yet allow for a long service life.

To finish off the features of the inner boot, there is a small shoehorn shaped piece of polyurethane connected to the heel cup that protects the Achilles tendon from cuts or punctures.

The outer however is another story. As the inner boot effectively protects the Achilles tendon, ankle joint, and outside sole edges, the outer has other worries to deal with.

Firstly, the impact and slide protection factors, most of which are dealt with by the sturdy heel assembly, which is made from polyurethane, and is incredibly tough. However, this material can only stand a relatively low duration of friction before softening, which then creates grip on the surface it is sliding along on, which could cause the ankle to turn. To avoid this, Alpinestars have used a small Magnesium casting mounted on the outside edge at the base of the heel to keep the heel armour off the road, so it can slide freely.

The heel portion also features small meshed areas which effectively allow hot air out to aid ventilation for the sole of the foot, along with a replaceable plastic capping which is an additional piece of slide protection in this area of the boot.

The sole of the boot itself has had the same degree of thought put into it too. The pattern on the sole allows for a good level of grip, but at the same time is patterned to allow an exceptionally good degree of movement in all natural directions. The mid sole also features a rigid section buried in between the sole and the interior of the outer boot to provide torsional control, and limits any excessive flexing or bending, eliminating, or at least minimising possible twist induced injuries.

The sole of the outer boot is patterned to allow for natural flex but is substantially braced at the mid-sole to provide additional protection against dangerously excessive torsional movement. To the front of the sole there is a wrap around section covering the inside front edge, which protects the toe of the boot from scuffing, with the now common interchangeable Alpinestars toe slider mounted on the outside front edge.

Moving up to the Shin and Calf area of the boot, it can be seen that the Shin plate has a very exaggerated profile, which juts out from the top edge , tapering down its length to the point where it meets the rubber air intake at the base of the Shin area. This in turn creates a very unique shape overall, which is for good reason.

The boot was originally developed between the Honda GP factory team and Alpinestars as an exercise in rider aerodynamics, which eventually culminated in to the well regarded range topper we have here.

Looking at the overall shape does confirm this fact, as even the top of the boot leg itself has a silicon lined microfibre gaiter to effectively seal and grip the boot to the riders trousers, making the two parts one for air to flow more easily. At lower speeds this doesn't seem apparent, but at higher speed, the internals of the boot are only ventilated by the air intakes and exhausts on the boot, and not down the leg, as in traditional designs and is very effective.

The micro ratchet strap calf retention is well positioned, easy to use, and is replaceable in the event of an accident so the boot is not an expensive write off. The area covering the Calf is made from injection moulded polyurethane, and is shaped aerodynamically at the rear, partly concealing the ratchet mechanism to neatly integrate it to lessen the chances of damaging the binding in an off.

One thing that does strike you when you first wear them is that the boot is incredibly comfortable, and definitely on a par with a good quality touring boot, which is something quite unexpected from something like a race boot.

Because the boot is in fact two separate pieces of footwear together, the extra sole thickness inherited does help eliminate otherwise annoying high frequency buzzes from the riders pegs. This double layering makes the feedback from the sole very vague at first, but does subside fairly quickly with use, as the only real factor of breaking in is done through the foot bed in the inner boot.

The inside temperature of the boot, even at low speed whilst say filtering is not excessive, and even if the feet do sweat they are dried out rapidly once things speed up.

Only after spending some time with these boots do you realise what has been achieved; an incredibly easy to use and comfortable product, with class leading safety features wrapped in a stylish exterior. Quite something.


CONCLUSION


Expensive but impressively specced boot with clever details and care spent on creating an effective Ankle and Sole protection system, along with an astounding ventilation system that works very well.

The boot features outstanding comfort and isolation from annoying high frequency buzzes from the riders footpegs, which is a common problem amongst other boot designs due to the sole being so thin.

Alpinestars have created a truly unique package, ultra safe, ultra comfortable and ultra stylish boot, no wonder so many riders on the track wear them.

They are even easy to look after thanks to being made from synthetic Microfibre, which has the same properties as leather, but is easier to clean and more resilient in use.

Topped off with an array of available spare component parts for service or repair, owning a pair of these need'nt be just for a couple of summers, justifying more the original purchase price.

Alpinestars have made a product comparable to the race ready Daytona race boots, at a saving in comparison, and are a track day essential, and remember, that's where they were developed after all!!