Aerostich Roadcrafter suit: £600 approx (plus import duty and shipping of about £300) Tester: Andy Downes Time/miles: 50,000-plus/eight years What’s good? If you ride every day the Aerostich Roadcrafter suit is the answer to the hassle of getting in and out of riding kit – you step in fully-clothed, close two zips and then it’s on. All I need to ...
- Motorcycle Products
- Leathers, jackets & suits
- 13 May 2013
Draggin Biker jeans £169.99 Time tested: 30,000 miles/2.5 years What’s good? Few things seem to divide opinion more than riding in Kevlar jeans. Personally, I love riding in them. I know from independent research that these particular jeans last over four seconds in SATRA abrasion tests and that the material used in their construction is identical to that used in ...
- Motorcycle Products
- Leathers, jackets & suits
- 07 May 2013
Alpinestars Gore-Tex CR-4 £149.99 Time tested: 20,000 miles/ 6+ years What’s good? As you can tell by the state of my Alpinestars boots they’ve had a hard life, but survived some real abuse. I occasionally wear them on the bike in summer, especially if I’m riding something under 250cc like a Honda CBR125 or scooter for example, but they’ve also ...
- Motorcycle Products
- Boots
- 07 May 2013
Vitesse Hunt Boot £150 Time tested: 4000 miles/7 Months What’s good? I needed a boot that would offer as much protection as possible whilst looking and feeling good when I’m off the bike walking through London and then sitting at a desk; I’m habitually lazy so didn’t fancy having to carry a second pair of shoes into work. The inner ...
- Motorcycle Products
- Boots
- 07 May 2013
Alpinestars Tech Road GTX gloves £149.99 Time tested: 1500 miles/6 weeks What’s good: These have barely been off my hands over the past six weeks as my daily commuting winter gloves. They have seen temperatures as low as -8°C, lashing rain, snow, sleet, and more rain. So far they have been impregnable which comes as a massive relief, having had ...
- Motorcycle Products
- Gloves
- 07 May 2013
Held Race-Evo one-piece leathers £1199.99 Time tested: 5500 miles/7 months What’s good? Down we go: Onto the shoulder, forearm and heel of hand, followed by a 70mph slide and an involuntary roll onto back and arse, stand up too soon, fall over head first and face plant into the grass. Test complete. I’m fairly sceptical about all the protective extras ...
- Motorcycle Products
- Leathers, jackets & suits
- 07 May 2013
sDoc100 White Chain Spray 75ml, £4.99Time tested: 20,000 miles/12 months What’s good: Chain sprays either work, or they don’t. Actually, there is a third common option, where they sort of do work, but they also drive you mad. This sDoc100 stuff simply falls into the ‘works’ category. There’s a conspicuous lack of fling, leaving your chain coated in a rust-and-grime-repelling ...
- Motorcycle Products
- Parts & accessories
- 02 May 2013
Visorcat wash/wipe, £30 (£3.60 for subsequent 50ml fluid refills)Time tested: 550 miles/two weeks What’s good: This integrated sponge and squeegee with fluid reservoir works with a wipe-and-clean action and attaches to your left hand over a glove. I ride all year round so the idea of the Visorcat intrigued me as I have been more than happy with a damp ...
- Motorcycle Products
- Parts & accessories
- 02 May 2013
Spidi T2 Wind Pro Kangaroo one-piece suit, £1299.99Time tested: 12,500 miles/three years What’s good: This is the most comfortable race suit I’ve ever had. Some of the road tests we do on MCN involve us having to wear leathers for hours, often in particularly hot conditions, and this suit makes that almost bearable. Despite it being off-the-peg, people always ask ...
- Motorcycle Products
- Leathers, jackets & suits
- 02 May 2013
Arai Tour-X3 (now the X4)Time tested: 7500/30 months What’s good: Made famous by the Ewan and Charley show – but don’t let that put you off – the Tour-X3 is a real cross-over helmet, treading the line with impressive neutrality between a full-on road lid, and a full-face motocross one. The lining is usefully removable and washable, and the large ...
- Motorcycle Products
- Helmets
- 02 May 2013
