RiDE March 2017

IN AMONG ALL the highly desirable – but in many cases highly priced – new bikes featured in this issue, there’s a really significant product test. We didn’t pluck £600 out of thin air for our textiles test: we talked to readers, to dealers and manufacturers, and we think £600 is the sweet spot where you can get all the technology that matters without the four-digit price tag that is becoming increasingly common for high-end motorcycle clothing. And it’s not just one suit that impressed us – many scored highly, offering a choice of good-performing gear to suit different tastes. If you’re looking for a new year-round two-piece, this test provides the benchmark.…

Matt Hull Technical editor I’ve always wanted to ride from Cape Town to Namibia, Zimbabwe and Botswana. Beauty, wildlife… a real adventure. But it’s never going to happen. I loved Ireland last time I went, so Galway down to Killarney on the south-west coast will do very nicely. Simon Weir Deputy editor I’d really like to get round Scotland in the sunshine but I almost don’t mind where I ride as long as it’s not busy. Actually, that’s a lie. I really need to get to the Alps… Kev Raymond Features writer Hang on, I haven’t done 2016’s must-ride yet. I planned to ship a 38-year-old Honda CX500 to Malaga, then get the ferry to Morocco and stooge around there for a few days. That plan’s now completely changed - I’ll take a 39-year-old CX500... Colin Overland Editor Tenby,…

WITH THEIR 30TH birthday coming up, British brand Weise have come up with a 2017 range dominated by practical all-weather gear making smart use of big-name technology. But there’s also a growing selection of stylish, good-value clothing for the café/custom crowd. The Houston is the most affordable of their jackets to use an Outlast temperature-regulating liner. It has useful vents, some neat reflective strips, a big rear pocket and a plush zip-out thermal liner. Yours for £159.99. For a tenner less there’s the well-equipped Pioneer, which offers plenty of size adjustment, pockets and vents (but no Outlast). And there’s more textile kit to come soon, with a high-spec adventure suit about to be revealed. Leather highlights include the retro Brunel jacket (£199.99) in some excellent colour combinations, the Highway cruiser gloves (now in…

Tucano Urbano may be known for their stylish commuter gear, but for 2017 their ever-growing range includes their most serious year-round touring jacket. The Gulliver is waterproof, thanks to a Hidroscud outer layer, and warm, with a removable synthetic down liner that can be worn as a casual jacket. There are zipped vents to keep you cool on hot days, and adjusters on the arms, waist and hem. There’s armour in the elbows and shoulders, but not the back. Safety features include Tucano Urbano’s clever Reflactive system, which allows reflective panels to be folded out of sight when not needed. And there’s a detachable hood in the collar. It comes in black or dark biege, priced at £199.99.…

IT’S A MARRIAGE made in hipster heaven: Motolegends, suppliers of serious but stylish biking gear, have teamed up with Trickers, one of Britain’s longest established boot makers, to create a special shoe that looks perfect for retro Triumph riders. It’s based on the seven-eyelet Malton from Trickers, who have been in Northampton since 1904. To make it more suitable for biking, a gearchange reinforcement is added to both feet and the fitting is slightly narrower than the regular Malton, which is often worn by farmers sporting thick winter socks. Yours from www.motolegends.com for £390.…

Want to buy a Triumph but don’t want to pay new-bike prices? Triumph have just launched an approved-used scheme that aims to offer peace of mind at lower prices. All the bikes in the scheme are less than five years old and have no more than 25,000 miles on the clock. They come with a full service history, a year’s MoT, roadside assistance and warranty, and the promise that they’ve been checked top to toe by a proper Triumph-trained technician. Triumph UK general manager Paul Lilly said: “After undertaking considerable market research, we found that the majority of riders looking to purchase a used model were often put off by the perceived risk of hidden mechanical issues.” As well as involving Triumph dealers, the scheme also includes direct sales via www.triumphapproved.co.uk. BMW already…