Royal Enfield's bargain Bullet hits the mark

Now in its eightieth year, the Royal Enfield Bullet is the longest running production motorcycle by decades (by comparison Harley Davidson's Sportster has been produced since 1957, making it 25 years younger than the Bullet).

First made in Redditch in 1932 and re-designed in 1949, UK manufacture of the Bullet ceased in 1962. However, a satellite plant had opened in India in 1955 and production continues there to this day. Last year 70,000 bikes rolled off the production line, the majority of them Bullets, and demand is so great that Royal Enfield has started work on a new factory, close to the existing one in Chennai [Madras]. Occupying a 50-acre [20-hectare] plot, production is scheduled to commence there in the first quarter of 2013. Once completed the new plant will increase Royal Enfield’s annual capacity to 150,000 units.

Since 2009 all export models from Royal Enfield have been powered by a new fuel-injected 500cc single cylinder engine, which looks and sounds similar to the 1950's version but meets modern emissions standards and is capable of more than 80mpg.

Spearheading the range for 2012 is the Bullet 500. Launched mid-way through 2011, it mirrors the design of the 1950's model Bullet and is one of the few modern motorcycles to feature metal body parts throughout. It is also the only new 500cc motorcycle available to British riders (most major manufacturers no longer produce machines between 250-600cc).

Priced at £4250 and with low running costs, the Bullet 500 currently accounts for 25% of UK sales.  Royal Enfield motorcycles are available through their UK dealer network. Call 01386 700907 or visit royal-enfield.com for details.

Weise Avance CE-approved jacket and jeans

WEISE® motorcycle clothing celebrates its Silver Jubilee this year and this British company, which is named after the German word for “wise”, continues to live up to its name with a collection of intelligent developments for riding kit. Quality branded components such as ISOTEX® waterproof liners, YKK® zippers and Thinsulate® insulation are used to ensure both functionality and durability.

Avance CE-approved jacket and jeans
Weise has produced fully CE-approved clothing for use by professional motorcyclists for several years and now, in response to demand from its dealer network, is making the Avance jacket and jeans available to the public. Manufactured to the rigorous CE standard EN13595 LEVEL 2, the Avance needed to pass abrasion, cut and burst strength tests. Manufactured from 1000 denier Cordura®, which is three times more abrasion-resistant than regular nylon and also highly resistant to tears and punctures, impact areas have between three and four layers of reinforcement. Reinforced stitching holds it together, using Barbour Campbell M-20 Twisted Multifilament Nylon coated thread. Seams in critical areas have triple stitching, with two rows interlocking and one row buried within the seam. CE-approved protectors are fitted in the shoulders, elbows, back, hips & knees. Japanese YKK zippers are used throughout. All of this attention to detail means that it takes four times as long to manufacture an Avance jacket compared to a similar non-approved version.

A waterproof & breathable drop liner keeps the wearer dry while DuPont™ Teflon® fabric protector ensures the jacket and jeans stay in peak condition. Reflective 3M Scotchlite™ on the chest, back, arms, thighs and ankles aids visibility to other road users. Zipped vents on the upper chest & underarms help to keep the wearer cool in hot weather and a removable 120g quilted thermal lining takes care of winter riding. Available in sizes Small – 3XL the professional-standard Avance jacket retails for £499.99 including VAT and the matching jeans are £459.99.

Contact Weise Clothing
Tel. 0117 971 9200. Web. weise-clothing.co.uk

GlobeBusters stop-off at ExCel

Adventure-seeking riders making the trip to The MCN Motorcycle Show at London’s ExCel (2nd – 5th February) can enjoy an exclusive first look at GlobeBusters’ upcoming expeditions, including the record-breaking ‘Explore Our Earth’ trip, scheduled for 2014.

Covering 48,000 miles, through six continents and more than 40 countries, Explore Our Earth takes in some of the most remarkable motorcycling in the world, including the Pan American Highway and China’s Silk Road.

Visitors to the GlobeBusters stand can pick up a copy of the new 2012 brochure, which features a full itinerary and details of how to sign-up for this once-in-a-lifetime trip.

Another unique trip on offer is the expedition from London to Beijing via Tibet. Following much of the Silk Road, then crossing the Pamir Mountains in Tajikistan, the route traverses China from West to East and includes the Mount Everest base camp.

Alongside Kevin and Julia Sanders on the stand are Richard Millington and David Kyle - who both lead the 2011 Trans Americas Expedition – and can offer expert advice for riders interested in taking up these exciting but challenging rides.

Also on the GlobeBusters stand is Robert Wicks’ latest book: The World's Great Adventure Motorcycle Routes: The essential guide to the greatest motorcycle rides in the world. GlobeBusters’ Kevin and Julia Sanders wrote the foreword to this essential guide to more than 30 of the world's best journeys for the adventurous motorcyclist and includes tips on riding conditions, choice of motorcycle, climate information and more.

Meanwhile Kevin and Julia’s record-breaking R1150GS Adventure will be displayed on the BMW stand. For further information on the full GlobeBusters expedition and tours calendar call: 08452 304015 or visit: www.globebusters.com.

New Knox Dual Compound Scaphoid Protection System

British impact protection specialist, Knox, has developed a dual compound version of its patented Scaphoid Protection System (SPS). Constructed from a combination of LDPE (Low-density Polyethylene) and TPR (Thermo Plastic Rubber), the new version offers more flexibility, extra cushioning and comfort and provides superior sliding ability, increasing protection of the vulnerable scaphoid bone.

In real life:Experienced motorcycle racer Ian Lougher, who not only has 10 Isle of Man TT victories to his name but also won the NW200 nine times, is one of many riders to experience the positive benefits of Knox SPS first hand (pardon the pun): ''The Handroid gloves are something else, fantastic to wear, and with their specially built in plastic skid patch on the palms helping to lessen the risk of a broken scaphoid. If you're unfortunate enough to suffer a highside from the motorcycle, they really do work”.

Ian continues; “I must admit I was very sceptical initially when I was first told about this, but when it happened to me at the Ulster GP, where I came down from a great height landing on my hands, I am sure the gloves saved my wrist after such a huge highside.''

In depth:
A fractured scaphoid is one of the most common wrist injuries and is usually caused by a fall onto an outstretched hand. Motorcyclists are particularly vulnerable to scaphoid fractures, due to the ‘grab’ effect: the gloved-hand contacting the road surface and dramatically slowing, allowing either compression or hyperextension of the wrist.  Painful and notoriously difficult to heal, a broken scaphoid can put a rider out of action for weeks.

The patent protected Knox Scaphoid Protection System consists of two low-friction pads positioned on the palm of each glove, developed to eliminate the ‘grab’ effect of traditional leather-palmed gloves. The SPS allows the hand to slide forward at the same speed as the wearer, reducing the risk of breaks and fractures.

Knox’s innovative new Dual Compound SPS uses both LDPE (Low density Polyethylene) and TPR (Thermo Plastic Rubber) to increase protection and comfort considerably.  The new dual compound structure has several benefits, with an increased ability to slide - LDPE has a self-lubricating property which helps reduce friction and it’s also resistant to heat and is able to maintain structure up to 95 degrees Celcius – giving constant protection even during long, high-speed slides. The TPR section offers more cushioning and the softer edges means they are more flexible and less stressful on supporting seams and materials.

The new Knox Dual Compound Scaphoid Protection System is now available for OE fitment. Knox’s range-topping Handroid glove is expected to be the first in the market to feature it.  Visit knox-lab.com for more information.

Editor’s Notes:SPS systems are only effective when two pads are present. Gloves where only the palm pad is present has a detrimental effect to scaphoid protection because while the palm area tries to slide the thumb area grips, causing the hand to twist. 

Three quarters of Brit bikers brave winter

Cold Killers' winter riding survey 2011

Winter weather isn’t stopping hardy British bikers from getting their two-wheel fix, a survey by British windproof clothing specialists Cold Killers suggests. However, the majority of riders have experienced pain and loss of control while riding in chilly conditions, forcing them to halt their journey in order to warm up.

Over three quarters of those who took part in the Cold Killers Winter Riding Survey said they ride all year round; but a clear majority (65%) reported that they became so cold on occasion that they had to stop and warm up. A similar number (60%) experienced physical pain caused by cold and struggled to operate their machine’s controls.

In spite of the wide choice of heated kit and technical clothing available, less than half of those questioned (45%) choose to use it. Thicker/more insulated motorcycle jackets, trousers and gloves proved the most popular solution, with nearly 40% choosing them. A similar number complained that dressing for the cold was uncomfortable and made it difficult to move around on or off the bike.

“We’re really surprised by the number of riders who’re braving the conditions to ride through the winter months” comments Geoff Travell, Managing Director of Cold Killers. “It's no wonder they're struggling to cope if they're relying on thicker clothing to beat the cold. On a bike wind chill soon blasts out any warm air trapped inside thick winter clothing; you need a technical windproof layer, like Cold Killers, to form a protective barrier against wind chill.”

Key findings

    * 74.8% ride during winter (December-February).
    * 34.3% limit journey time/distance in cold conditions.
    * 65.1% have had to break their journey to warm up.
    * 60.4% have experienced physical pain and struggled to operate machine controls due to the cold.
    * Only 29% use thermal base layers.
    * 37.4% rely on thicker/more insulated motorcycle jacket/trousers/gloves.
    * 38.1% find winter clothing bulky and uncomfortable, making it difficult to move around on or off the bike.

Cold Killers
Windproof mid-layer that uses a three-layer laminate construction, featuring a tightly woven stretch fabric on the outside, a laminated membrane in the middle, and 3-D fleece liner. The layers work together to reduce the effect of wind chill, allow warm air to circulate around the skin and help to prevent water ingress.  Thin and flexible, Cold Killers eliminates the need for extra layering, allowing freedom of movement and ensuring there are no tight spots to restrict circulation.

For detailed information on the entire range of Cold Killers Softshell garments, call Planet Knox on 01900 825825, or visit coldkillers.co.uk.