Maja Kenney of Maja’s Motorcycle Adventures spends her Slovenian tour testing out some RST Waterproof kit. The kit features RST Maverick Textiles, Pathfinder Touring Boots and Paragon Gloves kindly supplied for this test by RST Moto
On this year’s motorcycle tour to Slovenia I had the opportunity to test the RST Maverick ladies jacket and jean together with their Pathfinder touring boots and Paragon gloves.
The textiles are cleverly layered and are suitable for all-year riding. The outer layer has air pockets that can be clipped open for summer rides as well as perforation on the upper body. There are four ventilation pockets, two on the leg and two on the chest area. You can wear textiles without any layers on those hot and sunny days.
The waterproof layer is separate and acts as windproof, too. It zips neatly inside the main jacket and trousers the only downside is, if you get caught in the rain it’s not a quick fix.
There is a further layer for cold weather riding. A thermal layer that zips in either with the waterproof layer or on its own. The zips are cleverly layered so there is no bulging of the zips sitting too close together. As the inner layers zip into the jacket (and trousers) this means you still only need one zip to close the jacket fully.
Both, the jacket and the jean zip together around the waist to retain the warmth and keep the rain out.
The jean have a high back which sits nicely around the lower back. The waist is adjustable with two velcro straps which might need tweaking depending on how many layers you wear on a cold day. Together with stretch panels, it does make for a good fit. There are two hip pockets with zips.
The jean and the jacket feel a bit stiff for the first couple of wears but they do settle around your body nicely and feel very comfortable.
I felt the trouser leg could have been a tiny bit longer for me. The trouser leg in a size up was perfect for me but the rest of the jean was too big. Not an issue once you put the boots on just my personal preference. Of course, they come with knee protectors and the jean is CE Certified to Level A.
The jacket is well designed and contoured for ladies’ fit. Stretch panels, arm and waist adjusters offer further options to adjust the jacket for comfort and fit. It has several pockets, inside and outside of the jacket as well as a large one on the back of the jacket for storing larger items such as maps, documents or a spare pair of gloves.
The jacket closes with a zip and the textile secures over it with velcro. This is a bit of an annoyance when the jacket is open and you are not riding. The velcro on the left cuffs tends to stick to the velcro next to the zip and so find your left arm getting attached to the jacket a lot. As the jean, the jacket is also CE certified to Level A and comes with Level 1 back protector, shoulder and elbow armour.Personally, I feel the sleeves are a bit too wide around the wrists, too. There is a velcro strap to tighten the cuffs but I find too much textile around my wrists makes it quite uncomfortable. It does mean that the gloves are easy to put on when I wear them inside my sleeves.
The boots are my absolute favourite so far. They really are waterproof. I mean proper, Welsh downpour waterproof. Top marks for that. The boots have two zips at the front, one on each side of the leg which means they are really easy to put on and take off. But more importantly, you can adjust how tightly you want them to fit around your calf. Boots are usually too wide for me but these are a perfect fit thanks to the design. They are incredibly comfortable, too. I wore them for 5 days constantly on the bike and to walk around sights we stopped at. The soles have good grip and I felt secure exploring sights off the paved paths. My feet didn’t even feel tired at the end of the day.
The gloves feel soft and snuggly on the inside. They feel a little big on my fingers and I guess that’s down to all the padding and layers to keep my hands warm. I have summer gloves from RST which are designed for ladies, they are the same size and they fit perfectly. The Paragon waterproof gloves are not specifically designed for ladies’ hands and it shows in sizing. My pair are size 7 or extra small so anyone with smaller hands might find these too big. They are waterproof and they have certainly been tested in the wet!
Overall the whole outfit is excellent value for money. The jacket and jean are suitable for all-year riding, excellent for long touring trips, they will protect you from most weather elements and they fit well. The boots and the gloves will keep you warm and dry in the colder months but will be too hot for the summer months.
The Tiger was dropped off at my house and I took my time walking around it before wheeling it into the garage. It was delivered a day earlier than expected so it had to wait for its first ride until the next day. I circled the bike, looking at all of the details. It was almost a stand off to see if we like each other.
I was pleased to note the colour was red. Having checked it out online I decided that red was the best looking one and now it was in my garage, albeit for a week only. In fact, not just the colour, I quite like the way it looks. Not too big and shouty, it doesn’t look like a bully as some adventure bikes do, and it didn’t fill me with fear that it’ll kick me off when I start to ride it.
I was worried it might be too tall for me but even with the seat at its normal position, I could reach the ground comfortably. Despite this, I have moved the seat to its lower position and that means that at 5”4’, I can almost put both feet flat on the (even) ground. Given my preference for B roads and goat tracks it is safer to have more leg length and be able to stop even where the ground isn’t smooth tarmac.
Top marks for its super smooth gearbox and quickshifter. One of the best I’ve ridden so far. The brakes are sharp, too! And the cruise control is easy to work out but do watch out when you touch the brakes. It slows down rapidly and I got a bit of a shock the first time. I didn’t expect it to slow down quite as fast and ended up with my face a bit too close to the screen for comfort.
Speaking of comfort, this is a good time to mention the heated grips which are excellent and, not forgetting the heated seat. The heated seat has separate controls for the pillion on the side of the pillion seat, and for the rider, on the handlebars. I can’t say there was any benefit to having the seat heated at 15 degrees Celsius and I would like to be able to test this in colder weather before I can decide if it is a worthwhile option. The heated grips, on the other hand, are an absolute must for me. The temperature varied from 10 to 15, occasionally 17 degrees Celsius when the sun was out, but the wind chill was persistent. I was still riding in my summer gloves and the grips were on the whole time. I much prefer this option for as long as I can, before I put on my winter gloves for the season.
One issue I didn’t quite crack is the position of the indicator switch just above a very similar switch that is the OK button for confirming the menu choices. They are close together and feel very similar with gloves on. A couple of times I wasn’t actually indicating but merely pushing the OK button left or right which upset a couple of road users behind me. Speaking to other Tiger owners they mentioned the same and said that once they have gotten used to it, it wasn’t a problem anymore.
I do have a preference for something a bit sportier looking and riding a sports tourer myself, I didn’t really appreciate why one would go for an adventure style bike. After riding the Tiger for a week, and taking it on a real tour for a few days, I now understand. I had to get used to how certain speed feels on this bike which meant I was going faster than intended for a while. With so much wind protection I felt I was going slower where I was actually much faster than anticipated. Oops.
The seating position is so relaxed and comfortable that even after a few days of constant riding I never felt tired quite as much as I normally do. It almost felt wrong. Like a workout when you didn’t try hard enough and you have no muscle ache afterwards. But this was also really, really good. I didn’t need a zimmer frame to get out of bed in the morning or do any elaborate yoga stretches just to feel my toes again.
The surprising bit was the cornering. The Tiger just leans in and carries you around that corner without you having to do much. No fighting with the bike and no convincing it that you really want to go around that bend safely. The Tiger is agile, light and so very smooth.
Then there was the riding on my favourite roads. The less known, little B roads that are inevitably littered with gravel, potholes and livestock. Despite the rugged road surface, the bike shaking was minimal, the suspension doing a fantastic job and I didn’t even need to stand on the footpegs for comfort although I did try it anyway just because I could.
I really appreciated the higher sitting position for the views. Being able to see over the stone walls and into the valley opened up the view and allowed me to take in the sights I would have otherwise missed. It also means you spot the oncoming traffic much sooner and can position the bike accordingly.
The trip away was for two nights only and my luggage was minimal therefore I had no need for the panniers or the topbox. Everything was packed into a rollbag that was attached to the pillion seat. I had to practice a couple of times on how to mount and dismount the bike in the most elegant way but I cracked it and never once kicked the rollbag when dismounting.
Overall I was surprisingly impressed with everything about the bike, how easy and smooth it is to ride and how well we got on. I am not ready to trade in my sports tourer yet but I am leaning towards maybe having a proper adventure bike as a winter one in my garage.
Motorcycle kindly supplied by Triumph UK, for more information on Triumph Motorcycles UK visit triumphmotorcycles.co.uk/
Or check Triumph Motorcycles dedicated page for Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RS check hereTriumph Tiger 900
Also many thanks to:
Helmet worn in test Arai Quantic helmet (red snake) kindly supplied by Arai UK Jacket, Armoured Jeans, Gloves and Boots worn in test kindly supplied by rst-moto.com/ Ladies Heated Body Warmer supplied by Keis Apparel Motorcycle iPhone Mount with Vibration Damper Supplied by Quad Lock
I’ve heard people swear by Arai and I always wondered what the appeal is. They look quite big and round in shape, not exactly flattering compared to some other brands. The new Quantic is not the lightest of helmets I have, in fact, at 1.6 kg it is quite a bit heavier than some of the other helmets I have.
It is marketed as a sports-touring helmet. Unfortunately, it doesn’t come with an internal visor, which for me, seems a great option to have when you are away from home for days and weeks at a time.
Installing the intercom system wasn’t the easiest compared to others, quite a bit of faffing with the liner and I still have a cable showing on the side. This may well be a user error but I managed to hide everything in my other helmets so it can’t be all me.
Despite this, the moment I put the Arai Quantic on my head I loved it instantly. The way it fits around my head and face makes you feel like you are in a safe haven. The materials are soft and seem kind to skin and the inside of the helmet hugs your head in a way that just makes you feel safe. I was keen to go for a ride and see how my face will look like after a few hours of riding.
The first thing I noticed was the ventilation. There are several vents that actually work! It was a hot day and I could feel the air circulation around my head. There are three vents at the top of the helmet. One at the front behind the 3D Arai logo that you control by opening or closing the catch at the top. Then there are two on each side and slightly further up that you push forwards or backward depending on whether you want them open or close.
A large chin vent that is easy to move with the gloves on lets plenty of air in. Then there are two vents in the visor itself, these worked great when my glasses steamed up!
And lastly, a vent at the back of the helmet under the rear spoiler, to let the air out.
The air direction was definitely felt, especially at the crown of my head which I welcomed very much as it kept me cool for the whole ride.
The helmet isn’t terribly quiet which did surprise me. It is really good on a calm day but I did find it very noisy in the wind.
After wearing it for a couple of hours on a day out riding there were no lines on my face, no telltale signs of a new helmet. It fitted perfectly and whilst it is firm around my face it is also very easy to take off and put back on again.
It is not the perfect helmet in terms of ticking the boxes but despite it all, there is something about it that makes me feel super safe wearing it. It is incredibly comfortable and it has now become my main helmet for long trips and tours. I have a feeling Arai might become my go-to helmet from now on.
How good is a budget helmet? I sometimes wonder what is it that we pay for when buying an item. Is it the brand, the quality, the materials, or the service? I find this even more important when it comes to safety, especially something like a motorcycle helmet. I must admit, I did have some doubts. (checkout Maja’s review of motorcycle helmet inspection service)
I decided to try the Nitro Helmet on a short ride to start with. It’s what I normally do with any new helmet to get used to it. The first impressions were really good. The helmet looks and feels well finished. I especially love the matt paint finish. There are vents on the chin and at the top of the helmet that you can control with the sliding mechanism.
I especially like the internal tinted visor and the fact that they have moulded the helmet to allow for the specs wearers to use their glasses inside the helmet. The internal visor is operated by the sliding mechanism on the left hand side of the helmet.
The external visor system feels very sturdy and easy to change the position of the visor from closed to open. It is also easy to remove and put back and it comes pinlock ready although no pinlock included, and to be fair, I didn’t expect it at this price.
The helmet is, of course, ACU approved and carries the gold sticker on the back.
Once the helmet was on I did feel the padding wasn’t quite enough. My cheeks are normally pressed against the internal padding but on this one, I still have plenty of room. Whilst the crown of the head is firmly held by the liner and doesn’t move when I hold the helmet still and move my head left to right, it is not the same for my face. The plus side of this is that my ears are not constricted in any way and wearing my moulded earplugs meant I had no pressure on my ears like in some helmets.
It didn’t seem particularly noisy when out riding but it is noisier than my other helmets, not by much, just enough to notice.
Whilst testing the helmet I had the opportunity to send it off for a non-destructive inspection to find out if a £90 is safe to use. It came back with a big tick of approval. Yes, it passed the inspection and I was really pleased to see that we have a solid British helmet manufacturer that caters to entry-level helmets that not only look good but are safe, too.
Last friday we were invited to attend the first look of new Triumph Speed Twin at Triumph’s Hinckley Factory but due to various reasons I was unable to attend. So I askedMaja Kenney of Maja’s Motorcycle Adventuresshe kindly took my place, heres her initial impression.
Last week I had the pleasure of taking out Triumph’s best-selling modern classic – the Speed Twin that has been updated for 2021.
When I arrived at Triumph I was walked through the controls on the bike. There were no surprises, you’ll be happy to hear. I was then set free to explore some of the quaint Warwickshire villages and lanes.
My first goal was to find a pub. It was lunchtime, I was hungry and I wanted to sit down and look at the bike properly. I have found a lovely pub with parking and outdoor seating. Perfect. I parked up, stopped the engine, and looked for the side stand. I fished with my left foot to kick it out but couldn’t do it. I was sitting on the bike, getting hot as the sun was beaming down on me and by now, the customers in the pub garden started to pay attention. I still couldn’t get the side stand out.
Eventually, I had to lean over and unfold it by hand. But let me explain. I wasn’t exactly wearing the right type of clothing for this beautiful machine. I was in full leathers and racing boots because I had literally gone from Cadwell Park to the Triumph factory. This is not what one might normally choose to wear on a bike like this and therefore the stiffness of the boot meant I had to angle my foot just so, to get the side stand out. Once I figured it out it was as easy as on any other bike.
First things first. The bike is beautiful. I have a huge appreciation for old machines, this includes cars and motorcycles. Thank you, dad! That doesn’t mean I would necessarily choose to run an old classic myself, I don’t know enough about the maintenance. But to have a modern classic where maintenance is easy and the ride feels as effortless as modern bikes do these days, it makes for an interesting proposition.
The setup was perfect for just such a day out. Sunshine, country lanes, big open spaces, and quaint sleepy villages. The seating position is super comfortable, straight back, head up, knees not too bent. The seat height is at 809 mm and the seat itself is quite narrow which means you don’t lose much of the height if your legs are of a shorter disposition.
Big flat bars make the bike super easy to maneuver and a joy to go around the bends. The total (wet) weight of the bike is 216 kg which surprised me as this is almost the same as my Supersport and for some reason I expected the Speed Twin to be lighter.
The Speed Twin is perfectly happy doing 30 mph letting you enjoy the scenery and the gentle ride through the villages. But don’t be fooled, with its 1200cc engine and 98.6 bhp it produces a pretty swift power delivery when you open up the throttle. I got caught out at first, I was wearing waterproofs over my leathers and I slid back on the seat when I came to a clear bit of the road. I had to laugh and I was a bit more steady with the throttle on the next attempt and when overtaking.
Switching between the riding modes is easy. All you have to do is stop the bike and have it in neutral gear, keep the engine running and press one button once for rain mode, again for road mode and again for sport mode. It’s that simple.
The detail and the styling of the Speed Twin have clearly had plenty of attention. The brushed aluminium fuel cap, front and rear mudguards, side panel finishers and heel guards are set off beautifully against the stunning red paint of the fuel tank. Or the Red hopper paint scheme as it is officially called. Two more colour schemes are available, Matt Storm Grey with subtle yellow accents and the Jet Black.
The bar end mirrors finish the look off nicely and the signature LED daylight running light is incorporated into the headlight. The rear light and the indicators are also LED.
It also comes with 50+ accessories according to their marketing department but an engineer I spoke to in the warehouse said the reality is that half of these are a different colour choice of the same thing. So here’s some straight-talking-non-marketing-fact for you.
Overall, a stunning looking motorcycle that is as happy bimbling along at 30 mph or slower when taking in the views and passing picturesque areas as it is enjoying a more spirited ride to really make you feel the wind on your face.
Summer riding made comfortable! Finally, the weather has turned up the heat and I was delighted to have had the opportunity to wear my new mesh jacket on the motorcycle. I’ve had quite enough of the layering up and the cold rides. I love summer and I love the sunshine.
As much as the ideal picture of a summer riding on a motorcycle seems a dream (and it is), it is also the time of suffering in your motorcycle clothing whenever you come to a stop. The hot weather doesn’t go well with protective clothing. Luckily, there are alternatives. A mesh riding jacket is perfect for those scorchio days that we sometimes get in the UK. Believe me, they are worth the investment!
The RST F-lite jacket is lightweight and breathable. Of course, it is constructed with mesh fabric (K540) which allows for excellent ventilation and you can feel the cooling effect of it whilst riding. And when you stop, there is no sudden rush of heat you normally experience with heavier jackets.
The jacket comes with internal windproof and shower resistant liner that zips into the jacket. This is great for those warm days that still have a little bit of a chill in the air and of course, it protects you from light rain if you get caught out whilst out riding.
There are two settings for the poppers on the sleeves to allow the adjustment for your arms and the two waist zips on each side of the jacket allow for a better fit to adjust to your body shape. The cuffs have a velcro closing strap to fit around your wrists.
The two side pockets are of good size. The pocket liner is perforated fabric which means it doesn’t stop the air flow but it does seem to bunch up inside the pocket making it, at times, difficult to fish out small items such as ear plugs. Perhaps stitching the pocket liners in a couple of places would improve that.
The front of the jacket is shorter than the back. I think I understand the thinking behind it. Some jackets can be a bit bulky when you sit on the bike and the fabric bunches up. However, I never found that a big problem on any of my jackets and I find the cut somewhat strange as this means that my t-shirt sticks out of the jacket and makes for a somewhat odd look when not on the bike.
When the internal liner is removed you will find two internal chest pockets, one with a zip, as well as a pocket for the back protector. The jacket comes with elbow and shoulder armour. There is also a zip connector at the back to join the jacket with a compatible jean.
It comes in all black colour with subtle design panels on the front to break up the texture. I would have like to have seen a pop of colour (not pink!) as my preference for summer riding but that doesn’t deter me from the jacket. A couple of reflective strips just below the shoulders on the arms and a subtle RST logo finish off the design tastefully. I am very much a fan of subtle branding on any of my clothing.
Overall the jacket is very comfortable, and well tailored for most body shapes with the available adjustments. It looks great with a pair of denim riding jeans for urban riding and even short touring trips.
The first Ducati Dragons weekend brought together over 30 women from across the UK, all with a shared passion for delicious Ducatis. The Dragons filled the car park of Eastwood Hall in Nottingham from Friday 11th to Sunday 13th of June 201 with the rip roaring noise of Ducati twins; the Monster and SuperSport certainly the most popular choice. Sunshine and smiles all round.
Women came from all over the UK to be part of this unique event, instigated by Gillian Riddell, an avid Ducati enthusiast. Gillian is part of the Ducati Owners Club (DOC GB). Gillian regularly attends the DOC outings and despite having several women members, she often ends up being the only one attending the events. She is keen to encourage more women to attend mixed events and by creating an event where women can meet face to face will help make new connections and get more women out together to other events too.
Upon arrival, the Dragons came together for the first time and made new connections, making time for each other before checking in. We chatted to the UpRight Motorcycle Road Safety Campaign team who came to support. Some were able to try different bikes, provided by Martin of Ducati Manchester who had kindly brought some Scramblers and Supersports for test rides. We were even interviewed for BIKE Magazine with lots of posing for photos, it made us feel like celebrities to mark the occasion!
Grabbing a quiet bite to eat before the pre-ride briefing, we set off at 1300 on Saturday on a very unique ride out. We were escorted by Tom from @UpRightDerbys (Insta) on his Police Bike which was very useful for clearing junctions! It was immensely awe inspiring to be out on the road with so many women who have a passion for Italian machines. After the first hour, we split off into different routes to enjoy the Peak District and ensure the well deserved ice cream and cake breaks where we could.
The Dragons returned back to the hotel late afternoon for some quick refreshments and a turnaround for the delicious 3 course dinner. The raffle prizes kept us applauding, especially to the winner of the exclusive Ducati jacket provided by Ducati Manchester and the gift voucher for Maja’s Motorcycle Adventures. The disco endured well into the night, topped off with fantastic goody bags provided by Verity. The Scottoiler discount and T-shirt was a superb donation, along with the Bike Sure 10% off discount offer and merch. The Muc Off Dry Lube and bike cleaner was an ideal addition to all of our garages, topped off with Ducati hats and pens, perfect!
Ready for a fresh morning in the sunshine, the Dragons left the hotel to do some more exploring in the Peaks before making their way home. Everyone who attended made a new connection with a friend in the biking world and a reinforcement that there are plenty of women out there who don’t need much of an excuse to just get out and ride!
I didn’t need it when I had one already and I am lost without it when I don’t have it!
Rather than buying a dedicated gadget for navigation, I use my mobile phone for that. I like it. It’s one less thing to charge and potentially forget to pack, plus it works great. Until recently I have used a universal phone mount which was absolutely fine if a little bit of a faff. I got used to it and it didn’t bother me. The mount consisted of two prongs that were joined but flexible in the middle and you had to push them apart to fit the phone inside. Then there was the rubber tether that went around each corner of the phone. Sometimes this was easy to do and then on the days of butter fingers it was a bit of a pain.
I have heard good things about Quad Lock, mainly from my son who uses it on his mountain bike and from fellow motorcyclists. Having practically zero handlebar space on my bike, I was pleased to see the stem mount fitted perfectly in the hollow where I had the previous mount. This ensured a fuss-free swap and a better fit straight away.
The mount came with the vibration dampener which is a must on a motorcycle with a V-twin engine as feedback from other users would suggests. iPhone cameras have been ruined with the vibration of the motorcycle before.
Once the phone mount is in place, attaching the phone to it is a doddle. You do need the specific case from Quad Lock for your phone as the back of the case is moulded to fit the mount on the bike. The case itself is very strong, I have dropped my phone several times already and the case protected it every time whilst the case itself still looks brand new.
The trick is to angle the phone at 45 degrees to the mount, push in and turn until it clicks in. Very quick and simple and it doesn’t take long to get used to it.
The first ride made me a bit nervous as the phone did shake more than I was used to. Or perhaps it was the same but I just noticed it now because it was a new thing. Not enough to really worry about it falling off, just something I clearly paid attention to more.
First photo stop. Oh, I should mention, I take hundreds of photos on every ride out. The reason for wanting to have my phone easily accessible is not just for the navigation but also for taking photos. Not to mention for making payments at petrol stations. A quick press of the release bar freed my phone, quick photo or several and back it went on the mount. Again and again and with each time I was doing it with less thought and quicker.
Wow, that was impressive. Within just a few hours of using the Quad Lock mount I started to love it! It was so easy to remove the phone and click it back in again I have already forgotten all about my previous setup.
After a few days of using it I decided to get the wireless charging head, too. Nothing worse than running out of charge on your phone just when you need it, right? The charging head was super easy to instal and it uses the bike’s USB port for power. I had to run the cable from under the seat and behind the fairings. Nothing a couple of small cable ties can’t do. So very quick and simple to do.
We get used to good things quickly and don’t think about them anymore. Until you sit on a different bike for a few days and it doesn’t have the same setup as yours. Doh! Out came the battery pack again and charging the phone when stopping resumed.
All in all, a fantastic bit of kit I would happily recommend!
For more Quad Lock UK News check out our dedicated page Quad Lock UK
I’ve had a bit of a hit and miss relationship with motorcycling jeans in the past. More of a miss than a hit, to be perfectly honest. My biggest problem was the fit, especially around the waist area. They were usually too big and stood away from my waist too much and after a couple of hours of riding they became really uncomfortable around the hips. The trouser legs were quite wide and straight cut which meant they were flapping around my ankles when I wore ankle boots but were too wide to tuck into my sports boots. I had therefore decided that motorcycling leggings were the way forward for their fit and comfort.
I’ve always liked the look of the jeans on a motorcycle so I wasn’t ready to give up on them just yet. I’m really glad I haven’t because the RST x Kevlar Ladies Tapered Fit Jeans are a bit of a game changer.
Not only did the material and the stitching look and feel of high quality as soon as I picked them up, they are CE AA rated with the CE Level 1 knee armour. But what impressed me more was the fit. The waist is high enough to stay in place as you sit on your motorcycle and not pulled down or sticking away from your back as it often happens on badly fitting trousers. They are shaped just enough to follow the shape of my legs and the trouser legs are tapered at the bottom to fit comfortably inside my boots. The Kevlar lining ends mid-calf so there isn’t an extra layer of fabric that you need to squeeze into the boots. After a few decent ride outs I am happy to note the jeans kept their shape and don’t stretch too much to end up looking baggy.
Not only that, but the little details such as the measure lines inside the jeans to help you adjust the knee protectors is quite frankly, genius. This means that when you take the knee protectors out to wash your jeans, you don’t have to spend ages re-adjusting them again. All you have to do is remember the position they were in before and pop them back in. The knee protectors are housed inside a fabric bag with a velcro strip which adds to the flexibility of where to position them for the perfect fit and best protection. There are pockets for hip protectors, too should you wish to add them.
The jeans are made from stretch material which means you should go for the smaller size if you are in between sizes. The stretch in the material adds to the comfort and after a day of riding (150 miles) I returned home to a genuine surprise that I was wearing a pair of jeans and not my usual leggings. That’s just how comfortable they are and I am really looking forward to those summer rides of keeping cool in these jeans.
For more reviews check out our dedicated Reviews page
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With the spring teasing us with the first of the warmer days the dreams of summer motorcycling are very much awake. With the change in seasons, the motorcycle clothing gets a once over, too in anticipation of swapping the winter textiles for lighter summer gear.
It is nearly time to retire my winter quilt-like gloves that have served me so well and look for something lighter to stop my hands from sweating in the heat of the summer.
Enter the RST Urban Air 3 glove.
Due to a mix up in the delivery, I originally received the men’s glove size medium. The fit wasn’t great, too big overall and especially the ring and the little finger were lost inside the glove. When I received the ladies’ medium size the difference was noticeable. These fit ‘like a glove’! A great tight fit that isn’t too difficult to get on and off your hands.
In previous seasons I have always opted for a full leather short summer glove and was curious how the leather/textile mix will feel and perform. One thing I can tell you straight away – the air circulation in the RST glove is incredible. You can feel the air going in through the fingers and cooling your hands. Perhaps a little too much in April and thankfully the heated grips did their job whilst I was testing them, but I can see how this will make a huge difference in the summer months.
The mesh sections are fitted on the upper side of the fingers allowing for ventilation and preventing your hands from sweating too much. This means the glove stays dry in hot weather and should be easy to put back on after a pit stop for coffee and cake.
Because they fit so well you feel every control as if you weren’t wearing gloves which makes for a much more enjoyable ride especially after taking the winter ‘quilted’ gloves off. The control of the clutch increases, the throttle responds better and the breaking becomes smoother.
These gloves don’t only look smart and help you ride smoother, they are also Level 1 KP CE certified so they will keep you safe in case of a slide. The protection comes from TPU on the knuckles and TPR on the fingers as well as a memory foam thumb. The palm of the glove is full-grain double layer leather. The index finger also has a smart touch leather for handling your phone/sat nav (never whilst riding!). There is also a large hook on the inside of the glove to help you pull it on the hand if they feel tight or your hands have swollen. The gloves fasted with a hook and loop velcro strap at the wrist.
The glove comes in a few colour variants – full black, black/blue, black/red, black/fluo yellow and my chosen colour combination in black/white to match my Supersport.
I may be a latecomer to the RST brand, having been fairly unfamiliar with it until recently but I see it slowly becoming a regular in my motorcycling wardrobe. The quality, the design and the attention to detail is evident and very impressive.
For more reviews check out our dedicated Reviews page
For more RST Apparel News check out our dedicated page RST News
Women’s motorcycling gear has come a long way in the last few years and it is great to see that more brands are paying attention to what women want.
Protection on our motorcycles is high on our priority list and a proper fit ensures good protection. We also want to look good in our motorcycling gear and not wear men’s fitting clothing with added swirls and bits of pink and call it women’s gear.
Comfort is also high on the list, I suspect for both, male and female riders. Having the gear that is uncomfortable can spoil the ride.
With the change in the seasons and warmer weather arriving a pair of motorcycle leggings is the go-to choice of clothing after ditching the bigger and bulkier winter textiles. I love them because they are so comfortable and simple. No faffage with thermal or waterproof layers, just a pair of trousers that fit like a second skin then you forget about them. Perfect for summer riding.
Weise Pulse leggings are great. They offer protection as well as a good fit. The leggings have two layers, the inner one is aramid fibre lining and the top one is stretch cotton and polyester mix. They are CE approved and AA rated which is the second-highest level of protection and the leggings are fitted with knee and hip armour.
The inner layer ends just at the top of the calf which means there is only one layer in your boots and therefore negating any potential uncomfortable bulking of the material inside your boots.
The waist is cut high with a thick band that keeps them in place and there is no rolling of the top. I would have liked it slightly higher on the back, especially for the sportier ride where you lean forward. Belt hoops would have been useful too, as I found they did slide down a little bit.
I am usually size medium or in between 10 and 12 in most trousers and I ordered the leggings in size 12 (medium). They were too big all over, the waist was standing away from me and there was too much material around my bum and thigh area. The size 10 (small) ones are a much better fit with no sagging of the outer layer and the armour stays in place. Also, the waistband now sits snugly against me.
The two waist pockets at the front are deep enough to safely tuck in small items without fear of losing them.
Time will tell how well they keep their colour after a few washes as black is usually difficult to keep dark when you are riding in the sun and washing the leggings regularly.
All in all a great pair of motorcycle trousers to keep you safe, looking good and incredibly comfortable.
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Touring on a motorcycle is one of the best ways to see new countries, experience new roads, cultures and do some sightseeing without having to think or worry about where to turn next, where to stop for lunch and where to stay the night. A tour guide will take care of all of this and all you have to do is enjoy the ride and take in the scenery.
Maja’s Motorcycle Adventures is a motorcycle touring business based in the idyllic North Wales where the roads offer spectacular rides, amazing views and friendly cafes making it a true bikers’ paradise.
Maja is an adventurer by heart and has been travelling since her teenage years either on a pushbike, hitchhiking or more recently, on a motorcycle.
During Covid, she has pivoted her business into a motorcycle tour business and started taking tours around North Wales on one-day trips. People from Greater Manchester, Derby, Stoke area and further afield made the most of the offer and joined small groups to experience the most of Wales with minimum fuss.
Maja is expanding her offering of tours to include 3-day tours of Wales as well as European destinations such as Switzerland, Bavaria, Slovenia and Croatia, to mention a few.
