Month: September 2016

Gear Gremlin has a selection of add-ons to keep both bikes and riders in peak condition over the autumn/winter months.

Classic Neon Cover — If a motorcycle or scooter is parked outside overnight, covering it is a must. A quality, well-fitted and properly specified cover will offer protection from rain, frost, snow, dust, spray from passing vehicles, bird droppings and UV exposure, not to mention prying eyes – the police advise owners to cover their machines if possible.

The Classic Neon Cover is made from a waterproof, soft and durable fabric, with elastic hems for a secure fit and reinforced side cut-outs so that a security chain can be passed through. The top portion of the cover is neon yellow, for added visibility in low light.

The Classic comes in three sizes, is washable and comes with a handy storage bag;- find out more

12V Intelligent Charger — Battery care is also crucial during colder periods, when low temperatures cause the power output from the battery to drop, as the chemical reaction that generates electrons to supply the current proceeds more slowly.

Gear Gremlin’s 12V Intelligent Charger is a microprocessor-based battery charger and maintainer, suitable for all 12V gel and lead acid batteries, from 2.3Ah – 120Ah capacities.- Fully automated, the Intelligent Charger adjusts the current according to the battery’s capacity rating and can diagnose – and attempt to recover – a sulphated battery. It will also check for and indicate a weak or damaged battery.

Its built-in automatic voltage management system cuts charging when the battery is fully charged, and the charger also features protection from polarity reverse, short circuit, over temperature, over current and over voltage, for complete safety and peace of mind. Find out more

HEATED GRIPS FHG2 — Designed to provide continual, controllable warmth, heated grips reduce the need for bulky, insulated gloves and enable riders to select the ideal temperature to keep hands functioning comfortably – crucial for autumn/winter riding, where conditions require careful operation of the throttle, clutch and front brake.

Each Gear Gremlin heated grip set comes complete with a combined on/off and temperature control switch, which is easily operated with gloved hands, and can be handlebar or bodywork mounted for quick operation. There are two temperature settings so riders can tailor the heat level to the conditions.

The premium-quality FHG2 grips are designed to provide a confident hold and comfort, and are manufactured from anti-split and anti-perish rubber.- Find out more

Draggin has been using genuine DuPontâ„¢ Kevlar® in its products since it first began production of its jeans back in 1997. Despite there being a number of alternative fabrics available nowadays, the company sees absolutely no reason to use anything else.

For more than 50 years, DuPont’s Kevlar has been the number one choice for strength and safety in a variety of applications across a broad range of industries. The company’s heritage and experience in the field is unrivalled, giving its customers total peace of mind and complete assurance that the product does exactly what it’s designed to do.

Well known for its use in military and law enforcement protective clothing, Kevlar is a key component in body armour and flak jackets helping to protect personnel from ballistic projectiles, explosive fragmentation and other combat hazards. Five times stronger than steel on an equal-weight basis, it offers superior protection, yet is lightweight and comfortable enough to help improve mobility and reduce fatigue in the field.

Given its effectiveness in such extreme situations, Kevlar’s use in motorcycle apparel was a natural progression and it was Draggin’s Grant Mackintosh who pioneered its use in jeans. Given his many years of experience in the field, Grant is uniquely placed to answer questions that often come up regarding the use of Kevlar in protective motorcycle wear. In the following text he attempts to address these.

Q: Any jeans advertised as made with Kevlar are going to protect me, right?

’œNot necessarily,’ says Grant. ’œUnfortunately there are some poor imitators out there using the Kevlar name for a fibre that is absolutely not made by DuPont. We have developed our own lining, while many others just call up the factories in the Far East and ask for Kevlar, but they can’t guarantee what they are getting. Worryingly, some of them just use yellow cotton while others are actually flammable. The only way to be sure is if they have the DuPont logo on the label. I’m proud to say that we were the first motorcycle jeans manufacturer to pass strict DuPont criteria to attain a licence agreement and we were also the world’s first DuPont Preferred Licensee for motorcycle garments.’

Q: I was told that during a slide, Kevlar jeans can get very hot and either burn or melt onto the skin. Is this true?

’œDuPont Kevlar has no melting point, so there is zero chance of it melting onto the skin,’ explains Grant. ’œAs far as heat goes, perhaps in some brands of riding jeans there may be an issue with heat transfer – it depends on the fabric and whether a liner is incorporated. Our knitted fabric, for example, produces a soft material in which the loop of the fabric faces the road. This is more than twice as effective at dissipating heat and resisting abrasion as a flat weave and also results in faster deceleration. Add to that an internal lining and you’ve got all the protection you’ll need from both heat and abrasion.’

Q: I read on the internet that Kevlar degrades through hydrolysis. Does that mean I can’t wash my jeans?
’œThis is yet another unsubstantiated claim,’ says Grant. He goes on to explain, ’œDuPont itself says that fabrics engineered with Kevlar can easily be washed at high temperatures and tumble dried. In its Kevlar technical booklet it clearly states that there is no degradation to performance of the material due to water exposure – tests have even been carried out where Kevlar was submerged in ocean water for 12 months and no degradation occurred.’

Q: It’s a fact that UV degrades Kevlar. That’s surely bad news for my jeans?

’œEverything is susceptible to degradation from UV exposure,’ says Grant. ’œHouse bricks, car paint, and yes, Kevlar, but that doesn’t mean your jeans are going to be useless after a summer’s riding. I don’t know about other brands of motorcycle jeans that use, say, Vectran for instance, which is well known to have very low UV resistance, but from evidence we’ve collected so far on our own products we’ve been really surprised by what we’ve found. We recently had a pair of 11 year old Draggin jeans returned to us for data collection after they protected the rider in a crash. The incredible thing is that they actually tested 30% better than when new and had most certainly been washed, worn with bent knees, rained on, sweated in and worn in the summer sun in Australia for over a decade,’ he reveals. ’œIt’s really exciting and with our lab tests we are seeing similar improvements in performance with intense washing, drying and retesting. We continue to have fun figuring out and pushing the science behind it!’

FIND OUT MORE

As the autumn nights draw in and weather conditions deteriorate, motorcyclists can often find themselves riding in poor visibility.
The advice from Think! – the Department for Transport road safety campaign – is crystal clear; ’œWear bright or fluorescent gear during the day and reflective gear at night’.
Weise® designed the Vision waistcoat specifically for motorcycle & scooter riders.
It is made from 75 Denier polyester and Lycra® so that it fits snugly over bike clothing and won’t flap about in the wind.
Its bright neon yellow colour is enhanced by reflective stripes to front and back and there is a useful ID pocket for driving licence or emergency contact details.
The Weise Vision is washable, so it can be kept bright and fresh, and comes in sizes S-5XL for a perfect fit over motorcycle clothing.

More details here.