Moving on to the Moto2™ ECh, and it is the battle of the Boscoscuros as Moto2™ rookie sensation Fermin Aldeguer (Boscoscuro Talent Team – Ciatti) stormed to a double victory at Estoril, following a titanic scrap between himself and fellow rookie teammate Alonso Lopez. The Spaniards fought hard in the opening round and it could be a repeat performance in Valencia, with both having fond memories – Aldeguer took the STK600 title there last year, whilst Lopez was on the podium in 2017 in the FIM Moto3™ JWCh. Third in the standings is Malaysia’s Adam Norrodin (Liqui Moly Intact SIC Racing Team), who took a first podium at Estoril, whilst Thailand’s Keminth Kubo (VR46 Master Camp Team) is fourth. First pole-sitter of 2021, Lukas Tulovic (Liqui Moly Intact SIC Racing Team), aims for his first ever back-to-back podiums in the Moto2™ ECh, and is currently seventh in the standings.
Motorcycling Victoria recently teamed up with Shannons Insurance’s Girl Rider brand along with some social & road riding groups; The Melbourne Moto Ladies and Motomoiselles Female Social Motorcycle Club, for a coordinated ride to the Broadford circuit.
Women’s only ride days
Partipants then enjoyed a lunch and took part in a parade lap of the 2.4 km circuit, while those already with track experience showed off their skills and speed on the race track.
When not out racing, the ever growing community of women racers attend these days to coach, help motivate attendee and provide
Women’s only ride days at the road race circuit have been a feature at the Broadford State Sports Complex for a number of years now.
Women’s only ride days – Image by RbMotoLens
Together with Dirt Days for women and girls held across the dirt track, the motocross track and enduro loop are now building momentum after a COVID year off. Sunday’s event was the second this year and the next one is scheduled to be held on August 7.
Track sessions at the Women’s only ride days are open for all levels of rider from beginner to advanced.
The parade lap was led by Cameron Donald and Kaz Anderson, who came out to support the day and give the riders some invaluable coaching – Image by RbMotoLens
When not out racing, the ever growing community of women racers attend these days to coach, help motivate attendee and provide. The Dirt Days are catered for all levels of women and girl rider, including junior riders.
When not out racing, the ever growing community of women racers attend these days to coach, help motivate attendee and provide – Image by RbMotoLens
Motorcycling Victoria (MV) has been proactive in increasing Female Participation in all areas of the sport for a number of years. Together with the Victorian State Government MV have developed the Female Participation Program. The women & girls only events are designed to encourage more women and girls to get involved in the fun and adrenaline fuelled sporting side of riding.
Women’s only ride days – Image RbMotoLens
Susie Smith (Participant)
“Thanks for another brilliant day. Its such an inspiring and empowering experience to see so many ladies rocking it on the bikes.”
Women’s only ride days – Image RbMotoLens
Carly Bullock (Participant)
“First timer here!! What an amazing supportive environment! Everyone I met was so inspiring! Thanks to the coaches for the awesome tips, and to everyone who helps make it happen.”
This stunning custom based on a classic air-cooled BMW has us wondering whether BMW will produce more retro models to complement their popular R nineT family.
It was produced by British custom motorcycle shop Sinroja Motorcycles and they call it the R17 which is interesting since BMW recently returned to cruisers with their R 18.
The R 18 was actually born after BMW gave the R 18 engine to a couple of custom houses to see what they could do with it.
In fact, the R nineT was also born after famed LA designer Roland Sands built a modern custom project to honour the venerable R 90.
So it’s not improbable that BMW would look at this classic as a potential for a more retro model in its line-up.
While the R nineT family is popular, I always thought Roland Sands’ version was better and BMW made the r nineT just a little bit too modern looking.
Birju Sinroja started Sinroja Motorcycles in Leicestershire, England, five years ago and has been working on the R17 for two years ago.
Here is their account of the rebuild:
The bike started as a BMW R80 TIC (police specification) that was a true barn find.
The first step was to strip the whole bike, taking it back to bare metal by sand blasting the frame and then cleaning up any unnecessary tabs and bracketry. From there a new subframe was fabricated to create a clean line. We also fabricated and repositioned the footrest for rider and passenger to fit their ergonomic needs. The handmade mudguards are finished with simple braces, holding them up to nicely balance the lines of the bike and provide some protection from dirt on the road.
All classic customs that leave Sinroja workshop get a full crank-up engine rebuild and the R17 was no exception. We stripped the almost 40-year-old powertrain all the way to crank, replacing all key components like big end bearings, chains, guides, pushrod tubes etc, and rebuilding it to better than factory standards. This engine received our 1000cc (originally 800cc) conversion with machined and ported heads and high compression pistons to up the power. All the cases are vapour blasted and painted black with fins polished for great looks. The gearbox and bevel drive got a full rebuild with all fresh bearings, seals, gaskets etc and some unique Sinroja upgrades. Carburettors were also fully rebuilt with bigger jets to help with upgraded engine. The exhausts were fabricated in-house and then finished by Motone’s one-off end cans.
Handling is vastly improved with a complete custom suspension set-up. Yamaha R6 forks have been reworked with Nitron Suspension racing range cartridges and fully adjustable Nitron rear shocks. The forks retain the R6 calipers for improved braking performance to further increase rideability. Fastec Racing created the billet machined yokes. The custom 18- inch wire wheels were built by Hagon using custom-made rims and stainless spokes.
A brand-new wiring loom from TowzaTronics replaces all of the original wiring. At the heart of all of the electronics is a Motogadget M-Unit Blue. It controls all aspects of the electronic system and also allows Bluetooth phone connection with a diagnostic support function. The M-unit also allows keyless ignition system via the owner’s phone. The R17 is fitted with Motogadget switches, bar end indicators and grips along with 7-inch halo headlight. Rear indicators are from Rizoma and double up as brake and running lights. The final element is a beautiful dash hosting the Motogadget speedo.
The stunning black/Corris Grey livery draws inspiration from the client’s love of Land Rovers and Range Rovers. The stitching on the seat mirrors that of the car and even the saddle leather came from a Land Rover. The aesthetics are finished with a machined Sinroja emblem that sits proudly on the tank.
This bike came with a perfect brief in my opinion. We had pretty much a free reign on what to do. It’s great to be in a place where customers just let you do what you want and have that trust and faith in skills we have. The end result is something we are super proud of indeed. A timeless design and giving rebirth to an old airhead that had been neglected for years in a barn is just a great feeling.
Twisted Road, a ride-sharing community responsible for thousands of motorcycle rentals all over the country has just released a new program dubbed “One, Two, Free”. The program gives those who wish to rent motorcycles even more opportunities to hit the open road by giving them free rental days in the community.
The launch of the new program benefits those who wish to rent motorcycles and encourages them to rent for an extended time, again and again. The recurring One, Two, Free program gives the rentee the ability to one free day or to accumulate those earned days for future rentals after two rentals.
Founder and CEO of Twisted Roads, Austin Rothbard said “We continue to find ways to make riding more affordable,” and when asked how to take advantage of the new program he said “This program is simple. No fees, no membership, no limits, no promo codes.”
“We’ve made this as simple as we could. The free rides just appear in the rider’s accounts once the first two rides have been taken. It’s like getting a free cup of coffee after your 10th cup. Only it’s a free day of riding. And instead of buying 10 rides, you only need to ride twice.”
The company allows motorcycle owners to earn cash while renting their own bikes on the platform. Twisted Road offers extensive insurance on rentals to ensure everyone is taken care of.
Though Twisted Road isn’t the only major player in the peer-to-peer rental industry, we’re happy more platforms like this exist to give riders a chance to get on two wheels without spending $20K on a new motorcycle. For more information on Twisted Road, head to their website.
“I don’t like these words. Yes, with the techniques we have now, but I’m curious to see if I can train in a different way, I can change a little bit the position of the bike to gain something. I don’t know. I’m curious because it’s close to ten years that I’m in MotoGP, and I really never had this problem. So, it’s something new. We have to try to understand. Now I’m a little bit worried, not for Le Mans, but yes for Mugello. Mugello is I think the worst circuit of the calendar and I really suffer a lot the last part of the race. I wasn’t the only one. So let’s see if I can fix it by there.”
The silver pairing in your Spanish Grand Prix optimal team were Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) and Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar). Yamaha’s Morbidelli was the highest points scorer on Saturday after grabbing an extra five bonus points for topping Q1 before then qualifying second on the grid. On Sunday, the Italian collected a further 16 points, his biggest haul of the season, meaning he features in our optimal team for the first time in 2021. Mir produced yet another Mir performance on Sunday as he rose through from tenth on the grid to take fifth, and 22 points as a result.
Husqvarna has announced both its motocross and cross-country motorcycles for 2022.
Begin Press Release:
HUSQVARNA MOTORCYCLES PRESENTS COMPETITION-FOCUSED LINEUP OF 2022 MOTOCROSS AND CROSS-COUNTRY MODELS
SUBTLE REFINEMENTS AND A STRIKING NEW LOOK FOR ALL FULL-SIZED FC/TC AND FX/TX MACHINES
Delivering unmatched performance and adorned with Swedish-inspired dark blue and white graphics for a striking new look, Husqvarna Motorcycles North America, Inc. is pleased to announce the launch of its twelve-motorcycle strong, competition-focused 2-stroke and 4-stroke lineup of motocross and cross-country machines. Developed to create superior riding experiences for racers of all ages, the 2022 models provide uncompromised power-to-weight performance, together with leading ergonomics and aesthetics, and exceptional handling.
Along with its striking new dark blue and white color scheme, Husqvarna Motorcycles has improved the durability of all full-sized FC/TC and FX/TX machines, with each model now featuring a Brembo hydraulic clutch system. The high-performance component is thoroughly race-tested to guarantee even wear, near maintenance-free operation and perfect action in all conditions.
Ensuring exceptional comfort and control, the 2022 models are equipped with class-leading WP Suspension, which delivers precise handling to riders of all skill levels. Highly adjustable WP XACT forks with AER technology feature a capsulated air spring and pressurized oil chamber for consistent damping across rough terrain. Complimenting the forks, new low-friction seals on the WP XACT shock ensure optimal rear-end performance on all surfaces.
With exceptional power and superior handling, the TC lineup remains the racers’ choice when it comes to 2-stroke motocross machinery. Featuring compact, powerful, high-performance engines, the TC 125 and TC 250 machines are modern motorcycles designed to deliver pure intensity and incredible on-track experiences in all conditions. Taking 2-stroke development to the next level, the TX 300i with innovative fuel injection feeding the 300 cc powerplant is the clear choice for off-road competition dominance.
Engineered to stay ahead of the field, Husqvarna Motorcycles’ 4-stroke machines feature lightweight and compact engines that produce class-leading power and ensure incredible maneuverability, together with progressive and consistent suspension. Exclusive to the FC 250 and FC 350 and the FX 350 machines, for 2022 a new friction bearing on the counter-balancer shaft increases the durability of the high-revving 4-stroke engines.
Sharing the same advanced platform as the motocross models, Husqvarna Motorcycles’ cross-country range continues to lead the segment with carefully considered cross-country specific features including large capacity fuel tanks, convenient side stands and a 21/18-inch D.I.D DirtStar wheel combination fitted with Dunlop Geomax AT81 tires.
Technical Highlights 2022:
New high-performance Brembo hydraulic clutch system guarantees even wear, near maintenance-free operation and perfect action in every condition
New Swedish-inspired dark blue and white graphics create striking new look
WP XACT forks with AER technology – optimal performance and light weight
Interchangeable airbox cover on FC models for optimized airflow
CNC-machined triple clamps
Brembo brake calipers and high-performance discs combining superior stopping power with great control and confidence
Traction and launch control with advanced settings (4-strokes)
Electric starter for easy starting when time is critical (4-strokes and TX 300i)
Lightweight Li-ion 2.0 Ah battery (4-strokes and TX 300i)
ProTaper handlebars
Progressive throttle mechanism and ODI grips allow for adjustable throttle progression and easy grip mounting
Laser engraved D.I.D DirtStar wheels
Gearboxes produced by Pankl Racing Systems
Additionally, Husqvarna Motorcycles is proud to offer a full range of minicycles that provides youth-specific ergonomics and user-friendly operation for aspiring future champions. Allowing youngsters to develop their skills in readiness for the full-sized machines, the TC 50, TC 65, TC 85 and EE 5 deliver incredible performance and serious motocross fun.
Technical Highlights 2022 minicycles:
Unrivalled engine performance and rideability
WP XACT forks with AER technology – optimal performance and light weight
Confidence-instilling ergonomics thanks to a broad, flat seat and one-piece airbox cover
High-grip seat cover for comfort
Roller actuated throttle assembly for TC 85 – smoother throttle motion and improved durability
Formula brake calipers, clutch and brake assemblies for TC 85 and TC 65 – excellent stopping power and improved reliability
Ensuring comfort, protection and style, the Functional Off-road Apparel Collection provides a range of performance-focused apparel, for riders of all ages and abilities. With each product incorporating the latest material and construction technologies, the line-up also delivers protective equipment for both adults and kids.
The Husqvarna Motorcycles Technical Accessories range includes an extensive selection of engine and chassis upgrade options, for both 2-stroke and 4-stroke machines. With exhausts, suspension, brakes, graphics and many other products, the performance of the TC and FC motocross and TX and FX cross-country models can be further enhanced to meet the needs of all riders.
The 2022 motocross and cross-country range will be available this May at all authorized Husqvarna Motorcycles dealers.
For the 2021 Yamaha Tenere 700, National Cycle’s VStream Windscreen comes in three sizes (from left): VSport ($129.95, light tint), Sport/Touring ($149.95, light tint) and Touring ($159.95, clear).
The windscreen on our long-term Yamaha Ténéré 700 not only complements the bike’s rally styling but works quite well for a stock bug catcher. Still, I felt that comfort for long highway stretches could be improved. My priorities for an upgrade were reducing wind noise and buffeting, retaining the bike’s good looks and durability. Having enjoyed a National Cycle screen on a previous motorcycle, I gave its VStream Sport model ($129.95, light tint) a go.
The shortest of three Ténéré windscreens offered, the Sport measures 12 inches from top to bottom, just an inch more than the stocker and low enough for adventuring. Calming the cockpit requires moving wind blast to the sides and away from the rider’s head. To accomplish this, the VStream is 4 inches wider than stock and incorporates side flares as part of its patented shape. I think they’re onto something, at least for a rider of my 5-foot, 8-inch stature. My freeway rides were definitely quieter, with less turbulence around my helmet; your decibels may vary. Taller riders can opt for the 15.25-inch Sport/Touring ($149.95, light tint) or 18-inch Touring ($159.95, clear) versions.
The VStream Sport Windscreen installed on our 2021 Yamaha Tenere 700 long-term test bike. (Photo by the author)
National Cycle’s proprietary 3-mm-thick Quantum hardcoated polycarbonate addresses durability issues. They’ve tested it to be 10 times more abrasion resistant than the next best material, Lexan FMR, and invite doubters to attack it with steel wool. So I did, also going after the Yamaha’s Lexan screen. With some hard work, I put a few small scratches in the VStream, and with much less effort did serious damage to the stock unit. A harder surface keeps the view clean and crisp by preventing light-scattering scratches and lets me slack off on my persnickety shield cleaning routine. National Cycle’s website video of a screen taking a shotgun blast vividly displays its polycarbonate’s impact resistance (spoiler: it didn’t break), making the 3-year breakage warranty a safe bet.
Installing the VStream on the T7 was as simple as removing four 4mm hex-head screws, swapping screens and re-installing the screws. The width of the Sport takes something from the 700’s rally vibe, but what it gives back in durability and comfort make it worth the sacrifice for me. Having made windshields since 1937 and pioneered the use of polycarbonate in 1975, National Cycle knows how to build a good windscreen. And they do it in the U.S.A.
So, the word on the street is that you want to take some sweet, sweet photos of your precious wheels. Think you’re a bloody professional photographer or something, do you? You don’t? Well, I do. And as one, I’m here to tell you a few little secrets about where to shoot your precious noise-maker so that the results look a little more ‘rad’ and a little less ‘sad’.
So join me as we rummage through my database of cool locations and listen while I tell you what makes them so damn good. Also, keep your eyes peeled for bonus ‘hot tips’ that will make you photos suck even less. No, no. It’s OK. You can thank me later.
Location 1: Nowhere
The biggest mistake I see with most moto photos is overly interesting locations. Think about it like this; when you take a photo of an amazing motorcycle, do you want viewers to be looking at the random thing just behind the bike, or the bike itself?
If you’re new to all this stuff and you want the bike to look its best, just find a big, open, empty piece of nothing to shoot. That way, you’ll be sure that people are looking at what they should be, and not what they shouldn’t.
Hot Tip: See those little numbers on the camera that say things like ‘f2.8’, ‘f8’, and ‘f16’. Set them at as low as possible. This reduces your depth of field and makes everything in front and behind the bike go blurry. This is a good thing. If your camera doesn’t do this, get one that does.
Location 2: A Quiet Country Lane
No buildings. No onlookers asking lame technical questions about the bike or the camera. No cars passing by. That’s right, the countryside is your best friend when it comes to bike photos. Again, it’s usually open, empty and neutral, too. Maybe try a spot with some hills in the distance. Long grass, or a line of trees. They can add a little interest without overwhelming things.
And if there are some nice clouds around, get them in the shot too. Now that you know about depth of field, they’ll be all out of focus and soft. But if there are cows about, definitely do not include them. Cows are weird and funny.
Hot Tip: Shoot at golden hour. It’s that time in the hour after sunrise or before sunset where the light is low, yellow golden, and bloody beautiful. If the sun is in your shot washing everything out, just hold your hand or finger in the top of the shot to block or control the glare; you can always remove it in post.
Location 3: The Beach
The best thing the beach has going for it – apart from the space – is that amazing horizon line that will cut like a knife right through the back of all your photos. In photos, lines are good. They give your eye something to follow and they’re fun to play with when you’re composing shots.
Also, off road bikes can be shot on the sand but note that the footprints you make while positioning the bike can look weird, so be prepared for some Photoshopping.
Hot Tip: Get down low. Shooting at eye level makes for boring photos because that’s the same angle you always see bikes from. Try shooting from the same height as the bike’s tank. The angle is much cooler and the bike will look clean and balanced.
Location 4: Underground Car Parks
They are dark, minimal and they look cinematic. Shooting bikes here is one of the easiest ways to get cool shots fast. Some of my first decent bike shots were done like this. Try and keep the space behind clear of cars and use the traffic markings to your advantage, as above.
Another benefit is that you can shoot at any time, day or night. Golden hour is cool, but sometimes you just can’t wait or the weather may be rubbish. In these instances, a garage is like a personal studio. You can set it up however you like without conditions changing.
Hot Tip: If the garage has fluorescent lights, you can twist them off by turning the strip tubes slightly – even the caged ones. But keep one on directly above the bike. This way you get a pool of light that the bike will sit in and the rest of the garage will be all cool and dark. Use a tripod if the shutter speed gets below 1/30th of a second to avoid shake.
Location 5: Rooftop Car Parks
Detecting a theme? Once again. It’s about open space and just the right amount of nothing but something backgrounds. Some rooftops might have sky behind them. Some might even have cool city views. These are all fine; just find out when they are empty. Even better; try airport car parks during a global pandemic…
After dark, you can also experiment with pole lights and dark backgrounds. Just be aware that some of this lighting can create weird colours in photos. Set your white balance to ‘auto’ in these cases.
Hot Tip: Wet the surface under the bike for that always cool Blade Runner look. Or see if you can shoot at sunset just after some rain. It’s a big ask from Mother Nature, but you’ll get silly cool shots.
Location 6: Industrial Areas
The great thing about bikes and locations is that you can mix and match them. Got a 1950s British bike? Shoot it at an old factory with chimneys and arches to give it that ‘Industrial Age’ feel. Or mix it up and shoot a brand new V4 Ducati there. Contrast can make for great shots, too.
But always be wary of my number one pet hate: bikes photographed in front of graffiti. Brightly-coloured walls full of eye-catching shapes and wacky words are the exact opposite of what you’re after. Show me a bike that can outshine 10 foot high psychedelic artwork and I’ll eat my hat.
Hot Tip: Always grade your shots after shooting. None of the shots you see here are straight from the camera; all of them have been adjusted to look more awesome. Check out Adobe’s Lightroom app on your phone – it’s free and it comes with filters.
Location 7: Anywhere in the Desert
There’s a reason why so many cool auto and moto photographers come from L.A. and that’s because L.A. is basically half desert and half ocean. It’s a photographer’s paradise. Close your eyes, spin in a circle and press the camera’s shutter release; you’ll probably capture an incredible image here. Bonus points if you also get a movie star in it.
Deserts also have truckloads of dust and haze, making the atmosphere really heavy and the sunlight incredibly vivid. Position the bike directly between the camera and the setting sun. Wait until the sun is just below the horizon and go nuts.
Hot Tip: Off road bike? Sunset? Heaps of dust? Get someone on that damn bike to ride past you and kick up some dust! Or hang out of a car window and get them to ride alongside while you shoot them. Haven’t you heard? Action shots rule.
Location 8: The Ones That Suck
Sometimes you just won’t have the luxury of choosing a killer location at an amazing time to get the best shots possible. Take the above photo. Yes, it was taken at golden hour, but the rest of the scene was completely meh. The bike wasn’t registered, so it couldn’t be ridden anywhere and the builder’s shop was surrounded by fugly industrial units and overflowing dumpsters.
So I grabbed a stepladder and shot the bike at an interesting angle while making sure there was nothing else in view. And for any other shots, I made sure the sun was in the background to overexpose all the ugliness. Why yes, I am pretty resourceful. Thanks for noticing.
Hot Tip: Take time to think about the location. There’s nothing worse than realising after a shoot that all the photos look like ass. If you can make a call and shoot to accommodate the negatives, you’ll always end up with better shots than just ‘spraying and praying’.
Pants. They are the comedy sidekick of the moto gear world. Even the word itself sounds funny. ‘PANTS!’ It’s like the punchline to a joke. It’s even funnier when the gear makers talk about them in the singular using the word ‘pant’. And most times, this is exactly how the riding public treats them, too. They are the last thing you think about after you’ve spent a small fortune on getting a kick-ass helmet, jacket and boots. Forever the afterthought.
But why is this? Well, up until a few years ago, there was a real lack of decent pants available to riders. Unless you wanted to go for some top shelf leathers, most other options looked like Dad jeans or – worse still – like you’d just jumped off your Harley at the Sturgis show circa 1988. ‘Cool’ options just didn’t exist. Fast forward ten years and now we’re swamped with selvedge this and waxed cotton that. These ‘Tasker’ pants from the Aussie slash New Zealand Earnest Co. definitely fit into that second group, but are they any good?
What are they, exactly?
The pants are a ‘Kevlar infused’ design (as opposed to ‘Kevlar lined’, which means that the tough stuff is sewn into the pants behind the denim) that’s just about as close as you’ll get to a regular pair of black Levis without risking skin loss. And as per their ‘workwear’ affiliations, they are designed to be comfy and functional enough to allow you to wear them on and off the bike with a minimum of hassle.
‘My current bike pants already do that!’ I hear some of you murmur. Sure, it’s no biggie. At least it’s not as big a deal as – say – a jacket that does the same thing. But should your day job involve any sort of tools, pens, rulers or general long pointy things, the pants have been rather subtly designed to allow you to accommodate these without a) looking like a Valentino Rossi moonlighting as a handyman or b) looking like a boilermaker trying to set a lap record.
Who’s Earnest, then?
A grass-roots moto and workwear clothing business, Earnest Co. was started in New Zealand in 2012 by a bunch of bike and car customisers who needed some gear to do a rather particular set of things and just weren’t finding anything suitable from the gear makers of the time.
Being at the tip of the now popular ‘work look’ moto style, Earnest have made quite the splash down under, and they are now pushing hard to do the same in the US and Europe. With a concise but highly refined range including overall, aprons, pants jackets and gloves, a quick perusal of their gear reminds any bikers with some remaining short term memory just how far we’ve come with our gear choices over the last 10 or 15 years.
What do they look like?
Thankfully the Tasker pants understand that sometimes, you want your pants to take a back seat in the ‘overall ensemble’ party. Sure, camo patterns and the ever-popular cargo 47 pocket look still hold their own but personally, I mostly want my pants to protect my southern junk from angry tarmac rather than to fight for attention.
So if you’re a black jeans kind person off the bike, then these little fellas will tick most of your boxes once your butt is bike-bound. Yes, they do have a few extra seams to distinguish themselves from your garden variety pair of 511s, but most casual observers would be hard-pressed to tell the difference unless they get a real close, and by that time you’re probably more concerned about getting lucky or firing up your taser than you are with abrasion resistance.
What are they made like?
Earnest goes to great lengths describing how their ‘K-Canvas’ materials will protect your skin in the hopefully unlikely case of some unwanted freeway breakdancing lessons, but to my untrained eye, the stuff is as close to regular denim, which in my books is a very good thing. Sure, some of the stitching looks a little more ‘industrial’ than your average pants and the things are definitely ‘substantial’ in their build and heft, but that’s nothing that can’t be said for a quality pair of denim jeans either.
Unlike some of their competitors, you’ll have no real issue accepting that things are up to the task at hand. Without naming any names, I’ve tried on pairs of similar Kevlar weaves in the past and I just didn’t buy the claims the manufacturers were making. They just seemed too thin and light to be able to take a real licking. Rest assured the Taskers aren’t a bit like that.
One word to the wise. They are quite a slim cut, so in my humble opinion, you’ll be more likely to run into sizing issues regarding your inner seam and your ability to bend your knees than not being able to do up the top button. But as with all jeans, they will no doubt give a little over time.
What features do they have?
Here’s where I have my word work cut out for me. Why? Because the Tasker’s clean, minimal utilitarianism means that they are mercifully fuss and do-dad free. No 12 zippers and 27 pockets here. That’s good for a clean look and a fad-free timelessness, bad for the guy who has to come up with all the words to do them justice.
But thanks to Earnest themselves, I can just geek out over a handy specs sheet and let you all know that the material is 20 times stronger than regular denim and it can also stand up against all kinds of sparks and stray blades in a typical workshop environment. It’s also triple-stitched where it counts to make sure an off-bike excursion doesn’t also force you into an unplanned strip-tease routine.
The traditionally-located (i.e. throttle side) coin pouch has a handy design that means it’s divided into two sections – one for your metal moola and one for tools. Think of it as a convenient place to stow a pencil or even a pocket knife without having it standing proud. But be wary of the fact that coins stowed in the wrong compartment will be too deeply buried to be retrieved with standard-length fingers. And just in case you need to be told, never ride with tools on your person. Never ever.
Similar tool-focused pockets are located above the right knee and there’s a ‘Pad protected gadget pocket’ inside the standard LHS hip pocket that fits phones up to an iPhone 11 Pro Max size. Last items on the features list include double canvas layers on the knees and booty bumps, and triple-reinforced pocket entries to ensure that repeated use won’t see them turn into dangling flaps.
Why should I buy a pair?
Look, far be it from me to stop you from riding around town looking like Krusty the Clown, if you follow my on-bike fashion ethos of ‘party up top, business down below’ then the Earnest Co. Tasker pants are a very solid choice. Designed by riders like you and I and not by fashion types that wouldn’t know the difference between a low-side and a side stand, they do what they set out to without exception or pretence.
Think of them like the Jay Leno of moto pants. They are eternally consistent, down-to-earth and not funny or weird in the slightest. If you’re looking to rock up to your local bike stop and explode people’s eyeballs with your ludicrous selection of ‘pant’, then these won’t be the choice for you. But if you want a reliable workhorse that’s genuinely good value (thanks weak New Zealand Dollar!) and that will still be holding up their end of the deal in 5 year’s time, they are a great place to start.
Pros:
Built like a tank
Beautifully functional
Nicely understated
Genuinely multi-purpose
Cons:
No armour as standard
No winter lining
Slim cut may feel awkward at first
Right now, the Tasker pants will set you back $270.00 NZD (that’s USD$194, £140, €160 and AUD$251 at time of writing). They come in sizes from 28/33 to 42/36; but Earnest notes that sizing runs a little slim, so maybe consider going for one size up than usual. Click below to find out more.
