The long-awaited annual Aldi motorcycle gear sale will be held throughout Australia on 30 September 2020, a month after its usual date due to the coronavirus pandemic.
And this year it will be held on a Wednesday rather than a Saturday, which will make it difficult for those who work.
Most of the riding gear on sale is fairly typical — gloves, pants, thermals, socks, and helmets — and all for males with no women-specific gear this time.
It’s a smaller-than-usual selection of items with no motorcycle jackets this year.
Other sale items are a tank/tail bag, disc lock, and bike cover.
The annual sale is usually extremely popular with riders but has also attracted its fair share of criticism for taking business away from dealers.
Those who support the sale say it provides good quality gear at cheap prices which encourages riders to wear safety gear when riding.
For example, the Euro-approved riding jeans cost just $89.99, disc lock and cover are $29.99, gloves $39.99, tail/tank bag $39.99 and the full-face helmet with drop-down sun visor is just $79.99.
Supply is limited, so it’s recommended that riders queue up early.
Sizing is also limited with the helmet, for example, in medium, large, and XL only.
Aldi Australia has confirmed its annual motorcycle gear sale will return, but has not yet named a date nor confirmed whether the pandemic will delay the sale.
An Aldi Australia spokesperson says their motorcycle Special Buy theme “continues to return every year as a result of its popularity and following from motorcycle enthusiasts, who are after quality gear for great prices”.
“Like with all our products, we continue to improve our range by making necessary changes,” they say.
They would not confirm a date nor say whether the pandemic would cause a delay.
We will publish the sale date and list of products and prices as soon as it is available.
Sticky situation
Ray with the sticky helmet
It follows a recent claim by Sydney rider Ray Schriever that the silver paint on Aldi helmets he bought in 2015 had crazed and become sticky, despite limited use.
“The helmet was sticky all over. I took it to the sink and gave it a wash but the sticky mess just congealed or balled up,” he says.
The Aldi Australia spokesperson says:
Before 2016, a different type of paint was used on the motorcycle helmets and after listening to our customers feedback we learnt that the helmet would sometimes become sticky if stored in damp conditions for a long period of time. As a result we worked with our business partner to improve the paint and the new formula was introduced in 2016. The safety of the helmet has never been impacted, the sticky surface was an aesthetic fault only. It does not damage the shell, the EPS liner or the structure of the helmet. Our helmets come with a 12-month warranty.
We do not suggest this paint issue would also affect helmet integrity in the event of a crash.
Aldi claims the gear they offer in their annual motorcycle gear sale is safe, but one Sydney reader says at least silver Aldi helmets don’t age well.
Ray Schriever bought a stack of helmets from Aldi in 2015 and all the silver paint has now crazed and become sticky, despite limited use.
We contacted Aldi for comment but have not yet received a reply. This article will be updated if/when they reply.
Ray says he bought a few spare helmets in various sizes and kept them in their bags in the garage for visiting friends.
Aldi helmets
He bought three silver/grey Aldi helmets – two full-faced and one open-faced — plus two black open-faced Aldi helmets.
“Having recently built a sidecar I thought I might go for a tootle with one of the open-faced helmets,” Ray says.
“To my surprise I had a devil of a time getting it out of the bag.
“The helmet was sticky all over. I took it to the sink and gave it a wash but the sticky mess just congealed or balled up.
“I sprayed the helmet with isopropyl alcohol and it stated to remove the sticky coating with a fair bit of elbow grease.
“I soon realised that I was also removing the outer coating of paint on the helmet. That definitely shouldn’t be happening.”
Ray then checked his other helmets and found the same issue with all those with silver paint.
“All of my helmets (eight in all) share the same shelf in my garage so it isn’t an environmental issue as other brands and other colours are not affected, including my ancient RJays helmet that sits there unused and uncovered,” Ray says.
“The full-face helmets are untouched but sticky on both the grey section and the patterned sections of the helmet.
“The difference between the layers of paint can be clearly seen on the open-faced grey helmet.
“The top layer dissolves in either isopropyl alcohol or methylated spirits. Both are alcohol bases and shouldn’t affect cured paint.
“Pretty disappointing really. Never had anything like this right back to pudding basin days.
“Would have expected these barely used helmets to last instead of self destruct.”
Helmet safety
We do not suggest this paint issue would also affect helmet integrity in the event of a crash.
Aldi claims this year’s annual motorcycle gear sale will feature their safest gear yet with their $189 leather jacket being the most popular buy.
The sale is usually held in the first couple of Saturdays of August, but has been delayed this year until 31 August 2019, starting at 8.30am.
“Every year we work to improve the range to make it even better than the last,” an Aldi spokesperson says.
“This year is no exception, with considerable time devoted to product development, sourcing and testing to ensure our products are of the highest quality and exceptionally priced.”
In past year, sale items have been selected with the help of Neuroscience Research Australia’s Dr Liz de Rome.
Liz, a rider since 1969, also helped develop MotoCAP, motorcycle clothing ratings system. So far, MotoCAP has not tested any Aldi products.
Safety claims
However, Aldi claims they have been “testing relevant motorcycle clothing products to European Standards for several years in order to obtain independent certification”.
“This year, we have worked closely with our supply partners to create products that are both safe and stylish – all without compromising on quality,” their spokesperson says.
“All Torque motorcycle clothing has been certified to the European Personal Protective Equipment Regulation (2016/425).
“We anticipate the leather jacket will be popular among customers as it is exceptional value for money.”
Aldi says the Torque leather jacket features APT-TECH protection technology at the elbows and shoulders, is compliant to Level 2 European Standard EN 13595 and has impact protectors in the back, shoulder and elbow that are compliant to EN 1621.
Leather Jacket – $189
Their Torque motorcycle boots ($99.99) have strengthened heels, hi-vis reflective ankle strips and meet requirements of the Personal Protective Equipment standard EN 13634.
Boots – $99.99
The Torque motorcycle denim jeans ($79.99) have reinforcement lining made of “high-tenacity aramid fibre at critical areas of seat, hips & knees”. They are compliant to EN 17092-4:2019 for “A” classification garments and feature EN 1621 knee protectors.
Denim Jeans – $79.99
They have a choice of two Torque gloves, both costing $34.99.
Their goat leather pair have carbon fibre protectors for the knuckles and fingers, rubber padding in “critical areas” and are EN 13594 level 1 compliant.
Carbon Knuckle Leather Gloves – $34.99 (2)
However, their padded gloves do not have an EN certification. Instead, they have 3D foam rubber protection at the knuckles, fingers and thumbs with 3M Thinsulate padding
Padded Leather Gloves – $34.99
As usual, there is also a range of other motorcycle goods for sale including balaclavas, thermals, bike covers and helmets.
Plus, there’s our perennial favourite – $9.99 Aldi motorcycle socks!
New this year are three types of $19.99 locks and chains to secure your bike and/or luggage.
Locks – $19.99
There is also a range of $39.99 tail and tank bags.
The annual Aldi motorcycle gear sale, normally held in the first couple of Saturdays of August, has been delayed this year until 31 August 2019.
Riders who want to snap up one of the many Aldi motorcycle bargains is advised to line up early for the store opening at 8.30am or they risk missing out.
However, we find that after the sale has passed and the gear has been removed from the shelves, riders can still buy some of the gear that has not been sold out.
You simply need to ask the manager if they have any left as it may be stored away. I once bought an $59.99 Aldi Bluetooth unit on behalf of a friend some months after the sale.
Bluetooth Kit – $59.99
2019 Aldi motorcycle sale
The catalogue of motorcycle gear on sale this year will be available tomorrow by clicking here.
But we have a sneak preview of what’s literally in store!
As usual, the range of Aldi motorcycle goods for sale will include jackets, pants, balaclavas, thermals, bike covers and gloves.
Plus, there’s our perennial favourite – $9.99 Aldi motorcycle socks!
New this year are three types of $19.99 locks and chains to secure your bike and/or luggage.
Locks – $19.99
There is also a range of $39.99 tail and tank bags.
They point out that motorcycle retailers offer a lot more product choice and all-year round availability.
However, they do not dispute the standard of gear sold at Aldi which has, in the past, been selected with the help of Neuroscience Research Australia’s Dr Liz de Rome.
Liz, a rider since 1969, also helped develop MotoCAP, motorcycle clothing ratings system. So far, MotoCAP has not tested any Aldi products.
Supporters of the Aldi sale say it promotes the wearing of good quality gear because it makes it affordable to more riders.
In our coverage of the annual Aldi sale, as well as MotoCAP’s testing of products, we find readers claim Aldi products are good quality and value.
We have also tested Aldi gear and find it is up to par, including that cheap Bluetooth unit that is still working just fine after three years.
Ray with the sticky helmet
