While most riders like to expose themselves to the elements, there have always been inventors trying to make the ultimate airconditioning unit to cool riders.
The latest comes from Bruce Hammond of Hammond Brothers Motorsports, Colorado, who has invented a turbofan that blows cold air at the rider from the handlebars.
Bruce with his AC turbofan
Bruce, 35, says motorcycles are not always going fast but spend a lot of time going slow in traffic when it can get very hot.
His airconditioning unit features thermoelectric cooling that uses electricity to release cold air. It is similar to those used in wine coolers and mini fridges.
It’s a much more compact system than large compressor units that circulate liquid refrigerant.
Bruce invented his airconditioning unit after living and riding in Florida’s oppressive heat.
It took him more than four years to develop and cost him $US21,000 to secure two vital patents for his design.
So far he only has produce cumbersome-looking prototypes and has not yet gone into production.
We wish him luck.
Another example of Bruce’s cool AC fan (Images provided by Bruce)
Airconditioning riders
Riding in hot conditions is not only uncomfortable but can be unsafe.
However, we have not been able to get in touch with the company for an update.
Because AC units are usually bulky, some of the “solutions” feature units that are mounted on the bike.
For example, the bulky 4.5kg BikeAir unit sits on the back seat of the bike and plugs into a special jacket that allows the cool air to flow through.
EntroSys BikeAir motorcycle air-conditioner
Honda has also patented a stand-alone, tank-mounted air-conditioning unit, but it has not yet hit the market.
It draws hot air through mesh openings in the sides of the tank bag and passes it over an ice pack stored underneath and a blower powered by rechargeable batteries to blow cool at the rider.
You can now wear an AGV helmet with exactly the same specifications as the one that nine-time world champion Valentino Rossi wore on the track in last year’s championship.
“The only difference is that his personal sponsors are removed from the graphics,” Don says.
“Out of interest , he wears a size MS Pista GP R.”
Italian made
What’s more, this helmet is not another Chinese-made product.
The design, research and development of the helmet was carried out by AGV technicians at their headquarters in Molvena and it is made at AGV’s facility in Campodoro.
All Pista GP R helmets cost $1999 which is $300 more than the matte black model.
Valentino Rossi and Aldo Drudi, the most famous graphic designer of the MotoGP, created a 1970s-inspired design for the 2018 season with linear shapes and large colour blocks.
The design is deliberately clean and simple, emphasising the Doctor’s famous sun and moon graphics.
Its paint scheme has been updated with a matte finish, also featured on the new Spoiler, and the carbon shell is visible on the chin guard.
Safety wear
Many racers in MotoGP and other world and national racing championships wear the AGV Pista GP R.
The shell shape is designed to maximise aerodynamic performance with the latest wind-tunnel-tested rear spoiler.
Developed under AGV’s “Extreme Standards” protocol, Pista GP R features a 100% carbon shell layered with a five-density EPS shell.
The lightweight structure exceeds the regulatory safety requirements and scores a five-star rating from the independent British certifying body, Safety Helmet Assessment and Rating Programme (SHARP).
It includes MotoGP-derived innovations such as a removable hydration system with internal channels and a drinking valve inside the chin area.
There is an elastic tube at the back of the helmet which draws water from a hydration kit which you can wear as a backpack, or integrated into the aerodynamic hump in many modern racing leathers.
While most helmets only come in three sell sizes, this has four dedicated shell sizes and four internal EPS sizes to create a compact structure that minimises volume around the rider’s head.
MotoCAP, the world’s first safety and comfort ratings system for motorcycle clothing, is important but may be too complex and not comprehensive enough, says a British motorcycle manufacturer.
The Australian ratings system for motorcycle pants, jackets and gloves launched in September 2018.
Since then, MotoCAP has copped some criticism for “faulty comfort ratings” and for only targeting 10% of rider gear for testing and rating per year.
However, many Australian rider representatives have supported the service for reminding riders about the importance of having quality safety gear.
MotoCAP is important
Steve Franklin, major shareholder of Manchester-based Merlin motorcycle clothing company, agrees that MotoCAP is important and should not be underestimated.
Merlin’s Steve Franklin with their flanno leisure gear
He says he misjudged the importance of the British the Safety Helmet Assessment and Rating Programme (SHARP) which is a similar system to MotoCAP, but for helmets only.
Steve says he has concerns that the MotoCAP the rating and testing regime is too complex for consumers to understand.
“It needs to be more simple. Customers want proper and simple advice,” he told us while in Australia recently to meet retailers and distributors Link International.
“There is nothing wrong with trying to improve road safety.”
However, he says the complex MotoCAP rating system could give consumers the wrong impression.
“If we give consumers the wrong info, we lose their confidence,” he says.
The fastest-growing sector of the motorcycle clothing market is leisure safety gear while traditional Cordura and leather suits are decreasing in demand, says a British motorcycle clothing brand.
The trend mirrors growth in retro and naked bikes and the decrease in sportsbike popularity, says Merlin major shareholder Steve Franklin.
He and his Yamaha-loving sons, James and Patrick, flew out from Manchester recently to meet Australian retailers and distributors Link International.
Merlin execs (from left) Patrick, James and Steve Franklin
The Merlin executives also claim modern riders want clothing made with sustainable materials by manufacturers with integrity.
Steve says Merlin products are CE-approved, materials are sourced directly from experts and each manufacturer is inspected frequently for quality control.
“I want to be able to sleep at night,” he says, claiming they have only 0.97% returns on faulty gear and that one-third of that is down to user error.
Merlin flanno leisure jacket has DuPont kevlar throughout
They say the biggest market for motorcycle gear is now “moto leisure”.
Steve explains that it is like Nike’s “athleisure” range which appeals to people who want to look like an athlete but be comfortable.
“Similarly, moto leisure has all the safety gear but riders are able to go into a pub and not look like they’ve just had their knee down,” Steve says.
“It’s something you can wear all day.”
Heritage rider gear that reflects neo-classic motorcycles, such as the Ducati Scrambler Full Throttle that Steve rides, represents 45% of the market.
Steve says tech wear such as Cordua adventure suits and leather race suits are only 37% of the market and decreasing while the other two sectors are in “double-digit growth”.
That adds up to more than 100% of the market, but Steve says there is a lot of overlap where riders wear items from each section.
He says their women’s range was greater than 20% of their stock, but they pulled back.
However, James says they are now expanding their women’s range again.
“It’s a small part of the market but there are many more women’s groups emerging,” he says.
“They don’t all want to wear pink. They don’t want traditional riding gear but something that is a bit fashionable.
“Our feedback is that most brands just do dumbed-down versions of men’s gear.
“We recognise that women’s fit is different, even in women’s boots.”
Merlin employs fashion industry expert Melanie Field to help with women’s sizing so “it’s not just a small version of men’s gear”.
“She also has an eye on what colours and styles are currently fashionable,” James says.
Sustainability
Merlin Maple gloves with organic cotton denim panels
Riders are now seeking sustainable, organic materials directly sourced from reputable manufacturers, Steve says.
“The speed of development in organic materials is really gathering pace,” he says.
James points out that 76% of the materials they use is bought directly from “the experts in the field”.
“This ensures we have control of the quality,” he says.
Merlin also employs local inspectors in each of the countries where their products are manufactured to guarantee integrity and quality control.
They produce 60% of their gear in Pakistan and the rest in Portugal, Indonesia, Vietnam, China and India.
“We don’t manufacture anywhere that we don’t don’t have someone on site to make regular inspections,” Steve says.
He and his sons also spend 16 weeks a year doing inspection tours of manufacturing sites.
They say 75% of profits are turned back into the company to improve quality.
Safety standards
Merlin Holden leather jacket
Steve says rigid European CE approval standards are “both a curse and a blessing”.
“The cost of gaining CE approval is onerous at $10,000-$15,000 per product,” he says.
“We have to test the smallest and largest sizes and one in the middle, plus each different colour.”
Link International Merlin brand manager Ron Grant also points out that Merlin doesn’t just use high-quality safety materials in the impact areas specified for CE testing, but throughout their garments.
However, James says CE is also a blessing by making it “really difficult to get into this industry”, so it is “flushing out the bad quality and those operating in the black market”.
He says gaining CE approval was easy for them because they were exceeding the full testing process before CE became mandatory last year for manufacturers operating in Europe.
About Merlin
Merlin Chase heritage jacket
Merlin was registered in 2011 and started trading in 2012.
The name and logo come from “merle” which is French for blackbird.
It is 100% owned by the company’s 200 full-time staff who become shareholders after six months.
Steve’s background was in turning around ailing businesses.
“I just wanted to start a business then get someone to take it over,” he says.
“But once my sons entered the business, we found we had a passion for making good products and not just for business,” he says.
“We don’t cut corners. We wanted to make the best quality product we could with the technology and materials available.
“We’re always improving the product so it is relevant and exceeds customer expectations.”
Most people only use their TomTom GPS to guide them to a destination they don’t know, but there are advantages to putting in the destination even if you know which way to go.
I’ve recently been riding around with the TomTom Rider 550 tuned into destinations I know, and I reckon the various alerts have not only helped me to get around quicker, but probably saved a few demerit points on my license.
That’s because TomTom Rider 550 includes relevant alerts about traffic jams, roadworks, speed cameras and even on adverse weather ahead of you. It will also tell you how long a particular hazard might hold up your ride.
These alerts flash up on the screen and if you pair the device to your phone and/or helmet intercom, there are also audible warnings.
This has allowed me to concentrate more on the road rather than worrying about looking out for speed cameras, roadworks and hazards.
Services alerts
But wait, there’s more. It also shows important information about upcoming services such as petrol stations, rest areas, tollways and ferries.
And when you reach your destination, it will even guide you to the closest parking areas. Just press the parking button on the route bar.
It takes a lot of guesswork out of negotiating through heavy traffic and around traffic snarls and roadworks.
The GPS could also save your licence with reminders about where and when fixed and mobile speed cameras are located.
Custom displays
The information is displayed on the map and/or the route bar down the side.
It also displays your estimated time of arrival, distance and/or time remaining to destinations, upcoming events and services, as well as current time or distance to the next event, depending on how you set it up.
Now that’s a wealth of information that could easily be distracting were it not for the audible alerts.
You can actually customise the Rider 550 to just display only the alerts that are most important to you. That makes it a much simpler and less distracting screen display.
The GPS can give you an alternative route by just tapping on the icons on the route bar. However, I suggest you pull over to do this. It won’t take more than a few seconds.
You can even help other riders using the TomTom MyDrive app by adding updates to the vast network of important information.
Just tap on the speed panel at the bottom of the screen and a menu comes up with options: “Report speed camera, mark location, change speed limit and avoid blocked road”.
Data usage
To access all this information, you just need to set up a personal hotspot on your paired smartphone which accesses your data as the GPS doesn’t have a SIM card.
That keeps the GPS affordable at $599.
But don’t worry about blowing all your data.
TomTom says it will only use about 7Mb a month even if you run your GPS on it an hour every day. That’s less than downloading two songs and certainly wouldn’t blow the budget on most people’s mobile plan.
It might also save your life, save you time and save your licence!
The motorcycle is a fast and effective means of transport. It can take you anywhere when vehicles are stuck in traffic. Statistics show that in some countries people prefer bikes to cars. The reason is simple – they are convenient and cheaper. As motorcycles are two-wheeled vehicles, it is obvious that tires are one of the most important parts. In fact, this is the only part of any bike that has direct contact with the road. That is why tires must be of great quality and chosen in accordance with weather conditions.
Numerous people purchase used bikes because they are cheap. At the same time, it has certain risks. First, you do not know whether the vehicle has been damaged. Luckily, you can check it with the help of vin lookup. Second, you do not know for sure how old tires are. This should be checked at the service station. If the mechanic states that tires must be changed, hurry up.
Tire Types and Features
Once tires become worn out, you have to change them. Choosing tires can be a complicated task. You have to make choice based on various factors, including tire quality. One thing you need to remember that tires must be of excellent quality. It does not mean they should be extremely expensive. Another thing to take into consideration is riding conditions. Different roads require different types of tires with different compound and tread pattern.
Tire and its entirety are manufactured from the compound, which is basically the material. Tread refers to the rubber on its circumference that has direct contact with the surfaces. The tread consists of the crown of the tire and its shoulders. Tread pattern is also a special design that has channels and grooves for channeling water away from the contact patch. This prevents motorcycle tire from losing grip on the road in wet conditions.
There are four basic types of tires: radial, tube type, bias-ply, and radial. Tube-type tires consist of the tire and tube with valve and rim. Tire manufacturing companies are working in direction of tubeless tires. Why? It is safer, as in case of a puncture, tube type tire are exposed to instant leakage. The tubeless tire does not lose air quickly, which allows getting to the nearest service station.
Tire Brands
Buying high-quality tires does not mean buying expensive tires. There excellent cheap motorcycle products that are characterized by great features. If you have extra money, you are free to buy premium tires. However, for everyday driving in a city, it is better to choose inexpensive tires manufactured by budget brands. Good news is that some premium companies own budget brands producing low-cost motorcycle tires of nearly the same quality.
If your budget is not limited and you prefer premium brands, Pirelli, Michelin, Continental, and Bridgestone are on the top of the list. Check moto manual to make sure, which size is needed for your vehicle.
Get the best tires for your motorcycle to feel safe and sound.
British heritage motorcycle clothing brand Merlin have announced a new range of products that include several lifestyle products such as protective flanno and waxed cotton jackets.
The flanno jacket (pictured above) looks and feels just like a flannelette shirt but has an abrasion-resistant Dupont Kevlar lining and impact-resistant CE Armour.
The shirt comes in a choice of red, grey, dark blue and green checks in men’s sizes S to 3XL for $229.95.
Australian importer Link International says the Staffordshire company is 100% owned by the family and employees.
Brand manager Ron Grant says the heritage lifestyle gear is not designed to protect a MotoGP racer in a 200km/h+ crash.
However, he says the makers are diligent about addressing the latest European safety standards and guarantee high-quality workmanship with “almost zero” warranty claims.
He says Merlin produce the type of quality gear that is comfortable for all-day wear and doesn’t look out of place when you get off your bike.
Two of the company’s family owners are currently in Australia and we hope to catch up with them to talk more about their new range.
Waxed cotton is back in fashion and the Merlin Victory jacket in sand, olive and navy colours looks like it just stepped out of the 1950s.
However, the $329.95 jacket comes with modern protection from Dupont Kevlar 220g armour.
Chase
Merlin’s plush Chase leather jacket is made of full-grain 1.2-1.3mm grade AAA cowhide leather in a mixture of smart black and plum hides for $499.95.
It features removable thermal gilet liner and SW Level 2 armour in the shoulders and elbows.
Holden
The Italian-inspired Holden leather jacket has even thicker full-grain 1.3-1.4mm grade AAA cowhide leather with subtle dark blue contrast patches on the chest and arms.
It also costs $499.95 and comes with the same liner and armour.
Merlin has a new range of leather gloves including the Boulder ($139.95), Padget ($139.95) and Maple $99.95) plus the casual leather and denim Icon gloves ($79.95).
Claims that some helmets protect riders from brain injuries caused by rotation have been questioned since there is no official testing procedure for those forces.
Swedish brain safety technology company MIPS (Multi-directional Impact Protection System) says they are concerned about the accuracy of claims made by a couple of recently released systems that they address rotational motion and reduce strain on the brain in certain impacts.
However, MIPS boss Johan Thiel says they are more concerned that there is no industry-wide standard from third-party testing organisations.
“We at MIPS have conducted more than 22,000 tests and we know that not all helmets are equally safe, not even the ones that claims to address rotational motion”, he says.
“Right now, almost anyone can claim that their helmet is reducing rotational motion because there is no standard they have to meet.
“This is serious and concerning for the users who think they are buying a helmet with added protection.”
The MIPS-patented Brain Protection System (BPS) is designed to reduce rotational motion transferred to the brain from angled impacts to the head.
It MIPS activates 10-15mm movement in any direction in less than 10 milliseconds after an impact, reducing the tearing effects on the brain resulting from rotational motion.
Crash forces to the head can be divided into radial and tangential forces.
Tangential force testing demonstrates a helmet’s ability to prevent potential brain injuries such as diffuse axonal injury, subdural hematoma, and concussion.
Currently, official helmet testing for consumers is only focused on radial forces.
Rotation testing
MIPS tests on other systems have found they do not reduce rotational motion to a sufficient degree.
Over the years there have also been more than 13 third-party tests conducted by insurance companies, universities and organisations that have incorporated the rotational motion test method, but no standard has been set yet.
“We welcome a vigorous scientific debate on all aspects of rotational motion solutions, because it needs to be a standard in place to protect the user,” Johan says.
Riders with spoked wheels on their bikes are frustrated at not being able to get some service station air hoses to fit their metal valve stems.
The owner of a Queensland service station says he suspects one rider became so frustrated he found a solution to the problem by bending their air hose nozzle.
“I’ve often seen riders struggling to get the nozzle on to the valve stem on motorcycles,” the servo owner says.
“I suppose this works better now because of the angle, but I’m surprised he didn’t break it as it’s only made of brass.”
Riders should be aware that service stations are not legally bound to provide the free air service. Some have chosen to withdraw the service because of vandalism and accidental breakage.
Air your grievance
Air hoses are made to suit cars with flexible valve stems. They don’t suit all types of motorcycle wheels.
Riders with mag wheels on their bikes can start laughing now …
However, it’s no laughing matter for some riders with spoked wheels on their bikes.
In fact, it can be downright infuriating. On several occasions I’ve ridden to several service stations in search of a hose that will fit.
The worst offenders are the old-style air hoses with the pressure indicator on the air hose. These have a long metal nozzle which is at the wrong angle to fit on the rigid metal valve stem of spoked wheels.
Modern flexible air hoses with the pressure indicated on a digital screen on a fixed post are better.
But even some of those are too stiff to bend enough to fit over the perpendicular valve stem.
Most spoked-wheeled bikes only have one disc brake on the left of the front wheel so you access the valve stem from the right. But even these can be difficult to get an old-style air hose to fit.
If your bike has dual front discs like the Ducati GT1000 I once owned or the Triumph Scrambler 1200 I tested recently, it is almost impossible to fit any type of air hose.
Some bikes with spoked wheels have large holes in the wheel hub so you can thread the air hose through the middle to access the valve stem in a straight line.
Otherwise, you have to thread the hose through the spokes wheels and even then it can be a difficult angle.
I’ve copped bloodied knuckles trying to get the right connection on the valve stem.
Meanwhile, as you try fitting it, the connector triggers the valve and lets out precious air pressure.
After struggling in vain, I’ve sometimes left servos with less pressure in my tyres!
L-shaped valves
Replacement L-shaped valve stem
Apart from the vandal’s less-than-ideal solution, you can fit L-shaped valve stems to your wheels for easy access by any style of air hose.
I swapped the very heavy spoked wheels of the Ducati for beautiful, lightweight Blackstone TEK carbon fibre wheels which came with convenient L-shaped valve stems.
90-degree valve stem on Blackstone TEK Black Diamond carbon fibre wheels for my Ducati GT1000
It’s surprising bikes with spoked wheels don’t come from the factory with these right-angle stems.
You can buy L-shaped stem replacements for a few dollars or about $25 fitted.
However, make sure the tyre fitter re-balances the wheel after they are fitted because the stems can have a slight affect on balance that could lead to handling problems.
Even a minor variation in rotating weight can lead to dangerous vibrations.
L-shaped valve stem adaptors
A cheaper option is to buy an L-shaped valve stem adaptor that screws on to your valve stem. They are small enough to fit in your pocket and only cost a few dollars.
The new Neckmike headset should resolve the two biggest problems with wearing earphones connected to your phone when riding.
The problems are that the microphone supplied with most smartphone earphones is usually useless against wind noise on a bike and the bulky earbuds are often uncomfortable under a tight helmet.
Neckmike has a microphone that attaches to your neck and works like those fighter pilots we’ve seen in many war movies, cutting out all wind and ambient noise.
The earbuds are also small and the type that slot right inside your ears to reduce background wind noise so you don’t have to turn the volume up ridiculously high to hear.
(Now we know some riders are totally against this sort of communication/entertainment while riding. However, there are other riders who love music and being able to stay in touch. Plus there are professionals who need to be in contact for work while riding such as couriers and moto-journos like me!)
Neckmike
Neckmike is the product of a two-person Swedish company that produces headsets for military and first responders.
Co-founder Carl Franzén tells us they have now developed a civilian version suitable for active use such as motorcycling, skiing, jogging and cycling.
Carl models the Neckmike
They have launched a Kickstarter crowd-funding program to help get the product to market.
There are three types of headset:
C30 unit
The C30 costs $US109,99 (about $A155) and is designed for use with a smartphone, although it does not have a lightning connection for the iPhone so you have to use the adapter that comes with the phone. You can also plug it into some Bluetooth intercoms that feature an external speaker socket.
The C50 ($US129.99/$A180) is the same headset but with a lower volume output to meet CE requirements.
Top of the range is the Neckmike M4+ bundle at $US209.99 (about $295) which contains a Neckmike C20 and a M4 bluetooth intercom. It’s good value as you also get a handlebar controller for easy access to controls.
Bundle comes with M4 intercom and handlebar controls
Carl says the units are completely waterproof and the earbud speakers are made with hi-fi elements from a “renowned Danish company”.
While Neckmike can be connected to many communication devices, a number of versions with different cable sets will be released soon.
We also hope to test one of the units when they become available.
