On Two Wheels - December 2019 - Preview

YOUR MONTHLY GUIDE TO LIFE ON TWO WHEELS December 2019 Issue 31

BOOT BUYING GUIDE

On Two Wheels

Learners

Commuters

Buying

O2W’s

BEST BIKES OF 2019

Riding

Whatever your style, there are motorcycle boots to match it. See our top tips on how to choose a pair that’s right for you

PAGE 24

BMW Motorrad

Showcasing some of our favourite models

PAGE 18 PAGE 12

The G310R isn’t an obvious choice for an absolute beginner, but it is a machine to lift your riding to the next level

INSIDE: NEWS IN BRIEF ● BEST KIT OF 2019 ● GREAT FUN ON SMALL BIKES ● LEGAL ADVICE ● PRODUCT REVIEWS ● E-BIKE NEWS ● SLOW SPEED RIDING TIPS ● KEEWAY BRAND FOCUS

NEWS

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Email pictures and details to editor@o2w.co.uk

Supercharge your 50cc and 125cc motorcycles Do you ride a small capacity motorcycle? Would you like to get more power from its little 50cc or 125cc engine? Then NCI’s supercharger kit sounds like it could be just what you’re looking for.

Created by American company Nextar Consult, the kit is essentially a compressor, which increases airflow into the engine and as a result helps significantly improve power output.

The more you rev, the more air gets pulled through.

The kit consists of a compressor, which is activated by pulleys from the motor. You should be able to integrate it into your bike without too

much trouble – and as it’s completely mechanical, you won’t have to mess around with the electrics.

The team at NCI has fitted its kit to a 50cc Honda Monkey – and it helps the little bike get up to 50kph in 8.38 seconds (rather than 14.64 seconds as standard).

The kit has been designed specifically for the back-tto-b basics bikes coming out of Asia (but not Japan), in an effort to achieve the same performance as more established motorcycle manufacturers, but at a lower cost.

Drivers forget seeing bikers

A study by the University of Nottingham has found that fatal crashes involving cars and motorbikes may be caused by glitches in motorist’s short-term memory. And researchers reckon they could be prevented by encouraging drivers to talk to themselves at the wheel.

During their experiments, researchers analysed where drivers looked and what they remembered while crossing junctions in a driving simulator. And the big surprise from the research was the fact that some drivers have absolutely no recollection of seeing an oncoming vehicle at all, even as they are about to pull out at a junction. Results suggest that it’s what happens in the moments between seeing an approaching vehicle and pulling out that can lead to a complete absence of memory – particularly for approaching motorcycles.

Out of 180 memory tests, drivers failed to report a car on three occasions, and a motorcycle on 16 occasions, of which there were five occasions when the driver had not looked directly at the oncoming motorcycle.

Nottingham University’s Dr Peter Chapman, an expert in the

On Two Wheels

On2Wheels, The Media Centre, Morton Way, Horncastle, Lincolnshire LN9 6JR Tel: 01507 529529 Email: editor@o2w.co.uk Editor: Mau Spencer On2Wheels is published by Mortons Media Group Ltd and printed by Mortons Print

psychology of driving, said: “These studies compellingly demonstrate that even in safety-critical situations it is possible to observe dramatic failures of visual memory. These ‘Saw But Forgot’ (SBF) errors were remarkably frequent in the simulator and we have every reason to think that they may be equally prevalent in the real world. The surprising lack of memory may be exactly why these crashes appear so mysterious.

“Typical interpretations of the LBFTS crash are based on the idea that the driver pulling out has failed to devote sufficient attention to the traffic on the road. Our study set out to look for systematic biases in attention towards, and memory for, different vehicle types. Although these effects were found, the most striking finding was not subtle biases in vision or memory, but the fact that in some cases there was a complete absence of memory, particularly for approaching motorcycles.”

To help solve the problem, the research team has created a new framework to understand dynamic decision-making with an emphasis on the role of short-term memory.

More specifically, they suggest teaching drivers the 'See Bike Say

Publishing director: Dan Savage Publisher: Tim Hartley Staff writer: Ross Mowbray Contributors: Andy Catton, Michael Cowton, Gary Chapman, Rowena Hoseason, Mech It Better (John Hanson & Ciarán Baker), Andrew ‘Chef’ Prendergast, Jonathan Schofield Apologies to anyone we’ve forgotten Editorial design: Fran Lovely Picture desk: Paul Fincham and Jonathan Schofield Production editor: Michael Cowton Group advertising manager: Sue Keily Divisional advertising manager: Zoe Thurling Advertising: Emma Buxton-Rockley ebuxton-rockley@mortons.co.uk | 01507 529410 Marketing manager: Charlotte Park Commercial director: Nigel Hole Customer services number: 01507 529529 Telephone lines are open Monday-Friday 8.30am-5pm

Bike' strategy – meaning that if they see a motorcycle approaching, they should say so out loud.

Dr Chapman said: “If relevant visual information is encoded phonologically it has been shown that it is no longer subject to visuospatial interference. Clearly, any research that improves our understanding of these crashes and the kind of counter measures that can be used to prevent them has the potential to be a major contribution to world health.”

Of course, there are always ways you can ride to mitigate the chance of being involved in a collision, including riding defensively, focusing on positioning, and being prepared to be pulled out on – but if we can help drivers be more aware of bikers, that’s only ever going to be a good thing.

Readers letter

I’m looking to buy a scooter and saw one at a dealer in Bury St Edmunds – a Suzuki Burgman model (about 300cc). I don’t know whether they are still in production and hope you can oblige me with any information.

Cliff Jenkins, Great Yarmouth Hi Cliff, Yes Suzuki still manufacture a Burgman scooter, currently sold in 125cc, 200cc and 400cc versions. Given that you live in Great Yarmouth, here is a list of the nearest dealers where you can buy a new one, as you preferred: C J BALL & SON, Woodlands, Salhouse Road, Sprowston, Norwich, Norfolk NR7 9AB. ORWELL MOTORCYCLES LTD, Ranelagh Road, Ipswich, Suffolk IP2 0AQ. R&C MOTORCYCLES, 57 Field Road, Mildenhall, Suffolk IP28 7AN. PAUL NOBBS MOTORCYCLES LTD, Unit 2a, Ely Road, Sutton, Ely, Cambridgeshire CB6 2QD.

Cash secured for MV Agusta Some of the most beautiful motorcycles in the world have been made by MV Agusta, and the company now has more financial security for their next wave of bikes.

Its five-year business plan puts production from the Italian bike maker at 25,000 motorcycles over the next half decade.

The factory has also said that it will make new premium bikes, but what’s likely to get people interested even more than that is the commitment to make a new mid-sized motorcycle that’s appeal is to the masses.

In the three-year period 2019-2021 the new plan for MV means investment in the global distribution network with particular attention to Europe, Asia and the USA. The capital needed to fund the broad-based plan will be entirely looked after by the Sardarov family, which is the major shareholder of the brand.

After Timur Sardarov came into the company as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors in December 2018, it’s been decided to also bring in some new

blood to the overseers of MV Agusta, too. Massimo Bordi and Paolo Bettin are also coming in to supplement the top level of management in the firm.

Bordi takes on the position of Executive Vice President, Bettin is now the Financial Director, and Giovanni Castiglioni – son of Claudio and for a while the CEO and owner of MV Agusta – stays involved in an advisory role.

Kawasaki Leicester’s dealer deals There are some serious savings to be made at Kawasaki Leicester over the next couple of months, with a range of deals to save you a few quid on clothing, accessories, and new and used bikes.

With 50% off all clothing and accessories in stores, £300 off all used bikes and the opportunity to get your hands on new 2018/2019 models at trade prices, now’s the perfect time to get down to Kawasaki Leicester and kit yourself out for next year’s riding season.

For more information about how to take advantage of the savings on off ffer, ch heckk outt theiir ad dvertt on page 5.

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Five new 490cc bikes from KTM It’s been confirmed that KTM’s readying five new A2 compliant models for 2020 – and they’ll be powered by a 490cc motor.

Way back in December last year, KTM’s CEO Stefan Pierer confirmed that the Austrian factory was working closely with its Indian partner Bajaj Auto to create a new 490cc parallel-twin engine. From what we’ve managed to find out, the 490cc motor is going to replace the existing 390cc unit across the below models: 490 Duke RC 490 490 Adventure 490 Supermoto 490 Enduro According to rumours swirling around the internet, KTM’s going to be using the new motor to maintain power and performance, despite imminent Euro 5 regulations. Rumoured to kick out between 55 and 60bhp in its full fat form, it’s fairly likely the new motor will be restricted for the European market to ensure the bikes are eligible for A2 licence holders.

The Aprilia 250 is back Wow. How stunning is this? Here’s Aprilia’s all-new quarter-litre GPR250 bike that’s been shown in China.

Powered by a 249.2cc singlecylinder, liquid-cooled engine, the Italian beauty has a six-speed box and kicks out 25bhp at 9,000rpm and 16lb-ft of torque at 7,500rpm.

Alright, so that might not sound all that special, but when you factor in that this motorcycle has a kerb weight of just 150kg, the spec sheet looks a lot more enticing.

Ok, so in terms of power and weight this Aprilia 250 is a long way from the 167kg and 64bhp fun of the original RS250 two-stroke, but it’s pretty sweet for the new generation of quarter-litre fun bikes as it is.

No price was available at the China show, but you can bet that this bike is already being lined up to go on sale in Asia and possibly Europe p for 2020.

NEWS – SNEAK PREVIEWS

All new bike information's correct at the time of printing – but with Tokyo and EICMA taking place in the intervening weeks, its likely there will be more up-to-date details emerging.

Suzuki’s new GSX-R 250 SF

First seen in India back in May this year, Suzuki has just announced its new GSX-R 250 SF. The big news is the bike's newly developed oil-cooled single cylinder engine.

Unlike Suzuki’s typical oil-cooled engines, the new powerplant works in a similar way to a water-cooled engine to efficiently cool the hottest part of the cylinder head. According to Suzuki’s Chief Engineer Tetsuji Nojiri, the design also has the potential for a displacement increase, and as a result, more power. That’s because the cylinder head is fairly compact in comparison to the crankcase. It’ll be interesting to see if the engine gets developed further.

We don’t know much more at this stage. We don’t even know if it’s going to make it across to Europe. But with the big bike shows happening imminently, it looks like we won’t have to wait too much longer to find out.

Kawasaki’s new Ninjja 250

Following its official unveiling at the Indonesian motorcycle show, here’s a look at the newest Ninja 250 in all its glory.

The bike is going to be available in two models: the Ninja 250 SE ABS and the Ninja 250 SE ABS MDP. The Ninja 250 SE ABS comes in the two colours – white, and what the Kawasaki listing names as ‘blu’. However, the Ninja 250 SE BS MDP is only available in black.

We know that both bikes come with keyless tech (Kawasaki’s Intelligent Proximity Start System), which is the same as you find on the GTR1400 range and that all the new 250 models get A BS as standard – suggest ing t hat it will be a European model for next year.

No power stats are yet available, but several rumours have been circulating in Japan for a while.

According to gossip, the 250 will be available in two versions – an A2 friendly version that puts out around 45bhp, and a full power, specced-up version (this is probably going to be the all-black MDP model), which is supposed to make something close to 60bhp on the road.

If this motorcycle does turn out to make 60bhp and is only the size of a 250, then it’s going to get a lot of attention. What do you think to this?

Is 60bhp enough to get you on to a smaller bike?

SPECIFICATION ENGINE: 249cc oil-cooled 4-stroke single cylinder

SOHC 4 valve POWER: 26bhp @ 9000rpm TORQUE: 16.6lb-ft @ 7500rpm TRANSMISSION: 6-speed SEAT HEIGHT: 800mm WEIGHT: 161kg FUEL TANK CAPACITY: 12 litres TYRE SIZE: (F) 110/70R17 (R) 150/60R17

New MT-03 unveiled

Yamaha has just unveiled its new MT-03 for 2020 – and here’s (almost) everything you need to know about the new A2 licence machine.

Based around the Japanese factory's YZF-R3, the new MT shares the same motor and frame as its sportier sibling – but there are a few key differences, including its aggressive streetfighter styling to help the MT stand apart.

There’s a few subtle styling tweaks, including a new front LED headlight, a new LCD dash, and a larger, beefier 14-litre fuel tank, but technically speaking, the MT-03 isn’t dramatically different to the outgoing machine. It does get some new inverted 37mm front forks, and the monoshock at the rear’s been revised too, and comes with the ability for riders to set preload and compression.

If you fancy getting your hands on one of the latest generation hyper

FIRST LOOK

SPECIFICATION ENGINE: 321cc liquid-cooled, 4-stroke, DOHC,

4-valves

MAXIMUM POWER: 30.9kW (42.0PS) @

10750rpm

MAXIMUM TORQUE: 29.6Nm (3.0kgf+m) @

9000rpm

SUSPENSION: (F) telescopic forks, Ø41.0mm inner tube. (R) swing arm BRAKES: (F) hydraulic single disc, Ø298mm. (R) hydraulic single disc, Ø220mm TYRES: (F) 110/70-17M/C (54H) tubeless. (R) 140/70-17M/C (66H) tubeless SEAT HEIGHT: 780mm WET WEIGHT (incl. full oil and fuel tank): 168 kg FUEL TANK CAPACITY: 14 litres

naked machines from the Japanese factory, it looks like you won’t have to wait too much longer as the MT-03 will be available in Yamaha dealers from December 2019 – at a price of £5097.

PRODUCT REVIEWS

Furygan Raptor Evo leather jacket and trousers RRP: £429 (jacket) £299 (trousers) Reviewer: Mikko Nieminen with vents: the jacket has two, the I'm not really a leathers kinda guy. I trousers none. And the only tend to choose textiles over them. But adjustment available in the whole having tested the sporty Furygan combo is for the waist of the jacket. leather jacket and trousers, I'm Still, I must admit I haven't missed starting to wonder if I have been anything more. misguided.

The biggest downside with leathers One clear benefit that leather has such as these is that they don't over (most) textiles is its protective provide waterproofing like textiles do. strength. These items are both CE So, when I'm wearing this kit I always certified, they have D3O armour, and carry lightweight waterproofs areas likely to be exposed to with me – no problem, they abrasion in a crash are They offer don't weigh much and pack triple-stitched to avoid small. On the plus side, the tearing. great levels I always thought that of comfort and jacket has a removable thermal lining, which sporty leathers like these can't be very comfortable. protection – and makes it more versatile. I they look have kept this in place And I still maintain that even during the warm retro-styled leathers and good! months, as I'm a bit of a wuss textiles are superior in this when it comes to being cold. respect, but these garments are What you lose in weatherproofing surprisingly comfy for what they are. and gain in protection pretty much The stretchy panels in key areas determines what kind of riding this certainly help (especially the waist of kit is best suited for: sporty and the trousers and back of the arms), sunny. If you do track days, one- or but the overall fit seems to be very two-piece leathers are a must, and for good, too. that purpose the Furygan items Getting in and out of them requires developed with the company's a bit more wiggling than you want to MotoGP know-how is just what the do in public, but thanks to the zips in doctor ordered. arms and legs there's not as much I'm not quite fully converted into jumping and dancing involved in wearing leathers rather than textiles, getting the garments on as some but I am reaching for these items leathers I have had in the past. pretty often when I go for a ride. They The jacket has four pockets (two offer great levels of comfort and external, two internal), which is not protection – and they look good! bad from a sporty number, but the • Info: www.nevis.uk.com trousers have none. It's a similar story

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PRODUCT SHOP WINDOW W

Weise Onyx Evo Texxtile Jacket

Davida Koura Helmett RRRP: from £435

RRP: £329.99

Tucano Urbano Monty Touch Gloves

RRP: £39.99

Tucano Urbano has just released its new Monty Touch gloves, ready to help you stay protected through the winter months.

While they’re not hugely sophisticated, they are waterproof with Thermolite thermal padding and a stretchy outer. Plus, they’re equipped with some handy features including anti-abrasion inserts, silicone moulds on the palms and touchscreen compatibility.

Best of all, they’ll cost you less than 40 quid.

• Info: www.tucanourbano.com/ en/

To help you stay warm, dry an nd safe throughout the year, no matteer the weather, Weise’s Onyx Evo jaccket is well worth a look.

The four-season jacket is constructed from 600 Denier nylon and comes with a removable quilted thermal liner and a removablle breathable, waterproof and windproof liner too. For proteection it comes with removable KNO OX Microlock CE approved shoullder, elbow and back armour.

It’s an extremely well equipped jacket, with a removable face mask for addeed comfort during colder weatheer, chest and rear vents, and a variety of internal and external pockets, including two which work to warm yourr hands. It also offers a range of adjustments to help you get the perfect fit, but comes with stretch panels on the elbows for optimum flexibility.

• Info: www.thekeycollection n.co.uk

TCX Baja Mid Boots RRP: £199.99

TCX has just added a black pair of Baja Mid boots to its Touring and Adventure line up – and you can gett your hands on them now.

Constructed from leather, the waterproof boots come with rear reflex, toe and heel inserts for protection, a leather shift pad and Ortholite breathable footbeds. The soles are made from a special rubber compound to offer top notch stabilityy and grip – and they’re closed using micro–adjustablle PU buckles.

• Info: www.nevis.uk.com/

Haave you heard of Davida?

Th The Birkenhead-based co ompany is the United Kiingdom's only helmet maker, and over the years it’s made a name for itself with an ecclectic range of hand-made reetro and classically styled open-face helmets. But now it’s getting in on the full-face helmet game.

The Koura’s the result of collaboration between Davida’s technical team and a group of Italian MotoGP and F1 racing helmet designers.

In fact, it’s the same team th hat worked together to crreate Davida’s hugely su uccessful Speedster V3 heelmet back in 2016.

The race-bred helmet meets Th UK K ACU Gold standards, and it’ss not a surprise. Its shell has beeen constructed from racing grrade carbon fibre.

It comes fitted with a 2mm anti-scratch and anti-fog visor, a three-piece removable leather liner, six chin vents and a double d-ring fitting system – and that’s about it.

It’s certainly not the most sophisticated bit of kit, nor is it the cheapest, but regardless, it’s still seriously stylish and should be more than up to the job of keeping your head safe out on the road and track.

It’s also worth mentioning that the lid’s available in an

Premier Monza Retro Helm met

Malossi Ventilvar Pulleys

RRP: £189.95

Duchinni Atlas Waterproof Boots RRP: £99.99

No matter whether you’re touring the world or travelling to work, Duchinni’s cut-price Atlas boots could be exactly what you’re looking for. Combining comfort, durability and understated style all for under £100, they’re constructed from full-grain leather and textile, come with toe and heel cups, gear-change reinforcements, and a waterproof and breathable internal lining.

They’re kitted out with oil-resistant rubber non-slip soles, flexible panels at the shin and ankle, and a mid-calf stretch insert, to allow ease of movement both on and off the bike.

Closed using a zip and an anti-scratch Velcro panel, they’re not the most sophisticated pair of boots in the world, but for the money they’re surely well worth a look.

• Info: www.thekeycollection. co.uk

Founded in California in 1956, Premier first made a name for itself building boards and helmets for the skateboarding world, but it quickly got into motorcycling, becoming one of the early pioneers of the full-face lid.

Worn by motorcycle stuntwoman Debbie Lawler and racing legend Phil Read, Premier went from strength to strength over the next few years, being worn by some of biggest names in motorcycling; think Franki Chili, Ruben Xaus, Troy Bayliss, and more recently Aleix Espargaro, Alex Rins and Marc Marquez.

To celebrate its partnership with Phil Read back in the 70s, the now Italian-based manufacturer has recently released a new Monza Retro helmet. Featuring Read's signature chequered strip and a

eclectic mix of colours and designs, with the choice of a black or half-tint visor if you fancy. You can even choose from five different leather liner kits, and get the perfect fit using one of Davida’s sizing kits.

At the time of its release, company founder David Fiddaman explained: “Achieving road safety standards is the start of our design process; it’s not the finishing line.

"We always work to extend the design boundaries above and beyond what you would conventionally find.

Introducing a full-face helmet marks a new era for us. It delivers everything you’d demand from a highperformance motorcycle helmet, together with the level of quality and integrity Davida helmets are known for. It’s beautiful, yet aggressive.”

• Info: www.davida-helmets. com

RRP: £ various

Union Jack, the Monza Retro is made from carbon, Dyneema and aramid fibres, and comes with a differentiated density EPS liner to help ensure maximum protection.

It also offers full front to back airflow, which is controlled by adjustable air vents, a removable and washable antibacterial fabric lining, a quick-release Pinlockprepared clear visor, and a double D-ring fastening.

• Info: www.thekeycollection.co.uk

Riccha Force D3O Jacket RRP:: £119.99

Rich ha’s new D3O Force jacket can be worrn on its own as a stand-alone sum mmer jacket, or worn underneath a warrmer jacket for when the weather co ools down.

The lightweight, ventilated jacket comes with CE certified D30 back, shoulder and elbow armour, and is compatible with separate D30 chest protection. There’s a range of adjustments throughout the jacket to ensure the armour is fitted securely, to help offer the best impact protection possible.

• Info: www.nevis.uk.com

Gerbing Heated Jacket Liner RRP: £199.99

Riding through winter? Struggling to stay warm? Then Gerbing’s new Heated Jacket Liner could be exactly what you’re looking for.

New for late 2019, it’s essentially an updated version of its flagship jacket liner. Improving on the most popular features of the outgoing liner, it now comes with a patented MicroWirePRO heating element throughout the whole jacket, including the front, rear, collar and sleeves to offer a more even distribution of heat.

It’s constructed from a soft, wind-resistant nylon shell, which has been designed to offer a more tailored fit in spite of the additional heating elements.

• Info: www.gerbing.co.uk

The new Malossi ‘Ventilvar’ pulleys are finished with a diamond-tipped tool on the drive side to ensure a perfect finish and feature a revised working angle to further increase the gearing range of a scooter’s automatic transmission. The increased cooling benefits offered by the pulley lead to improved transmission performance and less belt slip due to heat.

Models covered by the new pulleys include the Kawasaki J300, KYMCO Dink 300, KYMCO Downtown 300 and the KYMCO Super Dink 300 (part VB614701); there’s also a version available for the Yamaha T Max 300 2012> (part YM615285).

Malossi performance products are exclusively imported by VE (UK), the Malossi Spa Appointed Sole UK Distributor.

• Info: www.ve-uk.com/malossi

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Liger park and ride scooter Here’s a self-balancing scooter that stays upright, parks itself and comes back to you when you say its name, the Liger.

You’ve probably not heard of Liger Mobility before. But the Indian technology start-up has come up with a seriously clever bit of kit for small machines. In essence, the firm’s gyroscopic system works to keep an electric scooter upright by sending self-correcting pulses along the chassis to stop the bike falling to either side. Liger has also rigged the scooter to not only be able to park itself in a predetermined area, but to also come back to the registered rider with nothing more than a voice command.

We’ve seen this type of thing from Honda already – but we’ve not seen anything this small, or which can be retro-fitted to a wide range of two-wheelers.

NEWS

Yamaha's three new funkyy e-scooters

Here's a look at Yamaha's new range of electric scooters. Two off the three are concepts – but (for once) they look pretty promising and the sort of scoot you could see yourself actually jumping on..

Right: We’re all over the Yamaha E01, which is a concept that is apparently comparable to a petrol-powered 125cc scoooter.

Yamaha says it can be charged quickly, is comfortable andd nippy around a city. Looks-wise, the big wheels and MT-range -esque colours and materials win us over.

At the 50cc concept level is the Yamaha E02 (above), which is more compact and has a removable battery for charging away from the bike. It still has the big wheels and a bit more Tron-style look about it. Funky thumbs up, here.

Ultraviolette F77 electric motorcycle released

TT Zero motorcycle class dropped from IoM race week The Isle of Man TT Zero race is under threat after a two-year moratorium has been announced by the island’s motorcycle race organisers.

In what feels like the first death knell for the TT Zero class, Isle of Man TT promoters have decided that the dwindling race will not be a part of the motorbike racing schedule for the next two years.

The Isle of Man Government Department for Enterprise confirmed that a moratorium will be held to see if there is a future for the allelectrically powered motorcycle class.

Recent years have seen the amount of entries to the race in the single figures.

Rob Callister MHK, member with responsibility for tourism and motorsport, said: “As an island we remain committed to the principles and passion that continues to motivate everyone associated with the TT Zero class and the clean tech industry. Our intention is to have a moratorium on the event to allow the motorcycle industry as a whole to catch up on the leading-edge developments that some manufacturers and individual race teams and universities have achieved to date. We remain incredibly proud of everything that has been achieved in clean emission racing at the TT and will work closely with the industry and with manufacturers without the

Finally, Yamaha is going to show its going-into-production E-Vino in the 50cc equivalent market. Think retro-sstyle, but small wheels, quick charging and a handy boost function that provides extra power when you want to get up a hill or blat away from the lights.

pressure and focus of delivering a race format to build on the success to date.”

Minister for Enterprise, Laurence Skelly, added: “In 2019, the carbon footprint of racing at TT was offset for the first time and the department will continue to strive to reduce the broader environmental impact of the TT and the island as a whole. Zero emission racing machinery has an important part to play in this reduction into the future.

"As such the department wishes to hear from those stakeholders and organisations who feel they have the skills, knowledge and competence to be able to provide input into the process of determining the future look of the TT Zero Races.”

Alongside Emflux’s yet-to-be-released electric motorcycles, there’s another Indianbuilt bike to watch out for – the Ultraviolette F77.

Released on November 13, the Ultraviolette F77 is being tipped as the first naked electric motorcycle out of India. While there’s still very little information available about the new machine, there are a few key facts and figures to help us work out exactly what to expect from the F77.

Powered by a 400cc equivalent motor, it kicks out 34bhp (25kW) and maximum torque of 450Nm. That torque figure is massive –10 times higher than a normal 400cc machine – and it needs to be, because Ultraviolette is promising acceleration of 0 to 100kph in three seconds.

There’s no proper information on the battery, but there is a graphic which shows its cells. And on the outside of the housing it says 7,200. That could be referring to a possible power output of 7.2kWh – although rumours suggest that it’ll be much lower (around 3 or 4kWh).

Aside from that, we do know that it’ll come with three driving modes, a smartphone connection, and both fast and domestic charging abilities.

With India making a big push towards electric technology, introducing new policy to only sell electric two-wheelers by 2025, we’re going to see a lot more e-vehicles in the coming years. Thankfully, we’ve not got to wait too much longer to find out all the official information about the new Ultraviolette F77.

• More info: www.ultraviolette.com

AMPED electric balance bikes now on sale

The AMPED A10 electric balance bike is an easy-going motorcycle for small children – and the battery-powered bike is on sale in the UK now.

The new AMPED A10 electric cycle bridges the gap between standard balance bikes and motorcycles, offering the perfect way to introduce the skills of throttle control and balance to children aged from two to six years.

With a 100W motor which is powered by a 18V Lithium battery, it’s capable of a top speed of around 8-10mph with the motor producing 4.4ft-lb of torque.

According to AMPED, the pace of the A10 is around the same as that of a fast walk, so it’s manageable for supervising parents to keep up with the kids as they learn.

It weighs in at just 8.6kg, has a small person, user-friendly seat height of 400mm, and charging takes between five and six hours between rides. Available in a variety of popular colours including red, blue, green, pink and black, if you fancy getting your hands on one of these for a budding biker, you’ll be looking at parting with £399.

• More info: www.dualways.com

PC Paul Ennis from the West Midlands Police’s Road Harm Prevention Team with the Zero

Police conduct successful road safety trial with Zero SR/F Zero Motorcycles’ new SR/F has recently been deployed by West Midlands Police’s Road Harm Prevention Team, as part of a driver education programme aimed at improving motorcycle safety and reducing the number of collisions involving motorcyclists.

The unmarked Zero was ridden by an officer in unbranded riding gear over a two-week period. Footage from a body-mounted camera captured car drivers putting motorcyclists in danger, with 84 drivers being stopped and either prosecuted or warned about their driving. One motorcyclist was also found to be riding recklessly during the trial, which saw marked motorcycles intercept offenders identified by the Zero mounted officer.

Lesser offenders were educated by West Midlands Fire Service using a specially designed package which includes a section on how to look properly at vulnerable locations.

The Zero SR/F was provided on loan from Streetbike of Halesowen, Zero’s longest service UK dealership.

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BRAND FOCUS CITYBLADE 125

Connecting your everyday life with accomplished ease

Part of the huge Chinese Qiangjiang Group (who incidentally own Benelli), Keeway is China's largest motorcycle producer and manufactures more than 1.3 million motorcycles and scooters per year.

Now available in more than 50 countries around the world, the Keeway product line covers scooters and geared motorcycles in a wide range of displacements from 50cc up to 250cc. They are also currently in the process of developing products with larger displacement engines, in order to serve the diversified global marketplace.

The Keeway brand is imported into the UK

by MotoGB, a company with over 20 years of experience of importing unique and individual brands that will scratch almost every twowheeled itch you might have. If there’s something in the Keeway range that peaks your interest, then find yourself a dealer and take the next step.

www.keeway.co.uk E&OE: model range and prices correct at time of compilation. Please check importer's website for up-todate information.

NOTE: Prices do not include ‘OTR’ charges.

The Cityblade’s large wheel and quad suspension set up gives a stable, assured feel so that distractions are at a minimum while travelling to your destination. Dual brake discs mean you can deal with unexpected situations w ith more confidence.

TX 125 ENDURO

SPECIFICATION ENGINE: 125cc 4-stroke SOHC BRAKES: Discs front and rear WHEELS/TYRES: 90/90-14 (F),

100/90-14 (R)

FRONT SUSPENSION: 89mm

telescopic forks

REAR SUSPENSION: 69mm

telescopic coil spring

FUEL TANK CAPACITY: 7 litres SEAT HEIGHT: 760mm COLOURS: Black, Blue, Red

A healthy dose of smooth attitude Comfort levels are high with the TX 125, thanks in part to its extended dampening range, headlined by inverted USD front forks and rear monoshock. Traditional spoked wheels and dual sport tyres complement the feell and d ad dd griip to t he overall ride experience.

RRP £1999

SPECIFICATION ENGINE: 125cc air-cooled

4-stroke

BRAKES: Discs front and rear WHEELS/TYRES: 100/80-17 (F),

130/80-17 (R)

FRONT SUSPENSION: 180mm

telescopic forks

REAR SUSPENSION: 42mm

swing-arm

FUEL TANK CAPACITY: 9 litres UNLADEN WEIGHT: 142kg COLOURS: Grey, White

RRP £1999 save £200

RKS 125 SPORT Forged with inspiration and design Designed in conjunction with Benelli, the front suspension is complemented by a sharp informative rear monoshock unit that provides an edge to the RKS Sport. An efficient fuel-injected 125 sits at t he hear t of a bike desig ned to deliver performance and economy, commute or pleasure, come rain or shine.

TX 125 SM SPECIFICATION ENGINE: 125cc 4-stroke BRAKES: Discs front and rear WHEELS/TYRES: 90/90-17 (F),

120/80-17 (R)

FRONT SUSPENSION: 110mm

telescopic forks

REAR SUSPENSION: Telescopic

coil spring

FUEL TANK CAPACITY: 16 litres UNLADEN WEIGHT: 136kg COLOURS: Black, Blue, Red

RRP £1999

Amazing handling and manoeuvrability Dual-sport chassis, sticky tyres, race-type suspension, racing-spec disc brakes and cornering clearance enhance the TX's handling and manoeuvrability. Other features include digital instrumentation, a lugggagge rack, cast-alloyy wheels, electric start and electronic ignition.

SPECIFICATION ENGINE: 125cc 4-stroke air-

cooled SOHC BRAKES: Discs front and rear WHEELS/TYRES: 100/80-17 (F), 130/80-17 (R) FRONT SUSPENSION: 150mm telescopic forks REAR SUSPENSION: 51mm telescopic coil spring FUEL TANK CAPACITY: 11.2 litres SEAT HEIGHT: 860mm COLOURS: Grey, Orange, White

RRP £1999 save £200

LIGHTING THE WORLD SUPERLIGHT 125 LTD

Great value, great looks, great reliability A true custom in looks, ergonomics and riding experience, the LTD is available in gloss and matt colours with chrome accents complementing the authentic dark componentry of a genuine cruiser at heart. The large fuel tank provides an incredible range, with 110+mpg easily attainable.

SPECIFICATION ENGINE: 124cc 4-stroke air-

cooled SOHC BRAKES: Discs front and rear WHEELS/TYRES: 110/90-16 (F), 130/90-15 (R) FRONT SUSPENSION: 110mm telescopic forks REAR SUSPENSION: 80mm telescopic coil spring FUEL TANK CAPACITY: 15 litres UNLADEN WEIGHT: 134kg COLOURS: Black, Green, Red

RKS 125

Style and performance A smaller, value-based version of a full-size naked machine, the RKS 125 features cast 17-inch wheels, sticky tyres, dual rear shock absorbers, hydraulic telescopic fork and single front brake disc. There’s also comfortable ergonomics, a modern instrument panel and electric start.

SPECIFICATION ENGINE: 125cc 4-stroke air-

cooled SOHC

BRAKES: Discs front and rear WHEELS/TYRES: 90/90-17 (F),

110/80-17 (R)

FRONT SUSPENSION: 110mm

telescopic forks

REAR SUSPENSION: 60mm

telescopic coil spring

SUPERLIGHT 125 SE This small cruiser provides the essence of primal motorcycling from decades past. If ever there was a reason to want an open road and a carefree day to waste, this is it. In an age of plastic and speed, sometimes all you want to have is time.

ENGINE: 124cc 4-stroke air-

cooled OHV BRAKES: Discs front and rear WHEELS/TYRES: 110/90-16 (F), 130/90-15 (R) FRONT SUSPENSION: 110mm telescopic forks REAR SUSPENSION: 80mm telescopic coil spring FUEL TANK CAPACITY: 15 litres SEAT HEIGHT: 730mm COLOURS: Black

RRP £2199

A sleek and extremely dynamic smart bike, designed to provide maximum fun in the curves. Its heart is the new single-cylinder, four-stroke, liquidcooled 125cc engine offering excellent street performance. USD forks are standard.

SPECIFICATION ENGINE: 125cc 4-stroke

4-valve

BRAKES:Discs front and rear WHEELS/TYRES: 100/80-17 (F),

130/70-17 (R)

FRONT SUSPENSION: 115mm

telescopic forks

REAR SUSPENSION: 50mm

swing-arm

FUEL TANK CAPACITY: 10 litres SEAT HEIGHT: 770mm COLOURS: Black, Red, Silver

RRP £1899

K-LIGHT 125

SPECIFICATION

RKF 125

Sport naked

FUEL TANK CAPACITY: 16 litres SEAT HEIGHT: 760mm COLOURS: Black, Red, White

RRP £2099

A blacked-out custom look

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Garage built retro style A big bike look at less than 145 kilos lets you skip through the traffic or breeze along the apex of twisty lanes. Feel is everything and the twin rear shock and traditional front fork set up informs of every undulation with effortless accuracy.

RRP £2499

KEEWAY RKR 125 SPECIFICATION ENGINE: 124cc 4-stroke SOHC BRAKES: Discs front and rear WHEELS/TYRES: 90/90-17 (F),

130/90-15 (R)

FRONT SUSPENSION: 120mm

telescopic forks

REAR SUSPENSION: 55mm

telescopic coil spring

FUEL TANK CAPACITY: 11.8

litres

SEAT HEIGHT: 715mm COLOURS: Black, Red, Silver

RRP £2299

Racing soul Race-inspired design is the lifeblood that flows through the RKR, a bike that reflects the passion of the track in a road-going 125. Feel the echoes of 100 years of design experience through the controls as you smile through the miles.

SPECIFICATION ENGINE: 125cc 4-stroke

4-valve

BRAKES: Discs front and rear WHEELS/TYRES: 100/80-17 (F),

130/70-17 (R)

FRONT SUSPENSION: 110mm

telescopic forks

REAR SUSPENSION: 45mm

telescopic coil spring

FUEL TANK CAPACITY: 15 litres SEAT HEIGHT: 790mm COLOURS: Black, Red, White

RRP £2499

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BEST BIKES OF 2019

It’s been another busy year at O2W. As usual we’ve tested an eclectic mix of small capacity scooters and motorcycles – and ahead of all the new bikes starting to emerge on the market, we thought we’d showcase some of our favourite metal from 2019.

From scooters and sportsbikes to cruisers and commuters, our test team has been out in all weathers to bring you some of the first riding reports on a wide range of A1 and A2 licence machines. These are our top picks from the last 12 months.

SYM NHT 125 – Mini Adventurer

CONTACT: www.motogb.co.uk WORDS: Andy Catton

A1

LICENCE

HONDA SUPER CUB C125 – Retro Commuter

A1

LICENCE

RRP: £2499 + OTR

CONTACT: www.honda.co.uk WORDS: Ross There’s no denying the Honda Super Cub is an iconic machine. Since production first began back in 1958, Honda has sold over 100 million models in various iterations of style and capacity. And to celebrate hitting the milestone and cement its place as the best-selling machine of all time, Honda has revamped its Super Cub for 2018 – with a pretty major styling revision and a raft of technical updates.

The new model is different to the Cubs we all know and love – with Honda going to great lengths to further develop and improve its widely respected machine. That includes the addition of a revamped low-friction 4-stroke single cylinder air-cooled engine, upgrades to its oil system (predominantly to make part and oil changes easier), and a 2-stage catalyser muffler paired with the brand’s PGM fuel injection system (to ensure the bike meets more rigorous exhaust requirements). Its styling has been overhauled too, with a distinctly neo-retro feel complimented by new LED lights and turn indicators, and an instrument panel designed for easy reading.

So far so good – but is it as capable as its older brother?

I’ve got to be honest, I didn’t expect to enjoy myself quite as much as I did on the Super Cub. Sure, it’s no mile muncher, but for bombing around town I reckon the lightweight, agile

RRP: £3399

and super easy to ride machine is hard to beat. It’s more than quick enough for the urban environment, while its slim-line design and 17” wheels help to make it an absolute doddle to bob and weave through traffic.

It’ll turn on a sixpence (well, two metres), is light enough to pick up, and is narrow enough to fit through most front doors. So, if you’re looking for an easy to ride, but very capable machine, then you should definitely go for a spin on Honda’s new Super Cub C125. I love it – and I reckon you might, too.

The SYM NHT has strong, sleek, adventure styling and distinctive graphics, complimented with a solid build and fab handling. It’s the best 125cc bike I’ve been on this year. It’s also got the added advantage of an adventure touring seat height, to give riders a commanding view of the road ahead.

On the road, the NHT engine has good, purposeful pull up to 50mph.

The clutch is light and the gearbox is pretty slick from new. Tyres are superb as is grip in the wet and on loose dirt track surfaces, as well as being grippy on dry roads. The handling is superb – the best I have had on a 125. If only the engine had a little more poke.

Suspension is plenty plush enough.

Ok, so there’s no preload adjustment on the rear shock, but everything works exceptionally well, feeling secure, and bends are a joy.

It’s got some decent gear as standard too, including a USB charging point near the headstock. I charged my phone whilst riding – a first, wow! The LCD Dash is clear and includes gear indicator, time and fuel

gauge, as well as revs and speedometer. Great, bright LED lights all around. There’s also a good, easy to fill lockable fuel tank, which offers a range of 160 miles-ish at full speed!

In essence, the SYM NHT 125 is a great little bike. It’s loads of fun and it handles amazingly well – even if it is slightly let down by finish, top end engine performance and that linked rear brake. But it’s a little 125. It's smiles per miles (per pounds) ratio is high. And the fact that I have been hiding it at home so it doesn’t need to go back says everything you need to know. It is a good ‘un, offering a relatively new concept in the fierce 125 motorcycle market place; the mini adventurer.

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AJS TEMPEST SCRAMBLER – Stripped-back Scrambler

A2

CONTACT: www.ajsmotorcycles.co.uk WORDS: John Sharratt This is AJS’s Tempest. It’s a lightweight little machine with off-road aspirations, which takes clear inspiration from AJS’s iconic scramblers of yesteryear.

It’s a brilliant looking thing – solid in all aspects, and even though it’s classed as a lightweight, it still has that rugged, robust feel to it, too. Straight-pull spoked wheels with black alloy rims, a big 18” wheel on the front with a smaller 17” on the rear, front and rear single disc combined braking system - and chunky, knobbly tyres fitted as standard. It looks like a serious little scrambler. And although it’s not, it does look the part.

As a first time rider's bike then, it’s ideal – no silly speeds allowed to cause any real problems for beginners, and the off-road option will be good for some, too. When I first started out on a little Suzuki TS I used to love taking it off-road through local woods, down the beaches and sand

LICENCE

A2

LICENCE

dunes – all great fun when you are honing your rider skills. I did give it a blast down a green lane and it was fine, just give it plenty of revs before setting off from a standing start as the clutch has a fair bit of travel before it actually bites.

CONTACT: www.cfmoto.co.uk WORDS: John Sharratt

RRP: £2249

With just 27-and-a-half horsepower under the saddle, you wouldn’t think it when it’s ridden hard. Its throttle is very responsive and you won’t have any issues overtaking all but the quickest of vehicles.

I’ve been really impressed with this brand new model. Don’t be put off by it being just 300cc. It thinks it’s a much bigger bike than it actually is.

It was light and agile enough to have great fun on my daily commute to the office, and to be honest it wouldn’t be an issue if you had a longer trip planned as the seat and riding position are very comfortable.

It might not be great on a motorway, but it has plenty of torquey pick-up and power where and when it’s needed.

As a commuter bike it is perfect, being well balanced for those trips into town in slow-moving traffic due to its compactness, and great on the open road whether it be a big A road, dual carriageway or a smaller B or rural back road.

SUR-RON LIGHT BEE – Electric Dirt Devil CONTACT: www.sur-ronbikes.com WORDS: Ross Slowly but surely, the wider motorcycle community is cottoning on to the fact that electric is here, and is here to stay. For many, there are still doubts about range, charging and, let’s be honest, price. But with the imminent introduction of ULEZ restrictions and the skyrocketing cost of public transport, it’s becoming more and more difficult to deny the value of electric bikes or scooters for city commuting.

But what if you’re an off-road demon, looking for a new toy to smash about in the soil? Well, that’s where Sur-Ron’s recently introduced Light Bee electric bike comes in.

It’s actually my first time on a machine of this kind and I’ve got to say, I was hugely impressed with the little Sur-Ron right out of the gates. It’s great fun to ride, being quick, lightweight and impressively agile. It’s by no means a full-size machine, and if you factor in that it won’t deliver power while the brakes are in use, I reckon it could make a fantastic tool to introduce young riders to the sport in a safe, unintimidating way. Despite that, I’m 6ft 2” and a fairly avid off-roader, and every time I sat on the Sur-Ron’s slimline seat and twisted the throttle, a smile was soon plastered across my face. I think that's probably the best endorsement there is.

If you’re into diving around in the dirt, the Sur-Ron’s well worth a look. It’s not a motorcycle and it’s not a mountain bike – instead it blends the best of both

CF MOTO 300NK – B-Road Blaster

worlds into one capable, confidenceinspiring package. It weighs in at a tiny 47kg, comes with 6000W of peak power and will get up to 47mph in a flash. Ok, so just shy of £4,000 certainly isn’t cheap – particularly considering you can only ride it away from roads and byways. But is it worth it? Well, it’s proved capable of taking a serious beating during our time together, and if it can manage that in the long term, I reckon it is. Oh, and for another £500(ish) you can get yourself a road legal version of the Sur-Ron, which can be ridden on an A1 licence. It’s slightly less powerful, but just as much fun.

RRP: £3995/ £4495

A1

LICENCE

RRP: £3399

Fuel economy is good as I averaged 86.13mpg after my first test run using mainly the Rain mode, and I put it through its paces on my test rides. CF Moto claims you can get 108.6mpg.

For a small bike with a big future it would be an ideal step up on to that bigger machine for young riders on an A2 licence or for riders like me who might want a smaller, lighter machine just for the fun of it.

This bike shows that you don’t need a big cc’d machine. So loosen the reigns and let this baby ride!

Please CF Moto – can’t I keep it?

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BEST KIT OF 2019

With our test team out in all types of weather testing bikes, they obviously need some top-quality riding kit to wear.

Here’s a few of our favourites from the last 12 months.

FURYGAN FUSION RUCKSACK

RESURGENCE NEW WAVE MOTORCYCLE JEANS

I don’t like messing around with luggage too much when I’m on a bike. Don’t get me wrong, I definitely see the value; and I know there’s a raft of options out there, no matter what bike you’re riding – from solid panniers and top boxes through to roll bags and tankbags.

And if I was planning on doing some serious miles, spending more than a couple of days living off the bike, that’s what I’d go for.

But I like travelling light, so most of the time, a simple and straightforward backpack is more than up to the job for my needs. That’s where Furygan’s Fusion backpack comes in.

Using the Fusion regularly, I’ve crammed it full of everything from my laptop and camera through to clothes for a weekend away.

Nine times out of 10, I’d sooner be wearing bike gear that wouldn’t look out of place in the pub. Gear that means I don’t have to faff about taking off a load of layers when I clamber off the bike. So bike jeans are my ‘go to’ choice on two wheels.

Resurgence Gear was first launched back in 2013 with the creation of its own abrasionresistant PEKEV material. Since then, Resurgence has made a name for itself developing top-quality and super-stylish biker denim that’s proved extremely popular.

Resurgence has been pretty bold with its claims about its latest offering. According to Resurgence, its PEKEV Ultra technology means that the New Wave feel like a pair of regular jeans, but with top-quality protection. I haven’t had to test their performance yet, but I can definitely vouch for how comfortable and lightweight they are. Ok, so they’re thicker than normal fashion jeans, but they’re not so chunky that it’s obvious you’re wearing a pair of dedicated bike jeans. No big bulges at the knees and hips for me, thanks to their roomy fit with a gradual taper towards the ankle.

The jeans are CE EN13595 Level 1 certified with a Level 2 rated 11 seconds abrasion resistance, and come with hip and knee armour pockets with height adjustment, and D3O T5 Evo X CE knee and hip pads as standard, so I reckon they’d be well up to taking a serious beating.

INFO: www.nevis.uk.com TESTED BY: Ross

INFO: www.dot4distribution.com TESTED BY: Ross

Essentially, it’s a 15-litre, hump-style backpack, with distinctly Furygan, race-inspired styling. But despite its sporty aesthetic, it’s supremely practical with a range of different compartments and pockets.

First off, there’s a reasonably spacious main compartment with a phone pocket, a slightly larger notebook-shaped pockeet, pen holders, and an elasticatted mesh pocket. There’s also a sep parate padded laptop compartm ment which’ll take a 15" screen, anotheer little pocket at the front of the bag wh hich’ll hold a wallet, and a little pockeet for cash or your credit on the strap - you’ll no doubt be surprised with just how much it’ll hold.

It’s comfortable even after all day in the saddle, thanks to padded strapss aand a range of waist/ chest c adjustments.

Admittedly, A it’s not waterproof, w but thankfully, t it’s proved itself pretty capable of keeping k my kit dry on more m than one occasion. o However, if it’s really hammering it down, you’ll be pleased p to know it does come c with a separate waterproof w cover.

It isn’t especially cheap, but if you’re after a rucksack to stand d up to the elements and take u a bit of a beating being sstuffed full of gear, the Furygan Fusion is well worth a look.

F

OXFORD KICKBACK SHIRT

If you’re in the market for a pair of stylish pair of jeans that won’t look out of place when you dismount, Resurgence’s New Wave jeans are worth a look. They’re by no means cheap, but in this world you get what you pay for. Comfortable, stylish and seemingly seriously protective, that’s about as good as it gets in my book.

RRP: £299

TUCANO URBANO GREEN PARK JACKET RRP: £99.99

INFO: www.oxford-products.co.uk TESTED BY: Ross I recognise the importance of top quality protective clothing when you’re out on two wheels – but for the kind of riding I do, I can usually get away with a pair of jeans and a Kevlar shirt. And that’s where Oxford’s Kickback Shirt comes in. I admit it’s not a hugely sophisticated bit of bike gear, but there’s more to it than initially meets the eye. At first glance, the British brand’s casually styled shirt simply looks like a piece of fashion clothing, but on closer inspection the Kickback reveals a handful of clever features.

Beyond its cotton exterior, the shirt comes fully lined with DuPont Kevlar aramid fibres to help save your skin, should you end up sliding along the Tarmac. Admittedly, there’s no built-in armour as standard, but there are pockets ready to take shoulder, elbow and

RRP: £79.99

back protection should you choose. I usually wear a set of tight-fitting body armour underneath instead.

That’s no slight against built-in armour, it’s just a personal preference, and means I can take the armour off easily when I get to my destination, throw it in a rucksack, and stick the shirt back on.

The shirt also comes with two external front pockets and a secure internal pocket. There’s stud and zip cuffs, meaning you can get your gloves either inside or outside the shirt, and it even gets a waterresistant coating, too. I’ve not worn it in any serious downpour, but it’s kept me dry in a couple of light showers. In short, if you’re looking for a stylish, versatile bike jacket that looks as at home on the bike as it does down the pub, Oxford’s Kickback shirt is worth a punt.

INFO: www.tucanourbano.co.uk TESTED BY: Ross

RRP: £299

Tucano Urbano’s Green Park jacket looks the business – close enough to a traditional Parka to appease the hard-core scooter crowd, but with a handful of clever features to help it stand out as a thoroughly modern bit of kit.

It’s constructed from cotton outer with a Hydroscud treatment, which works to make the Green Park totally waterproof and windproof, and all seams have been sealed, too. In practice, it all works a treat, and even in vicious storms the jacket’s kept me warm and dry with no trouble.

On the inside there’s a removable polyester lining for warmth, and it also comes with CE level one protection on shoulders and elbows (there’s a pocket for back protection, too).

I haven’t had to test them yet, but from what I can tell, the thick outer and level one armour should be well up to the job.

I love this jacket. I’ve had an old German Army Parka in the past, and the TU Green Park surpasses it in every single way. It’s stylish, comfortable, well equipped and capable of handling some seriously miserable weather.

It’s not cheap by any means, but it still gets top marks from me.