Article from Telegraph about evolution moto clothes

tinkerinWstuff · Nov 25, 2009

Motorcycle clothing tested - Telegraph

Motorcycle clothing tested
A look at how motorcycle clothing has changed - coming more comfortable and practical - since the Eighties.

By David Williams
Published: 8:51AM GMT 25 Nov 2009

In a freezing airstream, the rider wearing modern clothing (left) fares much better than traditional leather-clad equivalent Photo: Patrick Gosling

It's 1984. The miners are on strike, Torvill and Dean are skating to Ravel's Bolero and computer buffs are marvelling at the new Apple Macintosh. But motorcycle gear is still in the Dark Ages and riders depend on one of the oldest materials known to man: leather.

This week, I sat on a mid-Eighties Honda VF500 in what, 25 years ago, passed for state-of-the art riding gear: heavy fibreglass crash helmet with the ergonomic appeal of a bucket, a blouson-style leather jacket that could have come from the set of Miami Vice, stiff black leggings and gloves. My calf-length, blue and white leather boots sport fetching brass toe studs but look as though they would offer little protection in a crash, or even a storm. And things are about to get cold.

I'm a guinea pig in tests designed to find out how motorcycle clothing has moved on. It's part of the industry's Get On campaign aimed at recapturing the hearts – and wallets – of a generation who gave up motorcycles some 25 years ago. My mission is to ride the Honda on one side of a triple-glazed window in the Motor Industry Research Association's £5 million climatic chamber, while on the other side a technician manipulates rows of switches to plunge me into arctic hell.

It's the same facility used by Ben Fogle and James Cracknell to train for their televised race to the South Pole, and I'm beginning to understand why they stopped laughing so early on during their own experiment.

At first it's merely uncomfortable as a giant fan spins into action and the temperature – previously 14F (-10C) – plunges in the teeth of a 30mph gale. It whistles around inside the helmet while my leathers flap like washing on a line, pumping cold air across my body. The technician throws a second switch and the wind howls to 47mph while his accomplice sprays water into the slipstream.

After a further five minutes, my extremities are numb. If I was on the M4 I'd be seeking shelter at the next service station. It can't be good for safe riding. Suddenly I lose all vision as thick frost forms on the visor and ice slicks appear on my arms and legs. I'm rigid, but not too frozen to signal "game over" to the controller.

Now it's time to gauge what effect 25 years have had. BMW's lightweight two-piece Streetguard 3 suit fits over a snug undersuit cut from aerospace-derived Phase Change material that stores or releases heat in line with body temperature. On top is Arai's lightweight RX-7 full-face helmet with an array of ventilation slots and lots of padding. Gore-Tex-lined boots adorn my feet.

I mount a 2009 BMW K1300S with heated grips and the fan is cranked straight to 94mph, with added water. What a difference. After 10 minutes it feels routine. Nothing penetrates the high-tech triple-layer laminate and I'm as warm as toast. The helmet is whisper-quiet, comfy and mist-free, but the rider alongside in the Eighties gear has already had enough.

To demonstrate the marvel of modern motorcycle gear – built-in ventilation and breathable fabrics – I change into BMW's AirFlow suit, the climate chamber is set to 86F (30C) and I begin to sweat. But as the fan starts up, air streams through the suit's vents: this is riding as it should be – comfortable, cool, civilised. The BMW outer suit costs £495, the year-round Streetguard 3 £925 and the two-piece undies £168, although less expensive gear is also available.

The Motorcycle Industry Association says 3.5 million people in Britain have bike licences but only 1.5 million ride. And bike sales are falling, which is the driving force behind our experiment.

In February, the Get On campaign will formally launch, offering former bikers – and anyone else over 16 – free taster sessions at training grounds across Britain on the latest 125cc bikes. Trials will also be available at the NEC Motorcycle Show (November 27 to December 6).

"Many have forgotten how much fun riding can be," says Mike Loydall, head of motorcycle training at BSM. "We're aiming to show that with the right training and the right gear, it can be safe and fun, too."

* For more information visit Welcome to Get on | Get on
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