I’m always on the prowl for riding gear that’s a step up from what I’m currently using at an affordable price. The mid-height Flex WP Touring boots from Tourmaster come pretty close to nailing my ideal for a commuting boot: they’re waterproof (which I tested in a light rain), have a dual zipper for easy entry/exit and offer a nice balance of comfort and protection. Oil-resistant, anti-slip rubber soles are reinforced with a steel shank, while the leather/synthetic leather uppers sport heel, toe, shin and ankle guards. The boots fit well and are true to my normal size 11. The dual-zipper entry requires a bit of fiddling to ensure none of the inner pleat is caught in the second zipper, but I’m hoping that goes away as the boots break in. The soles are rigid enough for comfort on the bike but flexible enough for walking, and feel slightly rounded which contributes to walking comfort in the office or on a short hike.
Previous experience with Tourmaster boots has been very positive as they proved durable and robust, and the Flex WPs have a quality feel and are well-constructed. With a reasonable MSRP of $124.99, they offer a lot of boot for the money.
For more information, see your dealer or visit tourmaster.com.
The FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup is a competition born from innovation, powered by 100% renewable energy. This ambition to evolve and experiment with new technologies brings with it an associated risk. It can be confirmed, however, that no motorcycles were charging at the time of the incident in the box in which the fire started.
With new Dedicated Servers, multiplayer experience in MotoGP™19 will be incredibly smooth and gratifying. No lag, no excuses in case of defeat! Together with better performances, multiplayer mode gets now a brand-new Race Director Mode, to make online challenges with friends even more compelling.
While none of our staff count ourselves among the 6,200-plus people rescued after calling in the cavalry with a GPS-linked Spot device, we’ve long kept the gadgets clipped to our gear. The bright-orange boxes provide great peace of mind when our adventures don’t include cellphone service, but communications options have thus far been limited to predetermined one-way emergency messages.
The Spot X adds a keyboard, a screen, and two-way satellite-based messaging to the little lifesaving gadget. Combined with existing features such as location tracking and an outstanding battery life (Spot X gets a claimed 240 hours in 10-minute interval tracking mode), the latest tracker jumps past being a lifesaving device and into the realm of a true communications tool.
The Spot X is at its best sending messages to mobile phones on traditional cell networks, but it also has options for posting to twitter, and even rudimentary GPS navigation tools. A QWERTY keyboard and 2.7-inch display date back to an earlier era of technology, but handle rough use better than a touchscreen.
The device demands a $100 premium on Spot’s third-generation tracker, but a similar price point for basic service, making it a solid upgrade—whether you need it or not.
The Cup leader has got podium form at the venue and his biggest rival so far, Takuma Matsuyama, has only done one race weekend in Buriram rather than the two of his fellow more veteran riders. That bodes well for Nishimura to increase his advantage, but some home heroes will be looking to take over from the two Japanese riders who locked out the top of tiers of the rostrum: home races bring more motivation than ever.
At around 00:15 early on the 14th of March during the second preseason MotoE™ test at the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto, the E-Paddock for the FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup caught fire, causing major damages and losses. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.
With Troy Bayliss opting to take some rest-time to aid his recovery from his recent surgery from injuries sustained at the first ASBK round at Phillip Island, the in-form MotoGP Wildcard Mike Jones, who has yet to confirm a ride overseas for 2019, is in the perfect position to re-join the team that he rode for in their inaugural season in the ASBK back in 2016.
Jones recently joined ASBK regulars for testing at Morgan Park, and is of course is no stranger to Ducati machinery, and took little time get back in the groove. The team elected to not run a transponder, thus no times were registered on the circuit timing system, but talk around the paddock suggested that Jones might have actually undercut Maxwell by two-tenths-of-a-second to end the day fastest, unofficially at least…
Ben Henry – DesmoSport Team Manager
“We’re obviously disappointed that Troy can’t line up on the grid next weekend, but we’re fortunate to be able to call on Mike (Jones) to step in. Mike is in great form right now, setting the fastest Australian Superbike lap at Phillip Island during round one, and it was great to have him back on the bike in testing last week. We really couldn’t ask for more credentialed rider to ride the Panigale FE, and I’m looking forward to seeing what Mike can do for us at round two.”
Mike Jones
“While it’s unfortunate Troy can’t ride, I’m grateful for the opportunity to join DesmoSport Ducati. I initially tested the bike at Wakefield Park a week ago to help work on the set-up in preparation for Troy to race, and I was really happy with both the bike and the progress we made. The extra laps are certainly going to benefit for the race weekend, and I’m really looking forward to racing round two on the Panigale FE.”
Troy Bayliss
“The surgery on my finger was successful, but after trying to ride the bike this week, it just hasn’t had enough time to heal, making it impossible for me to ride at speed. It’s tough watching another racer on your bike, but Mike is a part of the DesmoSport family. He’s riding really well, looked really comfortable on the bike in testing and has given the team some great feedback to keep improving already, so although it’s not an ideal situation, I’m happy to have someone of Mike’s calibre be able to step in for me.”
An overnight fire in the newly built E-Paddock for FIM Enel MotoE World Cup at Jerez has forced an early conclusion to testing that was due to take place this week at the spanish circuit.
The massive blaze is also thought to have wiped out the majority of the machines and the equipment required to charge and maintain them.
The fledgling new racing category for battery powered motorcycles, the FIM Enel MotoE World Cup, is slated to get underway at Jerez over the first weekend in May, in conjunction with round four of the MotoGP World Championship.
Many believe that the overnight inferno might actually be hard for machine manufacturer Energica to recover from in time for that opening round of the new Dorna backed series.
No injuries have been reported and the cause of the fire is currently under investigation.
Former Aprilia Gresini Racing and Pramac Ducati MotoGP rider Scott Redding made and impressive start as the 2019 Bennetts British Superbike Championship kicked off today (Wednesday) with the opening day of official testing at Monteblanco in Spain. The Be Wiser Ducati Panigale V4 rider set the benchmark pace, toppling fellow debutant Xavi Forés by 0.169s with Jason O’Halloran also cutting the advantage on his final run in third.
The opening day of BSB testing got underway on a glorious sunny spring day at the Spanish circuit with Forés setting an early pace and holding the position on his second visit to the track as he prepares for his debut season in Bennetts BSB.
Redding though had been chipping away and on his penultimate run of the day he moved ahead of his Spanish rival with a string of faster laps as the Ducati V4R debuted for the first time in Bennetts BSB.
Forés improved in the closing ten minutes of the last session of the day as he completed his final run of laps, but it wasn’t enough to relegate Redding from leading the time sheets on close.
Redding said:
“It has been a good first day here in Monteblanco and have had great fun on the bike, understanding a lot of things and the team have been amazing – we have gelled really well. I actually miss them from the last test so it has been a relief after a long wait and I am looking forward to tomorrow to actually test some things on the bike, working with the new engine and the electronics to find the best ways. Day one is done and I am really happy and can’t wait to get back out tomorrow.”
Australian O’Halloran demonstrated that he was adapting well to his McAMS Yamaha YZF-R1M, closing in on Redding and Forés in the final minutes and only ending up 0.321s the leader Redding.
Danny Buchan saved his best until his last run of the day onboard his FS-3 Racing Kawasaki ZX-10R as he claimed fourth, pushing back the OMG Racing Suzuki GSXR piloted Luke Mossey in the closing minutes of the day.
Tarran Mackenzie made it both McAMS Yamahas inside the top ten as he posted the sixth fastest time ahead of Claudio Corti who had been riding impressively until a unfortunate ended his charge crash, but he was unhurt and able to finish the day.
Glenn Irwin led the Quattro Plant JG Speedfit Kawasaki assault as the title-winning team bid to retain their crown, he was marginally faster than his younger brother Andrew on the Honda Racing Fireblade with Josh Brookes completing the top ten.
Bennetts British Superbike Championship,
Monteblanco, Official Test, Day 1 result:
1
Scott Redding
(Be Wiser Ducati)
1m:38.385s
2
Xavi Forés
(Honda Racing)
+0.169
4
Jason O’Halloran
(McAMS Yamaha)
+0.321s
5
Danny Buchan
(FS-3 Racing Kawasaki)
+0.750s
6
Luke Mossey
(OMG Racing Suzuki)
+0.792s
7
Tarran Mackenzie
(McAMS Yamaha)
+0.853s
8
Claudio Corti
(Team WD-40 Kawasaki)
+0.872s
9
Glenn Irwin
(Quattro Plant JG Speedfit Kawasaki)
+0.883s
10
Andrew Irwin
(Honda Racing)
+0.978s
11
Josh Brookes
(Be Wiser Ducati)
+1.100s
BSB moves to Portimao for the penultimate test on 17 – 18 March.
Motorcycles thefts are up 7.3% across Australia in 2018 with many older bikes heading straight to the junk yard for the scrap metal value, says the National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council.
Thefts increased by 597 to a total of 8746 with a recovery rate of just 47%.
Council spokeswoman Caitlin Hrambanis says the biggest rises in motorcycle theft were in NSW and Queensland.
“In most cases vehicle theft is almost always opportunistic, with the vehicle being stolen for short-term use and later recovered (78% in Queensland),” she says.
Unlike most modern cars which have self-alarming engine immobilisers, many motorcycles need owners to lock them with a chain, disc lock or an alarm switch.
She says they can easily be stolen without requiring any keys.
“Motorcycles have their own set of challenges due to their ease of portability, the high demand for parts and poor identification,” she says.
“Two in three motorcycles are also stolen from the home, making home security, protecting keys and considerations of where the bike is stored also important.
“In Queensland, around a quarter of all bikes stolen are off-road bikes, which often makes recovery difficult as they are not subject to a registration system.”
Brands stolen
The most brands stolen were also the most popular brands on the market.
They were followed by many dirt bike and scooter brands which are easier to steal than heavy road bikes.
Make
2014
2018
Honda
1601
1786
Yamaha
1496
1529
Kawasaki
691
782
Suzuki
752
751
KTM
465
619
Harley Davidson
150
235
SYM
194
229
Piaggio
115
203
Kymco
120
200
Triumph
111
194
Hyosung
152
152
Longjia
196
147
Husqvarna
107
128
Aprilia
83
115
Ducati
69
91
Vespa
81
91
TGB
131
83
BMW
41
71
Polaris
53
63
Bolwell
99
61
Theft hotspots
South East Queensland is the worst hotspot for motorcycle theft.
Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Logan and Moreton Bay were all in the top 10 local authority regions for bike theft.
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