WINTER WEAR REVIEW

Looking at all the kit I’ve been using this autumn/winter, my trusty Richa Bonneville jacket is still my favourite. With its CE approved armour it’s got me covered safety wise, and obviously its wax exterior keeps me dry… no problem there. The thermal liner was fitted back in when temperatures recently dropped, so the only gripe I’ve got with it is that the popper style fasters are now missing on a couple of places. It does come with one spare, but they are clearly a weak point of the design, though not a major problem.

When the temperatures really plummeted recently, I was also pleased to have the same Keis heated waistcoat from last year, and the new heated gloves just released (both can be either battery powered or hardwired as you see fit). The gloves are a generous fit, so keep that in mind when ordering. I cannot over-emphasise how good these heated items are – they transforms cold-weather riding experiences no end. These are thoroughly recommended.

The last item I want to pay homage to, is my Shark Explore R lid, which is a full face, dual sport helmet. It has one of the best panoramic fields of vision for a dual sport style helmet currently on the market, is constructed from carbon fibre making it extremely light and strong, and has an internal sun visor. I’m not inclined to change this unit at all right now, it looks good, has a great safety rating, and is without doubt, the comfiest and lightest helmet I have ever owned, to the extent that it makes you forget you are actually wearing a lid.