PROPER, NOT POSEY, RETRO KIT
You don’t have to compromise on safety for the sake of fashion.
BEAUTIFUL!
Arai Rapide £449.99
www.whyarai.co.uk
Retro lids can be rubbish but the Rapide blends old-school looks with modern construction and decent venting and comfort. The hand-built shell is smooth and round to reduce the chances of it catching on obstacles in a slide.
Best bit The visor shuts properly with a secure latch rather than push-poppers.
BRILLIANT!
Spada Wyatt £299.99
www.spadaclothing.co.uk
The only one in our recent retro jacket review to boast the top AAA Cecertification, the Wyatt is highly-protective, comes with CE Level-2-approved armour in the shoulders, elbows and back and also comes with a two-year warranty.
Best bit A waterproof coating actually does keep you dry in a shower.
BRIGHT!
Alpinestars Oscar Distinct Drystar £184.99
www.alpinestars.com
Part of Alpinestars’ retro Oscar collection, the leather Distinct Drystar boots boast CE protection and are also water-resistant and breathable thanks to a Drystar membrane. The toe, ankle and heel feature extra reinforcement and there is a side zip to ease fitment.
Best bit The Drystar membrane does a good job of keeping you dry and sweat-free.
BREEZY!
Dainese Corbin Air £79.95
www.dainese.com
Certified to CE Level-1, the Corbin Air is a perforated full goatskin leather ‘shorty’ glove in either black or brown, with a reinforced palm and polyurethane knuckle inserts for protection and comfort.
Best bit Pre-curved fingers are a nice touch.
BENEFICIAL!
Draggin Rebel Jeans £229.99
www.dragginjeans.net
According to Draggin, these Roomoto MR7+ lined jeans can withstand a 75m/7.46-second slide. The winner of our jeans test, they look great and don’t have silly turn-ups either…
Best bit Double-layer construction, which we found to be the best for abrasion resistance.
— everything is happening at 20mph less than it would on a race-rep or even a big adventure bike and the sensations are so much richer.
The Thruxton’s come a long way in the last 16 years. The first bikes were a bit of a contradiction, thanks to low-slung clip-ons and the lethargic delivery of its 69bhp. Powered by a similar air-cooled lump as the revived Bonnie, it had a chassis far better than its engine and never quite hit the mark. It was a lovely bike, but in truth it failed to break into the mainstream. Back then Biking Britain still loved the sportsbike and bikes needed double that power to be taken seriously by some.
But times change and on the back of the amazing success of BMW’S R ninet, a decade later Triumph revamped its retro range and bikes like the Thruxton and the Bonnie have been at its heart. It was perfectly timed and the development push matched bikers’ move away from sportsbikes. Now, a simple, good-looking, sweethandling bike that weighs 200kg and has 100bhp seems perfect for the road. Truth is, it always has been.
‘A simple, goodlooking, sweethandling bike seems perfect’