www.motorcyclenews.com 60 GARAGE

2500 TESTED  MILES

Tough undies Armour is worn in a stretch-fit that ensures it covers the ‘This ’s a parts it should.  exible friend’ Knox Leonard waxed jacket £229.99 Tester Tony Hoare Room to breathe Time used Five months/2500 miles Undoing this zip gives What’s good? The Leonard jacket is a great piece of extra space for comfort riding kit, but is also intended to be worn off the bike. when worn over So Knox, better known for their armour, created a armour. range of close-fitting that can be worn when visiting your local (shop or pub), then easily expanded slightly so they will fit over an armoured Knox undershirt. The Leonard is the wax -style option (although it’s made from a wax-effect textile rather than the old-style material) and the expansion comes with zips that run from waist to wrist on each side. It works well and the jacket is comfortable, waterproof and versatile thanks to a warm collar and cuffs that are attached with buttons so you can choose when you want them, and when you don’t. The notion of a jacket that can be worn on and off the bike without having Cuff adjustment bulky armour is a good one and I have happily worn the Four poppers to get the cuff jacket both for riding and nights out. adjustment right for either What’s not? Firstly, the smartness of any proper riding or a night out. riding kit is reduced by the amount of dead bugs and road grime you collect while out on the bike. And if you want to look smart when you get to your destination the Leonard is immediately hampered because you need to put the armoured undershirt somewhere (and the tight fit of the undershirt leaves the clothes underneath with creases). It’s far easier in such situations to take off an armoured jacket and hang it somewhere. The £229.99 price only covers the outer jacket and it costs another £99.99 for the armoured undershirt (which does include a back protector) and another £39.99 for a thermal that can also be worn separately. Contact www.planet-knox.com

Practical riding jacket that’s THE RIVAL + waterproof and versatile REV’IT AVENUE 2 GTX enough to be worn casually, too. Price: £389.99 Similar styling, but slightly longer and Great for either riding or smart with a (optional on the Knox). It’s  occasions, but your clothes get a Gore-Tex and armour is fitted rather bit creased. than in an undershirt, but a back protector costs extra. Quality ##### Value##### www.revit.eu

TOP FIVE WATERPROOF SPORTS

Spada XƒPro WP Richa Blade ARMR Moto Montegi RST Tractech Evo CE Falco Oxegen 2 1 £129.95 2 Waterproof £119.99 3 2 Race WP £89.99 4 Waterproof £129.99 5 WTR £139.99 Coated uppers and a One of the few waterproof boots Basic part-leather boots with With a coated microfibre outer Italian-made with synthetic waterproof and breathable membrane available in colours other than black, the plastic protection for the shins,shins, that RST claims is lighter and easier to look uppers and a breathable waterproofwaterproof to keep your feetfeet drydry andand Blades come in black/white or black/red as a gearchange pad, replaceable after than leather, the TractechTractech membrane as there’s a cushioned anti- well as plain black. toesliders and the anti-slip Evos are CE-approved for crashcrash well as D3O shock sole for comfort andand aa double-double- The upper is cowhide sole you need while riding. resistance and are protected absorption. The desnity moulded ankle support and there is protection They fasten with zips andand against the weather by aa HiporaHipora plastic toesliders as well as a zip/Velcrozip/Velcro fasteningfastening at the shins, ankles andand Velcro. The most basic bootsboots waterproof and breathable are replaceable and with a buckle and strap toto heels. They fasten with here, but that’s reflected in the membrane. There’s also plastic the soles are adjust the fit to suitsuit a combination of pricetag. shin, ankle and heel dual-density your needs. zip and Velcro. protection. offerings.