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gear

Road Trip Part 5 – Boots and Gloves

May 21, 2017

So, if you’re out on the road, taking a long journey the next thing you need it a good quality pair of gloves. Any biker that’s gone for more than half an hour on roads with speeds that exceed the usual 20 to 30 mph know what I’m talking about here. Cool air rushing past the fingers, sapping the warmth away from your hands- even though it’s not winter any more you can still end up with frost bite. As well as being painful- it can affect your reaction time in the moment as well as just being bloody unpleasant if your fingers are in agony and you’ve still got several hours to go before you get to where you’re going. However, gloves aren’t like jackets or trousers that have features that can be adjusted or removed to fit your environmental situation. If you’re wearing gloves that are too cold- you’re going to be too cold. And the same goes for the opposite unless you pack a pair of each. The gloves I use aren’t sold yet but the closest gloves I have found to them are the Agrius Slate leather Motorcycle Gloves.

Agrius Slate

And I’m glad they’re not a close, tight fit, so I’ve got just a tiny bit of extra room in mine- here’s why. My trick involves a cheap pair of wool gloves and a pair of Vinyl or rubber gloves. In the hot weather ride with your bike gloves as normal. In the cold, you can put on the wool gloves first, then the vinyl gloves and wear your bike gloves over the top. The wool gloves provide warmth, the vinyl gloves trap that warmth in as well as provide extra waterproofing and more of a windbreak and your regular bike gloves on the outside provide the protection. I never go anywhere without a pair of vinyl and wool gloves just in case for this reason.

Buffalo Spartan

But if possible- I’d rather have a pair of gloves I hadn’t have to use little hacks on- if only because I’ll be filling up on fuel a few times on the journey each way and I don’t want to have to remove three pairs of gloves every time I go to pay. So I’ve been pondering very deeply about the Buffalo Spartan Gloves. They’re a good fit, they have a pleasantly warm feeling interior, knuckle protection, they’re waterproof and have a leather outer material for breaking through the wind. They may get a tad hot if I were riding in the blazing sun down village roads at 20 to 30 mph but on the motorways I think they’d be just right.

Richa Adventure

Now on to boots. It’s largely down to personal preference and what you find comfortable. For some that is a shorter style of boot but for me personally it is a slightly taller style of boot. Something nice and high to keep the socks held up and keeping your feet warm. Something covering as much of your lower legs as possible that provides a sturdy break against the wind, a good amount of protection and waterproof. For me, these preferences are all met by the Richa Adventure Boots. They may seem a little bit out of place- wearing adventure boots with touring gear and all but hey- it is an adventure!

And that’s all for gloves and boots! In the next and final part I’ll be talking about helmets- which one I’d rather have, possible alternatives and the importance of a good helmet while travelling long distances. Thanks for reading everybody!

Until next time!

-MattW at Ghostbikes.com

The Black Titan SV Motorcycle Helmet

May 11, 2017

Hey there, everybody! I’m back to blogging about a helmet and this time it’s another one from Black, one of Ghostbikes.com’s very own brands. It’s the Black Titan SV! I’ve chosen to use pictures of the “Union” graphics as I’ve seen one we have on display in the shop that looks pretty snappy with the Iridium Blue Visor.

So, what’s so great about the Titan SV? Well personally- I find its because its another affordable helmet that has a number of features that mean this helmet has been designed to suit as large a number of people as possible. It provides all the basics and then throws in some more to make this helmet quite versatile- which is why it appeals to so many. Whether you’re touring, commuting, a weekend rider or just popping down the road to visit Gran, it’s a great all-rounder.

The Titan SV shell is made from an advanced Polycarbonate construction, designed to be strong and lightweight as well as aerodynamic. Even the vent intakes for the Max Airflow Ventilation System are quite low profile as to not disturb the helmet’s aerodynamic profile. And yet they still work pretty well, catching enough air to keep a flow moving through the helmet.

The visor is what’s so great about this helmet though and it’s also why the price is a bit higher than most when compared to our other own-brand helmets. The mechanism at the sides allows the visor to lift up and down into six different riding positions as well as featuring a quick release mechanism for speedy, no-need-for-tools, visor changes. If you do fancy a new Black Titan Visor or need a replacement, you can pick one up from as little as £17.99 at Ghostbikes.com The Visor its self is pinlock ready and features a recessed window where the Pinlock Insert slips in. The Pinlock insert for the helmet is also included as standard- which is actually a really good deal as Pinlock Inserts alone usually cost £20.99 or more for the Titan [depends if you want a tinted one or not]. So getting a helmet that comes with its own fog prevention is already well worth the £78.99 to me. But allow me to justify the price tag a little bit more.

Just behind the main visor is an internal sun visor, operated by a small lever that is part of the main visor mechanism on the left side of the helmet. Turning the helmet over, the fastening strap has a Micrometric Adjustment Buckle. I know I keep saying it but I’m a big fan of these. The Double D-Ring method is secure and a great fastening method in it’s own right but the micrometric buckles are just so handy! There’s also a removable chin curtain that help to guard a bit against any unwanted air flow up and under the jaw but I’ve never personally found they help much with noise reduction. The liner inside the helmet is fully removable and washable- a part of why the helmet is so versatile. The lining can be washed while out after long periods of riding whether if you’re out on tour or you’ve just been riding to work and back all week in the sun. The cheek pads have also been shaped in such a way that they form recesses at the ears to allow space for aftermarket Bluetooth and communications headsets or speakers. Again, another feature that lends credence to this helmet’s versatility.

The helmet is available in sizes XS through to XXL and also comes in different graphics, too. It’s available in-

Plain Gloss White, Gloss black and Matt Black for £73.99

The Union Graphic in Black or White for £78.99

The Edge graphics in Blue, Red, White or Yellow for £78.99

The Charge Graphics in Black/White/Red or Hi-Vis for £54.99
[Discontinued, get it while we’ve got it!]

And that’s all there is to say about the Black Titan SV. Its a great, helmet that meets a whole lot of needs and more, all for well under £100. Its a fantastic helmet at a bargain of a price. Thanks for reading all!

Until next time

-MattW at Ghostbikes.com

The Black Oxygen Elite Motorcycle Boots

May 7, 2017

Hey everybody! I’m still doing blog stuff about the Black brand, giving it a bit more of a spotlight since itss one of our more deserving, affordable brands. And yeah, because its our brand too. This time, I’m back to talk about the Black Oxygen Elite Motorcycle Boots.

The Oxygen Elites are a great boot and they’re already quite popular among people that come in store looking for a new pair of quality, affordable bike boots. They were designed to be a comfortable, breathable, waterproof choice of touring boot but you could get away with calling it a sport-tourer boot too. They’re a good looking pair with plenty of features to talk about that often leave people impressed with how much they offer compared to how little they cost.

They’re a leather boot combined with air mesh for a sturdy and protective, yet breathable construction. For a bit of additional protection- the shins and ankles are covered by moulded Nylon supports, reinforcing the protection to some of the more vulnerable and damage-prone areas on a biker’s foot. The heel cup and toe cap of the boot are reinforce with Techno GI Thermoplastic, a tough polymer used in the construction of the boot to protect against impact and give the boot a sturdier form. The boots even have an anti-crush steel shank in the sole for additional arch support, which is great for keeping your feet on the pegs and protected should it come to that.

Inside the boot there is a comfortable insole made from a triple density construction with a triple-threat function; Anti fungal, anti bacterial and moisture wicking. But, you shouldn’t need to worry about the boots needing to soak up too much moisture as the Oxygen Elites also feature a Hipora waterproof membrane for keeping your feet dry against a wet riding environment. Speaking of wet environments- if you do happen to step off the bike and onto a slippery floor the boots have multi directional dual compound soles, specifically designed to give you a better grip to both your bike’s foot pegs and the ground.

The zipper of the boot runs the full length too, it can mean that putting on the boot may take a little bit of getting used to as you won’t get away with only half-undoing the zips to get in or out. But as long as you have the right size and the zip is all the way down, you’ll get it on and off no problem. It also means the boot, once fully zipped up again, is sturdy and secure but the lack of any stretch paneling makes these boots not as suitable to someone with thicker calves. The boots even have panels specifically placed on the boot to take the abuse of changing gears while keeping the rest of the boot looking nice.

Really, the look of the Oxygen Elites and people’s reaction to them speak for themselves- it’s been given a 4.9/5 on the Feefo reviews and for a boot under £70 that’s really not bad. The Black Oxygens are hardly breaking the bank too as these boots only cost £68.99. They’re absolutely worth a go and they’re just one of the many items in the Black range that are excellent value for money.

Thanks for reading, everybody! Until next time!

-MattW at Ghostbikes.com

10% off EVERYTHING this Bank Holiday Weekend!

April 13, 2017

Hello, everyone! We’ve got a big bank holiday weekend coming up and we’ve decided to make the most of it here at Ghostbikes! So this Bank Holiday weekend we’re doing an awesome 10% off deal on everything! This even includes sale items so you can save plenty and grab some really great bargains! You could save a whole lot when getting yourself a motorcycle kit or that Shoei Helmet you’ve had your eye on!

To get this deal when shopping through the website- simply use the code EASTER17 at checkout. If you’re shopping in-store, then you don’t really need to give us the code but go ahead and chat to us about the 10% off deal anyway and we’ll be happy to help you out with what you’re looking for! Unfortunately this deal only extends to purchases in-store and on the main Ghostbikes.com website. Sorry to all of our eBay and Amazon patrons.

But! Shopping on our main website isn’t all that much different and you’ll be able to snag some fantastic bargains! And delivery is FREE when you spend £24.99 or more! Do hurry and squeeze in time for us this bank holiday weekend though as the offer ends at midnight on Monday 17/04/17!

See you at the weekend!

-MattW at Ghostbikes.com

One of Our Best- The Optimus

April 12, 2017

Hello again, everyone! I’m back again to talk about another of our helmets but this time- it’s another of our own brands. Allow me to present the Optimus SV Motorcycle Helmet from Black.

The Optimus SV has got to be one of our most popular Flip Front Helmets if not the most popular of them all. It’s great quality, it looks good and it’s affordable. You’re definitely getting your money’s worth out of this helmet with all the features it has.

The Optimus SV has an advanced polycarbonate shell that is protective, light weight and aerodynamic, designed to keep the weight of the helmet down whilst ensuring the rider wearing it is still safe. The Helmet has an internal sun visor that can be easily put up or down using a single handed trigger mechanism located under the left side of the helmet, about where your jaw would be. Both the sun visor it’s self and it’s operation are very useful to a biker- I’ve been dazzled by the sun my fair share of times and a sun visor makes things so much more comfortable when you’re almost literally riding into the sunset. The quick and simple operation of the visor, to be able to use it quickly, is also a huge bonus.

The visor on the helmet is also pinlock ready so you have the option, if you wish, to purchase a pinlock insert for the Optimus. An option I would personally take- since I have discovered how useful the inserts are, I don’t think I could ever go back to using a helmet without one. If you wish, there are also other visors available for the Optimus if you fancy a change or a replacement. The helmet also features air vents, some at the front and exhaust vents at the back designed to pull hot and humid air from inside the helmet and replace it with nice fresh air to keep the rider cool.

The front of the helmet flips up nice and easily using a button located on the inside of the chin and the same button allows the front to come back down. It locks back into place using a metal securing system to ensure that the front of the helmet doesn’t move unless you want it to. The chin-bar seam, where the front separates to flip up, has a nice low profile to help reduce turbulence at speed and therefore also reduce wind noise on the road. Also to reduce road noise- the helmet has a spring loaded visor system that pulls the visor back against the helmet to form a seal against air and water.

The strap uses a micrometric buckle system, a feature I know some people aren’t too keen on but I personally do like as it saves a lot of hassle and fiddling around. The cheek padding is plush and comfortable and also allows extra space around the ears for communications and headsets. This helmet really was designed with touring in mind and meets all of the most basic needs a tourer may need at an affordable price.

The Optimus SV comes in a Gloss Black, Matt Black and White for £62.99.

And the Optimus SV Tour comes in Matt Black/Safety Yellow, Black/White and White/Red/Grey for £68.99

So, from £62.99 the Optimus SV motorcycle helmet from Black really is a fantastic addition to a biker’s arsenal. Especially if you’re looking for a good helmet to go touring with but don’t want to break the bank.

Thanks for reading guys! I hope this blog entry has introduced you all a little bit better to one of our most popular and affordable helmets we have.

Until next time!

-MattW at Ghostbikes.com