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oxford

The Oxford Wildfire 2.0 Motorcycle Trousers

October 21, 2017

Hello, everyone! Since I’ve recently covered another Oxford Jacket- the Melbourne 2.0, I decided to look at a pair of trousers from oxford that I haven’t covered before. I’m on the lookout for a decent pair for myself, you see, so I thought I’d make a blog about some of the things on my personal shortlist. I decided my next jacket will be the Melbourne 2.0 so I want a pair of trousers compatible with it and I’ve covered a fair few Oxford Trousers already. So lets take a look at the Oxford Wildfire 2.0 Motorcycle Trousers!

Like with the other stuff I’ve had in mind, I have a list in mind. It’s a check list of little points I like to consider when I’m looking for new gear so that I can be sure I’m getting something that meets my requirements and will last me a good, long while. So lets dive into that list and see what the Wildfire trousers have to offer.

LIGHTWEIGHT
The outer shell is made from Cordura and Ballistic materials. Cordura is a great, tough and lightweight material so it shouldn’t be tiring to move around in these trousers. They allow great freedom of movement and on top of that- “Ballistic Materials”. That sounds awesome. I may have to just get these trousers on the principal that they’re made out of such cool sounding stuff. They could be made from the heaviest stuff going but I could forgive them for being made of Ballistic Materials.

VERSATILITY
Just like with a jacket, my trousers need to be able to handle whatever the weather can throw at them- they need to be warm in the cold, cold in the warm and dry when it’s wet. And the Wildfire 2.0 trousers actually accomplish this very well by using a couple of liners. The first liner is a fully removable thermal liner so if the day is looking cold, you can leave it in and if it’s looking hot, you can take it out. This makes the trousers much more comfortable to wear but I usually remove my thermal liners so I can wear a decent pair of jeans beneath them. So for a bit of extra air circulation the trouser legs have vents in them, intake vents on the front-facing edge of the leg pocket and exhaust vents on the rear-facing side of the leg pocket. This allows for air to flow through the trousers and pull out the hotter air so it can be expelled out the back through the exhaust vents.

PROTECTIVE
This is where I go back to talking about the Ballistic Material again and nerding out over how cool it is. But it really is good stuff. When you think of the speeds you can reach on a motorcycle, you want the best stuff you can get protecting your skin. And not just because it would hurt in an accident but there’s also gravel and debris getting kicked up on the road all the time. The last thing you want is something thin and pointless covering you when little stones are hitting your legs at 100 feet per second or more.

The Oxford Wildfire 2.0 Trousers also have CE Certified armour in the knees, so you’re protected in an impact by tried and tested armour tech. They’re secured inside armour pockets inside the trousers, so if you want to, you can swap the knee armour out for a set you already have or prefer.

CUFFS
A Cuffs criteria on a pair of trousers might seem like a silly thing but just like on jackets, a versatile cuff on the pants legs are important.The cuff of my current pair of trousers only just gives enough room for a pair of wider calfed boots to be tucked under. but it’s a bit of a tight fit and as the leg flexes, he cuff creeps up the boot a bit. So I want a pair of trousers with a cuff that can be adjusted to either tuck into boots or rest comfortable over them. And the Wildfires tick off that box quite nicely, the adjusters on the lower leg offer as much or as little room you could hope for.

GENERAL COMFORT
As with many of the Oxford products, the Wildfire 2.0 Trousers are plenty comfortable to wear in terms of fit, but it’s the little things that really make the difference. Things like the accordion stretch panels on the knees and back that allow the rider to flex and keep the trousers from feeling like they’re restricting movement by giving the trousers some movement of their own. The trousers even have a seating grip on the inner side of the leg to give you a good grip on your bike seat and keep you from slipping about on it in the wet.

POCKETS
If you’ve ever read any of my other blog entries on Oxford Trousers you’ll know that I’m a big fan of many of them purely for their pocket placement. And these trousers are no different, I love the tactical location of the leg pockets because they give the trousers a cool look and its also a very practical place for them to be. The usual place for a pocket opening on a pair of trousers can be difficult to get in to when you’re sat on a bike, so having them a bit further down like a pair of cargo pants, makes them much more easily accessible without having to dismount the bike.

THE VERDICT
Over all, I have to say that the Oxford Wildfire 2.0 Motorcycle Trousers are really cool and are a really great product. They’re protective, they look great, they’re comfortable to wear and they’re versatile, there’s little more a biker could want for. My favourite out of the Oxford Trousers used to be the Oxford Ranger 2.0 Trousers but now I think the Wildfire 2.0 Trousers have stolen first place.

But everyone’s needs and requirements out of their gear is different and not every rider needs as much out of their gear as I do. So if you find that the Oxford Wildfire 2.0 Motorcycle Trousers aren’t for you, then there’s surely something else in our Oxford products range that’ll suit you just right.

Thanks for reading, everyone! Until next time!

-MattW at Ghostbikes.com

The Oxford RP-3 Aqua Motorcycle Gloves

October 18, 2017

Hello, everyone! Yet another blog about an Oxford product, I know, I’m sorry, but there’s so much from them that I haven’t covered. Since I’ve been thinking a lot about getting some Oxford products for myself, I’ve decided to share my findings with you about the products that have caught my eye.

I’ve already looked at a jacket and trousers so now I’m looking for a new pair of gloves. Something tough enough to protect my hands should they need to and something my fingers are free to flex and be responsive in. But like with the rest of my gear I need something versatile, they’ve got to be warm, breathable and waterproof. So I’ve taken a look at the Oxford RP-3 Aqua Waterproof Motorcycle Gloves.

Since I commute to work on my bike no matter the weather my gear has to be versatile and tenacious. Gloves that can handle whatever the weather can throw at them are especially important. The Oxford RP-3 Aquas caught my attention for a few reasons. The first is that they are leather and a good-looking pair of leather gloves that are also waterproof -and- affordable is something that almost never happens. They’re made of drum-dyed Cow hide, Goat skin and Aramid fibres.

It’s a leather glove that’s stitched together with Aramid fibres- does that sound durable or what? And they only cost £59.95. For a glove with these material and features with this level of quality, I’d expect they’d be selling for at least £100. So I suppose I also have my eye on them because they’re such a good deal as well. So lets see what else these gloves have to offer by going through my personal list of what I look for in the products I want.

LIGHTWEIGHT
Being made of Cow leather, Goat skin and stitched with Aramid fibres- these gloves are not for a short, casual ride. They mean business and as such, they aren’t the lightest gloves out there but I consider this a good thing in this case. The durable construction and materials of the RP-3 Aquas inspire confidence that these gloves will take care of your hands. They feel invincible in them and they make me want to go for a ride more than I usually do because I know that no matter where I go, these gloves will see me through whatever weather might come my way.

VERSATILITY
It’s surprising that these gloves are as versatile as they are, for a good looking pair of leather gloves you would assume they’re only really meant for dry riding. But the RP-3 Aquas have a Hipora lining specially designed so that it can’t be accidentally removed. It’s also breathable to keep your hands from getting too hot- so these gloves can handle a lot of different riding conditions and would be perfect. The only thing I would suggest is getting a pair of inner gloves such as the Oxford Essential Thermolite Inner Gloves for the winter. I usually wear a pair of Wool gloves under my bike gloves in the winter for extra warmth anyway, so this isn’t even a negative point for yours truly.

PROTECTIVE
There’s very little to add to on top of the materials used when it comes to the protective capability of these gloves. Between the Cow hide, goat skin and Aramids used in their construction- this glove is already really protective. But for extra impact and slide protection the gloves have moulded hard protection on the knuckles and fingers as well as a slider on the palm. Your hands feel as safe as can be in them, a feeling you can only get exclusively from a good pair of leather gloves. Nothing else compares.

CUFFS
Part of what surprised me about these gloves is that they’re so short, for a waterproof glove you would expect a little bit more of a gauntlet to them. But I don’t see this as a bad thing, a shorter cuff on the gloves means they should fit comfortably under the cuff of a good jacket.

GENERAL COMFORT
These gloves use a couple of little tricks to help them be comfortable to wear. The materials themselves are pre-curved so that you don’t have to tire your hands flexing and molding the gloves to a shape better for gripping handlebars. And the gloves use external seams, allowing for a little more room inside the glove for a more comfortable fit.

THE VERDICT
Over all, I’m impressed with these gloves. They seem like some of the safest gloves I’ve ever come across and offer the best of as many worlds as they can while still performing fantastically and being so affordable. It surprises me every time when I’m reminded that these gloves only cost £59.95 so it may be a sign that I need to get these gloves and put them through their paces. If these gloves aren’t for you, we have plenty of to choose from in our range of Motorcycle Gloves so you’re sure to find something to suit you for a great price.

Thanks for reading, everyone! Until next time!

-MattW at Ghostbikes.com

The Oxford Melbourne 2.0 Motorcycle Jacket

September 11, 2017

Hello, everyone! I’m back with another blog entry and as usual- I find it easier to blog about the items that I’ve got my eye on personally. This time I’m looking for a new jacket and I’ve got a bit of a crush on the Oxford Melbourne 2.0 Motorcycle Jacket! Not to be confused with the Melbourne Air 2.0 Jacket, the Melbourne 2.0 is much more versatile and yet, is somehow the same price at just £101.99.

Now it may seem like I must own a lot of the stuff I blog about but I’m not made of money, so I do have to be very selective about what I want to get. So like when I bought my last pair of boots I came up with a short mental list of the things I want out of my jacket. That way I know that I’m getting the most for my money, my jacket is going to perform the way I want it to and its going to last me a good long while. Allow me to go through my personal list and give reasons with each of the points why the Oxford Melbourne 2.0 is a great biker jacket.

LIGHTWEIGHT
The outer shell of the jacket is made from Polyester, a pretty common material in the construction of protective motorcycle apparel. It’s a light weight, very abrasion resistant and since it’s man made- it doesn’t retain much water when the weather is wet. It’s also been made with a slightly shorter, sporty cut instead of a longer, tourer cut, which saves on a bit of material. All of these points combined result in a comfortable, light jacket despite the other features inside it. It makes the jacket easier to move in and less tiring to wear.

VERSATILITY
Its a pretty basic point but quite important. Buying a jacket with a specific purpose like a summer jacket is great but I want a jacket that can hold it’s own in a number of environments and situations. The Oxford Melbourne 2.0 accomplishes this in a couple of ways. The first is that its waterproof by making use of a waterproof liner to keep the wearer dry. As someone who commutes to work on a bike every day- having a jacket that can hold up in the wet is really important. Not worrying about whether its going to rain is so much less stress.

Another reason for the jacket’s versatility comes in the form of another liner- a removable thermal liner. On the colder days you can leave the thermal liner in and keep yourself nice and warm but on the hotter days you can take the liner out for a bit more air circulation. Personally I like to remove my thermal liner and wear a hoodie under my jacket anyway, so being able to take the liner out means I can keep warm without adding any extra bulk under the jacket.

The last point for versatility isn’t a liner this time, its on the outside of the jacket. The jacket features open-able vents that can be secured in an open position for maximum airflow under the jacket. A vent on each shoulder shunts air in through the front of the jacket and a vent on the back allows air out. The motion of air going in and out of the jacket at the shoulders and back also draws more of the hot air up and out of the jacket as well. So this jacket is designed to perform well in both warm and wet weathers.

PROTECTIVE
I’ve already mentioned about the shell material- Polyester that’s good with abrasion resistance. Not only is this useful for a lightweight material but it’s also important for protecting your skin. An abrasion resistant material is essential in a biker jacket, we all hope it never happens but its something we would rather have just in case we find ourselves sliding down the road.

On top of an abrasion resistant shell there’s the armour. The Melbourne 2.0 only has armour in the shoulders and elbows but it does have a pocket for a back protector. Since I already own one and would no longer need my old jacket, this is not and issue for me but if you wish- you could invest in a new set of CE Approved Soft Armour for £24.99 and give the whole armour system in the jacket an upgrade. This is the same stuff I use too and I’m singing it’s praises all the time so it’ll definitely be going in my new jacket.

ZIPS
I have a few requirements when it comes to zips on my jackets. The first is that the main zip of the jacket is substantial and doesn’t feel weedy. While the zipper on the jacket has smaller teeth and appears quite thin- it is also very tough. The smaller teeth actually help to keep rain from getting through but any rain that might get through is quickly thwarted by a small storm flap beneath it that is part of the waterproof liner.

The next zip I want my jacket to have is a decent connection zipper on the back so I can connect it to my trousers- or at least have the option. Which the Melbourne 2.0 actually provides, there’s a small connection zipper at the back so I’ll be able to connect them to my Oxford Trousers once I’ve decided which of those I want too.

CUFF OPTIONS
Many people want options when it comes to the cuffs of their jackets. Some want tighter cuffs that can be easily tucked into the gauntlet of a glove and others want a looser fitting cuff that gloves can tuck in beneath. By using a double adjustment on the cuffs of the Melbourne 2.0, the wearer has that choice, a zip that goes up the wrist and arm allows for the cuff aperture to open up wider and a velcro fastener on the end of the cuff allows for more smaller tightening adjustments for a perfect fit.

GENERAL COMFORT
The jacket has to be comfortable. Oxford gear is more often than not a pleasure to wear because they take great care in providing great quality but it’s not just the over all fit of the jacket that helps in this. Adjusters on the arms and waist help for a custom and comfy fit but I’m more interested in the smaller things they do.

Smaller things like the suede collar lining with the rolled neoprene edge so that the skin doesn’t, itch or become irritated from turning my head. The little areas of padding on the shoulders, although likely not put there for this purpose, would make wearing the straps of my backpack a bit more comfortable too. Or at least help in keeping the straps where I want them without tightening the straps up more which can affect handling, comfort and even how well ventilated the jacket is. Small detail, huge difference.

POCKETS
And lastly it needs good pockets. The pockets have to be secured with zips and waterproof for keeping belongings safe. While the two outer pockets are designed as somewhere to keep your hands while you’re not riding, they aren’t waterproof. But the do secure with zips, so any items you may have that won’t be harmed by water are safe to go in there. As for your phone, the Melbourne 2.0 has an internal pocket that is touchscreen compatible for smart phones and will keep it safe.

THE VERDICT
The Melbourne meets all of my biking needs, it’s comfy, dry, safe, versatile and I can trust it to look after my valuables as well as myself. I’m completely sold on getting one for myself and I highly recommend if for everyone else who has the same requirement in a jacket that I do. It’s available in Black, White, Red and Blue at Ghostbikes.com for £101.99 and I’ll be ordering mine as soon as my next pay day hits! We have plenty to see in our Oxford Range too, so if the Melbourne isn’t for you, there’s sure to be something to meet your own list of needs.

Thanks for reading, everyone! Until next time!

-MattW at Ghostbikes.com

Secure Your Ride

August 21, 2017

Hey, everyone! I’m noticing that bike thefts are on the rise this year so I thought I’d make a blog entry that goes a bit more in depth on how to keep your bike secure. I’ve never had my motorcycle stolen before but part of me is always ready for it. When I was much younger I rode a bicycle to school every day and one Christmas I got a really, really cool new one. It was awesome, was a proper mountain bike with gears and suspension and everything. But not long after I’d gotten it and rode it to school for the first time, it had been stolen from the locked shed and it had a lock on the wheel too. I’ll never forget walking up to the shed that morning, seeing the lock broken off the door and opening it up to see my bike was nowhere in sight.

It was a valuable lesson though and now that I’m all grown all up and have a ride that’s more than ten times the value- I’m extra careful. It’s easy to become complacent and it’s that complacency that thieves are waiting for. So here’s a number of ways to keep your bike secure without anything as invasive as installing internal alarms or trackers [Which I highly advise if you can afford it anyway.]

1- Where are You Keeping It?
It’s pretty obvious that you should keep your bike stored somewhere secure to begin with. A locked garage with strong walls and doors is ideal but not everyone has a garage. However, if you have a garden that you can get your bike in to and enough space, treat your bike to a well made shed. If you can spare the cash and time- go for a really tough one built from the ground up with a solid foundation and brick walls with a heavy duty door and lock. Shed kits and Yardmasters from Homebase are okay if you can’t get anything else but they’re quite easy to break into. I’ve had a few where people have literally just removed the roof to get in or bent the metal. But at least they provided an extra obstacle to thieves to get through.

2- Under Cover
It may seem silly if you already have a shed or garage to store your bike in but if it has windows- a bike cover may be a good idea. Most thieves will work in the dark hours of the night and might even look through the windows to see what you’ve got that’s worth taking. But a good cover and a shadowy corner might just work in your favour and make thieves believe there’s either nothing in there or think twice about the risk before breaking in. We have a number of Motorcycle Covers that you can choose from at Ghostbikes.com that can help with this. Plus it helps to keep the dust from settling on your pride and joy.3- Lock It Down
You should really get a good lock and chain for your bike- the bigger and meaner you’re willing to go the better. Most thieves will be deterred by a lock and chain that look as though it’s going to make moving your bike more trouble than it’s worth. It has to be thicker chain with a big lock as well, otherwise a pair of bolt cutters is all it will take to cut it off. We’ve got plenty in our range of Oxford Locks for you to choose from, all heavy duty and designed to resist being cut or otherwise messed with.

4- Lock It Down Harder
If you’re going to put a chain and lock on your bike, its a good idea to go that one step further if you can. If a thief really wants your bike- they’re going to have help and two strong guys can easily haul a big bike into a van and speed off in seconds- believe me, I’ve seen it, there’s Youtube videos all over the place of it happening. So you should lock your bike to something more than just it’s self. A Ground Anchor is a perfect addition to any shed and gives you that little bit more piece of mind- if anyone else has their eye on your bike, you’re going to make them work for it. Lock the bike down and they can’t simply carry it off, they have no choice but to deal with the lock and chain.
5- Make Some Noise
If your garage has been broken in to and the thieves are working on getting through your chain- give your bike the means to call for help. You don’t need to go ripping your bike to bits to wire in a whole alarm system to still have an alarm on your bike. You can put an alarm on your bike for just £34.99 with the Oxford Screamer Alarmed Disc Lock. If your bike is tampered with and otherwise jostled while the disc lock is armed, a 100db alarm will sound to alert you that someone is touching your bike who shouldn’t be. Plus it’s one more lock that the thieves have to get though before being able to wheel your bike away. It also means you’ve got yourself a nice loud lock that you can use on your bike while it’s not at home if you commute to work or you’re popping into a service station for a coffee.

And those are just a few of the things you can do to make your bike a bit more secure. At least without wiring in trackers and alarms to your bike. A good tracker is recommended though- a decent tracker in a nicely disguised spot in your bike could mean the difference between a happy reunion or never seeing your bike again should anyone who wants to take your bike be professional and prepared enough to take it.

Thanks for reading, everyone! Until next time!

-MattW at Ghostbikes.com

Oxford Ladies Super Leggings

July 19, 2017

Hello, everyone! I don’t do enough blogs on ladies bike gear and a new ladies’ item has just been brought to my attention. The weather is still warm enough for riding in bike jeans but what about the ladies that want something a bit more stylish yet still protective? Well then, lets take a look at the Oxford Ladies Super Leggings!

You’re probably thinking something along the lines of – “Leggings? But they’re so thin, they won’t do any good!”

If it were an ordinary pair of leggings you’d certainly be right but these leggings are far from it. They’re equipped with all they need to protect your legs on a bike and Oxford have done really well to include all of that protection in a pair of leggings without adding a load of bulk. They’ve done such a good job of keeping the bulk down that they could even be worn under your normal clothing.

The shell of the Ladies Super Leggings themselves are made from 92% Polyester, a common material in motorcycle gears for is abrasion resistance and 8% Elastane, to give them a bit of stretch. Beneath this protective yet stretchy shell is a complete lining made from DuPont Kevlar. This Kevlar lining 95% Kevlar, a material famous for having excellent abrasion resistance and 5% Elastane, so that is has bit of stretch to it like the outer shell.

Unlike in a lot of motorcycle jeans that only provide the reinforced areas of Kevlar or Aramid in the thighs and buttocks areas, the Oxford Ladies Super Leggings give as close to 100% coverage as they reasonable can. You’ll essentially be wearing a pair of polyester leggings over a pair of Kevlar leggings for maximum protection.

And if that’s not enough for you, the leggings also have knee protectors in velcro free knee pockets. So your knees are protected and you’re won’t get irritated by velcro digging in at you anywhere. The protectors themselves are CE Level 2, the highest safety rating they can get, and they’re made from a viscoelastic foam. So the armour in the knees is flexible and soft but in when impacted, it becomes rigid to disperse the impact forces and protect you. While the leggings don’t come with hip armour they do have pockets for them so you can slip in a set if you wish and give yourself a bit more armour coverage.

And those are the Oxford Ladies Super Leggings! They’re actually a really cool bit of ladies’ biker gear and quite a nod to the modern capabilities of motorcycle protection, putting so much into them without making them puffy and restricting. If you’re interested in a pair of your own, they come in sizes 8 through to 22 for £99.99. Which is really good considering a lot of other brands would charge £150 to £200 or more for similar products.

Thanks for reading, everyone! Until next time!

-MattW at Ghostbikes.com

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