Archive for October 27th, 2010

Motorcycle gear review: Kriega US-20 tailpack

Kriega US-20 tailpack, £58.97

Buy now – www.azcari.com

Miles covered/time: 18 months/2000 miles

What’s good? This is one of those products that gives me joy to use when the need arises – the two straps wrap around the bottom of a pillion seat, clip the seat back in place and tighten the straps.

It’s fantasically easy to fit – even on modern sports bikes with stupidly small seats, you can re-route the straps and it’ll still hold firm.

It’s not the biggest tail pack on the market, but on a recent trip to the Isle of Man it swallowed a laptop and charger, a pair of trainers, a jacket and various other odds and sods – the basics for a weekend away, or everything for a day at work.

It comes with a shoulder strap for carrying it around, and a £19 harness allows it to fit on top of plastic tanks too, but it’s fitted various bikes from a Gladius, a CBR600RR, R1 and even a Derbi 125 without needing to go on the tank.

The roll-top and waterproof lining proved itself on the Isle of Man trip – three hours in pouring rain and not a drop got in. It stayed perfectly in place on a 160mph run over the Mountain, too.

What’s not? Nothing. Through laziness, I didn’t remove the shoulder strap and failed to tuck it away properly, and it melted on an exhaust. But that’s my fault. For carrying on sporty bikes, it’s perfect.

Rating: 5/5

Review taken from www.motorcyclenews.com

Hall 1, G-07  is where w’ell be folks. Make sure you come and say hello.

The 2010 International Dirt Bike Show at Stoneleigh Park

Off-road motorcycle sport in all its varied forms is fast-paced and action-packed for both spectator and participant alike and the new International aspects of the Show will reflect this with its Live Action Arena featuring 30-minute non-stop action performances throughout the day, over the four-day period of the event. Big names from the off-road world are gearing up for the annual dirt bike fest at Stoneleigh Park near Coventry.

On the metal front, Husqvarna will unveil an all-new enduro and motocross version of its radically-designed 449 series. Incorporating the 450cc BMW-designed motor together with a host of aesthetic and technological advancements, the new Husky will line-up alongside its smaller stable-mate the TC250 which benefits from fuel-injection for 2011.

KTM has some exciting plans to display full factory race bikes alongside its production SX, EXC and XC model ranges. And, having just wrapped up both quad-cross and quad cross-country national titles with multi-champion Paul Winrow, the Austrian company will also have something pretty special on show for the many quad enthusiasts who visit the Show every year.

Rieju has been steadily building a reputation for quality and reliability with its range of Yamaha-powered enduro machines, and the Spanish manufacturer will make full use of this year’s Show as a launch pad for its 2011 range spanning the 50cc to 450cc capacity classes.

Talon, Michelin, Putoline, Fly Clothing, Prox, Ipone, Smith Goggles, Pro Circuit, Acerbis, Alpinestars, Troy Lee Designs, DEP Exhausts, Renthal, Answer and MSR Clothing, EVS, Arai, Boyesen, Hebo, Hinson, Lightspeed, Polisport, UFO and Fro Systems, together with International heavyweights Fox Head Europe,

One Industries Europe, Madison, O’Neal Europe and Leatt are amongst the many companies that are committed to this year’s Show.

The International Dirt Bike Show is traditionally a family affair and so, in addition to the host of machines and kit on display within the exhibition halls, the organisers have a number of free-of-charge family-friendly features in place throughout the duration of the Show.

To the front of the entrance will be a kids quad riding facility, climbing wall and mountain bike stunt display and, once inside, the Show Guide will be provided at no cost, as will frequent bursts of entertainment on the stage in hall three.

Parking is free of charge, accompanied children aged six and under will be admitted free and a family of four purchasing an advanced ticket via www.dirtbikeshow.co.uk can enjoy a day out for just £30.

Tickets

Buying tickets in advance* gives a substantial saving and for every ten tickets purchased; the 11th is free.

Accompanied children aged six and under, can take advantage of free admission. Prices start from £6 for youth and senior visitors and £12 for adults, with advantageous family packages also on offer.

For just £3 per head, show-goers can incorporate some whooping and hollering into their visit and enjoy mini-bike racing, mini-bike freestyle competitions and back flips, BMX freestyle and street-bike stunt riding all demonstrated by top freestyle riders Dan Whitby, Samson Eaton, Arran Powley and UK Streetbike Freestyle Champion Paul Hanks.

For ticket information please click here.