Shine with the Doctor this winter

SDoc100 - specialists in premium care products for motorcycles - have introduced a Winter Cleaning Kit containing everything required to care for their machine throughout the winter riding season.

Left unchecked, salt, water and road debris cause irreparable damage to motorcycle components, with unsightly and potentially costly and dangerous results from corrosion.

Finding the time and the right combination of products to combat this quickly, easily and effectively can be difficult, so SDoc100 have combined some of their key care products in the Winter Cleaning Kit, to help riders stay on top of the job.

First up is SDoc100's award winning Total Gel Cleaner, which is specially formulated to remove road grime, dirt, and grease without scrubbing; so there's no risk of damage to paint and metalwork, and it even contains a high degree of protection against UV and corrosion.

Once thoroughly cleaned, an application of SDoc100 Corrosion Protectant helps shield metal parts against the effects of road salt, as well as lubricating, displacing moisture, and stopping any existing corrosion in its tracks.

The drive chain is especially susceptible to corrosion and damage during winter, so the Winter Cleaning Kit also contains Chain Cleaner and Chain Lube; to help remove spent grease and grit from the links and then ensure that they're properly lubricated.

It isn't just metal components that suffer during the winter, so the kit contains Paint and Plastic Polish to help remove fine scratches, revitalise colour, and protect bodywork from UV bleaching. Black & Shine spray makes black engine, frame and bodywork look like new.

Supplied in a bucket, to help with product application and rinsing, everything falls easily to hand ready for the next cleaning session. There is even a microfibre cloth and sponge, as well as a free sample Visor and Helmet wipe.

Retails at around £44.99 the SDoc100 Winter Cleaning Kit is available from dealers or direct from Motohaus Powersports. Contact them on 01256 704909 or visit www.sdoc100.co.uk for details on this and the complete range of SDoc100 motorcycle care products.

Keis squad turns on the heat

Winter temperatures in the UK can drop to -10 °C (14 °F) by night and in the day rarely rise above 15 °C (59 °F), which makes it challenging to stay warm while riding a motorcycle, no matter how many layers are worn. Hands and feet will feel cold more quickly in low temperatures, as the body restricts blood flow from the extremities in order to maintain core temperature. Heated clothing provides a permanent solution.

Designed specifically for motorcyclists, KEIS heated apparel uses the latest Encapsulated Element Technology to provide reliable, even heating. For this season the Keis bodywarmer has been updated with extra power sockets and new under gloves introduced too.

Manufactured from light weight stretch material, KEIS inner gloves (RRP £49.99) are thin enough to wear under motorcycle gloves without restricting movement. Like all Keis garments they come with a fused supply lead designed to be connected across a 12v vehicle battery. In addition the updated X5 Bodywarmer (RRP £99.99) now has integral Auxiliary power sockets to allow convenient connection of Gloves and Insoles (RRP £44.99).

Powering the Gloves and/or Insoles via the Bodywarmer reduces the amount of cabling and gives the rider the option of using rechargeable Lithium Ion Battery Packs, instead of the motorcycle battery, allowing use both on and off the bike.

Available in a range of sizes from XS-XL, call 01256 704909 or visit www.keisapparel.co.uk for more information.

Adventure is in the bag with Ventura

Kitting out adventure bikes, like Yamaha's new XT1200Z Super Ténéré, with enough carrying capacity for long sessions in the saddle can be an expensive business, but with the Ventura Bike Pack System, over-landers can afford to take a few luxuries, as well as the travel essentials, along for the ride. Ventura can even be fitted to the Super Ténéré in conjunction with factory panniers for ultimate capacity/flexibility.

With potential to add up to 102-litres of carrying capability to the Super Ténéré, the Ventura system is substantially lighter, less complex and less costly that traditional hard luggage options. Combining the best features of soft and hard luggage, Ventura's bike-specific rack mounting system is easy to fit and doesn't add width to the machine. It also keeps the load stable and secure, and ensures it won't shift, even when riding rough, off-road routes.

Ventura's unique ‘slide on/ride off' fitment eliminates the need for unreliable and potentially damaging straps/bungee chords and is quick and easy to detach and reattach at any point where the machine will be left unattended.

Packs come in a variety of styles and sizes, from a 35-litre weekend bag to a massive 56-litre rally pack and some models may be zipped together to deliver 102-litre capacity.

When the journey ends - and for daily / commuter use - both Pack and Rack can be removed from the machine in seconds, leaving only the discreet L-Brackets behind. The rider then has the option of fitting a pillion Grab Handle or a Sport Rack. Expect to pay £259.96 for L-brackets, Pack Rack and Spada Pack (illustrated). For further details and a full list of fitments and pack options, call Ventura UK on 01256 704909 or visit www.ventura-bike.co.uk

SDoc100 Chain Cleaner put to the Clarkey test!

Side order of Xena

Sideburn's Project FT500 (and SB6 cover bike) is protected by voodoo and a Xena X2 disc lock.

Read all about it at Sideburn

Xtra secure XENA XGA anchor

Research suggests that it is common for motorcycle thieves to pick up machines and remove them in a van, eliminating the need to defeat locks and chains and other ‘on-bike' security devices at the scene*. Therefore it is crucial to lock machines to a fixed point or object, but it can be tricky finding somewhere suitable or getting a bike/scooter close enough to wrap a chain around it.

The new XGA Single-Bolt Ground Anchor from XENA provides a Sold Secure** gold-rated anchor point that is simple to fit and requires minimal space. Quick and easy to install, the XGA requires just one bolt to fix it in place; yet is just as strong as anchors using a multi-bolt fitting. It can be fixed to a wall or floor, inside or outside, and employs a ‘fold flat' design so it won't get in the way when not in use; its low profile design means it can also be ridden over easily, so the XGA can be installed in narrow passageways or on a garage floor.

Using the XGA is just as easy; thanks to its unique ‘swivel' design - the base rotates through 360 degrees - a chain or lock can be passed through the shackle without having to manoeuvre the motorcycle into position.

The swivel design also makes it incredibly difficult to get a purchase with a cutting or levering device and combined with a shackle thickness of 21mm it will resist even the most determined of thieves.

The XGA is so tough that it has been awarded the Gold Standard by SoldSecure, the highest grade possible from the independent body administered by the Master Locksmiths Association.

The XGA series ground anchor costs just £50.00 (including VAT) and is ideal for securing motorcycles, trailers, quad bikes, jetskis and more. For further details call Motohaus Powersports Ltd. on 01256 704909 or visit www.motohaus.com

Ends

Editors Notes:

*Source: MCIA Theft Fact Sheet: "The practice of picking a machine up and removing it [a motorcycle] in a van is a popular method of theft because it is quick and quiet."

** SoldSecure is an independent body funded by UK insurers, and administered by the Master Locksmiths Association. They assign three levels of security certification: Bronze, Silver and Gold. To qualify for the Gold standard, security devices are subject to lock picking, drilling, slide hammering, sawing, a ‘wedging test' and a torque test.

See the Doctor to prevent bugs spreading

Removing accumulated insect debris and road grime from helmets, screens and headlights is an important task for riders so that maximum vision can be restored. However, excessive elbow grease and/or inappropriate tools (e.g. paper towels) can leave the job half done and the visor/screen/headlight covered in tiny scratches, with detrimental effects particularly in bright sunlight or in the dark, when glare from sun or headlights can dazzle.

Sdoc100 Visor and Helmet Cleaner is specially formulated in the German chemist's laboratory to deliver scratch- and streak-free cleaning for repeated use. Suitable for all types of visor, whether clear, tinted, mirrored or with an anti-fog coating, it can also be safely applied to the outer shell or the helmet, headlight, windscreen and mirrors.

Supplied with a soft and lint-free microfibre cloth for optimum cleaning results, applying the fluid is quick and simple; spray on the fluid, wipe it away and that's it. In case of increased soiling, allow the fluid to react for up to 1 minute. Wipe away dirt with the microfibre cloth, turn it over and wipe again so the surface being cleaned is dry. The cloth is machine washable at 60°C, so it is easy to keep it clean.

Priced at £12.95 Including VAT for a 100ml spray with microfibre cloth, like all Sdoc100 products a little goes a long way. Remember if it doesn't say Sdoc100 it isn't from Germany's No1...

Call 01256 704909 or visit www.sdoc100.co.uk