Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
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PRODUCT EVALUATION TourMaster RidingSuit In less than three years, Tour Master Riding Apparel has become one of the top brands in the cold weather riding suit market. It is easy to see why. The suit does the job it was made for admirably without making the wearer look like an overstuffed polar bear. Tour Master gives you a choice of styles: A two piece outfit consisting of jacket and bib style pants or a one piece suit. We tested the two piece suit. Probably the largest percentage of purchasers will utilize the suit while riding with a fairing. Subtract a few more degrees from the thermometer for your range of riding. Those who don't use a fairing are in for a pleasant surprise. The suit is solidly wind resistant. In our evaluation the suit was used both ways. On a day with temperatures in the mid-teens and a cruising speed of 50 mph plus and no fairing it offered very acceptable protection. Layering is the key to warmth in any cold weather outing. The Tour Master accomplishes that by utilizing 200 denier nylon -- urethane backed and weather proof -- insulated with six ounce polyester fiberfill. That combination provides an effective covering which keeps wind out and body warmth in. Two problem areas were encountered when riding without a fairing. Both centered around the collar and its fit. It seemed the collar was sized for an NFL lineman with a very big neck. This created a problem in sealing the collar tight enough to keep out a nasty draft on the back of the neck. The collar is secured with a Velcro fastener. The second problem concerns the area where the zipper and collar meet. There was enough of a gap that even ~th the storm flap the wind whistled In. The Velcro on the collar had an annoying way of attaching itself to the bottom of the rider's helmet liner on the right side. Aside from repeatedly having to break contact .. which caused some wear on the liner .. this was only a minor inconvience. The outfits come in two colors .. black or silver. The jacket fits well with the sleeves cut long to allow for a comfortable riding position. The shoulders are loose, but not bulky and allow freedom of movement. Knit cuffs inside the sleeves cut off any cold air at the wrist. The wrist openings may be tightened further via Velcro fasteners. There are double pockets on the waist .. a slash hand warmer pocket and a cargo pocket with a flap secured by Velcro. There is also a pocket with flap on the upper right side of the chest and an inside pocket for whatever you have left over. The zipper is two-way allowing the rider to unzip from the top or bottom for added movement or for reaching something inside. A belt, with a cam type buckle which can be opened with one hand, secures the midriff. If not used, the buckle ends work their way into the hand warmer pockets. The bib style pants are cut trim. One size larger than normal proved to be a more comfortable fit. There are two-way zippers on the front of the pants as well as on both legs. Once unzipped, the pants slip on easily with wide, easily adjustable nylon straps for both shoulders. Once zipped, the tightness of the cuffs may be adjusted by Velcro closures. Once a comfortable fit is found it can be left since the closures are on the inside of the leg. A storm flap protects the zippers. Nighttime visibility is enhanced by the use of reflective striping which runs from collar to cuff and also across the back of the jacket. The suit is very bulky to pack. However, it is that very bulk which is the difference between warm and cold riding. The Tour Master suit is meant for cold weather riding. The pants were needed less often than the jacket as morning cold usually gave way to afternoon warmth. When the sun goes down the full suit comes into its own. Tour Master also offers sizes for women. Suggested retail price for the jac;:ket is $1l4.95 while the pants are $99.95. The one piece suit goes for $169.95. Further information may be obtained from Tour Master Riding Apparel, Dept. CN, 2115 Colorado Ave., Santa Monica, CA 90404. Gary Van Voorhis TEAM YAMAHA MOTO III , Suggested Retail Price $135.00 o Bell's '81 Moto III is now available in Yamaha Team colors with Bob Hannah's own graphics. o This limited edition team model is distributed exclusively through HRP. D Full color HRP brochure available on request. D Dealers! Gall (800) 63fr5318 or write. ~ P.O. BOX 2109 SUN VALLEY, IDAHO 83353 (208)726-4343 I- - - - - -I Weekly news, not monthly hiswry ~ METZELER Next Week: Mexicali 250 Tulsa Two-Day Qualifier Tire 5aIe All Tlr.fS DiSCQJ\ITED 8IZES 300-21 SUQG. IlETAlL 14.20 IIALE PIlIC£ .,. , . . .,. '73M ... 410-1. ". • .. 17.33 ,......,. ..77 ~F.e.T.1 ~ ~OOO;r£A. ~ .... ~.i~{.:,:.:~, @ 0 ...:==.. UPS SHIPPED DAilY , ANYWHERE IN U.S,A. Approx. $4 per tire • .' 1'1] • SoIoe.... MARCH '8, , . , TIREFACTORY 530 San (taman V....., Btvd. OIMville. CA Mi26 (4'5) 838-0458 -9Husqvama 1-180& 1981 MODELS AVAILABLE SEE US FORA DEAL! . w....... on. of the Iergeet etoeka of Huaky pam - for old rnodal8 tool T& 0 Yamaha 24020 Narbonne Ave. (Torrance/Redondo area) Lomita. CA90!17 213-534-2311 45