Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

THE PRODUCT EVALUATION IARLB'R' .N RIBES. lRIER. The Nava Pro-Flex plastic boots have 13 separate pieces. The nylon liner is waterproof, and all of the parts are replaceable. Each boot weighs 3 pounds 12 ounces. The buckles (below) are a pain to use. ...... C\J .... Q.) ..0 S Q.) ;> o Z motorcycling's number one exhaust manufacturer as our talest R&D authority And together we're going to make sure that when you face the competition, all you'll teave them is smoke. Nava Pro-Flex plastic boots By Kit Palmer Plaslic boots have been around for a long lime, but none of them have really stayed around. The problems with them are hiw, but major. Many riders don't like plastic boots because they lack mobility in the ankle area - which can lead to knee injuries. Other riders complain they can't feel the shiftlever through a hard plastic boot. The designers who spent four years developing the Nava Pro-Flex plastic boot have studied these problems and claim they have come up with the best plastic boot to date. The Pro-Flex boot has an omnidirectional, accordian-type ankle pivot tha t allows 360° mobility, unlike most plastic boots that use hinges providing only forward-and-backward movement. Another feature that makes the Pro-Flex boot unique is that it isn't cast out of just one type of material -the outer, upper shell is made out of hard-cell urethane, while the lower boot casing is made from Pebax, a softer type of plastic. The inner shoe has a sted arch, unlike most conventionaJ leather boots. ISDE, MX and Euro-MX sales are available. The Pro-Flex boot i waterproof because of a 200-denier nylon inner liner, which i easily removable and washable. Each boot can be torn down to 13 different pieces, all of which are replaceable. To allow water to escape after washing (or if water finds its way in while riding), there is a drain plug located near the heel. There are three plastic buckles on each boot, and the buckles adj ust to almost any size. PUlling on the boot requires the buckles to be squeezed together, and a bullon must be pressed to release them. Nava claims the buckles will not clog up with mud. Like all the plastic boots we've ever worn, Nava's take a long time to get used to - but the Navas didn't take as long as most. When we first slipped our feet into the Navas, we were impres ed how comfortable they felt. While riding, wedidn'thaveany problems with shifting; theshiftlever could be felt, but not as well as when wearing a conventional leather boot. Mis-shifts were rare because of that. ,.~~~ We also didn't have any problems with reduced ankle flex causing a po sible knee injury. And the steel arch really came in handy when kicking-over a stubborn CR500 Honda. Now the bad news. We hated the buckles. It was al ways a task to get them undone, and they do get even harder to open when covered with mud. We managed to tear off one of the plastic tabs IJsed to pull half the buckle out of the clasp. Luckily, the buckles are replaceable. A new design is definitely needed here. The second problem is that the rider loses the feeling of the motorcycle between his legs. On some motorcycles, the problem is amplified because either the frame or airbox sticks out and the plastic boot can't form around them. It can be uncomfonal:!le, but after a long while, you can get somewhat used to it. Sometimes, the top of the boot catches either the bollom of the seat or the side panel on some bikes. .The Nava Pro-Flex boots are the best pIa tic boots we've ever tested, and we rank them right up there with some of the best leather boots available. Recently I clipped the top of a bump and bent my foot back underneath the footpeg while wearing fairly new leather boots - now I wear a plaster boot and wish I was wearing the Nava Pro-Flex boot at that time. Since the avas are made out of plastic and have replaceable pans, they should last twice as long as leather boots. If you can stand the stupid buckles and feeling less of your bike between your legs, the Nava Pro-Flex boots area worthwhile investment. They only cost about $149, which is in the ballpark with top-quality leather boots - it used to be that plastic boots cost much more than leather boots. They come in only one color - black, butthe buckkles are available in yellow, green or red. For more information, contact Van Leeuwen Enterprises, Inc., 13275 Paxton Avenue. Arleta, CA 913312382, or call 818/896-2200. • His name is Eddie LBwson and he smokes on some of the most famous race tracks in the wortd. Atatent that's earned him 1984's SOOcc Wortd Championship. Now he's going to smoke a pipe-a Kerker Exhaust System to be exact. Road racing's number one rider has joined Kerker 7900 Deering Avenue Canoga Park, CA 91304 818-999-3060 800-423-5246 Outside CA 800-382-3689 tnside CA Cycle News Ad Hotline 213-427·7433 p-----------.. I Goodfor I I $98,000 off I I yournext I I factory I II!!~~~~II I I I tory bikes. The $100,000 one-of- you'll get a factory racer without a-kind kind. And the $2,000 it costing you the works. production kind, like the yz that won the AMA National Cham• ~ pionship. Just bring this coupon J:. 0·'& l·t.'· to any Yamaha dealer. And for l' IJ. va "'AHA' Built or the fun 3D-llay limited warraJlI)~ H{"nm~v Il'tIUS aft> limilt'd. SCi' Jour Ytwllllia drakr lortie/ails. I I 25

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