Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128638
TecMate Stand Mate Service Stand • ••••• • • • • • • • • Blakeway Sturgis, South Dakota, PanoralTla ••••••••••••••••• •• • $25 (unframed) Blak8\N8Y Worldvvide Panoramas Inc. 12913 PionBBr- Train Eden Prairie, MN 55347 1-- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ...... 612/941-9797 www.panorern••.carn Hog Heaven "Stu rgis, South Dakota," the latest panorama from Blakeway Worldw ide Panoramas, attempts to capture the sensations and spirit of the annual motorcycle extravaganza in the Black HilI s of Sout h Dakota . This print is the latest in the Blakeway collection of 121 skvhnes and histone world landmarks. The bottom of the photo reads "Sturgis, South Dakota" in large pnnt and, "The panoramic of Stur gis was taken by Christopher Gjevre. It featur es Main Str eet in Sturgis during the annual Sturgis motorcycle rally . Each A ugust, Sturgis and the Black Hills of South Dakota attract hundreds of thousanels of motorcycle enthusiasts from all over the world. The rally began in 1938 with a dirt t rack race and nine nders and is now South Dakota's largest touns rn event and the worl d's largest motorcycle rally." That way, any visi tors to your house don't have to ask you what that picture is of, just point at It and say, caveman-ll ke, "Read." • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • $258.90 Motion Pro Inc. 11 9 Independence Drive Menlo Park, CA 94025 650/329-0427 'WVIrW'.lT\otionpr'O.com Stand That Delivers Do you get sick and tired of searching for a tool, bent over your toolbox like an ape WIth an aching back and sweat dripp ing into your eyes? A lot of people are in that same boat . With those people in mind , Moti on Pro has released its new TecM ate StandMate Service Stand. It 's designed to be used as a shop caddy and hold many of the tools you need while working on your motorcycle, and t o hold TecMat e diagnost ic tools. It 's also designed to hold Moti on Pro's Auxiliary Fuel Tank. Check • out w ww .motionpro .com for more details . Stu r gi s, South Dc k o ta ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• [Product Evaluation J Plain Good Italian styling is all the rage in the motorcycle worl d these days, though it took a while for mainstream motorcyclists to get a Gearbcx International 2236 M...-iner Square Dr. #2 0 0 Alameda, CA 94501 800/799-9444 56 NOVEMBER 8 . 2000' cue I e n grasp on the curvaceous bodywor k and garish colors that are so often elementary to the Lati n influence. The same can be said for Italian motorcycle apparel, so it's nice to see that at least one Itallan boot company is willing to tone it down a little bit, providinq road race footwear that is highl y funct ional while not making you look or feel like a member of the rock band Kiss when you walk into your favorite shop or watering hole . That company is Diadora, a partner company to perhaps the hottest new helmet manufacturer on the skid lid scene, Suomy. Both are distrbuted 10 the U.S. thro ugh Gearbox International (www .gearboxmternational.com). Currently. Diadora products are being worn by reigning 125cc World Road Race Champion Emilio Alzamora. and here in the states, former AMA and World Superbike Champion Scott Russell has been spotted jogging back and forth between pit lane and his motorhome in Diadora boots all season. While Suomy is already gaining a reputation for radical paint jobs that come straight from the factory, Diadora has concentrated on cleaner styling with its lineup of boots and apparel for street , track and off-road. Diadora's top-of-the-lin e Evoluti on road race boot is a pertect example of the company's inte rest in form over function. as it packs a good number of features into a nicely - not overly - styled package. Starting from the outsid e, Diadora uses anti -scrat ch full -grain leather with Lorica , and adds Kevlar gussets to the ankle, heel and calf. A carbon-fiber ankle jomt protector and Poly-Armour shin protector, heel cup and ball guard are all standard armor reinforcements for crash protection, as are gel pads, which have been placed in strategic areas. The upper is then affixed to Diadora's double-density Skywalk race pattern sale, which is claimed to feature a special high -grip instep . The removable insole features a steel shank, while the midsole is capped WIth shock -absorbing , hIgh -denSIty EVA paddmg . The inner liner is made of a breathable, moisture-wrckmq fabric known as Airtech. Add itional features to the Evolution boot inc lude air cushions that surround the ankle for fit and comfort, replaceable toe and caIJsliders (With "l -Beam" retent ion system), and a textu red polymer gearshift pad on the left boot. The boots are available in U.S. sizes 5-12, and in tasteful two -tone color combos blacklblack, black/red, black/blue and black/yellow . We told Gearbox International to send us a pall of size 10 (Euro 44), and while they expressed some concern about getting the sIzing light - you know how some of those crossovers go - ours fIt just perfectly. Entry is simple. with the boot featuring a zipped lower and a standard Velcro flap that attaches in two spots to close the boot and wrap it around the outside of your leg. After taki ng the usual walk around the office to get a feel for the boots, we went for a ride, and we can tell you that the Diadora Evolutio ns are as comfortable as any other top-line road race boot on the market. The fit is excellent, and t hey seem to remain quite cool despite the lack of any serious venti ng - that Airtech stuff seems to do its job nicely. The upper is snug, but doesn't "bite" anywhere on the leg - no seams or lips to irrttate you anywhere , and the sale doesn't feel too thin or too thick when perched on the foot pegs. And while the shifter pad also provides excellent feel at the lever, it is the source of our only complaint with the boot: namely that the pad will damn near kill the top of your foot and your big toe wh en you w alk around in the Evos - th at is, until the left boot is broken in . Then it' s not much of a problem . But those first few days are agonizing . Also, the insole kept wanting to come out of the left hoot every tlme that we took it off. Yet. considering the fit and features that the Evolution boot packs into Its $249.95 price, the Diadoras are deftnitely wor th consider ing . And with their "plain Italian styli ng," at least you won't feel uncomfortab le walking around in them . eVIl's