MARCH 2018|PERFORMANCEBIKES.CO.UK 105THE GARAGE / KIT REVIEWS
Pirelli Superbike Slick SC3
Good for a day’s
serious hammeringAFTER 30 YEARSof exclusively wearing
gloves with cuffs, it’s no surprise that the
first time I tried these ‘shortie’ gloves on,
Ireallywasn’tsure.However,Ipersisted,
and deployed these unassuming, all-black hand shoes
whenever the temperature allowed, like when we arrived
inSpainafewmonthsagoonourwheezing125s.
Quickly, they made a lot of sense, with the lack of cuff
meaning a corresponding lack of faffing about tucking
jacket sleeves in and doing up multiple Velcro straps.
There is just enough cuff for a jacket sleeve to cover, and
the glove is protected on the knuckles and back of the
handbyaluminiumplates,withplasticinsertsonthe
outside edge of the hand. Good for karate chops.
They are a decent glove for jacket-and-jeans rideouts,
andbearthehallmarksofDainese’stopoftherangeFull
Metalgloves,too.Forthekindofridingtheyareintended
for, they do the job well.
John McAvoySHOEIS AREtypically
comfortableplacestostick
yourhead,andquiettoboot.
Theventingusuallyworkswell
andthevisorchangingsystemisafuss-free
affair.Sodoesthisthirdincarnationofthe
X-Spirit live up to the standards set by its
predecessor? With over 3000 miles racked
up in all sorts of conditions, from wet and
miserablecommutestooverhalfadozenhot
European trackdays in 30°-plus
temperatures,I’mhappyto
report that it delivers.
Therearesixintakeand
six exhaust vents, all of
which you can actually
feel in use. They’re still
notquiteonaparwith
an Arai RX7RR in vent
performanceoreaseofuse (the toggles on the forehead vents are
trickytooperatewithaglovedhand),but
RXsareexceptionallygoodinthisarea.
LookingatmyoldShoeiXR1000they’ve
gone backwards in terms of usability. What
the X-Spirit III does do better is reduce noise
–it’sasnug,quietlidandthelightweightis
a contributing factor to its all-day comfort.
TheotherbonusovertheAraiisthevisor,
which can be swapped over without the
butt-clenching anxiety usually
associated with side-pods that
snap off leaving you
scrabbling for the duct
tape on a motorway... but
that’s another story.
The X-Spirit III also
boasts an adjustable
lining that allows for a 4°
angle change to
accommodate a racing
crouch better. Just unclip it,
reposition, and clip back into place.
However,theaerodynamicwingsatthe
sideofthehelmetarewhatyoufirstnotice,
andinitiallyIthoughttheywereventsand
almost pulled one off when I tried to adjust it.
They’re actually there to increase stability,
andShoeiclaimlessheadshake,liftanddrag
thanpreviously.Theymakeanalready
handsome lid look badass.
So, fiddly-to-operate top vents and salty
RRP aside, the X-Spirit III gets a thumbs-up,
and if you check around online there are
some decent discounts to be had, too.
Kar LeeShoei X-Spirit III
HOW LONGONE TRACKDAYCOSTAROUND £400/PAIRCONTACTWWW.PIRELLI.COMHOW LONG 18 MONTHS COST £599 (PLAIN), £699 (GRAPHICS)
CONTACT WWW.SHOEIASSURED.CO.UKPIRELLI’S MOST DURABLE compound
slicks set the fastest time in our blind tyre test
(PB, September 2017), with good feedback
across the board. They seemed a natural
choice for a hot day giving an R1M a pasting, and they didn’t
disappoint. The crossplane motor’s delivery and traction
control really eat into treaded tyres in as little as half a day,
but Pirelli’s slicks put up a sterner resistance, working
beautifully with the Yamaha’s sublime chassis and making it
feel even more limitless.
One comment from the test was that durability might be
less than exemplary, and towards the end of the day grip
started to drop. They were still turning out fast laps, but
they’d definitely given their best. On a bike with kinder grip
characteristics, you’d get two days out of them, but they’re
definitely a tyre for riders prioritising short-term performance
over value across a few trackdays, despite being the hardest
slick offering from Pirelli.
Chris Newbigging7
10HOW LONG ONE MONTH COST £159.95
CONTACT WWW.DAINESE.COMDainese 4 Stroke
Evo Glove
It’s quiet, but it ain’t cheap8
10
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