Australian Road Rider — August 2017

THE GOOD OIL

The stuff : TCX R-S2 EVO boots

How much: $589.90

Get yours: http://www.mcleodaccessories.com.au

TCX R-S2 EVO BOOTS

I

’m on the track probably four or fi ve

times a year: enough to make me feel

like I’m profi cient but seldom enough

to make me realise a racer I ain’t. As a

consequence, full-leather protective gear

feels heavy and cumbersome to me. Kinda

part-time Iron Man (the cartoon, not the

tough beach bloke), I’m stiff and pre y

uncomfortable. It all makes sense once

aboard, though, because what remains the

same, racer or not, is the result of a track-

based spill. Yeah, I like good gear.

So, to the subject of this little gear test,

the TCX R-S2 EVO track boots. For starters,

they certainly look New Age. I reckon boots

can get a little fussy and there are features

and exoskeleton-looking parts that abound

here. I wondered at the possibility of form

over function being the case but, after a

couple of full days on the track in Spain and

at Sydney Motorsport Park, it all made a lot

more sense.

One thing I really like is the way there’s some

fl exibility built into the heel and lower leg. If that

section is totally locked, walking about when off

the bike becomes uncomfortable indeed. As TCX

puts it, The TCS (Torsion Control System) allows

lateral and longitudinal movement of the ankle

within physiological limits, preventing excessive

torsion and the risk of injury to the rider’s foot.

It now features Carbon Tech to reduce weight

and increase control of the ankle and leg. The

new upper joint improves boot fl exibility while

increasing shin and calf protection.

Another wondrous element is the PAFS

(Precise Air Fit System), which allows the

rider to customise the fi t of the boot while

increasing comfort. Basically, it’s a pump

system that tightens the boot around the

foot and leg via a small runner diaphragm

and membrane setup. On top of that there’s

an inner fastening system that laces to the

boot lining. I’m not as big a fan of that as

the PAFS arrangement. It’s a li le fussy and

makes ge ing in and out of the boot a bit more

complex. I could probably live without it.

I like the addition of the alloy toe, rear,

ankle and calf sliders. They all look to be in

the right places and, having pranged at the

track a few times over the past 25 years, I

know that slide-induced abrasion resistance

is the absolute key to keeping your bits intact

when you hit the bitumen on a race track.

There’s plenty of that here.

This is the second version of the TCX S-2

and TCX reckons there have been small but

important refi nements over the original boot.

I have no reason to doubt that.

In summary, I hope never to test these out

properly by tasting the tar. But, if it happens,

you’ll get a more comprehensive report! So far

they’re holding up well, they certainly look the

business and I’m pre y impressed.

Greg Leech

AUSTRALIAN ROAD RIDER | 85

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