Today, Sidi have 15 models of racing boots on the market, along with 17 touring boots, 8 specifically designed off-road boots, and 3 styles of boots made especially for women. Their main rival, Dainese, is another brand that we’re proud to stock, but unlike Dainese, Sidi have remained true to producing the finest motorbike boots for riders of all ages and abilities.

These abilities range from absolute beginners, buying their first moped at 16, (or younger with off road bikes), and range right up to the finest motorcycle racers of all time, in the MotoGP and World Superbike championships.

On the MotoGP grid in the 2011 season, there were five riders wearing Sidi boots, going some way to showing the faith that the top riders, hammering around circuits at upwards of 200mph have in the brand. The Tech 3 Yamaha duo of Colin Edwards and Cal Crutchlow, Suzuki’s Alvaro Bautista, Gresini Honda’s Hiroshi Aoyama and Pramac Ducati’s recently retired Loris Capirossi all wore Sidi boots, as did Britain’s Scott Redding in the Moto2 class.

Other top riders, including Chris Vermeulen, Alex Barros and Anthony West have also worn the brand during their careers, with many of the top riders on the circuit opting for Sidi’s reliability, comfort and protection.

While wearing the brand, Capirossi went on to set a record, doing so in the 2010 season in fact. The Italian rider became the first to make at least 300 race starts, racking up a total of 29 race victories in his 328 races before retiring at the final round of the championship in Valencia in November 2011.

Edwards, thanks to Capirossi’s retirement, becomes the oldest rider left on the grid in the premier class, and has left the Tech 3 team to join Forward Racing in 2012, a team hoping to bring on young riders in the future, with Edwards providing valuable experience to the team with the future in mind.

At Bikestop, we have three styles of the Sidi boots available, with the ST, Fusion and Rain Evo boots all coming with free delivery, while we also stock toe sliders, which allow you to replace your worn out versions without having to replace the whole boot.

The entry-level boot, the Sidi Fusion, is made from Lorica to make the already relatively inexpensive boots cheaper. With dual compound sole, composite inner sole and all the essentials you would expect from motorbike boots, the budget conscious rider can get great protection and style without having to spend over the odds.

The Sidi ST boots are the latest style available at Bikestop from the Italians and they look and feel fantastic. With all the latest technology and coming in a choice of three styles – black, red and blue – they give every rider exactly what they need in a motorbike boot.

With replaceable buckles and straps and a zip elastic panel, riders can ensure that their boots are attached properly without being restrictive. The air ventilation system is perfect for staying cool on long rides or in warm conditions. The replaceable slider makes sure your whole foot is protected. Many riders find that they wear out the sliders on their toes and historically had to buy a new pair of boots each time their sliders were damaged – not any more.

A shock absorbing heel cup provides protection for the rear of the foot and the ankle support brace helps to keep the joint protected in the result of an accident. The replaceable shin plate is another recent innovation, giving all-round lower leg protection to riders.

For more information on the range of Sidi boots available at Bikestop, contact us on 01438 317038 and one of our members of staff will be happy to help you with your enquiry.

Until Sidi came along that is. Dino Signori, the founder of the company, combined his passion for cycling and motorcycling with more than 50 years of experience in the sports footwear industry. Over the years, Signori developed his company into a market leader in the production of cycling and motorcycling footwear, becoming one of the most instantly recognizable and well-known brands in motorsport, almost as much so as the bike manufacturers and the riders who wear the brand out on the tracks.

Since their formation, Sidi have worked with top riders from around the world, researching and developing their boots to meet the needs of their customers. They produced their first motorcycle boots in 1969, the Grand Prix, with a waterproof covering and six patented buckles. The next development saw the production of the Professional MOD, later renamed as the Super Pro. This boot was characterized by two key innovations.

Firstly, it featured a doubled shin deflector made of soft rubber. It also featured a lace fastening on the inside, called Fix Lock, for stronger adherence and comfort for the rider, and also a Velcro closure, the first time the fastening had been used on a motorcycling boot.

By 1986, the Sidi boots were beginning to resemble the shape and design that we know today, with the production of the Royal MOD. This boot, originally made for motocross, featured a raised point protection system with started off the whole concept of deflection, making even the boots aerodynamic.

Upon its release in 1995, the Start MOD became the most advanced road boot in terms of all-round safety for riders. With replaceable curb deflectors, reinforced heels, Kevlar structuring and a replaceable scuff pad, the Start MOD became the boot of choice for road and track riders, and raised the bar in terms of the materials used in boot manufacturing. TAE Flex was added two years later, to give the rider increased flexibility and a more natural position on the foot pegs.

Over the coming years, more developments came about, including improved fastenings, increased protection, decreased weight and more replaceable protectors to keep the boot looking stylish and well protected. These innovations have helped the owners to maintain their level of protection and prolong the life of their boots.

For the second part of our Sidi profile, come back to the Bikestop website soon. Until then, if you have any questions on the Sidi motorbike boots or any of our other products, give us a call on 01438 317038.

The new season of MotoGP can’t come soon enough, with plenty of changes for the 2012 campaign. The bikes are changing their engine capacities, moving up to 1000cc, while the Claiming Rule Teams, (CRT), bikes make their debut in the paddock. These machines are effectively run alongside the normal factory and satellite MotoGP bikes, and they will run in the same races, but to a slightly modified set of rules, including extra engines and fuel.

The new bikes on the grid are a plan from the governing body to improve the racing. With less than ten bikes lining up for some races in 2011, something had to change, and a number of youngsters and experienced heads are being given their chance to join the big guns in 2012. The likes of Anthony West of Australia and James Ellison of England return after their time in other classes, and youngsters including Michele Pirro and Danilo Petrucci have the chance to impress the factory bosses.

With the youngsters and returners on the grid, that doesn’t mean that the big boys have departed. The likes of world champion Casey Stoner, runner-up and 2010 winner Jorge Lorenzo, the always so-nearly man Dani Pedrosa, and of course, Valentino Rossi are all there again, with Loris Capirossi the only rider to have called time on a glittering career.

It’s safe to say, the excitement is really growing ahead of what is certain to be a season filled with exciting racing. Not only in MotoGP, but in the Moto2 and new Moto3 classes too, where there are always thrills and spills. Throw in the World and British Superbikes too, and we’re all set for the perfect race weekends – competitive racing, big names on big bikes, and title races that go right to the checkered flag.

For the latest news from the sport, and to get your own gear – from motorbike boots and gloves to full leathers from the likes of Dainese, keep visiting the Bikestop website. To find out more information on any of the products in our range, contact us any time and we’ll be happy to help.

In the premier class, there is one man who is desperate to improve on the nightmare of 2011, having made the move to Ducati. Yes you guessed it, possibly the greatest rider of all time. Valentino Rossi.

Rossi, who has won nine world titles, including the MotoGP world championship on six occasions, finished seventh in the title race in 2011 having recorded just one podium finish at Le Mans in a disastrous first season in the “Dream Team.” For years, the Italians begged for a Rossi-Ducati partnership, and they finally got their wish last season, only for the Ducati to be left way behind the rest of the field as Yamaha and Honda took charge.

Ahead of the 2012 season, Rossi has been working with Ducati to develop the bike into one that will fight for the title, and in true style of “The Doctor” he’s been working on the latest designs for his motorbike helmets and leathers too.

Rossi is famous for his number 46 logo, and his sun and moon designs on his motorbike leathers and helmet, and three of his lids are available to buy in the Bikestop store.

The Italian legend gets through numerous AGV lids every season, but his K3 Gothic Black helmet and the K3 Sword helmet are yours to own permanently, letting you look like the great man himself out on the road. New to the Bikestop range is Rossi’s latest model, the AGV GP Tech Elements helmet, which he wore for the majority of the 2011 season, complimenting the Dainese leathers perfectly.

While Valentino’s leathers are exclusive to him, we do stock a wide range of Dainese motorbike leathers, giving you the very best in terms of price, quality and style, everything you would expect from the combination of Bikestop and Dainese. You can get your hands – quite literally – on his replica gloves though, with the Dainese Full Metal Pro Valentino Rossi gloves. With trademark logos and his number 46 and made from leather and Kevlar for the ultimate in comfort and protection, it’s no wonder Vale loves these gloves.

To complete the Rossi look, it has to be the Axial Pro In Valentino Rossi Race Boots, also by Dainese. The only difference between you and Rossi will be the size! Complete with VR46 branding and Dainese toe slider, these carbon/Kevlar boots are guaranteed to keep you safe, and looking great.

If you’re a Rossi fan and want to emulate the great man on the road, then where better to get your motorbike clothing than from an official Dainese stockist. Contact us to find out more information should you have any questions, or check back in the coming weeks for more rider profiles and the replica gear you can get your hands on.

The brand itself has grown and grown over the years into one of the most well-known companies in motorcycling. So much so, it is mentioned along with the actual bike manufacturers themselves.

It all started with leathers for riders back in 1972, and the current range are arguably the most stylish on the motorcycle clothing market. As with everything Italian, they ooze class and style, and provide the maximum amount of not only comfort, but protection imaginable. By 1976, they were ready to be used on the track, with Agostini racing in Dainese gear for the first time. 1978 was a big one for the Italians, as they started working with Barry Sheene to develop the very first spinal protector built into the leathers for riders – released onto the market in 1983 – with developments going on ever since, culminating in the D-Air airbag system, which started being developed in 1998. Knee sliders were added for the first time in 1980 as Dainese continued to lead the way with genuine innovation and invention.

They produced their very first gloves in the same year, which have since become a vital piece of kit for every biker. As have boots, which help to provide protection from the elements, as well as danger, for riders. Metal sliders were added to boots in 1993, in an attempt to not only prolong the life of the boot, but to help the racers get lower in the corners without fearing for the safety of their feet.

If you choose to get your equipment direct from the manufacturer, as opposed to stores such as ourselves, you are given the option to customize your clothing to suit your requirements. Dainese give customers the option to mix and match colours and wording on their leathers, as well as creating a set that fit your size requirements perfectly.

Motorcycling has evolved over the years, and Dainese has been at the forefront throughout, as you can see. At Bikestop, we’re proud to be an official stockist of the brand and bring our customers the finest, and latest, products at great prices. So whether you’re looking for your next helmet, leathers, boots or gloves, or just an accessory or casual t-shirt, you can find everything you need with us.

We provide our customers with all the colours and sizes available, helping you to get your hands on the latest styles. Perfect for gifts, we stock a range of Dainese accessories, including keyrings, and t-shirts and hooded tops for those days where you want to lay around in comfort and style during the summer, or watching the racing down at the trackside with the other bike enthusiasts.

For more information on Dainese motorbike clothing and other products in our range, give us a call today on 01438 317038.

Founded by Lino Dainese back in 1972, the Dainese brand has grown and grown from a small motorcycling clothing and protective equipment manufacturer, into one of the most instantly recognizable names in the industry, with a simple mission statement: to provide people with safety and protection from head to toe.

Providing leathers, boots and gloves for some of the top riders in professional motorcycle racing, as well as a range of clothing for mere mortals who love nothing more than getting out on the open road on a sunny day, Dainese are one of the biggest names in casual and professional motorcycling.

Almost as famous as those that wear the brand, Dainese have become one of the first manufacturers to try a set of leathers that feature an airbag system, giving their riders additional protection should they come off their bike.

As mentioned, some of the world’s greatest motorcycle racers wear the Italian brand, including the great Giacomo Agostini, who won 15 world titles in his career, eight of which came in the 500cc era, including seven in a row between 1966 and 1972.

Another great Dainese partner is, of course, “The GOAT” is Colin Edwards named him, (the Greatest Of All Time), Valentino Rossi. With nine world championships to his name – seven coming in the MotoGP era – Rossi is one of the most loved riders in the sport, and is only second on the list of all-time race winners behind, you guessed it, Agostini.

Add a number of other champions to the list and you’d think Dainese must be the reason for the success! Troy Bayliss, Max Biaggi, Barry Sheene, Carl Fogarty, Kevin Schwantz, Kenny Roberts, Jorge Lorenzo, the list goes on and on. Coincidence? Maybe not!

Nearly everybody with a motorbike looks to find their own style, which is based around their bike. Just like in fashion, it’s all about the true biker look, so whether you’ve got a Harley Davidson for cruising around or a Ducati that you take to the circuit for a track day, coordinating the gear with the machine is essential. The range of Dainese clothing allows riders to look stylish come rain or shine.

The helmets are particularly stylish, providing customers with every kind of lid they can imagine, from a simple, comfortable and protective helmet to a Rossi race replica, the Italian manufacturers provide them all.

For the second part of our profile into the history and developments at Dainese, come back to the Bikestop website soon. Until then, if you have any questions, feel free to give us a call on 01438 317038 and we will be happy to help.

Helmets can cost a lot of money, in some cases, more than the actual motorbike if you buy your machine second hand, so if you’re going to spend your hard earned cash then it makes sense to look after your investment. A helmet is something that once you’ve bought it, you won’t have to replace for a long time, giving you real value for money.

When you’re not riding your bike, there are a lot of things that can happen to your helmet. For instance, it could be knocked off a table at home or scratched in the changing rooms at your Sunday league football match, or even being stolen. To look after your helmet and prolong it’s life, there are several relatively cheap options.

One option is to invest in a case or bag such as the Ogio Head Case Stealth Bag which will keep your helmet not only safe and secure, but warm too. With plenty of space for your helmet as well as extra storage for essentials and spare visors, you can store it safely and go about your day without wondering whether it’s being damaged while it’s in the cloakroom.

You could also get yourself something to keep your visor or spares safe from damage, such as the Arai Visor Bag, which will prevent your visor from scratching or snapping off while it’s being carried or stored.

At Bikestop we stock a wide range of motorbike helmets and accessories, from race replicas to off road specials, and from the essentials mentioned in this article to locks and visibility enhancers. To find out more about any of the products in our range, speak to one of our team of experts by calling 01438 317038.

Now most of us will never get the chance to ride around one of the world’s most famous circuits or even meet our idols, but we are able to emulate what they wear, with many manufacturers following the bike builders and leather designers into creating real race replica helmets of some of the top riders on the planet.

You may think “yeah that’s great but I best they cost as much as my Ducati,” but you’d be wrong. These race replicas, at Bikestop at least, cost the same as any of the other motorbike helmets in our range, and our aim is to provide bikers with only the best quality helmets to make sure you stay safe out on the roads.

Ryuichi Kiyonari has won the British Superbike Championship on three occasions, the latest of which coming in 2010 while at HM Plant Honda, and his is just one of the replicas you can be wearing. The Shoei X-Spirit 2 is based on the brand’s 50 years of experience in creating the best helmets available, in terms of protection and style. Made using organic fiberglass and carbon fibre in various layers for a shock-absorbent shell with optimum rigidity, you get exactly what you need from a helmet – protection, comfort and style.

American Nicky Hayden won the MotoGP world championship in 2006 at Repsol Honda, and his Arai RX-7 is also available in our range of race replicas. As with all Arai helmets, there is a phenomenal amount of attention to detail in the styling, protection and comfort. The standard Pinlock inner visor prevents it from misting, and the new DDL3 ventilation duct in the back of the helmet ensures that the rider stays ventilated, and the peripherally based SNC shell makes sure you have the maximum amount of protection.

For more race replica motorbike helmets and all other motorcycle accessories, take a look around the Bikestop website where you’re sure to find something that meets your requirements. From helmets to boots, leathers to locks, we have everything you could possibly need. For more information, give us a call today on 01438 317038, or click here to leave us an online message and one of our team of experts will get back to you.

While many will choose their new motorbike helmets based upon the design or the brand, this can cause problems, with the helmet maybe being the wrong size, which can be particularly dangerous.

A lot of manufacturers’ sizes vary. This can mean that a size that fits you made by one company may not with another. Going into a store or looking online at the manufacturers’ guide can help you to establish which size it is that you require. If your helmet is too big or small, it may provide an insufficient amount of protection, which, should you be involved in an accident, could do a lot more damage than one that fits properly.

The helmet should rest tightly against your forehead, without squeezing or sliding around without assistance. If you can get your thumb in between the padding and your forehead, then the helmet is too big, and if you can’t get anything at all in between, then it’s too small.

You also need to ensure that your helmet has good ventilation. In the summer, it can get very warm inside certain motorbike helmets and the opposite is true in the winter and your visor may mist up. Having adequate ventilation is essential to allow you to breath sufficiently and be able to see where you’re going.

Finally, check that the fastening fixes the helmet onto your head properly. You don’t want the strap to be floating beneath your chin, and similarly, you don’t want it cutting into your neck. It should sit comfortably against the under side of your chin, giving you the maximum amount of protection.

Of course, should you visit the Bikestop store, our trained staff will be on hand to give you all the guidance you need when it comes to choosing your new helmet. Should you require more information on any of the range of motorbike helmets in our store, or any of the other products on sale, don’t hesitate to call us today on 01438 317038, or contact us online by filling in our online contact form.

The motorbike boots are in regular contact with the bike, either resting on the foot pegs or helping you to change gear, meaning that they’re one of the first parts of your anatomy to take a pounding if you have an accident.

Your feet are also exposed to the elements every time you go out on your bike, so it’s important that you can keep them not only protected, but dry, so getting hold of a good pair of solid, well-made and waterproof boots is a must. You find that once you get to your destination, you feel your feet are often cold or damp and this can be down to the fact that your current bike footwear simply isn’t up to the task.

It is unbelievable just how many riders, of all ages and both male and female, choose to ride in trainers or their work shoes, as opposed to proper motorbike boots. These may be more comfortable and cheaper than proper boots, but they don’t give you any protection whatsoever. Bike boots provide solid support to the foot, the ankle and the lower leg, giving riders the confidence to go out and ride without fearing that they’re going to hurt themselves.

By purchasing good quality boots at a young age, you get into the habit of buying the best possible protection – something that you should splash the cash on. Trying to save money on protection is an irresponsible approach, so it makes sense to pay that little bit extra for the best boots on the market.

Those in the range available at Bikestop go through stringent tests before making it to the shelves, so you can be assured that whether you buy in-store, or online, you’re getting the best. We have a wide range of Dainese boots, as well as all the other major brands, including Sidi and Daytona.

To take a look at our range of motorbike boots, simply click here and have a browse, or contact us by calling 01438 317038 to find out any more information on boots and any of the other products available at Bikestop.