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Motorcycle Ride the Best of Europe and the Alps

Pass Masters – Motorcycle Ride the Best of Europe and the Alps

Europe’s best alpine passes strung together into 2700 miles of touring heaven

Words by Vanessa Ruck, Shots by Alex Ruck

Thinking about making an epic road trip? Then get up and go! I guarantee you’ll wonder why you didn’t do it sooner. The world is filled by some seriously spectacular roads and stunning, and for me in the UK these views are waiting just a short hop away across the English Channel.

Plunge deep into the Alps and you will soon lose count of how many times you mutter ‘wow’ to yourself as mountain passes, aggressive climbs and plunging descents unfurl before you around every turn. I’ve seen the rugged Alpine peaks countless times as a snowboarder, but I have to say I’ve been naïve to the wonders of mountains in summer time. Picture rugged untouched terrain as far as the eye can see. Snow peaked mountains, cyan lakes, raging waterfalls and rolling highlands. It’s an addictive riding heaven of roads intertwined with steep drop offs, powerful rivers, epic skyscapes and endless switchbacks.

Boarding the Channel Tunnel at Folkestone and throttling across France, Belgium and Germany is hardly a dull schlep, either. The tour route takes you down the stunning B500, and delivers you through endless ribbons of tarmac wrapped in stunning scenery. It’s the ultimate aperitif to a tarmac glutton’s main course.

But when you’re undertaking a 2700-mile-plus road trip like this it’s easy to get stressed out. Have I picked the best route? Are the roads going to be as good as I hoped? Will the hotels be alright? Can I handle the distances between stops? What if I miss the best passes?

But for me, as I packed my last few bits into my panniers to start the adventure of a lifetime, there wasn’t a worry or question in my mind. I had officially offloaded all for that by booking a guided tour with Tour1 – allowing us to simply concentrate on the ride of our life instead.

The tour guys recce everything for you, research all the best routes, test the hotels and pick the ultimate roads, restaurants and coffee stops to make your 13-day ride as perfect as possible. They’ve done the routes so many times that they take the stress out of contingency management, too. Say your Euro Tunnel is delayed by four hours (yup, that happened), they know how to get you back on time with the group. Or what if a landslide closes a mountain pass (yes, this happened too)? You can simply put your feet up with a coffee while they’re planning an equally impressive alternative route. The only variable no-one can plan for is the weather, but in the Alps that can change between passes, let alone days – meaning that the ever-changing landscape comes with equally changeable micro-climates.

In the UK you can get onto a beautiful road littered with sweeping turns and breath-taking scenery, but before you’ve really settled into the flow, the road runs out. Go to the Alps and you can have this all day, every day. If you pick the right tour route you’re going to be immersed in some technical and challenging riding, too. Take the Stelvio Pass, the third highest pass in the Alps.

Stelvio Pass

At 9045 feet, it offers 75 hair-raising hairpins and views that will make your stomach lurch. Or the Passo di Gavia – listed as one of the world’s most dangerous roads. It’s a single-track assent with oncoming cars, bikes and bicycles, potholes galore, gravel, rock slides and unpredictable weather. For some it’s the ultimate challenge, while for others it was a risk too far – but no-one is forcing you to tackle the climb.

St Gotthards Pass

Then there’s the historic St Gotthard Pass in Switzerland. While it’s not a fast road it is both challenging and breath-taking with its cobblestone hairpin bends.

Initially, I was wobbling around like a new-born Bambi, uneasy on the uneven surface, but after stringing just a few switchbacks together I started to realise how much grip was available, and it turned into one of the highlights of the tour. But there are many more passes that are just as good without having achieved such fame or notoriety, and even the roads that connect the passes are often gorgeous valley sweepers that ebb and flow through towns and lush lowlands, providing a welcome breather before the next dramatic ascent. I genuinely had sore abs on some of the days from leaning my 320kg Sport Glide over around corner after corner on so many passes.

There’s confidence and safety in numbers, too. Our gang of 15 thudding Harley-Davidson’s was pretty difficult for drivers to ignore, and the range of experience and skills in the group meant we always had a solution for every eventuality.

The girl on a bike harley davidson sport glide vanessa ruck tour1 group 2
The girl on a bike harley davidson sport glide vanessa ruck tour1 group
The girl on a bike harley davidson sport glide vanessa ruck tour1 group 3

You then have the skills you can learn from such a group too. At a minimum the tour leader is going to be an advanced rider capable of teaching you a few tricks, but at best there will be some agile, smooth and damn awesome riders to rub shoulders with. For me, a Kiwi guy became by favourite back wheel to follow. Learning off his lines, taking guidance from his speed. It was an incredible way to develop my riding. Had I done the same route without the experienced lead I can guarantee I wouldn’t have developed to such a level.

But if you’ve ever ridden in a big group you’ll maybe wonder how on earth you keep 15 bikes together when riding unknown terrain with the lead man on nav duties! Introducing the buddy system. It kept us linked together while also allowing us to ride to our own abilities, the fast riders at the front. Ultimately, each rider was responsible for making sure their ‘buddy’ – the rider behind – knew where to go at any turn off. Ride the straights, stop to wait at junctions. Easy. Doing this mileage in a group really was something special. The looks on locals’ faces as the thunder of engines rolled through, we even had a nursing home out on the pavement when we stopped nearby. Judging by the smiles on their faces they’ll have chattered about us bikers for weeks.

Cultural variances

It was lovely riding between so many countries was the subtle transformation of cultures. While boarder-less in the EU, you could quickly tell you had changed country. The tour threads its way through nine in total, and the transformation of cultures as you cross each border adds a subtly different flavour to each leg of the trip. From gorgeous Swiss mountain lodges, to chiming cow bells and lederhosen in Austria, and seemingly infinite local beers to enjoy after a day’s riding – travelling on a motorcycle gets you closer to every country you ride through.

Along with the incredible engineering of the mountain roads comes a refreshing exposure to the opportunity for natural selection to take control, too. High-altitude passes with sheer drop-offs and no guard-rails, totally exposed hairpins, and the occasional rockslide, herd of cattle or throng of Lycra-clad cyclists adding to the road surface challenges. It’s liberating riding in a place where your safety isn’t cocooned by the health and safety police. It’s sensory overload, too, as the potential for disaster spikes your pulse with adrenaline while your eyes struggle to drink in the scenery, and you try to ensure you don’t start fixating on the drops. It’s a riding nirvana that leaves you really feeling like you’re living on the edge. Quite literally.

Lycra

But something I never anticipated about riding the Alps was racing bodies in Lycra. Yup, that’s Lycra not leathers. The Alps attracts a huge volume of cyclists and with their light weight ballsy set up they can absolutely hoon it down the mountains. They have crazy grip, enabling mind blowing cornering speed. I genuinely found myself behind a clearly very experienced man in skin hugging lycra and I ended up sat following him for a good mile. Partly because the short straights between the tight corners with oncoming traffic was just a little tight to squeeze past and his corners were rapid with his nimble agility. But if I’m honest, I was probably enjoying his firm calves and bottom too. Nuts to think I had a 1745cc engine and he had his legs. Don’t’ worry, I smashed him on the up!

And boy some of the ups were huge! If you want guaranteed pothole free riding, where you can power around any corner with confidence in the rubber to road traction, then Austria and Switzerland are the places for you.

As a relatively new biker, only really taking up two-wheels after my road traffic accident in early 2014, the Alps offered a huge learning curve for my riding. I can’t even think of a hair pin bend in proximity to home, let alone turn after turn. But diving straight into the deep end with a mountain tour, it didn’t take long to get the feel of the riding, pegs down grinning from ear to ear. And now, having completed a 2,700 mile trip around the Alps I feel more confident and more secure in my every day riding than ever before.

Don’t miss…

The B500 through Germany’s Black Forest on the way South.
Cobblestone hairpins might not sound appealing, but it’s a rare treat, and you’ll have to get used to it to ride the fantastic St Gotthard Pass
The Steak House Braulio, in Bormio – providing you’re not a vegetarian. It’s epic.
Taking a swim in a mountain lake – it will burn like hell because it’s so cold but it’s unmissable.
The Passo di Gavia pass – a single-track mountain pass that will scare and thrill in equal measure.

Top tips for touring happiness

Research the tour, scroll social media of previous trips, read into the details thoroughly and make sure the route, schedule, and likely companions are your cup of tea.
Pack light! You don’t want to fill every inch of your panniers or be strapping bags on every day. You have to carry everything with you each day, so the less clutter you carry, the happier you’ll be, and the better your bike will handle.
Pack your swimmers – some hotels have pools but they can’t compete with a dip in an ice-cold turquoise mountain lake in the shadow of the Dolomites.
Do some loaded practice rides. Riding 150-200 miles per day for 13 days on the trot soon adds up. Do a few long weekend rides to get your body used to spending a lot of time in the saddle.

My Trip Kit

Klim Drifter Jacket
Draggin Twister and Rokker Rokkertech protective jeans
HJC motorcycle helmet, model RPHA 70
HD footwear boots
Harley-Davidson Sport Glide [see review here]

Book and go

Tour1 is an official Harley-Davidson tour operator with trips in US, UK and Europe. For more information on their tours check out www.tour1.com

Our tour was ‘Altitude with Attitude’, and is aimed at riding fantastic mountain passes the best bits of Switzerland, Italy and Austria. That means legendary passes such as the Stelvio and Grossglockner Pass, plus 33 others! The tour includes your route down to the Alps and back again, too – which is a great ride in itself. This is Tour1’s most dramatic tour, for experienced riders who want a real adventure on twisty roads on a Harley-Davidson.

Fact File

Distance: 2160 miles [from Folkstone]
2019 Prices start from £2225 for rider sharing a room
Two riders sharing a room, price each £2225
Single rider in his/her own room £2855
Rider and pillion sharing a room £3595
Prices include Eurotunnel crossing, all accommodation (3 and 4 star), and some meals.

Get in touch via Instagram if you have any questions.

If you’re new to my page – it’s more than just dirt bike riding, Harley’s and racing, I’m on a mission to prove that nothing is impossible if you want it bad enough. See more about my story plus read about my life changing accident, which started it all.

You can find me Vanessa, The Girl On A Bike over on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube, and www.thegirlonabike.com.

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By The Girl On A Bike

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KTM EXC 200 2-stroke bottom and top end engine rebuild videos

KTM 200 EXC 2-stroke bottom and top end engine rebuild videos

Watch a full engine rebuild of a 2-stroke KTM EXC bottom end and bottom end. Including getting the transmission, gearing, the crank into the cases, piston, seals and getting it all together.

Bottom End

Top End

It shows how easy it is to do, I learned from the manual and YouTube. If I can do it, you can do it!

Filmed by Alex Ruck @ruckymonster

Music from Bensound.com

Parts from: Wossner Pistons Premier Bikes Ams4ktm Allballs Racing Hot Rods Products Tengtools KTM Big_d_speedshop New Age Products inc Rebels_ring

If you’re new to my page – it’s more than just dirt bike riding, Harley’s and racing, I’m on a mission to prove that nothing is impossible if you want it bad enough. See more about my story plus read about my life changing accident, which started it all.

You can find me Vanessa, The Girl On A Bike over on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube, and www.thegirlonabike.com.

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By The Girl On A Bike

Adventures Latest content

Alps Bucket List with Tour1

Bucket List – motorcycling must-dos – Ride the best of the Alps with Tour1

Europe’s best alpine passes strung together into 2,200 miles of touring heaven

As published in MCN – Vanessa Ruck the high-mileage Harley-loving MCN blogger and Instagram addict talksTour1

Some of the world’s most spectacular roads and stunning views are waiting just a short hop away across the Channel. Plunge deep into the Alps and you will soon lose count of how many times you mutter ‘wow’ to yourself as mountain passes, cyan lakes, endless switchbacks, aggressive climbs and plunging descents unfurl before you around every turn. It’s an addictive riding heaven of snow-peaked mountains, raging waterfalls, rolling highlands and epic skyscapes.

Boarding the Channel Tunnel at Folkestone and throttling across France, Belgium and Germany is hardly a dull schlep, either. The tour route takes you down the stunning B500 (itself an MCN Bucket List ride), and delivers you through endless ribbons of tarmac wrapped in stunning scenery. It’s the ultimate aperitif to a tarmac glutton’s main course.

But when you’re undertaking a 2000-mile-plus road trip like this it’s easy to get stressed out. Have I picked the best route? Are the roads going to be as good as I hoped? Will the hotels be alright? Can I handle the distances between stops? What if I miss the best passes? You can bypass all this though, and book a guided tour with Tour1 – as we did – allowing you to simply concentrate on the ride of your life instead.

The Tour1 guys recce everything for you, research all the best routes, test the hotels and pick the ultimate roads, restaurants and coffee stops to make your 13-day ride as perfect as possible. They’ve done the routes so many times that they take the stress out of contingency management, too. Say your Euro Tunnel is delayed by four hours (yup, that happened), they know how to get you back on time with the group. Or what if a landslide closes a mountain pass (yes, this happened too)? You can simply put your feet up with a coffee while they’re planning an equally impressive alternative route. The only variable no-one can plan for is the weather, but in the Alps that can change between passes, let alone days – meaning that the ever-changing landscape comes with equally changeable micro-climates.

In the UK you can get onto a beautiful road littered with sweeping turns and breath-taking scenery, but before you’ve really settled into the flow, the road runs out. Go to the Alps and you can have this all day, every day. If you pick the right tour route you’re going to be immersed in some technical and challenging riding, too. Take the Stelvio Pass, the third highest pass in the Alps. At 9045 feet, it offers 75 hair-raising hairpins and views that will make your stomach lurch. Or the Passo di Gavia – listed as one of the world’s most dangerous roads. It’s a single-track assent with oncoming cars, bikes and bicycles, potholes galore, gravel, rock slides and unpredictable weather. For some it’s the ultimate challenge, while for others it was a risk too far – but no-one is forcing you to tackle the climb. Then there’s the historic St Gotthard Pass in Switzerland. While it’s not a fast road it is both challenging and breath-taking with its cobblestone hairpin bends. Initially, I was wobbling around like a new-born Bambi, uneasy on the uneven surface, but after stringing just a few switchbacks together I started to realise how much grip was available, and it turned into one of the highlights of the tour. But there are many more passes that are just as good without having achieved such fame or notoriety, and even the roads that connect the passes are often gorgeous valley sweepers that ebb and flow through towns and lush lowlands, providing a welcome breather before the next dramatic ascent.

There’s confidence and safety in numbers, too. Our gang of 15 thudding Harley-Davidsons was pretty difficult for drivers to ignore, and the range of experience and skills in the group meant we always had a solution for every eventuality.

As you tick off legendary passes, you’ll also be racking up the countries. The tour threads its way through nine in total, and the transformation of cultures as you cross each border adds a subtly different flavour to each leg of the trip. From gorgeous Swiss mountain lodges, to chiming cow bells and lederhosen in Austria, and seemingly infinite local beers to enjoy after a day’s riding – traveling on a motorcycle gets you closer to every country you ride through.

Along with the incredible engineering of the mountain roads comes a refreshing exposure to the opportunity for natural selection to take control, too. High-altitude passes with sheer drop-offs and no guard-rails, totally exposed hairpins, and the occasional rockslide, herd of cattle or throng of Lycra-clad cyclists adding to the road surface challenges. It’s liberating riding in a place where your safety isn’t cocooned by the health and safety police. It’s sensory overload, too, as the potential for disaster spikes your pulse with adrenaline while your eyes struggle to drink in the scenery, and you try to ensure you don’t start fixating on the drops. It’s a riding nirvana that leaves you really feeling like you’re living on the edge. Quite literally.

Don’t miss…

The B500 through Germany’s Black Forest on the way South.
Cobblestone hairpins might not sound appealing, but it’s a rare treat, and you’ll have to get used to it to ride the fantastic St Gotthard Pass
The Steak House Braulio, in Bormio – providing you’re not a vegetarian. It’s epic.
Taking a swim in a mountain lake – it will burn like hell because it’s so cold but it’s unmissable.
The Passo di Gavia pass – a single-track mountain pass that will scare and thrill in equal measure.
Do it on a bike made for the mileage, my Harley-Davidson Softail Sport Glide sucked up the miles – see bike full review.

Top tips for touring happiness

Research the tour, scroll social media of previous trips, read into the details thoroughly and make sure the route, schedule, and likely companions are your cup of tea.
Pack light! You don’t want to fill every inch of your panniers or be strapping bags on every day. You have to carry everything with you each day, so the less clutter you carry, the happier you’ll be, and the better your bike will handle.
Pack your swimmers – some hotels have pools but they can’t compete with a dip in an ice-cold turquoise mountain lake in the shadow of the Dolomites.
Do some loaded practice rides. Riding 150-200 miles per day for 13 days on the trot soon adds up. Do a few long weekend rides to get your body used to spending a lot of time in the saddle.

My Trip Kit

Klim Drifter Jacket
Draggin Twister and Rokker Rokkertech protective jeans
HJC motorcycle helmet, style RPHA 70
HD footwear boots
Harley-Davidson Sport Glide [see review here]

Book and go

Tour1 is an official Harley-Davidson tour operator with trips in US, UK and Europe. For more information on their tours check out www.tour1.com

The route, 13 days, 9 countries

Our tour was ‘Altitude with Attitude’ with Tour1, and is aimed at riding fantastic mountain passes the best bits of Switzerland, Italy and Austria. That means legendary passes such as the Stelvio and Grossglockner Pass, plus 33 others! The tour includes your route down to the Alps and back again, too – which is a great ride in itself. This is Tour1’s most dramatic tour, for experienced riders who want a real adventure on twisty roads on a Harley-Davidson.

Fact File

Distance: 2160 miles [from Folkstone]
2019 Prices start from £2225 for rider sharing a room
Two riders sharing a room, price each £2225
Single rider in his/her own room £2855
Rider and pillion sharing a room £3595
Prices include Eurotunnel crossing, all accommodation (3 and 4 star), and some meals.

Get in touch via Instagram if you have any questions.

Here’s some video from my trip with Tour1

If you’re new to my page – it’s more than just dirt bike riding and racing, I’m on a mission to prove that nothing is impossible if you want it bad enough. See more about my story plus read about my life changing accident, which started it all.

You can find me Vanessa, The Girl On A Bike over on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube, and www.thegirlonabike.com.

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By The Girl On A Bike

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Europe’s Best Riding Roads – St Gotthards Pass

Best riding roads in Europe – St Gotthards Pass

Riding in Europe opens so many opportunities for finding epic roads. One I highly recommend is the historic St Gotthards Pass. While it’s not a ‘fast’ road it certainly is challenging and breathtaking with the cobble stoned hairpin bends. I’ll let the video do the talking!

I was out riding with @tour1_garyfrance on the beautiful Sport Glide [click here to see my bike review].

If you’re looking for the best roads in the Alps then The Gotthard Pass or St. Gotthard Pass is definitely one to hit! The pass elevates to 2,106 metres and is a mountain pass in the Alps traversing the Saint-Gotthard Massif and connecting northern and southern Switzerland. It’s super unique with its cobblestones surface, even in the hairpin curves, making for an mega enjoyable ride.

Don’t forget to check out the rest of my shots on Instagram.
For more info on Tour1: https://www.tour1.co/

If you’re new to my page – it’s more than just dirt bike riding, Harley’s and racing, I’m on a mission to prove that nothing is impossible if you want it bad enough. See more about my story plus read about my life changing accident, which started it all.

You can find me Vanessa, The Girl On A Bike over on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube, and www.thegirlonabike.com.

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By The Girl On A Bike

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2018 Harley-Davidson Sport Glide Review

The 2018 Harley-Davidson Sport Glide has definitely won my heart and as so many have asked what I think, here’s my review on this new breed of Harley-Davidson:

I conducted my Sport Glide review on a 2,700 mile road trip with Tour1 starting from the UK, heading across 9 European countries, completing over 35 mountain passes, motorway, winding roads and more hairpins than you can shake a stick at.

The Sport Glide offers a big bike in a small package with the new 107 Milwaukee engine (1745cc) laying down 83bhp prior to any upgrades [I’d absolutely love to try one with a Stage 1 and some feisty Vance & Hines pipes]. The power is on tap and delivers plentiful torque for passing on hairpins or blasting past Sunday drivers. I always felt like she had so much to give!

Feel

Despite the size, weighing in at 317kg, Harley have done a superb job of distributing the load. The bike feels light and agile, especially compared to my similar weight 2015 Street Bob, the load is low making for a really nimble ride. Easy for smaller riders to handle yet big enough for everyone. The light feel means it’s easy to push round corners for some peg scraping enjoyment and the V-twin motor drives out of bends and past dawdling motorists with ease.

Comfort

The ride comfort is like no Harley I’ve ridden, smooth and refined. Two balance shafts are calibrated to perfection giving a super smooth ride but with just the right amount of energy to keep its Harley soul as you potato-potato along. Character and comfort perfectly refined. With the mileage we did on alpine roads I have to say I was super content. The riding position and forward controls just felt perfect, equipped with the new suspension that sucks up the terrain. And considering we did some cobbled mountain passes and Italy’s rather pothole riddled roads, I was very pleased with the suspension. For the motorways the modest fairing does a surprising amount too, I felt protected, allowing for minimal wind fatigue.

Look and feel

The craftsmanship is fantastic, tidy welds, extensive use of steel, deep gloss paint and the beautifully engineered panniers, it just screams quality and worth a good chunk of change.

When it comes to design she’s definitely a head turner too. Elegant lines combined with a stocky road presence. The clever quick release panniers, luggage rack and fairing mean you can quickly go from touring to cruising mode too. I really do think it looks fantastic and was rather tickled by how much attention she received.

Synopsis of my Harley-Davidson Sport Glide review

I could see myself happily commuting with its practical luggage, while being a head turner for cruising and yet also offering great comfort for the longer tours. With 2,714 miles together on Tour1, I can vouch first hand.

Good bye following my Harley-Davidson Sport Glide review — The sad moment I had to give the 2018 Sport Glide back to WMB [We Move Bikes]

Yeah, it’s not going to be for everyone, but I can’t stress enough how I wish more people would try a Harley before deciding they’re not for them. This guy is a beast 💖

If you’re new to my page – it’s more than just dirt bike riding and racing, I’m on a mission to prove that nothing is impossible if you want it bad enough. See more about my story plus read about my life changing accident, which started it all.

You can find me Vanessa, The Girl On A Bike over on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube, and www.thegirlonabike.com.

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By The Girl On A Bike

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CTEK battery sense review – How to avoid ever having a flat battery

How my love for CTEK started

I guess my discovery of the CTEK battery sense started in the same way that most people fall out with their motorcycle. A beautiful morning, the whole landscape was bathed in the warm glow of the rising sun. The perfect day to ride to work on my Harley-Davidson. It was also a rather important day as I had a job interview. I was a little nervous but I kitted myself up, prepared my mind and headed out to the garage. This was where it all went wrong. Thug, my Street Bob wouldn’t start. Totally flat battery! And I had even started her the night before to check all was ok…. Argh I’m going to be late. I tried to get her going, ‘sputter, sputter, sputter’ and nothing. We weren’t going anywhere.

I assessed the time and decided to plug her in to charge in my CT5 Powers Sport charger and give her a ten-minute boost. Unfortunately, I tried a little too early and without enough juice to turn her over fully I just drained the battery again. By this time, I had no choice but to ditch the bike and go in the car…but I was in bike kit! You can rock up to an interview in bike kit on a bike but in a car you just look silly…. I had to change.

Anyway, long story short…

My bike wouldn’t start because of a flat battery… I had to call ahead and say I was running late due to a vehicle issue but I eventually made it ten minutes late.

I’ve always been really good with my battery maintenance, periodically using a trickle charger and doing battery reconditioning but this morning I knew I needed to do more. The disappointment of getting out to the garage and not being able to ride because of a flat. That sucks. It’s totally preventable so I made it my mission to find a solution…

Introducing the CTEK Battery Sense. So how to I rate it?

You might wonder how you can rock up for an Account Director role in a marketing agency in bike kit, so I’ll divulge. With Bowtex Kevlar leggings you can wear any clothing and have all the protection underneath in the protective base layer. Add my smartest jeans over the top, my bad ass but smart HD-Footwear boots, a nice shirt and suit jacket and of course my leather Richa jacket. Boom, dressed for an interview. Oh and I got the job!

What is it

It’s a small unit that you wire into your vehicle battery and secure under your seat or another concealed position. This little device then monitors your battery state and pings the data straight to your smart phone. You might wonder why bother? Ultimately batteries can get sick, drain of power or die all together, but with the right battery maintenance you can make your battery performance last longer and be considerably more reliable – meaning a more dependable bike, less breakdowns and less money on batteries over the years. The challenge is knowing when your battery needs some extra love. Batteries don’t have a status panel and generally don’t warn you that it’s struggling until it’s too late and won’t fire up your ride.

This smart battery management device gives you the power in your smart phone to know what your battery needs by tracking the health of your battery. The apps free and will update every time you’re in range for Bluetooth [iPhone or Android App].

Another cool thing about it is the ability to have multiple devices paired to the one app, which means if you’re lucky enough to have multiple bikes or vehicles you can sync them all up.

Ease of use

All the data is presented in a really simple visual display within the app; % of battery charge with colour coding, which also directly tells you the action required:

Sad Red – charge now
Warning Yellow – charge soon
Happy Green – Battery ok

You can then see your batteries % history plotted on a graph. This is great for seeing how the deterioration of the battery has happened over time. If it’s a sudden drop in charge you can probably relate it to something being left on draining the power, a steady decline could highlight a battery in need of reconditioning, but a gradual line could simply be a result of being sat for too long. All of which, depending on the severity of the deterioration, can be helped using a CTEK CT5 Powers Sport charger [more to follow on this].

One of my favourite parts of the battery sensor is the alerting function as I’m honestly not going to remember to check my battery regularly – even with a clever app! The app is programmed to warn you of actions so if your battery status changes or reaches a critical level the app will give you a push notification. Similarly, when it’s not managed to connect for 7 days you’ll get a heads up. You can then reconnect and the historical stored data from when you were away will load up too. Never get to your bike and find a flat battery again!

Stats given:

% percentage of battery charge
Direction on actions required [charge now or soon]
Battery temperature [in centigrade or Fahrenheit – 0 °C = 32 °F.]
Voltage

The Techy Bits

Suitable for all car, motorcycle and engine starter batteries 4.5AH or over
Compatible with Android OS 4.4 and higher, iPhone iOS 7 and higher, Bluetooth® 4.0
Easy to understand smart phone application and monitor with free app download
Can sync with multiple monitors to keep on top of all your vehicles
Stores up to three months of stats.
Notifications if battery’s state of charge falls to a critical level or if measurements not taken for seven days
2-year warranty

Limitations

As it’s Bluetooth you have to be within range of your bike. For me, my garage is a little too far away from my house to get the stats without heading out. But I do walk past it every day coming and going and get the latest info.
It’s not a limitation of the product so much, but for me on my Street Bob I did have to wiggle about a lot and shift my wiring to get the small device to fit on the battery – probably because I have a few accessories already. I got it working no dramas but you might have to squeezy and tidy a little.

£££

They are on the pricey side at around at around £40-50, however it’s about the price you put on being able to ride and for me having an automatic alert if my battery is needing attention is worth every penny. Avoiding the disappointment of a ‘sputter, sputter, sputter’ is worth every penny. Also, by monitoring your battery condition, you can prevent a deep discharge occurring, which will result in loss of performance and early replacement.

Highlights

Works on all 12V batteries (lead acid)
Ensures your battery is ready to go when you are
Battery status data straight to your smart phone

Tips From Experience

I highly recommend getting the CT5 Powersport battery charger with priority, if you’ve got to choose, get the charger over the sensor. With bikes I find they can sometimes be left un-ridden for weeks [winter, holiday away, life being too busy etc.] and so you can leave this plugged in and know that your ride will be ready to go when you are. It’s designed specifically to charge and maintain batteries with three fully automatic charging and maintenance programs – Normal, AGM and Reconditioning. I’m in the habit of having it permanently connected when parked up, it’s designed to be so it won’t over or under charge. It’s easy to use and works with all types of powersport 12V lead acid batteries. It’s kind of magic how a totally dead battery that you thought was only destined for scrap can be fully reconditioned and live on reliably after a CT5 revamp – saves you money on battery’s.

Overall Rating

Small but highly powerful and practical device giving you the confidence that you’re ride will be ready to go when you are. Looks after your battery for the longest life possible to give the most reliable performance so that nothing can come between you and that adventure.

If you’re new to my page – it’s more than just dirt bike riding and racing, I’m on a mission to prove that nothing is impossible if you want it bad enough. See more about my story plus read about my life changing accident, which started it all.

You can find me Vanessa, The Girl On A Bike over on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube, and www.thegirlonabike.com.

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By The Girl On A Bike

Latest content

Bowtex Kevlar Legging Review

Bowtex Leggings Motorcycle Jean Review

Want to wear your normal jeans on the bike and still have protection? Keep reading

How it started

As a biker one of the things I found the most frustrating was either having to look like a biker in all the leathers or having to get changed all the time. Leathers to normal clothing and back again. There had to be a solution where you could wear something more normal. In comes Kevlar jeans. Amazing, now you can wear normal looking jeans and be safe, but you’re still restricted to that look. A single pair of jeans – unless of course you’re a lucky owner of a money tree and can have multiple pairs.

I was dreaming of total freedom in what I chose to wear while also being safe. That’s when I discovered Bowtex Kevlar leggings. These give you the protection you need in a base layer legging, giving you the unlimited choice of wearing whatever trousers you fancy. The end of looking like a biker and the start of being able to wear whatever you like.

I do find it funny how many disapproving looks you get for riding in your bright purple Calvin Clein jeans…being judged that you’re being reckless but little do they know – underneath I have woven Kevlar to save my skin. Protected!

There are so many companies making protective riding jeans that are designed to offer impact and abrasion resistance should the worst happen. However, this base layer system with the same level of protection, is something offered by Bowtex and only a few rival brands, I really think, is going to catch on.

So how to I rate them?

Safety

Bowtex have been making their leggings with safety front of mind, which is exactly what you’d expect. The main portion of the leggings is made from a blend of DuPont™ Kevlar®, Protex and cotton to provide protection against abrasion, heat and flames, while also giving the comfort. They are further strengthened by 100% woven Kevlar on the high-risk areas including the hips, bum and knees – the areas where you’re most likely to inflict prolonged contact with the ground in a fall or crash. And, you then have the added option to have industry standard D30 armour as the leggings come with pockets ready.

That’s abrasion, heat and impact covered – and all in a pair of leggings! Yes, if you come off your jeans on top will highly likely be written off but you’ll be happy in the knowledge that your leggings are going to keep your skin on and absorb some of the shock!

Full Protection – Bowtex® Kevlar Leggings Yellow. Full Dupont™ Kevlar® Fibre

Base Layer: 55% Dupont™ Kevlar®, 25% Protex-M, 20% Cotton
Added patches on high risk areas: 100% Dupont™ Kevlar® for pure Abrasion Resistance
Unisex
Built-in hip and knee pockets for Bowtex® impact protectors.

For me, having been in an accident I won’t even jump on the bike for a pint of milk without the right protection and clothing like this makes being protected so easy. It’s a no brainer.

One thing to note is that Bowtex have a couple of legging options. I’m talking about their yellow leggings, which offer the full Kevlar protection. They also do a commuter version for lower risk riding at a lower cost. The commuter leggings have a lower Kevlar portion, replaced by elastane and polyester. The result is a more flexible legging for swift and frequent changing, however these do of course offer lower protection as you’re only protected in the high-risk areas. Personally, not a pair for me but worth mentioning.

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Commuter Legging – Bowtex Essential Leggings Black. Elastane / Dupont™ Kevlar® Fiber

Base layer: 83% Elastane / 17% Polyester
Added patches on seat, hip and knee areas made with 100% Dupont™ Kevlar® Fibre for abrasion resistance
Unisex
Built-in hip and knee pockets for Bowtex® CE rated impact protectors.

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What I love is that Bowtex trust their kit enough to make an ace video of a guy being pulled down the road on his bum:

Look & Styling

This is down to you! Bowtex give you the protection as a base layer so you can literally style out in whatever jeans, trousers, chinos or pants you like. Hell, you could even wear a skirt if you wanted [it might look a little odd but you’d be protected!

That’s the beauty of having leggings, you have the control of the top layer.

Rock up on your bike in your normal clothing, I love that!

The Girl On A Bike motorcycle Bowtex logo unisex Womens kevlar leggings jeans 6
The Girl On A Bike motorcycle Bowtex unisex Womens 100 kevlar leggings jeans 7
The Girl On A Bike motorcycle Bowtex logo unisex Womens kevlar leggings jeans 5

Any extra swaying point for me was the limited choice of Kevlar jeans on the market. Yes, is has expanded hugely in the last couple of years, but you’re still limited to set styles, designs and colours. Having a legging opens the breath of causal jeans to your bike wardrobe.

If you’re like me and love your super skinny spray on jeans, it’s important to note that not all your jeans will fit over the top. While the leggings are super streamlined they are still a layer to squeeze into your jeans. This will most certainly apply if you add the armour too.

Ride Comfort

With the almost fluffy woven Kevlar material and a nice thick elastic waist and ankle bands these leggings are super comfortable. For me the stay firmly in place, not riding up my legs or sliding down when I bend. They flex and twist with you. My ideal would be having them slightly more elasticated for a snugger fit under my spray on jeans, however they are still offering superb comfort under your jeans. What’s also great is that they form an extra layer for warmth in the cooler weather while also being highly breathable in the summer.

I’ve got no complaints over comfort.