DUNLOP MUTANT TIRES

rain, Cousin Jeremy kept me dry and warm. Aerostich recommends a retreating of the waxed cotton periodically to keep its water shedding properties. They offer Martexin Wax or Otter Wax (which does not use paraf n, silicone or other petroleum-based synthetic ingredients). I have yet to do this, as it really hasn’t been compromised. If you are a commuter and need ‘civilian’ clothing at work, Aerostich, literally, has you covered. You will arrive wrinkle-free and looking your best while truly enjoying your ride to and from work. Similarly, if you are an adventure or long-distance seeker, Cousin Jeremy will t your needs as you will lose the need to carry rain gear and cut down the amount of clothing as this suit will keep what’s underneath clean. Women’s sizing runs from 2S through 20L and are all customizable for the perfect t. I will say this about a ‘Stich; it may not be the most attering gear you’ll wear, but it is, BY FAR, the most functional. Pricing for the Cousin Jeremy pants start at $627 and jacket at $700. While that may seem like a steep price to pay, consider that Aerostich gear has been known to last for a VERY long time. I have had suits for at least 10 years and, with the necessary care and feeding, there is no reason why you shouldn’t keep them as long or longer. It is not for everyone: if you live in a dry, hot environment – look elsewhere. Should you be a more aggressive off-road rider, perhaps this isn’t the best gear for you. But if you are a long-distance rider or commuter, this may just be the perfect suit to be hanging in your garage. More info: aerostich.com

DUNLOP MUTANT TIRES

“Mutation: it is the key to our evolution. It has enabled us to evolve from a single-celled organism into the dominant species on the planet. This process is slow, and normally taking thousands and thousands of years”. ~ Prof. Charles Xavier Last summer Backroads got a press release about a new tire from Dunlop. The Mutant. Que? Mutant? My “raised on Marvel comics self” cheered and screamed ‘NO!’... at the same time. Yet the rider in me was very curious. Dunlop is one of the oldest tire companies in the world, it was founded back in 1888, originally called the Dunlop Pneumatic Tyre Company, it took its name from John Boyd Dunlop, the founder. Although years back we called Dunlop tires by different lettered designations – K-81s. Who didn’t want these on your Z-1 or Suzuki GS1000? But things changed and here we are almost half a century later and marketing has gotten much sharper. Still, Mutant? Well, it certainly got our attention, but would they come through. Well, here we are at the halfway point with our mid-term report and we can forcefully say, Yes, they have. We have logged nearly 4,000 miles on these on the street and test-rider extraordinaire, Sandra NilandMahwhinney, has nearly met these same miles, but with two VERY hard days on the 2.25-mile north track at Virginia International Raceway. Her impressions on these tires were telling indeed. Especially when the conditions dropped from superb to deep wet! As you can see from the image the tire did what they are supposed to do, but still held onto the basic purpose of an all-around 3-season tire. But, rst a bit about the tires… and know that tire technology and informa-

tion is almost as advanced as an engineering course at Star Fleet. So, with that said… Dunlop’s Multi-Tread technology, wrapped into the new Mutant tires, works incredibly well and the Mutant is what you might expect: A mutation of unique components that create one of the most versatile street tires Dunlop has ever produced. The tires incorporate a long-wearing compound in the center of the tire tread and a lateral-grip compound on each shoulder to enhance cornering performance and feel. For us, it was a great combination of feel, traction, speed, and mileage and we’d give up a thousand miles in mileage for THAT much more in traction. We have never had a slip yet riding with the Mutants. The Multi-Tread compound in the rear tire gives the Mutant high mileage for touring and commuting, and the high-grip lateral compounds give the Mutant full sport-tire capabilities and the jointless belt construction front and rear to provide a more compliant ride and more consistent handling. The high-silica compound and deep tread channels provide exceptional performance in wet conditions – easy to say, but very apparent when we had very soggy conditions at VIR. We did thousands of miles of touring, gravel, and track time; and the Dunlop Mutants proved to be one the best all-around tires on the market – and we think we still have a few thousand miles to go before any concern. The bottom line… the Dunlop Mutant Tires, while perhaps not a master of anything in particular, still brings the best of all worlds. Like the greatest utility baseball player ever. And, for real-world riding, you needn’t ask for more. But, the best thing about this tire is that it probably will t your machine, as the Mutant is available in sizes that t more than 250 different motorcycle models available in the U.S. Find out more at your local Dunlop dealer or dunlopmotorcycletires.com.