PRODUCT REVIEW
TRIUMPH MALVERN GTX
Words : Ben Wilkins Photos : Geoff Osborne , Ben Wilkins
T he arrival of a new suit to test normally generates a mixed bunch of feelings . If something works well then I don ’ t want to mess with it , and when it comes to riding suits that goes doubly for me . When I have a suit I like I don ’ t like to change it . When a suit fits just right , has all the right pockets and features and keeps out the worst of the weather then I stick with it . For the last six years I ’ ve been running an adventure suit from Triumph , which has been a great bit of kit , but it ’ s been getting a little frayed around the edges of late , so it ’ s now beginning a new life with a new rider we know - it ’ ll get them started quite nicely . That left the door open for another suit , enter Triumph ’ s Malvern GTX jacket and pants .
In a black and grey / silver livery it ’ s got an understated look that ’ ll appeal to most Kiwi tastes ; apparently black is the most requested colour for clothing and helmets in dealerships across the land . Made from Goretex , this suit is completely waterproof . As you can see from the pictures , I ’ ve ridden through torrential rain - and been completely dry . In the middle of winter I did a ride through the Motu where it was very cold and very wet , but the Malvern suit just shrugged it off . I was riding home from the GS Rallye in October with Mat Day-Gillett , one of our contributors and we stopped for fuel in Taihape . It had been raining for hours , but the sun was out and we were getting a tad hot , so we started shedding layers . I commented
58 KIWI RIDER