Nikwax North America
Expansion into the motorsports market continues
 My
first memory of Nikwax goes back to 2000 when I searched the web for
motorcycle waterproofing products. I bumped into a Concours Owners
Group forum with some info posted about using Nikwax products to
rejuvenate the waterproofing properties of textile and leather outer
gear.
At right: When Nikwax decided to enter the
motorsports market in 2002, they stepped up and sponsored an HRC
racer in Great Britain
By 2001 I was a convert, treating my boots, gloves, leathers and
textile gear with the product each season I rode. But the motorcycle
retail market had little idea the product existed. In mid 2001 Sound
RIDER! produced an article all about Nikwax and how to use it on
motorcycle gear. The only thing missing was a retailer to send
people to to buy the product. After speaking with several local
dealers it became apparent there was no interest in carrying the
line. One shop owner suggested "Why would I sell my customer
something to waterproof their existing gear when I’d rather sell
them a new jacket or pants." To answer the need of our readers to
access the product our magazine opened the Sound RIDER! online store
and debuted it with the Nikwax product line.
In 2004 Nikwax, a UK based company, shifted distributors and Chas
Fisher, an eager entrepreneur with a background in the outdoor gear
industry, headed from Colorado to Seattle to open Nikwax North
America. Fisher set up shop in Seattle’s Fremont neighborhood and
set out to compete against several other waterproofing lines in the
outdoor marketplace.
In the meantime Nikwax had enjoyed a bit of success in the
motorcycle market and to compliment and build on that success Fisher
hired moto veteran Colleen First to talk the talk with motorsports
companies. Colleen First may sound like a familiar name to you and
that could be in part because she writes a number of articles for
Sound RIDER! each year.
 Nikwax
developed a three panel color brochure to support it’s motorsports
market sales and added several pages of motorsports application
information to their website.
At right: Sound RIDER! office cat, Fox, request
that we don't toss the empty Nikwax boxes until he's had his moment
with them. He's shedding water nicely thank you.
In 2005 we were slipped test samples of a new product being
developed by Nikwax’ founder, Nick Brown. The product, called Visor
Proof, was designed to be used by skiers on the exterior of their
goggles to repel rain as soon as it hit. For us it was a godsend
allowing motorcyclists to bead water from their face shields without
tearing up the plastic laminates the way that RainX and other glass
product competitors do.
After several months of testing we acquired two dozen units of
the Visor Proof and sold through it in no time. No one was ready for
the demand that the motorsports market would have for this product
and availability dried up for several months. Finally in early 2006
new production reached US shores and we were able to pick up the
pace again. At that point we developed the Sound RIDER! Ultimate
Vision Kit and paired the Visor Proof with two other liquids
critical to cleaning and maintaining eyewear and face shields.
In 2007 the major motorcycle parts distributor, Tucker Rocky,
took note of what was going on with the Nikwax line in the
powersports market and signed a distribution agreement for the line.
It’s been a long and winding road for Brown, Fisher and First but
with the new distribution agreement 2008 may well be the year the
company hits pay dirt in the motorsports market place.
Nikwax Motorcycle Gear Application Suggestions
 Textile
jackets and pants – Most better made textile pants and jackets
can be machine washed in a side load washer. To treat them with
Nikwax run the load once using Tech Wash, then repeat the load
utilizing TX Direct Wash In. We suggest you treat the gear each
season you ride. Pay attention to the side load instructions, the
amount of Nikwax you use should be half of what is recommended for a
top load machine. Side load machines are much gentler on gear and
are the preferred mode.
Above: The Nikwax Fabric Pak and its cousin, the
Leather Pak, have been top sellers in the Sound RIDER! online store
since their introduction in 2001.
Gloves – Nikwax’ Glove Proof adds water shedding abilities
to gloves and is formulated to work with leather, textile, or blends
of both. But sometimes gloves will still leak. Why? It’s important
to understand that any gear with leaky seams hitting the wind at 60
miles per hour may still leak at the seam points. If that happens
it’s simply time to invest in new gloves. For basic water shedding,
Glove Proof gets the job done.
Boots – Nikwax’ Aqueous Wax provides water shedding
ability to leather motorcycle boots. Seams can be treated with the
companies Paste Wax.
Leather Gear and Luggage – For leather jackets, pants and
luggage it’s a two pronged procedure. You clean the gear with
Nikwax’ Leather Cleaner and follow that with an application or two
of the spray on Leather Conditioner which will cause the leather to
not only repel water, but recondition it to a softer more supple
texture.
 Textile
Luggage – It unlikely you’d attempt throwing textile luggage in
the washing machine, but never fear - TX Direct Spray-on will allow
you to treat tank bags, saddle bags, back packs and more.
Beyond your motorcycle gear…
You’ll find that many of the products discussed here can be used
on many other outdoor garments and gear bags. That’s good to know if
you’re a skier, hiker, snowmobiler or just a trekker.
PT/Winter 2008
Where to buy Nikwax:
Nikwax is available through better Northwest motorcycle retailers
including:
Nikwax can also be purchased online at the
Sound RIDER! online store |
