Unveiling the Future: Designing the New Bison Thor.4 Motorcycle Glove
It's been over five years since we introduced the motorcycle community to our first race gauntlet: The Bison Thor.1! Since this was the only glove model available at the time of its release, we created the Thor.1 to do everything pretty well. It was comfortable, had a very common hand shape and size, and plenty of protection without going overboard. Although the Thor.1 was wildly popular in its initial years, this past couple years have seen sales decline while sales of its sister products - the Thor.2 and .3 gloves - continue to rise. We felt it was time to replace the Thor.1 but we faced the challenge of creating a glove with the same feel and features, turned up to "11"!
When it comes to crafting the perfect motorcycle glove, the challenge is to merge protection, comfort, and style into one indispensable piece of gear. At Bison, we’re committed to pushing the boundaries of motorcycle glove design to deliver a product that meets the high standards of our discerning riders. In this blog post, we’ll take you behind the scenes of the design process for our new Bison brand motorcycle glove, showcasing the meticulous attention to detail and innovative features that set it apart.
The Bison Philosophy: Crafting Excellence
1. Our Heritage and Vision
At Bison, our brand is built on a legacy of durability and performance. Named after the resilient bison, our gloves are designed to embody the same rugged strength and reliability. Our vision is to create gloves that not only enhance your riding experience but also stand up to the toughest conditions, combining traditional craftsmanship with cutting-edge technology.
2. The Importance of Material Selection
The foundation of our new glove lies in the careful selection of materials. We chose premium kangaroo leather for its superior strength and natural abrasion resistance, and we use this hide not only on the palms (as many of our competitors do) but on every leather panel on the gauntlet! Each Bison glove model offers a supple texture and flexibility that adapts to your hand shape after just a few uses, providing unparalleled comfort. Durable, genuine Coats nylon thread is used to bond all panels.
Key Design Features
1. Advanced Ergonomics
The new Bison Thor.4 motorcycle glove is designed with rider ergonomics in mind. Features include:
- Pre-Curved Fingers: To reduce hand fatigue and enhance grip.
- Articulated Knuckles: For better flexibility and range of motion.
- Adjustable Cuffs: To ensure a secure fit and easy on-and-off.
2. Enhanced Protection
Safety is at the forefront of our design:
- Reinforced Knuckle Guards: Hard-shell carbon fiber knuckle, finger and wrist protectors shield against impacts while reducing overall weight. Strategic placement of finger guards ensures comprehensive coverage while maintaining dexterity.
- Strategic Padding: Multi-layered padding in the palm area absorbs shocks and vibrations, providing additional protection during long rides.
- Additional Armor: The Thor.4 has excellent palm and outer hand protection thanks to three hard plastic sliders, multiple layers of animal hide backed by comfort foam padding.
3. An Interior Just as Nice as the Exterior
Riding in comfort is essential. Our gloves feature:
- Quality Lining: Moisture-wicking and protective aramid fabric helps manage sweat and temperature.
- Seamingly seamless: Stitching and seams are thoughtfully placed to avoid "hot spots" inside the glove and discomfort even in extreme riding conditions.
The Testing Process
Before a Bison product is offered to the public, it undergoes rigorous testing.
- Field Testing New Bison Products: After initial testing by Rob and Carter Lackey of Bison, changes are made to prototypes until we are confident in releasing pre-production units. At that point we collaborate with our professional riders to test the gloves in diverse conditions across the globe and gather feedback. Only then do we make any final tweaks and release to the public!
- Quality Control: Detailed inspections take place at the factory and again at Bison HQ to ensure every glove meets our high standards for durability and performance.
The Final Product
The result of our design and testing process is a glove that stands out in both function and form, whether you're riding on the street or on the track. The new Bison Thor.4 motorcycle glove offers unmatched protection, comfort, and style, making it a valuable addition to any rider’s gear collection - especially when you consider the customization options available!
How the Thor.4 Compares to the Thor.2 and .3
Shoppers commonly ask why we have three different gloves and what the differences are! While we aren't going to dive into all of that here, we did put together this fancy chart which helps outline the biggest differences! And stay tuned because our next blog and YouTube video will talk more about these differences!
Join The Herd With the Thor.4!
We’re excited to share our latest creation with the world! Order today and be one of the first to experience this excellent new addition to the Bison glove lineup! In the meantime, feel free to share your thoughts and experiences with motorcycle gloves in the comments below. What features do you value the most in your riding gear?
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Feel free to reach out if you have any questions or need more information about our new glove design. We love hearing from fellow riders and gear enthusiasts! You can email us at info@bisontrack.com, call (or text!) at 405-252-0484.
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Rob Lackey has been a motorcycle gear connoisseur for years, mostly because he crashed a lot there for a while. After spending 20 years in the automotive industry managing service departments with a focus on culture and customer service, Rob decided to combine his passion for making people happy with that of racing and "going fast while staying safe". He founded Bison Track LLC with his wife, Tosha and they now roam the country with their two youngest kids, Edith and Carter, growing The Herd and educating others about the importance of safe riding gear. Every now-and-then he still gets to race.
