Under the microscope

Every time you ride your bike, put your helmet on, or get your knee down, a million things happen that you're not aware of. Electrons spin around molecules forming atoms, and atoms are what make everything. We are made of around 7,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 atoms, which is quite a lot. Your bike is also made of atoms (probably less) and so are the leathers you wear, it's just that you're not aware of this world. Why would you be?

We wanted to introduce you to this atomic world. Using a Hitachi S3400N Electron Microscope from the Department of Archaeology at the University College of London, we nuked a range of biking bits with a stream of electrons through this £250,000 magnifying glass. At magnifications of up to 3,000 times, the biking world you know is about to be turned on its head.

Roll up, roll up and be prepared to be absolutely amazed at the disgusting world that motorcyclists live in...

• The mangled and grotesque corpse of a splattered fly on a visor.
• Is it a shoe lace or is it the wonder of a braided brake line?
• Marvel at the filth that lives in the lining of a helmet.
• This could have been worse, the amazement that is crashed leathers.
• Think engine casings are smooth then think again.
• A wondrous well-oiled chain.
• Look at the battering that the trusted brake pads undertake.
• And the most vile, disgusting sight saved for last...a used ear plug.

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Fly on a Visor

Fly on a Visor

It may look like a scene from Hellraiser, but this horror is what happens to a small fly when he hits your visor at 140mph. You can see how his compound eyes have exploded and his innards are now spread over your Arai. Poor little fella.

MAGNIFICATION: x60 & x80

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Braided brake line

Braided brake line

These delicately interwoven ribbons of metal are the outer layers of a braided brake line. Incredibly strong, they lock together like medieval armour and protect the hose inside.

MAGNIFICATION: x37

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Helmet lining

Helmet lining

Ooh, this is nasty. All those blue curly things are the fibres that make up the inside of your helmet lining. The disgusting white blob lurking inside is a piece of dandruff lodged within the lining. When we zoomed in further we could see the individual pieces of dirt and shit, and if this doesn't make you wash your helmet this evening then nothing will.

MAGNIFICATION: x135

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Crashed suit

Crashed suit

These whispy things are the individual skin fibres from the elbow area of a Spidi suit that were crash tested at Brands Hatch at 110mph. At lower magnifications you could see the scorch marks, and as we zoomed the distress to the individual fibres was horrific to witness. This is what happens to your skin when you crash without protection, except there's nerves and veins to shred as well.

MAGNIFICATION: x65

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Engine cover casing

Engine cover casing

Ever wondered why they use gaskets on perfectly-smoothed engine cover casings? That's because they're not smooth at all - just check out the chasms and peaks on the joining surface of this clutch cover!

MAGNIFICATION: X1,200

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Renthal chain

Renthal chain

This is a Renthal chain after just one month of use and one lubing. You can see how all the crud and shit sticks to the outer link and rivet, and how rust and oxidisation is already running riot over the outer surface. The white fibres are human hair - how they get onto a motorcycle chain travelling at 100mph Lord only knows...

MAGNIFICATION: x17

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Brake pads

Brake pads

The only four things between you and certain fiery death on your motorcycle are your front brake pads. Operating at incredible temperatures, these taken-for-granted frictional fellows take a pounding from heat, rain and dirt. Over time, the disc scores huge grooves into the pad which are filled with melted material and dust, like you see here.

MAGNIFICATION: x550

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Ear plugs

Ear plugs

This is the surface of one of your earplugs after just one week's use. Not very nice, is it? The holes are perforations in the cheap foam which accumulate dirt and ear-wax, while the long things are ear-hairs that fall off and coagulate into gooey filth. No wonder you get an ear infection if you don't change your earplugs!

MAGNIFICATION: x38

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