[neil.jericho]

Originally Posted by derek

Thanks for the review on the gloves! I called all the dealers in Chennai apparently the size is not available. Are there any other online stores here sell brands like alpine stars or shima etc?

Btw viaterra are also planning on releasing jackets next month as I was told. I might actually wait because I like the quality of these products. This Covid has really messed with stock and deliveries big time sadly!

Orion Motors in Bangalore is a safe bet as they have the widest selection of riding gear in Bangalore. They will be able to send it to you.

The Viaterra gear has been rumoured for several months now, I have heard that like Rynox they too are making a serious play in the market. I would suggest that you just wait for the Viaterra gear also and then take a call.

I had tried out almost every available riding jacket in Cochin a few months ago. Even between models within the same brand, the design differences sometimes meant that the fit didnt exactly match. So do try and buy the exact model that you are looking for. As you said, Covid has impacted all these companies so there definitely is an impact on the purchase experience for folks like us.

[derek]

Hey thanks for that, I did manage to order a pair of gloves from viaterra. Their latest edition, which on paper, seem very nice. Will post a short review on them when I receive it along with the waterproof 22L pod. Their customer service seems to be top notch for now, Alex is a very humble person to talk to.

[Veelubai]

I've been wanting to do this for a long time but thought to wait till some more of my gear to arrive so that I can put up this long post. I have been riding motorcycles legally since 2008 but it was only in 2016 when I resumed biking after a 4yr break, that I was serious about riding gear (beyond a helmet). I am passionate about bikes and equally fascinated by riding gears – the variety, the technicality and engineering that goes into it. My phone used to have long list of folders of youtube videos of revzilla reviews, sorted and foldered by brand and type. So here I will share some of my gear experiences in chronological order. Brace yourself, this might take a long read.

Gear for the Harley - 2016

1. HJC helmet
I had just bought a Harley Davidson in 2016 and I was looking for a new helmet to replace my 10yr old NOLAN N41 half face helmet which I used to use on my Karizma & Bullet. After watching Anthony’s revzilla videos I decided HJC was gonna be my brand. Went to DJ helmets Kochi and tried on few and bought a 7500rs HJC (model name I forgot). it was 1500gms lightweight, affordable and was good in all ways, I really don’t have much to say technically about this. I’ve used it from 2016-2020 regularly and now it’s my backup helmet.




]


2. Alpinestars T-GP Plus R Air

Even though I bought Harley I didn’t get any of their gear as I always thought they preferred form over function for the price. So I stuck to the proper gear brands and purchased a Alpinestars T- Gp jacket from Autoqueen, kochi. Got it for 16,500 and had level 1 inserts in the shoulder and elbow. No chest & back armour (back foam was there) as in all premium. I know, it was more of a brand oriented purchase and if it was function that I wanted I would've gotten rynox which must have had L2 inserts all around . Anyways, It looked good & was comfortable even in summers. It still looks and feels durable even today and I use it as my backup.





3. TCX X Square Sport WP SHORT Boots
Since I was on a cruiser, I didn’t want full size race boots or adv boots. So I researched and finally settled on TCX. Discovered the amazing site called HIGHNOTEPERFORMANCE.com and ordered the boot from there. Cost 12,000rs. It was a narrow fitting lace up boot – Laces were a pain and the top strap would never stick on to the Velcro because of the foot position in my forward controls bike but im sure it would’ve been a good boot for other bikes. Had a hard toe box, hard heel, some malleolus protection. Overall fair piece of kit but there’s always the risk of torsional injury for which this boot could not do much. I have a friend who used alpinestars short boot even on a work commute (ATGATT type), he was involved in a crash and the ankle was the one that needed surgery. Really liked this boot but sold off after I sold my Harley and decided to take a break.






4. Alpinestars SP2 gloves
got for 10,000rs or so from DSG online. Was a very protective Gauntlet glove with 4th 5th finger bridge, palm slider, CF knuckle. But size M was too tight of a fit for me and my little finger used to pain a lot. So I sold it off soon in hopes of getting a better glove



5. Rev’It Stellar 2 glove
I researched more and decided to go for rev’it this time as it offered most protective bits and was running on sale, final price was 12,000 or so. The color scheme was super good. Hard plastic protectors in 3rd and 4th fingers, extra Kevlar lining on medial aspect of pinky finger, hard palm slider and foam insert on thenar area. Ticked almost all boxes. It used to have good days and bad days, some days it feels comfortable and some days it feels hard and painful. Hates the rain and takes many days to completely dry out and even hardens a bit which takes more riding to come back to normal. Now its my primary glove, It has small damage from the crash but more than that its showing its age, with a stitch being open. Have to find a new one soon





6. Aspida Perseus Knee guard
this one was bought after a small crash. It wears like a knee socks and contains a level 1 knox armour insert. Very very comfortable to wear under jeans and no movement restriction. Good for impact protection – I wish to get level 2 insert in it. Wont do much to prevent hyperextension movement, like an external knee brace would do.



THE FALL

Sometime late 2018 I was riding my bike along the left track of a NH calmly at around 60kph. A ford ikon on the right suddenly cuts to the left and hits me from the side. I fall and have a nice slide while the bike takes a bigger beating. I rolled over few times and to mine and onlookers’ surprise, I could immediately get up. One of the persons who came to help was even commenting “because of full safety he is saved”, I had a small shoulder pain for a month and small abrasion on my knee – that’s what made me realize the missing link & I got a Aspida Perseus a week later. The alpinestars jacket tore on the forearm region slightly exposing the elbow/forearm armour insert. The revit glove too has scratches on the palm slider and knuckles and few other parts. This is when I realized the importance of riding gear and also how strategically each protective element is designed and placed on glove and jacket. Also I realized that textile will tear even on small crashes, for maximum abrasion resistance – use leather, but our weather wont allow it I guess.

[Veelubai]

Gear for the tourer – 2019/2020 and ongoing
Sold my cruiser in 2019 february and thought of taking a break but couldn’t control myself and got another bike 6 months later. Here’s the gear I use for that now.

1. Forma adventure High boots
Was torn between choosing a sporty boot ( Alpinestars SMX6 V2) and a ADV boot, but then decided to buy an adv boot first and sporty boot as an add on later. Went to autoqueen, Kochi and checked out SMX 6 V2, TCX Baja (20k) and Forma adventure. At 16,500rs it was the best vfm buy I could get. And My experience with it has been very happy. It is so easy to put on and take off, snug fitting yet comfortable, It’s even comfortable when you are walking after getting off the bike. I’ve never had to wash or clean the boots as they surprisingly never get dirty and also magically cleans itself . It is highly rated internationally for its comfort and VFM factor. And it was recently being sold during quarantine for 12k ( 2017 stock though). Only grouse I have is there is not much lateral (sideways) or torsional (rotating at ankle) protection on this one. Hoping to sell it in future and upgrade to a Sidi Adventure Gore-tex or Alpinestars toucan gore-tex.




2. Alpinestars Bionic Knee protector
Picked from Autoqueen, kochi on same day as boots. Just because I thought this was better than the softer aspida perseus. Protectionwise it is better. The movement in this is much more smooth and natural unlike the aspida knee guards which felt too bulky. However off the bike walking was little uncomfortable and also it moved downwards occasionally and it was still bulky atleast when someone sees it. I realized that these were more off road (slow speed crash) oriented products. I don’t use them regularly now.




3. Alpinestars Nucleon KR-Ci
Picked these up on a casual visit to Autoqueen, kochi. It is level 1 chest insert but as good as level ( cant be level 2 unless it is single piece unit). I use it on Astars and Dainese jacket (with some Jugaad)




4. Aspida Poseidon gloves
Since the revit was damp and depressed, I had to get a backup glove for when it rains, checked online and found royal enfield gloves good and then came these aspida Poseidon. Went to SpartanProGear, kochi and picked them up. 3000rs.
Pros: great rain and cold weather protection, thick n soft inner liner.
cons: Nothing much to protect as it is basically a winter glove with a plastic knuckle protector and some foam padding here and here. No hard parts on fingers, no palm slider. Very little protection. Also now its impossible to put my hand inside as the liner in the finger was pulled back a little while removing and I cant get my fingers fully inserted, had rain yesterday and I stopped to change gloves but got fed up after trying 5minutes just get the gloves on. Maybe I should poke with a pen or so and get it back in place. Anyways not at all impressed, have to get a better rain glove with protection.




5. HJC RPHA 70 ST Grandal
So after getting my new bike in 2019 I decided to step up the helmet game. I was looking for the lightest and most protective helmet. Options were HJC RPHA 11 with the PIM (premium integrated matrix) construction ensuring protection, the 1350-1400gm lightweight characteristic and VFM price (32k for the base graphic). But then I remembered a big problem I was facing – the sun. My earlier HJC helmet was not eyewear compatible and sunglasses would hurt the ear so bad. I made a mistake thinking integrated Sun visor helmets are my only solution. So I had to compromise on the lightweight of RPHA 11 and got the next best option the RPHA 70. Got it from a friend for a good deal. The liner was supremely comfortable, noise isolating, the fit was very snug and the ventilation was very good for upright position riding. The sun visor wasn’t extending down to full field of vision and it was more of a trouble for me. So I tried sunglasses and I came to the late realization that most premium helmets are eyewear compatible and have gaps in the liner for glasses. I immediately decided to get RPHA 11 and sold the RPHA 70. I would recommend this helmet to everyone though who isn’t looking for ultimate lightweight.




6. AGV K6 Hyphen
So the hunt for a RPHA 11 began and I got few quotes of 30,000 for a Eridano graphic, 32,000 for a Deroka graphic. Took some time to sell of the RPHA 70 and within that 5 or 6 days size L went out of stock for all dealers. And the only options left were the 45,000rs batman graphic in L. I wasn’t willing to pay 15,000 extra for the same helmet for a special graphic. Then Wasim from CustomElements Bangalore suggested me to check out the newly launched AGV K6. I wasn’t a AGV fan because of some negative reviews of fitment. But then I saw more reviews and realized it is very light and has Carbon + Aramid shell , wide vision, and a comfortable liner. So I ordered one from CustomElements for 43,500rs and it reached within a week.
Pros – Very light, very beautiful, great quality, easy to use and compact visor removal mechanism (just pull down the metal hinge and it detaches off the side. Works great on crouched position riding and also upright position. The Ritmo Shalimar fabric liner is very comfortable. Visor is wide and can be kept open at multiple angles which is a new thing for me, it doesn’t close by windforce until very high speed is reached – Good for some cooling down of the face.

Cons – Wind noise is present significantly, Ventilation is ok ok. Visor locks at full down position and we need to press a button to unlock it and pull up, will take some time to get used to but I’m fine with it now. On a recent rainy ride water was seeping in through the top of the visor and to inside of the visor, it was very bad with the drops coming onto my face and worst of all, it wetted the pinlock and the pinlock completely fogged up (the kind of moisture that needs to be wiped off to away) and it was dangerous so I removed the pinlock and rode the conventional way for the rest of the journey.




7. Dainese Super Speed Textile jacket
Dainese was always my preferred brand and I got a nice deal on this jacket and immediately bought it. It looks super cool.
Pros: Metal armour cover on the shoulder, very good ventilation. The looks
Cons : the armour of dainese is foam topped by plastic which is not my liking – hoping to save up and buy replacement armour of similar dimensions that go into the pockets. Also the pocket for chest insert is only on the right so as to accommodate the dainese L2 single piece chest protector only – which sucks because I want to use my better quality Astars Nucleon KR-Ci. So I did some Jugaad and created an extra pocket like armour holder on the left using velcro stitched onto it, so now I just need to stick the left side chest armour onto the DIY velcro pad



8. Dainese Torque D1
One of my favourite and most recent piece of gear. A sale was running on FcMoto and it was an insane sale. The boot costs 34k in indian shops so I decided to order anyway even though pandemic was incoming soon. I ordered it and then left it. Pandemic worsened, lockdown came. Shipping updates stopped on march 25 at Germany. Then on 1st july update came that it reached Mumbai and I got the boot on 24th July. Paid 40% tax which I had anticipated (but still a great price) Was too excited but was shocked to find that the shoe was too tight especially at the bridge of the foot, also removing it was close to impossible. I immediately messaged few Torque users and they said Dainese has a European narrow fit, it wont break in much. 2 guys said just wear it a little more and it’ll be ok. I tried adjusting the inner lacing system and also removed the insole and it fit perfect. Next day I rode 100kms in it and it was just phenomenal
Pros: The looks, The looks, the looks, torsional protection system, protection all around, very comfortable fit, works well on supersports and sport tourer bikes
Cons : Too beautiful to get it dirty, sport boots offer significantly lesser confidence (compared to adv boots) when planting your foot to maneuver these heavy ADV bikes. But still I’d tour in these




few extra bits
My better half wanted to join me on bike when we I was going on a small ride. So we went to a shop and bought some stuff for her too.

1. LS2 Rookie helmet
good helmet with a nice visor. I haven’t used it so cant say much but I have friends using it and they say its good.



2. BBG breeze glove
really well priced glove, comes with palm slider and knuckle protector too. Don’t mind the dirty looks, its been in storage since that ride and now taken out for the photo only



3. HJC helmet
My first HJC helmet is still being used. Recently repainted and custom stickered by 01 graphics trivandrum to match my bike.



It’s been a long read and I’ve been preparing this for the past 4 hours, I tried to do it in a Pros & Cons manner but couldnt give much info on few items. Please discuss more about riding gear as I have been regular visitor in this thread to get info.

P.S. I’m looking to get a riding pant, Please share your opinion on Aspida Odysseus pants and Rynox advent and stealth evo pants 

[Red Liner]

Good read.

Please stick to Dainese riding pants, as you seem extremely happy with their fit and quality. Indian gear unfortunately do not even come close.

Unless you enjoy the exercise of buying, selling, repeat

[GreyNomad]

Hi all, I’ve been following this forum for a long long time now and I applied and got accepted for membership this month! This is my first post/comment/ query here ... I’m looking to purchase my first riding jacket and quite confused between the Rynox Air GT3 and Rynox Tornado Pro3. Both fit me very well in the medium size. The Tornado felt a bit heavier but safer (bigger armour coverage and Knox) while the Air GT felt more suited for Mumbai weather. I’ve started riding since a year now (RE 350 Classic) and do mostly breakfast rides about one per month. Planning to graduate to slightly longer day rides in the next 3-4 months. Don’t see myself doing multi-days tours as that would see me switch to my car mostly.

Considering I’d not like to change my jacket in the next 3-4years (unless it’s damaged) should I settle for the Air GT3 or does the Knox powered Tornado Pro3 make more sense? Also, does the lighter colour options of the Air mean it’s more comfortable in Mumbai weather?

[dinodavid]

Well here I'm waiting for 2 months for my Sidi adventure 2 goretex. Got it finally. In the meantime I made most of my rehab and started work on my rides. So I bought a ankle riding boot for time being .
Gaerne g rocket from L.A.B.S. Got a D30 insole and gaerne knee length socks. Had to go a size up for boots. Fairly comfortable. Adjusted my gear lever for the easy shifting with the boots. I bought nipple pasties for my surgical scar on my ankle as the side ankle protectors were rubbing my ankle.

Now coming to the Sidi adventure 2. As mentioned on their website I went a size up. It worked out perfectly. The boots has to break in. I'm basically wearing it around the house for it to break in fast. Very good protection with anti- torsional vertebrae system. . Came to about 30k . Shipping charges were high due to covid situation. Negligible customs. About 10% . Still high overall. FC moto was showing 26k with shipping while I was ordering. I had taken the help of a dealership . He was kind enough to go through the hassle to get me these boots. It was a personal favour.
Will update with proper review after putting on some kms.

[petrolhead_neel]

Love all FortNine videos, this one's really good as well. Putting it on this thread because it's a genuinely well researched video that can potentially trigger a few questions and debates!

https://youtu.be/rmWQKoN6yX0

Neel

[Red Liner]

I got mine too all in 30k. The protection is just fabulous. Here's how she stands next to the others in the lineup. Its the Sidi x3 Enduro offroad boots.

I wore them around the house to break them in with squats and lunges. Then proceeded with a 400 km road only ride to further get acquainted with the controls. They finally broke in on the second ride which was offroad.

Now they feel good. I went a size up and put an additional insole inside. I still have tons of space to wiggle my toes and for my feet to breathe. These boots should break in further and then will ratchet down the straps to give the boots a nice tight fit. They have plastic everywhere and contrary to popular opinion, they are fairly ok to walk a 100 meters in any direction lol. But i bought these boots to protect my feet on the bike and not to walk with them. They sport dual hinges like the adventures above, but with a lot more plastic everywhere incase the bike lands on you. The boot also feels stiff enough to support your knees if you have to hold your bike from falling down a steep trail. It comes with a nylon shank and feel great to stand on. These are also with the SRS system which is sole replacement system. Few screws out and the sole can be replaced. I got an enduro sole as well in addition to the super moto standard sole that comes with it.

I know boots are expensive, and many of my friends questioned my decision, since i already have a TCX adventure boot. But after tearing my ankle ligaments twice at the same place and being unable to walk for months, and going through physio for a few more, i think boots like these are the cheapest form of insurance you can get after a helmet. And trust me, the TCX feel like sneakers after these

Originally Posted by dinodavid

Gaerne g rocket from L.A.B.S. Got a D30 insole and gaerne knee length socks. .

Congrats! Those boots in that color way looks amazing. I know the pain of waiting for new gear to arrive lol! Can you post a snap of the d30 insoles from the sides. I just wanted to see how thick they are. Also how are the gaerne socks? Are they compression socks? I use regular athletic compression socks from decathlon right now.

[dinodavid]

Originally Posted by Red Liner

Congrats! Those boots in that color way looks amazing. I know the pain of waiting for new gear to arrive lol! Can you post a snap of the d30 insoles from the sides. I just wanted to see how thick they are. Also how are the gaerne socks? Are they compression socks? I use regular athletic compression socks from decathlon right now.

Thank you and congrats on your purchase. waiting for the boots was like a never ending story. The gaerne socks are not compression socks. I just needed some thick socks which are knee length to run over a airfit tibia protectors, the tissue surrounding the bone is still tender. They have good wicking properties and are anti odour. The D30 sole is squishy enough with about 1cm thickness.
Felt really good.

[surjaonwheelz]

Originally Posted by GreyNomad

Considering I’d not like to change my jacket in the next 3-4years (unless it’s damaged) should I settle for the Air GT3 or does the Knox powered Tornado Pro3 make more sense? Also, does the lighter colour options of the Air mean it’s more comfortable in Mumbai weather?

The best jacket (riding gear) is the one you'll be wearing!

Though the Tornado has better specifications but if its bulk and weight hinders your usage then no point having it in your closet. I didn't get the color part as colors and heat dissipation is a debatable topic of absorption and reflection.

Go for the jacket that you're comfortable wearing and you'll be committed to wear most of the time. Regarding Mumbai weather, you're bound to sweat at slow speeds but on the move any mesh jacket should be better!

Years ago when I bought my first riding jacket I went for the lighter Icarus (Spartan Pro gear) instead of the popular Helios. Later I got another jacket with L2 armors, the second was a textile jacket, not mesh! But I wear the mesh jacket more due to our weather.

Happy shopping!
/surjaonwheelz

[neil.jericho]

Originally Posted by GreyNomad

Hi all, I’ve been following this forum for a long long time now and I applied and got accepted for membership this month! This is my first post/comment/ query here ... I’m looking to purchase my first riding jacket and quite confused between the Rynox Air GT3 and Rynox Tornado Pro3. Both fit me very well in the medium size. The Tornado felt a bit heavier but safer (bigger armour coverage and Knox) while the Air GT felt more suited for Mumbai weather. I’ve started riding since a year now (RE 350 Classic) and do mostly breakfast rides about one per month. Planning to graduate to slightly longer day rides in the next 3-4 months. Don’t see myself doing multi-days tours as that would see me switch to my car mostly.

Considering I’d not like to change my jacket in the next 3-4years (unless it’s damaged) should I settle for the Air GT3 or does the Knox powered Tornado Pro3 make more sense? Also, does the lighter colour options of the Air mean it’s more comfortable in Mumbai weather?

Welcome to the forum.

You have shortlisted two really good options from Rynox and cant go wrong with either option. Between the two jackets, functionally, the only difference that I can recall is that the Tornado Pro 3 has slots for chest protectors while the Air GT3 doesnt. Just on that, I would suggest that you get the Tornado Pro 3 and invest in the chest protector (even if it is at a later date) as well. You will get used to the weight of a riding jacket within a ride or two and eventually you wont be able to ride without a jacket.

I currently use the Air GT3 and bought it because it was the only jacket below Rs 25K that fit me well. And yes, the Rynox company guys do say that the lighter colours help keep the rider cooler.

[derek]

Hello guys, I’m looking to get a Bluetooth communication device for me and my pillion, who will be my wife most of the time. I have seen Sena on most online websites but the prices are a little high. Are there any other options out there?

If not, how many of you, use Sena? And how’s the review? Regarding wind noise and cancellation. Thank you!

Originally Posted by GreyNomad

I’m looking to purchase my first riding jacket and quite confused between the Rynox Air GT3 and Rynox Tornado Pro3.

If you can wait say maybe a few weeks, then wait for viaterra to roll out their jacket line. I’m one of those who is eagerly waiting! Their stuff is great quality.

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[Red Liner]

Originally Posted by derek

Hello guys, I’m looking to get a Bluetooth communication device for me and my pillion, who will be my wife most of the time. I have seen Sena on most online websites but the prices are a little high. Are there any other options out there?

If not, how many of you, use Sena? And how’s the review? Regarding wind noise and cancellation. Thank you!

If you can get a sena, don't.

Get a cardo unit instead.

https://youtu.be/-AMoXbXHALc

[derek]

I should have been a little more specific sorry. My budget is max 20-25k for a pair of these communicators. Damn these little things are expensive! Thanks red liner. Anything specific to my budget perhaps?