[thebengalee]

Originally Posted by neil.jericho

thebengalee, go ahead with your purchase of the Windfarer jacket. You dont need to wait for the new products.

Thanks for the advice! Yes, the plan is to use the Make Your Own feature and deck out the Wayfarer in L2 armour all around. Is there any difference between Knox and D3O in terms of coverage area?

[Thamps]

I had purchased rynox tornado pro 3 in October 2020. Had used this for daily commutes of 10 km and occasional weekend rides (when I am too lazy to put on a full gauntlet).
Unfortunately the side panel (inner side) on one of the glove which is made of a soft material gave away. Unlike some gloves,which tears easily at the finger folds,this glove has no stitches out or uneven wear at any of the usual weak points.The gloves were well ventilated and CE rated too,with features like KNOX Schapoid protection and touch compatible fingertip etc.
However the soft material on the inner sides seem to be a weak point on this model. I was expecting the pair to last a bit longer considering the distance over which it was used. (The tear was only half the size. The rest was me trying the strength of the material)
Just posting as a heads-up to anyone planning to buy this as a city gloves.

[astrik.treks]

Originally Posted by thebengalee

Thanks for the advice! Yes, the plan is to use the Make Your Own feature and deck out the Wayfarer in L2 armour all around. Is there any difference between Knox and D3O in terms of coverage area?

Why don't you check the Solace Rival Jacket instead, you get all- Shoulder/Elbow/Back Level 2 for 6999/- .
The windfrare is over priced imo- Level 1 (Flexiform- a decade old tech by Knox) at shoulder elbow and foam at back.

Also, if you are anyway looking at upgrading the protectors to Knox level 2 after buying the windfrarer. you can consider the rynox tornado pro too which comes with Knox Microlock level 2 at shoulder and elbow. You will also get CE Chest and L2 back.

I would suggest try out these jackets before making a purchase.

[thebengalee]

Originally Posted by astrik.treks

Why don't you check the Solace Rival Jacket instead, you get all- Shoulder/Elbow/Back Level 2 for 6999/- .
The windfrare is over priced imo- Level 1 (Flexiform- a decade old tech by Knox) at shoulder elbow and foam at back.

I had initially considered the Rynox jackets (you can check my initial post earlier on this thread) and they've definitely come a long way since they were first launched. However, QC issues are still kind of common, according to multiple posts on this forum as well as people I've asked in real life. Since I'm buying my first jacket, I'm OK to give up on perceived VFM if it gets me peace of mind. I've not heard a single bad thing about the RE jackets in terms of build quality, so the additional cash won't be missed.

[astrik.treks]

Originally Posted by thebengalee

I had initially considered the Rynox jackets (you can check my initial post earlier on this thread) and they've definitely come a long way since they were first launched. However, QC issues are still kind of common, according to multiple posts on this forum as well as people I've asked in real life. Since I'm buying my first jacket, I'm OK to give up on perceived VFM if it gets me peace of mind. I've not heard a single bad thing about the RE jackets in terms of build quality, so the additional cash won't be missed.

Quite a lot of posts on this very forum also spoke highly of them, one of them especially putting out a real time review of a crash. Yes, I do agree with the a few on this forum having mentioned the issues faced by them but I am not sure what % that amounts to against the total positives that we have heard.

Guys, on this forum mentioning having used pants for 6 years and not issue, while some did face issues in 6 months. I believe it is also a factor of what size you buy, how you store it, how you use it.

Again, I am only talking out of experience, I have used the Tornado 2 jacket and then the Tornado 3 Jacket. Saying this out of experience and thus having a strong opinion. Not only me even my friend, we all use almost the same and none of us faced issue.

I have faced issues with RE and I have mentioned that in the forum too. I honestly do not feel that the extra money that you pay to buy an RE jacket is because it provides better quality, its just them making more money.

I have known Viaterra gloves causing redness and swelling, gloves tearing too. But at the same time some having good experience with them too.

If you have apprehensions, you can also try Solace or BBG for that matter.

[Karthik.guru]

I bought a pair of full-gauntlet gloves from DSG sometime around 2015 and used them for my daily commute for 4 years, during which time they served me well. Having been away from riding for the past few years, the gloves had been in storage and were fished out recently since I was in need of a pair. They were mostly in decent condition except 2 small holes, the biggest issue however was the overall condition of the leather, it was dry and hard making the gloves feel stiff and uncomfortable for any kind of dexterity. I wanted to recondition the leather and figured I'd make it a fun DIY experiment. I did a bit of googling and found several suggestions for all kinds of specialised soaps and leather conditioning creams, but I was not keen on spending any money specially considering that the gloves were in need of replacement anyway. It occurred to me that using regular body lotion might work since leather is nothing other than animal skin. At-last, my thoughts were confirmed when I came across a gentleman on an Australian motorbike forum who had indeed experimented with regular body lotion on his leather gloves with decent results. I figured I might as well give it a shot since there was not much to lose.

I cleaned the gloves with a damp cloth and let them air dry indoors for 48 hours (mostly because I was too lazy to move on to the next step). Using a moderate amount of pressure I applied the body lotion in small quantities starting from the wrist area making my way to the fingertips. I used a slow, circular motion to allow the leather to soak in the moisturiser. I had to apply a substantial amount of pressure on the parts with dense stitching to get the moisturiser to reach small nooks and crannies. It also helps to wear the glove in one hand and apply the moisturiser with the other, specially when trying to reach between the fingers. In all it took me about 30 minutes per glove and I must say it was time well spent.

Apart from the visual difference of regaining a bit of shine, the leather feels soft and supple again. It's become comfortable to wear and no longer feels stiff. And as an added bonus, it now smells like cocoa butter

[Karthik.guru]

Originally Posted by Karthik.guru

Apart from the visual difference of regaining a bit of shine, the leather feels soft and supple again. It's become comfortable to wear and no longer feels stiff. And as an added bonus, it now smells like cocoa butter

The one on the left is moisturised and the one on the right has not been moisturised. Both of them have been wiped with a damp cloth and dried.

P.S. Dear mods, please merge this with the original post as I forgot to mention it earlier.

[TROOPER]

Hi guys.

Complete newbie to the world of motorcycling here. Will be taking delivery of my RR 310 BTO this week.

While I have got my new helmet, an LS2 FF800 Storm, it was comparatively the easiest of decisions to make.

Coming to the rest of the gears, that is jacket, pants, gloves and shoes, this thread has put me into a whole lot of confusion. My budget for these 4 items is roughly around 35k.

Use case would be normal city riding, early mornings or late nights, this would be for the learning phase. No office like daily riding requirements. Post the learning phase I'd go on weekend rides in the Lonavala, Pune, Nashik and Daman directions. Probably touring too in the future.

Had thought of just walking into the Rynox factory store and getting done with it. But there have been some recent posts by BHPians neil.jericho and others about the glaring QC issues and I don't want to run around claiming warranty and stuff. Clearly it seems this QC incidence is higher with Rynox.

That leaves Raida, DSG, Solace, Furgyan and Tarmac. These are the ones I know about. And since I am a first timer, I need to at least try these out in store. Another problem is most of these are available in Pune. Guess only Tarmac and Raida are available in Mumbai. I could travel to Pune too cause it would overlap with some other work that I need to get done.

Would like fellow BHPians to point me in the right direction, help me to narrow down on specific brands and stores too around Mumbai-Pune.

Thanks!

[Red Liner]

Originally Posted by TROOPER

Hi guys.



Thanks!

Why not viaterra? They should also meet your criteria.

[Cyborg]

Originally Posted by TROOPER

Coming to the rest of the gears, that is jacket, pants, gloves and shoes, this thread has put me into a whole lot of confusion. My budget for these 4 items is roughly around 35k.

You have a healthy budget for a Alpinestars jacket, pants and gloves. Jacket ~15k, pants 10k, gloves ~8-10k. Since you say roughly 35k, if you can increase your budget by say around 10k you could pick up some other brand but good shoes and finish your riding needs with mostly Alpinestars gear and maybe even shoes if you ask for a discount since you are buying so much from them.

Check out the following link for the official site/dealer of Alpinestars in Mumbai located at Goregaon West. Wasim from this store is very good and will guide you with your purchase in the right direction. I would suggest you surf the site and pay them a visit before buying anything else from anywhere.

https://supermoto.co.in/category/ridingjackets

Congratulations in advance for your BTO RR310, enjoy your ride and ride safe.

Cheers

Needless to say, I have no affiliation with Supermoto.in or Wasim. I am just a happy customer who got referred/helped to this place by a BHPian who has become a good friend and I am more than happy to pass the good word along to help someone else.

[neil.jericho]

Originally Posted by TROOPER

Use case would be normal city riding, early mornings or late nights, this would be for the learning phase. No office like daily riding requirements. Post the learning phase I'd go on weekend rides in the Lonavala, Pune, Nashik and Daman directions. Probably touring too in the future.

TROOPER, congratulations on your upcoming TVS Apache RR 310 BTO ! Its one of my favourite bikes in the sub Rs 3L segment.

Coming to your riding gear, my suggestion is that you get your gear in phases, but whatever you get, ensure that its a high quality product. Thats what most of us have done. We bought a jacket and gloves first, then saved up, and bought the next item.

Your budget of Rs 35K is generous at first glance, but once you start trying to mix and match good quality stuff from imported brands, it overshoots the budget. Now, Im not dissing Indian made products. Over the last 14 years, I have bought a lot of them. Its just that quality control can be a problem with some of them. Longevity as well. On the flip side, they are typically extreme VFM products. So, for those on a tight budget, Indian brands are a great stepping stone into the world of riding gear.

In your case, since your budget is not too tight, it makes sense to stretch a bit and get stuff from imported brands.

I love Cyborg's suggestion of going for A* products. Im a very happy A* gear owner (1 jacket, 2 pairs of boots, 1 pair of gloves).

My suggestion is first get the following

1. Mesh jacket
The A* Wake is a good option. You will have to get the chest and back protectors by paying extra. Or you can consider the Revit Eclipse for around the same money. It doesnt have chest protectors. You will have to get the back protectors by paying extra. See which fits you better. The Eclipse works better for me and is what I own and recommend.

2. Gloves
If you can wait for a week (I guess), make a decision after you see the Royal Enfield A* gloves that are getting launched soon. They are regular gloves, and not semi gauntlets or full gauntlets. The price is quite juicy! I cant say more. If you dont want to wear RE branded gear on your TVS motorcycle, then look at Revit's gloves in the Rs 6 - 9K price range. Honorable mentions go to Macna and Furygan. The Macna gear is good but I would pay that extra Rs 1,000 and get a pair from Revit. Your mileage may vary.

These two itself should set you back around Rs 23 to 25K.

Save up a bit and then invest in riding boots and pants.

3. Riding boots
They have gotten really expensive. The A* SMX1R is probably the best option in the segment, but it is frightfully expensive! They will last you for a very long time, though. I am using these boots and really like them. The Falco Liberty is more of a touring boot but its quite affordable.

4. Pants
As I mentioned earlier in this thread, there arent too many options these days. Brands like Komine, Macna, Revit, A* should be available in Bombay. The new RE A* pants look promising. Any of these should cost between Rs 10 - 15K.

I know that I have comfortably blown your budget up to pieces, but the Rs 35K is good enough that you can afford some quality stuff but everything cant be a high quality product.

If the Rs 35K number is not very negotiable, then I would suggest
- RE mesh jacket with Level 2 armour (approximately Rs 9K)
- RE gloves (approximately Rs 4K)
- Falco boots (Rs 13K)
- Whichever pants fit you the best (Rs 10K)

[TheHelix0202]

Originally Posted by Thamps

I had purchased rynox tornado pro 3 in October 2020. Had used this for daily commutes of 10 km and occasional weekend rides (when I am too lazy to put on a full gauntlet).

Bought the same ones in green, sometime around October too. Mine have held up well through rain, dust and heat. Apart from a few QC issues, nothing is majorly wrong with them. I use them for city rides, highway tours, and off-road scrambling as well.

[astrik.treks]

Originally Posted by TheHelix0202

Bought the same ones in green, sometime around October too. Mine have held up well through rain, dust and heat. Apart from a few QC issues, nothing is majorly wrong with them. I use them for city rides, highway tours, and off-road scrambling as well.

Same here. No problems for me too.
I have been using Rynox Tornado 2 and Tornado 3 since almost 5 years now and it has served me well. No complains whatsoever.

In fact scroll back a few pages have ample of positives being said about the gear. Some bhpians have posted about the gear protecting them during a crash. That's what matters, eventually.

My friends too have been using Rynox and never experienced any issues with their product one of them adding the new Gravel gloves to his kit just about 2/3 months back.

[astrik.treks]

Originally Posted by TROOPER

Hi guys.

Complete newbie to the world of motorcycling here. Will be taking delivery of my RR 310 BTO this week.

While I have got my new helmet, an LS2 FF800 Storm, it was comparatively the easiest of decisions to make.

Coming to the rest of the gears, that is jacket, pants, gloves and shoes, this thread has put me into a whole lot of confusion. My budget for these 4 items is roughly around 35k.

Use case would be normal city riding, early mornings or late nights, this would be for the learning phase. No office like daily riding requirements. Post the learning phase I'd go on weekend rides in the Lonavala, Pune, Nashik and Daman directions. Probably touring too in the future.

Had thought of just walking into the Rynox factory store and getting done with it. But there have been some recent posts by BHPians neil.jericho and others about the glaring QC issues and I don't want to run around claiming warranty and stuff. Clearly it seems this QC incidence is higher with Rynox.

That leaves Raida, DSG, Solace, Furgyan and Tarmac. These are the ones I know about. And since I am a first timer, I need to at least try these out in store. Another problem is most of these are available in Pune. Guess only Tarmac and Raida are available in Mumbai. I could travel to Pune too cause it would overlap with some other work that I need to get done.

Would like fellow BHPians to point me in the right direction, help me to narrow down on specific brands and stores too around Mumbai-Pune.

Thanks!

Since you are from Mumbai, I would suggest go to LABS with this budget you would be able to see quite a lot of stuff HELD, Komine, Leatt and they have boots by Leatt and Gaerne too

Stay away from going to a RE store for any gear. That from my experience. Nothing premium just expensive.

Also its a great store to just hang out with all the gear around you makes you feel like a kid in a toy store.

With regards to Rynox, I have personally being using their gear for over 5 years and many of my friend (offline) too use it. None of us have faced issues so visiting the Rynox store just to try it out would not be a bad idea either. But you have a good budget and Lazy Ass Biker should be a good store in Mumbai to visit.

[TROOPER]

Originally Posted by Cyborg

Check out the following link for the official site/dealer of Alpinestars in Mumbai located at Goregaon West.

https://supermoto.co.in/category/ridingjackets

Thanks a lot for this! Seems like there's good discounts on A-Star jackets at this store. Makes checking it out worth it.

Originally Posted by neil.jericho

Coming to your riding gear, my suggestion is that you get your gear in phases, but whatever you get, ensure that its a high quality product. Thats what most of us have done. We bought a jacket and gloves first, then saved up, and bought the next item.

Thanks. This is very sound advice. I was under the impression of being completely geared up since day one. While it is possible with the entry level and Indian brands, I'll have to take it phase wise for the premium ones. Currently I think I can manage jacket, gloves and boots. Pants will have to wait a bit.

Originally Posted by astrik.treks

Since you are from Mumbai, I would suggest go to LABS with this budget you would be able to see quite a lot of stuff HELD, Komine, Leatt and they have boots by Leatt and Gaerne too

Thanks! Gaerne seems to be a revelation.

So currently these are under consideration:
Jacket - A-star, Furygan and Revit
Boots - Falco and Gaerne
Gloves - Clueless. Will buy whatever good one I get in store.

Boots especially a Falco and Gaerne has caught my attention. Will have to check out the availability in Bombay. No one seems to have size 44-45s.