It has been a long time since Axor brought its very first helmets to the market. Right from the beginning, the price and the performance on offer made them a popular choice among the bikers. xBhp has also had the privilege to have launched two special edition helmets with them. But now, they have brought something more to the fore. “Protected from head to toe”; this term now sits in line with Axor. In addition to their fantastic helmet; Axor has come out with their range of riding gear.
As with the helmets, Axor has jumped in head first with a diverse range of products meant to cater to the bikers. From protective riding gear to quality luggage solutions, they have got it all. They were kind enough to send us a few products and we got a chance to test them out in real-world conditions. The four products that we got to test are; Valour Riding Jacket, Reisen Riding Pants, Slipstream Boots, and Striker Gloves.
Starting with the jacket, we found the Valour to be quite striking. From the colour combinations available to the tasteful division, it is quite a good-looking jacket. Functionally, it is perfect for long distances. Two things dictate the quality of a riding jacket; protection and comfort. On both fronts, Valour stood its ground with the best in business. It comes with CE Level 2 protectors for elbows, shoulders, and back.
In addition to protection with the armours, Axor Valour also uses Cordura MaxTec 600-D at impact zones to protect the rider from aberrations in the unfortunate event of a crash. On top of that, Axor has used 3M Scotchlite Traditional Polarization Reflectors (TPR) Reflectors at 8 strategic locations to maximize the rider’s visibility. Furthermore, the rain liner comes in a bright neon colour to enhance visibility during rain.
Fortifying protection with quality armours, Valour from Axor does not skimp out on comfort either. Well-placed vents ensure that the rider gets access to plenty of air which is a godsend in summer. Then, there are liners for rain and winter. The only gripe we had with it was the weight. We felt it was slightly heavier and needs to shed some grams to be the perfect riding jacket.
Despite that slight niggle though, we think that Axor Valour is a great product because the brand is still new to this. Overall, the jacket seems like a great companion for long-distance riding.
After the riding jacket, we move on to the pants and Axor sent us just the thing to pair with the Valour Jacket; Reisen riding pants. Featuring a poly-fabric shell with four-way stretch panels and mesh panel insert, Reisen promises loads of comfort in addition to comfort. There’s a soft mesh lining on the inside too which enhances comfort further. The armours are well placed and just like the jacket, Reisen also comes with a 3M TPR Scotchlite Reflector for low light visibility.
While the pants score well in most of the areas, there are two areas where they could use some improvements. The first one is the placement of the pockets and the second one is the expandable zipper at the bottom. The pockets are a little too upfront and while access is no problem while standing up, they are a little difficult to get to when sitting down. So the placement is something that needs to be worked on and Axor can even play around with the orientation to improve accessibility. This one is a small niggle but Axor Reisen could have used zippers at the bottom to make it easy to put your boots on. Besides these two minor issues, we found the Axor Reisen to be a good partner for the Valour Jacket.
As it was evident, the Valour Jacket and the Reisen Pants are meant for touring. But the boots we went with are not… they do not focus on touring anyway. We had with us Slipstream boots from Axor. Despite seeming like they belong on a racetrack, the level of comfort they offer did not leave us wanting a lot more when it comes to comfort.
Made out of a durable upcycled leather outer shell that is comfortable and fits well, the Slipstream boots also feature several protective features with CE certification. With steel sliders, ankle protectors, and shin protectors, these boots offer ample protection for both the road and the racetrack.
In addition to protection, comfort has also been a key area of focus. The shape of the forefoot is quite comfortable and ergonomic. The breathable lining makes the boots workable over long distances. Additionally, the sole is made of a compound that optimizes support and protection for both the racetrack and road usage.
Finally, we have the gloves to talk about. Rightly named Striker, this is one striking pair of gloves that not only looks cool but back it up with performance too. While protection is well taken care of with carbon knuckle and finger protection along with a special anti-skid and wear-resistant fabric at the palm, comfort is where these gloves score mighty well. Due to the stretchable lip and the overall fit, Axor Striker gloves offer a comfortable grip. The fact that they are touch-screen friendly just adds another layer of convenience over comfort.
Overall, Axor has hit the nail on its head despite it being their first attempt at making riding gear. The minor issues that we encountered are teething problems and nothing that cannot be sorted easily. Once they are, we are sure that Axor will make for a formidable force in the riding gear space.
This article was published in the Oct-Nov’22 Issue of the xBhp Print Magazine.
Order your copy here, or read it online here.
