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Aspida(Spartan) Helios jacket upclose and personal

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  • #1

    Aspida(Spartan) Helios jacket upclose and personal

    With my trusted Wilson's jacket going under the needle, I was on the lookout for a city riding jacket.

    This jacket would be used for my daily commute to office where the temperature is high (today 38 deg with a 32% humidity) and low as well (today 26 deg with 47% humidity). I have a myriad set of timings ... sometimes at 10AM where my average speed is about 15 kmph to 2 PM where my average speed is 45 kmph and while returning home around 15 kmph @ 7PM to 75 kmph @ 2AM.

    Based on my build and features offered by the jacket itself ... my first choice was the TBG ADV Breed jacket. Also I'm a sucker for those Shoulder injection moulded external things. But they didn't have either the L or M in stock and I really didn't want to buy without trying it on.

    I head onto Bike-O-Pedia, being the only store I knew to try on a few jackets ...

    Scmitar transition: Liked it but the armors were not upto the mark
    Aspida Atlas: Too much textile
    Aspida Nemisis: Liked the jacket, but the mesh was of tighter weave ... size issue
    Aspida Hyperion Mesh and Leather: too cool, nice fit and good mesh ... too pricey at 11K

    Came down to Aspida Helios Prime or the Rynox Tornado Pro

    RTP had a tighter weave .. but the biggest problem was that for my size the scruff was chaffing the neck too bad. So the choice as the Aspida Helios Classic

    The Prime and the Classic only differed in 3 areas ... color ... elbow adjustment and fabric skeleton. But the classic had uniformly larger holes and I needed that or I'd endup in office smelling like a Baboon's behind. It might offer less protection than a tighter weave of mesh ... but its for the city and I wanted a breathing jacket.

    Issues I had were ...

    1. The velcro on the wrists will latch on and damage the mesh on the jacket. This is very very annoying and my biggest complaint.
    2. The Mobile pocket was tight for my Moto G with the headphone in it
    3. The protectors on the arms were sliding which was irritating
    4. The shoulder protectors are not 'laptop bag' friendly. Its a struggle which the bag won and my shoulder lost.
    5. The back gets very warm to hot as there is not much ventilation. Tried with the rear insert removed and had same issue. Second Biggest nag

    Picture time !!!! All Features covered except the Thermal liner. Its ok ... keeps you warm.

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    When I'm on the road, I'm indestructible. No one can stop me... but they try.
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  • #2
    Re: Aspida(Spartan) Helios jacket upclose and personal

    Selfless Selfie Jacket Review Approved

    Thanks for the review. Next time do get someone else to click pictures
    Biking is not about what you have between your legs, its all about how well you use it!!!!!!!

    Give your details here if you want to help your fellow xBhpian stranded in your city

    Touring Blog: Cycling in Mongolia!

    Comment

    • #3
      Re: Aspida(Spartan) Helios jacket upclose and personal

      Originally posted by The Monk View Post
      Selfless Selfie Jacket Review Approved

      Thanks for the review. Next time do get someone else to click pictures
      Hahaa ... thanks for that :-) Wish I had someone to do that...clicking pictures. All the people I have think I'm an idiot for wearing such jackets in Hyd.

      Went to The Newsroom the other day and the bouncer asked me if I was returning from Moto GP
      When I'm on the road, I'm indestructible. No one can stop me... but they try.

      Comment

      • #4
        Re: Aspida(Spartan) Helios jacket upclose and personal

        Originally posted by Naveen Vajja View Post
        Hahaa ... thanks for that :-) Wish I had someone to do that...clicking pictures. All the people I have think I'm an idiot for wearing such jackets in Hyd.

        Went to The Newsroom the other day and the bouncer asked me if I was returning from Moto GP
        Apparently all those people have no concern about their body parts in the event of an accident

        Comment

        • #5
          Re: Aspida(Spartan) Helios jacket upclose and personal

          Originally posted by RoyalIndian View Post
          Apparently all those people have no concern about their body parts in the event of an accident
          See [MENTION=78079]RoyalIndian[/MENTION] ... you are from Hyderabad right. You'd understand .... people here somehow think that since you wear a jacket ... you must be driving really fast or stupidly. More so than other places.
          When I'm on the road, I'm indestructible. No one can stop me... but they try.

          Comment

          • #6
            Re: Aspida(Spartan) Helios jacket upclose and personal

            Originally posted by Naveen Vajja View Post
            people here somehow think that since you wear a jacket ... you must be driving really fast or stupidly. More so than other places.
            Dont care what others think. When someone asks me why I am wearing this, all I tell them is to Imagine what will happen to their body in the event of a crash. And then they go like "ooohh"

            Comment

            • #7
              Re: Aspida(Spartan) Helios jacket upclose and personal

              A traffic sarge shook my hands when I was standing in a signal for riding with full gears, he understood how responsible we were about ones safety. You can find other extreme also
              R15S - Current
              Honda Dio - Current
              TNT 600i - Sold
              Classic 500 - Sold
              Pulsar 220 dtsi - Sold
              Yamaha YBX125 - Sold

              Comment

              • #8
                Re: Aspida(Spartan) Helios jacket upclose and personal

                Originally posted by TheArcher84 View Post
                A traffic sarge shook my hands when I was standing in a signal for riding with full gears, he understood how responsible we were about ones safety. You can find other extreme also
                I get Thumbs up from other riders who do understand and there are some cops as well that are sensible that way. Remember having a long discussion with an RTO officer about gear and safety when I went to pay Roadtax for TS. Even got free tea in a govt office

                But in Hyderabad where the traffic cops are as corrupt as they come, I get stopped way too often for being geared.

                I got fined 1000 for not having PUC cert on me where as sticker said it was valid till March. Once they tried to fine me for have an Iridium visor until I threatened to complain to a imaginary uncle of mine and was let go. Life is difficult sometimes even when we do the right things. But as [MENTION=78079]RoyalIndian[/MENTION] said ... we do it for ourselves and not others approval.
                When I'm on the road, I'm indestructible. No one can stop me... but they try.

                Comment

                • #9
                  Re: Aspida(Spartan) Helios jacket upclose and personal

                  Nice review and congratulation for the new buy !!

                  I just had one doubt.. You have mentioned the the Helios prime comes with thermal liner ?
                  Last time i checked the jacket at a dealer in Mumbai, it came with just an average rain liner. Can you please confirm if its just a rain liner or have they upgraded ?

                  Comment

                  • #10
                    Re: Aspida(Spartan) Helios jacket upclose and personal

                    Originally posted by madNS View Post
                    Nice review and congratulation for the new buy !!

                    I just had one doubt.. You have mentioned the the Helios prime comes with thermal liner ?
                    Last time i checked the jacket at a dealer in Mumbai, it came with just an average rain liner. Can you please confirm if its just a rain liner or have they upgraded ?
                    I bought a Helios Classic a month ago (or 2) and it came with a Water Resistant Windproof Thermal Liner. The jacket itself get hot at the back ... so I threw it in the closet. The Prime is almost similar ... and gets the same.
                    When I'm on the road, I'm indestructible. No one can stop me... but they try.

                    Comment

                    • #11
                      Re: Aspida(Spartan) Helios jacket upclose and personal

                      Originally posted by Naveen Vajja View Post
                      I bought a Helios Classic a month ago (or 2) and it came with a Water Resistant Windproof Thermal Liner. The jacket itself get hot at the back ... so I threw it in the closet. The Prime is almost similar ... and gets the same.

                      I have seen the jacket's liner and i dont think the helios(any versions) comes with a thermal liner. From what i understand, thermal liner is basically raw cotton(or a similar fabric) sandwiched between a silky type of material. The raw cotton between the silky material ensures that heat does not escape from the body thereby making sure that your body remains warm.

                      What helios provides is something that is water resistant(not waterproof) and windproof (check their site). However, windproof does not correspond to thermal liner as windproof tells us that it does not let wind inside. It doesn't say a thing about the body heat not escaping out

                      Comment

                      • #12
                        Re: Aspida(Spartan) Helios jacket upclose and personal

                        Yup! No thermal liner on mine. It is a rain liner. Mine is the regular old coach-class Helios tho. Any jacket will make you sweaty in 35+ deg weather especially at Mumbai levels of humidity. But you'd rather sweat than bleed, right. Oh and Mumbai cops have changed their stand on gear. Earlier (dozen years ago) my Hardly Fakingson jacket would make them stop me and give me grief. Now, they are actually appreciative of a good helmet, gloves, jacket etc. The proletariat however still passes their illiterate comments..............

                        Comment

                        • #13
                          Re: Aspida(Spartan) Helios jacket upclose and personal

                          Originally posted by Bornagainbiker
                          The proletariat however still passes their illiterate comments..............

                          xBhp, please stop making me laugh.

                          xBhp-ians and their choice of words.

                          Comment

                          • #14
                            Re: Aspida(Spartan) Helios jacket upclose and personal

                            Originally posted by madNS View Post
                            I have seen the jacket's liner and i dont think the helios(any versions) comes with a thermal liner. From what i understand, thermal liner is basically raw cotton(or a similar fabric) sandwiched between a silky type of material. The raw cotton between the silky material ensures that heat does not escape from the body thereby making sure that your body remains warm.

                            What helios provides is something that is water resistant(not waterproof) and windproof (check their site). However, windproof does not correspond to thermal liner as windproof tells us that it does not let wind inside. It doesn't say a thing about the body heat not escaping out
                            Very true. It is not a thermal liner. And what a detailed description of the thermal liner . Don't you think the Tornado Pro is a better purchase compared to the Helios/ Helios Prime ?
                            You get so many added features with it as compared to the Helios, while both have Knox armors
                            -Thermal Liner (The one that you mentioned- Raw cotton-silk, etc)
                            -CE Approved Back Protectors (Your spine is much protected when compared to the Helios as it does not come with a CE Approved armor)
                            -Original Dupont Cordura Reinforment at Impact zones giving higher abrassion resisitance
                            -Mesh thickness is better

                            Helios: 7.8k
                            Helios Prime: 8.5k
                            Tornado Pro: 7.4k

                            So you end up paying more for having less features. Rynox imo (out of experience) has good after sales service as compared to Spartan (Here is why). Neither is Spartan a brand like and Alpinestar/ Dainese etc so why pay more ?

                            Just my opinion, which I felt may help make a wise choice.

                            Comment

                            • #15
                              Re: Aspida(Spartan) Helios jacket upclose and personal

                              Originally posted by Astrix View Post
                              Very true. It is not a thermal liner. And what a detailed description of the thermal liner . Don't you think the Tornado Pro is a better purchase compared to the Helios/ Helios Prime ?
                              On paper, yes, all these factors can mean a lot ... but it becomes a case of practicality and personal preference. The jacket, for me, is not something that I take out for my fancy weekend rides. It goes where ever the motorcycle goes.

                              The weather in Hyderabad this summer is in the 40s. So yes the size of the mesh also matters a lot. The mesh weave lets in a lot of air as compared to the the Tornado Pro. The Helios weighed marginally less compared to the Tornado Pro.

                              I understand its easy to say I'd rather sweat than bleed ... but in all practicality I'd rather not be in office smelling like a baboon. And the 'Thermal Liner' has been in the closet ever since I bought this jacket. Not sure if I'll ever use it either.

                              The fit of the Helios was better for me than that of the Tornado Pro. The size 'M' fit me perfect while not compromising on movement while size 'M' on Tornado pro limited my shoulders while the size 'L' had too much play else where. This is very critical for a jacket as that could mean crash or no crash ... protection becomes secondary.

                              All the Armors were replaced with level 2 armors including the back. So what the jacket had didn't matter. Ballistic vs Cordura ... I don't know which is better and by how much.

                              What's the difference between Cordura and Ballistic Nylon?

                              Ideally I would have loved to buy the ADV Breed or the SPIDI Netrace. But it has limited stock and not available to try in Hyderabad to try out.
                              When I'm on the road, I'm indestructible. No one can stop me... but they try.

                              Comment

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