Re: Suggestion for new level 2 riding jacket , knee guards/riding pants and riding shoes

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Re: Suggestion for new level 2 riding jacket , knee guards/riding pants and riding shoes

Hey, welcome to Xbhp!

All the riding jackets you've shortlisted seem decent - perhaps someone who has experience with them can comment. I'm using the BBG Spiti jacket for the last 2+ years and although the armour is Level 1 it is good for my riding style (sedate cruising).

Coming to your other 2 queries, here are my thoughts.

Knee Guards Vs Riding Pants

I've personally been using knee guards for a majority of the time since I purchased my first bike - 2 years back. However, I recently purchased riding denims and I haven't worn the knee guards since.
Although a knee guard may seem like adequate protection, trust me it isn't. In the event of a fall, the knees aren't the only part of our bodies that come into contact with the ground. the side of your legs, your bum, etc may also make contact with the ground and so it is essential they be protected as well.

I'd recommend going in for proper riding pants.

Riding boots

I've heard lots of good things about the Orazo boots from many people. I have no experience with them but I'll say this - choose the shoes based on your riding style. For example, if you think you'll be riding on the track then get proper track safe boots. In addition to toe protection you should also look at ankle protection - in the event of a crash you don't want your ankle to get twisted.

For city riding (including commute to office) I use Falco leather riding boots (13K). They have protection for heel, toe & ankles. For touring I use BBG's touring boots (6.5K) which again have decent protection levels. These boots are water resistant - in case of a heavy downpour a little water will eventually seep inside the boots.


Hope this helps. I'm sure others will be able to share more insights.

Happy shopping.

Re: Suggestion for new level 2 riding jacket , knee guards/riding pants and riding shoes

Hi Buddy

Thank-you for the insights you have given with clear explanations appreciate your helpful response.
Can u suggest any specific riding pants model ?? so that i can have a look at it
Any riding boots for 6-7 k in market right now?? looking for orazo as its pocket friendly at Rs.3500 and does it offer ankle protection ?
Will post once i finalize the products ;-)

Re: Suggestion for new level 2 riding jacket , knee guards/riding pants and riding shoes

Hi,

It's great that you are looking into safety gears.

I'm not an expert, but I've had experience with a few items you've asked about.

1. Riding Jacket:
I personally have the Rynox Tornado Pro v2. It's a good mesh jacket, but it has its own downsides such as: 1. Inner rain liner (practically useless) 2. It's too heavy.
And not much have been changed in v3, except graphics and a few minor additions.

I'd suggest you to go for Rynox Stealth Evo Jacket. Although a little heavy on budget, its still great and it has so many features like kidney support, chest armor etc.
If not, you could also go for the Storm Evo jacket. It has almost all features of Stealth Evo except the stunning looks and kidney support etc.

2. Knee Guards vs Pants:
Don't go for Knee Guards. It might seem practical, but on the event of an unfortunate fall, your lower torso will be exposed completely and the knee guard will not guarantee complete protection. It also has a tendency to shift or move away when you fall, thus making that useless as-well.
Trust me, riding pants will make a world of a difference while you are touring.

I've tried the Rynox Stealth Evo pants, it has wonderful construction and build quality. But only downsides to it are:
1. The knee armor has a mesh to keep it in-place, this does not have a liner and is completely exposed to your skin. So that mesh scrapes on your knee when you've been riding for a long time.
2. The knee armor is only level 1, even when their Stealth Evo product is a flagship.
3. The rain pant is impossible to wear with boots on. You'd have to stop somewhere and get rid off your boots and then get the rain pants on. Which is incredibly annoying when you are in the middle of nowhere and it starts raining.

I'd suggest you to try Aspida Odysseus and MotoTech, they both look great.


3. Riding Boots
Orazo is incredibly good for the price we pay. I have the short ankle version, which has served me very well so far. I'd suggest you to go for the high ankle version.

The waterproofing is crazy good, but since mine is short ankle, water finds its way from my pants/legs or from outside and goes inside the shoes.

Otherwise, their quality is pretty solid. Just go for it!

Hope this helps.

Re: Suggestion for new level 2 riding jacket , knee guards/riding pants and riding shoes

Hi Kishore Tanq so much for the essential informations you have given. Will try out the stealth evo and Orazo High ankle boots. Shall I got for Orazo Boots or the Meduim ankle shoe at decathlon which acts as multipurpose shoes. Is it easy to walk and trek using a Orazo or it's tough for treks and walk as it's a riding boot.

Re: Suggestion for new level 2 riding jacket , knee guards/riding pants and riding shoes

While decathlon shoes might seem to be versatile, I would not suggest them for long rides. They do not provide any sort of ankle protection or toe protection. It will not help you incase of a crash.

I use the medium ankle orazo boots and I dont find it difficult to walk with it. Ofcourse, It's heavy and not meant to be used on treks and stuff. This would be comfortable enough for light walks and commutes you do while on a long tour. I've had it on for 24 hours straight with no discomfort. But it might just be me.

Orazo is more suited for riding while decathlon is more for sports. Choose wisely

Re: Suggestion for new level 2 riding jacket , knee guards/riding pants and riding shoes

1- Only Solace Furious does full armour from same brand, all SAS-TEC, including chest and back. This one also has a very good ventilation system.

2. I feel I would be the right person to comment on this since I have used all these protectors extensively. For me, XY is out of equation, it is heavy.
Coming to others, there is no clear winner between Knox and Sastec. Knox passes t+t- but it is a rather PU material and not viscoelastic material like Sastec, it is a lot heavy, often twice as heavy as Sastec. It is flexible even when cold, but it's thick.
Coming to Sastec, it is lighter, has way less residual forces, so simply much, much safer than every other brand mentioned by you. It hardens when temperature drops below 5 degrees, but this is the same with all other viscoelastic materials, safetech to powertector to d3O. Sastec doesn't go for t+t- but some of them made specially for oems do, like the ones used by Held.
D3O is very flexible under normal conditions, very comfortable to wear, weight is in between knox and sastec, more than sas but less than knox, much in knox territory. It is a very good material as well as very costly. Doesn't go for t+t- usually, but some of them made specially for OEMs do pass this. D3O hardens too when cold.
Powertector is good too, but I find it a little heavy, it is viscoelastic and high quality too. Nothing special though.
Safetech passes t+t-, is viscoelastic and as I mentioned above, viscoelastic materials harden under cold temperatures, but are very good at damping impact forces.

Finally, you decide, I personally wear safetech in my Rynox Air GT3 and Sastec in Solace Furious. All good.

3. No it isn't, if it was, Alpinestars, Dainese, Spidi, RST etc would be doing that first.

4. Buy riding pants, they are well worth the money. CoolPro by solace and Stealth by Rynox are top of the line. Coolpro gets CE level 2 protectors from Sastec, Stealth gets CE level 1 by Knox. You pick. Both get Invista Cordura on knee region. Both have protectors on hip and knee+shin. Rynox gets up and down adjustments with Rynox Kneeslap, while Solace gets a pocket with dedicated movement velcro systems for up and down adjustment.

5. Riding shoes with waterproofing and good protection - Shima RSX5. Orazo is a basic safety boot and won't protect you from common injuries sustained during a motorcycle crash, especially ones like Lisfranc injury. Also, Orazo isn't waterproof. If you still want safety boots, get any, all work the same.

Hope this helps you. I'd trust both Rynox and Solace for their gear, they both make good gear. Raida is another brand I find good and stable.

Re: Suggestion for new level 2 riding jacket , knee guards/riding pants and riding shoes

Hi I have decided to go for Orazoo boots !! Thankyou so much for the info

Re: Suggestion for new level 2 riding jacket , knee guards/riding pants and riding shoes

Hi Thanks A ton for the help you have done. I have got all the essential informations from you and I have a clear idea right now. So I have finalized with the below products plus rate it for my final decision

1. Solace Furious Vs Rynox Stealth Evo V3
2. Rynox Tornado Pro 3
3. Rynox Airtex pants
4. Rynox Stealth evo pants vs Solace Cool pro

I saw in few posts that solace pants has adjustment issue and whatever is being did the armors gets misplaced is it true ???

In order to Attach the Riding Jacket and Pant is it mandatory that both should be from the same brand ???

During a serious crash which protector gives us more protection??? Sastec or Knox ??

Re: Suggestion for new level 2 riding jacket , knee guards/riding pants and riding shoes

There is no armour displacement issue in CoolPro pants, whoever says that either purchased a wrong size or wrong to adjust it correctly. I have crashed twice in same pants.

Regarding what gives better protection during a crash, in terms of pants, CE level 2 is two times better than CE level 1, so easily it's Sastec.

About the jackets, you decide what suits you the most.

Re: Suggestion for new level 2 riding jacket , knee guards/riding pants and riding shoes

That's great u survived 2 crashes. Ride safe and thanks again for the suggestion and clearing my doubts

Good One bro