Universal : Riding Gear Thread

[hamadryad]

Re: Universal : Riding Gear Thread

You'd anyway need two separate jackets for summers and winters, I use the Nemesis 2 for summer and the Stealth evo V3 for winter.

[vnsk]

Re: Universal : Riding Gear Thread

Do you mean you cant use the Stealth in summer? That defeats the whole purpose . I was looking for that one jacket for all seasons. I have a BBG Xplorer now, but was looking to upgrade. Here in Kerala, theres no winter. We have mild summer, summer and very humid summer

[hamadryad]

Re: Universal : Riding Gear Thread

Do you mean you cant use the Stealth in summer? That defeats the whole purpose . I was looking for that one jacket for all seasons. I have a BBG Xplorer now, but was looking to upgrade. Here in Kerala, theres no winter. We have mild summer, summer and very humid summer

You can use it, but it has very small vents compared to other jackets, it will be good for touring purposes but in city, you'll be drenched in sweat for sure. Its more suitable for north indian winter IMO.

[vnsk]

Re: Universal : Riding Gear Thread

Ok... I dont use the bike on a daily basis , only Sundays and hardly in the city. Its usually only for long rides and Saturdays to office. I will go take a look at it at a dealer then decide. By the way which riding pants do you use. Currently I have caferacer riding jeans.

[hamadryad]

Re: Universal : Riding Gear Thread

Ok... I dont use the bike on a daily basis , only Sundays and hardly in the city. Its usually only for long rides and Saturdays to office. I will go take a look at it at a dealer then decide. By the way which riding pants do you use. Currently I have caferacer riding jeans.

Not a fan of riding pants but if I had to buy one, I'd get them from rynox.

[MidnightEvil Parth]

Re: Universal : Riding Gear Thread

Do you mean you cant use the Stealth in summer? That defeats the whole purpose . I was looking for that one jacket for all seasons. I have a BBG Xplorer now, but was looking to upgrade. Here in Kerala, theres no winter. We have mild summer, summer and very humid summer

Pick the Solace Furious then, it's all season. Best ventilation in class for a touring jacket.

Riding pants I would recommend checking Mototech and Solace , Rynox Storm pants.

These are level 2.
Mototech uses Safetech armour, Solace uses Powertector / Sastec armour (would recommend SASTEC one for summer use due to more mesh area).
Both Mototech and solace have level 2 on hips as well as knee+shin.

Rynox storm uses Level 2 knox on knees and hip is foam pad (upgradable to armour).

Mototech costs 7950, Solace costs 6950 for powertector one and 7900 for Sastec one, Rynox is 6750 for storm pants.

Goodluck !

[MidnightEvil Parth]

Re: Universal : Riding Gear Thread

After extensive research ( as best as I could ) I have come to the conclusion its better to go for the top of the line Rynox jacktet ( Stealth Evo V3) and pants ( Advento) rather than any Alpinestar, Revit, Scorpion or Held. I had actually short listed the following:

1. Alpinestar T GP Plus Air V2 jacket with Andes WP pants ( He quoted 36,500 and brought it to 32 K )
2. Scorpion Phalanx Jacket ( 15999) with Drafter Pants ( 9499)
3. Held Zorro WP jacket ( 14999) and Vader WP pants ( 12999) OR
4. Held Sonic jacket ( 14999) and Zephiro pants ( 10999).

All the European ones have either a summer one ( full mesh) or a waterproof one, with vents for summer riding. The all weather ( WP) ones have vents and breathable membrane for summer riding. But almost all the shop guys are of the view they are not really suited for our tropical climate. I currently ride with a BBF Xplorer mesh jacket and in summers you really sweat in it if you are not moving above 40 kmph. I am in Kochi and its humid. And it rains when the gods fancy it.

Non of the above have a back protector or chest. And most have a CE1 for shoulder and arms. You have get all that extra and its not cheap. On top of it none has rain cover ( No:3 , by default) and you have to buy those as extra. And non has a pouch or pocket to carry it if you buy , so you have to have a sling bag.

The combined Rynox costs 19000 K . You have all the protection on CE2 , you have rain cover, thermal liner and a back pocket to carry the rain liner. These are made for tropical season in mind and I think the Indian brands are the only ones suitable for our climate. I mean on a good budget. Maybe if one is willing to shell upward of 50 / 60 k you may get in these brands good all season ones with everything.

Anyway, I got the Alpinestars Faster2 shoes and the Megawatt gloves.

Only Storm pants from Rynox are at level 2, all others are at level 1.

Good choice and Good luck.
Nice choice for gloves and shoes.

[sanjeet286]

Re: Universal : Riding Gear Thread

Do you mean you cant use the Stealth in summer? That defeats the whole purpose . I was looking for that one jacket for all seasons. I have a BBG Xplorer now, but was looking to upgrade. Here in Kerala, theres no winter. We have mild summer, summer and very humid summer

Solace Furious? You can open up two large areas in the front and one large area in the back for air to flow through. I have just picked it up and hence haven't tried it in summers as yet.

[MidnightEvil Parth]

Re: Universal : Riding Gear Thread

Solace Furious? You can open up two large areas in the front and one large area in the back for air to flow through. I have just picked it up and hence haven't tried it in summers as yet.

Yes, I am using this for long.

Frankly I feel only brands that use genuine protection and have maintained this image are worth considering in the current market. Solace, Raida, Rynox, RideOn - some of the genuine ones.

Not each and every product from them will be best and have zero issues, but then they are 4 names and that's why you have choices.

I don't really see any reason to look beyond these four in the Indian manufacturers. So many new brands cropping up with fake protectors, unknown branding for protectors, and so on. And some old brands turning to low quality protection is very wrong.

I will stick to my choice of branded protection like Knox, Sastec, D3o, Powertector. All other small brands using unknown things and calling them a 'reputed brand protector', even the shop owners selling them, I keep no relationship with them anymore.

[hardikbhansali]

Re: Universal : Riding Gear Thread

Got myself a new lid! Let's see how this one holds up, I will give it a month before reviewing it.

[Gollum]

Re: Universal : Riding Gear Thread

Got myself a new lid! Let's see how this one holds up, I will give it a month before reviewing it.

What is the weight of the Helmet? Its usually posted at the back of it.

[hardikbhansali]

Re: Universal : Riding Gear Thread

What is the weight of the Helmet? Its usually posted at the back of it.

It is 1700!!! Damn, I thought it was 1550+-50 but that depends on the Shell size? I have an L

[MidnightEvil Parth]

Re: Universal : Riding Gear Thread

Got a Rynox Magnapod tank bag (latest release), impressions follow soon. It is ₹3250 on their website. The shape retention is very good and the phone pocket in portrait mode is something I liked a lot. The magnets are very strong. It comes with straps too, although I might not use them. No nonsense design - the bag can be converted to backpack without opening the base. Found this on solace tank bag too.

Got to use solace furious winter liner with my mesh jacket from Raida in dropping zero degree Celsius. Must say the liner quality is very very good, no windchills.

Also the solace striker, raida rainX and RE polar, all work very well in colder climates. Tested for zero. But I don't think they will handle minus degrees very well, you will need under gloves or skiing gloves there.

Got to try the thermal liner of my riding pants too, and despite being a mesh body on thigh, the liner helps a lot to keep the wind chill and temperature effect to almost nil.
I am amazed as to how good these things work. I carried the rain liners just in case, but didn't need them at all.
Weather is pleasantly cold in Uttarakhand and I am waiting for the snow. Another year of snow fun with whole set of new things to play around with.
Prepping for a winter ride to untouched valleys and hills of Uttarakhand this time and documenting them if possible.

[Biswajeet Patra]

Re: Universal : Riding Gear Thread

Can anyone suggest me a good helmet under 10k with good wind isolation! Thanks in advance!

[krishna77]

Re: Universal : Riding Gear Thread

Hi, I'm looking for a riding jacket in the price range of 6K-7K. I'm not a hardcore tourer(mostly short weekend rides - 5-6 times in a year). I live in Kolkata - hot and humid. Requirements are - level 2 protection, durable, well ventilated, rain/winter liners and should not look sore to the eye. I've zeroed in on the following after doing my part of research and going through the last few pages of this thread. I know some of these do not meet all my requirements but then I should not ask for all the features at such a price point.

1. Mototech Scrambler/Contour(I do not have much idea about Mototech products apart from the fact that they are VFM). Liked the Trailblazer too but beyond my budget.
2. Zeus All Terrain(offers many things together - not sure about whether the quality is good)
3. Aspida Nemesis 2(specs are good)
4. Rynox Tornado Pro L2(slightly beyond my budget)

Apart from these, I had shortlisted Alpinestars AST Air, RYNOX STEALTH EVO and Zeus Airdrift which I wish I could've afforded at this point!

Need suggestions.

Bought a Solace Furious from B. P. Roadies, Kolkata on last Monday. Price 10.5K. @hamadryad, @MidnightEvil Parth ... thanks for the inputs. Specially @MidnightEvil Parth who has guided me well and I must say has better knowledge than most of us here.
I did not have this much of budget but went for it due to the unavailability of some of the jackets selected by me. Was also not impressed with a few jackets in the price range of 8.K-9K when I practically checked those. There are not too many reviews for this jacket but whatever is there, is positive. I will be reviewing the jacket in detail in a separate thread. But my initial impression suggest(going by the quality and fitting) that my money has been spent well!