Universal : Riding Gear Thread

[n_aditya]

Esentially, I want to pick a quality helmet whose size I'm sure of. Hence KBC/Sparx should be ok.

Stressing this again. Check webbikeworld.com for helmet reviews before you buy. SparX is made by the same company that makes KBC. Only the price point is lower than KBC. Incidentally crash tests prove that SparX offers better protection than KBC's. (acc. to wbb)

@agree - my answers are inline below... (confused? welcome to my world )

Q. What's the price of CE-certified RC back protector available as accessory along with the A* Jacket?
A. This is available as a separate accessory & costs around Rs 2.5K & is a non bionic knee pad that can be worn inside the pant (I love this). i guess you got mixed up between the back and knee protector.

Q. What's the price of CE certified knee protector available as accessory along with the A* riding pants?
A. Need to be purchased separately & costs around Rs 3300. (non bionic knee guard if i got it right)

Both the above are not available immediately & will be available after couple of weeks.

Q. How many days will it take to ship to Chennai
A. One day after realizing the payment

Q. Will you exchange if my (L assumption) is not a fit & I promise not to wear it more than I try once
A. Gladly. But he assured me that my size is M if my shirt size is 40 & they're following international standard. He also gave a lecture about the non standard way of measuring things by Crap**** for their gloves

Q. Is the A* T-Breeze Air-Flo Jacket Black a water proof one & does it have zipper to attach to the pant A* AST-1 Waterproof Riding Pants
A. Yes; A*s are compatible, while, DSG Nero & A* are not; also A* TBreeze is water resistance & not water proof while DSG Nero is water proof; this means, TBreeze is well suited for summer & blocks the air in winter; while Nero provides a thermal line which preserves the heat & is more of Winter product.

Q. Is DSG Nero water proof?
A. Yes it is.

After speaking to him, I'm even more confused as which one to buy. A* Verona is out of question because its light weight & more focused on city rides, while TBreeze is for touring & heavy.

I'm more confused now as which one to settle in for; I need back protection & a simple foam doesn't sound good to me. It has to provide a solid protection, however, he doesn't have the back pads with him for now which makes me feel more biased towards DSG Nero.

What should I do now?

Tough choice. You can buy a bionic CE approved back protector separately. This you can wear inside the jacket (not inside the back protector pocket). If you want waterproofing (not 100%) go for the Nero else A* should do. With A* you can zip the jacket and pants so it'll feel more snug and this helps bigtime.

[aargee]

What do you ride?

Hmmm...I guess the entire xBhp community knows what I ride - anyway, its a 2010 Rx

At average joe Indian bikes a simple foam protector would be apt (yeah feel free to throw stones at me for this)

Minor injuries or even fatal with an accident is fine; but, cannot even think of surviving an accident with loss of any part, especially any injury in the back which makes one to permanently disable from riding or even driving. So i just didn't want to take any chances.

Did I ask too much?

Even most international jackets come with a basic CE approved armour... the racing gear however has better and tougher ones.

See, this one doesn't have armour @Satyen

What you should buy - is what you need!!!

Rightly said

Classify what kind of riding are you going to do with it... in the long run if you ride a lot, you will end up having multiple jackets.... one jacket that does all will probably never be a reality

Rightly said & this is exactly what I felt after speaking with Mr.Vijay. Its a tough call though. I guess it might be A* due to Chennai's coastal weather. Its only a tentative answer for now!!!

PS: You should make a similar signature for your gears as well!

Lol

[tibby]

Stressing this again. Check webbikeworld.com for helmet reviews before you buy. SparX is made by the same company that makes KBC. Only the price point is lower than KBC. Incidentally crash tests prove that SparX offers better protection than KBC's. (acc. to wbb)

Yeah dude, will check on wbb. Yet to find a good apart from the Sparx Hornet.
Even I'm more inclined toward the Sparx. Funny as it may sound, I never liked the name KBC for a helmet.

[aargee]

@agree - my answers are inline below... (confused? welcome to my world )

; well, the answers got mixed up shows how much I'm confused too

Tough choice.

Well Satyen's post is like light at the end of tunnel now.

You can buy a bionic CE approved back protector separately.

What is this bionic stuff? Its very expensive; guess I'll stick with regular stuff.

This you can wear inside the jacket (not inside the back protector pocket).

No, I would want to place it where it has to be placed ; more like organized.

If you want waterproofing (not 100%) go for the Nero else A* should do. With A* you can zip the jacket and pants so it'll feel more snug and this helps bigtime.

No water proofing required; it required, I'll go with what Rahul has - Goretex material that costs over $250. Wanna hear my Wifey's comments on it?

I guess I'll stick with A* for Chennai's weather. Also A* on the front with reflectors gives a nice attraction

[neil.jericho]

Yeah dude, will check on wbb. Yet to find a good apart from the Sparx Hornet.
Even I'm more inclined toward the Sparx. Funny as it may sound, I never liked the name KBC for a helmet.

Sparx Master (in red with M/L/XL) going for $ 54.36 Sparx S-07 Master Special Edition Full Face Helmet - BikeBandit.com Its difficult to get such closeout deals.

People look at my helmet, appreciate the cute puppy on it and cant resist asking "You bought a Kaun Banega Crorepathy helmet, kya ?"

@ Aargee - Im confused and Im not even the one plonking down money for new gear !

@ Aditya - Agree, the Sparx probably might offer slightly better protection. But it came down to $ 75 for the KBC vs $ 125 and above for a Sparx. The money I saved goes towards riding boots.

[n_aditya]

No water proofing required; it required, I'll go with what Rahul has. I guess I'll stick with A* for Chennai's weather. Also A* on the front with reflectors gives a nice attraction

You made up your mind pretty quickly actually Go buy them soon before someone else posts something and confuses you even more.

Bionic back protectors :

Alpinestars Boinic Back Protector Level 2 CE Armor - Rs8,990..

Bio Armor Back Protector - Alpinestars Official Store -- this might fit into your A* jacket. Check the link for details.

@ Tibby - check this out - Bionic Protection Jacket for BNS - Alpinestars Official Store. Similar ones are available from other brands as well.

[satyenpoojary]

@Aargee: My apologies for not knowing what you ride bet you dont know what I am riding currently either!

That asides, I understand your concern about injuries.. to cut the long story with explaination short... I would suggest go for neither, buy a stunt suit body vest which is lower in cost. (Better known as motocross body vest)

[tibby]

Sparx Master (in red with M/L/XL) going for $ 54.36 Sparx S-07 Master Special Edition Full Face Helmet - BikeBandit.com Its difficult to get such closeout deals.

Thanks, I too saw this one!! I don't like the Bruce Lee & Che Guevara type stuff man. Plus this one this matte, which I want ot avoid. So gloss it should be for me.

People look at my helmet, appreciate the cute puppy on it and cant resist asking "You bought a Kaun Banega Crorepathy helmet, kya ?"

Hehe.. I wanted to avoid this very question.

The money I saved goes towards riding boots.

You picked one already? If not, which ones have you set your eyes on?

[aargee]

You made up your mind pretty quickly actually Go buy them soon before someone else posts something and confuses you even more.

It was Satyen's interference I would say. But sad thing is I might drop the pants off for now if the jacket is A*. But I love the purpose of riding pants, may buy it in the forth coming months. So it would be...
A* Jacket (non-bionic back protector) + DSG Revive OR
Nero + A* Pant (non bionic knee protector) + DSG Revive

But again it depends upon the availability of the non bionic back protector too

Bionic back protectors :

Nope; No bionic stuffs; C'mon, they cost a bomb!!!

Mr.Vijay said, he'll call me back by 3:30 PM after checking his store.

[neil.jericho]

You picked one already? If not, which ones have you set your eyes on?

The RJays Urban Boots are on my radar RJays Boots - BACHOO MOTOR & CYCLE COMPANY , will compare it against A*s available in Orion. Initially I was thinking Ill get something in december. Now with all this discussion today I think Ill go check out Orion in the evening ........

[samschenker]

I tried ridersdiscount, & motorcycle-superstore. Any more suggestions people?

Check these online shops...

Bike Bandit, Revzilla. I picked up my Sparx from Revzilla and they are very good with the shipping & customer queries. Another good thing about revzilla is if you find the same product in a different store for a lesser price you can claim it & they will reduce the price if they can.

Hope this helps.

[n_aditya]

Check these online shops...

Bike Bandit, Revzilla. I picked up my Sparx from Revzilla and they are very good with the shipping & customer queries. Another good thing about revzilla is if you find the same product in a different store for a lesser price you can claim it & they will reduce the price if they can.

Hope this helps.

Definitely helps. Please let us know how the duty is calculated (assuming your order incurred duties).

[satyenpoojary]

http://www.borderlinx.com/m/total-cost-calculator

Use it only to check the duty

[samschenker]

Definitely helps. Please let us know how the duty is calculated (assuming your order incurred duties).

Not sure about the import duty part, bought it when I was in US.

[n_aditya]

http://www.borderlinx.com/m/total-cost-calculator

Use it only to check the duty

Thanks a ton Satyen. So if i order riding gear and say, tires online, apart from duty what else would i pay (shipping of course, what amount of taxes would i pay, octroi?, etc.?)