[rahul4321]

Is there a place where i can purchase magnets for my tank bag (which have now become old and do not have the same magnetic force as when they were new)

I dont want to give the bag up and buy a new one. Lots of memories attached to it and the bag is just fine and has held up really well - its only the magnets stiched into it which are now weak.

Please help!!!

[neil.jericho]

My run of bad luck with my Rynox Stealth Evo pants continues. I purchased it in January 2020 from DJ Helmets, in Cochin.

Problem 1 : February 2020 : On the first ride with the pants, it tore at the right knee and I returned the product to DJ Helmets. I found that there was a difference in the stitching between the left side and the right side. The left side had two lines of stitches below the accordion panel while the right side had only one. This was confirmed by the store folks. The tear happened at the single stitching on the right side.

Solution 1 : Rynox sent a replacement pant that I picked up from DJ Helmets in March 2020.

Problem 2 : March 2020 : The replacement pants had just the opposite problem. Now the right side had the dual stitching below the accordion panel while the left side didnt have any such visible stitching on it. The staff at DJ Helmets agreed that my observation was correct.

While I was at another Rynox dealer, I checked the Rynox Stealth Evo pants pants there and it had double stitching on both legs.

I dropped a mail to Rynox because I knew that the same tear problem would reappear.

Solution 2 : After a lot of back and forth with the dealer and Rynox, I was finally sent a second new pair of Stealth Evo pants. I returned the original replacement ones to DJ Helmets.

Double stitching below the accordion section ....


... and single stitching, on the other leg

Problem 3 : February 2022 : The stitching at the crotch area has started giving way! I raised a warranty claim that was approved and have couriered the pants to their office in Thane. Hopefully I have better luck with this fourth pair of Stealth Evo pants from Rynox .

If I face any further problems with the pants, I will probably junk it and invest in a brand with better quality control. If the stitching and material is giving up with just my Sunday morning usage (and with very little riding over the last 2 years due to the Covid pandemic!) , God knows what will happen in the event of a fall and how much protection the pants will actually offer.

Unfortunately, when it comes to riding pants, Cochin doesnt have too many options so I will have visit Bangalore, to find some better alternatives.

[JoeTheWanderer]

Originally Posted by rahul4321

Is there a place where i can purchase magnets for my tank bag (which have now become old and do not have the same magnetic force as when they were new)

I think you can get neodymium magnets of the appropriate size from Amazon. Most tank bags seem to use a bunch of smaller magnets per "arm".

Originally Posted by neil.jericho

My run of bad luck with my Rynox Stealth Evo pants continues.

Ouch! That must be frustrating.

I would strongly urge you to consider the replacement as a backup pair. Get something better built as the primary gear (something that doesn't self destruct ).

I am surprised by the repeated issues with Rynox pants. Doesn't speak too well about their quality.

[rahul4321]

Originally Posted by JoeTheWanderer

I think you can get neodymium magnets of the appropriate size from Amazon. Most tank bags seem to use a bunch of smaller magnets per "arm".

Thank you so much! Really helpful. I did not find the size I needed on Amazon but ordered it from electronicscomp.com. I hope to receive it in the next 5 days. I am so pleased and glad for your recommendation. I am (maybe foolishly) attached to my tangible supportive items and am reluctant to upgrade when they have been with me through the good as well as the bad.

[neil.jericho]

Originally Posted by JoeTheWanderer

I would strongly urge you to consider the replacement as a backup pair. Get something better built as the primary gear (something that doesn't self destruct ).

I am surprised by the repeated issues with Rynox pants. Doesn't speak too well about their quality.

Yeah, I am going to use this 4th pair of Rynox pants as a stop gap measure till I can ride down to Bangalore and head to Orion Motors in Koramangala. A fellow TBHPian who is a regular at the store has suggested this pair of Komine riding pants.

In other riding gear news, after hunting high and low in Cochin, I found myself these Falco Oxegen 3 boots and they fit me perfectly. Breaking in these boots did take some time. Ive ridden with them for around 500 kilometers by now. Ill post a review on these boots after tomorrow's ride.

[skviknaraj]

Originally Posted by Vikashmalya

Thank you

The helmet visor scraped and has some scratches on it. Otherwise the helmet is in perfect shape. I have already changed the visor.

Please change your helmet also. The impact, no matter how small, would have been absorbed foam liner in the helmet as well as the outer shell. The foam will not be able to absorb any more impact and will transfer the force of impact to your head, god forbid, in the event of another fall. I am unable to find the video by Yamaha showing this.

[neil.jericho]

Back in May of 2016, I had posted (The Riding Gear thread) my purchase experience with the Sidi ST Air boots. The boots were extremely solid and could even be called inflexible, almost like a strict school principal! Over the years, I have worn the boots on the track and while touring. However, like most Sidi boots in India, they too began to showcase problems with the soles coming off. After fixing it up a few times, I finally had enough of the boots and threw them out. Almost every (if not every!) Sidi owner in India has faced the exact same problem. Sidi boots just arent built for usage in our country.

Anyways, I began my search for a replacement pair of sports touring boots but it was nearly impossible to find anything in Cochin. Thanks to Covid, supplies of boots to India have been badly hit and I resigned myself to the fact that I would have to travel to Bangalore to buy a proper pair of boots. Fortunately, my stars aligned and I found a pair of Falco Oxegen 3 Waterproof boots in Autoqueen, that fit me perfectly.

So far, Ive used them for around 600 kilometers over the last 2 months, so Ive had enough time to form a solid opinion on them. For reference, I have used the A* SMX2 (9+ years), A* SMX1R (2+ years), Sidi ST Air (5 years) in the past.

My first impressions were that this was a very well built pair of riding boots. The quality, the attention to detail in the design, the fit etc. all make this a very impressive product. As you will see from the pictures below, this is not some shoddily built or poorly designed pair of riding boots.

In terms of usability, the Oxegen 3 isnt as stiff and rigid as the Sidi ST Air boots. The problem with the Sidis was that sometimes gearshifts would be difficult because the boots required extra effort to get the required ankle articulation. So with the Sidis, you gain more protection but give up some real world flexibility. No such problems with the Oxegen 3 though. It was slick and usable, right from day one. This is probably a competitor to the very popular (and very expensive!) A* SMX6 V2 boots.

In the real world, these Oxegen 3 boots are not big and bulky. I can tuck them safely into a pair of regular jeans and nobody will even know that I am wearing riding boots. That is not something that I could do with the Sidi ST Air boots. The tuck-in wont work if you are wearing modern hipster super slim jeans though.

Moving from multiple boots that have perforation for ventilation, to a pair of waterproof boots in this oppressive early summer weather, wasnt as bad as I thought it would be. While riding, I dont face any problems with the lack of air flow through the boots. It is only when I get back home and remove my boots and socks, do my toes feel like they have come out of a cocoon, and they welcome the sunlight and some ventilation through them.

The only minor issue that I faced, was that the initial breaking in of the boots happened in such a way that the ankle protection on the left foot (outside) was leaning into my ankle. So while walking around, the protection would rub against my socks and skin. The right side boot didnt have this issue. Each time, I had to bend my foot and try to break the leather in some more. Now, with enough breaking in, walking around and riding, the problem barely exists.

The biggest advantage of the Oxegen 3 boots is that they are comfortable to walk around in. You dont have to move in public places awkwardly like Robocop, on account of your riding boots.

Ideally, I would have loved to try out other options from Gaerne and a few other brands before making a final decision but in these Covid times, we motorcyclists cant afford to be too choosy. Overall, Im very impressed with the Falco Oxegen 3 waterproof boots and they have certainly exceeded all my expectations.

[Red Liner]

A review of the Adventure Spec Jacket and layering system that I used on the North East trip by motorcycle I did.

Gear held up extremely well. Very happy I transitioned fully to a layering system, from the Klim Badlands Pro goretex, which is now gathering dust in the wardrobe.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYSJGk9lgQg

Some profanities, you are warned. Also my head is a bit cut off in some places, blame the camera crew.

What I like
- Layering system, everything fits sequentially
- superb fit and finish
- thoughtfully designed for dual sport or adventure riding.
- great for all weather riding conditions
- extremely minimalist - love it.

What I don't
- Nothing. Okay, maybe some more colours.

The stuff is not cheap, especially when compared to typical stuff you can buy in India. But what I have learned is good gear lasts long. Long enough, that it starts paying back. Incremental gear upgrades over 5 years for cheaper gear works out more expensive than a one time purchase of expensive gear over the same or longer period.

[thebengalee]

Hello TBhp family! After years of biding my time I am finally buying my first motorcycle, the Inty 650. That means buying riding gear. I have done a bit of research and have come up with the following. Please share your opinions, alternate recommendations, anything!

My plan is to visit Orion Motors in Koramangala to try everything out in person before buying. I've heard good things about this place on this forum, but if there are other or better shops in Bangalore, please let me know!

Jacket: Going for a mesh jacket as I'm not touring the Himalayas any time soon. I think the typical winter liners that come with the jacket should be enough for Bangalore. I had chosen the RE Windfarer jacket with added Level 2 armour and back protector (which costs extra). But Rynox Air GT3 and UrbanX (has L1 chest protectors, which are not available with RE) seem to have similar specifications and come with Level 2 armour and back protectors included at a lower price. I've read people complain about QC issues with Rynox gear, so should I pay the premium and go for RE?

Riding Pants: There's not a lot of authoritative information online about pants. Some say ventilation or breathability isn't as important in pants as in jackets. But I've never worn 600D fabric with armour tucked into full-height boots before, so I have no opinions on this. I know external armour pouches are nice to have, but I don't know how armour affects your long term comfort on the bike. To that end, is level 1 (which is thinner) good enough? Please suggest something under or in the neighbourhood of Rs 10k that can at least pass for a normal pair of trousers at a passing glance.

Helmets: Availability is a mess. Some websites stock only a few brands, others will import only on order. I know some good international brands like Icon or Scorpion are hard to come by in our country. I am looking for a full-face helmet, ECE 22.05 certified but I don't have a ton of other requirements. If a pinlock visor comes bundled that's great. A vented chin bar would be nice to prevent fogging. I don't think FIM rated helmets are available in India, so Rs 10k looks like a decent budget to me as anything above this doesn't really result in improved safety but creature comforts.

Gloves: RE Roadbound Gloves seems like a good combination of leather and polyester mesh. It even has sliders on the palm (made by Knox). A 100% leather alternative is the RE Vamos with the same sliders. I don't know how uncomfortable full leather gloves would be, so please provide your comments.

Boots: Ryan from Fortnine recommends beginners to buy full height boots. While I'm not a beginner in terms of years of riding, the Inty is a heavy bike. So I've decided to bite the bullet and buy the RE+TCX Stelvio adventure boots. At 21k it's not cheap but I think it's probably less than what I'd have to pay tbe hospital if I drop the bike on my leg and break something. I might pick up a mid-height boot as well down the line, so please share your recommendations. Also, please tell me if I'm making a mistake by buying the TCX Stelvio and if I should go for something else.

Since I'm already paying a bit of money for the bike, I would like to get the gear at the same time and not look at my bank balance for a while . If the stuff lasts me at least a couple of years of riding before I need to start replacing things, I would be a happy man.

Thank you all very much

[neil.jericho]

Originally Posted by thebengalee

Since I'm already paying a bit of money for the bike, I would like to get the gear at the same time and not look at my bank balance for a while . If the stuff lasts me at least a couple of years of riding before I need to start replacing things, I would be a happy man.

thebengalee, congratulations on your upcoming Interceptor 650. You seem to have done a fair amount of research on riding gear already, and you have kept aside a fair budget, so you are off to a good start.

Go to Orion Motors in Koramangala, they have the widest range of options and are very pleasant to deal with as well.

- Jacket : The Windfarer is a good option. Also strongly consider the Revit Eclipse. The latter is probably the best mesh jacket on sale in India, in the sub 15K price bracket. Either ways, pay the premium and get the better quality product here.
- Riding pants : You wont really face a problem with riding pants being tucked into full length boots. There arent too many great options in riding pants these days. Rynox, Solace, Royal Enfield come to mind. Orion will have stocks of this Japanese brand called Komine. I have my eyes set on that and will probably pick up one the next time that I am in Bangalore.
- Helmets : Last week, I had posted about some good touring options in the helmets thread. That can help you shortlist some helmets.
- Gloves : Ive been riding with full leather, full gauntlet gloves for over a decade now. They dont pose any problems whatsoever. Personally, I always suggest buying full gauntlets, even for city users as they provide more surface area coverage for your palms and wrists. You have options from Royal Enfield, Rynox (Im not a fan), Via Terra, and even classics like Cramster (a fellow BHPian picked up a pair recently). Try and buy.
- Boots : The TCX Stelvio is a very good pair indeed. Keep an eye out on the mid legth one as well. You cant go wrong with either. You should also be able to find options from Falco etc in Orion.

[thebengalee]

Originally Posted by neil.jericho

thebengalee, congratulations on your upcoming Interceptor 650. You seem to have done a fair amount of research on riding gear already, and you have kept aside a fair budget, so you are off to a good start.

Go to Orion Motors in Koramangala, they have the widest range of options and are very pleasant to deal with as well.

Thanks neil.jericho. I've read a ton of your posts on this forum and appreciate your insights!

[DevilisH]

Originally Posted by neil.jericho

My run of bad luck with my Rynox Stealth Evo pants continues.

I am facing similar issues with my Strom Evo Jacket - Noctex, in just 4 months of usage.





Warranty claim has been accepted by Rynox and I have sent the jacket to their Thane store. However, a week has gone by with no response from them. No response to my mails asking them about the status / acknowledgement that they have received the jacket.

Also, same tear in my Advento riding pants as your Stealth has.

[DevilisH]

Originally Posted by DevilisH

I am facing similar issues with my Strom Evo Jacket - Noctex, in just 4 months of usage.

Update: Just received a call from Rynox. The warranty claim has been approved, and they have given a gift coupon equivalent to the jacket price to my Rynox account.

Mods: If possible, please merge this with my previous reply.

[astrik.treks]

Originally Posted by DevilisH

Update: Just received a call from Rynox. The warranty claim has been approved, and they have given a gift coupon equivalent to the jacket price to my Rynox account.

Mods: If possible, please merge this with my previous reply.

Now that's quite a quick resolution by Rynox. Glad that gear companies do own up the issue to provide resolution.

Unlike a case with, RE who just like their sluggish motorbike service are still giving me a resolution on my case.

So the RE Nirvik jacket was something that I bought, have used quite a few jackets in the past by multiple brands. RE was a brand that I had not tried so I got myself the Nirvik. They sell an XY Protector (Chinese brand) as Chest protector. But I was shocked to learn that what they are selling as chest protector is in fact a Hip protector by XY820.

I wish I had gone for a company that rather specializes in making gear and not gone for a Motorcycle company who has probably given very less though about how a gear should be constructed. Hip protector given as Chest protectors, seriously !!

Guys, stay away from RE gear atleast the Nirvik jacket.

I asked the store guys to give me a protector that is a certified chest protector as it is almost a fraud to sell hip protectors as chest protector and claim it as level 2 chest protector. Infact that was one of the reasons i chose the Nirvick over the Stealth Evo as it said Level 2.



This also makes me doubt the if they have even used Cordura in the jacket. If they can cheat us with such evident parts like protectors, I am not sure what they could do with fabrics which a layman hardly is able to differentiate.

[Urban_Nomad]

Originally Posted by astrik.treks

Hip protector given as Chest protectors, seriously !!

Some armour is absolutely interchangeable depending on its shape and size. Elbow and knee armour is often interchangeable... for example. Should not be a reason to choose or reject gear