Top five cheapest motorcycle jackets in India
A reader commented a few days ago on Twitter that India didn't have cheap motorcycle gear. We decided to do some hunting and see if we could find something cheap and affordable. We hunted for gloves last week and now it is time to look at jackets. As we did last time, we've gone through some of the more popular online stores, but we have not actually tested any of these jackets. But this is a proper online purchase kind of research we can see the images, see the price, see the specifications and make up our minds. Here goes.
SPG Atlas, Rs 3,950, spartanprogear.com
What is it?
This is a Cordura riding jacket with mesh panels that run along the sides of the jacket from waist to armpit and then down the inside of the arm to the cuff. It gets a rain liner, a CE-rated armour set for the elbow and shoulder though it appears to use a lower-spec dual density foam for the back protector. There is 3M Scotchlite branded reflective piping and sleeve adjusters at the forearm. Only comes in black with red accents.
We like
That's a terrific price and the fact that it includes a rain liner at the price makes this good value too.
We don't like
First, it is hard to tell how the jacket might fit because there is only one photograph and in that pic, the jacket looks bulky in the arms which means getting the armour to sit right on the forearm for the normally muscled might be a challenge. We would also like to know what the Denier rating for the Cordura is before we warm up the credit card.
Would we buy this?
If the budget constraint was the biggest, non-negotiable issue, then yes. But at Rs 6,799, their Helios jacket adds branded CE-approved armour. And Cramster's jackets actually look like better deals than the Atlas.
DSG Aero, Rs 4,999, planetdsg.com
What is it?
This is a jacket that is a mesh shell (as in base of the jacket) with Cordura (abrasion resistant material) across the high impact areas - like the outside of the arm, around the shoulders and most of the back. It has a removable back protector which is not CE approved like the armour at the shoulders and the elbows. Two pockets outside, one inside and that's it. This is a simple, straightforward kit.
We like
The mesh should make the jacket very easy to wear even on the hottest day. But there isn't much else to like about this jacket.
We don't like
The back protector isn't CE approved and that's an issue. More importantly, this is a black jacket with no reflective materials in the night. Unless you're a commando riding stealth missions by night, this is terrible news for visibility and at this point, I've lost all interest in this jacket. I'm also concerned that there is no mention of the Denier count of the Cordura and that the arms have no adjustability for fit which means that if you're skinny, the CE armour will float about and that means no guarantee that it will be covering the right part of the arm/shoulder when you come off the bike.
Would we buy this?
No chance. The price looks right, but the jacket doesn't. If I were to remain within the Planet DSG world and look for an alternative, the Nero, which has other issues, actually is the better jacket at Rs 1,500 more.
Cramster Breezer Mesh 4.0, Rs 5,450, cramster.in
What is it?
This is a mesh and Cordura jacket that sounds extremely promising because it has mesh for warm weather, Cordura for the impact areas and a warm liner as well as a rain liner in the spec.
We like
All the armour is CE-rated, it's got reflectives in the piping and sleeve adjusters at the forearm as well as the bicep. That is a good spec.
We don't like
Again, the Denier count on the Cordura is omitted and it's a short jacket which means pairing it with riding pants is not as easy as on longer cut jackets.
Would we buy this?
I almost did quite a few years ago, to be honest. A former colleague used to use one and I think the spec to price equation is pretty good. But the 4S version is actually an even better deal.
Cramster Breezer Mesh 4S, Rs 5,950, cramster.in
What is it?
This is a mesh and Cordura jacket like the Breezer but while the 4.0 was the earlier design, the 4S looks fresher and has the same great spec - mesh for warm weather, Cordura for the impact areas and a warm liner as well as a rain liner in the spec.
We like
All the armour is CE-rated, it's got reflectives in the piping and sleeve adjusters at the forearm as well as the bicep. That is a good spec.
We don't like
Again, the Denier count on the Cordura is omitted and it's a short jacket which again makes pairing with riding pants a problem.
Would we buy this?
On a budget, the Breezer 4S is hard to beat.
DSG Nero, Rs 6,499, planetdsg.com
What is it?
This is a basic riding jacket that is made of "reinforced nylon" and 600 Denier Cordura. It gets four external pockets of which two are waterproof and two more internal waterproof pockets. It gets a "water resistant" inner lining and a removeable lining for cold conditions. There are some reflective materials on it as well as CE approved armour in the back, elbow and shoulder, according to the website.
We like
Unlike the mesh jackets here, this one has zippered vents. That's a pro and a con. The pros are that this should make the jacket a lot more versatile in terms of temperature range. With all the linings in and vents closed, you should be able to ride happily in pretty cold conditions.
We don't like
But in my experience, our summer heat is too much even for zip-vented jackets and mesh is the best for summer. If you live in a place like Mumbai which doesn't have a winter at all, then this is probably a very warm jacket. Also note that the main zipper is exposed which means chances are water will enter this jacket - and the Planet DSG website doesn't say it is waterproof. I know this is a budget jacket list but if I'm going to suffer a hot jacket, it should at least be waterproof, no?
Would we buy this?
I live in Mumbai, so no. I'd be hunting down a mesh jacket. If I wanted a more versatile jacket then I'd look for something waterproof at the very minimum. But unfortunately, Planet DSG doesn't actually have any reasonably priced alternatives. The Aero is cheaper but we've got issues with the spec and the Triton's description suggests no venting. The Triton is a longer cut which should be good for touring but the Rs 1,000 extra in the cost doesn't add value as far as I can tell.
What would we buy really?
The Cramsters look like a good deal but we would also consider the AGVSport Solare which is the same price as the DSG Nero. Performance Racing Store sells this and it has a spec similar to the jackets here but I would be happier to wear the AGVSport because it is a bigger brand name and chances are the gear will be better because of their greater experience in the field. Obviously that does mean you lose out on liners and stuff but that's a decision you have to make for yourself.
What do we wear?
Because we travel to Europe and the US a fair amount, all of us tend to wear jackets we've purchased on discount in stores there. I've two Joe Rocket jackets, an old Phoenix mesh (the new one is the 5.0 which is Rs 15,000 at performanceracing.in) and an old zip-vented Nova that I acquired for $40 as a closeout deal on motorcyclegear.com. The jacket I actually use is a Yamaha-branded all-mesh thing that I've been unable to trace the brand of - I wanted to buy three-four of these and keep because it's a lovely jacket. I've fallen at 80-90kmph in both the Phoenix and the Yamaha-branded jacket so I know mesh works at street speeds. Rishaad, similarly, uses a Dainese part-mesh jacket he picked up for Rs 8,000 abroad (The extremely similar AirFlux is about Rs 15,000 in India today). Check out our detailed jacket buying guide to get a headstart on what to pick for your needs.
If there is a jacket you've seen in an India online store and would like added to the list above, let us know in the comments.
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