Knox Cross Max Knee Guards reviewed

Rishaad Mody Updated: September 17, 2013, 03:05 PM IST

Knox

I've been in Mumbai for two years now and have been riding a bike almost every day without incident. That changed a week ago when a man in a Honda City wasn't happy with the direction he was headed in and decided to take a u-turn just as I was overtaking him. The result – a cracked fairing, broken indicator and what would have been a painful shin injury if I wasn't wearing the Knox Cross Bionic knee guards. These guards from armour specialists Knox are actually sold as protective equipment for mountain bikes but they work well in a city application. More and more people use jackets and gloves these days but fewer wear proper riding pants on their daily commute and that's where guards like these can be useful. The 'bionic' moniker highlights the flexible knee joint that makes it more comfortable on the move. The guard looks large but feels very light without sacrificing strength. The plastic only received a couple of scuffs when it met the Honda City. Build quality is excellent with a mesh like material for the fabric surrounds that along with four vents along the body provide good breathability. The guard stays in place with three straps but we suggest you keep the middle one slightly looser than the other two as it can dig into the back of your knee joint. You can wear them under your trousers but it can get uncomfortably tight unless your trousers are quite baggy. Fortunately the plastic doesn't scuff the tank (we tested it on a Yamaha R15) as it's the fabric that makes contact with the tank. It's worth considering that they might foul with your handle bars when turning if you're considerably tall and you might have to sit a little further back. These guards aren't a replacement for riding pants but they are a comfortable and convenient option for daily city use.

These can be ordered at www.outdoortravelgear.com for Rs 4950

Price (Ex-Delhi)
Starts Rs 10.9 Lakhs
Displacement
1497cc
Transmission
Manual
Max Power(ps)
100
Max Torque(Nm)
145
Mileage
17.8 Kmpl
Price (Ex-Delhi)
Starts Rs 1,02,700
Displacement
149cc
Transmission
5-Speed
Max Power(ps)
12.40
Max Torque(Nm)
13.60
Mileage
-NA-