[HowieUK]

General consensus seems to suggest that it's best to bring 'crash hat', leathers, gloves and boots from the UK instead of buying them in India?

Taking all these with me, will however 'eat' into my luggage allowance (although I could wear the leathers on top of other clothing - It might be slightly warm though, arriving in Delhi mid-August!)

Don't think I will get away with wearing the crash hat on the plane though!

Is it really difficult (or impossible!) to get decent quality M/Cycle gear in Delhi?

Howie

[cyberhippie]

I'm sure you can buy biking gear in Delhi, just be careful of the papermache helmets they might break just putting them on!!  

[Yogesh Sarkar]

Howie as far as helmets go you can get a decent one here. A good quality (compared to others in the Indian market) helmet from Bieffe, GPOne or AGV will set you back by Rs.1400-2200. They are good enough for the speed at which you will travel here, as far as the rest of the gear goes. It’s better to bring them in, rather then buying it here.

[cyberhippie]

I know in Paharganj they sell Leather Bikers jackets in a couple of shops, their not the new padded jackets but the old style with thick rugged leather, just like my first Bikers Jacket I'm not sure about the cost though!!

[malkers]

Yogesh Sarkar, on Jun 16 2006, 01:02 PM, said:

Howie as far as helmets go you can get a decent one here. A good quality (compared to others in the Indian market) helmet from Bieffe, GPOne or AGV will set you back by Rs.1400-2200.

I'm afraid I beg to differ on those.  I've seen Bieffe and AGV here with that kind of price tag and I'd bet several hundred rupees on it that they ain't authentic.  Something that isn't made in India would be hardly likely to cost a tenth of the price actually IN India.

Sorry Yogesh, didn't want to seem rude there but I wouldn't put my head in those and expect to be safe on impact with rickshaw  

If it was me Howie even with the hassle of luggage, I'd bring the lot with you and buy your normal clothes once you arrive, well, and pretty much everything else too!

Cheers
Malc

[cyberhippie]

Malkers AGV and others do have India tie ups with Forma Sport, and the price range yogesh Mentions are correct!!

Here's a link (an old one)

Helmets

Also it would seem studds do a homegrown helmet to ISI standard, which is slightly cheaper!!

Studds


Price range

[vinayverma]

You can get helmets, gloves and riding suit in India (Delhi) but I think they are not of good quality for the price we pay.
Helmets, to an extent is fine, not much choice and few international brands.
Real problem is in Riding suits, we don't get a good quality as in India, we do not feel the need to have one. Almost everyone likes to ride in their Tee and jeans. Not many give a serious thought to riding boots. Most of us just put on a runner (from Addidas, nike etc) and jump on the motocycle.
But I think this gets serious, if you are going to ride for few months in India, you are comfortable or in other way, you feel confident and in control if you wear right riding suit with paddings and boots etc.
In delhi there is this shop called Kaulson Racing Products (KRP) they are in patel nagar, they do keep some riding suits, gloves, helmets and boots. But they all are imported from Malaysia, Thailand and china etc.
According to the owner, noone in India is willing to pay the price for real good ones from US or europe so he has to keep the cheap ones.
So I would say, bring the riding suit with padding along with you, rest like helmet and gloves can be bought in Delhi.

[malkers]

cyberhippie, on Jun 16 2006, 01:33 PM, said:

Malkers AGV and others do have India tie ups with Forma Sport, and the price range yogesh Mentions are correct!!

Here's a link (an old one)

Helmets

Also it would seem studds do a homegrown helmet to ISI standard, which is slightly cheaper!!

Studds
Price range

   Fair enough, where do I send the money Yogesh?  

[HowieUK]

Thanks for your advice people!

So up till now without any further advice being offered, it looks the way to go is to bring leathers and boots from the UK and get helmet, gloves and other requirements in Delhi?

I'm going to look a right plonker on the plane? (but who cares?!)  I also want to bring some other goodies that I can't (or think I can't!) do without! - I will be wearing the leathers (and probably another 6 layers of 'essential clothing'!) for the plane ride, to allow for my full quota of 'weighed in' luggage!.

Howie

Edited by HowieUK, 16 June 2006 - 10:26 PM.

[cyberhippie]

LOL guess who's going to get a pull at immigration  

[HowieUK]

Moi?

Yea, well I'm used to that! - me and customs have had a few run-ins over the years!

Would love to sneak in un-noticed, but "pigs can fly?"

Howie

[Yogesh Sarkar]

malkers check ur pm, you got the bank account details

[Hippie at Heart]

Howie, we don’t have any riding suits in vogue here, but in this sweltering heat or humid air they are not really best bet for a safe ride, so wearing the exposed protectors is sensible option, but things should change for riding boots, so long cross trainer and runners are likely to rule. If you feel you can’t ride without riding shoes and protectors then I suggest you should consider lugging that stuff from UK. One improvement that I really want to suggest to all the long haulers is, to get a set of best available Silicon grips for the handle bars and clutch lever. Most Indian bikes have badly ventilated hard plastic grips and heat make things only worse.

KRP in Delhi and many other others around here, well I wish if they were stocking the products that match their demanded price even if its all south Asian stuff. Their attempts at pulling wool over your eyes are so hilarious and at most he is out to fleece you rather then offer any quality product. Consider this:-

H@H: hi, I came to enquire if you make pipes on order, am looking for a set for 350, can I speak to the tech guy

KRP: yes we have latest stock, all readymade, no need to make them on order

H@H: Ok, well I had some specs in mind I was wondering if someone can discuss what I need rather then readymade stuff

KRP: Boss what discussion is needed, you tell me what u need, my pipes are best

H@H:  ok, what RPM range or torque we are talking about here, I don’t want any midrange pipes, am looking for top end ones and someone from your workshop need to fix my head as well for updated BTDC

KRP: array what BTDC what torque you are saying, my pipes are best, best sound you know, It is special technology we employ for sound mapping, mileage goes almost double and bike is twice as quick

H@H: look, I need pipes that offer a ridabily I want, if I need sound I’d buy a set of flutes, I need someone to map my engine and advice the tuned length of pipe, if you don’t know what is a set of tuned pipe for a 2 stoker then you stop yapping what you don’t know. You can’t offer a barrel that look like a expansion chamber without knowing what type your customer wants.

KRP: so you don’t want my expansion chambers, ok I can consider giving you some discount?

H@H: No, I don’t want talcum powder canisters.

RKP: you are insulting my product

H@H: AM I

[Mervin]

HowieUK, on Jun 16 2006, 03:39 PM, said:

General consensus seems to suggest that it's best to bring 'crash hat', leathers, gloves and boots from the UK instead of buying them in India?

Taking all these with me, will however 'eat' into my luggage allowance (although I could wear the leathers on top of other clothing - It might be slightly warm though, arriving in Delhi mid-August!)

Don't think I will get away with wearing the crash hat on the plane though!

Is it really difficult (or impossible!) to get decent quality M/Cycle gear in Delhi?

Howie

hey Howie,

if you are looking for soem good leather riding jackets then my company makes it. But its one of a kind so you will not find them in the market. We customise your order and its made to order.
You can get good sheep leather with some neat inner lining. I normally use silk lining or some weired stuff like lining with sanskrit litreature, also some tibetian lining with art and mantras. It shouldn't cost you much. Also can provide you ridign gear once again made to order one of a kind. Leme know what exactly you are looking for. If you have a personal email will send you some sample pictures.