Getting a Grip on Matters

One of the first accessories I bought after getting my KTM Duke in end-May 2015 was a pair of gloves. I had often worn a pair of black, pure leather hand made gloves in winter for biking in the past. They were never specialised motorcycling gloves. They were essentially meant for general winter wearing around town in cold places. But they served their purpose for me in Calcutta’s winter riding. You wouldn’t dream of wearing them in summer though. They came with inner cotton lining which would give way in a season or two. They were very basic.

This time around, I thought let me get a pair of decent biking gloves and not an all purpose one. Somehow, after a long ride if you have clean hands you feel fresh. The best way to keep them clean is to wear a pair of gloves that didn't leave your palms sweating.

I discovered that it is quite possible to get Alpinestar gloves in India today. But then fancy gloves come with fancy price tags. And Alpinestars, I found, cost above Rs 6k for a pair on Amazon. As is the case with all problems in life, this one also had a Chinese solution. I discovered a brand called Probiker on Amazon. At around Rs 400 with delivery (they might be cheaper on other sites) I thought it would serve my purpose of experimenting. If I didn’t like them I could just chuck them. Apart from the quality of the gloves themselves, I wasn't too sure if I really wanted to wear gloves all the time. 

On Amazon there was no option for size to choose from (on other sites I find they are mentioned as XL). But when they arrived I discovered they were a size too large for me and came in XL. But that wasn’t a problem really. I can live with a pair of gloves that’s slightly larger than my fingers. Ever since they came I have used them for every single ride and I have clocked just about 500 km and size has not been an issue for me.

The gloves I chose are orange and black in colour. They have protection for the knuckles and a portion of the palms below the thumb – the area most prone to injury in a fall. I have not got a chance to test these protectors and touch wood, I hope I never have the occasion to. But from the look and feel of it, they don’t look like they can stand up to any serious fall or injury. But something is better than nothing. 

The palms themselves are dotted and made of some rubbery material for better grip. The closure at the wrist is with velcro. The velcro feels very cheap and thin but it works. It would seem they would come off from the stitch on first use but they don’t. The grip is good.

  

The gloves are also fairly airy. I have worn them in intense heat of June's mid-day. My hands never felt uneasy. If you are riding at around 30 kmph and hold your fingers out just a little you can feel fresh breeze enter the gloves through the knuckles. That keeps the arms dry and fresh. 

However, one shortcoming of the gloves is their lack of waterproof protection. Yesterday I rode in the rains for close to an hour. They didn't go soggy all right. But my hands were certainly wet and cold when I took them off at home after reaching.

I am yet to test them in real winter. I am sure they will not be anything adequate against serious chill. But for Calcutta winter, I am more than certain, they will be enough.

Another thing I need to test them about. That is, how well they take to being hand washed in soap. They have got dirty already as I am using them to ride in light drizzle too.

My Verdict At that price (you might find them cheaper on other sites like flipkart or snapdeal etc) it's a great pair of gloves to start one's biking life with. Buy it by all means. But keep your expectations modest.

Image courtesy: Flipkart

A Replacement - 24th December, 2016

The original pair reviewed above got stolen from my house parking lot 3/4 days ago. I even know who the thief is but cannot do anything about it :-( I trust the quality of these gloves enough to order another pair. This time I went for an all black look. The pair that has come is size L which is nice and snug. I bought them at Rs 343 off ebay - which is considerably cheaper than Amazon as they don't normally charge for shipping and the item arrived literally in two days. 

The Third Pair - 27th November, 2017 

I lost the second pair a few weeks ago when the gloves fell off the bike along with the helmet as I was riding home. It is a complicated story as to why I was riding bare head and bare wrists. Anyway, got the third pair recently. Through Amazon. It cost me a total of Rs 435. Let me see how long these last.