Product Review: Royal Enfield Kaza Classic Adventure Touring Jacket and Trousers

Introduction

The curious minds of the corporate world always find a way to make more money. Sometimes it takes a little extra time, but eventually they find a way, just like the folks at Royal Enfield. The Chennai-based manufacturer wanted to shift focus from manufacturing bikes to apparel and protective gear. So it started positioning itself as a lifestyle brand with apparel stores which we recently visited.

With stylish t-shirts, trousers and bags, the brand is trying to appeal to a wider range of customers. Protective gear is something it always tried to push into the market, but since the launch of the Himalayan, the company has introduced more gear in its range. The Kaza Classic Adventure Touring Jacket and Trousers are two of those products.

First Impression

Rugged and tough – that’s what I thought about when I took the jacket and trousers out of the box. The overall feel and quality of the jacket is outstanding. This textile jacket and trousers have been developed for touring and adventure riding. That’s why you’ll see big four water-resistant double- flap pockets at the front of the jacket and a massive pocket at the back. Each of these pockets sports Velcro straps and tough dual buttons. There’s also a small pocket inside the jacket which can be accessed from the left side. The trousers get two hip pockets, two double flap pockets, but the size is comparatively smaller to the ones of the jacket.

The best part of this jacket is its ability to customise the overall fit. There are two adjustable tabs on each side of the arm, and an adjustable waist tab. The cuffs too, get two-step adjustment. For safety, there are 3M reflective strips on the shoulders, arms and back of the jacket. The trousers gets reflectors on the side and the back of the knee.

The Kaza Classic Adventure Touring Jacket gets two detachable liners – winter and waterproof. And due to this there’s a double zipper puller which is easy to operate. The jacket offers three closure mechanisms – zipper, Velcro and buttons. Other than the regular button, the trousers also get an adjustable waist strap. A detachable thermal liner is standard. The Kaza trousers also offers a zipper at the ankle to suit various riding boots.

The Protection

The jacket and the trousers both offer good protection. The Kaza jacket gets CE-certified protectors at the back, shoulder and elbow. The back protector is foam based padding which can be upgraded to CE approved Sastec armour. Other than this, the company has made use of 650D polyester on the exterior for better abrasion resistance. The company claims that the usage of 650D also helps in the overall durability. For the trousers too, the same 650D standard polyester has been used. The knee protectors are CE approved as well. However, the hip protector is Seesoft certified – one level above CE.

The Comfort

I wore the Kaza jacket and trousers for the shoot and was extremely comfortable. But being a textile jacket, it doesn’t offer as much ventilation as a mesh jacket. However, when you’re on the motorcycle, the ventilation zippers on the back of the torso pockets, arms and back when opened are surely going to help. The trousers don't get the ventilation option though.

I really like the way the Kaza jacket fits. Plenty of space on the torso and the waist gives a sense of great comfort. The cushioned neck adds to the experience. It’s the same story with the trousers – snug fit, good protection and durability are bound to prove useful. However, I’m a little sceptical about the ventilation. The trousers can be zipped to the jacket for extra protection.

Pricing

The Royal Enfield Kaza Classic Adventure Touring Jacket retails for Rs 14,000 and the trousers for Rs 10,000. While the jacket might not look expensive, the trousers surely do. But in the next couple of months, we’ll find out if it makes sense to spend Rs 24,000 on riding gear from Royal Enfield.

Photography by Kapil Angane