Introduction
The Nirvik riding jacket isn’t new to me. I bought one a few years back. I have since used it on roadtrips through summers and what the West gets as an excuse for winters. I like the quality of the thing, its practicality, and the overall protection it offers. I like the fit too. But, the ventilation - even though it has large air vents around the chest and a huge exhaust vent at the back - seems inadequate even on the move. I am also not a big fan of how the ventilation flaps are held in place by a couple of magnets.
Now, there’s a Nirvik version two on sale. And from the looks of it, it seems Royal Enfield’s apparel department appears to have read my mind. It addresses almost all my gripes.
The Basics
First, let’s talk construction. The chassis is made from 500D yarn size Cordura. Now most jackets that don’t use Cordura settle for 600D to keep the abrasion resistant to acceptable levels. Now, for those not in the know - the higher the yarn size, the thicker the material. So, a 1000D will be thicker than a 500D. But, the thicker the weave, the more cumbersome the jacket. Plus, one needs a riding jacket to be light, flexible and comfortable while offering enough tear and break resistance to keep the skin protected in a slide, on- or off-road.
So, the 1000D might be a good choice for a rucksack, but for a jacket, a Cordura 500D balances abrasion resistance and ease of wearing much better. Additionally, Nirvik gets the 610D fabric as reinforcement around the shoulder and elbow; areas which are more prone to impact in a fall.
The Nirvik also gets built-in reflectivity around the back, arms and chest. It uses YKK for the main zipper. Everywhere else, RE seems to have chosen an unbranded, more affordable option. We will see how the latter ages under repeated usage in the coming months. It gets neoprene around the collar and wrist closures for a more comfortable feel. And there’s a velcro strip on the left shoulder to add a statement patch if one desires.
There are elasticated panels under the armpit and around the elbows for freedom of movement, and the Nirvik V2 also comes with armour for the back, shoulder, elbows and chest. The former three offer Level 2 protection, while the chest armour is rated Level 1.
The Features
The Nirvik is a feature-rich jacket. It comes with two flap pockets with button closures at the front to put away your phone or energy bars. There are two side pockets to put your hand in on a cold day when parked without gloves. There’s also a pocket at the back - like most touring jackets do - to stow away a rain jacket or a tee. Inside, there’s a waterproof pocket that uses RE’s Tru-Dry tech to keep things dry when riding through a downpour.
But, the big play for the Nirvik V2 - and one that addresses my biggest gripe - is improved ventilation. Unlike the older jacket which only had ventilation around the chest area, the new one comes with openable ventilation panels around the chest and ribs. So, the overall surface area has become much larger. Ventilation along the arm is massive too. Plus, the jacket retains the huge panel on the back for more effective exhaust ventilation. These changes should make for a more comfortable riding experience in the Nirvik on warm, muggy days.
The V2 also has a much cleaner and easier solution to stow away the openable flaps. Instead of using magnets to hold the flaps like on the older jacket, the new one offers easy-to-use space under the panel to neatly tuck away the flaps. There is an ID pocket on the left arm to hold your emergency contact information. The V2 also offers more adjustability over the jacket it replaces as well. One can adjust the fit on the wrist, forearm and bicep via velcro adjusters. There are pull-type adjusters to get a snugger fit at the waist. And, it has side zippers around the hip area for ease of seating. It gets a tiny zipper at the back to connect with other RE riding pants. And finally, it comes with a pocket to mount an action camera and a waterproof jacket that one can wear over the Nirvik.
What's next?
We will now wear the jacket daily and tell you what’s good about it, and what’s not. And since it is a touring jacket, we will put some highway miles in it as well.
Product details
Brand: Royal Enfield
Model: Nirvik V2
Type: All-season touring
Sizes: S to 8XL
Colours: Black and Charcoal
Price: Rs 17,950
Availability: At Royal Enfield showrooms and online store
Photography by Kaustubh Gandhi
