Royal Enfield Nirvik V2 Motorcycle Riding Jacket: Wearing Experience

Is it good for daily commutes?

The first thing that struck me after I moved from my daily mesh riding jacket to the Nirvik V2 was the added heft. Now, the V2 isn’t heavy enough for a touring jacket, mind, but it is weighty enough for a typical city riding jacket. It’s also not as easy to move your arms around in as your typical mesh commute jacket given the construction and the added mass that comes with it.

But, once on the bike, the heft doesn’t get in the way. What was also pleasantly surprising is was the ventilation. With the mesh panels for the chest, torso, and arms open, I could feel the breeze on my body from as low as 30kmph. As a result, on my morning commutes I never broke into a sweat. Now, when I did find myself stuck in stop-and-go traffic - like I often do on some sections on my way back from work - it did get sultry inside the jacket. Thankfully, one doesn’t have to wait behind stuck cars for too long on a bike, and so once I would wiggle past traffic, the jacket would feel airy and comfortable - and a tad cooler thanks to the sweat - all over again.

I also spent a decent time commuting in the rain. And I can say with some authority, that the rain jacket is effective without being too restrictive. It is also to pull it over the main jacket so I didn’t have to waste too much time parked on the side pulling it on and off.

How is it on road trips?

The heft is not a problem when touring. For starters, you don’t stop too often. And when you do, it is easy to take it off and hang it on the bike’s handlebar or carry it inside a restaurant. As we mentioned in the previous section, it isn’t really that heavy. The ventilation continues to be a boon here. Plus, you won’t encounter jams too often when touring, so it’s never stifling inside. It wasn’t restrictive either, whether I wanted to stand up and ride to ease the pain or move my neck around to double-check if I hadn’t missed an erratic motorist gunning for me.

The only downside - though petty - is that one has to stop and remove the jacket to open or close the various ventilated sections. I agree, that one doesn’t need to do it often, and smart planning should make it a non-issue. The panels can be closed before starting in the morning; which can then be opened during the first late morning stop of the day and closed again when one has stopped for evening chai. This too holds only from November to February, and not throughout the year. But, it is a downside worth mentioning, nonetheless, especially if planning doesn’t come easy to you.

Is it as handy as promised?

For the most part, it is. Take the Tru-dry inside pocket for one. I have thrown my wallet, ID card, money and phone in it at times, but nothing ever got wet. No matter the intensity of the downpour. But, it’s not the easiest to access thanks to its roll-top design.

The front two pockets on the other hand are not only easy to access, but are deep, wide and very handy indeed. I also found myself using the hand pockets quite often. The back pocket again - where I keep the rain jacket - is easy to get to. Overall, there is enough storage onboard negating the need to carry a bag even for a day-long ride.

The adjustability on the arms and the waist to get a more accurate fit leaves a little to be desired though. The velcro strap on the arm is easy to use and is effective. The one on the forearm, though easy to use, gets in the way when you fold your arms unless you leave it loose. There is no velcro adjustment for the waist. Instead, there’s a two-way pull-type strap that isn’t the easiest to use. I found it easiest to take off the jacket and then pull on the strap to make corrective adjustments.

Now, I have no comments on the action camera holder - because I don’t use one - apart from the fact that it is there, and some might find it handy.

To buy or not to buy?

At Rs 17,950, the Nirvik is not cheap. However, when you take a deeper dive and see what it offers in terms of construction, features, and protection, it makes for great value. The jacket works in the rain, and it works in the heat with a cooling vest or a wet T-shirt underneath.

It should work in cold weather too with a fleece jacket inside if my early morning rides and the effectiveness of my older Nirvik is any indication. So, in that sense, it is an all-season jacket. It also works wonderfully well on road trips. And unless you find yourself battling with traffic jams often on your commute, you could use it as daily wear to work and back.

So yes, ‘to buy’ will be the correct choice here in our book.

Product details

Brand: Royal Enfield

Model: Nirvik V2

Type: Touring all seasons

Sizes: S to 8XL

Colours: Black and Charcoal

Price: Rs 17,950

Availability: At Royal Enfield showrooms and online store