Hard Case vs Soft Case Luggage blog
24 Sep
Know Your Bike, Tip of the Iceberg

Hardcase Luggage vs Softcase Luggage

Hardcase Luggage vs Softcase Luggage – 6 Tips to choose the right Luggage system for your Motorcycle by 6kiom.

 

Searching for the right accessories in a riding gear store, whether online or in person, can be very fun but also leaves you in a lot of thought regarding the options available. Today, in our latest segment of 6 Things by 6KIOM, we’re going to go over how to choose between Hard Luggage Systems and Soft Luggage Systems.

To start off, let’s understand what we’re dealing with today. A “hard” luggage system is typically a box made out of plastic or aluminum, while “soft case” Motorcycle luggage are usually made from rexine and rubber.

Examples for Hard Case Motorcycle Luggage made with Aluminum and Plastic.

Coocase Aluminum Luggage for Motorcycle         SHAD SH33 Top Case for Motorcycles Box

Examples for Soft Case Motorcycle Luggage made with Rexine.

Soft Luggage Tail Bags from Rynox & Viaterra.

Rynox Navigator Tail Bag 50L

Viaterra Claw Mini(48L) 100% Waterproof Tailbag

Let’s find out how to choose between Hard Case vs Soft Case Luggage System for your Motorcycle with 6 key tips from 6kiom team.

1. Weight

Soft Case Luggage are light weighted as compared to Hard Case Luggage due to the materials used in their construction. If you’re someone who has less power (cc) motorcycle and prefer to travel light, then Soft Case Luggages can be best for you.

Softcase Luggage comes in different size and Liters options from 10ltr to 50+lts such as Tank Bags, Tail Bags, Hybrid Bags and so on. To check the available options in Soft Luggage click here.

So if you’re riding a lower cc  Engine bikes and prefer to carry light luggage with you, soft luggage systems is the way to go.

2. Security

Soft Luggage usually use zipper mechanisms and plastic clasps, which is not recommend if you’re carrying valuable items with you.

Rynox Aquapouch Waistpack- Stormproof YKK Zipper

Hard Luggage have Lock and Key mechanisms built into them by design, making them the safer option of the two. With Hard Case Luggage you can have a piece of mind if you have to leave your Helmet or belongings at the motorcycle for a quick coffee or lunch between your rides.

Shad SH23 Side Case Black

3. Cost

Hard case luggage

Due to the Build Quality and Materials used Hard Case Luggage are more expensive than Soft Case Luggage. If you want a Simple Luggage system at less cost then Soft Case Luggages are good to go. Hard Case Luggages are primary for regular Daily use for a long term usage with the motorcycle.

4- Maintenance

Hard Luggage are fairly easy to clean since they are made of smooth plastic and/or metal. They can even be left on the bike while it gets washed to make it simpler.

soft luggage wash care for motorcycle

Soft Luggage on the other hand are made of fabric, rexine, rubber, etc. which all have specific wash and care instructions to follow.

5- Installation and Comfort

Soft Luggage straps

Soft case luggage are a more universal fit due to them using straps and buckles, but these straps are tedious to mount every single time and have a tendency to flail around in the wind if the ends are not tucked away.

Hard Case luggage clamp mechanism

Hard luggage have clamping mechanisms which helps them easily mount on your bike’s Top Rack or Saddle stays.

6- Purpose

Soft Case luggage for off roading

When it really comes down to it, the most important factor to choosing your luggage system is what kind of use you intent to put it to. If you’re more into off-road trails and adventure riding, soft case luggage is probably the way to  go.

SHAD Luggage System

If you see yourself spending most of the time riding in urban road conditions, then don’t think twice about hard case luggage!

To Summarize in quick Table:

6 Points to Choose the Luggage Preferred Luggage System
Weight Soft Case Luggage
Security Hard Case Luggage
Cost Soft Case Luggage
Maintenance Hard Case Luggage
Installation & Comfort Hard Case Luggage
Purpose You got to choose!

 

Additionally, you can find a video resource for this over on the 6KIOM YouTube channel:

We hope this article makes your next accessories purchase a little less confusing, feel free to use this as a reference while making your way through our catalogue at our store or on our website.

Ride safe!

07 Jun
Tip of the Iceberg

6 tips to Choose the Right Helmet

Here are 6 tips to choose the right helmet shared by Professional Bikers that helps you to buy the right helmet online or at the store

Helmet is a vital part of riding gear, and choosing the right helmet is even more important!

Tip 1: The Right Size:

This is where people often make mistakes especially while buying helmets online. Helmets comes under different size options starting from XXS to XXL, in some brands up to 4XL too. Below is a size chart to help you understand the right size to choose in helmets. However, the fit and comfort may vary depends on the shape of your head too. So, it’s recommended you buy the helmets at your local store.

 

Tip 2: Purpose:

Helmets are created for different purposes depending on where they will be used. It can be for Race Tracks, Motocross, Off-Roading, Adventure ride or just urban riding. Each of these scenarios require helmets to be customized for them. For example, the helmet used for regular urban riding Can’t be used at race tracks!. So, it’s important to know what is the purpose or use for the helmet before you buy one.

Below picture is an example of helmets used for different scenarios:

  • Open Face Helmets

 

Open Face Helmets are most widely used for your Urban Rides as they are very comfortable, easy to strap and remove. These helmets offer the best Ventilation but will not protect from dust on roads. If you are looking for a short ride with comfort and basic protection, Open Face helmets are the one to go for.

  • Modular Helmets

Modular helmets come with a retractable chin cover within the helmet. They are Perfect for riders who often need to communicate face-to-face with someone else while stopped. This is common for couriers and delivery people, as well as motorcycle riding instructors. Also Riders who wear eyeglasses sometimes find modular helmets easier to wear with their glasses. Modular helmets are noisy as compared to full-face helmets, but if you compare its noise reduction efficiency with the noise reduction efficiency of open face helmets, then they are not. They definitely limit the air from entering as the rider’s face, and chin will be covered, which results in less noise. However, it is considered to be unsafe riding with an open modular helmet.

  • Full Face Helmets

Full Face Helmets offers complete protection from dust on roads as they completely cover your face and chin. Full face helmets are also called as racing helmets or urban helmets, however the racing helmets have D-ring or Double-D.

What is D-ring or Double-D?

 

D-ring fasteners are one of the main – and best – types of helmet fasteners you’ll find on modern motorcycle helmets. They’re pretty low-tech but by using solid components that won’t break and masses of friction between them, they make for great helmet fasteners.

  • Off-road / Motocross Helmets

These are light weight helmets designed for performance in off road and motocross sports. Mostly the helmets are designed without an inbuilt visor. However, you can buy googles separately as they are sold in different color options and features such as UV Protection & Anti-scratch visors.

 

Motocross helmets are not recommended for racing as the beak in front of the helmet may rise the helmet up at high speeds.

  • Dual sport Helmets

Dual Face Helmets are a mix of Full-Face helmets & Motocross helmets. They can be used on streets as well off-road as they have inbuilt visors fitted to them. However, these helmets can’t be used at Race due to the beak on the top of helmets which may make the helmet rise up at higher speeds.

  1. Ventilation:

Ventilation is another important factor to be considered while buying a helmet. Without doubt we all can agree that Open Face helmets offer best ventilation and air flow. However, Full face helmets with air intake near the chin and upper head with Exhaust at the rear offers good ventilation while ensuring the aerodynamic airflow too. Below picture is a reference of how air flow in full face helmets work.

  1. Visor :

Most of the branded helmets offers Anti-Scratch & dustproof visors. Some helmet brands also offer inbuilt Sun visor which can be enabled and disabled through a button or clamp mechanism. Also, look for Pinlock system while buying your helmet as this can help you do further customizations such as adding an anti-fog film visor in addition to the inbuilt visor. Below picture is an example of antifog & Sun visor.

 

 

 

  1. Safety Certifications:

Helmets comes with different Safety standards & Certifications such as ECE – Economic Commission of Europe, DOT – Department of Transportation & most important of all in India ISI – Indian Standards Institution. It’s very important to look for brands that offer helmets with ISI Certification as certified helmets are proven to reduce the risk of injury by 69% and risk of death by 42% in severe accidents.

  1. Compatibility for Extra Accessories:

Branded helmets offers more customization options for the helmets such as option to add a different visor colors, Bluetooth and Intercom from brands like SENA , Chatterbox, PARANI etc. If you are someone who will certainly add any customizations from below images, then choose your helmet wisely as not all brands offer complete customizations options.

For more information check out our video on 6 tips to choose the right helmet for you at our YouTube channel.

17 May
Biker's Journal

6 Hand Signs every Biker should know

6 Hand Signs every Biker should know by 6kiom:

Safe Bike riding is not just about wearing the right riding gear, Protection, lights or reflective clothing. With more and more vehicles on the road, the safety of not only you but of other riders too is very important. The way of communicating with other riders and commuters while on the road is through the use of hand signals or hand gestures. It’s not just a courtesy but It’s a basic safety to let other riders know whether you are about to take a left or right turn, stop or inform them about any potential road hazard ahead. This May for Motorcycles Awareness Month 6kiom brings you the 6 key hand signals which every biker should be aware of.

Turn Right Hand Signal:

There are two hand gestures for turning right. First option is to extending the right arm fully outside, even though this way is pretty common but not legally acceptable in many countries as bikers may lose the control over the bike. The other recommended way is to extend your left arm out sideways and bent at an angle of 90 degrees at the elbow point. The hand points upwards and pam facing forward.

Turn Left Hand Signal:


Fully extend your left arm at shoulder height while maintaining the balance of the Motorcycle, away from your body, with the palm facing down and all fingers extended. You may also use the index finger to point left.

Stop Hand Signal:


When coming to a stop, extend out your left arm and turn your palm to face backwards. It’s a universal fact that a hand being held up means stop. Due to being on a Motorcycle and having to maneuver it, you can’t face the people being you to hold your hand up and let them know you are coming to a stop. So, this is a safe way to alert them with the same concept of hand being up.

Speed up Hand Signal:


This hand signal is used to tell your fellow bikers to speed up and increase their speed to match your pace. With your left arm extended, do a upward movement with your palm facing up.

Slow down Hand Signal:


Extend your left arm. Do a downward movement with your palm facing down. If for any reason the group needs to slow down, the lead rider can give the signal to everyone and they can then lower their speed.

Road Hazard hand signal:


This hand signal is to let other riders know about the hazard on the road. For Hazard towards your left, extend your left arm with your Index finger pointing towards the ground. For Hazard towards your right, take your right foot and point towards the ground. This signal can also be used to let other riders know that there is something obstructing the road or possibly, an accident up ahead.

For more interesting content on biking – https://www.instagram.com/6kiom/

 

04 May
6K ACADEMY

6000 Miles to Isle of Man

6000 Miles to Isle of Man – Who are we?

A biking community & store in India located 6000 miles from Isle Of Man to promote the biking lifestyle with safety and knowledge in mind through its 6 Pillars of commitment.

BIKER HUB:

Motorcycling as a sport and a hobby has grown exponentially over the last few years, opening up unlimited opportunities for riders who have a passion for riding. From choosing from a variety of bikes and gears to participating in rollicking races – the options are more than plenty. This is why 6KIOM’s Bikers hub brings to you a community of riders and experts who you can ride with and learn about all that encompasses the biking world. Biker’s hub is a family of passionate bikers and seasoned experts who organize biking activities, all year round – for riding enthusiasts who want to explore the unexplored, and share the same love of riding with fellow riders. Whether you’re interested in casual riding or attending race events you can count on us for some truly memorable experiences.

At Biker’s hub, we also share conversations and host discussions about the latest in the world of biking. We organize live MotoGP screeninghs so you can share the excitement of racing with your friends. What’s more is that we create a rider friendly environment by equipping our members with the skills to ride safely and take care of their bikes. From DIY sessions with experts to track days with the best instructors in the Business – we leave no stone unturned to give you our version of a biker’s dream. The list is never ending at 6000 Miles to Isle of Man. It’s a big world – and biker’s hub connects you to people like you, who will ride with you as your band of brothers. So gear up for this exhilarating experience for this journey will not let you down.

INFOTAIMENT:

We organize events like live-screening of MotoGP races, interactive sessions and even live concerts, conducted at our 6KIOM flagship store on Kasturba Road! Our Sunday Jams are a big hit with bikers around the city join together for Coffee with Adventure riding stories. You can count on us for some truly memorable experiences that can go long way more than just a Coffee! 😊

KNOW YOUR BIKE:

Riding a motorcycle is ideally a very personal and involved experience for many riders. Although the age of technology have made motorcycles reliable by adding various safety features, it is always best to know your bike in order to be the real master of the machine. Riders who take better care of their bikes benefit from a more precisely operating motorcycle, and this improves the quality of the whole experience. All riders should understand which systems and components need the most attention for reduced chances of premature failures.

Taking good care of your bike can amplify your riding experience and make it easier for you to operate your motorcycle. The saying – better safe than sorry, applies to all motorcyclists as being stranded on an unknown road can be far worse in comparison of sparing an hour worth of checkup of your beloved bike before the ride. You don’t want your Sunday ride to go down the hill before you even start for the trip, so regular inspection is always as important as the other details of your trip. The idea is to keep exploring your bike. Being proactive in seeking out what you need to know, taking better courses to stay sharp, and interacting with other knowledgeable riders are good ways to continually improve.

At 6000 Miles to Isle of Man, we host interactive sessions with professionals, experienced riders and riding instructors so you are always updated about the best care for your bike as well about the latest in the world of biking. We organize Do-It-Yourself sessions so you can avail hands-on training from the best in the field. The sessions teach you to be self-sufficient in times of turmoil, so you don’t have to break your back looking for a mechanic in the middle of nowhere. Solo trips will never leave you panicking, and your skill will keep you riding confidently, without any stoppages. Knowing your bike always pays off, so get your hands dirty and join us for some interesting sessions!

Riding & Racing Academy:

The essence of riding is personified when one rides the right way. Riding safely with the proper techniques is undeniably one of the most important aspects of riding. Needless to say, the highest number of accidents on roads today are due to negligence. Keeping this in mind, our mission at 6k academy is to help educate everyday bikers on the right way to ride. We strive to give bikers the best learning experiences through practical sessions and well-designed classrooms. We indulge bikers in exercises in a controlled environment which replicate most of the hazards faced on road so they are prepared even for the most treacherous of rides.

The aim of the Motorcycle safety courses is to teach both new and experienced riders to be efficient motorcyclists and masters of the machine. We boost the confidence of our riders by helping them learn the art of handling their bike and being equipped with skills required for the worst.

The syllabus of 6K Academy is created with utmost detail and helps unlearn the mistakes riders may have carried from the street. We help riders understand the limits of the bike by developing their muscle memory so that they have better bike control and greater efficiency on the road. Our riders receive training on a variety of aspects related to riding including tackling stressful scenarios and volatile street conditions.

Once our riders learn the ethical way to ride at 6K Academy, we provide them with Track Day services where they can practice on tarmac tracks in a controlled environment with no obstacles. Riders can also avail one on one training from our instructors.

Rides & Tours:

Tired of 9 to 6 Work every day sitting in front of a computer typing “I LOVE NATURE”? Well, your prayers have been answered! Unleash the Beast inside you by Joining 6kiom Community to explore Weekend off-road & Long trip Adventurous rides joined by Bikers throughout India.

Our team chooses best locations and routes for Riders to Experience the true riding with Nature that includes team rides, Campfire with adventurous stories, Riding lessons, Trek to Mountains, stay at forest house and many more memorable experiences that can go long way.

SAFETY GEAR & EQUIPMENTS:

The 6KIOM store at Bangalore and Chennai, offer quality riding gears such as Helmets, Jackets, Gloves, Pants, Boots, Race Suits, Protective armors for the biker and also various accessories like top racks, saddle stays, crash guards, hazard lights, fog lights, uggage accessories, luggage box, air filters, exhausts, saddle bags, tank bags and more for your bike. The product selection ranges from globablly renowned international brands like Falco, Furygan, RS Taichi, SHAD, Givi, Hepco Beckker, Evotech and Nationally renowned Indian brands like Hyperrider, Race Dynamics, Rynox, Maddog etc.

Join our Community :   

Visit our Store @ www.6kiom.com & www.hyperrider.co.in for more details.

25 Apr
Tip of the Iceberg

The Isle of Man Tourist Trophy

The The Isle of Man Tourist Trophy races are an annual motorcycle racing event that run on the Isle of Man in May/June of most years since its inaugural race in 1907. The event is often called one of the most dangerous racing events in the world.

With the New York Times stating that the number of deaths has risen “to 146 since it was first run in 1907; if one includes fatal accidents occurring during the Manx Grand Prix, the amateur races held later in the summer on the same Snaefell Mountain Course, the figure rises above 250”. An on-site account of the 2003 race by Sports Illustrated writer Franz Lidz called the spectacle “38 Miles of Terror… A test of nerves and speed that may be sport’s most dangerous event.

Format of the races:

The TT Races since the first race in 1907 have been in the format of time-trial. The races held on the Clypse Course during the period 1954–1959 were the more traditional full grid starts along with the 1924 Lightweight TT Race and Clubmen TT Races from 1948, which were also “mass-start” races. The current format is a “clutch start” and race competitors will be “started singly at 10-second intervals

Race procedure

Start Preliminaries:

  • First Signal – 45 minutes before the start with a warm-up of engines in the Race Paddock and assembly area.
  • Second Signal – 30 minutes before start.
  • Third Signal – 15 minutes before start, race competitors move to the start-line and form-up in qualification order.
  • Fourth Signal – 5 minutes before start, signal to clear the grid and race competitors move towards the exit-gate.

Eligibility?

  • Many would be interested to know they do have an amateur section in which anyone who has made qualifying times for the Manx GP, an amateur Road Race Event seen as a practice run for TT. You will also need a racing license (British) for a minimum of 1 year prior to signing up for the TT
  • Entrants must also cite pre-filled documentation of completion of a UK drivers license or motorcycle certification or a drivers license from a comparable country that is recognized by UK comparable department of transportation standards and may withhold due to any pre-race or post-race suspensions

Are you a Video Game Lover? There’s something for you too…

  • There have been numerous videogames based on the Isle of Man TT, the first being the 1995 Sega arcade game Manx TT Super Bike, which was later ported to the Sega Saturn in 1997.
  • Several other games have followed since, including Suzuki TT Superbikes, TT Superbikes: Real Road Racing Championship and TT Superbikes Legends, all of which were released exclusively for the PlayStation 2, and developed by Jester Interactive.
  • Bigben Interactive has since revived the TT game license, releasing TT Isle Of Man: Ride on the Edge in 2018 and TT Isle Of Man: Ride on the Edge 2 in 2020

How do you get to Isle of Man?

Travel to the Isle of Man is extremely simple with Direct Ferries. The island is perfectly placed for ferry travel with connections offered from England, Ireland and Northern Ireland. Douglas Harbour is the entrance point for all passenger ferries travelling to the island.

Google map location

For more details visit – https://www.instagram.com/visitisleofman/