[Apriliarider]

I’m asking this of our UK members because the brand is not sold in the US.

Anyone have experience with Richa boots?

I ordered a pair of Richa Vortex waterproof boots from an online shop called Sport Bike Shop.

https://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/motorcycle_parts/content_prod/426241

I’ve done business with them before so I know they’re trustworthy.

The boots though, I have no experience with. Or anything made by Richa really. They’re not a brand I remember from my time in the UK.

So if you experience with them; positive or negative please post a reply. Just curious as to their general reputation among riders. Thanks in advance.

 

[yorkie]

hi, while it's not top of the range gear it is very good at the price, and very comfortable I have some textile water proof gloves of theirs and they are very nice and 100% don't let rain in, only thing I find is their stuff is made in euro sizes so can be tight I think I would recommend ordering one size bigger than normal. from the reviews it would appear others agree, depends how thick the socks are you wear and your calf circumference.

 

[Apriliarider]

Thanks @yorkie I appreciate you providing your experience with them as a brand.

I normally wear a 9 1/2 in US sizes. That supposedly works out to a 43 in Euro sizes. From experience living in Europe I’d say it depends on where the foot wear is made.

I’ve worn 43s in German made shoes & boots without issue. For whatever reason, with Italian made shoes & boots even a 44 is sometimes too tight/short in length. Other times it’s too loose.

For comparison sake, my Alpinestar GP Pro boots are a 44 and are a tad long but otherwise fit great. I have a pair of Forma Ice Flow Pro’s in a 44 and they’re way tight. So much so I’ve not worn them on a ride.

I took a punt and ordered a 44 as a reviewer was in the same boat and size as me, and 44 worked well for him.

As to calves, I have what I’d call “high” calves in body building terms. That is, my calves are fairly large but are higher up on my lower leg. IE, my ankles aren’t cankles. 😂

I rarely, if ever have issues where my calves interfere with the fit of my boots. Once again, I thank you for sharing your experience with the Richa brand. I had nothing to base my decision on other than the reviews provided. At least now I feel the boots won’t be garbage based on your comments.

 

[Clive]

I have a pair of the exact same boots you mention and they are very good value for money. Waterproof, sturdy, and well made. Bought them online about 5 years ago through sportsbikeshop along with Richa summer jacket and gloves. Always good value stuff and despatched in good time, so no worries from me here.

 

[Apriliarider]

Sweet!!! Thank you @Clive that puts my mind to ease. I’ve ordered from Sport Bike Shop before and had zero issues with shipping to the US.

I’d never heard of Richa until recently…well, in the last 2 years or so. They are not a brand I remember from my time in the UK.

Some names, like BKS or Frank Thomas…or even Akito or Weise; those names I remember well. Sure, there are others but those were brands I’d see locally that were not in the US back then.

Akito and Weise still aren’t. BKS & Frank Thomas were for a time but disappeared in the last decade or so. I truly appreciate you taking the time to share your experience with the brand.

I felt really ignorant with regard to them. I feel less so now and once I spend some time riding with the Vortex boots I’ll feel much more informed. Thanks again @Clive

 

[Clive]

My pleasure. When I bought the boots I went one size up to allow for my thick woollen socks, so depending on where you are, it might be a good idea to consider such. I bought the light summer riding jacket about 4 years ago and it is still in great condition, with an elasticated waistband and fully wind and waterproof! It's a medium and the correct fit for summer riding.
I often wear it to go for walks etc, it looks that good. The gloves I bought were also a plus size. I'm between a medium and large, but again, sometimes I have to wear a thermal lining glove so went for large.

I agree with what you say about some of the older suppliers like Belstaff, who are still around. But I always think they are too old fashioned, and over the years went for brands like Richa. Good luck and I hope you find what you are looking for.

My workaday Richa boots and summer jacket.

 

[Apriliarider]

I remember Belstaff well. I agree that they seem a bit old fashioned….but for someone riding a vintage bike, that maybe desirable? I mean, there’s a reason helmet manufacturers make retro helmets…..people (around here anyway) were wearing the genuine article vintage helmets 😲

 

[Clive]

I remember Belstaff well. I agree that they seem a bit old fashioned….but for someone riding a vintage bike, that maybe desirable? I mean, there’s a reason helmet manufacturers make retro helmets…..people (around here anyway) were wearing the genuine article vintage helmets 😲

We have them over here too, mostly the last of the Die Hard lot... "Old British Iron is Best" brigade. One guy I know still riding his original BSA Gold Flash, oil leaking from every pipe and tube, cylinders covered in a thick black oily residue, old Belstaff and original helmet. You're lucky to get a nod from him, as he peers down his nose at anything Japanese or remotely modern! Belstaff just never appealed to me back in the late 1970's, too old "fuddy duddy" and as for the tin of dubbin? Forget it! That's why there are so many different clothing specialists these days, because Belstaff failed to follow trends. Over the years I've enjoyed the warmth and dry comfort of numerous jackets, the names of which are long forgotten. Richa are very good though, wind and waterproof.

 

[yorkie]

We have them over here too, mostly the last of the Die Hard lot... "Old British Iron is Best" brigade. One guy I know still riding his original BSA Gold Flash, oil leaking from every pipe and tube, cylinders covered in a thick black oily residue, old Belstaff and original helmet.

Haha, good old days eh Clive, i remember taking a mate to the local biker cafe late 60's, walked in gave the 3 finger Norton salute (was riding the dominator at the time) got a few returns, said to him "see all those guys over there they all ride Norton's" What how do you know, well I said look at their left leg at the oil stain it's just like mine. it's from the oil tank breather, those other guys in the corner ride BSA's the oil stain is on the right leg, Triumph riders had clean jeans, LOL.

as for Belstaff yeah still got one (doesn't fit anymore though) bought it about 15years ago. they did improve the jackets somewhat over time, but modern textiles are much better with AA amour, BTW for information only Dubbin was for leather, Belstaff had a weird smelly wax based coating that was sprayed on and rubbed in.
my current (summer Jacket) is by Alpinestars with AA amour not cheap but the best I could get locally.

 

[[email protected]]

Ha-ha! You guys are funny. I didn't know about oil soaked pant legs because I was a Triumph guy back in the day. I had a string of 650s and but my last Triumph (and favorite of the lot) was a '69 750 Trident triple, a sweet riding machine. It had plenty of leaks, but at least they were in places that didn't soak my clothing.

After considerable effort, I did manage to get that Trident oil tight, though. I worked at a Suzuki/Triumph dealership at the time and Suzuki had this super goo for sealing 2-stroke crankcases that was really effective. I went over that Trident one leak at a time and eventually stopped every one of them with Suzuki Seal. It took a while but I kept at it. The toughest one was on the left side because the Trident had a dry diaphram spring clutch sandwiched in between the gearbox and primary chain case.

I always thought it was ironic that it took Japanese sealant to make a British bike oil tight. I guess the British bike manufacturers (and their owners) just threw up their hands and accepted that leaks were part of the game.

 

[yorkie]

yeah, not to side track this much but the bulk of British motorcycling history goes back to WW2 BSA (British Small Arms) and Royal Enfield were gun and ammo makers but got a contract to built bikes for the armed services. finesse was not required so were built rough and ready most would have had a life of a couple of hundred miles perhaps, back then there were no manuals or bike tools so most fixings were flat head screws with no torque settings, so they leaked a lot, (very long story very short) but relevant.

 

[Clive]

yeah, not to side track this much but the bulk of British motorcycling history goes back to WW2 BSA (British Small Arms) and Royal Enfield were gun and ammo makers but got a contract to built bikes for the armed services. finesse was not required so were built rough and ready most would have had a life of a couple of hundred miles perhaps, back then there were no manuals or bike tools so most fixings were flat head screws with no torque settings, so they leaked a lot, (very long story very short) but relevant.

I'm not going to start getting all sentimental and view our past through rose tinted spectacles BUT towards the end, Brit bikes they were dated junk, plain and simple. As for your triple, that design was first developed in the early 1960's, we could have beaten our Jap rivals to the post, but as usual, we were too busy navel gazing and quaffing champagne in the boardrooms to notice how the Japs were using a new strategy - called Marketing. Try reading "Whatever Happened to the British Motorcycle Industry". It reads like a sad lament to a dying hero. As for the oil leaks, "they are all like that Sir" was the usual lame excuse, as you ride off down the street, p*ssing oil everywhere! That's if the bike didn't break down before reaching the end of the street! My old dad's Bantam could piddle oil from every orifice, and after a few weeks, the entire front drive looked like an oil slick! Finally, most of the oil leaks on the four strokes originated fom the pushrod tubes (under pressure) and poor sealing. All you had to do was get some good quality nylon seals and hey presto, no oil leaks, no need for gasket sealant. I don't think we've strayed too far from the original point about clothing, as Yorkie so wisely points out, all that oil and grease did sometimes act as a waterproof barrier! And I apologise about the Dubbin mix-up, I only waxed a jacket once, got 5 mins into it and I genuinely don't know or cannot remember a thing after that point!

 

[[email protected]]

To get back to Aprilia's original subject, I'll be interested to hear how all this pans out, not only the product itself, but the shipping, import duties, and so on. Living in Canada, ordering from the UK often works out well, I assume because both are Commonwealth countries and have close trade ties. The Royal Mail and Canada Post play particularly nicely with each other.

 

[Apriliarider]

Update #1:
Boots arrived last week on Friday, a couple of days ahead of the estimated delivery date. Shipping was free for those concerned with that sorta thing. I’m pretty sure Sport Bike Shop ships free on orders over $100 US.

DHL are who delivered the box o’boots. They were a local company, established in Berkeley but sold to Duetsche Post some time ago. That’s a different story though.

I found them to be a nice fit, the toe box fits well, the heel is stable and the lower boot is all kinds of comfy. From the ankle up, they’re a bit on the stiff side but I imagine they’ll break in over time.

The calf closure is on the snug side which isn’t a big deal. I mean, if you were planning tucking your leathers in then yeah; it will be an issue. I’ve tested them as I intend to wear them, with my pants over the boots, and that seems to be a perfect fit.

I’ll update on the boots further once I’ve actually worn them (likely tomorrow) on a ride. Yesterday was full on down pour…over 1.5 inches in 3 hours. Roads were inundated so I took the ‘Burban. Auto 4WD works wonders in the wet and slick.

Planned on riding today but as it was full on down pour this morning with winds over 25 mph and gusts higher than that, I opted for the SUV again. Tomorrow is supposedly way less rain and wind so my plan is to ride tomorrow.

On a side note; I ordered myself a set of Berik winter riding gear. All ballistic nylon, armored & water proof and insulated too. Wound up having to order a second time as Berik sizing isn’t 100% accurate in conversion.

My advice is, order at least one size up on their jackets and 2 up on their pants…maybe 3. I ordered from FC Moto in Germany which is where I got my heated gloves.

They also use DHL to ship which is excellent. I paid $38 shipping and the box arrived when they said it would, 2 business days after I received shipping confirmation.

The piss poor part of all of it is, trying to return the 1st order. UPS quoted me $700 US to ship that same box back to Germany. 😲 Not a typo. Not BSing. $38 to get here. $700 to return.

I think I could buy a round trip ticket and drop the box off myself and fly home for less.

 

[yorkie]

The piss poor part of all of it is, trying to return the 1st order. UPS quoted me $700 US to ship that same box back to Germany. 😲 Not a typo. Not BSing. $38 to get here. $700 to return.

I think I could buy a round trip ticket and drop the box off myself and fly home for less.

absolutely correct, I've tried a couple of times to have stuff sent from the US and it's always the shipping that kills the deal, I'm sorry to say it's the reason no-one outside the states buys Duc's carbs just too expensive to ship even small things are so dear. I got some coolant pipes from a US member and although he gave me them for free it still cost 50 bucks for shipping. on the boots front glad your happy we said their stuff was good kit just little on the tight side.
last word for Clive Brit bikes were always crap with a couple of exceptions but we all know what they were don't we.

 

[Apriliarider]

I don’t get how shipping to the US is $38 on DHL but returning with DHL is $480. Same courier, same system, same aircraft and likely same personnel doing the heavy lifting. Doesn’t make any sense.

Anyway, I haven’t made it by the post office to see what the rate is for USPS. Somewhere online it said $78 but I’ve yet to confirm that. Be far more cost efficient if it is. Though that’s still double what it cost to get here.

Anyway, I finally got to ride in to work with all the new kit this morning. Rain had slacked off to something more akin to a medium drizzle. Not quite rain, but heavier than drizzle.

Got geared up and headed out. 1st thing I noted is, the sole of the boots are slick when wet. Specially on the foot pegs. The result was more than a few missed shifts as my boot slid all over when trying to upshift.

That my only complaint though. Feet were warm and dry when I got to my office so all good in that department. The Berik jacket and pants combo…well; not much of a combo really. The zipper to connect them doesn’t work at all so they’re hardly a combo.

Individually they work. The pants are snug but effective at keeping out both the rain and the cold. The knee armor had to be manipulated into place but I find this to be true with all but my leather pants and my Alpinestar A-10 mesh pants.

The jacket is great. It’s warm and water proof…no water intrusion noted at any of the seams or zips. Armor is good and feels substantial. It was a bit tight across the upper back when in the sport bike riding position but it didn’t ride up past where the pants ended.

Overall, I’d say it’s worth the $290 shipped to my house for the kit. If the zip worked then I’d be much more enthusiastic in my review. If only.

 

[[email protected]]

Update #1:
Boots arrived last week on Friday, a couple of days ahead of the estimated delivery date. Shipping was free for those concerned with that sorta thing. I’m pretty sure Sport Bike Shop ships free on orders over $100 US.

DHL are who delivered the box o’boots. They were a local company, established in Berkeley but sold to Duetsche Post some time ago. That’s a different story though.

I found them to be a nice fit, the toe box fits well, the heel is stable and the lower boot is all kinds of comfy. From the ankle up, they’re a bit on the stiff side but I imagine they’ll break in over time.

The calf closure is on the snug side which isn’t a big deal. I mean, if you were planning tucking your leathers in then yeah; it will be an issue. I’ve tested them as I intend to wear them, with my pants over the boots, and that seems to be a perfect fit.

I’ll update on the boots further once I’ve actually worn them (likely tomorrow) on a ride. Yesterday was full on down pour…over 1.5 inches in 3 hours. Roads were inundated so I took the ‘Burban. Auto 4WD works wonders in the wet and slick.

Planned on riding today but as it was full on down pour this morning with winds over 25 mph and gusts higher than that, I opted for the SUV again. Tomorrow is supposedly way less rain and wind so my plan is to ride tomorrow.

On a side note; I ordered myself a set of Berik winter riding gear. All ballistic nylon, armored & water proof and insulated too. Wound up having to order a second time as Berik sizing isn’t 100% accurate in conversion.

My advice is, order at least one size up on their jackets and 2 up on their pants…maybe 3. I ordered from FC Moto in Germany which is where I got my heated gloves.

They also use DHL to ship which is excellent. I paid $38 shipping and the box arrived when they said it would, 2 business days after I received shipping confirmation.

The piss poor part of all of it is, trying to return the 1st order. UPS quoted me $700 US to ship that same box back to Germany. 😲 Not a typo. Not BSing. $38 to get here. $700 to return.

I think I could buy a round trip ticket and drop the box off myself and fly home for less.

Yikes! Things are complicated enough when ordering stuff from another country, but returns can really be a PITA. I hate ordering apparel online in general because of the potential sizing issues. Might be worth trying to sell the wrong sized stuff cheap locally, minimise your losses, and chalk it up to experience? Or maybe ask for a RMA from the original vendor with a "print it yourself" return shipping label that gets it down to something reasonable?

I hope it all works out in the end.

 

[Apriliarider]

Thanks. And yeah, I’ve entertained just selling the stuff on locally. But I’m gonna try and return it first.

Update #2:

I rode to work this morning. I’d call it a medium drizzle in that it was heavier than drizzle but not quite rain yet. Here all worked as advertised and I got to work warm and dry. Hung everything up to dry and changed into my work clothes.

This afternoon was supposed to be heavier rain but the forecast didn’t show anything major. I don’t even think it showed more than a tenth of an inch for the hour I leave work. SURPRISE!

I geared up and rode out from under the overhang outside my office. It was a pretty persistent rain coming down but nothing serious. A little way down the road, as I’m stopped for a traffic signal things increased. Heavily. Wind picked up a bit, rain intensified significantly.

By the time I made it to the main road to home it was hammering down. Big honking drops at a high rate…water was beginning to pond in the wheel tracks. I got on the gas to keep my visor clear. It just kept coming down…if I had to guess it was at least a half inch an hour or so rate. True test of the new gear and the new boots.

I made it home warm and dry which is all I could ask for really. So it all works as advertised. The boots though were a bit disappointing in that the sole is so slick when wet, my left boot slides all over the foot peg when shifting…trying at any rate.

I missed more shifts today than I have in probably my entire riding career which is saying a lot. Every time I tried to upshift, in particular 1st to 2nd and 2nd to 3rd. Gotta sort something out for tomorrow….though it is supposedly going to be less wet than today.

 

[Apriliarider]

Today was a whole lot less rain than yesterday….as in none during my commute in and then…..then the sun came out and temps increased dramatically. It was up to 64 F by the time I rode home.

Boots were less slick with the dryer conditions but I expect that once the soles are worn in, the slickness may go away a bit. I noted that if I drug my feet a bit while walking to to the bike the soles were far grippier when I went to pull the boots off.

I made a stupid mistake yesterday on my way home in that I did not pull the jacket sleeves over the glove gauntlets. No rain got in until I stood in my garage trying to drop dry a bit before going inside.

While stood there water began dribbling into the gloves from my sleeves. I hung the gloves to dry last night but this morning the insides were still a bit damp. Mostly dry this evening when I got home, so hopefully tomorrow they’ll be fully dry as it is supposed to rain again. ….updates will follow after a few more days of riding in all the new gear.