UNDER THE RADAR

The rise of stealth riding gear is a marker of a global shift in motorcycling preferences

- SAYANTAN DE

You must've noticed that the design of riding jackets have changed over the last decade or so in India. While the brightly-coloured numbers are still there, neon shades on a black base more often than not, the overall preference has been towards more subdued designs and hues. This is intrinsically linked to the declining popularity of sportbikes and rise of the retro middleweight segment, and Royal Enfield has had a large contribution. Let us explain.

In the 90s and the early 2000s, the ultimate biker fantasy used to be a litre-class superbike and full racing leathers, due to the popularity of motorcycle road racing in this era. However, there was a growing section of motorcyclists who started to move away from this archetype of biking culture.