Halvarssons / Custom lids

[Austin]

I have looking at the Halvarssons Safety jacket for ages and with a bit of money burning hole in my pocket it feels like a purchase is imminent. The nearest dealer to me seems to be CustomLids in Newcastle - unless anyone can tell me otherwise. GFL in Bedforshire is the other place I know of but is too far to make a special trip.

I know I can phone them but are Customlids a mailorder only company or is it real premises showroom with lots of stock too? If so I will be paying them a visit this weekend, else I might just take a chance and order £400+ worth of jacket unseen on the basis I can send it back and it will have cost me about £20 in post (cheaper than the petrol too)

[pete h]

They're mainly mail order Austin, but you can go into the store, or you certainly could when I visited Westgate in 2007, fantastic street for bike shops. I got a cracking deal on a shoei lid, 150 less than anywhere else was offering. It doesn't look like the most salubrious store from the outside, but the staff were friendly and not too pushy, definitely worth a trip just to browse the shelves, if I'd had a top box at the time I'd have come away with a hell of a lot more than a lid.

If you're looking at Halvarssons jackets just remember that they nearly always come with no back armour fitted, just a pocket for you to put a separately bought one into - for similar money you can look at some really good rukka jackets, which will have full protection included, but both brands are similar quality and really well made, personal choice for me though is the rukka, having ridden through monsoon type rain for hours in their kit I can't rate it highly enough.

[Austin]

Thanks Pete, I will try and phone them to find out if they have what I want in stock, if so I will be back to the land of my birth at the weekend.

I particularly fancy the Halvarssons saftey jacket as it seems to be much more flexible than a single jacket from anywhere else. The safety comes from the inner jacket/liner to which you add your outer of choice. Halvarssons offer a choice of vented/mesh jackets or full waterproof one's all at reasonable prices but seemingkly with all the features I weant and need. And, as they do not have the armour in them can be squished up into a top box or small tail pack - so you always have the fickle UK weather options covered. OR, you could add a top jacket of your choice - some stuff from the Klim range looks very tasty. Pricewise Customlids do all the Halvarssons options that I want for a tad over £450 incl P&P. Bikerland in Germany do the same for similar money, but if I picked and chose the cheapest I could get the combo for £420, but at the risk it all comes at different times and postal costs may add a bit to that. I haven't seen a rukka jacket for that money nor do they offer the flexibility of Halvarssons - although I haven't added in the cost of a back protector yet.

[Jem]

I got a Rukka jacket from Bikerland in germany via the internet and it didn't include a back protector.

Just my twopence worth

[Shox Dr]

Infinity @ York have a lot of rukka clothing in stock. With deals to be had. I always walk past it muttering Hoooowwwwwwwwwwwwow much lol

[Austin]

Phoned up Skins cafe in Brackley to talk about Halvarssons safety jacket. Manger/owner there called Tony was incredibly helpful. They don't stock the safety jacket depite being an exclusive Halvarssons outlet. After a long chat with Tony where he clearly described all plus points and all the minus points I have decided against the safety jacket, but don't know what I will get instead. I think I will wait 'til the NEC bike show in November to try one on and see what else is available.