CNELL safety gear?

[Benno]

Hi Guys. Has anyone tried any of the CNELL riding gear?
They seem to have the best priced gear on the net, and they have a shop in Auckland.
Im a newbie rider so any thoughts would be helpful. Cheers

[BigAl]

I have a set of their kevlar lined jeans and they are well made and very comfortable.

As you'll probably hear I don't expect them to protect as well as leather but are cooler in summer and more versatile.

They have knee and hip pads.

[iYRe]

I have their Nerve Jacket and Pants.. Never got wet in either, and never got cold legs even without the insert in..
I also have one of their leather jackets, which is decent..

I recommend them, but also 1tonne.co.nz is about the same price, and an NZ company.. and their helmets are about 25000 times better (dont buy a CNELL one, they just dont even compare).

A friend has 1tonne pants and loves them, and I have the modular helmet, which is also really good (especially for the price.. it's better than my mates $500 jobbie).
Also, I'm using the 1tonne razor gloves.. they are superb. The CNELL ones are crap.

[jaffaonajappa]

I got one of their el-cheapo 1pce leather suits last year.
The old saying with leather gear holds true in this instance- you get what you pay for.

The suit cost me $199 on trademe. Its got armor in the right spots, double layered where it counts mostest-est... and the stitching hasn't yet fallen apart.

But. I didn't buy it for normal use - i.e. potentially test its effectiveness at over 100km/h. Im not confident about its performance in a serious crash.:eek5:

I bought it for bucket racing - and so far its had two wee falls, no real slides - just low speed stuff. leather grazed in normal fashion - no surprises :2thumbsup

If it was me, and was going to use it for on-road (or full track) riding - id steer clear of the super cheap CNELL stuff. Or take someone along to inspect it that really knows their stuff.

[flyingcrocodile46]

I got one of their helmets a couple of years ago and found it to be perfectly ok except it let a bit of water in around the edges of the visor. Very annoying but not unique to Cnell. I also had a look at their disc locks (very cheap) and bust one while playing with it). I would consider buying from them again but wouldn't assume good build quality. I would look carefully.

[Tigadee]

Got a Cnell jacket and it's very good. Haven't gone through heavy rain with it, so don't know its full wet weather performance but in mild wet weather it was fine - kept me dry. I like the mesh lining - not the winter lining - which allows a slight separation between the jacket and your clothes, and also helps with taking off the jacket after a ride in hot weather, i.e. I don't have to peel the jacket off.

1tonne is good but the sizes are really weird. I wear a medium and their medium is more a large to me - I prefer my gear snug to offer less wind drag. Also, their little zips [on the sleeves and upper chest areas] which allow for some ventilation seems a good idea and when it's hot and you travel at low speeds, it's great BUT when you close those zips, the tabs that cover the zips creates strong wind drag at high speeds. Not my favourite jacket so far, not worst just not my favourite...

While I may not always buy stuff from Cnell, I certainly can recommend them.

[tigertim20]

Hi Guys. Has anyone tried any of the CNELL riding gear?
They seem to have the best priced gear on the net, and they have a shop in Auckland.
Im a newbie rider so any thoughts would be helpful. Cheers

I bought a pair of CNELL boots about 4 years ago now, I still have them. They cost $112 shipped to my door, and for the first couple years were used daily and probably walked more kms than my sneakers as well as all the riding time (lots and lots of kms, joy rides most days).
have always been comfy and never had an issue, feet only ever got a little bit wet on full day pouring rain rides.

bought a jacket around the same time, cost $120 to my door. lots of armour, and really comfy. very warm and only let a bit of water through on really wet longer rides. was worn pretty much daily as I never ride without a jacket.
I gave the jacket to a friend of a friend, who replaced the zip ($20) and is still using it, also daily.

I do not regret one bit buying the CNELL stuff.

[baptist]

I have a Cnell helmet that I use on the bucket (I have worn it now and again riding on the road but only locally), I found it was a better fit than the 1tonne helmet, but that is all down to the shape of your head, the 1tonne helmets certainly looked good. I have a Cnell leather jacket as well and have never had a problem with it. It is comfortable and is pretty well put together, considering the price I think you get quite a good bit of kit.

[hayd3n]

there is also www.lincrabikewear.co.nz
i bought $50 leather gloves 2 years ago and they are still going strong
i ride almost every day of the year

[psykonosis]

It's well priced gear for what it is. Some people can't afford the more expensive gear. I personally go with paying for thicker leathers but fellow riders haven't seemed to find anything wrong with their CNELL gear. That being said, I'm pretty sure they don't want to test that theory on their bikes :)

[Benno]

Thanks for all the feedback on the CNELL gear.
Think I will visit their store and check out the stuff before I buy.

I ordered some of the 1tonne gloves you recommended. They seem quite good.
Also got some pants from them but the sizing was wrong. Said 30-32" but were too tight across thigh, and Im normally closer to a 30.
Anyways they will exchange them, I just need to pay for postage again.

[iYRe]

Thanks for all the feedback on the CNELL gear.
Think I will visit their store and check out the stuff before I buy.

I ordered some of the 1tonne gloves you recommended. They seem quite good.
Also got some pants from them but the sizing was wrong. Said 30-32" but were too tight across thigh, and Im normally closer to a 30.
Anyways they will exchange them, I just need to pay for postage again.


sweet.. cant fault the gloves so far.. might have to score a set of their winter ones too

[Dobbin]

The cnell.com website is dead. The company still seems to be selling on trademe. Is the physical store still operating?

[leathel]

I got some boots for my wife, son and daughter there, Leather jacket for my wife... Go in store and try before you buy as the have a wide range of quality from utter rubbish to quite good gear, Sizing is an issue to! The kids boots were $1 reserve auctions so didn't expect much and are OK for the $20 & $31 I paid for new boots.... and they will grow out of them before they wear out :)

They moved a while back but just from one side of the alley to the other.

My leathers are 1 tonne and they are fine for not much coin.

I dont like the look of the cheaper Cnell helmets!

[GrayWolf]

Hi Guys. Has anyone tried any of the CNELL riding gear?
They seem to have the best priced gear on the net, and they have a shop in Auckland.
Im a newbie rider so any thoughts would be helpful. Cheers

Like ANY of the cheapo safety items, it's cost Vs performance. Things like the Kevlar lined jeans? They are comparable to others, and I wear the Cnell jeans. Leather items? Caveat Emptor, I sent back a pair of the leather 'biker jeans' the side seams were an 'edge to edge' single stitch seam (you could open the seam by stretching it and see through the gap) Absolutely useless for protection. Many cheaper leather jackets/trousers are 1-1.2mm thick. This was discussed in the last few months and I posted the links to 'research and information sites' 2mm is the recommended minimum, 4mm the thickest practicable, or at the least double layered on important areas. Often the 'double stitching' has one, or both seams exposed on the cheapo gear. I purchased for casual wear, a biker leather jacket from an online store, and the seam attaching the shoulder/arm is only a single seam, USELESS if you slide down the road...
Cordura? most budget gear is 600D cordura/ballistic nylon, good quality gear is 900D+...... the finer the weave/mesh the better the tear/friction resistance.

With a little 'research' you can pick up the better brands like Ixon/Tecnic etc for reasonable prices for ex display/old stock at heavily discounted prices.. FAR BETTER BET!

[Tazz]

I have a set of their kevlar lined jeans and they are well made and very comfortable.

As you'll probably hear I don't expect them to protect as well as leather but are cooler in summer and more versatile.

They have knee and hip pads.

I have a pair of these too. Don't rate them overly highly and only wear them with MX boots as the kevlar stops quite high up the shin. I'd like to say it is for safetys sake that I like the taller boots with em, but it's actually because I'm a girls blouse and they are considerably cooler :cold: than my Bullit kevlar jeans which are lined a lot better.

I have had quite a bit of irritation from the way the knee pad folds the jeans around the back and without the high boots it sits a bit low too.

The initial water 'proofing' is also very good, you just need to keep applying it (like anything) if you want it to stay (kevlar is useless when wet, so it's a good idea t do so)

In saying all that, for the price they are great and once this pair is trashed I'll probably replace them.

They are absolute rip offs for postage so make sure you pick up if cost is an issue =)

[biketimus_prime]

I went to this place out near the airport one afternoon when looking for bike gear. Their gear looks great in pictures and have nice descriptions online, but damn they suck in real life.

The gear fits horribly, the sizes don't mean sh*t.
The jackets were poor quality with thread coming off and ill fitting.
The gloves were cheap feeling and had threads coming off, not to mention sizing wasn't that great, tight in some spots loose in others.
The boots were barely passable as motorcycle boots especially after seeing the better quality ones other shops offer and yet CNELL charge the same, if not more.
The pants, the kevlar jeans seemed to be ill fitting even for the right size for me (never tried them on but the way they were shaped you could tell, and the size for me didn't pass the old neck wrap check whereas the good ones I got from motomail did fit me nicely). The jeans I assume for that price are also cheap chinese stitching methods with poor quality material. You could spend $100 more and get some decent kevlar jeans for a reputable shop.

You'll see what I mean if you saw their gear in person and had a feel and/or tried it on. Feels cheap but isn't really cheap unless you win their $1 res auctions or something. You can get better gear at other shops for the same RRP.

Honestly I wouldn't touch the stuff and went and spent a bit more cash and got some decent gear that even came with warranties. At best I'd wear CNELL stuff on a scooter for when I fly off in town at 50ks or something.

[bigreddog]

Every item of cnell I've seen has been of dubious quality, personally I wouldn't buy it or wear it.
However you do get what you pay for and its supply and demand.

[iYRe]

Every item of cnell I've seen has been of dubious quality, personally I wouldn't buy it or wear it.
However you do get what you pay for and its supply and demand.

2.5 years ago I bought a jacket, 2 helmets, some pants and some gloves.

The gloves are history.. but I have worn the pants and the jacket daily for 2 years, rain hail and snow.. They stopped being waterproof last year, and only now are starting to fall apart a bit... not bad for 140$.

[GrayWolf]

2.5 years ago I bought a jacket, 2 helmets, some pants and some gloves.

The gloves are history.. but I have worn the pants and the jacket daily for 2 years, rain hail and snow.. They stopped being waterproof last year, and only now are starting to fall apart a bit... not bad for 140$.

Some of the 'cheapo online sales gear' is of 'OK' quality. I have purchased selected items (kevlar jeans example) from Cnell, other gear they sell is simply NOT up to the job of protection. The leather jacket for casual wear I have mentioned before with the arm attached to the body by a single seam is a Cnell biker jacket. It WILL separate under any reasonable stress.
Apart from that, most of the budget jackets here are only 1.2-1.4mm thick. Recommended minimum is 2mm for effective protection. Cordura good quality is 8/900D+ not 600, and with the acknowledged highly abrasive chip used on NZ roads??
Most of the Cordura jackets sold cheaply are just that, cheap. I also ride every day, no car, and have ridden for 40 years now, so I have worn, and worn out, just about every type of gear that has been sold over the years. I wont argue the point your jacket has lasted 2 years, I'd expect it to. Some of my decent jackets are 5yrs old now. I wear an Ixon to commute daily (my oldest jacket), and it is still 'water resistant' after 2 years+ commuting, but starting to get a bit worn, and 'ratty' inside... NOTHING is waterproof, given enough time/distance, water WILL find a way in :(

[iYRe]

Some of the 'cheapo online sales gear' is of 'OK' quality. I have purchased selected items (kevlar jeans example) from Cnell, other gear they sell is simply NOT up to the job of protection. The leather jacket for casual wear I have mentioned before with the arm attached to the body by a single seam is a Cnell biker jacket. It WILL separate under any reasonable stress.
Apart from that, most of the budget jackets here are only 1.2-1.4mm thick. Recommended minimum is 2mm for effective protection. Cordura good quality is 8/900D+ not 600, and with the acknowledged highly abrasive chip used on NZ roads??
Most of the Cordura jackets sold cheaply are just that, cheap. I also ride every day, no car, and have ridden for 40 years now, so I have worn, and worn out, just about every type of gear that has been sold over the years. I wont argue the point your jacket has lasted 2 years, I'd expect it to. Some of my decent jackets are 5yrs old now. I wear an Ixon to commute daily (my oldest jacket), and it is still 'water resistant' after 2 years+ commuting, but starting to get a bit worn, and 'ratty' inside... NOTHING is waterproof, given enough time/distance, water WILL find a way in :(

I've been riding for 30 odd years myself...

My problem is budget, I cant afford $500-800 for a jacket unless I am 100% that I wll get 5 years out of it. TBH, I cant even afford 500$ even if I dont.. so I have to make do. If you're just starting out and need to get fully kitted up in gear that will afford at least some protection, then this stuff works. There is other stuff too, though, like 1tonne, and lifestyle imports gear. Another option is the Army Surplus shop in Onehunga, where you can get secondhand branded gear.. like dririder and ixon.

[granstar]

Cnell boots are comfy to wear as rally slippers, totally useless in heavy rain.

[Ribit]

A few people have mentioned you get what you pay for....
I find it disappointing that my alpinestars pants has stitching coming apart and the jacket's velcro is not sticking anymore. It shows ya dont always get top quality for top dollar.
I've been using a pair of cnells boots for about 1.5 years for commuting and they're holding up well. treated with mink oil they're even water proof. Sister had some of their racing style boots and they fell apart. So some stuffs good and some aint.

[Big Dog]

Visited store, some goods are only for show, some are good, some are surprisingly good. The chap there was pretty straight up about what was shit.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[nzspokes]

I've been riding for 30 odd years myself...

My problem is budget, I cant afford $500-800 for a jacket unless I am 100% that I wll get 5 years out of it. TBH, I cant even afford 500$ even if I dont.. so I have to make do. If you're just starting out and need to get fully kitted up in gear that will afford at least some protection, then this stuff works. There is other stuff too, though, like 1tonne, and lifestyle imports gear. Another option is the Army Surplus shop in Onehunga, where you can get secondhand branded gear.. like dririder and ixon.

Budget gear is budget for a reason. When I slid down the road 2 items failed. Both cheap items from bike shops.

Finding out when sliding down the road something is shit is not a happy place. I was only doing 50kph. Sharon had quality gear on in her off and it paid off big time.

Keep an eye out for sales. I got most of my gear I have now from Motomail when they have sales. I dont give a shit its last years version. My leather pants from memory were $799 down to $399 as they were very old model. My textile jacket was the same kind of saving.

I bought a second pair of boots off TM as the guy bought them online and they were half a size out for him so I got them for $100. In Cycletreads they are $399.

Wear gear for the slide not for the ride.

[Ribit]

Wear gear for the slide not for the ride.
ya dont wanna end up with skid marks like these ones....

Another good saying is:
Quality is remembered long after the price is forgotten.
Especially with helmets. Money is well spent on a good brain box as far as i'm concerned.

[nzspokes]

ya dont wanna end up with skid marks like these ones....

Another good saying is:
Quality is remembered long after the price is forgotten.
Especially with helmets. Money is well spent on a good brain box as far as i'm concerned.

Thats brilliant.

[rustyrobot]

Budget gear is budget for a reason. When I slid down the road 2 items failed. Both cheap items from bike shops

Care to name names? (Of the gear not the shops)

My gear is getting a bit dated and due for upgrades soon.

[skippa1]

ya dont wanna end up with skid marks like these ones....

Another good saying is:
Quality is remembered long after the price is forgotten.
Especially with helmets. Money is well spent on a good brain box as far as i'm concerned.
That's gotta sting.

[nzspokes]

Care to name names? (Of the gear not the shops)

My gear is getting a bit dated and due for upgrades soon.

I cant remember, will dig them out later and look.