Motor Boots 101

Suhani Lotlikar,

The Motor Boots Project.

https://www.instagram.com/girl_in_motorboots/

Motor Boots 101

‘Orange is the new Black,’ being consistently held up by the KTM range, I went on to try the RC 200 myself. So this weekend I took to the wet roads with the tall beauty in one of my favorite boots. The aim was to test if my rain boots adapt to the change of the riding position from a cruiser to a sports.

Being a shoe lover, my heart surely has skipped a beat at the sight of wet shoe tips. Luckily my suede pair has survived my phase of bad decisions. Having learnt my lesson I now stick to a pair of black PVC boots that are taller than ankle length. While riding my cruise, they provide a great grip on the base and their semi-hard exterior helps to shift gears smoothly. Even on the KTM, where my feet were bent downwards the boots didn't slide down and the heel was comfortably locked in. The interior of the boots is covered with a thin fabric that soak water only to quickly drain it into the zig zag valves at the base. 

During the ride on the KTM RC 200, the water splashing from the front tire fell on the ankle lengths of the boot that protected my feet. The most important aspect of selecting a pair of boots is to find the perfect fitting at the sole. If this base (both sole and heel) is smaller or larger, it will cause pain and discomfort making it a distraction. The ankle/calf fitting- if not customized, can be a little lose. In conclusion, give complete priority to the heel, sole and grip of the boots and don't worry, the fabric inside also comes in fancy prints.

Keep riding! Cheers!

PS: I managed to save my perfectly painted toe nails and yes, I did wear the entire riding gear during the trip as safety is highly important! The structure of KTM makes the rider feel extremely exposed to the surrounding unlike my cruise bike that gives me a sense of safety because of the guard, etc. 

White, No White

Suhani Lotlikar,

The Motor Boots Project.

https://www.instagram.com/girl_in_motorboots/

White, No White

From my greatest inspirations, ‘I’d never wear head-to-toe black’.
As loyal as I am to this choice of Anna Wintour, the color that outnumbers all the apparel in my closet is White. It brings out a vibrant look and an overall fresh effect in any season.

So this week I put my whites to a test on the wet roads. While listing down all possibilities of this experiment, I remembered wearing a white cotton top inside an Armor jacket on a ride to Karjat. The armor being made of mesh allowed dust particles to find a way in and also left black stains on the waist and underarm area of the top. And trust me they were horrible! That was a naive choice though.

Well the weekend plan was to meet with my girlfriends at the Cat Cafe Studio in Andheri which is about 18 kms from my place. I got into the classic white top and blue denim look and rode through the unpredictable traffic of Mumbai only to reach my destination after an hour. (Yes, I managed to make it without drowning in the sweat!) For that matter, nothing else could have been a better choice than a White apparel against the shining sun. But the road was still wet and my visor protected me from being mud-slashed. To sum it up, when it comes to riding in white the choice depends majorly on the season but it surely tops the Comfortable Style List.

                          

Disclaimer: If you have a naked bike or any such large tyre vehicle around you, they will provide you with a memorable artwork on your beloved white clothing on wet roads.

Apparel: Crop top by The Cat Cafe Studio, Versova.

Helmet Hair

Suhani Lotlikar,

The Motor Boots Project.

Check out Vaitarna Dam Ride https://www.instagram.com/girl_in_motorboots/

Helmet Hair

Hello Readers,

Firstly, it has been raining cats and dogs in Mumbai and around the city today. The monsoon has officially begun! 

This calls for a session of 'Prep and Rep.' In this segment, we will look at a simple hairdo for my rider chicas (both riders and pillions). The video below is an example that will help you choose a comfortable style to fit into your full/half face helmets and look Fabulous as always. Braids: the true BFF of long hair on motorcycles. Even I twitched my nose a little the first time but believe me they look fantastic, neat and nice.

We all know the truth ladies, you may use Mousse or Hairspray but its not going to last even 20 minutes under that helmet. In hot temperatures like that of my city I recommend you the 'oil and wash' ritual. This will help you maintain the strength of your locks and fight hair loss. If you are unable do this 2 times a week, you may choice once only to bounce to Aloe Vera gel by simply massaging it on your scalp. Let's keep it simple and easy the way we like.

Keep riding! Cheer!

P.S. While riding in rain to destinations where clouds touch the roads, please be extra careful of rash drivers and remember that your machines will react in different ways, both best and worst to water sprayed roads/off-roads.