Certain brands place a lot of emphasis and create copy-proof measures at great expense. We are therefore starting this series of articles to look at how these brands protect their customers and intellectual property, starting with Komine.
The saying goes, “Imitation is the best form of flattery.” In other words, a brand is considered to be “there” when it is copied. But is it really? Of course it is not good – even destructive – for a the original maker’s reputation and bottom line, but it can also be dangerous to wear fake riding gear.
Why is it dangerous to wear fake gear?
There are standards governing motorcycle gear, from head to toe, starting from the helmet, to the padding in jacket, gloves, pants, and footwear. These standards ensure that the products are tested and proven to protect against injury. Manufacturers who wish to sell their gear must conform to these standards.
The most common standard is the European CE standard, which is adopted in more than 60 countries around the world. Certain European countries mandate that motorcyclists wear CE-approved gear, and the rider could be fined or his insurance claim voided (if he is involved in an accident) should be found not wearing CE-approved gear.
Not so with fakers. Their product may look the same, feel the same, even smell the same, but they are not the same because they are not tested to these exacting standards. Some tests carried out by bloggers and authorities have found that these copycat gear actually endanger the wearer instead of providing any form of protection.
Who is Komine?
The Komine brand he company was founded in 1947 by Komine Shunsuke, a motorcycle enthusiast. Komine products are known for being affordable, high quality, and safe. The company is now based in Tokyo, Japan.
They make many forms of riding gear, including helmets, and are the main suppliers to the Japanese traffic police.
Komine places rider safety and security above other concerns and as such, most of their jackets and pants feature CE-Level 2 protection padding.
How do you tell if the Komine product is genuine?
Every Komine’s wearable product i.e. jacket, gloves, pants, footwear, leather racing suit feature a hologram tag. To verify if it is genuine:
- Turn off your phone’s macro lens feature (the flower symbol).
- Bring the camera close to the hologram tag.
- You should see at least one “OK” mark. The mark does not appear sharp but it is done so by design.
Fake Komine goods in the market may feature such hologram tag, too, but the “OK” mark does not show.
Conclusion
The issue of fake products is exacerbated by online shopping platforms where unscrupulous sellers claims that their products are “100% genuine.” However, it may be easy to tell when the item is offered at ridiculously cheap prices, sometimes with the excuse of “stock clearance” or “factory price”, so remember that it may be too good to be true.
Do buy from official channels for your own safety and a peace of mind.
Okay, that is all for Part 1 now. Stay tuned as we track down other brands.
