Japanese motorcycle riding gear maker Komine is one of the most popular riding gear brands in the Philippines and globally.

Unfortunately, some manufacturers are capitalizing on Komine’s popularity by making ang selling counterfeit Komine products.

This is a significant cause of concern not only to Komine but also to us consumers because we could be buying something that does not give the expected protection that could save us from serious injury in case of a spill.

Here are some ways how to avoid buying a fake Komine product.

Use your phone camera to check the tag

Every Komine product comes with a special tag which you can use your phone’s camera to check for authenticity.

Place your camera’s lens close to the tag until it cannot focus on the image. At this point, you can see a somewhat blurry holographic “OK” that seems to hover above the tag.

That’s how you know you have the real stuff. Note that you cannot tell the difference between fake and original tags by visual inspection only.

If you’re buying a jacket, make it has chest protectors

Komine CEO Achiha Naoya shares that 34% of fatal injuries in motorcycle crashes are in the chest area. To help mitigate this, Komine riding jackets have chest protectors as standard. This is not the case in all motorcycle jacket manufacturers, not even in more expensive brands.

Get your Komine gear from official sources

If you got your gear from one of those shacks in Manila port area or C6 road in Taguig, there’s a big chance it’s not authentic.

Motoworld is the official distributor of Komine products in the Philippines, and you can buy your Komine gear from any of their mall outlets or Moto Market shops. They also have an online store for your convenience.

One of Komine’s selling points, aside from safety and styling, is its affordability. Sure, “Class A” products are still cheaper, but why would you even spend any amount on counterfeit gear that offers questionable protection?