I was at Martin Moto
a few weeks back, not really looking for anything in particular. Just walking the showroom floor, doing some window shopping. On my way out I swung by the apparel section because I knew I was going to need a new pair of gloves at some point. I wasn’t planning to buy anything that day. Then I spotted a sale rack, saw the price, and walked out with a pair of NORU Tekko Gloves for thirty bucks.
Table of Contents
Why I Was Shopping for New Gloves
For the last six years I’ve been wearing a pair of Scorpion EXO SGS MKII Motorcycle Gloves. I paid around $90 for them on Revzilla back in 2020 and honestly got every bit of my money’s worth out of them. They’ve logged a serious number of miles. But the wrist closure doesn’t hold anymore, the Velcro is shot, and I’m starting to see skin peeking through in a few spots. At that point you know it’s time.
The updated version of that Scorpion glove runs about $120 now and I was genuinely considering just ordering a pair and being done with it. But gloves are one of those things where fit really matters. You’ve got to put them on and see how they feel. So I figured while I was at the dealership I’d at least look around before spending that kind of money.
How I Ended Up With a $30 Pair of Gloves
Martin Moto had a rack marked 50% off. The NORU Tekko gloves normally run $59.99, marked down to $29.99. I’d never heard of the brand before that moment. I did exactly zero research before buying them.
NORU is a brand that makes affordable motorcycle gear across the board. Gloves, boots, jackets, pants, backpacks. They’ve got options for cruiser riders, street riders, sport bike guys. They basically cover the whole spectrum on the budget end of the market. I had no idea any of that when I grabbed these off the rack. I just liked the price.
One thing worth knowing if you’re thinking about picking up a pair: the 50% off sale price actually came in a few dollars under what you’d pay on Amazon, where they typically run around $35. So if you find them at a dealership on sale, grab them there. Otherwise Amazon is probably your best bet at that price point.
What You’re Getting With the NORU Tekko Gloves
These are a leather street glove with hard knuckle protectors on the back. Here’s a quick rundown of what they’ve got going on:
Construction and Fit
The leather is genuine cowhide with airflow perforations throughout the fingers and a molded inlet vent with mesh on the back of the hand. There are stretch panels and an articulated knuckle design with Cordura that helps the glove move without binding. The palm has a double layer for extra abrasion resistance and a silicone overlay for grip. The knuckle protector is thermo-set molded with a real carbon fiber insert.
As far as fit goes, I wear a large and these feel true to size. Nothing tight, nothing sloppy. The fingers aren’t too long. It’s just a good fit.
Touchscreen Compatible
The index finger and thumb are siliconized so you can use your phone without pulling the glove off. Pinch, tap, zoom, whatever. Works fine.
The One Thing I Wish They Had
My old Scorpion gloves have a hard plastic palm slider. The idea is that when you go down, your natural reaction is to put your hands out, and the slider lets you skid across pavement instead of digging in and potentially buckling your wrist. It’s a safety feature I’ve come to expect in a glove.
None of the NORU gloves I looked at have a palm slider. Not a single one. For $30 I’m willing to overlook it, but I want to be upfront that it’s missing. If that’s a non-negotiable for you, these probably aren’t your glove.
What It’s Actually Like to Ride in Them
I’ve had these out four, five, maybe six times now. For the most part I’m happy with them. But there are a few things worth knowing before you buy.
The Break-In Period
These gloves arrive completely flat and unformed. They’re not pre-bent to match how your hand sits on the bars. So for the first several rides, you’re fighting the leather a little bit every time you grip. After 45 minutes to an hour my hand starts to feel it. That said, this is pretty normal for a new leather glove and I fully expect it to go away as they break in.
Ventilation
On paper these gloves look like they should breathe really well. Perforations on the fingers, vents in the knuckles, an exhaust port out the back of the hand. In practice they run warmer than my old Scorpion gloves, which have none of that and are just perforated leather. It’s not dramatic, but come July I’m expecting sweaty hands. Just something to keep in mind if you ride in the heat a lot.
The Strap Closure
This is a minor thing but it caught me off guard. Every pair of gloves I’ve owned, you grab the wrist strap and push it away from your body to cinch it down. These work the other way. You pull the strap in toward you. It feels completely foreign and I keep reaching for it the wrong direction out of habit. I’ll get used to it, but it’s worth flagging.
There’s also a small flap on the palm side that covers part of the Velcro. Right now it holds fine. But as the Velcro wears over time, I can see that flap becoming a nuisance when you’re trying to get the strap underneath it. Minor thing, but it’s there.
The Bottom Line on the NORU Tekko Gloves
For $30, I think these were a solid buy. The leather quality could be heavier, and I really do wish they had a palm slider. But at that price point, with a 2-year warranty on defects in workmanship and materials, it’s hard to complain too much. If something goes wrong in the next two years, NORU will replace them. That’s a pretty good backstop for a budget glove.
If I end up replacing these down the road, it won’t be because they fell apart. It’ll be because I want that palm slider back. That’s the only thing that would push me back toward spending $120 on a new pair of Scorpion EXO SGS MK III Gloves.
For what they cost, the NORU Tekko gloves are worth it. Just don’t pay full retail price.
Ride With Me
If you want to see the full first impressions walkthrough, check out the video above. And if you’re sticking around, here are a few ways to stay connected:
Subscribe to the WaltInPA YouTube channel so you don’t miss the next one.
If you know a rider who’s been on the fence about budget motorcycle gear, pass this post along. They might find it useful.
And if you want to talk gear, rides, or anything else with a solid group of riders, come hang out in the WaltInPA Discord.
Recent Posts
This was an update session more than a hands on wrenching session, but it turned out to be one of the more significant ones in this whole build. The key problem finally got solved, the tank came off...
I am going to be honest with you up front. The seized brake piston from last session is still seized. I threw everything I had at it and got nowhere, so this post is mostly about stepping back from...