[alphamike_1612]

Originally Posted by alphamike_1612

TVS Racing has a single/double visor ECE 22.05 rated helmet on their accessories website.
---SNIP---
Would highly recommend these.

Since I posted this, I decided to write a review on the same.

But first, a few images:

The front has 3 intake vents, one on the bottom and two vents on the top all of which can be closed.

The ISI logo is painted and not a sticker. The rear has an exhaust with a minimal spoiler at the top and two vents at the side at the bottom.


The warning sticker was stuck by me, the helmet comes with a set of stickers that have your blood group and this warning.


Note the sunvisor mechanism position, out of the way and hence giving you more space to fit your intercom and not worry about wires getting caught in the mechanism, this was a huge issue for me in the SMK Twister.


Speaker pockets. However there is no routing for the cables.

The mic doesn't have a pocket and kind of juts out which might be irritating to a few.

Why I chose this helmet instead of the Axor/Axxis/SMK?
1. The price.
2. The Axor helmets have an X on the shell which I am not comfortable with, no matter how safe it is and has cleared the ECE certification. I understand brands like Scorpion too have it, but somehow I am not convinced of the safety.
3. I am not a fan of removable spoilers and all new versions of Axor have this.
4. I already have an SMK twister and hence didn't want to get the same one again.
5. Axxis doesn't have a double visor which was an absolute requirement for me since I wear glasses.

Pros:
1. ECE 22.05/DOT/ISI certified.
2. The helmet is intercom compatiable and has speaker pockets.
3. Double D ring closure.
4. Completely removable Padding.
5. Pinlock 30 is included in the package.
6. The price.

Cons:
1. The noise while riding is on the higher side, especially post 80kmph, however nothing that a pair of ear plugs can't solve and at this budget, I find this to be standard.
2. The weight at 1650g might put off several people without even trying the helmet. However, like I have mentioned further on, it hasn't caused any neck issues.
2. The helmet while having speaker pockets, doesn't have a similar cut out for the microphone. While this is not exactly a con, the mic kind of sits right in front of your lips while riding and this might be irritating to a few, however I got used to it within the 1st 20 minutes.
3. The Pinlock 30 is included separately and isn't fit in the visor. It took me a few tries to get it right. However, once done right, it works well.

I tried hard to find cons and these were the best I could come up with. Will update further if I find anything else.

The company:
TVS is known to us an automotive brand, however for the last 2-3 years they have been promoting their apparel and I came across this helmet in a Instagram ad. I believe the products are manufactured by someone else for TVS with their branding.

The buying experience:
The website has nothing . It has just the price and size options with a warranty for 2 years. It doesn't even have a sizing chart to find out which size fits you. There exist no Youtube reviews which provide any insightful information. One of the youtube videos had a comment that this was made by Vega and is based on the Axor Street. A quick photo comparison proved the same to be true.

Their helpline/email is however quite responsive and the sales exec I called was very helpful and confirmed that it is indeed Vega that manufactures these helmets and that they are the old version of Axor Street. He also confirmed that these aren't old models and are being produced for TVS currently. (True to his words, I received a September 2022 manufactured helmet in November 2022.)
They also have a one time free replacement/refund option, where if the size or quality doesn't suit you, you can exchange it.

Both of these gave me the confidence to purchase the helmet. This was the first time I was buying a helmet online. I used the size charts available on the official Axor website to decide on the M size. However, I ordered it with much trepidation since I use an XL shell of the SMK. While I knew that shell and padding sizes are different across different manufacturers, I was still apprehensive. However, the replacement policy was a relief and I went ahead and purchased the M size itself.

The MRP is ₹5100 and after a 20% discount, it retails at ₹4080 which is a downright steal considering the price of the Axor Street is ₹5400.

The helmet arrived 2 days later (Hosur to Chennai) and was well packed. The helmet was a matt finish and came in a cloth cover with the pinlock 30,a few stickers and a small information booklet. The booklet had the only indication that this was manufactured by Vega. Surprisingly however, the booklet had no information on the ECE certification. However, I trust it was a simple oversight and that the helmet is actually ECE rated.

It took me quite a few tries to insert the pinlock correctly and once that was done, I took it out for a test fit and comfort. I came away impressed, the fit was perfect, the padding was comfortable and the sun visor operated easily. The only downside was the noise levels post 80 KMPH which too was solved with a pair of earplugs.

Installing the intercom (I use a Parani M10) was easy with the only difficulty being the mic jutting out. There are no pressure point before or after the installation of the intercom.

The front vents can be closed and didn't let any water in. The rear vents while they can't be closed also did not act as points of water ingress.
Overall, I am very satisfied with the product and highly recommend it for those within a budget of 5k and still need a ECE helmet.

[neil.jericho]

Originally Posted by alphamike_1612

Hi Neil, did this birdie of yours reveal if it'll be the same International spec models or new models specific to the Indian market with ECE/DOT/SHARP ratings?

If it's the latter, I wonder how different they would be from our homegrown SMK/Axor, other than having the backing of a big name brand.

On a slightly different brand, SMK (Steelbird) exports the same spec helmets to other countries, so the helmets you find on fcmoto are the same ones sitting in our stores. I was really happy that for once we aren't being treated differently.

alphamike_161, first off, thanks for posting such a detailed experience with buying and using the TVS Racing helmet. There arent a lot of credible sources on the internet that contain feedback on these TVS products, so its good to get a real world experience from a fellow rider.

Coming to your questions, what Ive heard is that the international helmets will be of the same quality and specifications as what is sold abroad. However, getting them made in India, by large Indian helmet manufacturers, will help smoothen out the ISI certification process and improve availability in the market.

Given that the current ISI standards are a reflection of the respected ECE 22.05 standards, I doubt that we will have to worry about anything, when these helmets reach dealer stores.

As you rightly said, it is a matter of pride for us bikers that we have Indian made helmets from Indian manufacturers, being sold in Europe and around the world. 10 years ago, I wouldnt have believed that it would be possible, but here we are!

[Gaur]

Originally Posted by neil.jericho

Gaur, Im pretty certain that a drop down sun visor has little, to nothing, to do with noise in a helmet. The amount of noise in a helmet is usually a function the number of vents in the helmet, the amount of airflow that the vents let in, the quality of the cheek padding, the market positioning of the helmet (for example, a race helmet requires maximum air flow) etc.

Currently, I use a LS2 Storm and an Airoh GP 550. The LS2 Storm has a drop down sun visor and very plush padding. The Airoh GP 550 is a FIM certified race helmet. Without ear plugs, the LS2 is easily the more quiet of the two helmets. I believe it is down to the plusher padding on the LS2 (yes, a Rs 10K helmet with super plush padding is hard to believe!) and the GP 550 letting in a lot more air, while the cheek pads arent too plush.

Conversely, before this, I used an AGV K3 SV and a Shark Race R Pro. The AGV K3 SV had a drop down sun visor. The Shark Race R Pro was a race helmet with super plush padding. Between the two, the Shark Race R Pro was the quieter of the helmets, most likely because the lovely premium padding fit so well against my cheeks, that it barely allowed excess air to come through from below.

Hi Neil,
Thanks for sharing your experiences, i agree noise is a combination of multiple features, am trying to figure out more about it.
During my ride i actually rode sometime with all the vents closed, didnt help either.
While reading more on this issue came across some good insight on the below website.
https://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycle-helmet-noise/

The below highlighted region also caught my eye, untill now i was riding a Bajaj Avenger with my LS2, my new AXOR helmet coincides with changing my bike to a Honda CBR250r, maybe this as well is adding up to the issue.

[GutsyGibbon]

Originally Posted by Gaur

Hi Neil,
Thanks for sharing your experiences, i agree noise is a combination of multiple features, am trying to figure out more about it.
During my ride i actually rode sometime with all the vents closed, didnt help either.

Agree with your assessment. Most of the time its a question of which of the factors you can address to get to an optimal state of comfort. I ride with a Schuberth helmet, and Howard Leight MAX 1 with NRR (Noise reduction ratio) of 33. On my Honda NC700, I had also added a bigger Puig Windshield to create a comfy bubble for freeway speeds, and I thought it was good.
Its only after I got a BMW R1250 GS, I realized how much more quiet and comfy it can get, with a stock windshield. Even rides on the freeway without the earplugs are bearable. The airflow over the helmet and the normal riding position matter a lot.

In Bengaluru, I would rent a Duke 390. Even with my helmet and earplugs, it used to be really really loud. The windshield matter a lot, but a lot of people trade off the noise for looks of a naked bike. For people, who dont care much about looks, I recommend trying different windshields and seeing what works best for your height and riding position.

[Grimlock]

Looks like Axor have a few updated lids -

The Apex finally gets its own carbon fibre variant - Weighs around 100 - 200 gms less than the regular variant (1.6kgs), costing the same as the SMK Titan carbon fiber (12k)


https://axorhelmets.com/index.php?ro...&search=carbon


New Xbhp livery



https://axorhelmets.com/helmets/full...product_id=578


& A quirky new Batman helmet -


https://axorhelmets.com/index.php?ro...product_id=550

The helmets look good, but they need to work on reducing the weight of the regular variants. 1.5 to 1.6kgs is still too much imho.

[Axe77]

Was in Tokyo recently on a work trip and I couldn’t resist buying myself a nice Shoei or ARAI. Had researched a bit and wanted to buy an adventure touring helmet for a while and had zeroed in on the Shoei Hornet ADV for this. Even at full MRP (minus taxes since I’m not a resident) the Hornet landed in at about INR 37.5k. Picked up an extra visor for it as well since prices in Japan are anyway rock bottom for Shoei and ARAI in particular.

Anyone who’s got friends / family in Tokyo or visiting there on work, I highly recommend a visit to Ricoland Tokyo Bay - its massive and has a huge range of stuff - literally everything from luggage to helmets to riding gear (even bike parts and tyres). Best part is if you carry your passport and are a temp visitor they will bill you without taxes. In Japan, you don’t even need to go through the formality of showing the goods at Customs while exiting the airport. Super convenient.

I had bought a heavily used ARAI full face for a visit to the track earlier this year, which should hold good for another year or so. If I visit Tokyo again in the next year or so I’m definitely keen on replacing that with an ARAI Quantic or a Shoei RF 1400 to have one proper full face helmet at disposal.

Here are a few pics of the Shoei. I bought an extra SENA universal clamp (Harmon Kardonn) in India for the Shoei so I can mount either my 20S or 50S on it as needed. Quite handy to be able to use either unit on this helmet so that my wife or kid can wear the other helmet with a comm unit as well.

Some pics of the helmet. Matches the Revit Sand 4 quite nicely too.

[no_fear]

Originally Posted by Axe77

Anyone who’s got friends / family in Tokyo or visiting there on work, I highly recommend a visit to Ricoland Tokyo Bay

If I had known you were going to Tokyo, would have suggested NAPS Adachi or Nankai Bihun and check out their stuff. Especially Nankai as they carry their own brand and produce a lot of cool stuff. The other 2 are Rabee and Ride On at Ueno station. Ride On is a very well known Arai distributor and offers very good discounts. Rabee is a weird shop - they have a lot of cool gear but the customer service is bizarre - they ignore you if you don't speak Japanese.

Ricoland is awesome, it's like candy land for bikers. Since they are very popular, they charge full price on all the items and don't offer many promotions.

Enjoy your helmet, it looks good and matches the bike.

I will be at Ricoland and NAPS this 2023 Feb

[Axe77]

Originally Posted by no_fear

If I had known you were going to Tokyo, would have suggested NAPS Adachi or Nankai Bihun.

The other 2 are Rabee and Ride On at Ueno station.

Ricoland is awesome, but they charge full price on all the items as they are very popular with tourists and expats.

Ride On and Nankai Bihun has amazing discounts on Arai helmets and domestic Japanese accessories and gear.

Enjoy your helmet - I will be at Ricoland in Feb

Thanks for that info no_fear - this is really handy to know. I'll also need to see how close they are from wherever I would stay but fingers crossed if another trip does materialise I'll definitely keep these in mind too.

Any other highlight of these various stores. i.e. which one is better for what? One thing about Ricoland was the sheer range of stuff and inventory. But if one is traveling with a very specific purchase in mind that's less relevant I guess if the other boutique stores also keep stock.

I do have an Arai Quantic in mind or RF 1400 (NXR2) for whenever my existing used Arai gives up. I guess better start training for Tokyo marathon's 2024 edition. Good enough reason to go - checks two boxes in one visit.

[no_fear]

Originally Posted by Axe77

Any other highlight of these various stores. i.e. which one is better for what? One thing about Ricoland was the sheer range of stuff and inventory.

If your office is at Marounochi / Otemachi / Nihonbashi area - both Ueno station and Ricoland are accessible. Naps and Nankai are located in the suburbs so a bit difficult to access.

in terms of products

for both Japanese and European parts and variety, its Ricoland (but most expensive)

Japanese helmets - Rabee / Ride On at Ueno

Japanese riding gear / accessories - NAPS and Nankai (usually the cheapest as Nankai is the biggest domestic distributor).

If you go to Osaka, I will recommend visiting Nankai Bihun, which is close to Osaka station. Their HQ is at Osaka and they work very closely with many Suzuka based racing companies.

Hope this helps.

[tharian]

Could anyone tell me where the LS2 Storm might be available in Bangalore?
My existing helmet (SOL) is long past its prime and based on Neil's ownership review, I have zeroed on on the Storm.

Thanks.

[Sebring]

I picked it up from Adheshwara Arena. Lalbagh road

Originally Posted by tharian

Could anyone tell me where the LS2 Storm might be available in Bangalore?

[tharian]

Originally Posted by Sebring

I picked it up from Adheshwara Arena. Lalbagh road

Is it this one?

ADESHWARS RYDERS ARENA

https://maps.app.goo.gl/fZry1kzx9EfRWtt39?g_st=ic

[Entsurgeon]

Originally Posted by neil.jericho

Entsurgeon, the Airoh GP500 was replaced by the GP550. You wont get liners and cheekpads in India. If you do, it will be really old stock. Look up Motoin or FC Moto and import it yourself.


.

Thanks.
Would the liner of a GP550 fit a 500?? My cheek pads are fine.

[neil.jericho]

Originally Posted by Entsurgeon

Thanks.
Would the liner of a GP550 fit a 500?? My cheek pads are fine.

It might be best to check with Airoh directly on that. How old is your GP500? If its approaching its end of life, then it may not make financial sense to get a new liner for the helmet. You might be better off getting a replacement helmet, instead.

[Shumi_21]

Guys, I came across this helmet brand called Ignyte while researching a new lid for a friend. They have a model IGN-7 that is ECE 22.06/DOT/ISI certified and costs ₹6499.

What's even more interesting is that the IGN-7 ECE 22.06 helmet can be customized with different options such as Photochromic visor, Polygene fabric, SITIP Italian fabric, specialized cool max fabric, titanium Double D-rings, etc.

Never heard of Ignyte before, but if everything is as they claim, the helmet seems incredibly VFM, especially with the ECE 22.06 certification.