Tips on buying a good helmet

Over the past week, I have been to most of the big riding gear stores in Cochin and tried out various helmets that are available. I'm sharing my thoughts and experiences below, hopefully it helps someone else who is also going the same decision making process.

BHPian neil.jericho recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Over the past week, I have been to most of the big riding gear stores in Cochin and tried out various helmets that are available. Im sharing my thoughts and experiences below, hopefully it helps someone else who is also going the same decision making process.

Axor Apex (Link)

The top of the line offering from Vega. It comes with ECE and ISI certification. They have some special edition helmets such as the DC Joker and the xbhp ones. Considering the price, the fit and finish was good. The padding was squashing the upper part of my cheeks, not so much the lower part. Some riders in the community here are using it and have given good feedback on these helmets.

Availability : Very easily available in most stores. Spares are cheap and easily available.

Price : Rs 5K for the base models and graphics. Rs 6.5K for the special editions.

Verdict : Good for its price but disqualified for not being a perfect fit.

SMK Titan Link

The top of the line offerings from Studds. It comes with ECE and ISI certification. It is exported to Europe and is available for sale on FC Moto etc. Its really tough to find in Cochin. The weight is on the heavier side. The Carbon fiber version is even heavier than the base version  Youtube is filled with videos in which the Johnny Come Lately "reviewers / buyers" claim that these are genuine carbon fiber helmets. Sigh!

Sporty!

I like these indents

Whoever came up with this colour combination should reconsider their choices in life ....

Not smartly designed (explained below)

But, the helmet does look very good. The fit and finish is a clear step above the Axor Apex. The padding feels really nice. It comes with a large pinlock. Its not perfect though. The design is a bit of an ergonomic blunder. The chin vent, the button to release the visor and the end of the visor to push it up, all are in close proximity to each other. This is something that SMK should fix in its next models.

Heavy or not, it does look good!

I like this design on the top of the helmet

Fingerprint magnet

Availability : Its the exact opposite of the Axor Apex. Very few stores are keeping the SMK Titan. Most retailers claim that the weight is a problem. One said that the company is exporting most of what they produce, hence nothing is coming to them. Another said that they wont take new stock. A little birdie tells me that production is a problem. No production. No supply. If Studds fixes their production and supply chain issues, this can do very well in India. More so in the bigger cities. Price conscious Tier 2 cities will find more takers for helmets in the Rs 5 - 6K range.

Price : Rs 8.5K for plain colours. Rs 9K for the ones with graphics. Rs 12K for the fake carbon fiber one.

Verdict : Surprisingly, this is in my top 2. Right now only one old stock helmet in white is available (am yet to see it) and this colourful blue / green helmet (not a fan).

LS2 Storm Link (Link)

Another good offering from LS2. It comes with ECE and ISI certification. It is available for sale in Europe and the US. You can find a video review from the Revzilla team. There isnt any pinlock with this helmet, so that is an additional cost that needs to be factored in.

The padding is very plush. The helmet's design isnt the sportiest when compared to the others on the list. LS2 has majorly lost its way in the Indian market, in the last half a dozen years. Competition from SOL and then MT, has really pushed LS2 out of the mindset of motorcycle enthusiasts. But it is one of the few options with an ISI certificate. Hopefully they recover their mojo.

Availability : Low. There are a couple of pieces in one store. Thats it. New stocks should arrive soon.

Price : Rs 10.7K for the base models. Rs 11.1K for the special editions.

Verdict : Very nice and in my top 2 choices.

MT Blade 2 SV (Link)

The top of the line offering from MT right now. It gets a very impressive 4* SHARP rating and is manufactured in India. So it is ECE and ISI certified.

My head just doesnt get along well with MT helmets. It was no different with the Blade 2 SV. Just like the Axor Apex, the padding squeezes the top of my cheeks.

Availability : A lot of Spartan Pro Gear partner stores shut down when Spartan Pro Gear wound up. PowerSports International just doesnt have the same reach as Spartan. As a result, the availability of these MT helmets has dropped drastically in Cochin. Just one big store has stocks of MT helmets now.

Price : Rs 9.5K.

Verdict : It felt a little expensive for its price but disqualified for not being a perfect fit.

KYT NFR (Link)

A sensible product from KYT. The company is making big strides globally. The NFR is available in Europe. It is popular in south east Asia. As far as I can tell, one big batch of KYT and Suomy helmets were imported with the ISI certification but nothing new has come in recently. I really liked the fit of the NFR. The paint schemes are really nice and premium. Like for like, this felt the closest to my AGV K3 SV that is being replaced. There is some chatter about whether the ISI certified KYTs will return to India or not. Nobody has a clue on when new stocks will arrive.

Availability : Low. Retailers are trying to push what is sitting on their shelves. No visors available. Long term future is a massive question mark.

Price : Rs 12.5K

Verdict : Nice fit but unless I can get a spare visor now, its probably off my list.

Suomy Stellar Link (Link)

A mid range offering from a very well known company. Its difficult to find reviews on this helmet from the interwebs. That is not a surprise, knowing Suomy. As someone who knows a thing or two about the motorcycle scene in India, it baffles me that of all the companies, Suomy has offerings that are ISI certified. Something doesnt add up here, if you can read between the lines.

Stunning looks!

On second thoughts, that ISI and ECE stickering isnt very confidence inspiring

In terms of padding quality and premium feel, this is half a step above everything else listed here. Just like the KYTs, none of the retailers have any idea whether Suomy will make a return to India.

Availability : Very low. Retailers are trying to push what is sitting on their shelves. No visors available. Long term future is a massive question mark.

Price : Rs 18.3K

Verdict : The best of the lot but unless I can get a spare visor now, its probably off my list.

In summary, right now my top two choices are the SMK Titan and the LS2 Storm. I know, I didnt expect to have an Indian brand in my final shortlist either. The SMK Titan isnt perfect but its a very solid product from an Indian manufacturer. The LS2 is lighter, doesnt have a pinlock but feels more plush. hiren.mistry's ownership review is a vote in favour of the SMK. I dont know anyone who is using the LS2 Storm. If anyone has any thoughts, please feel free to chime in.

P.S - Unless the importers of big brands take the plunge and get an ISI certificate for international helmets, these options are the new reality that we have to live with. Bilmola is one company that is applying for ISI certification. When will it come through, who knows? But at least its a start.

P.S 2 - I know that all of us old timers in the Motorcycling section of TBHP advocate for the best possible riding gear and helmets to be used. Quality doesnt come cheap. And due to their track record, we have, as a community, rightly tended to look down at the Indian helmet manufacturers and their offerings. But the truth is that in recent years, they have really stepped up their game to heights that none of us thought could have been possible. The old giants have finally woken up. Try out an Axor Apex or a SMK Titan and think back to the best Indian made helmets that were available 5 to 10 years ago. Its no comparison and we will be hard pressed to believe that these are the very same companies that did little to build their capabilities for decades. I'm not saying that they will challenge the Arais and Shoeis of the world, but they are taking the game forward. And that can only bode well for the Indian motorcycling community.

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