Four models will be available with prices ranging from Rs 5,000 – Rs 36,000.
NHK helmets is an Indonesian helmet manufacturer that was established in 2017 and has grown rapidly since. The company now sponsors numerous Moto2 and Moto3 riders in the MotoGP championship and its helmets have been worn in the past by Moto2 world champions Remy Gardner and Tito Rabat. These helmets were briefly retailed in India before the pandemic, but sales had to stop due to the regulation that all helmets sold in India must be ISI compliant.
NHK has used this time to get the required ISI certification and sales are expected to begin by end-January to mid February 2023. These helmets are being imported and distributed in India by Chennai-based 69 Designs which is run by famous ex-racer Sarath Kumar.
The company will come to India with four models, including a brand new one called the K5-R which is a polycarbonate helmet that will be the most affordable of the range with prices starting at Rs 4,999. Despite its low entry price, this helmet will still have premium features like an anti-fog Pinlock lens, a double-d ring fastener and removable and washable liners.
The next model is the GP-R Tech Street. This helmet is designed to look exactly like the GP-R Tech helmet that is used by the racers but it uses a polycarbonate construction instead of fibreglass. That allows the helmet to be priced at around Rs 8,500 whereas the fibreglass GP-R Tech will cost around Rs 32,000.
Both the GP-R Tech Street and Race helmets are available in a range of aggressive and striking graphics including a dedicated graphic for Indian racing legend Rajini Krishnan. At the age of 42, Rajini sealed his 11th National Racing championship in 2022, beating many riders half his age and he is the first Indian rider to have a dedicated helmet replica available for sale to the public.
Multiple sizes are available across the models and the GP-R Tech helmet will also be sold in a dedicated childrens size. The timing of this is good with the advent of mini-moto racing for youngsters beginning in India in 2022. Click here to read what it’s like to ride one of these premium Italian mini race bikes.
The fourth helmet is a GP-R Tech Race, but this time made in carbon fibre. This particular gold livery is designed to celebrate Remy Gardner’s Moto2 World Championship win in 2021 and it is limited to 499 helmets worldwide. The price will be around Rs 36,000 and the company says it plans to bring in more carbon fibre NHK helmets in the future.
We got to look closely at these helmets at the launch and the quality and finish levels are quite impressive, be it in the crispness of the graphics, the preciseness of the visor mechanism, or the snappy feel in the openable plastic vents. Look out for a proper product review sometime in the future.