Sometimes it feels weird to question our fundamental dynamics of development. Two-wheelers dominates the personal-mobility space in India. And, despite the popularity of two-wheelers among the masses, the awareness for the use of quality safety headgear is quite often ignored. It's a proven fact that the use of the sub-standard plastic helmet will be of no good at the time of the fatal accidents. There is a niche enthusiastic biker community in India that advocates and understands the need for certified quality helmets. There is a significant void in the helmet industry,especially in India, for certified quality helmets. Well, not anymore, as the Indian-homegrown helmet manufacturer- Tiivra has launched 6 Composite Fiber helmets at Rs 15000 (inclusive of all taxes)
Note- we haven't got our hands on the helmet yet, so we reserve our judgment about the overall quality of the helmets in real-world conditions. Tiivra has currently launched six helmets - Xroads, Sabre, Razztazz, T1, Buzzy and Demon. All of these helmets are designed with unique graphics to make it more attractive. The brand has thoughtfully put custom-developed gold coating by Nippon Paints to make it highly visible. Moreover, there are reflective nanoparticles for night-time visibility and SunBlaze as the basecoat that renders a high level of visibility day or night from a distance. The helmet weighs just 1250gms! Yes, you did read that right. At 1250gms, it is one of the lightest helmets , even compared to global standards. Tiivra launched its products only after securing quality certifications, including DOT and ISI. Tiivra's helmets are awaiting ECE 20.6 certification – considered among the most stringent quality checks globally. Tiivra claims they have exceeded 22.05 ECE standards as per a NABL accredited lab. Appreciable efforts are made in terms of mould design, wherein Tiivra makes only two sizes per helmet.
The vision and the actions of the brand have been noteworthy until now. "We set out two years ago with an audacious vision of building an extraordinary product and a strong brand in the biking space. We took two years to create a product that is truly world class and can be among the best in the world. But, we are not simply selling helmets – we are building a strong brand that has a relationship with the rider. We will always offer differentiated rider- centric solutions across products, services and technology. It has been a stubborn journey in a quest for quality and we intend to make the brand global as well.", says Alpana Parida, Founder and CEO of Tiivra Ventures.
The Indian government has also taken center stage regarding safety standards and has framed rules and regulations to implement those. According to Section 129 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1998, every person above four years of age riding a motorcycle of any class or description shall, while in a public place, wear protective headgear conforming to the standards of the Bureau of Indian Standards.
Tiivra not just aims to make Indian roads safer but also aspires to establish itself as a global helmet manufacturer with an ambitious target of marking its presence in the global $8 billion motorcycle helmet industry. The zeal and energy of the team to promote a safer riding culture are really commendable. Despite the challenges, the team has developed the product within two years of dedicated efforts, and now it will be a wait-and-watch game as the brand paves its way to achieve its ambitious goals.To read our take on safety gears.