TVS Racing Takes Safety To The Next Level With Airbag Vests, MotoGP Helmets And More

From excelling in racing to making great strides in safety while racing, TVS has come a long way!

TVS has been active in the Indian racing scene since 1982. It all started when the manufacturer started racing with 50cc mopeds, and those were fast mopeds at that time, with a top speed of 105kmph. TVS Racing has focused on rider safety ever since.

Now, with the 2024 TVS One Make Championship, TVS has taken rider safety to the next level by providing the riders with airbag vests and FIM homologated helmets along with leather race suits, full-gauntlet gloves and racing boots. We journalists who participated in the 2024 TVS Young Media Racer Program got to ride with the same top-notch riding gear.

How TVS Is Enhancing Rider Safety On The Race Track?

For its One Make Championship Races, TVS Racing already used to provide CE-certified leather race suits, chest and back protectors, full gauntlet gloves and leather race boots. But this time, TVS has gone one step ahead and equipped the riders with Alpinestars Tech Air 5 airbags and top-of-the-line KYT NZ Race helmets, which meet the Moto GP standards.

Alpinestars Tech Air 5 Airbags

The Alpinestars Tech Air 5 airbag vest is priced at Rs 1,08,000 in India. It is worn under the race suit and covers the shoulders, chest, ribs and full back. The airbag vest comes with six integrated sensors (3 gyroscopes and 3 accelerometers) which along with a specially designed crash algorithm senses when to deploy the airbag during a crash. The airbag has a 30-millisecond reaction time and engages instantly in case of a crash, saving the rider’s upper body. It absorbs 95 percent more impact compared to a regular chest and back protector. It uses a micro USB to charge and once you charge it fully, you are sorted for the next 30 hours.

The airbag vest is easy to wear, just like a jacket. Once you wear it and close the zipper, its lights indicate that the airbag has been activated. It is lightweight and comfortable to wear and just feels like wearing any other chest and back protector vest. With the high temperature, you may feel a bit hot while stationary, but when you are riding on the track, its vents help regulate air flow pretty nicely.

KYT NZ Race Helmets

All the riders were provided with FIM homologated KYT NZ Race Helmets which are the brand’s top-of-the-line helmets, and cost Rs 35,000 in India. The helmet has a carbon-fibre shell and comes with an ECE 22.06 certification. ECE regulations are motorcycle safety standards set by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) but are applicable globally. The new ECE 22.06 standard replaces the 20-year-old ECE 22.05. While ECE 22.05 tested five impact points in a helmet at 7.5 m/s, ECE 22.06 tested 18 impact points at speeds of 6m/s, 7.5m/s, and 8.2m/s.

My experience with the KYT NZ race was very good. It was a very comfortable helmet with a wide field of view. My helmet size is S, and the NZ Race fitted my head perfectly. The helmet was very lightweight thanks to the carbon fibre shell and the air vents kept my head cool from the Chennai heat with its impressive airflow. For high-speed stability, the helmet is aerodynamically tested. Its race spoiler and winglets reduce air drag by 4.54 percent, which can also be felt while riding.

The addition of this high-tech riding gear by TVS Racing is much appreciated. This not only enhances rider safety but also boosts their confidence to push their limits on the track, which, in any case, is the safest place to do so. During the practice, there were two crashes at the track and in both cases riders got away without a scratch and after the basic riding gear checkup, they continued to attend the practice sessions as well.