These days, it has become pretty hard to buy helmets of a decent grade/quality. At one point HJC’s were affordable and made sense for the price. However, with the implementation of ISI certification for every helmet sold here, most major international brands, including HJC are missing. Thankfully, all is not lost. Enter Indonesian KYT and their line-up of ISI-certified helmets. I was in the market for a sub-Rs 10,000 helmet to replace my existing MT Revenge 2 (another ISI-marked lid) and I zeroed in on the TT Course.
What made me gravitate towards the KYT TT Course were three things – the design, the ECE 22.05 certification and that it had a Double D-ring retention system. I’ve always liked sharp, sportier-looking helmets and I love the way this lid looks. To top it, the Leopard Racing team’s paint work truly makes the helmet stand out.
The design isn’t all about form, but it also incorporates a good deal of functionality. There are five intake vents and four exhaust vents and these do a decent job of keeping me cool in Mumbai’s hot summer. It isn’t as good as my far more expensive Shoei, but it is better than what the MT Revenge 2 managed. The clear visor (with Pinlock studs incorporated) that the helmet comes with is optically correct and forms a nice seal to block wind/rain once shut. That said, the visor locking mechanism is too close to the shutter for the chin vent and I inadvertently shut the vent while opening the visor, say while standing still in traffic. I think the placement of the visor lock mechanism should be moved to the side, whenever KYT decides to update this lid.
Besides this issue, I think the helmet is pretty good for the price. The fit, for instance, is great. Although, I’d recommend you try the helmet at a store before purchasing it, instead of ordering it online. Because, in my case, while my usual size falls between 57-58mm, which is medium, the TT Course size S is what fits me perfectly. Once the lid was on, I liked the balance of the helmet and that’s a plus in my books. The weight at 1,450g isn’t too heavy either. Over the course of two months, I’ve worn the lid on all types of bikes, including the BMW S 1000 RR superbike. And I was impressed with the fact that there was never any buffeting at high speeds. Even my vision through the visor when I was crouched on the BMW was unhindered.
As for maintaining the inners, the cheek pads are easy to remove and wash. However, I did find the visor removal mechanism to be fiddly and I’m still waiting for KYT India to restock a dark smoke visor as I type this review. In all, the KYT TT Course is a pretty good helmet for its price and its sporty design and attractive colours are what makes it desirable for those looking for a budget-friendly helmet.
Gavin Rodrigues
Dinshaw Magol
Rishaad Mody
