Ever since the Government ordered helmets as compulsory for bike riders in the State, the utility of the head gear has been a much discussed topic across TV debates and the social media. People are now scurrying to acquire one before the July 1 deadline and helmets are selling like hot cakes at shops and branded showrooms and on footpaths too. Of course, Government’s prime concern is safety but die-hardbikers say there are more reasons to wear a helmet than just safety! They swear by the style of riding with a helmet on.
“Primarily a sport accessory, helmets have always been an integral part of biking fashion,” says Mumbai-based stylist Shweta Sharma, “but their modification has been seen in mainstream fashion too.” Many designers have modelled hats and headgears after helmets,” she adds. The Mod subculture of the 60’s popularised the scooter-helmet combination as a city fashion. And that’s how helmets became an urbane accessory in a big way. Shweta, for instance, rides a bright yellow Vespa and chooses a neon helmet to match it. “Helmets add to the feel-good factor of riding a bike,” she asserts, adding, “Sometimes I also pick up helmets from the street side to change colours and become a head-turner.”
“Helmets are a cool style statement. They make you look like one ravishing biker,” points out Sridhar Mohan, a biking enthusiast who has a collection of over half-a-dozen helmets. Costing over Rs.10,000, Sridhar’s helmets are meant for different rides. “The fit and comfort differs.” he says. “Some suit city ride while others are meant for adventure biking or racing.” When it comes to safety, he vouches by his pride possession of branded helmets.
Sridhar recalls an experience of biking from Bangalore to Mumbai when his Yamaha R1 speeding at 120km/hr skid and hit a stone by the roadside. “The LS2 helmet I was wearing saved me from a head injury. Helmets are the ultimate safety necessity!”
Prasanna Kumar, a city biker lists out the little perks of wearing a helmet. It’s a great way to keep the hairdo intact and protect it from dust and wind while riding a bike and at the same time it can also hide a shiny pate. “It’s the only accessory that hides your face yet enhances the look,” he adds on a lighter note.
Venkatesh, the accessories manager at the Royal Enfield concept store at K.K.Nagar, says helmets are inseparable from the ensemble of a true blue biker. “Every signature bike brand has an exclusive line of helmets to go with the look and feel of the bikes,” he says. “The shape and styling of a helmet is a give off of the brand.” For instance, the more round glossy helmets are designed to symbolise sophistication while the matt finish ones with a sharp chiselled shape and structure give a rugged sporty look.
Half and full-face helmets with scratch-free visors are the common type preferred by city bikers. However, exclusive helmet lines come with value additions. GT Red is a model that has a detachable leather panel behind the neck. “It helps in avoiding neck pain and the usage of leather and metal zipper to attach it give a more contemporary feel to the helmet,” says Venkatesh. There are varieties with air-vents at the top and back, to enable a sweat-free ride. Racing helmets also have a spoiler projection at the front to avoid sun glare and rain.
Online shopping sites like Flipkart and Amazon offer a wide variety of helmets for men and women ranging from Rs.800 to Rs.2000. Coming in colourful graphic designs, flower-power, leopard, polka-dots and urbane prints, the helmets make a fashionable buy. “Helmets that are off-street and affordable are aimed at the young college-going bike riders. Whereas, the classy designs are targeted at the matured experienced passionate bikers,” observes Venkatesh.
Biking helmets are also a part of high-fashion, says fashion blogger Namrata Kedar. “They make a chic, modern and suave accessory.” Even international designer brands have come up with exclusive helmet lines that include the Nutcase, an American company, Sawako Furuno, a Japanese designer collection of bicycle helmets, AGV, an Italian brand that specialises in Racing, Sport and Classic helmets.
“We see helmets make statements on the fashion runway too,” says Namrata. “The innovative prints, designs and solid neon colours which were seen on clothes are now seen on helmets.”
