Airbags are the pinnacle of motorcycle safety, but even so, our market has precious few locally made options. The first of these is the rather practical backpack 9also by Neo Kavach), and the second is this Air Vest. It is nearly identical to the Rs 71,892 Helite Turtle 2 but costs less than half, because it is made in India by NeoKavach.
Helite is an old name in the tethered airbag game, and the mechanism here is the same as the Turtle. Instead of a series of sensors, you have a long, detachable cord that you anchor to a hard part on your two-wheeler. On a motorcycle, think of something like the subframe or pillion grab rail. If, like me, you use this on a scooter, then leaving the cord under the seat and shutting it will do the job just fine. In case you’re wondering, absent-mindedly walking away from your machine without untethering the cord won’t accidentally trigger the airbag – it needs a properly forceful tug.
Separating the cord from the vest will inflate the airbag in just 100 milliseconds. This is slightly slower than the sensor-based systems from Alpinestars and Dainese, but quick enough realistically. Upon inflation, it provides comprehensive back protection and has two large inflated strips that protect the chest area. It even comes with a L2 back protector in case you fall but aren’t separated from your machine.
This vest is designed as an external garment and needs to be worn on top of your jacket or suit. While the protection you get here is undoubtedly high, it is a rather single-minded purchase. While wearing the vest, it wouldn’t be advisable to wear a backpack, especially with a tight-fitting sternum strap, because that could cause injury if there isn’t enough room for the airbag to expand. There’s also no storage here aside from a tiny pocket, which can hold some cash and essential documents. In our climate, you also need to be mindful that ventilation at slower speeds is noticeably lower.
Its inherently single-minded nature will naturally limit the vest’s appeal, but where I could see it carving out a niche is for weekend leisure riders and maybe even trackday warriors on a budget. This is a refreshingly simple piece of kit with an air of durability to it, and if you’re okay with its limitations, at Rs 32,400, it’s a good buy. Then again, the Neokavach backpack seems even more convincing.
Where: neokavach.com
Price: Rs 32,400
