Introduction
It has been over two months since I started riding in the Tiivra Alterego 2.0. We have seen nippy nights, sweltering noons, and a couple of quick runs over winding roads together. I have also commuted in it with ear plugs and without, and with a Bluetooth communication system. And after almost 1000km of riding in it, I am now ready to present my conclusions; some good, some not so.
What I liked
Easy to spot: The gold hue, or Sunblaze as Tiivra calls it, does draw attention. It is almost impossible to miss someone with this helmet on. I am told it looks loud, gaudy even, but when quizzed about ‘being seen’, the answer has always been the same: It is impossible to miss me in that helmet! Job done.
Near perfect fit: I wear a size ‘small’ for most helmet makes, domestic or international. It is the same with the Alterego. Moreover, it is easy to pull on or take off without it pulling at my ears. This holds even with the communication system installed. Once on, the fit for my head is spot on. It is snug but without any pressure points causing discomfort even after hours of riding. The cheek pads too, are tight enough to push my chubby cheeks up a bit. And though the helmet fits closely around the head and cheek area, there is more than enough space to accommodate the ears, which prevents them from twisting or folding.
Comfortable feel: Once on the head, the cushioning and the fabric of the helmet feel cosy. The fabric feels soft and non-abrasive. The cushioning for the pads and the headliner drifts towards the plush end of the scale. Plus, wearing specs is a non-issue; be it sliding them into the helmet or riding with them for hours without the ears hurting. I am also happy with the sense of space the helmet offers; it fits close but doesn’t feel claustrophobic.
Wide eye port vision: There are two things I appreciate most in a helmet – along with comfort, safety, and a good fit – good ventilation and a wide eye port. The Tiivra offers the latter in spades. It allows for a wide peripheral vision making commuting both quick and safe. Besides the width, the height of the eye port is tall enough to allow for good visibility of the road ahead even when tucked in and riding.
Ventilation: With a large chin vent, two brow vents, and two wide head vents – not to mention, three exhaust vents – ventilation on the Tiivra Alterego 2.0 is good too. So, that’s another box checked. At anything over 60kmph, one can feel the flow of the air. Even in stop-and-go traffic, the Alterego is one of the rare helmets wherein I don’t feel the need to pop up the visor even a wee bit to improve ventilation or breathability at a standstill. Although not the quietest, I am willing to trade some noise for better ventilation.
What I didn’t like
Fit and finish: Going for gold is great. And it does look nice in pictures. But, the paint finish leaves something to be desired. In fact, we found some inconsistencies with the fit of the exhaust vents on the helmet too. Overall, given the price of the helmet, Tiivra does need to get that final point of finishing to a higher level.
Lack of ECE rating: As we had mentioned in our introduction report, Tiivra claims that the Alterego 2.0 meets all the test requirements for ECE 22.05 rating certification. But, since the company didn’t meet the certification deadline, the helmet doesn’t carry said rating. It does come with ISI and DOT certification, nonetheless. Another point of consideration is that the Alterego 1.0 did come with an ECE 22.05 rating. So, there is probably some meat in what Tiivra is saying about the Alterego’s higher safety rating. But, since there’s nothing to show for it, we leave it to you to decide.
Conclusion
As a helmet to wear, use and live out of, the Tiivra Altergo 2.0 is very good. It has clear vision, a good fit, and flowing ventilation, and it is comfortable to spend long hours in. Now, whether it looks good or not might be up for debate, but there’s no question that with the gold hue, it is a conversation starter.
However, for a nearly Rs 10,000 price tag, more attention needs to be paid to its fit and finish. It needs to look and feel more premium when held close up in the hand. This of course doesn’t take anything away from its usability or effectiveness as a helmet, but it’s a feel-good factor we expect at this price point.
More importantly, the missing ECE rating will be a leap of faith for most looking to buy or use this helmet. I took that leap when I decided to wear and review this helmet. I did it based on the data, the company’s past, the people behind Tiivra, and the promise that the helmet will get the high safety certification soon. And I will continue to use it for a while longer.
But, whether you want to take that leap, is of course up to you.
Product details
Make: Tiivra
Model: Alterego 2.0 Sabre
Availability: Tiivra’s official website
Price when tested: Rs 9,950
Photography by Kaustubh Gandhi
Gallery
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