KYT KX-1 Race GP Review

Of late, we have had some cool helmets hit our market, thanks to KYT. From budget to high-end race lids, this Indonesian brand is fast becoming the go-to helmet brand for enthusiasts in India. For the past two years, I myself have been using a KYT R2R Pro, and suffice to say, it’s serving me well. But a race helmet it is not – which is what I have been wanting to have for sometime – so while I have used it for occasional track days, it’s not a direct replacement for my now-defunct HJC RPHA 11.

Thankfully, this has now been fixed as KYT just sent us a KX1 Race GP in the mail – yes, their highest performing race helmet that’s used by MotoGP riders!

First things first, the spec of the KX1 Race GP that we have received is the same as the one ex-Ducati factory rider Enea Bastianini used during the Indonesian Grand Prix in 2023. And what a stunner it is! This helmet comes with a matte finish, featuring intricate artwork with a ‘Garuda’ theme – a mythological creature from Indonesian folklore. The attention to detail is simply outstanding, and so is the fit-and-finish. Similarly, everything you touch oozes of high-quality – the sturdy visor locking mechanism and lock lever, which are made using high-strength alloy stand out in particular.

Coming to the crucial details. The KX1 is a true-blue race helmet – it’s FIM homologated, gets ECE 22.06 certification, and more importantly it’s also ISI-certified, which means you can use it in the country without a bother. The KX1’s shell is made of a TriComposite compound – a mix of carbon, Kevlar, and fibre glass. It’s produced in three shell sizes – S, M & L – and is available in six sizes. I wear a size M, so that’s what I got. However, I’ve to say that in the first week or so, I found the fit to be a little too snug than I would have preferred. The fully removable cheek pads and inner liner feature soft Hydrocool fabric, which reeks of high quality, albeit like I said, the pads pressed against my cheeks rather firmly, so it wasn’t quite comfortable in the initial days. However, with time, I have gotten used to it and it’s breaking in well.

The KX1’s USPs, though, are its aerodynamics, wide field of view, and feather light construction (1,450gm). And if you think of it, that’s all that matters in a race helmet. At high-speeds – I mean even up to 250km/h – there was hardly any buffeting or movement, in my experience. Similarly, with a vertical & horizontal field of view of 92-degrees and 210-degrees, respectively, it gives you a near panoramic view of the road ahead, even when you’re fully tucked in. It’s the best that I have ever experienced in a race helmet, period.

There’s a fair bit of noise at high-speeds, which is a caveat of all race helmets if I am honest, so it’s hardly a deal-breaker for me. What does occasionally trouble me about the KX1 is its visor lock mechanism – it requires unusually more effort to open. There are a total of seven air intakes offering great air-flow, so you won’t be huffing and puffing for air after an exhausting track session.

The KX1 retails at ₹57,000, and that’s steep pricing indeed. But you can’t really complain about this because compared to other FIM-homologated race-helmets, the KX1 is a steal deal. Not to mention, most of the KYT’s rival brands aren’t officially available in the country, so getting your lid serviced or even replacing a spare part – something as small as a visor or ratchet system – can be a real task. I’m telling you this from first-hand experience, trust me.

All in all, I can happily say that my quest for a world-class race-helmet is now over, and I won't shy away from recommending it to fellow track-day junkies.

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The KX1's USPs are its aerodynamics, wide field of view, and feather light construction