India’s helmet maker, SMK Helmets, has set a major safety benchmark on the global stage. Its top-selling full-face helmet, the SMK Typhoon, has officially been awarded an impressive 4-Star safety rating by the UK’s independent, government-funded safety body, SHARP (Safety Helmet Assessment and Rating Programme).
With this result, SMK earns the distinction of becoming the first Indian helmet manufacturer to secure a 4-star rating under the rigorous SHARP testing regime.
What Does a 4-Star SHARP Rating Mean?
Established in 2007 by the UK’s Department for Transport, SHARP was introduced to give motorcyclists real-world safety data that goes far beyond standard pass/fail certifications like ECE 22.05 or ECE 22.06.
To maintain strict impartiality:
- Helmets are purchased off the shelf directly from UK retailers rather than supplied by the brands themselves.
- Each model undergoes 32 impact tests across seven different helmet samples of various sizes.
- Testers strike five specific head zones at three distinct linear impact speeds: 6.0, 7.5, and 8.5 metres per second.
- Sensors measure the force transmitted to the head before scoring the helmet out of a maximum of 5 stars.
The Typhoon’s 4-Star rating places it directly alongside safety scores achieved by decades-old, legacy helmet manufacturers tested under the exact same protocol.
Link to the SHARP SMK Typhoon Helmet Safety Rating: https://sharp.dft.gov.uk/helmets/smk-typhoon/
SMK Typhoon: Specifications, Features, and Price
Certified to the stringent ECE 22.06 standard set by the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), the SMK Typhoon combines advanced protection with rider-focused convenience.
| Feature | Specification Details |
| Shell Material | Energy-Impact-Resistant Thermoplastic (EIRT) |
| Weight | Approx. 1.6 kg (~1.6kg) |
| Safety Standard | ECE 22.06 Certified & 4-Star SHARP Rated |
| Visor System | Anti-scratch coating, Pinlock 30® lens, drop-down sun visor |
| Fastener | Quick-release buckle |
| Ventilation | Multi-point ventilation channels |
| Sizing Options | Seven sizes available (XS to XXXL) |
| Price (MRP) | Starts from ₹5,200 |
Riders can pick up the Typhoon across SMK’s authorised dealer network as well as online channels in India.
Engineering Beyond Minimum Standards
Highlighting the milestone, Mr Sidhartha Bhushan Khurana, Managing Director & CEO at SMK, noted that the brand has spent years engineering helmets around peak rider protection. He explained that the SHARP score serves as independent public validation for standards SMK set internally long before external tests measured them. Emphasising that design, construction, and materials should perform rather than just scrape by regulatory minimums, he stated that Indian riders deserve gear measured against the exact same yardstick as the world’s most established brands.
Global Footprint & Motorsport Presence
Already available in over 40 countries, SMK continues to expand its international presence. Alongside the SHARP rating, the brand recently stepped into international motorsport as the official technical helmet sponsor of the Moto4 Latin Cup.
Together, these achievements showcase how Indian helmet engineering is actively going head-to-head with long-standing global marques—competing on verified safety performance and build quality rather than price alone.
