Steelbird SBA-8 BT flip-top helmet review: The most VFM Bluetooth

There are two major trends on the rise in a country like India, and Steelbird Helmets aims to cater to both with its new product, the SBA-8 BT. The first trend is about the growing awareness about motorcycle safety, and the second is about mobile connectivity while riding. Traditionally, consumers would buy a motorcycle helmet and spend extra to get a Bluetooth headset to install it. The good thing about the new SBA-8 is that not only do you get both products at once, but the manufacturer also pre-installs it. For anyone who has ever installed a Bluetooth headset in a helmet, you would know how daunting a task it is.

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Before we get into the actual functionality of the Bluetooth module and other features, let’s talk about the design and features. The new SBA-8 is designed to be a sport-touring helmet and its styling reflects that. It’s a modular helmet with the lower half that opens via a button located near the chin area. The helmet has a sleek design and even comes with a rear wing for a sporty look. Additionally, the SBA-8 is available in a variety of colors. Unfortunately, the helmet we tested came in gloss black, which failed to wow onlookers while riding. As for safety, the SBA-8 is ISI rated and made from a high-impact thermoplastic shell. That’s nothing to write home about, but at least the basics are covered when it comes to safety.

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However, what it lacks in safety, it makes up for in comfort. The helmet has a well-padded and perforated interior, which is very useful for riding in the heat of summer. During the test period, we wore the helmet for a long ride in extremely hot weather and had no complaints after the test. Other than that, I usually wear a size 57-58 helmet, and the medium fits me best. In addition, the helmet is well ventilated, which helps in hot weather. The helmet has multiple air intake and exhaust ports, which are not bad, but the visor is poor. However, what makes the helmet stand out is its features, namely the built-in Bluetooth module, LED lights, and flip-up visor.

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The SBA-8 comes with Bluetooth 5.2, and its controls are located on the left side of the helmet. To Steelbird’s credit, the buttons are easily placed, easy to press, and have a very nice tactile feel. Connecting was also fairly easy, and I had the system up and running in under five minutes. Steelbird claims its battery gives you 48 hours of talk time backup and 110 hours of standby time backup. We weren’t able to test these claims, but we only charged it once during our three-day testing period.

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With it, you get a Type-C charging port and a charging time of 2 hours. The sound is reasonably loud and clear when talking on the phone, but not the best when listening to music. The second standout feature is the two LEDs on the back. They act as a power on/off indicator for the Bluetooth system, increase safety when riding at night, and finally look cool. However, its biggest downside is that this is a non-IP67 rated system, which means it is best used in dry weather conditions. This also severely limits its use as a sporty “touring” helmet.

Overall, the Steelbird SBA-8 is a good-looking, smart helmet for those who want basic safety and mobile connectivity for urban use at the most affordable price. The helmet is priced at Rs. 3,999 and comes with a 1-year manufacturer warranty. However, the minor quibbles I had to deal with were the flimsy visor mechanism, the thin cable for the Bluetooth charging port, and the lack of water resistance mentioned earlier.