I still see the Thunder 3 frequently in most helmet stores that I’ve been to
BHPian after recently shared this with other enthusiasts:
MT Thunder 3 – Short Review
This is an older model from MT Helmets, and the Thunder 4 has since come out, with the latest ECE 22.06 certification. However, I still see the Thunder 3 frequently in most helmet stores that I’ve been to, hence I’m writing this down for potential buyers. Since this helmet has been covered extensively elsewhere, I’ll focus on things that aren’t upto the mark, rather than specs and features.
This is my first ever helmet, purchased in Jan 2024 for Rs. 6800. Therefore my comparison points are friends’ helmets, obviously worn for short durations. Overall it’s relatively lightly used, mostly for weekend rides and sometimes in the city. Rarely been caught in rain. I store it in a cupboard, covered with the provided bag.
The helmet is ECE 22.05, DOT and ISI (sticker, not printed) certified.
Likes
- Good fit for my head shape
- Not too noisy (I mostly ride with earplugs though)
- Flip-down sun visor
- Double-D ring closure
- Good stability at highway speeds. Does not lift up, does not move side-to-side
- Supports Pinlock installation (sold separately)
- Never had a single drop of water enter the helmet during rains
Dislikes
Overall thoughts
The helmet is functionally good. It’s reasonably comfortable, has decent airflow and is stable, is not too noisy, the sun visor does its job and both the optical elements do not distort/refract. At 1.6 kgs, it’s the same weight as most other helmets in this range.
However, I am a bit bummed out about the quality. I expected to keep it for 5 years, but it looks like it’ll barely last 3. The biggest miss for me is not having removable pads, which makes it difficult to clean. The visor doesn’t open/close smoothly anymore, and the spoiler’s rattle is getting to me so I’ll have to glue the screw. I’m also seeing pilling on the inner liner’s fabric. Again, very hard to do anything about it due to not having removable liner. And every time I open or close the sun visor, the plastic lever bends and feels like it’ll snap.
I didn’t have any expectations since this was my first helmet. However, this is a pretty pricey product from MT and I did expect it to hold up a little better. I’d like to know a couple of things from you all
1. Whether my expectations were misplaced and this is par for the course
2. How does this helmet compare to the Thunder 4?
3. What’s a decent price range for an upgrade around 2 years down the line? I prioritise functionality and longevity over looks and features.
Thanks and ride safe!
Read BHPian comments for more insights and information.
