From track corners to safer Indian roads.
"We'd rather invest in better armor than better ads. We'd rather prove our gear on the track than just talk about it. We measure success one rider at a time - by who walks away from a crash."- Sukesh Ashok Kumar, Founder
Born to Ride
My motorcycle journey didn't start in a boardroom or a design studio. It started in my childhood, watching my father's Yezdi and RD350 roar to life. The smell of two-stroke oil, the distinctive sound of those legendary bikes - that's where the passion was born.
Just after college I got my first motorcycle and discovered the freedom of the open road. But it was in 2011 that riding became more than just transportation - it became a way of life. That year I founded Born Riders, a riding group that started as weekend breakfast rides to escape corporate boredom and grew into overnight trips, mountain adventures and a tight-knit community. In just over a year we organised almost 100 rides.
View the Born Riders photo albums
The Track Calling (2011-2013)
2011 changed everything. I went to Kari Motor Speedway to watch and photograph my Born Riders friends on track. Standing at that corner, watching bikes lean at impossible angles, I had an epiphany.
From 2012 onwards the track became my classroom. Every corner taught me about physics, control, and the limits of both machine and rider.
Photo album from 15 October 2011
In 2013 I attended California Superbike School at the Madras International Circuit. That was the moment the gear gap became personal: I couldn't push my Kawasaki Ninja 250R to its limits with the stop-gap racing gear I had. The options for an Indian rider in 2013 were:
- Imported and expensive, not designed for Indian conditions
- Locally made but inadequate, wouldn't protect in a real crash
- Completely missing for serious track enthusiasts
Building TBG (2013 - today)
I started TBG as a side project while working at Microsoft, where I spent 11 years as a Diagnostic Engineer. It quickly became clear this was more than a business - it was a mission to make riding safer for every Indian motorcyclist.
From 2014 to 2018 I organised track days at MMRT (Madras International Circuit) because nobody else was - handling track booking, bike transport, hotels for outstation riders, refreshments, ambulance and medical support. Those four years weren't just events; they were living laboratories where I saw firsthand what gear failed and where the gaps were.
In 2015 I took the leap into competitive racing on a Triumph Daytona 675R - the MRF Superbike Championship at MMRT and the JK Tyre Superbike Championship at Buddh International Circuit. Racing taught me what no design studio could: how gear performs at 200km/h, in extreme heat, under maximum stress. It showed me where seams fail, where armor shifts, and what truly protects in a crash.
The TBG Way
Track-First Design
Every TBG product starts from a track racing perspective where ultimate safety is expected. We don't design in studios - it starts at the racing track. Lean angles, abrasion zones, ventilation for Indian heat, armor that stays in place during impact.
The 3 Non-Negotiables
Every product must answer yes to: Would I wear it racing? Would it protect in a 200km/h crash? Is it comfortable for 6+ hours of riding? If any answer is no, it doesn't get made.
Global Tech, Local Fit
SAS-TEC armor from Germany, Knox SPS from the UK, SuperFabric for abrasion resistance - combined with a fit and ventilation profile built for Indian body proportions, weather and roads.
The Innovations
- India's first gloves with Knox SPS TBG Sport & TBG Street Gloves brought Knox's patented Scaphoid Protection System - previously only in INR 15,000+ imported gloves - to the Indian market at INR 5,950, with a 99% success rate in avoiding wrist injuries.
- India's first mesh jacket with SAS-TEC CE Level 2 armor TBG Knight made German Level-2 protection accessible at INR 10,500, where it was previously only available in INR 30,000+ imports.
- India's first Reissa breathable rain liner The Reissa membrane in the TBG Knight made all-weather protection finally workable - breathable enough for Chennai heat, waterproof enough for Himalayan rain.
- India's first airbag-compatible race suit at this price point TBG GP PRO Race Suit pairs SAS-TEC Level 2 armor at shoulder, elbow and knee with airbag compatibility - and a 99% success rate in avoiding collar-bone injuries.
Real Crashes, Real Protection
"I had a fast crash on a corner. The Knox protection on the gloves and the side metal plates took an amazing hit and didn't expose the actual gloves surface to the ground. It didn't transfer any injury to my hand."Kartik Verma - 2019, Madras International Circuit
"The suit has been my saviour for over 4 years. The thick SAS-TEC L2 armours make sure you come out of crashes without any injury. Haven't seen this level of attention to detail at this price range ever."Sandeep Gorai - 4+ years of racing crashes
"After using brands like Alpinestars and Ixon's top of the line race suits for racing, in many ways I feel TBG is better - and would cost you half their price."Vishwadev Muraleedharan - National Champion
"Hands down one of the best products out there amongst Indian brands. I have experienced some shallow and some nasty crashes on track but TBG gloves are still the one I would choose over the majority of high-performance protection."Pukhraj Singh - Racer
"The quality of the leather is at par with Dainese and Alpinestars. At the same time we get SAS-TEC Level Two armors everywhere, and this suit is compatible with the Alpinestars Tech 7 airbag. So that makes this my favourite choice. It is one of the cheapest suits in the Indian market and very good quality."Sashanka Sekhar - Professional racer
Trusted By
While we don't do much marketing, OEMs and racing teams choose TBG when they can't afford gear failures.
TVS Racing supply for the National Championship. Honda Racing protection for competitive riders. Ather and River for vehicle testing and development. Indian Army for stunts during Independence Day and Republic Day.
The TBG Promise
When you choose TBG, you're getting:
- Gear designed by a racer, not a marketing team
- 10 years of real crash testing, not lab simulations
- Direct access to the founder, not a customer service script
- Industry-proven protection, trusted by TVS, Honda, Yamaha, Ather and River
- The confidence that comes from gear that's been proven when lives were on the line
Connect With Me
Have questions about gear? Need sizing advice? Want to share your riding story? Reach out here - I still handle customer queries personally.
Founder, The Breed Gear
Racer | Engineer | Safety Advocate
P.S. Still have my Microsoft badge. It reminds me that sometimes the biggest risks lead to the most meaningful rewards.
