French motorcycle helmet company Roof is releasing a new helmet, the RO200 Carbon, which is expected to be the lightest full-face helmet in the world.
At just 1090g, it beats the previous lightest helmet, the Nolan-made X-Lite X-803 Ultra Carbon at 1249g.
The 1090g weight is for their small shell size to fit XS to M sized heads, while their ML to XXL helmets weigh 1150g which is still lighter than the X-Lite.
Roof helmets have been around since 1993 and have ECE22.05 certification, so they are legal here.
They are imported to Australia through Cassons, now owned by Motorcycle Holdings which also owns TeamMoto dealerships.
There is no word yet from Cassons about price and arrival.
In Europe they start at €699 (about $A1130), depending on colour and graphics.
Features include UV and anti-scratch visor with Pinlock anti-fog insert, removable and adjustable lining, intercom compatible, glasses channels, six air intakes and two extractors, and a double-D ring chin strap clasp.
Despite its light weight, Roof says the helmet is suitable for race-standard protection with “advanced technologies and innovative solutions” including “Evolutive EPS protection with five densities”.
They claim the face aperture provides 210° of horizontal vision and 100° vertical.
A new Koroyd helmet liner being used by Klim is claimed to be safer, cooler and last longer than the industry standard polystyrene or polypropylene “EPS” foam.
Koroyd is basically hundreds of tiny tubes of plastic polymer that form a honeycomb around your head, absorbing more impact and allowing cooling air to circulate.
And it can be reused after small crashes as the liner material “bounces back”.
The Koroyd liner has been used in bicycle helmets.
Now American company Klim features the material in their F5 adventure helmet. It adds about 40% to the price.
Australia currently only gets the Klim Krios adventure helmet ($A750-$950). There is no word yet on whether the F5 with Koroyd will be coming here, but it is being Euro approved which means it would be legal.
How Koroyd liner works
While EPS is the industry standard in helmet lining, there are other helmet inventions that also claim to be cooler and increase impact absorption.
By the Koroyd liner puts these two elements together as well as improving the life of your helmet.
Koroyd tubes are designed to deform on impact to absorb the energy like EPS liners, but at a higher rate of 84% compared with 60%.
Not only does it absorb more impact, but it decreases the risk of a fracture, reacts better to direct or angled impacts and reduces rotational forces.
The impact is also absorbed at a smoother rate of deceleration, reducing shock to the brain.
Once a conventional EPS-lined helmet has been in a crash, even at low speed, the helmet is usually a write-off.
However, the material in a Koroyd liner is able to bounce back from minor impacts.
Since it is made up of hollow tubes, it also allows more air to circulate around your head which is claimed to reduce heat by 30%.
Klim
The technology seems to have been bought by Ohio company Klim (pronounced “climb”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Polaris Industries which makes Indian motorcycles.
Most motorcycle helmet manufacturers have now released retro designs over the past few years and now the Arai Rapide Neo joins the trend.
Arai is better known for its racing helmets, but the sports bike category is on the slide and the retro trend is continuing to rise, so it was only a matter of time before Arai joined in.
There is no word yet on when the 1980s-style Rapide Neo will come to Australia.
It will depend on when it receives Euro approval which is expected soon.
The helmet will be available in M (57-58), L (59-60), XL (61-62) sizes and we estimate it will cost around $800-$900.
What is a retro helmet?
A retro helmet is usually distinguished by its simplistic design, round shell, limited vents and lack of aero scoops and race graphics.
Rapide Neo follows this trend with a dome-shaped Special Fibre Laminate shell available in five solid colours only.
Most of the retro helmets we have tested have been low-tech as befitting the old-school design.
While they may have modern protection and materials such as antibacterial lining to “wick away” the sweat, etc, they do have a few design flaws.
A minimalistic retro helmet usually has visors that don’t seal properly and little ventilation or at least no way to switch the ventilation on and off.
Arai Rapide
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The Arai Rapide Neo may be a little more hi-tech than most other retro helmets.
For a start, it seems to have a better visor seal with a rubber gasket around the face aperture.
There is also a rather sophisticated hinge mechanism and doesn’t have the typical Aria covers side covers which should make it a little quieter.
It also features a neat device to “crack” the visor open for more air.
Otherwise, ventilation is a bit hit and miss.
The big chin vents look like they would provide plenty of air and are adjustable, but the control is inside the chin bar which may be difficult to access.
To keep the dome design clean and simple there are no forehead vents.
Chin vents, hinge mechanism, visor “crack” tool, rear vent
While there are small vents in the visor, it looks like they will just squirt air straight into your eyes and dry them out. It should also increase noise levels.
The two very discrete slits at the rear three-quarters and rear neck vent are the exhaust outlets.
Being down low instead of at the top of the head, we would expect it would draw air down, rather than over your hair.
However, Arai says it has “Air Flora Ina” ventilation that channels air throughout the liner.
The AGV ARK intercom costs $399, but you have to also buy a helmet-specific base at $29.95. However, for a limited time, riders can save money by buying the compatible helmets and SRK in “combo deals”.
Sena’s ARK intercom is a sleeker and more aerodynamic unit than their usual intercoms.
Instead of the handy “jog dial” rotating knob common to most Sena intercoms, it has buttons.
These may not be as easy to use as the jog dial, but there is also a handlebar remote available at $149.
Handlebar remote
ARK features
Australian distributors Link International say the ARK unit features 30 minutes of “quick charging” which equals four hours of intercom use.
It is compatible with the Sena SF Utility App which allows users to configure device settings and accessing quick guides and the Sena RideConnected App that allows intercom with a virtually limitless number of riders over an extensive range, so long as they are connected to a mobile network.
Other Sena features are: voice prompts for functions; FM radio; microphone noise control to reduce wind and background noise; music sharing with another intercom; multi-way conference intercom.
It also has audio overlay which allows phone calls, GPS instructions and intercom conversations to be heard over audio from the radio, music or GPS app instructions in the background with reduced volume.
Specifications
10 hours of talking time
Three-way conference phone call with intercom participant.
Microphone mute option
Smart Volume
Audio Boost
Voice activated phone answering and intercom start.
HD quality crystal clear and natural sound.
Bluetooth Audio Recording
SENA firmware upgradeable
Water resistant
Bluetooth 4.1 supporting profiles: Headset Profile, Hands-Free Profile (HFP), Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP), and Audio Video Remote Control Profile (AVRCP).
(CE certification article contributed by Pando Moto)
Motorcycle protective rider gear has become a lot safer over the years since Europe introduced a CE legal standard for motorcycle clothing, known as EN13595, in 1994.
It was originally designed as a standard for professional racers, but now any motorcycle clothing that does not meet the standard cannot be sold as ‘protective’ wear in Europe.
This CE standard (Conformité Européene or European Conformity) is now used throughout most of the world.
If you are confused with the various labels, CE markings, standards and information about impact protection, double-stitched seams, and abrasion testing, read on.
CE markings and regulations
When buying protective motorcycle clothing, it is important to know whether the garments you are considering are produced to at least a minimum CE standard.
A label should have a CE marking permanently attached to the garment.
Any CE-approved product must come with a certificate of conformity.
What do CE standards mean?
If a product bears any type of CE marking, this means its manufacturer has constructed this garment to an applicable standard of safety and protection legislation.
This means the product is made to at leasta particular level of quality for the consumer’s reassurance.
In 1995, Cambridge University played a big part in the development of CE marking, which aided an increase of knowledge for anticipated CE personal protective clothing regulations.
CE tested, certified or approved?
There is a huge difference between the terms “CE Tested”, “CE Certified”, and “CE Approved”:
CE Tested:
The term normally implies that the manufacturer tested the whole or just a piece of a garment within their own facility that might meet certain standards. However, the garment is not necessarily tested in a certified testing facility to meet officially accredited standards.
CE Certified:
This term is more secure, as it states that the garment samples were tested in certified testing facilities. In this case, you need to find out which part of a garment was tested.
CE Approved:
This term means several parts of a garment were tested in certified facilities and are accredited to meet or surpass the required standards in all zones.
Garment testing zones
The certification test EN13595 uses two test levels, with the body divided into four zones (see illustration with zones below):
Zone 1:
must-have impact protectors and needs to last 4 seconds on the Cambridge Abrasion Machine to meet Level 1 protection, and 7 seconds to meet Level 2.
Zone 2:
must-have impact protectors and needs to last 4 seconds on the Cambridge Abrasion Machine to meet Level 1 protection, and 7 seconds to meet Level 2.
Zone 3:
requires 1.8seconds for Level 1 and 2.5 for level 2.
Zone 4:
can be used for ventilation and stretch panels, but must still last 1 second on the abrasion rig for Level 1, and 1.5 seconds for Level 2.
Cambridge abrasion machine
EN17092 has five test levels, covering three key zones of the garment – Zone 1, Zone 2 and Zone 3, with samples tested on a Darmstadt machine that spins them at a set speed until they’re dropped on to a slab of control concrete where they slow to a stop.
Darmstadt machine
Usually, you will see A, B or C letters on a label that indicates garments classification.
Classification AAA:
The highest level, demanding four seconds of abrasion resistance with the machine spinning at 707.4rpm (the equivalent of 120km/h) in Zone 1, two seconds at 442.1rpm (about 75km/h) in Zone 2 and one second at 265rpm (around 45km/h) in Zone 3.
Classification AA:
More suited to touring gear, this specifies two seconds in Zone 1 at 412.6rpm (about 70km/h), one second at 265.3rpm in Zone 2 and 0.5 seconds at 147.4rpm (the equivalent of around 25kmh) in Zone 3.
Classification A:
Deemed suitable for urban riding, with Zone 1 requiring one second of abrasion resistance at 265.3rpm and half a second at 147.4rpm in Zone 2.
Classification B:
same as A, but impact protectors are not required.
Classification C:
covers garments such as the mesh under-suits that have impact protection for off-road riding.
Samples are taken from each zone to be tested for seam strength and abrasion resistance.
A company using the same materials and construction methods in two or more jackets, for example, could meet approval with one test, so long as the tested parts are put together in a tested way within the tested zones, and subsequent garments are added to the certificate.
Once these materials and construction methods are approved, they cannot be changed, and that includes the specific supplier of the material.
After almost four years of development, British tech company BikeSystems is finally about to release their next gen BikeHUD head-up display for motorcycle helmets.
It will feature a peripheral screen (called a “monocle”) that can display speed, satnav directions, a rearview camera and eventually bike information such as fuel, revs, etc.
Unlike some other HUD helmet devices, it does not include a Bluetooth intercom, but that may be added in later development.
BikeSystems has kicked off a Indiegogo crowd-funding campaign to raise $A69,579. They have so far raised more than $2000 so far.
Supporters of this campaign can expect deliveries to start in December 2019.
Prices start from £349 (about $A620) and there are various bundle discounts available saving up to 40%.
Founder Dave Vout says the next gen BikeHUD device will be available from March 2020 through their website.
They are also looking to set up a worldwide dealer network.
Next gen BikeHUD
The next gen BikeHUD weighs just 90g and comes with a tiny 8mm screen about the size of your little finger.
The multi-adjustable arm allows the rider to set the screen just under your left or right eye, so the image appears around 2m to one side of the bike’s front wheel.
“It’s close enough for your forward vision to see with the blink of an eye but won’t cause distraction,” Dave says.
“In fact, its positioning is almost exactly where car HUDs are located and in line with industry automotive recommendations.”
Speed is colour coded and the focus is set at infinity so you don’t go cross-eyed.
The screen/monocle fits to the helmet via a plate inside the lining using the helmet’s mounting studs.
The battery and receiver fit to the outer shell via self-adhesive Velcro-type tape.
(Our understanding is that NSW and Victorian police still believe external fittings render a helmet illegal, but NSW have been ordered not to fine riders until the issue is officially resolved.)
The rearview camera is fitted the back of your bike via a license-plate bracket. It provides a continuous live feed via an ultra-low latency wireless connection.
“That means you always know what’s happening behind you regardless of where your helmet is pointing,” Dave says.
There are no buttons to press, no helmet tapping and no spoken instructions required.
It simply shows all the information in a constant feed.
Price
BikeHUD “core” is the basic model with rearview and speed information and no need to connect to another device. It will cost £349 (about $A620).
“Smartphone-style batteries mean there is no installation to worry about and the whole thing just works,” Dave says.
From March you will also be able to link the device to your phone using the free BikeHUD app to get GPS navigation information.
“We intend also to add specialised Apps in future for racing/ track days and Dakar-style off-road competitions,” Dave says.
“We’ve already had basic talks with the MotoGP software sub-contractors.”
Next July, they will add the ability to link to your bike.
“For information such as engine revs, gear, indicators, oil pressure, ignition and fuel warnings we have a plug-in to the diagnostic port in an OBDII format,” Dave says.
“Precisely what we can display very much depends on the year, make and model of the bike.”
They are finalising battery size and power management, but expect both the monocle and camera to last 8–12 hours.
Dave says it should fit 90% of all helmets, including full, flip, jet, cruiser, pudding and most adventure or off-road helmets.
It comes with a two-year warranty.
Long time coming
In 2011, the company developed their prototype and launched launched the world’s first motorbike HUD system, BikeHUD in 2013.
Dave says the first model was “an early-adopter product” with limited technology and was only available from January 2014 to March 2015.
“The original unit was a chance for us to get the concept out there,” Dave says.’
“Over the next few years we received a huge amount of feedback from customers right across the world.
“There were three main suggestions that kept cropping up. Firstly, the monocle (screen) needed to be smaller. Secondly, the system needed a rear-view camera. And finally, it needed to be really simple to use.”
All features have been included in this next gen device.
Nolan helmets may soon have active noise-cancelling systems after signing a deal with Norwegian tech startup DAAL.
DAAL issued a media release saying their innovation would “give motorcyclists the chance to ride their bikes at highway speeds without the discomfort of tiring and potentially damaging wind noise”.
“This system also enables the rider to listen to music or talk to fellow riders in a quieter environment than today,” they say.
“By use of so-called active noise cancellation (ANC), the DAAL team has developed a technology that significantly reduces wind noise for the rider, without interfering with important traffic sounds like sirens and horns.
“For us, it is all about providing riders the freedom to get out there and enjoy the ride, without worrying about their hearing.”
However, DAAL founder and CEO Dag Axel Aarset says their system is different to other active noise-cancelling systems.
“Unlike generic noise cancellation headphones, our system is developed specifically to perform in the harsh and demanding noise environment inside a motorcycle helmet – and actually performs well for wind noise,” he says.
I have tried several active noise-cancelling earphones and agree that they can’t cope with loud wind buffeting.
Active noise-cancelling systems generate a reverse sound wave of the background noise and play it through the speakers to cancel out the unwanted, harmful noise.
It requires a microphone next to your ear as well as speakers. There is also a power pack in the back of the helmet. However, they say their system weighs the same as other intercoms.
DAAL tech being tested in a Nolan helmet
Tested and verified
Their prototype has been tested and verified for speeds up to 140km/h. The product is expected to be available in the market in 2020.
While the system is separate to an intercom, we imagine Nolan will integrate it with their N-Com Bluetooth intercom.
DAAL marketing manager David Schecroun says they “cannot go into the specifics of the project goals at this point”.
“We want our system to be compatible with both helmets and communication systems in the future,” he says.
DAAL tech in testing
“The collaboration between DAAL and Nolan is a joint effort to make our technology as effective as possible within the constraints of the Nolan helmet, but we can and intend to work with other helmet manufacturers to make sure our technology can fit into more than one line of helmets.
“Our long-term goal is to reach as many helmets as possible, probably through an aftermarket solution that may include some sort of communication features.
“Today our focus is on the mutual benefits of collaborating with innovative first movers such as Nolan, where we can offer a competitive edge before ANC becomes the norm for motorcyclists, while at the same time we can see a clearer way towards the total market.”
They aim to launch their product globally in mid-2020.
DAAL was established in 2016 in Trondheim, the technology capital of Norway.
Italian helmet maker the Nolan Group was recently bought by French motorcycle company 2Ride Holding, makers of Shark helmets, Bering and Segura motorcycle clothing and Bagster bike luggage.
When you park your motorcycle at your local cafe or service station and don’t want to carry your helmet, you are faced with a wide choice of locations to hang your helmet on your bike.
But which is the safest?
The answer may depend on your motorcycle.
There is only one place you should NOT put your helmet and that is on the ground.
Ants or other bugs could crawl in and create some havoc several kilometres down the road when they suddenly start to bite or get in your eyes or ears!
So which is the safest and best place to store your helmet on your motorbike?
Panniers and top box
Can-Am Spyder F3 Limited has a huge top box that stores two full-sized helmets
The best place to secure your helmet is in big, lockable panniers or a top box if you are lucky enough to have them.
These keep your helmet in the shade, away from the elements and away from prying, thieving eyes.
It also cannot be damaged by someone bumping into or even knocking over your bike.
Helmet lock
If your bike has a helmet lock, they are quite secure.
Unfortunately, some modern bikes don’t seem to have them.
There are also some problems with hanging it here.
First, a thief can easily cut the strap and take your helmet. Yes, it destroys the helmet but thieves could just be using your helmet to steal your bike and make their getaway!
On some, your helmet may also be able to rock back and forth in the wind which could scratch its nicely painted surface, or worse, your visor.
Also, people squeezing past your parked bike might scratch your helmet or visor.
Your helmet is also exposed to the elements.
And because it is either upside down or on its side, you could come back to a helmet filled with rain, dust or even someone’s litter or cigarette butt!
Seat
This is perhaps the easiest and most common method of temporarily storing a helmet on a bike.
Depending on the seat this can be safe or very precarious.
A passerby’s knock or even strong wind could send it tumbling and a drop from that height could write off the helmet.
It’s also very noticeable and easy for someone to steal.
Your helmet is also open to the elements, although by being the right way up, at least it won’t collect rain like it does when on a helmet lock. Just remember to close the visor!
If you do store it on the seat, the most secure way so it won’t roll off is to have the visor facing the side with the sidestand.
Tank
Like the seat, it depends on the bike and is open to the same problems of security.
Hang it on the handlebars
The quickest and easiest place to hang a helmet is on the handlebars.
This can be secure, especially if you can get it over bar-end mirrors to stop it slipping off.
However, this can still be a precarious position where the helmet can easily fall if the bike is bumped.
It could also compresses the interior foam liner if you hang it with the helmet facing down. Compressing the liner can make your helmet fit more loosely and decreases its ability to protect your head in a crash.
However, it may be ok if your helmet allows you to rest it on the chin bar as in the photo above.
You can buy special helmet hooks or use a carabiner to hang it off the bars via the Double-D clasp (if it has one).
Helmet hook
But again, you have the problem of the helmet filing with rain and dust and being stolen.
If you do hang your helmet on the bars, make sure it’s the right bar as this is safer than the left bar which slopes down when the bike is on its sidestand.
Footpegs
The same goes for hanging your helmet on the footpegs.
It may seem more “secure” because it is not in plain sight, but I saw a pedestrian walk past a bike and accidentally kick the helmet because it wasn’t easy to see.
The helmet, rolled about 50m down the road. A write-off!
If you do hang it off the footpegs, make sure it’s on the right side, opposite the side stand, as they can slide off the down side because of the bike’s lean.
Cables and alarms
If you choose to hang or store your helmet on your bike, it may pay to secure it with a wire locking cable.
Some are made of tough titanium and some even have alarms if moved.
If your bike doesn’t have a secure place for storage, you can always carry your helmet in the bag it came in or buy one of these convenient EZ-GO shoulder straps.
EZ-GO helmet strap
Where do you store your helmet? Leave your comments below.
The latest is the Australian-designed Forcite MK1 which has an LED light strip rather than HUD and includes a HD, wide-angle camera, Bluetooth and VOIP intercom and handlebar-mounted control unit.
Forcite
The advantages of aftermarket tech is that you can swap it to your new helmet when you retire the old one.
Argon Transform
The Argon Transform comes as several Bluetooth-connected stick-on units for the side, front and back of the helmet, plus a screen on the inside of the chinbar.
They combine a see-through head-up display with a Bluetooth handlebar controller, inbuilt GPS unit, plus front and back cameras.
Whyre claim the front and rear units weigh only 150g and balance each other out.
Rear camera
Riders will be able to see tailor-made info such as caller ID, GPS navigation arrows and speedometer, as well as what’s behind them. Video is recorded and stored on an SD card or accessed via an Argon app.
Rider’s view of the periphery screen
It will also allow riders to access specific ride statistics, Argon settings, a social community and a logbook that records last maintenance dates, spare part changes/cost etc.
The intercom has range only up to 100m, but the speakers are claimed to have active noise-cancelling which should mean clear sound without background wind noise and no need for earplugs.
(Never put your helmet on the ground like this unless you wants ants or other bugs in your helmet!)
The offline built-in GPS does not require data and operates in remote areas where phone reception is weak.
Argon claims the lithium-polymer battery will last for eight hours on a charge.
Whyre has launched an Indiegogo Campaign to get a $US25,000 and is already a third of the way there.
Early customers will get the Argon Transform for $US398 ($A570) compared with the retail price of $US795 ($A1140). They plan to ship in February 2020.
