Easy game, you would think: Manufacturers of full-face helmets for cyclists have an easy job. Their products are "only" subject to the general test standard for cycle helmets, the so-called European Standard 1078, which stipulates shock absorption tests in which a limit value of 250 g must not be exceeded. The "g" force refers to the load generated by the acceleration. Every bike helmet has to pass this test - whether it's a cross-country half-shell for €9.99 from a discount store or a full-face helmet made of carbon fibre. And they pass!
However, the testers are not interested in whether, for example, the chin guard of the full-face helmet actually works or splinters after a slight impact. That's the way it is with standards. This prompted us to subject the test helmets to a tougher test: the official standard test for motorbike helmets, ECE 22, where the helmets are maltreated with harder blows - and one of them lands on the chin guard.
"A test like this seems sensible to me, after all, downhillers are travelling pretty damn fast. The arms can then no longer absorb a fall - and the next point of contact is the chin," says test engineer Christiane Reckter from TÜV Rheinland, where we had the helmets tested.
You can find the test results of these helmets in the PDF download:
- Bell Sanction
- Blue Grass Brave
- Fox Rampage
- IXS Metis
- Kali Savara
- O'Neal Airtech
- O'Neal Backflip
- Scott Spartan
- Sixsixone Comp
- Uvex 9Bike
Reference helmet from the 4/2012 test: Specialised Dissident
Downloads:
Dimitri Lehner
Editor
