WHEN Editor Dobes sent through an email advising of the pending delivery of a new helmet that he wanted me to test on our upcoming ride, I must admit that I was a little dubious. Road testing a brand new helmet straight out of the box on a three-day ride? What if it was uncomfortable, or I couldn’t see out of it? What if I just didn’t like it? So I packed my well worn trusty favourite lid in our Fiat Ducato support vehicle just in case a sneaky swap was needed.

I’ve had helmets in the past that have taken a bit of getting used to and a little running in, but I was pleasantly surprised with the Roof Boxer V8 1995; it was a great fit and really comfortable right from the get-go.

I did like the seatbelt-style chin strap, which is easy to do up and also undo. The standout feature of the helmet is the 180º rotating chin section. Though I’m not 100 per cent sold on the aesthetics of the design, it works pretty well and easily converts a full-face helmet into an open-face lid. This can be cool if you have a couple of rides in the shed and want to mix and match.

It also has a removeable liner that can be taken out to wash if you stink it up too much.

We liked

I found the Roof Boxer to be very comfortable and it fits my noggin really well. It’s snug but not too tight, and nothing digs in or feels out of place or out of alignment.

The styling is cool and modern when in the full-face position. It looks like something straight out of iRobot, but when flipped up it resembles a retro fighter pilot’s helmet like Maverick’s in my favourite movie Top Gun.

The peripheral vision is exceptional and it’s very easy to unclip and insert my spectacles when needed. It’s a nice weight and balance, so I didn’t feel too much like a Bobble Head doll.

We didn’t like

Although earplugs cancel most of the noise, there is still a slight hum and air movement within the helmet at higher speeds, as is the case in most flip-up arrangements. At relaxed speeds, however, it is quite peaceful. Because the front opening is a good size and gives great vision it does get very bright at times, so it would have been nice to have had the accessory tinted visor fitted.

Verdict

I really liked the Roof Boxer, and apparently so does everyone else who has seen it. I posted photos on AMCN’s social media when it arrived and was inundated with messages from people wanting to know when and how they could get their hands on one. Many of them had been hanging out for it to arrive.

Now I’m a fan too. The Boxer’s space-age styling is cool if you’re into that sort of thing, and it was very comfy for my average-sized melon. And on top of all that it’s two helmets in one.

PROS

  • Cool styling
  • Price
  • Comfort

CONS

  • Needs a tinted Visor

Colour: Black/orange

Sizes: S-2XL

RRP $499.95

Cassons   (02) 8882 1900    cassons.com.au

By DARREN KERSEY