Fly Kinetic helmet review
Quite a few riders out there have opted for a standard Motocross helmet as opposed to the usual bicycle one so I had a look at the Fly Kinetic…
Out the box I did not like the helmet bag: its too thin and feels like it can tear with very little force. If you drop cash on a helmet you want to keep it as scratch free off the track as possible and the Fly bag does not cut it. First thing I did was adjust the peak which took all of 2 seconds and then I had a look at the custom graphics. They kept it quite simple with a few of their logos scattered around and “Determination” stylized on the top which I liked. Putting the helmet on I noticed the padding on the sides pushed my cheeks together which was something new to get used to. The strap is pretty standard but with my helmet it took me a little while to clip in the final button that stops the strap from floating around while you ride.
The view/goggle area is definitely a lot smaller than what I was used to. I think this might impede some riders but it never bothered me and my goggles fit in no problem. The ridge on the rear gives you a reference point where to leave the goggle strap. The main selling and marketing point of the Kinetic is its “10 Point Air Intake System”. Unlike the Motocross riders we do not always have a rush of air towards the helmet to help cool us so I paid close attention to see if it felt any cooler. Before I warmed up I sat around with the helmet on and definitely felt some airflow from just sitting around. Once in motion those 10 vents worked for me keeping my head cool.
Having ridden with light weight bicycle specific helmets for a while, I could feel the difference right away with the Kinetic. Granted it will be heavier but after 10 minutes I had adjusted my riding somewhat to compensate for the weight difference. To date I have 3 concussions so a good helmet is very important to me. The Kinetic did something for me which it does not say on the box and that was give me confidence. The slightly more bulky and heavily padded DOT approved (listed on the box but for some reason the certification stamp was nowhere on the actual helmet) Kinetic made me feel a lot safer knowing that if I did fall over, my chances were better. It looks good, it feels good and aside from the helmet bag and fiddly strap I think this is a solid helmet. Although built with Motocross in mind the Kinetics 10 air intakes definitely make it appealing for cyclists who use full face helmets.
Tags: fly kinetic
May 7th, 2010 at 2:25 pm
There is an interesting article in the new Dirt mag that points out the misconception that a MX helmet offers more protection. Their evidence shows that although the helmets offer bulkier padding they are only designed to offer protection at the higher velocities achieved while riding a motorcycle. So basically when traveling at bicycle speeds they offer less protection then a helmet designed specifically for cycling. As a result you are more likely to get a concussion when wearing an MX helmet. Its definitely worth a read if you can get your hands on a copy.