Vozz strapless rear-entry helmet

[nerrrd]

Have seen this new helmet design in the news lately, looks good to me (as a glasses wearer) and meets AUS/NZ, DOT and ECE standards. Wonder if it'll catch on?

317979

http://www.vozzhelmets.com

Oh, and cue endless double-entendre jokes...

[Akzle]

Oh, and cue endless double-intruder jokes...

well, since you asked....

[Moi]

I like the concept, thinking outside the box...

And, like you, I am also a wearer of glasses. However, having watched their video I am not sure you'd be able to put their helmet on if you are wearing your glasses. It seems that as the helmet slides onto your head the helmet's padding would dislodge your glasses.

Still a very interesting concept...

[leathel]

Got to be less wind noise, less issue doing up the straps and catching my beard :P

https://youtu.be/lnydMibNojo

:)

[Banditbandit]

Unsure ... I like the one piece helmet - no chance of it coming open in a crash ..

[gjm]

I like the concept, thinking outside the box...

And, like you, I am also a wearer of glasses. However, having watched their video I am not sure you'd be able to put their helmet on if you are wearing your glasses. It seems that as the helmet slides onto your head the helmet's padding would dislodge your glasses.

Still a very interesting concept...

It's a question that should be easily answered.

Dunno if it makes any difference, but the rider in the video on the Vozz website shows the helmet being removed without first removing glasses.

[Moi]

It's a question that should be easily answered.

Dunno if it makes any difference, but the rider in the video on the Vozz website shows the helmet being removed without first removing glasses.

I see what you mean - interesting. I'd looked at the other two videos and had missed that...

Now for that famous Australian lady to appear... Emma Izit...

[AllanB]

Glasses? Given you pull the helmet over your face not down your head glasses should be a piece of piss.

Interesting concept. One thing I noticed - it came off bloody quickly! Maybe too quickly .......

If you passenger pushed the button .......

[mulletman]

If a MotoGP racer wears one then id be keen to, im wondering after watching one of the other vids if theres some sort of
regular maintenance with torque values on all those screws.

[Tazz]

Unsure ... I like the one piece helmet - no chance of it coming open in a crash ..

They can be ripped off thought when the fit is incorrect, and then when shit is worst case the way this (new?) idea comes on and off would be a lot more forgiving on any neck injuries.

[Hitcher]

Prediction: These won't be available in 3XL.

[RDJ]

And, strapless rear-entry is not the most catchy sales phrase.

I remember trying a Reevu helmet with built-in rear vision 'mirror' on in Singapore during that assignment (about 6 years ago now). The enthusiastic sales guy was heavily invested in the concept - literally as well as figuratively, he had them stacked up in his house covering 2 walls - and mirabile dictu he had a 3XL size that fitted - but in practice, unless the fit was really precise, you couldn't see what you needed to see. I hope this Vozz design does better and I will want to try one when available - but as Hitcher said, usually helmet manufacturers don't cater for us fatheads :yes:

[Daffyd]

If it clamps under the jaw, then how do you talk? Or am I missing something?

[AllanB]

If it clamps under the jaw, then how do you talk? Or am I missing something?

Talk? One thing I enjoy about motorcycling is the lack of yack yack yack .

How tight would it need to be? Don't know - a standard helmet has enough movement in the strap to chat

[Daffyd]

Talk? One thing I enjoy about motorcycling is the lack of yack yack yack .

How tight would it need to be? Don't know - a standard helmet has enough movement in the strap to chat

I agree about the yack. I got the impression that for this to work properly it would clamp against a lot more jaw and be further forward than a strap, thus restricting movement more.
Having said that, however, I think it's a great idea.

[nzspokes]

I gotta say I like the idea. Would like to see some decent testing on it before I bought one.

But very cool.

[husaberg]

I'm waiting for this one to come out.
318071

[AllanB]

I'm waiting for this one to come out.


You can probably get one of those helmet skins for that look.

[husaberg]

You can probably get one of those helmet skins for that look.

I had to google but yes

[MD]

If it clamps under the jaw, then how do you talk? Or am I missing something?

You buy one for the Missus- the perfect gift.

Stuff it I just bought a new Bell helmet RS1. If I'd known about this Vozz (called an RS 01, really) I would have waited and look, that green matches my Zed! I'd have to stick with Kawasakis for as long as the helmet lasted me.

I like the look of it, the ingenuity and the speed it goes on and off is amazing. Maybe a claustrophobic feel once on though. A$884 apparently.

[MD]

Life's too short to drink the house wine.

The Bell I bought in December is just killing me with pressure points at top corners at front of skull. Mate wanted to buy it so I made him ride for awhile first to be sure his head shape wouldn't give him grief like I got. So that got me off the hook to buy a Vozz.

Arrived today and Vozz tell me it's the first one gone to NZ. Went for a 40 min. spin and so far all comfy. Got a medium and it's tighter than I expected but the inner seems softer, so I'm confident it will bed in just right- unlike the Bell with an inner made from hardened steel and cement. In saying it's tighter, it's totally comfortable, more a snugger fit ALL around the skull and lower head. No unpleasant pressure points.

My first attempts at clicking it on had me really worried I'd bought a lemon. Then I sussed the technic, slightly changed the angle of my palms as I closed it and WOW! I can put this on in under 2 seconds and removing is quicker.

No straps is awesome.
So to the questions some raised earlier.

Hitcher- XXL only.
Glasses- I popped it on wearing sun glasses absolute piece of piss. When I started riding in the 70s I wore specs and hated trying to force the frame into the lid and wriggle them behind your ears. Often bent my glasses. Not with the Vozz. Glides on from the front, doesn't disturb the position of your glasses. For those with specs, this has to be hard to beat.

Lid comes with a carry bag beyond anything I've seen. It's a full sports bag type with over shoulder strap plus two hand carry straps. This would make a good touring bag on the rear seat. Overkill but ..nice.

Lid also comes standard with a clear and 80% tinted visor. Attaching and removing visor is, as expected these days, effortless.

The green is a close match to the Zed so I'm please about that. If I had the bling to buy the new KTM GT I would have gone straight to buying the orange coloured Vozz- really liked it in orange.

If it's fine on Sunday I'll go for a decent ride to sample it more. My short spin today was all good. Took the bike up to a decent speed to check for wind turbulence and noise. As they advertised, it fits so snug it doesn't try and rotate around your head and sticks like glue to wherever you turn your head- if that makes sense. It's an improvement on all previous lids I've owned - and that's a fair few.

Putting it on in under 2 secs wearing gloves, no need to do up or undo a DD strap is a big time saver.

Air vents are easy to open/close wearing gloves and seem to let heaps of air flow through. Just as well because as an asthmatic this lid could feel claustrophobic because the helmet does wrap around under your jaw/chin. Which will prevent unwanted airflow coming under your chin.

Quality of manufacture looks brilliant.

[Katman]

Seriously, that is the ugliest helmet I have ever seen.

[nzspokes]

Will be interested in what you think after a long ride. Seems like a great idea.

[MD]

Seriously, that is the ugliest helmet I have ever seen.

Seriously, I don't give a rat's arse about your opinion ever.

Unless I want to buy the ugliest bike from last century. I understand you are the current owner.

[nerrrd]

Glad to hear it works as advertised, I'd be keen to try one if there was a local....ah who am I kidding, I'd never pay that much for a helmet. Even if I had an income.

[Maha]

Seriously, I don't give a rat's arse about your opinion ever.

Unless I wont to buy the ugliest bike from last century. I understand you are the current owner.

It all harks back to his childhood, when his little sister used to ask him for her dresses back.

[Owl]

Arrived today and Vozz tell me it's the first one gone to NZ.

A few weeks on and how are you finding it?

[nzspokes]

A few weeks on and how are you finding it?

He put it on backwards and cant find his way out?:laugh:

[MD]

Really pleased with it. Super comfortable while at the same time it's a snug fit, tempted to say tight but that implies discomfort and that's certainly not the case. I think the 'snug' sensation comes from the way this helmet presses against more of your head/skull/jaw area.

Ridden heaps with it now. Lots of riders have shown and interest in it and with favourable comments. Only caught in light rain once so I've no idea if the two halves would seal water tight in a long period of riding in torrential rain? Since no noise or draft gets in I'd have to say this is a pass.

Pros-
comfort

plenty of visibility i.e. no restricted side vision

quiet

easy to remove and put on -LOVE not having to mess with straps and buckles

can wear glasses or sunnies behind clear visor easily

Now that it's colder I'm noticing how well it seals out cold air under your chin and neck. No other helmet I've owned comes anywhere near doing this. Certainly the warmest lid you'll get for winter


Cons

Flip side to the last point above is I noticed on hot days when you come to a standstill your head quickly heats up. The vents work fine when moving, even on a roasting 32 degree all day riding the Wairarapa recently. But at a stop I have to quickly flip up the visor or bake my brain.

Visor has misted up a bit these last 2 cold days commuting when I've been at a stop. Supposedly treated to prevent misting but this may be a by product of not having air flow coming up from under your chin. Flip visor one click out for a few secs and it clears.

I miss the auto tinting Bell visor. I will email Vozz a suggestion that they make one available.

From habit I always carried my helmets around holding onto the chin strap. Can't do that with the Vozz, which at first seemed strange but now I don't notice it.

Another pic and one I found on web- not bad in blue.

[caseye]

Hey MD, and now that you've had it a goodlong time?
Rain, Misting,only real issues?
Cheers.

[MD]

Hey MD, and now that you've had it a goodlong time?
Rain, Misting,only real issues?
Cheers.

Shit has it been a year with it already. Bloody time flies as you get older.
Still very pleased with the Vozz. One year old, plenty of use and looks brand new.

These are minor annoyances. Yes it does mist up at the bottom of visor too easily when at a halt. Clears in 2 seconds once moving again. Upside is once moving in freezing weather your entire head/face/chin are warmer than with other lids!

The dark visor is at the darker end of tinting. May look cool but in twilight/night riding for me diminishes my vision a bit. So that means on tour having to pack the clear and at the worse of winter I stopped using it for commute because I leave home and return in the dark. As I said earlier if it came with a self-tinting visor like Bell offer it would be the perfect lid for me. Using my Shark with internal visor for these darkness commutes reminds me how quiet and comfortable the Vozz is.

One other thing I discovered is with really thick neck clothing or a loose balaclava (like I sometimes wear) or my shirt with a hoody that I pull up over my head, it can get in the way of the closure mechanism. As the two halves come together they can catch loose fitting clothing. Again a minor thing you need to adapt too.

Worse thing is I sold the green Zed and tried to sell the green Vozz with the bike but the new owner had just bought a new lid. If he had taken my green Vozz I would have immediate bought another - once I knew what colour bike I was getting.

As a safety issue it has occurred to me that there is no way a rider on his own with say a broken arm would be able to remove his helmet. It can only be released by using both hands at the same instant. Mind you plenty of riders probably need two hands to pull a tight fitted lid off.

I guess to summarise if I was offered a free exchange for any other helmet, I would say no thanks.

[KawasakiKid]

Shit has it been a year with it already. Bloody time flies as you get older.
Still very pleased with the Vozz. One year old, plenty of use and looks brand new.

These are minor annoyances. Yes it does mist up at the bottom of visor too easily when at a halt. Clears in 2 seconds once moving again. Upside is once moving in freezing weather your entire head/face/chin are warmer than with other lids!

The dark visor is at the darker end of tinting. May look cool but in twilight/night riding for me diminishes my vision a bit. So that means on tour having to pack the clear and at the worse of winter I stopped using it for commute because I leave home and return in the dark. As I said earlier if it came with a self-tinting visor like Bell offer it would be the perfect lid for me. Using my Shark with internal visor for these darkness commutes reminds me how quiet and comfortable the Vozz is.

One other thing I discovered is with really thick neck clothing or a loose balaclava (like I sometimes wear) or my shirt with a hoody that I pull up over my head, it can get in the way of the closure mechanism. As the two halves come together they can catch loose fitting clothing. Again a minor thing you need to adapt too.

Worse thing is I sold the green Zed and tried to sell the green Vozz with the bike but the new owner had just bought a new lid. If he had taken my green Vozz I would have immediate bought another - once I knew what colour bike I was getting.

As a safety issue it has occurred to me that there is no way a rider on his own with say a broken arm would be able to remove his helmet. It can only be released by using both hands at the same instant. Mind you plenty of riders probably need two hands to pull a tight fitted lid off.

I guess to summarise if I was offered a free exchange for any other helmet, I would say no thanks.

I have not seen a Vozz, if you are in an accident and a medic needs to remove the helmet, would they be trained to know the Vozz or is the undo mechanism an obvious one?

[awayatc]

Does anybody sell Vozz helmets in unzed?...
Google didn't come up with anything.....
Am keen to try/buy.

[caspernz]

Does anybody sell Vozz helmets in unzed?...
Google didn't come up with anything.....
Am keen to try/buy.

All I've been able to find is a Facebook page for Vozz, but it seems shipping is from Aussie.

Call me old fashioned, but I kinda like to try a helmet on before I buy.

[awayatc]

Ok I will call you old fashioned :wait:

Nothing wrong with that.....

Same for me.....

Some things you need to try on before you buy

[MD]

I had to buy unseen from Oz. Fits perfect. Watch out for import duty costs.

Accident removal- a slight concern to be true. The release slide catch/button is quite obvious on each side. But would a stranger know that there is a catch ON EACH side of your cheeks? AND they must both be moved at the same time. Pressing one, then the other will never work.

[catatonicChimp]

I have not seen a Vozz, if you are in an accident and a medic needs to remove the helmet, would they be trained to know the Vozz or is the undo mechanism an obvious one?

The latches are pretty obvious on the sides, and even if they don't see them, there are labels/arrows point to the latches on the bottom edge that are pretty obvious if the helmet is lying on its side/back etc along with a QR code for the emergency removal instructions when they need to remove it without moving the neck at all, basically with a screwdriver you can disconnect the hinge and catches so you can lift the whole front section off and out of the way.

333480

[catatonicChimp]

As a safety issue it has occurred to me that there is no way a rider on his own with say a broken arm would be able to remove his helmet. It can only be released by using both hands at the same instant. Mind you plenty of riders probably need two hands to pull a tight fitted lid off.


You're not trying hard enough :P
Its actually quite easy to remove one handed. Pop the latch on one side, and pull the front part of the helmet away from you, slowly but firmly while holding the latch you will find a spot where the side you unlatched will disengage a bit from its latching slot and will not reengage without a little bit of force, once its popped out you can just reach around and pop the other side and off it comes, though you want to be careful not to knock the helmet as you reach around as it's a fine line between unlocked and locked and a knock will probably relock it.

Basically there is a little bit of slop in the hinge so that it doesn't jam if its not closed equally, exploit that and you can remove it one handed.

Cheers

A.

[Akzle]

Basically there is a little bit of slop in the hinge so that it doesn't jam if its not closed equally, exploit that and you can remove it one handed.

Cheers

A.

most of us "normies" don't feel the need to post online about our one-handed exploits..

[ellipsis]

...or our endless love, or our bottomless pit or strapless brassieres or even our outstanding bills...but we do...

[Owl]

Well after three and a half years and 75,000km, I decided to retire the Arai Rebel and buy a Vozz.

Certainly very different than what I'm used to, but it's very quiet and warm by comparison. It's comfy, but then I'd say it's no more comfy than any of the Arai's that I've owned, however there is more clearance to the chin bar and I quite like that. I tried wearing my sunnies with the Vozz, but found them terrible with huge pressure points to the side of my head and nose. Good thing it came with a tinted visor, so I'll give that a go without the sunnies. A combination I've never tried, in fact I've never had a tinted visor.:cool:

Got to say I have to agree with Katman on ascetics though. I think this has got to be one of the ugliest helmets I've ever seen too, however that shit doesn't bother me. Function over form and all that and I love the way this goes on and comes off.

[MD]

Good on you owl for stepping outside of the comfort zone and trying something different. Yeah at times I think it looks OK then ...maybe not so OK. I have found the visor fogs up too easily for winter use.

[Ginge09]

http://www.motorcyclelife.com.au/mark-bryant-founding-director-vozz-helmets-talks-motorcycle-life-radiopodcast/


Link to interview with the Vozz bloke

[rastuscat]

I like the ability to lift the face on my modular helmet. I tried a Voss on when last in Adelaide, and realised it's not for me.

I think the Voss is probably awesome in a crash, and for removal by emergency services. It's not so user friendly for the 99.9% of it's use for things that are not crash related.

Do you dress only for the crash, or for the 99.9 % of the time you don't crash?

[Owl]

I tried a Voss on when last in Adelaide, and realised it's not for me.

Good thing this thread is about Vozz then.:p

[HondaLad]

I like the ability to lift the face on my modular helmet. I tried a Voss on when last in Adelaide, and realised it's not for me.

I think the Voss is probably awesome in a crash, and for removal by emergency services. It's not so user friendly for the 99.9% of it's use for things that are not crash related.

Do you dress only for the crash, or for the 99.9 % of the time you don't crash?

Taking an extreme interpretation of this, it would be fair to say the majority of us dress for the crash. If this wasn't the case we'd all be rolling around in shorts and t-shirts with a pair of sunglasses on, no protective gear at all...

The strapless aspect holds a lot of appeal. Must admit there's been a couple of instances recently where I've found myself wondering what it is flapping around only to realise that I've neglected to do up the strap :weird:

[rastuscat]

Good thing this thread is about Vozz then.:p

Chortle. Well spotted. :facepalm: