Bicycles

Virgo full-face helmet is made for high-speed ebiking

Virgo full-face helmet is made for high-speed ebiking
The Virgo helmet is presently on Kickstarter
The Virgo helmet is presently on Kickstarter
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The Virgo's tail light features water-resistant electronics
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The Virgo's tail light features water-resistant electronics
A total of nine vents facilitate air flow through the helmet
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A total of nine vents facilitate air flow through the helmet
The Virgo helmet is presently on Kickstarter
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The Virgo helmet is presently on Kickstarter
View gallery - 3 images

Given the fact that many ebikes allow their riders to pedal at speeds of up to 28 mph (45 km/h) with relatively little effort, should those people be wearing special helmets? The folks at French startup The Beam seem to think so, which is why they created the Virgo.

Currently the subject of a Kickstarter campaign, the Virgo features an integrated chin guard which allows it to offer more protection than a traditional bike helmet while remaining sleeker and lighter than a full-face downhill mountain bike helmet.

Its creators claim that it tips the scales at 600 to 650 grams (21 to 23 oz), depending on the size.

Not included in that weight figure is a flip-up removable polycarbonate visor (available in color choices of clear, smoke and blue) along with a detachable magnetic tail light. The latter doubles as a brake light, which detects sudden decreases in speed via an integrated accelerometer.

The Virgo's tail light features water-resistant electronics
The Virgo's tail light features water-resistant electronics

Like many modern bike helmets, the Virgo also incorporates the Mips system, which helps protect the brain from rotational force during impacts. It additionally features a polycarbonate shell and an EPS (expanded polystyrene) foam liner, plus it meets EN1078, NTA8776 and CPSC safety standards.

Assuming the Virgo reaches production, a pledge of €90 (about US$97) will get you one in your choice of three sizes and four colors (black, white, blue and beige). The planned retail price is $299.

You can see it in use, in the video below.

VIRGO | The Safest Cycling Helmet for e-bikes

Source: Kickstarter, The Beam

View gallery - 3 images
8 comments
8 comments
gonk
I like the concept. $300 seems a little steep though. The backer price seems a lot more reasonable. I'd give it genuine consideration if it was closer to $150-$200 retail.
Chase
This looks super dorky. Just buy a motorcycle helmet.
Robt
Why only e-bikes? If it provides more protection for cyclists, then it’s good for all.
Price is bonkers though
Trylon
For $300, I'd sooner buy a Hövding. More comfortable and more protective than this thing. The Hövding is the only helmet to score over four stars by Certimoov, a French helmet testing organization, beating all the other helmets that they tested. And those holes for the ears look like they would cause serious air turbulence, which would translate to more wind noise, which reduces situational awareness and damages hearing. There's a reason full-face motorcycle helmets don't have similar holes.
NMBill
I just set up a Kickstarter account to get in on the backer pricing. I wouldn't ride my motorcycle without a full-faced helmet and am glad to see the concept adapted for e-bikes. Long overdue. (In response to another comment, a motorcycle helmet is too heavy for bike riding.) The suggested retail pricing is too high; copycat manufacturers will be able to undercut that price right out of the chute.
Hobocat
...or you could buy any number of (not ugly) MTB helmets for $300....
ReservoirPup
That's an extremely relevant point about the noise!
StanislawZolczynski
It doesnt cover whole face like motocykle ones, which I would wear dashing downhill tearing through branches and bushes.