Top 3 safe and stylish carbon helmets

As light as feather but hard as steel, carbon helmets are constructed using a composite material made of a carbon fibre weaved fabric set in a resin. 

Considering the modern-day motorcycle accessory production, the comfort and riding experience carbon helmets provide is quite remarkable.  

Carbon helmets are extremely strong considering their weight values. Yes, these helmets will simply amaze you once you put them to test.  

For this very reason, helmet manufacturers have been keen to use carbon fibre in the construction of their top-end crash helmets or at least subdivide a lot of their successful products with "carbon" variants over the last few years or so. 

Carbon helmets can be quite expensive but buying one is worth it because a lot of research and development, lab tests, wind tunnel tests, and so on, are done to make sure these helmets deliver the perfect user experience while staying a bit ahead of their low-in-material competitors. 

Today, we will briefly look at the three-best carbon fibre helmets available in Bangladesh. 

There might be many new upcoming units but for the time being, these three helmets have managed to grab some serious attention in Bangladesh's biking culture.

KYT NX Race Carbon 

It is firmly on the top of our list and leaves no room for interpretation owing to its strong racing character. Made in Thailand, this product is an absolute charm among the recent line of KYT Helmets. 

A full-face helmet, weighing about 1200-1250 gm only, the NX Race Carbon is the perfect synthesis of modern technologies and the knowledge KYT Helmets have gained with their MotoGP World Championship riders. 

It went through some serious wind tunnel testing and has a drag coefficient of 0.40 (CX 0.40) which is pretty amazing considering the price tag it comes with. The helmet is not prone to any wind blasts at high speeds and its great weight distribution makes it a good option for touring too. 

You will neither experience any neck pain from wind buffers nor any fatigue from excess head-weight load. 

The internal shell construction is made of multi-density expanded polystyrene designed for better impact absorption; can protect riders in both, low and high-speed crashes. 

It has a class 1 optical visor - a patented visor tech from KYT and supports Pinlock/anti-fog inserts. 

It offers immense clarity in terms of distant and close views, good vertical and horizontal viewing angles; mostly a very wide viewpoint from the rider's perspective which can be really effective for long and extensive rides. 

The helmet does not come with an integrated sun visor but its clear and smoke UV resistant visors, make up for the latter. 

Though the NX RACE comes from the racetrack, it is designed to provide maximum comfort for those who just do not want to get off their bike's saddle. It has a superb moisture wicking padding. The padding does feel a bit basic but then again, the smooth texture really stretches out for a comfortable ride. 

The padding also has microscopic holes enabling good airglow and optimum internal temperature. The linings are decorated with semi-leather materials which gives it an elegant profile and the whole of it is removable and washable. 

The helmet also offers multiple vents and channels for air passage; one forehead vent, five intakes and exhaust ports. 

In terms of airflow, this helmet is the best choice among its competitors, however, such a good mechanism also has a drawback. Like every other racing helmet, this also tends to get a bit noisy on the inside at high speed. 

The NX Race has a Double-D buckling mechanism which also holds an upper hand in terms of safety. 

The module is ECE Certified, ready for communication accessories, and influenced to be shaped with the classical racing helmet design. 

Caberg Drift Evo Carbon Pro

This helmet is the result of the experience gained by the Caberg's racing development and the riders who wear the Drift Evo in many racing championships. 

The shell (ECE certified) is made of high-tech carbon fiber structure which makes the helmet extremely strong yet lightweight. 

It offers the perfect balance between comfort and fitting; multi-density inner EPS for safety during a crash at any speed, a sharp and unique aerodynamic shell which is light and durable too.

Weighing about 1300-1350 gm, the rear spoiler also gives a sporty and aggressive look which enhances the aerodynamics at higher speed and reduces the turbulence. Yes, this module too is wind tunnel tested. 

Its cheek pads have been designed to offer a closer fitting however, it can get a bit rough as the linings were mainly designed for low humid atmospheres. 

The Drift Evo's quick release visor mechanism allows its "self-adjustment" feature to guarantee a close contact of visor and window beading. Thanks to the visor mechanism, with a spring double movement, it will not be necessary to manually regulate it in order to avoid incoming air or water. 

Moreover, the visor mechanism consents to stop its position at 0.5 cm from the window beading to avoid or eliminate fogging absorbed by the wind while riding even at higher speed. 

It is also equipped with a transparent anti-scratch visor, an adjustable PinLock "Max Vision" lens to avoid fogging, and an integrated anti-scratch sunshade/sun-visor which is easily maneuverable with a lateral lever. It comes with both, a clear and a smoke visor.

There are two main vents and exhaust ports. The lower vent on the chin guard allows air to pass directly to the inner side of the visor to avoid misting. The vent on top channels air inside the helmet through numerous air grooves, while the rear vent supports hot air discharge. 

However, this part of the helmet can be a downside as it has fewer vents and exhaustion compared to its competitors. This helmet might feel a bit hot but then again, it is an absolutely delightful choice for highway rides. Fewer vents and ports also favour noise cancellation and offer a calm riding experience. 

The helmet comes with a Double-D buckle and is also communication/accessory ready making it a better touring companion rather than a sportier or racetrack-oriented helmet. 

LS2 FF327 Challenger Carbon 

This sports-touring helmet offers an excellent value for money. The Challenger was mainly designed in Spain for MotoGP, Moto 3 and Moto 2 riders to provide a solid racing helmet in the pre-existing line-up. 

It provides users a smooth carbon helmet experience on a budget. It weighs around 1350-1400 gm and offers an excellent weight distribution within the shell. 

The helmet is pretty long in terms of length and a bit short on the sides which gives it a long oval design layout and supports an agile and comfortable fitment. The design is quite aerodynamic and even with a long oval design, the weight distribution feels quite central and well-put. 

This helmet also has the dual density EPS construction which helps in both high and low speed crashes. 

The integrated small spoiler at the back works as a dual active exhaust vent and the overall shell has many air vents making it really blissful to wear and ride in hot weathers. 

Though the helmet comes with six air intakes and exhaustions, it leaves less room for noise to pass by and is pretty calm in context of internal and vent ports. 

The helmet comes with a scratch resistant visor (Pinlock ready) and an internal sun-visor as well. 

The actuator to control the sun-visor is located in the low left of the helmet which might make it difficult to use the common communication accessories.

The visor has a wide and clear viewing angle and is also UV resistant. The visor also has an air diffusion technology which enables the visor to fog less. 

The internals are pretty well designed too, the neck piece and chin strap are designed to be put together and they also have a reflective panel. One downside is that the helmet is fitted with a micrometric buckle whereas its competitors offer a Double-D buckle. 

The lining is washable and removable and they are rather more comfortable than the current local competition. 

So, the Challenger, with these certain features, is a solid choice for touring and especially for long rides.

Sahil Ahsan is an Operation Specialist of the automotive channel - Throttle Alpha.