I’ve been riding for over 40 years, and over that time I’ve seen a huge improvement in the fit and comfort of motorcycle helmets. From my first helmet (that is responsible for much of my hearing loss) to my current selection, the standard of helmets has greatly improved over the years in terms of safety, design, and fit.
The Canadian-designed CKX Atlas helmet is a mid-priced helmet ($499 Cdn) that fits well, looks good and meets the current DOT and ECE 22.06 safety standards.
The Atlas can be converted to suit Road, Adventure, or Enduro riding. I didn’t get a chance to use the Enduro setup (which involves wearing the Atlas 210º goggles), but I found the Adventure and Road setups to work as advertised.
When riding with the Atlas in Adventure mode (using the photochromic visor and the extendable peak), the peak didn’t drag my head to the side in cross winds, and it was easy to move the peak into either of its two positions while riding. I preferred the lower position, which kept the peak slightly visible in my upper vision and did a good job of blocking the sun. There is also an extension built into the peak which, when extended, blocks more of the low-on-the horizon sun.
The photochromic visor auto-magically darkens when exposed to sunlight, eliminating the need to bring a second visor on rides that extend into the evenings. As the sun gets brighter, the photochromic visor gets darker, which cuts down on glare and makes it easier to see the road. The visor has excellent position detents and stayed open at whichever position I wanted without slamming shut as speeds increased. As a nice bonus, the visor is Pinlock compatible.
When riding in Road mode (with the extendable peak removed), the chin vents worked well, but the top vent had no noticeable effect. I’d like to say the helmet is quieter without the peak installed, but in fact, I found very little difference in sound level with or without it installed.
One of the novel features of the Atlas is the pivoting and removable muzzle vent. The chin vent works well, but if you overheat while riding and the visor starts to fog, or even if you just want more airflow on your face, you can press the top button on the muzzle and the chin vent section hinges down to allow air to flow directly into the lower helmet area. If you don’t have a Pinlock, it’s a quick way to clear a foggy visor. It’s a nice addition, and when it is in the down position it doesn’t muffle your voice when you talk to your riding buddies on the trail! CKX doesn’t recommend riding with the muzzle in the down position, I assume because they don’t want it to snap off or get caught in your clothes while you’re riding.
The Atlas doesn’t use a conventional D-ring chinstrap, instead it uses the ProClip quick release system. The ProClip system works in a similar manner to a reusable zip tie fastener; once you set up the ProClip fastener for your head, it’s just a matter of fitting one end into the other and squeezing the ends together until the fit is comfortable. It’s even easier to remove, just pull the tab on the ProClip and it comes apart.
There are also a few other notable features: the helmet liner and cheek pads are removable and washable; CKX supplies a nylon helmet bag in which you can store your helmet during the off-season; and CKX also supplies a pair of Rapid Clip Fasteners that work with Atlas 210º goggles (not included). The Rapid Clip Fasteners stick to the sides of the helmet and allow you to quickly attach Atlas 210º goggles. The Rapid Clip installation instructions are included in the User Manual.
The first few times I put the Atlas on, I found it a tight squeeze to fit my (admittedly large) head into the helmet. However, once it was on, the Atlas was extremely comfortable, with no hot spots even after a few hours riding. I typically ride with ear buds, and the ear holes didn’t interfere with my ear buds at all. Converting from Adventure to Road mode is easily accomplished without any tools; just press the buttons on either side of the helmet and the peak pops right off. And it’s just as east to reinstall. One slight annoyance for me was my nose touching the inside of the helmet, but that likely has more to do with my substantial nose than a design flaw with the helmet.
Overall, I found the Atlas helmet to be a good looking, quiet, and good fitting helmet with excellent optics. For more details visit www.kimpex.com and ckxgear.com.
CKX Helmet
MSRP: Starting at $499.99
Sizes: XS to 3XL
Pros:
– Quiet
– Very comfortable
– Wide field of vision
Cons:
– Tight to put on initially
– A tight squeeze to wear glasses
