2WheelTimes Baja Tested: Vemar VRX7 Helmet
By Doug Byers
The very first thing that struck me about the Italian-made Vemar VRX7 helmet was how light if feels. The helmet weighs in at only 1406 grams or 3.0 pounds. The VRX7 features a mid-oval shell shape which offers a more generous fit front to back and more snug fit ear to ear. The exterior shell is constructed of a lightweight yet incredibly strong carbon fiber-aramidic-fiberglass blend. This mixture allows the helmet to pass DOT certification as well as being super lightweight. The VRX7 features a double density high impact inner shell and a removable and washable ultra plush non-deformable high density expanded polyurethane inner liner. The inner liner is manufactured from a technical fiber that provides life-long treatment against odor, fungus and bacteria, and extraordinary wicking capabilities that result in enhanced rider comfort.
The helmet's fit and finish is first-class all the way using high quality, hand-laid graphics under a thick layer of UV protective clear coating. The paint design is stylish, durable, and scratch resistant. The interior uses good quality materials with a snap in and out removable liner and earpieces. The washable liner removes and installs in seconds, which makes it easier to keep it fresh and clean. The Vemar even comes with an extra liner and ear cups to boot. This is a nice touch and very handy when you want to ride on short notice and can't get your gear cleaned up in time. You can just use the backup liner and have a nice fresh liner for your head to relax in. The liner system removes and installs very easily using a snap system.
The exclusive "Vemar Klima" full ventilation system over the top of your head could use a little better flow and maybe better exhausting for my tastes though. My head did get a little warm a few different times during our tighter off-road adventures.
The VRX7 has a large eye port for good vision and room for large goggles, although I wish they offered some sort of removable roost protection for your nose and cheek areas. The padded chin strap with double D-ring closure system is very easy to use even with gloves on thanks to the tabs. The visor adjusts very easily and stays in place where you want it using three screw fastening points. The visor also allows for good vision when climbing hills or looking up ahead. Each VXR7 helmet comes with an extra black visor as well.
The VXR7 also comes with a clear plexiglass fold-down Supermoto-style visor system that looks cool and would work well for the quick trip to the store or bike shop. This system would also work well off-road in rain conditions once you ripped your goggles off if you added some anti-fog or Rain-X to it. When not using the clear visor, Vemar even provides color matched rubber plugs to cap the screw holes.
However, there was one big problem with the Vemar that for me was almost enough to negate all its great features, but luckily it was somewhat fixable. The plastic snap-in snap-out system used to affix the back of the liner to the back shell of the helmet caused me some serious discomfort during our adventure. It was late in day 1 and I started feeling a burning and stinging sensation on the back of neck near my hairline. I just thought it was the new helmet breaking in and all the high speeds we had encountered during our Baja ride and did not think much more about it until I went to remove my helmet at the end of the day. This caused some serious pain and burning on my neck. I looked over the helmet trying to see if the plastic piece had a bur or sharp edge on it. I did not notice anything out of the ordinary, just a non-finished edge on the plastic insert.
Early on the morning of day 2, we stopped for gas in Trinidad and I pulled off my helmet feeling the pain again on my neck as I removed it. Hannas heard my yelping and walked over to see what I was whining about. He looked at my neck and told me I had a big red scrape wound with some blood on it. I looked at the helmet again and saw blood on the helmet too. After further investigation, I determined the injection molded plastic insert used to hold the snap in liner to the back shell was the cause of my discomfort. As it turns out, the shape of my skull and the helmet's plastic molded pieces didn't match up well, and the non-finished sharp edges were cutting into my neck and causing me some real discomfort. It was at that gas stop that I tore out the plastic piece and ran the helmet without it for the rest of the trip and beyond. Problem solved; no more pain and bleeding, however, I did not have anything to hold in the back of the liner in place.
That one issue is not enough to kill this review because the rest of the helmet is so good! Moreover, maybe someone else with a different shaped head may not be bothered by it as I was. If Vemar had only taken an extra few minutes to reshape the plastic insert piece or put a better edge on it, this would never have come up and the helmet would have scored an incredibly high score. I spoke with the President of Motonation about my problem and he had me send the helmet back to them so they could inspect it throughly to find the cause and make any necessary changes for future models, he also said that any customer with a problem such as this should contact them for help. What a stand up company with ever improving products and great customer service!
Overall the helmet is quiet and very comfortable. The soft-lined helmet bag and detailed user guide are also welcome additions. I like the Vemar VXR7 very much. I have worn many high-end helmets in the past and this helmet is in the same class for sure.
The VXR7 is covered by a five (5) year warranty from manufacturing date. This equates to the full usable life of the helmet according to Vemar. Motonation, the same importer of Sidi boots, imports Vemar Helmets into the USA (Vemar offers high quality street helmets as well). The helmet retails for $450 and is available in wide range of sizes and color schemes. See your local dealer for the latest offerings from Vemar or visit http://www.motonation.com/.
2WheelTimes Report Card: Vemar VXR7 Off-Road Helmet
Style B+
Fit/Comfort C
Performance B+
Durability A-
Value A
2WheelTimes Moto GPA = 3.25
