Tatonka
09-17-2009, 12:49 PM
http://www.klimusa.com/f4micro/The%20F4_files/Helmet%20Composite.png
Earlier this year I decided it was time to hang up my old lid after I took a little tumble while on the annual RiderDown fundraiser with BajaBoundMoto in Baja. I really liked my old Troy Lee SE (Steve McQueen, Day In The Dirt Edition) and it had traveled many miles with me doing it’s job and replacing it was going to be a tough choice. After doing some research on the current line up of helmets available on the market I decided to try something new and a bit different. I have several other pieces of gear from Klim (pronounced Climb) and have been completely satisfied so far. The new, anniversary edition of the Klim F4 was my choice and I hope it’s up to the task! Given the heat & conditions of most of my riding lately (Baja, Utah, Texas, Western Slope of Colorado, etc..) the venting on the helmet made a lot of sense.
The F4 arrived and I should mention that Klim does a great job with the accessories and extras that come along with the helmet. The extra visor, the padding and the bag are all top notch, in fact the bag is probably the nicest I’ve seen so far. That may not mean much to some people but when dropping the coin on a new helmet it’s nice to have a bag that protects it in the back of the truck or on the trailer (at least until the rides have scuffed it up a bit). The vented liner fits very well allowing the helmet to sit down lower (earlier models seemed to sit high on the head) without losing any of the 41 available air vents. The finish on the helmet is stellar and so far has held up very well. I did have to order thinner cheek pads so I wouldn’t be chewing on the inside of my mouth while riding. It came with 15mm pads and I installed the 10mm. I’m sure they will crush down some over time but the originals were a bit too tight for me. The F4 also comes with a Gore-Tex “Windstopper” liner for cold weather riding and this is critical when riding here in the Rockies. I also use my dirt bike helmet at times when riding sleds in the winter and this makes the helmet so much more versatile. I tend to sweat a lot while riding and these vents have really made a difference in keeping my head drier and cooler. The peripheral vision on this helmet is really good also, I just can’t stand some of the lids that are so restrictive it feels like you’ve got blinders on!
I haven’t had the opportunity to ride in any really tight woods with low hanging branches or downed trees yet but that is a concern with the vents on the top of the helmet. I’ve heard that these can snag and break off at times but that the company has priced replacement parts extremely cheap. Better yet, I’ve heard of some guys (thanks Chilly) who just remove them in advance for this type of terrain without causing a significant reduction in airflow. Neither have I had the chance to test the helmet in a crash so I can’t (yet) comment on that…..stay tuned.
For more info on the helmet: http://www.klimusa.com/products.php or go to www.Klimusa.com for their complete line up of gear and accessories.
Earlier this year I decided it was time to hang up my old lid after I took a little tumble while on the annual RiderDown fundraiser with BajaBoundMoto in Baja. I really liked my old Troy Lee SE (Steve McQueen, Day In The Dirt Edition) and it had traveled many miles with me doing it’s job and replacing it was going to be a tough choice. After doing some research on the current line up of helmets available on the market I decided to try something new and a bit different. I have several other pieces of gear from Klim (pronounced Climb) and have been completely satisfied so far. The new, anniversary edition of the Klim F4 was my choice and I hope it’s up to the task! Given the heat & conditions of most of my riding lately (Baja, Utah, Texas, Western Slope of Colorado, etc..) the venting on the helmet made a lot of sense.
The F4 arrived and I should mention that Klim does a great job with the accessories and extras that come along with the helmet. The extra visor, the padding and the bag are all top notch, in fact the bag is probably the nicest I’ve seen so far. That may not mean much to some people but when dropping the coin on a new helmet it’s nice to have a bag that protects it in the back of the truck or on the trailer (at least until the rides have scuffed it up a bit). The vented liner fits very well allowing the helmet to sit down lower (earlier models seemed to sit high on the head) without losing any of the 41 available air vents. The finish on the helmet is stellar and so far has held up very well. I did have to order thinner cheek pads so I wouldn’t be chewing on the inside of my mouth while riding. It came with 15mm pads and I installed the 10mm. I’m sure they will crush down some over time but the originals were a bit too tight for me. The F4 also comes with a Gore-Tex “Windstopper” liner for cold weather riding and this is critical when riding here in the Rockies. I also use my dirt bike helmet at times when riding sleds in the winter and this makes the helmet so much more versatile. I tend to sweat a lot while riding and these vents have really made a difference in keeping my head drier and cooler. The peripheral vision on this helmet is really good also, I just can’t stand some of the lids that are so restrictive it feels like you’ve got blinders on!
I haven’t had the opportunity to ride in any really tight woods with low hanging branches or downed trees yet but that is a concern with the vents on the top of the helmet. I’ve heard that these can snag and break off at times but that the company has priced replacement parts extremely cheap. Better yet, I’ve heard of some guys (thanks Chilly) who just remove them in advance for this type of terrain without causing a significant reduction in airflow. Neither have I had the chance to test the helmet in a crash so I can’t (yet) comment on that…..stay tuned.
For more info on the helmet: http://www.klimusa.com/products.php or go to www.Klimusa.com for their complete line up of gear and accessories.