Remember the original Giro Switchblade? You may not, since that helmet debuted in 1998, right around when the freeride movement was shifting into high gear. It was a cross-country helmet at heart, but it came with a chinbar that could be bolted on to give riders additional peace of mind when they decided to give those rickety skinnies and drops to flat a try. The concept had merit, but the execution.... Well, let's just say that it could have been better.
Fast forward eighteen years, and the Switchblade is back, but this is a whole different beast than the original. In addition to looking much more refined and modern, it's also ASTM downhill certified, both with and without the chinbar.
Giro Switchblade MIPS Details• 20 vents
• MIPS liner
• Six color choices
• Certified to CPSC, EN-1078, and ASTM-1952-DH with and without the chinbar
• Sizes: S, M, L
• Weight: 975 grams (size M)
• MSRP: $250.00 USD
•
www.giro.com,
@GiroSportDesign Giro's focus was on creating a helmet that was designed for downhill, one that riders could comfortably wear on the race course and in the bike park without sacrificing anything in the way of safety. The helmet is also equipped with MIPS (Multi-directional Impact Protection System), the thin plastic liner that's becoming a near-standard feature on most high-end helmets.
There are a total of twenty vents to help with air flow, along with channels next to the ears that are supposed to increase ventilation even further when the chin bar is removed. Two visors are included with the Switchblade: one that has multiple positions and can be raised high enough to fit goggles underneath it when they're not in use, and one with a built in POV camera mount. The visor with the camera mount is stiffer and sits in one fixed position, making it less likely that your footage will cause epileptic seizures.
Claimed weight for a size medium is 975 grams, and around 600 grams without the chinbar. There are six color options, ranging from the classic matte black, to the attention-grabbing matte-lime (what I would call fluorescent green). Sizes: S, M, L. MSRP: $250 USD.
How It WorksRemoving and installing the chinbar is a fairly quick and easy procedure, but a little bit of time spent staring in the mirror practicing does help make it easier to execute the necessary moves out on the trail.
When it's time to head uphill, no tools are required to remove the chinbar – it's simply a matter of depressing two buttons, tilting the bar up slightly, and then pulling it forward until it detaches. With the chinbar detached, the helmet still covers the rider's ears, giving it a sort of sci-fi-comic-book-hero-meets-trials-moto look.
On its own, the chinbar is small enough that it can be strapped to a backpack, tucked into a waistband, or strapped to a handlebar with a bungee cord and some creativity. The one thing to keep an eye on are the two pads that are attached to it – they're held on with one snap, and if they snag on a pack strap or something similar, they can detach and fall off. If it we're me, I'd add a little piece of Velcro to make sure that this didn't happen out on the trail.
After the climbing is over, the installation process is just as quick as the removal; the 'click-click' sound of the chinbar locking into a place means that the real fun is about to begin.
On the TrailI've been able to get in a handful of rides with the Switchblade since its arrival, most of them in hot summer conditions. With the chinbar removed, there's no denying that the Switchblade
is warmer than a traditional half-shell helmet, but by the same token, it's also much cooler than a full face. The fact that there's no material in front of your mouth to get in the way of the hot air you're expelling has a lot to do with this, allowing for much better air flow. While 600 grams would be fairly hefty for a traditional half-shell, (and probably feel like wearing a lead yarmulke), because of the extended coverage over the ears, the Switchblade's weight is very well balanced, keeping if from feeling overly top heavy.
With the chinbar in place, it's easy to forget that the Switchblade is a convertible helmet, and that's a good thing. It feels almost identical to a regular full face, albeit one with above-average ventilation. Of course, helmet fit is subjective, but the Switchblade fit my head shape well, fading into the background so that I could focus on more important things, like not stuffing my front wheel into a mess of roots and going over the bars...
So who exactly is the Switchblade for? That's going to be the question on many riders' minds, and it's one that doesn't have a completely cut-and-dry answer. The most obvious answer is 'enduro racers,' and the convertible design makes a hell of a lot more sense than carrying one helmet for the climbs and another for the descents, or suffering with wearing a full face all day long.
Even in the half shell mode the Switchblade offers a feeling of greater security than you'd find with a regular XC or trail helmet – I could see running it for a dirt jump session where the chances of smacking the ground are a little higher than usual, or wearing it in full face mode for bike park laps, and then removing the chinbar to go for a pedal on the other trails in the the area. In any case, the new Switchblade is worlds apart from its flimsy ancestor, making it a much more feasible option for riders looking for increased protection out on the trail.
Visit the high-res gallery for more images.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWH13HUz4mg
You're confusing testing with certification: Bell didn't build the 2R without testing, they just opted for a design that prioritized conversion & weight over the downhill cert.
It's not a park helmet, it's an earn-your-turns helmet. For all-lift-served riding, I'll wear a DH helmet. If there is actually pedaling involved, then its the 2R.
However a couple years ago I had a crash where I smashed out my front teeth while riding 'enduro'. Took weeks to get new teeth fitted and repairs done. Anyway, i use the 2R on every all mountain ride, when others are using trail helmets, not to try and replace my full face, but to have that barrier at the front of my face to stop that happening again.
Gotta know the helmets limit before going on about lack of certification guys ????
cruiserrevolution.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/perry_kramer_bmxa.jpg
Anyways, if those removable chin guard helmets are good enough to pass the motorcycle standard I guess the *do* offer some REAL protection, even though they are out of their league at a downhil race.
The en1078 is for bicycle helmets and the test is different (lower speed etc) to ece22 motorcycle.
As e.g. the Cratoni Maniac had 474g, this is close to no protection at all. 248g (super2r) is much better than that.
The complete test was in bike-magazin.de 8/16
www.helmets.org/helmet16.htm
It's in German but you can probably identify the test results:
www.pinkbike.com/photo/x_directtoalbum/?id=13833603
I have to correct myself though: For the chin guard they did use the test from the ECE 22, BUT reduced the impact speed from 20km/h to 16.5km/h (which is the speed used by the EN 1078 for side impacts).
Values for the chinguard test at 16.5 km/h:
Alpina King Carapax: 302g
Bell Super 2R: 211g
Cratoni C-Maniac: 474g
MET Parachute: 99g
Urge Archi Enduro: 248g
Uvex Jakkyl hde: 147g
For comparison, the chin guard test values for two real for real full face helmets according to ECE 22 (at 20 km/h impact speed):
Specialized Dissident: 80g
Troy Lee D3: 46g
So the two ASTM certified full face helmets performed significantly better at a somewhat tougher test, though the also ASTM certified Parachute is very close. BUT: In my opinion the values also show that the the Bell and the Uvex (to some extent maybe the Urge) will protect your chin and face about as well as a half shell will protect the rest of your head. So if those half shell helmets can actually save you from serious injury to your head in many situations, the removable chin guards can also save you from a maybe a broken jaw or a few knocked out teeth in those situations. In those situations meaning: At moderate speeds.
Sounds like it'd be a good hot weather park helmet and a poor pedaling helmet.
Not only that. When I called the customer service number at Giro the representative had an attitude and basically told me to bug off. I was not trying to get a refund, I was letting them know that this "downhill rated" helmet barely stood up to a slow crash and could had impaled me in the throat.
Such a shame because I like their products, but possibly the worst and most unfriendly customer service on the planet. I'll put money on the fact they have massive customer problems with this chin protector.
And where does this one fall?
Or is it one standard, and this is supposedly just as good as a TLD D3 or Fox Rampage? (or whatever other DH helmet you prefer)
I'm in the market for a full face and so why not get one that has such good breathability and versatility? Unless of course it doesn't meet the same standards as other full face helmets.
Also surprised that it took this long for another company to create a competing product for the Super 2r.
For a great deal of the Vancouver riding season (i.e. all winter) the extra warmth and protection will be welcome.
It's like me blaming giro for my helmet getting cracked and dented... well... I hit a tree... and I'm not dead. That's what helmets are for.
Also curious if any of this is doctor diagnosed. I hear concussion a lot these days when most of the time people don't know wtf they're talking about.
But in this case... your friend is alive. I'd say the helmet did what it was supposed to do.
Sorta true. You'll notice that Giro's purchase date is the same... no?
may have to go try one of these on if I can fine one soon-ish, or wing in on the MET.
Anyone with a giro favored head try a MET helmet that can compare fit?
only teen girls are attracted to boyish looks like his.
dude needs to grow a beard and cut those locks. He can ride like a madman--huge respect-- but the creative directors probably cringe when they see someone that looks like they're on the cover of seventeen magazine come onto their set....
just saying..
I own Casco Viper which is not a pretty helmet but it much better looking without chin guard than Giro despite it's old design.
diggin the old school moto helmet look too.
The yeti color scheme is cool, but that's about it.
Radical Rick Rules...whats old is new again!
I've seen people take face damage in the 2r. But then again... I've seen people take face damage in full face motorcycle helmets. So I usually think... well... what would have happened without it. LOL!
Some crashes you're sure as hell take it on the chin... especially if you have poor reaction time and go straight into something...
i0.wp.com/www.endurotribe.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/giro-proto-3.jpg?resize=1200%2C639
... without all the wins and bike skills.
But thank you for the confirmation. I couldn't remember if it was a two part cert or not. damned engineers.
I like mine. I think it's a killer trail helmet.