Let’s not beat across the bush, The Beam full-face Virgo Integral MIPS helmet appears fairly wild once you examine it to a traditional half-shell bike helmet – with its built-in chin bar and flip-down visor. However identical to how DH full-face helmet tech has trickled right down to loads of light-weight convertible and full-face helmets for enduro and even some aggressive path riders – it’s arduous to argue with further head safety.
The Beam Virgo Integral MIPS full-face metropolis & ebike helmet
Full-face helmets are nothing new in biking. However for some cause, they’ve actually by no means made the transition from gravity mountain biking to extra mainstream biking.
The Beam Virgo full-face appears to interrupt down that barrier with a light-weight and well-ventilated helmet that provides extra of the sunshine consolation, adjustable match, and premium security tech that we’ve come to anticipate from trendy biking helmets. Plus, in fact, the additional advantage of additional safety of the rider’s chin & face.
I’ve been following the event of this light-weight, multi-disciple full-face because it started as an aero street helmet virtually 5 years in the past. So, with my very own adoption of extra time driving a unusual utilitarian ebike and a brilliant yellow cargo ebike, I used to be glad to check out this newest evolution of the Virgo full-face.
Why an ebike commuter full-face? Why not!
As extra folks have adopted ebikes instead type of transportation, now we have seen extra helmets get ebike certifications – i.e. NTA 8776. But nonetheless, we nonetheless solely actually see ebike helmets going full-face for off-road-focused aggressive eMTB driving.
However, as commuter ebikes share extra of the street and concrete atmosphere, it is sensible that ebike helmets may begin to look a bit extra like a scooter or moto helmet.
If you end up driving forwards and backwards to work amongst automobile site visitors, or zipping round city on fast & highly effective ebikes, The Beam Virgo Integral MIPS helmet merely provides further peace of thoughts in a light-weight and comfy helmet at an inexpensive value. And it delivers sufficient air flow that you just gained’t actually roast when you need to pedal a bit by yourself, too.
Tech Particulars & Precise Weight
The Beam developed the Virgo full-face to not solely adjust to the common EN1078 / CPSC bike certification requirements, but in addition to fulfill the extra stringent European NTA-8776 regulation created for higher-speed (45kph/28mph) pedelec ebikes.
The French-designed helmet incorporates a distinctive multi-layer building. First, there’s primarily a extra standard in-mold half-shell helmet – with only a plastic shell molded over the sides of its EPS foam power absorbing layer for put on & tear safety. Then, molded on the skin of that, there’s the entire ABS shell with separate in-mold EPS across the cheeks and chin bar for extra safety.
Lastly, inside all of it, is a black MIPS Evolve Core liner insert to isolate your head from rotational forces in an affect.
- distinctive multi-part building for standard impacts, plus separate face safety
- ABS shell with in-mold EPS foam
- 5 ahead & prime going through vents, 4 rear exhaust vents & small inner air flow channels
- mounted peak dial-adjustable match system, with adjustable nylon webbing chinstrap & plastic buckle
- detachable, washable, sweat-wicking padding and separate padded cheek cushions
- non-obligatory, detachable visors (glasses-friendly)
- non-obligatory, detachable magnetic taillight
- designed in France, made in China
- EN 1078 / CPSC / NTA 8776 licensed
- 3 grownup + 1 little one dimension out there
- light-weight, beginning as little as 600-650g claimed (dimension Small, with out visor)
Our dimension medium The Beam Virgo Integral MIPS full-face helmet has an official claimed weight of 710g with out its visor, however measures an actual 706g.
However the precise weight with the visor is 786g, plus an extra 28g when the good tail (brake) gentle is mounted.
Lighter than most MTB full-face helmets
As a mountain biker who spends loads of time driving lengthy journey path, enduro, freeride, and the occasional downhill bike, there wasn’t actually even any psychological impediment to choosing a full-face helmet for ebike driving. In reality, whereas driving commuter bikes and even path bikes within the winter, I’ve already been apt to placed on a light-weight enduro full face and goggles to get a bit of additional climate safety with the added security only a bonus.
Weight-wise, I’ve a few gentle enduro MTB full-face helmets which might be lighter (Dainese & Endura) than the Virgo with out its visor, however solely the Endura is lighter as soon as I think about a pair of goggles, after which solely by about 10g. Solely the Dainese has MIPS, and neither are NTA-8776 licensed. What that claims is that evaluating apples to apples (or at the very least to pears), The Beam’s Virgo Integral MIPS is really a light-weight relating to full-face safety.
Driving Assessment
I’ve ridden the Virgo Integral MIPS principally by way of autumn, with my ebike rides usually leaning in the direction of jackets and gloves climate, so I actually can’t vouch for the way it will do on sizzling summer season days when you need to pedal uphill by your self. Or when your ebike battery will run out. However I’ve ridden in chilly sufficient climate to note that the vents do let a very good little bit of air in, so I undoubtedly put a skinny windproof cap on when it bought nearer to freezing.
I picked the sand tan helmet to check as a result of I figured the lighter colour would provide improved visibility to drivers. And I’ve the clear Crystal visor, which nonetheless has a tiny little bit of a grey tint, though it’s utterly positive for driving at evening with lights.
The visor itself doesn’t have any particular handles or tabs to maneuver it. However it sits far sufficient away from my face that I’ve no downside pushing it up or down by the visor’s edges, even with winter gloves. When it’s not exceptionally chilly, I prefer to journey with the visor up so I can really feel the wind on my face. Or half approach up which provides a tiny little bit of shading towards the setting solar. However on particularly chilly, windy, and even wet days, dropping the visor down is nice.
Virgo Integral’s snap-on Good Rear Mild
I particularly just like the Virgo Integral’s included rear good taillight (non-obligatory on Entry fashions), because it tremendously boosts nighttime and low-light visibility.
It places out a gentle 40 lumens of purple gentle, then powered by an on-board accelerometer, it robotically boosts to 120 lumens when braking for added visibility. The waterproof 28g USB-C rechargeable taillight has a 400mAh battery for a claimed runtime of 20 hours, and a 2hr recharge time – each of which appear to match my real-world use.
The Good rear gentle is StVZO-certified, and is available in a bundle with the top-spec Virgo Integral fashions, or sells for 49€ individually.
Driving Takeaways
If you’re solely used to street, gravel, or standard city commuter helmets, The Beam Virgo Integral MIPS full-face is a reasonably surprising change. And I gained’t lie, the primary feedback that I’ve bought from coworkers, associates, and household had been typically astonishment why I’d need a helmet that they thought seemed extra like a motorbike helmet than a commuter bike helmet.
However on second thought, just about everybody understands that extra protection and extra safety means improved security. And what different cause can we put on helmets than to maintain our heads secure?
Plus, extra ebikes means extra time sharing the street with vehicles, extra inexperienced riders on heavier ebikes (vs. standard bikes), and possibly even larger common speeds. So there’s good cause to supply extra safety to the heads of ebikers. And The Beam’s Virgo Integral full face does all that in a light-weight and comfy helmet, that I personally really feel higher driving.
The Beam Virgo Integral – Pricing, choices & availability
The Beam provides their Virgo full-face helmet in 3 sizes: S(51-54cm), M (55-58cm) & L (59-63cm. Then, you get to choose from 4 colours – black, white, navy blue & sand (examined). After which, should you get one of many top-tier Integral fashions, it comes along with your selection of 4 visor choices – frivolously tinted Crystal (examined), darkish smoke tinted Black, reflective Polarized Blue, bronze-tinted Yellow.
Lastly, The Beam Virgo is on the market in 4 spec choices to hit all value factors: Integral consists of each the visor of your selection and the taillight. Entry is with out a visor (however one may nonetheless be added later).
Technically, it appears like solely the top-tier is on the market within the US-specific net retailer, for the time being. However world supply is on the market from the European webshop, so that you would possibly simply have barely larger transport prices or further supply time.
The highest-spec The Beam Virgo Integral MIPS full-face (as examined) sells for $299 / 299€, instantly from The Beam’s on-line store. Do away with the visor & that good taillight, and the Virgo Entry MIPS retails for simply 239€. Or with out the additional rotational affect safety, the Virgo Integral sells for 229€ with the equipment, and the Virgo Entry goes for 179€ with out.
There are additionally even cheaper XS (48-50cm) & S (51-54cm) youngsters variations for simply 99€ in additional child-oriented colours, too.
As an additional vacation purchasing deal now in Europe, should you purchase any Virgo helmet proper now, The Beam offers you a free visor and a helmet Reflector reflective sticker totally free, making it cheaper to get a visor-equipped commuter full-face. (Apply code: VIRGOSTYLE at checkout after including the equipment).