Leatt is a South African brand that is highly respected for its range of body armour, particularly their neck and knee braces. In fact, the motocross neck brace was invented by Leatt’s founder who used to be an orthopaedic and neurosurgeon by profession. The GPX 5.5 is their first helmet and it packs several unique and revolutionary approaches to helmet design.
First, you’ll notice that the shell is very compact, much more so than most other helmets. This has been achieved by a special technology where the EPS liner is injected right into the shell, rather than making a separate EPS liner that is then inserted into the helmet. The liner is made using Leatt’s ‘V-shaped’ dual density liner which is injected in a way that the different densities interlock with each other (picture a ‘V’ interlocking with another upside-down ‘V’)
Leatt uses their own Multi-directional Impact Protection System (MIPS) via the use of a number of small blue colour ‘turbines’ that fit in the EPS liner, below the comfort liner. These little discs can absorb rotational forces, hardening under impact like soft armour, and this helps reduce impact force by a claimed 30 percent. Off-road head injuries are frequently caused by rotational forces, where the head is twisted to one side. Leatt says that these little discs, along with the smaller shell, help reduce those damaging forces by up to 40 percent.
A result of the composite shell material and its compact size is that this helmet is super light – my size S weighs just 1,050gm and about 1,200gm with a set of goggles. Ventilation is at a level I have never experienced before – it’s almost like a cycling helmet. There are 13 vents in the shell, but the four massive openings on the top make all the difference. These vents are kept secured with a high-density honeycomb structure that can withstand the penetration tests in ECE certification processes that this helmet conforms to. Leatt sells an optional set of vent plugs to close them off in case you plan on doing a lot of riding in the rain
I find that the helmet fits me nice and snug, with fit on par with established mainstream brands, but getting the lid on is rough on the ears. The firm-fitting cheek pads have a quick release system, but I’ve noticed that they can pop out of place without much effort. One of the few things I dislike is the sheer length of the jaw. All MX helmets have an extended jaw, but this one seems a little excessive and I’d have liked to see a little closer coverage here.
This helmet packs a number of clever touches, including a special channel along the bottom left to snake a hydration pipe through. The rear section is also designed to mesh with Leatt’s acclaimed line of neck braces.
As with most of what Leatt does, this is a very premium product and if you’re into the idea of trying out the latest in technology, this MX helmet is right up your street. The GPX 5.5 recently received a small update for 2019 with a larger jaw structure, but the rest remains the same. The outgoing model you see here is available at Lazyass Bikers with a 50 percent discount, which makes it a fantastic deal.
Where: www.lazyassbikers.com
Price: Rs 30,999 (Rs 15,499 on discount)
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