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The FFR struck us as a VERY interesting helmet when it first arrived on the market late in 2005. It's KBC's first attempt at manufacturing a flip-up helmet, and as they've done in the past, they didn't start from scratch.
KBC is the master of taken designs innovations from other companies, and putting their own twist on the end product. Several of their past helmets were hard to tell apart from the higher end helmets from other companies. In a nutshell, they pay special attention to current products, and have mastered "barrowing" from their design.
The FFR is no different. The liner is removable, the shell is fiberglass, and the venting is above average. However, many of the features found on the FFR are unique.
The first feature that struck as a step beyond many current flip-up helmets is the built in air dam in the lower chin bar area. Other manufactures have decided to solve the problem of air entering the helmet below the chin area by incorporating a "skirt". Typically nothing more than a piece of material that closes up the gap between the riders chin, and the lower section of the chin bar. KBC's solution was to slightly extend the chin bar, and add a concave surface to direct the air away. Very clever, and it's been found to be very effective.
The FFR is also the only helmet designed to be ridden in the up (open) position. While many people ride with the front open, at higher speed the front portion can catch wind, and make the helmet unstable. KBC designed the front chin area to rotate up, but yet stay aerodynamic. Very clever, and simply makes sense.
The last feature that we like is the hinge system. Other flip-up helmets on the market use plastic in the hinge area. As you know, the hinge is the weakest point on the helmet. Plastic parts are not as strong as metal, and can break during a high impact. The FFR uses more metal than plastic, and appears to offer a stronger hinge system than it's counterparts.
The FFR fits very different than many other helmets in this category. Many of our customers have found that they go down a size (M-S) in order to get the correct fit. The helmet also has a more round shell, and at times the check pads may need to be changed out for a thicker set.
Overall we like the FFR, and feel it's a very solid helmet. KBC did have some minor construction issues with the early release helmets, but we've found that these problems have been addressed with the current helmets. If you're looking for a flip-up helmet, you should look hard at the FFR.
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