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Specialized 03 S1 Helmet Helmet


  • Average Rating: 4.55/5
  • MSRP: $ 149.99
  • # of Reviews: 11

Product Description

The S1 takes helmet technology to a new level. Thanks to our work with pro level road riders in events such as the Tour de France and our world class mountain bike team, the S-1 is lighter, sleeker and better ventilated than any helmet we''ve ever made!


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Reviews 1 - 11 (11 Reviews Total)

User Reviews

Overall Rating:3
Value Rating:3
Submitted by Chris B a Cross Country Rider from New Zealand

Date Reviewed: September 21, 2004

Strengths:    Good looks, fits my head! None of this stupid 'one size fits all' bunk that some brands are doing. Lets face it, different people have different sized heads. You need a helmet that fits your head shape .. having an even gap the whole way round and over the top. You want to distribute the impact force over a bigger area.
Great airflow, light ... good helmet.


Weaknesses:    I havent had a big crash on it, but the horizontal piece on the front (not the detachable visor) has a crack in it. Also just above that in the helmet is a small crack.

There is also one part on the very top of the helme that is so thin, I cant believe it wont just break.


Bottom Line:   
I wont buy another one, unless I find it cheap. It does fit my head great ... but I am disapointed that it got a crack in it without a real crash. If it hadnt had the crack it would have got one chilli higher overall.

Expand full review >>

Favorite Trail:   All

Duration Product Used:   1 Year

Price Paid:    $130.00

Purchased At:   Cycle City, Auckland , New Zealand

Similar Products Used:   This was my first 'high quality' helmet.

Bike Setup:   XC hard tail


Overall Rating:5
Value Rating:5
Submitted by George a Cross Country Rider from Dublin, CA

Date Reviewed: June 29, 2004

Strengths:    Excellent quality, great fit, looks good, holds up well, good color options. I have a 1999 Specialized Mountain Man helmut that I still use.

Weaknesses:    None

Bottom Line:   
This is my favorite helmet that I wear ever ride. Helmet fit is personal and Specialized helmets fit me perfect. The higher priced helmets are of better quality and the S1 is a top of the line helmut. I've tried other brands but they just don't feel right. The S1 is a keeper.

Expand full review >>

Favorite Trail:   any trail

Duration Product Used:   1 Year

Price Paid:    $100.00

Purchased At:   Sun Bike Shop

Similar Products Used:   Most helmuts out there.

Bike Setup:   2003 Supergo Access XCL with Avid 185mm mechanicals


Overall Rating:5
Value Rating:5
Submitted by Magoo a Cross Country Rider from Gurnee

Date Reviewed: June 8, 2004

Strengths:    good ventilation, comfortable, Protected my head!!

Weaknesses:    none

Bottom Line:   
Great lid! I fell from a some North Shore and lead it with my head. Give or take it was about 10ft. Saw stars for a little while, eye sweld shut and cracked the helmet in four places! Well I'm alive to tell the story. Any one who complains about price...well what is your head worth $60, $80, $130. Personally my head is worth $130.

Expand full review >>

Duration Product Used:   6 months

Price Paid:    $130.00

Purchased At:   Mike's Bikes of Gurnee



Overall Rating:4
Value Rating:2
Submitted by Dedub a Weekend Warrior from Newport Beach, CA

Date Reviewed: April 25, 2004

Strengths:    Weight and comfort.

Weaknesses:    Price. Although, Supergo currently has '02 models on sale for $60. That's about as good as it gets.

Bottom Line:   
All top end helmets are going to provide the same safety and cooling features, so all it comes down to is personal fit. Somehow I find Specialized helmets to be more confortable than Giros.

Expand full review >>

Duration Product Used:   Less than 1 month

Price Paid:    $60.00

Purchased At:   SuperGo

Similar Products Used:   Giro Air Attack (which saved my life once). Time. Specialized Sub 6.

Bike Setup:   Lemond steel with full Dura Ace. Specialized FSR with Fox shocks and XTR.


Overall Rating:3
Value Rating:3
Submitted by Dom F a Racer from ottawa

Date Reviewed: February 8, 2004

Strengths:    Looks great, And is very strong, does not crack after 1 fall.

Weaknesses:    Visor breaks off really easily, does not cool your head very well. Does not fit well, it is too wide and sits to far ontop f your head. My E2 worked much better and looks slightly better too(green goo). Too expensive for what it is!

Bottom Line:   
A good dependable helmet, unfortunatly the vents do not channel air to your head ideally and can leave your head boiling hot, even on cooler days, the visor broke off after first fall. The padding could be better too. However it looks good while it lasts. Had mine for 5 months, switched over to a Giro E2 and found it too be much better fit and design.

Expand full review >>

Favorite Trail:   6.9

Duration Product Used:   6 months

Price Paid:    $250.00

Purchased At:   lbs

Similar Products Used:   Giro E2(exellent), Specialized M1(good), Giro Gila(medium), various low end Louis garneau, and bell helmets

Bike Setup:   Does it matter? S-works Xt/XTR, Crossrocs


Overall Rating:5
Value Rating:5
Submitted by K-Man a from San Diego

Date Reviewed: September 30, 2003

Strengths:    Weightless
Strong
Great Fit


Weaknesses:    None

Bottom Line:   
My S-1 helmet saved my life at Noble Cyn.'s rock gardens a month ago. I did a Christifer Reaves T into the rocks and got a tad messed up. The impact crushed the helmet but saved my life. I would have been life flighted for sure but rode out instead. So I went and bought another one. Great Race helmet!!!!

Expand full review >>

Favorite Trail:   Backbone 3rd Tunnel

Duration Product Used:   6 months

Price Paid:    $75.00

Purchased At:   LBS

Similar Products Used:   Specialized helmet, Giro

Bike Setup:   Gunnar Rock Hound with atom 80 Bombers, XTR and Parts, WTB laserbeam rims, Light and Fast


Overall Rating:5
Value Rating:4
Submitted by Olly Clayton a Cross Country Rider from Taunton, Somerset, England

Date Reviewed: July 19, 2003

Strengths:    Light weight and comfortable but still has the strength to save your head.

Weaknesses:    None

Bottom Line:   
THIS HELMET SAVED MY LIFE. If it was not for this helmet I would probably not be here to write this review. When I had a thirty-five mile a hour collision with the ground which managed to buckle my forks and frame, this helmet saved me. I still spent five minutes unconcious and three days in hospital, mind you, but it goes to show the importance of wearing a helmet with th quality of the s1.
I would buy another but Giro's offer of half price on a new helmet if you break yours was too good

Expand full review >>

Favorite Trail:   Quantocks

Duration Product Used:   1 Year

Similar Products Used:   Giro, Bell



Overall Rating:5
Value Rating:5
Submitted by Luis Poessy a Cross Country Rider from Miami

Date Reviewed: July 10, 2003

Strengths:    Great looks, huge vents, adjustable visor, extremely light weight....

Weaknesses:    Absolutely none!!!

Bottom Line:   
Okay let's get one thing straight, for us mountain bikers wearing a helmet is not an option it's a must. And if you must wear something on your head it has to have two requirements. One, that it can save your life should the need arrise and two, that it keeps your head cool and looking cool as well. The S1 does both of these things extremly well. Many hours were spent in the wind tunnel to design this helmet. The vents had to be placed in optimum locations on the helmet and they had to be the right size to bring in cool air and let the hot air out. This is the third generation Brain Thrust retention system from Specialized, it now uses rubber coated soft plastic instead of the hard plastic of old. The S1 uses straps that are mounted directly on the helmet, away from your head to keep sweat off of your face. And last but not least the helmet is not bulky so it fits just right and does not give you the egg head look of other helmets. It's size allows it to be used for both road or mountain. All this and a retractable visor. Another great product from the kids at the Big S....

Expand full review >>

Favorite Trail:   Any trail with dirt

Duration Product Used:   6 months

Similar Products Used:   Gyro & Bell



Overall Rating:5
Value Rating:4
Submitted by Abe Bose a Weekend Warrior from Edgewater, NJ

Date Reviewed: April 17, 2003

Strengths:    Great fit, great styling, the visor is stable without having to be forced on, well ventilated, very light, the straps and vertical adjustments are brilliant - the helmet feels as if I were born with it on

Weaknesses:    The initial price of $150 is pricey - look for the sale - I found it for $99

Bottom Line:   
This helmet is one of the better makes and fits I have seen. I am a person that shops around and will wait for the right thing. This was it for me. If your looking for a great fitting helmet with style and comfort - I can confidently say buy this one!

Expand full review >>

Favorite Trail:   all of 'em

Duration Product Used:   Less than 1 month

Purchased At:   99.00

Similar Products Used:   Giro K2


Bike Setup:   Specialized Epic Comp 2002


Overall Rating:5
Value Rating:5
Submitted by Dave a Racer from Santa Cruz, CA, USA

Date Reviewed: March 16, 2003

Strengths:    -Lightweight
-Fit
-Feel
-Ventilation


Weaknesses:    -Retail Cost

Bottom Line:   
This is the most comfortable and best fitting helmet I have ever owned. This helmet provides good coverage in the areas where it needs to be, yet provides enough room for the arms of my Smith Sliders and my earpiece from the good ole' MP3 player. Oh yeah, the adjustable visor is just plain brilliant!

Expand full review >>

Duration Product Used:   3 months

Price Paid:    $150.00

Purchased At:   LBS

Similar Products Used:   -Giro Pnuemo
-Giro E2
-Bell Alchera


Bike Setup:   SC Superlight, XTR, Chris King


Overall Rating:5
Value Rating:4
Submitted by Scooter a Cross Country Rider from Murrieta, CA

Date Reviewed: January 29, 2003

Strengths:    - Large vents
- Adjustable visor
- Very lightweight
- Comfortable
- Adj. Brain-Trust system
- Visor does not block vents
- Great looks
- Versatile - MTB or Road


Weaknesses:    - Somewhat pricey

Bottom Line:   
I just replaced my 2 year old helmet. I was going to purchase the M1, but was talked into the S1 instead, and I'm glad I was.

This is a great helmet! It looks good and makes you look good. You hardly know you're wearing a helmet because it's so lightweight. And the fit is perfect. They include thicker pads in the box should you need them.

The visor is co-molded with a softer type of plastic so it won't break if you take a fall. Plus, it's adjustable and doesn't block any vents.

What about those vents! These things make you feel like you've got a built in air conditioner. They work perfectly.

Specialized did away with those cheezy stickers from '02 and laminated some decent logos on it that will not come off.

You can use this helmet for either MTB or road without looking like you're wearing the wrong helmet. It's a beautiful thing.

Decent color selection too.

You want a great helmet? Get the Spec '03 S1. Nuf said...

Expand full review >>

Favorite Trail:   Love 'em all

Duration Product Used:   Less than 1 month

Purchased At:   I.E. Bikes (LBS)

Similar Products Used:   Specialized Enduro Comp

Bike Setup:   FSRxc, Thomson post/stem, LP carbon riser bars, Egg Beaters, etc. etc.



Reviews 1 - 11 (11 Reviews Total)

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