Our rugged mountain-inspired Instinct is designed for off-road use with large vents, including massive rear exhaust ports and deeper profile for those looking for a little more coverage in trail environments. It’s the ideal helmet for epic single-track adventures, keeping your head cool and vented, even in low-speed technical sections.
Submitted by
Mr. Bike
a Cross Country Rider
from TOLUCA, MEXICO Date Reviewed: September 3, 2009
Favorite Trail:
VOLCANO NEVADO DE TOLUCA
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$89.00
Purchased At:
SECTOR BIKE
Strengths:
THE MOST COMFORTABLE EVER USED,IT LOOKS GREAT (I HAVE THE GREY/BLUE).
Weaknesses:
THE STRAPS GET LOOSE.
Similar Products Used:
GIRO XEN, FOX FLUX.
Bike Setup:
GT AVALANCHE.
Bottom Line:
I BOUGHT IT BECAUSE I BROKE MY FOX FLUX AND WHEN I WANTED TO BUY A NEW ONE IT WAS SO EXPENSIVE THAT I TRIED DIFFERENT HELMETS BUT ALL OF THEM WERE SO UGLY AND UNCONFORTABLE THEN THE SALES MAN GAVE ME THIS INSTINCT AND IT FELT SO GOOD AND LOOKED SO NICE (SIMILAR TO MY OLD FLUX) AND IT WAS 15% OFF THAT I BOUGHT IT, RIDING IN THE VOLCANO I DO NOT FEEL I AM WEARING IT AND I SOLVED THE PROBLEM OF THE STRAPS BY HOLDING THEM WITH A BLACK RUBBER BAND IT WORKED¡¡¡, I AM VERY HAPPY WITH IT.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Natedogz
a Cross Country Rider
from NorCal Date Reviewed: March 10, 2009
Favorite Trail:
singletrack
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$95.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Great fit, plenty of simple to use adjustment, lots of cooling vents, snap on matching visor, meets Snell safety rating, more coverage especially on the sides and back than many other helmets. Also looks great, while most bike helmets look goofy to me.
Weaknesses:
None.
Similar Products Used:
None.
Bike Setup:
08 Specialized Rockhopper DIsc 29er.
Bottom Line:
Great fit, plenty of simple to use adjustment, lots of cooling vents, snap on matching visor, meets Snell safety rating, more coverage especially on the sides and back than many other helmets. Also looks great, while most bike helmets look goofy to me. I also tried the Giro Hex and Xen, two other great looking well rated helmets that just didn't fit me as well.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
fire_mike
a Weekend Warrior
from Cottonwood, AZ Date Reviewed: October 6, 2008
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$99.00
Purchased At:
Absolute Bikes (Grea
Strengths:
Fit's my big a$$ head - the Profit system is great - I like the looks and color (bronze)
Weaknesses:
None so far. . .
Similar Products Used:
the thin layer of hairless sin over my skull
Bike Setup:
Specialized Hardrock Sport - stock except for the seat and pedals
Bottom Line:
I'm not a crazy rider at all. In fact, I do most of my riding on the streets. When I went looking for a helmet, I was looking to get something that looked good, and was afordable. I kept trying on helmets in the $40-60 range, but none of them fit my big head properly. I tried on the Instinct, and I was pleasantly surprised - it actually fit very well!!! Needless to say it was more than I was planning on spending, but I'm glad I dropped the extra cash. I have only ridden with this helmet for about 300 miles with most of it (90%) being on the road (no jumping, drops, etc.). I have not had any issue with the fit system breaking. The straps were comming loose on me, so I got them adjusted how I want, and then used a small wire tie to hold the adjusting ends of the strap in place - it works! I have not had to adjust the straps since then. The ventilation seems fine to me, but that might be because I'm bald (the ventilation sucks in the winter).
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
James
a Cross Country Rider
from Denver, CO, USA Date Reviewed: April 13, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Slinky
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$90.00
Purchased At:
Bike Shop
Strengths:
LIGHT! Good protection all around, awesome color (I have the blue), most comfortable helmet I've raced with while being cheaper than the comparable Giro.
Weaknesses:
Straps loosen over time (seriously, no big deal though, never had a helmet that didn't).
Similar Products Used:
Giro Zen, old school Bell XC
Bike Setup:
Giant Anthem
Bottom Line:
One of the best helmets out there that can be found under the $100 mark.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Connor Reddington
a Cross Country Rider
from Fresno Ca, USA Date Reviewed: July 7, 2007
Favorite Trail:
anything
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$70.00
Purchased At:
tri-sport
Strengths:
looks cool visor helps some pretty comfortable
Weaknesses:
straps get stuck on the visor when your not wearing it and when you try to put it on and buckle it the visor snaps off not the best ventilation
Similar Products Used:
uhmm not that much kinda used that same helmet for the entire time ive been racing
Bottom Line:
crashed on it today broke the foam 15 mph over the bars head first on a rock i can understand it break ing
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jacko
a Weekend Warrior
from Plymouth, England Date Reviewed: February 25, 2007
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
Certini's
Strengths:
Looks, Lower rear head cover, Price.
Weaknesses:
ventilation, The rear of the peak flaps around a fair bit, and the straps get caught round it when your not wearing it, rips the peak off when you dont notice and go to put it on! Straps do slowly come loose.
Similar Products Used:
old GT lid, Giro zen
Bike Setup:
STD giant Reign 2
Bottom Line:
For the price you cant fault this lid! its main competitors, the giro zen and the fox flux dont realy come close in my eyes! the giro is way more expensive and doesn't look as good! the fox comes much closer, but again is more cash!
I've been usin this lid 2 or 3 times a week for about 8 months, the chin strap does slowly come loose, but i probably do it up maybe once a month! cant say i see this a a problem! My old lid used to do the same, over greater periods of time. The retention system is great, i've had no issues with it not grippin or snappin etc! i do it up stupidly tight when i put it on, you almost get a pi$$ pot kinda fit, and then fully realise it to take it off, so the ratchet system gets used all the time, still no worries!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Frank
a
from Flagstaff AZ/Palatine IL Date Reviewed: June 18, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Schultz Creek (flagstaff)
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
team deal
Strengths:
- rusty orange color is unique, easy to find in a crowd and looks cool - in theory it has good protection for the back of your head
Weaknesses:
- straps come loose regularly - snap in holes for head retention system wear out, quickly - plastic head retention thing breaks
Similar Products Used:
- many less expensive and more reliable Bell and other brands of helmets
Bike Setup:
geared hardtail + rigid singlespeed
Bottom Line:
I have been very dissapointed with these helmets. We got them as part of our team deal. I was pretty excited to be getting a nicer helmet since I have been using cheap ones for a while. I can't belive they sell these things for $100 since they're no where near as durable as my cheapo $40 helmet. Several of my teammates had trouble with these helmets. My wife had her "Pro Fit Retention System" just plain snap on her. On mine, the hole where it attached into the foam of the helmet wallowed out so it kept coming apart. My teammate had his straps come loose all the time. Someone else broke a buckle.
Then yesterday I had a crash and hit my head on something and this helmet (new warranted helmet with only a dozen or so rides in it) did nothing to protect my head. The straps had come loose and when the handlebars or whatever hit me struck my head it just pushed the helmet out of the way. Now I have a bump and a big gash up high on my forehead. Granted there's some user error in volved here, I could have checked the straps and rentation system for snugness... but my point is I shouldn't have to. After all, a helmet is a safety device, it should be set and forget, not set and then re-adjust once a week.
I would not recommend this helmet to anyone, cause its a PIA. Two chilli since when it does work, it is comfortable and good lookin'.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Kodiak
a Cross Country Rider
from Germany Date Reviewed: April 13, 2006
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$100.00
Purchased At:
Bike Store
Strengths:
Very good fitting and adjustment. Great ventilation. You do not feel the helmet while riding!!! :-) (weight ca. 360 g)
Weaknesses:
the instinct lacks the "eyebrow-ventilation" of the aurora and decibel ... so it can get a little sweaty around your forehead - The larger size of the instinct makes you look like an alien from mars ;-) - and forget the crappy plastic visor
Bike Setup:
XC Fully (top end)
Bottom Line:
Great helmet to wear and use - even longer climbs keep your head cool - Worth every pence (despite the visor)
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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