Submitted by
dcpdpayne
a Racer
from Muncie, Indiana USA
Date Reviewed: November 28, 2011
Strengths: Over the weekend I had my first long (5 hours) ride with the S-Works over the gravel roads of the Hoosier National Forest in the 2011 Gravel Grovel. The S-Works was amazing. As an old school roadie, who grew up in the days before helmets were required, I HATE helmets. The S-Works may just change my mind. It's light and comfortable. In fact I forgot it was even there...which is my test of whether I'll wear it or not. The helmet seems to provide great protection and the fit is spot on for my long oval head. Even though it was November in the midwest we had a warm snap that day (mid 60's) and I was very happy with the ventilation.
Weaknesses: My only real complaint is the retention system. My previous favorite helmet, the Lazer Genesis' steel cable roll-a-magig (my own name for it) seemed to work much better. The Specialized system seems to never be quite prefect..it's either a click to big or too small. I also like the Lazer's super easy one hand adjustabliity. Also part of the retention system, the straps seem to always be just a bit difficult to get exactly where I want them. It's a little pricy too....but as I've been told, if you've got a $5 head, wear a $5 helmet.
Bottom Line:
Now that the Prevail is at the top of the Specialized food chain, the S-Works is a good buy for the money. It's still a little salty, but your dollar goes a long way to getting you a lid that you'll actually enjoy wearing....is you remember it's there at all.
Similar Products Used: I've had a lot of helmets:
Lazer Genesis
Bell Volt and Sweep
Specialized Piranha, Sub 6, Sub 6 Pro
4 or 5 Giro helmets (They never fit well on my head)
Cinelli leather hair net
Bike Setup: Shamrock Cycles - Fluid Druid with Sram Red on 32/3x Tubular wheels
Giant - TCR Alloy with Red/Force/Rival on Fulcrum 5's
Gary Fisher - Cross bike with Force/Rival on what ever wheels are free
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
whilgers
a Cross Country Rider
from Mulvane KS
Date Reviewed: November 17, 2010
Strengths: Comfortable!!!!!!!!!!!l Iight!!!!!! and easily adjustable while riding
Weaknesses: cost
Bottom Line:
First helmet in 5 years to fit my head perfectly. And all the stuff above. It's awesome. I hope a replacement pad set is available. I heard it was.
Submitted by
egsavio
a Weekend Warrior
from Florianópolis - Brazil
Date Reviewed: August 28, 2009
Strengths: Light, ventilated, great look. Comfortable enough for to forget there is a helmet on the head.
Weaknesses: Price
Bottom Line:
I just should do a real review surfing a crash. That is the only utility of a helmet. But, while all right, the helmet is amazing comfortable.
Great look.
If you want the best, this is the helmet.
Bike Setup: Merida 96, Cannondale Moto, Merida 901, UMF Freddy.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
terbltwstr
a Cross Country Rider
from San Jose,ca, USA
Date Reviewed: August 3, 2009
Strengths: Snug fit and super light
Weaknesses: price
Bottom Line:
On 8/2/2009 I was doing a local cross country mountain bike race and on the final leg of this race I crashed hard. When I came to I asked the EMT's to please put me back on my bike so I could finish this race... and they said Sorry sir..you cracked your helmet. The first thing that went through my head was WTF that's a 250 dollar helmet!!! They are estimating that I was going to between 25-30mphs.. This helmet did its job! I can't tell you enough but this helmet may have saved my life.. I will gladly shell out the money for another helmet. Its well worth the investment. I only wish they made a body suit..because the rest of me feels like I was hit by a bus!
Strengths: fits me better than any other, light, cool
Weaknesses: crazy expensive
Bottom Line:
yeah yeah, cool and light as others have mentioned. Mostly, it fits my pointy head (long front to back) better than any other helmet I've used in 20+y.
Ridiculously overpriced but 'Hurrah Specialized' anyway. I love it.
Strengths: Light, well ventilated, great(but as yet untried) protection specifications, great fit
Weaknesses: Not enough (perceived) protection at the rear, I have seen better strap and buckle systems on cheaper helmets.
Bottom Line:
Very expensive option here in NZ. Ventilation is way better than my old Giro. Not really a MTB helmet despite the visor as the protection at the rear is not as extensive as the Giro Xen but the construction and protection design is outstanding.
Submitted by
amillmtb
a Racer
from Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Date Reviewed: February 8, 2009
Strengths: Extremely Light weight, Carbon reinforced shell, kick ass design, tons of vents, nice clip, soft straps, tons of colors available; even specialized team colors!
Weaknesses: None
Bottom Line:
This helmet is the best one I have ever used, period. When it’s on your head, you don’t even notice that you have a helmet on, the light weight design makes it part of your head. The design is one of a kind, the vents that provide constant air flow to your head are wide and there is quite a few of them. This helmet gives the best ventilation of any that I have ever used before. This is great in the summer, but I have to wear something under it in the winter.
It’s not really a weakness, so I didn’t say it is, but it’s kind of pricey. I figure it’s either $230 or my life…It was a pretty simple decision after that thought.
Buy this helmet if:
~You want the best head protection available for XC
~You want one of the lightest helmets passed by the CPSC
Submitted by
funrunner99
a Cross Country Rider
from Folsom, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: February 5, 2009
Strengths: Very light, cool look, awesome ventilation, easily adjustable chin strap, extremely nice fit and comfortable fit.
Weaknesses: Possible irritation from strap behind ear, fits pretty close.
Bottom Line:
So far this helmet is just short of awesome! Lightest most comfortable helmet I have ever had. Great ventilation, really easy to adjust. I have had a couple Giro Pneumo's (broken one in a crash) and although I liked them, they never fit as nice as I would have liked. That's not just a problem with Giro, I have always had trouble with pressure points with different helmets. The S-Works just fits like no other helmet ever has. I had heard the rear straps might hit the back of the ears and cause irritation, they are close but so far no trouble!
Submitted by
wes m.
a Cross Country Rider
from bay area
Date Reviewed: January 3, 2009
Strengths: light, comfortable, well ventilated
Weaknesses: expensive, sits high on the head
Bottom Line:
I found this helmet brand new in the box at the local goodwill store for $6.00. I have no idea how it got there or who they have pricing these things. I'm baffled. This helmet is very comfortable. Its light enough and vented enough for you to forget that you are wearing it.
The real test for any helmet is how well it protects your head. I hope I never find out through personal experience. I don't know of anyone having hit their head while wearing this helmet. I'm giving my rating based on non-crash impressions. 5/5 overall for comfort. 3/5 value because the msrp on this thing is absurd.
Strengths: Very Light, Excelent chin strap, excelent confort, lots of ventilation, very litle air turbulence when your on high speed road practice, allows to ear very well the sounds around you even on high speed. Can be adjusted (and used)tight very easly with lots of confort
Similar Products Used: Ancient Specialized of some type
Bike Setup: Oz spec Giant Trance 2
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Bryan Sands
a Weekend Warrior
from Wonju, Gangwondo, Korea
Date Reviewed: October 20, 2007
Strengths: Lots of air.I like the looks.The colors (red and white with silver accents) are great looking shades.Carbon fiber ribs(sweet).Nice and lightweight.The headband is good and strong.The chinstrap quick-release works great!
Weaknesses: The large seems to sit rather high on my head. I would prefer more coverage on the sides and back of my head. Headband: I can get the headband nice and snug but it feels like it's not low enough to grip my forehead and rear lobe enough, like it could easily slide up and over in any direction.The chinstrap:It's too close to my windpipe...I need that! I can't adjust it even a little bit closer to my chin.The "U-Turn Buckle": It's too easy to unbuckle. It came unbuckled from just wearing it(straps too thin maybe?).It allows the straps to slip(maybe that's good that your helmet makes auto-adjustments for you, I dunno).No way to shorten the straps other than to cut them and then you lose the cool rubber strap ends
Bottom Line:
Could be better. I feel like this helmet would protect me if I fell just precisely directly on the top of my head. How often does that happen?Chinstraps need a lot of work on all helmets(complete redesign from scratch).Hey Specialized! I want to be a product developer! I'm good at function more than form though. What do I need?
After exhaustive searching on-line, I find that the 2008 Specialized S-Works 2D helmet is for sale all over the UK -- but I can't find a single vendor in the USA! I'm looking for a Read More »
After exhaustive searching on-line, I find that the 2008 Specialized S-Works 2D helmet is for sale all over the UK -- but I can't find a single vendor in the USA! I'm looking for a Read More »
************************************************
1. NEWS from CPSC
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, DC 20207
FOR IMM Read More »
