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!
Submitted by
Chris B
a Cross Country Rider
from New Zealand Date Reviewed: September 21, 2004
Favorite Trail:
All
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$130.00
Purchased At:
Cycle City, Auckland , New Zealand
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.
Similar Products Used:
This was my first 'high quality' helmet.
Bike Setup:
XC hard tail
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.
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Submitted by
George
a Cross Country Rider
from Dublin, CA Date Reviewed: June 29, 2004
Favorite Trail:
any trail
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$100.00
Purchased At:
Sun Bike Shop
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
Similar Products Used:
Most helmuts out there.
Bike Setup:
2003 Supergo Access XCL with Avid 185mm mechanicals
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.
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Submitted by
Magoo
a Cross Country Rider
from Gurnee Date Reviewed: June 8, 2004
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$130.00
Purchased At:
Mike's Bikes of Gurnee
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.
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Submitted by
Dedub
a Weekend Warrior
from Newport Beach, CA Date Reviewed: April 25, 2004
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$60.00
Purchased At:
SuperGo
Strengths:
Weight and comfort.
Weaknesses:
Price. Although, Supergo currently has '02 models on sale for $60. That's about as good as it gets.
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.
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.
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Submitted by
Dom F
a Racer
from ottawa Date Reviewed: February 8, 2004
Favorite Trail:
6.9
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$250.00
Purchased At:
lbs
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!
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
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.
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Submitted by
K-Man
a
from San Diego Date Reviewed: September 30, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Backbone 3rd Tunnel
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$75.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Weightless Strong Great Fit
Weaknesses:
None
Similar Products Used:
Specialized helmet, Giro
Bike Setup:
Gunnar Rock Hound with atom 80 Bombers, XTR and Parts, WTB laserbeam rims, Light and Fast
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!!!!
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Submitted by
Olly Clayton
a Cross Country Rider
from Taunton, Somerset, England Date Reviewed: July 19, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Quantocks
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Light weight and comfortable but still has the strength to save your head.
Weaknesses:
None
Similar Products Used:
Giro, Bell
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
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Submitted by
Luis Poessy
a Cross Country Rider
from Miami Date Reviewed: July 10, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Any trail with dirt
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
Great looks, huge vents, adjustable visor, extremely light weight....
Weaknesses:
Absolutely none!!!
Similar Products Used:
Gyro & Bell
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....
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Submitted by
Abe Bose
a Weekend Warrior
from Edgewater, NJ Date Reviewed: April 17, 2003
Favorite Trail:
all of 'em
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
99.00
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
Similar Products Used:
Giro K2
Bike Setup:
Specialized Epic Comp 2002
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!
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Submitted by
Dave
a Racer
from Santa Cruz, CA, USA Date Reviewed: March 16, 2003
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$150.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
-Lightweight -Fit -Feel -Ventilation
Weaknesses:
-Retail Cost
Similar Products Used:
-Giro Pnuemo -Giro E2 -Bell Alchera
Bike Setup:
SC Superlight, XTR, Chris King
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!
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Submitted by
Scooter
a Cross Country Rider
from Murrieta, CA Date Reviewed: January 29, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Love 'em all
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
I.E. Bikes (LBS)
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
Similar Products Used:
Specialized Enduro Comp
Bike Setup:
FSRxc, Thomson post/stem, LP carbon riser bars, Egg Beaters, etc. etc.
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...
$ 149.99
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