KBC VR-1 (VR1) Motorcycle Helmet

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snob - Pronunciation: 'snäb; Function: noun; Etymology: origin unknown; Date: 1781; 1) British : COBBLER; 2) One who blatantly imitates, fawningly admires, or vulgarly seeks association with those regarded as social superiors; 3) a: one who tends to rebuff, avoid, or ignore those regarded as inferior; b: one who has an offensive air of superiority in matters of knowledge or taste.  (Merriam-Webster Online Collegiate Dictionary)

More:  KBC VR-2  |  KBC VR-3  |  KBC Force RR  |  KBC FFR  |  Owner Comments (Below)

The latest issue of a well-known motorcycle magazine devoted to sportbikes and racing arrived in the mail recently.  I glanced down at the cover and noted that the big feature of the month was a test of motorcycle helmets. 

It's kind of funny but also sad, I thought, because I instinctively knew what the result of the test would be.  What else, but surely the Arai RX-7RR would come in first, closely followed by the Shoei XSP-II and the Suomy Gunwind. 

My instincts proved correct -- the test turned out just as I had predicted.  It made for pretty boring reading.  I chalk it all up to snob appeal -- after all, no self-respecting street poseur would be seen in anything less that the "best" equipment, right?  And the "best" has to be whatever the magazines say it is.  So, my rebellious character immediately told me that webBikeWorld's job is to prove 'em all wrong, right??  

Here's the facts:  there are definitely some great helmets out there that will do the same job and don't cost anywhere near the five or more C-notes that you'd have to pay just to have the latest-in-cool logo on your brain bucket. 

And I'd guarantee that if there was a blind test, where the users didn't know which brand of helmet they were wearing, the results would be much different than if they first saw the logos.  Alternatively, I bet that if you put a Suomy logo on a KBC VR-1 helmet and told them that it was a new model and that the list price was $549.99, they'd think it was the greatest thing since lubeless splines and they'd immediately go reaching for their wallet.

I was introduced to the VR-1 at a local motorcycle dealer's open house.  The dealer is a custom shop that focuses on radical sportbike creations; he sells Suomy helmets and he just started carrying the KBC VR-1.  I picked up a VR-1 and immediately noticed that it had that lightweight feel of high-end racing helmets.  It's got a fiberglass/Kevlar composite shell, which brings the weight down to a light 3.4 pounds.  

Turning it over, I was surprised to see something really different.  The liner is definitely unique, both in look and feel.  It's something that KBC calls "Savoire Suede" -- it has a really soft feel, almost like a cross between fine suede leather and microfiber (see photo below).   The liner uses the KBC "Aqua Plus" moisture control system, which is similar to Cool Max; it's designed to wick away moisture and to keep your head cooler. 

I always use a helmet liner anyway -- either a silk liner or Balaclava in the cooler weather, and a Cool Max liner in the summer, but it's nice to know that the standard liner helps pull out as much moisture as possible.

What's really nice is that the liner is removable and there are separate cheek pads that are removable also.  This feature is very rare or virtually non-existent in any other helmet at sometimes twice the price -- even the more expensive Shoei RF-900 doesn't have a removable liner or cheek pads.  

I put on the size large VR-1 and it fit me like it was custom made -- it was immediately very comfortable and the liner felt really nice next to my skin.  I must have a super-sensitive scalp, because with many helmets I find that I can feel bumps or pressure points inside the liner; some, like the Schuberth flip-up, are intolerable...and inexcusable at any price.

I like a helmet to fit over my head with a complete, overall snug feeling of firmness that doesn't reveal any lumps.  Unfortunately, many of the VR-1's competitors, even the very expensive ones, don't give me that comfort.  I've used several different types of helmets recently, and I find the VR-1 to be more comfortable than either the Shoei RF-900 and TZ-II or the HJC AC-10.

The VR-1 meets all of the highest standards for motorcycle helmet safety; i.e., Snell M2000, DOT and the very tough European EC22/05 or BS6658 Type A ACU approval.  These are the same standards that most of the other premium brands of race-type helmets are designed to meet.

So I contacted KBC and asked for a VR-1 to test.  They sent me this VR-1 "Euro" model, which has new graphics (pictured) for 2002.  I guess I should have asked for a favorite color, because they sent along the green Kawasaki model, which doesn't really match any of my clothing.  Hey, you do have to be stylin' while you ride!  

But the graphics, the color, the paint and the finish are so nice, that I've actually come to like this color. It's a bit hard to tell in the photo (left), but both the green and blue paint have a really nice metalflake sheen.

The quality of the finish seems equal to any of the other helmets I've used, so it should last a long time. Hopefully, the bright green and blue will ensure I'm noticed by dozing cagers!

The first thing I noticed after putting on the VR-1 is how much visibility it offers through the business end, both in width and height, compared to my other regular helmet. 

The lateral edges of the visor opening are all the way to the very limits of my peripheral vision.  This makes a huge difference in the ability to see -- and sight is so important when riding and especially when strafing the apexes.  

I've mentioned in other tests that good equipment can help make you a better rider, and it's definitely true here also.  I can see so much more of everything around me without cranking my head in small increments like I have to with other helmets, and I honestly feel that this had the immediate effect of helping me to ride more smoothly. 

Also, the quality of the visor is very high -- it is crystal clear with no distortion.  You literally feel like you're riding without a helmet, because your vision is almost completely uncluttered by opaque helmet bits in your peripheral vision.

I'm also a stickler about noise.  I always wear earplugs (see the wBW Hearing Protection and Earplugs page), because I'm trying to save what hearing I still have -- I lost a significant portion of it through years of abuse and ignorance.  On my BMW K75 standard with the awful BMW windscreen (this windscreen creates a huge amount of buffeting; see the wBW article "BMW K75 Windscreen Buffeting Fix"), the VR-1 isn't the quietest helmet I've ever used, but it's much quieter than my other helmets. 

On this bike, due to the buffeting, there's an interesting interplay of noise in two layers.  At about 40 mph, there's a higher pitched rustling wind noise that seems to come from the top of the visor, but doesn't seem to change much in intensity as the speed increases.  If there are crosswinds, you get a much lower, deeper buffeting sound that probably comes in from under the neck.  But both are at a frequency and volume that is easy to live with and overall, the helmet is pretty quiet, so this shouldn't be a problem.

On a "naked" bike without the windscreen buffeting problem, I find the VR-1 to be nice and quiet.  As I mentioned, I always use earplugs, so your results may vary, but on a naked bike, at any speed that I've tried, there is just a very quiet, mellow rush of wind noise off in the distance, which isn't a problem at all.

There's a fairly big vent just underneath the visor over the chin that can be opened or closed.  This lets in a good amount of air up onto the back of the visor and into the helmet, and has a positive closure that shuts down the flow when required.  The bottom of my chin comes even with the bottom of the helmet, so there's a bit of air that comes up through that area.  This is welcome in the summer; it remains to be seen if this will make the helmet too drafty in the winter.

There is a complex system of venting and scoops for the top of the helmet -- a vent on either side at the top rear of the helmet can be opened or closed.  The air is supposed to flow through the front of the channels, and the vacuum created at the rear is supposed to pull the air through the top of the helmet.  There are many perforations in the liner, which should allow the air to flow through. 

To be honest, I really don't feel any difference whether the vents are open or not, so my opinion is that the venting along the top of the head could be better.  Although my head didn't get as hot as it does in other helmets, you really don't feel any air movement up there, which is a bit disappointing.  There are also two bottom vents at the rear of the helmet, although I can't tell if they're doing anything to move any air also.  So overall, I rate it as pretty good in terms of air movement on the face, but it could have better venting along the top of the head.

I don't feel any buffeting from crosswinds, so the distinctive shape must be doing its job.  The lightness of the helmet, combined with the wonderful ability to see through the visor without restriction, makes you feel like you don't have a helmet on at all.  It's almost kind of eerie, moving along with this beautiful clear panoramic view, but without the wind in your face and noise in your ears that are the inevitable result of riding without a helmet.

The VR-1 has most of the other features you'll find on any modern helmet.  The visor is very easy to remove; you pull down the spring-loaded lever (yellow arrow in photo at left) on each side of the helmet, push up on the visor, and it comes right out.  It couldn't be easier.

There's also a small breath guard inside the helmet; I'm not sure how well it works, because the summer temperatures mean that there hasn't been any visor fogging.

Also, the VR-1 has the D-ring type attachment for the , which is de rigueur on race-type helmets.  It has a welcome snap to attach the extra length of helmet strap to prevent flapping.

One last feature -- the VR-1 has EPS, or expanded polystyrene, in the chinbar, which is a protective feature that good full-face helmets should have. 

The VR-1 comes in solid colors and the Euro model has the colorful graphics shown in these photos available in various color combinations.  I've seen the VR-1 for as low as $179.99 in solid colors and right around $200.00 for the Euro version. 

By the way, you also get a nice helmet bag as part of the deal.  All you have to do is get over the fact that the logo may not be hot with the crowd down at the local squid hangout, but you'll be laughing all the way to the bank!  I get a much bigger kick out of getting my money's worth than I do by trying to keep up with the latest trends.

By the way, the VR-1 weighs only 1621 grams on my scale; so far, this is the lightest weight helmet we've reviewed.

My opinion is that this is an incredible helmet for the price.  It has all of the features you'll find on the top helmets, and with the exception of the top venting, which could be better, you won't find a better helmet for less, and you could certainly pay a heck of a lot more and not get any more comfort or features.  It meets all of the world's toughest safety standards, so what are you really getting when you pay two, three or even more times as much for a helmet?

Update on the VR-1 Loose Visor Problem:
wBW Visitor "J.O." wrote about a problem with the VR-1's visor coming loose at high speeds under certain conditions:

"I managed to track down KBC in California today. A Very helpful person named Pete took the call and is supplying me with a slightly re-engineered helmet ratchet system free of charge... I have two shields for the helmet and they both blow up when I turn my head. Pete said there has been a few reports of this problem and they have made changes to the ratchet they are sending me... I am sure the improved ratchets will fix the problem and if you get any similar feedback just refer them to Peter at KBC 818-526-7771. Thanks for your time."
 
Thanks for letting us know, J.O.!