Dedicated ATV helmet debuts in Oz

A helmet with a plethora of farm-leaning features was unveiled at the 2016 AgQuip field days in Gunnedah, NSW from August 16-18.

The X16 was developed by French motorcycle helmet manufacturer Shark with input from the Australian and New Zealand ATV and side-by-side industries. It will be imported into the country by Yamaha's accessory subsidiary, Ficeda.

"What we wanted to do was find out why farmers don't wear helmets and they said helmets are too heavy, too hot, and they couldn't hear their stock when they're out mustering," said Yamaha Motor Australia ATV and ROV (Recreational Off-Road Vehicle) marketing manager, Lance Turnley. "So over 18 months, Shark developed this helmet."

To address the weight issue, Shark equipped the X16 helmet with a composite fibreglass shell which is much lighter than conventional plastic helmets on the market, weighing just 1200 grams.

"It also has a gel-coat finish so it's more resistant to UV rays and will last longer," Turnley adds.

In response to farmers feeling too hot and uncomfortable wearing helmets that offer little to no ventilation, Shark incorporated four different foam densities in the helmet shell and six large ventilation holes on top of the helmet to allow efficient airflow at low speeds.

"You can open and close these vents to either allow air flow or keep the rain out. Even if it does rain, the water runs out through drain holes at the back of the helmet," Turnley says.

Shark also drilled holes on both sides of the helmet to give farmers the ability to hear their surroundings clearly.

"The great thing about this is that they'll be able to hear what's going on around them but they still have coverage over the sides of their heads for protection," Turnley says.

A new micro-lock buckle system allows the rider to easily latch and release the buckle.

The production model will also have Bluetooth connectivity, which means farmers can take phone calls while wearing the helmet and riders can communicate with one another easily.

With helmet sizes ranging from XS to 3XL, Shark has ensured riders of all ages and sizes are catered for, including children.

While the X16 was initially developed for ATV and ROV riders, Turnley says it has the potential to be rolled across to other industries that require sturdy head protection.

"The further Shark developed this the more it realised it has the potential for so many more applications, like horseback riding, BMX riding, snowboarding, and more," Turnley says.

"It's been a long time coming but Shark has come up with a great product."

The Shark X16 is fully compliant with American and European safety standards (DOT and ECE 22-05 approved) and is therefore legal and safe to wear in Australia.

In addition, customers are able to choose from a range of options with the helmet to protect them against the elements. This includes a dust pack with a visor and mask to protect against wind and dust; a noise pack which includes ear pod inserts for noise reduction; a fly pack with a face veil to protect against insects; and a sun pack with visor and neck guard for sun protection.

Turnley says the helmet could potentially hit the shelves before end of year, but a retail price is yet to be set.

"This is not a Yamaha initiative but an industry initiative, as data has been collected from all ATV manufacturers in Australia and New Zealand," he says.

"What we'd also like to do is make these free when customers purchase a new ATV or ROV. We're more than happy to take a hit just for the safety of our customers.

"However, we need other manufacturers to also agree to that. We're currently working on getting these in the shops of every manufacturer in the country, not just Yamaha's.

"A lot of thought has gone into this helmet. It can basically adapt to every single environment there is and overcome most issues associated with helmet wearing among ATV riders," Turnley adds.

"The only thing it can't overcome is the ignorance of people who refuse to wear helmets.

"When you combine this product with proper ATV training and safe riding practises, such as not getting yourself into a dangerous situation and not overloading your vehicle, we can reduce the risk of injury by so much."