ABUS’ new mountain helmet, the Modrop, focuses on wide-ranging fit and all-around safety. ABUS leveraged professional testing along with a variety of in-house technologies to deliver the versatile, lightweight lid.
Pro mountain biker Steffi Marth tested the Modrop during a remote three-day ride through Tuscany, Italy. Reportedly, she and fellow tester Max Schumann spent most of the trip on “wild, unknown” trails.
“The Modrop is a great helmet — light and with a very good fit,” Marth said. She added that “the beautiful and above all unique colors and patterns make it something special.”
ABUS fits the molded shell with its Zoom-Ace dial adjustment system. A gap just above the dial can help ponytailed wearers with comfort. And the TriVider chinstrap, which ABUS designed to fit any head shape, aims to lay flat against your face instead of chafing or twisting.
Eight air inlets and six outlets provide ventilation. The openings are fairly large, so ABUS covers them with mesh at the front to keep bugs and anything else that belongs outside, outside. The height-adjustable visor helps riders accommodate a range of goggles or sunglasses.
Riders can also opt for a version of the Modrop that includes ABUS’ Quin crash detection chip. The chip, mounted in the back of the helmet, connects with the Quin app via Bluetooth to send alerts to an emergency contact if it detects a crash. ABUS was far from the first adopter of the tech, but it’s a no-brainer for backcountry safety that imposes little weight penalty.
You can also pick a variant with Multi-directional Impact Protection System (MIPS) included which helps deflect rotational impact.
The brand offers plenty of options for mixing and matching colors, Quin capability, and MIPS construction.
The Modrop is available in small, medium, and large. In a size medium (54-58 cm), the Modrop weighs a trim 330 grams. The Quin chip adds 5 grams; MIPS adds 10.
Along with the Modrop, ABUS also introduces the Motrip — a less-intense cousin aimed at “MTB newcomers.” The basic functionality is there, but it’s slightly heavier and passes up Quin and MIPS inclusion.
As of this writing, ABUS hadn’t listed MSRP for either helmet. Past ABUS MTB helmets have checked in between $180-$220.
