The Bell Super 2R has gained a lot of attention for its removable chin bar, so it was only a matter of time before it had some competition. Eurobike played host to a few newcomers in the convertible full face helmet market, though most were still in some sort of prototype phase.
That includes the new Jakkyl Hde from Uvex which true to the name has more than one side. For most companies we’ve heard that the stumbling block to creating a helmet like this is figuring out a way to attach the chin bar that is both easy to install and strong enough to provide the necessary protection.
Uvex has figured out their own way of doing things and will soon let the Jakkyl loose…
Like the Bell Super 2R, the Jakkyl Hde is meant to be used as an enduro helmet when you may need full face protection at one point, but the cooler half shell performance at other times. When the chin bar is removed, Jakkyl performs like any other full coverage open face helmet with 14 vents and is said to sit lower on your head with more rearward coverage. In development for over a year with fourcross and enduro racer Michal Prokop, the helmet uses a laminated fiberglass chin bar and a multi-in mold construction with 8 PC shells to bring the weight to a claimed 630 g.
The chin bar will attach to the helmet in four places with two metal hooks at the temple and a twist lock system at the back.
Built around goggle integration, the helmet has room to store eye protection under the visor and has a hook at the rear to keep the strap in place. Adjustment of the helmet is provided through a 360° Boa fit system and the helmet will be available in two sizes. Retail price is set at €199.95 with availability TBA.
On the glasses side, Uvex had another product with two sides in their new Variotronic sunglasses. Using a liquid crystal film sandwiched between a PC lens, the electrochromatically activated crystal darkens the lens instantly (less than 0.1 seconds) at the push of a button. There is also a built in light sensor so you can set the glasses to darken or brighten automatically based on the ambient light. Built with a USB rechargeable battery, the glasses have a 50 hour operating time and will let in between 64% and 16% of light. Offered in the full frame Variotronic FF or the half frame Variotronic S, the glasses will sell for €299.95.
