It’s not exactly a secret that Troy Lee Designs has a D4 DH update to their classic Daytona series downhill full-face helmet. They’ve been hashtagging #D4helmet pretty hard on social media, from World Champ Alise Willoughby taking the first BMX World Cup win of the year in her RedBull lid to Steve Peat hyping the update. Even though the reveal is a little over a week away, we now have the details on the update to TLD’s flagship DH helmet…
Troy Lee Designs D4 Carbon MIPS lightweight MTB full-face helmet
Troy Lee Designs teased us before the weekend with this frenetic video summing up the history of their Daytona Series full-face helmets, calling them the “most storied and most chosen Downhill, Freeride and BMX race helmets in bicycling history.” But it was an eagle-eyed reader that pointed us to the tech details (thanks Will!) c/o a German motorcycle retailer who already has the new helmet up on their website….
So what’s new in the new TLD D4 Carbon? Tech details!
The biggest change we see is an upgrade from the standard carbon shell of the D3 to new TeXtreme spread tow carbon fiber construction for the D4. We’ve seen a lot of TeXtreme spread tow in the cycling industry. And generally it means thinner, more densely packed carbon fibers that allow for thinner overall construction and more direct fibers – all meaning weight reduction and strength increase. The D3 was already pretty light at 1075g for a full-on DH race helmet, so we’d expect the D4 might make it under 1kg.
The new Troy Lee Designs D4 helmet retains a MIPS liner for rotational protection inside, plus lightweight titanium D-ring closure and ti hardware throughout. Beyond the structural carbon shell construction, polycarbonate sections are in-molded around vent openings & exposed segments of EPS foam to improve durability.
Ventilation looks to be similar to the previous model, but most openings do appear to be a bit larger, especially those around your goggles & base of the neck, plus four new vents across the top of the helmet. All are said to work with updated internal channels and mesh in the headliner to increase airflow through the helmet.
The Troy Lee Designs D4 is also said to introduce a “Collarbone suspension system”, presumably to more evenly distribute pressure away from your shoulders in a crash.
The new D4 is said to be certified to CPSC 1203, EN1078, ASTM F1952 (DH) & ASTM 2032 (BMX) standards. It is expected to be available in the same six size (XS-XXL) range via quick release interchangeable & washable cheek pads and inner liner.
Troy Lee Designs D4 Carbon MIPS – Pricing & availability
Troy Lee says the new D4 Carbon is set for official availability in just over a week, starting on February 12. Pricing hasn’t officially been revealed, but according to FC Moto where the new helmet was spotted, this version with a Freedom 2.0 paint job will sell for 599€, or just twenty euros more than the current D3 Carbon MIPS. We’ll know a bit more in ten days’ time.
