Icon Airframe Professional Carbon Full Face Helmet Assessment

Assessment Abstract

• The Icon Airframe Professional Carbon is the model’s top-of-the-line full face helmet. It’s almost 100 grams lighter than the usual Airframe Professional, and appears like nothing else on the market.
• The helmet flows insane quantities of air, however this comes with lots of noise (particularly at increased speeds). The visor lock can be inferior to you may anticipate.
• The a number of shell sizes and modular liner make it straightforward to get an awesome match—however take word that the sizing information is off. The Icon Airframe Professional Carbon constantly suits small by almost a whole measurement.
• This helmet can be scratched simply, and isn’t designed to take a Bluetooth Comms system. It’s an excellent piece of package, nevertheless it has a couple of limitations that you just’ll need to take into account given its excessive worth.

Introducing the Icon Airframe Professional Carbon Helmet

For the 2022 evaluate season, the Icon Airframe Professional Carbon was the one helmet I used to be most excited to get my fingers on. Icon is an American model primarily based in Oregon and has been stirring up the Powersports world with their distinctive gear since 2002. They proclaim that Icon is an organization of riders who perceive our form with merchandise designed to handle our distinctive wants. A lofty assertion, which has me making an attempt to mood my excessive expectations for this flagship helmet.

The Airframe Professional sequence helmets are described as being “designed with [Icon’s] ‘Angle of Assault’ philosophy” and “uniquely outfitted for an aggressive using posture.” It’s clearly aimed on the sport/bare rider.  Most helmets within the Airframe Professional lineup are simply acknowledged with the distinctive rear spoiler and jaw-dropping graphics. Nobody does graphics fairly like Icon; these are helmets for extroverts.

Taking the Airframe Professional up one notch additional, Icon has 2 Carbon variations. I selected the Carbon purple. Its $550 USD worth raises it into the premium zone of motorbike helmets. The competitors consists of the Shoei RF-1400, AGV K6, and Aria Regent X—to not point out different carbon fiber helmets from Scorpion, HJC, and Nexx.

At this worth degree and amongst this competitors, there’s a excessive bar for construct high quality, options, airflow, security, weight, and calmness. I couldn’t wait to get the Airframe Professional Carbon on my head and out on the highway.

Icon Airframe Professional Carbon Helmet Match

Pulling the Airframe Professional Carbon out of the field and out of the smooth bag, I took a minute to roll it round in my fingers and tried to include my drool. That is one gorgeous-looking helmet even with the clear visor fitted.

I admit I’ve zero endurance; I needed to get it on my head, proper now. Holding the bottom and pinning both sides of the chin strap again with my thumbs, I might inform this lid would have a comfortable sport match. I pried it as vast as potential and introduced it down over my melon. There have been a couple of grunts, presumably some breath holding, however I squeezed it on.

Small Sizing

My son was standing beside me admiring the shiny carbon end, and I turned and mentioned “ I fink thith muhh be a bith smallllll.” He discovered it very amusing that I couldn’t shut my mouth as a result of strain from the cheek pads forcing my head into a wholly new conformity. Extra grunts, a couple of curses, and I managed to tug my brains again from the vice-like grip of the Airframe Professional.

I’ve had many helmets and I’ve a head that measures in proper at 24 ¼”. Checking once more on the Icon sizing information, this places me proper into the XL class. Appears proper, XL is what I just about put on in all of the helmets I’ve, and that’s what I acquired from Icon. Unsure how Icon measures, however this wasn’t even shut.

Adjusting the Match with the Modular Liner

A fast search on google revealed that I’m not the primary to notice this subject. One very good side of the Airframe Professional helmets is the 5 piece liner, and the truth that Icon makes an unimaginable array of liner measurement choices. In Icon’s personal phrases:

“Internally, the normal three-piece liner has been upgraded to a five-piece liner, offering a better quantity of fitment combos for every distinctive head form. Crown, lateral, fore, and aft padding parts enable for a chance of 27 fitment combos in a single shell, double that of the AIRFRAME PRO’s rivals.”

A fast name to the superior customer support crew at RevZilla, and I used to be deep into the array of HydraDry™ liner selections. The helmet itself is accessible from XS via 3XL with 4 shell sizes to cowl that vary. The XL and up are the identical shell and Icon presents HydraDry liner selections in tight/normal/free for every measurement. I ordered a 2XL free/3XL normal.

I swapped the cheek pads and the best and left sides. This was a much-improved match. Now to be truthful, I’m an intermediate oval head form and the Airframe is a protracted oval, and I can really feel that. I nonetheless haven’t been capable of alter the fitment to a cushty zone; the cheeks nonetheless have the next degree of cheek strain (which is typical of a extra sport-focused helmet).

Ultimately, what I ordered was an XL. The Icon measurement information lists me as an XL. When the mud settled, I used to be successfully in a 3XL. A part of this can be a lengthy oval subject, however that is nonetheless an issue—particularly if you happen to are inclined to order on-line, as I do.

Fortunately RevZilla (who equipped this helmet) is unbelievable to cope with, and I used to be capable of type all of it out shortly. If my regular measurement was above an XL, there isn’t any approach I might put on an Airframe Professional.

Icon Airframe Professional Carbon Helmet Options

A number of Visors

Within the field, Icon shipped a transparent visor to associate with the fantastic-looking RST TracShield™ visor. There’s additionally a detachable breath deflector and chin curtain, plus the compulsory smooth bag for storage.

Main Air flow

Icon has taken a critical strategy to air flow. There aren’t any fewer than 9 air intakes and seven exhaust ports coupled with deep channeling within the inside energy-absorbing EPS foam.

Modular Lining

I reasonably rambled on within the Match & Consolation part relating to the 5 piece HydraDry liner and that Icon presents a number of variations for enhancing the match. On the floor this can be a good function; it actually helped me refine this helmet for my head form. Now the kicker, why are some further pads not included? It was $45 USD for the extra liner package, placing the entire price of this helmet as much as $595.

Not as Characteristic-Wealthy As I Anticipated

Asking this a lot cheddar should imply there’s a ton extra being supplied with this helmet… proper? Sadly no. That’s all I can actually provide you with for options. Drop-down inner visor? Nope. Bluetooth comm system already built-in? Nope. Oh properly.

OK, this helmet have to be fairly straightforward so as to add a system into, yeah? Once more, that may be a no. Icon hasn’t even designed the Airframe to just accept audio system. Have to be a helmet designed particularly for the monitor, then. Proper? The Carbon Professional doesn’t listing a Snell or FIA certification—nevertheless it does have ECE 22-05, which many tracks will settle for.

All proper, Icon. Effectively, this can be a Carbon Fiber helmet, so I’ll shoot for one final premium-level expectation—it have to be fairly mild. Let’s take a look on the development of this helmet.

See Additionally: Carbon Fiber Motorbike Helmets on wBW

Development of the Icon Airframe Professional Carbon Helmet

The Shell

Discovering details about the method Icon makes use of to create the Airframe Carbon Professional shell is a problem. I’ll share what Icon gives straight from the product handbook:

“Utilizing industry-leading pneumatic molding processes, the AIRFRAME PRO’s fiberglass, Spectra® and Carbon Fiber composite shell sports activities a proprietary interlacing system crafted to emphasise superior power together with centralized mass and minimal weight.”

Icon refers to it because the “handmade 4Tress carbon fiber shell” and has produced 4 shell sizes to maintain the helmet as compact as potential, no matter measurement. There is no such thing as a doubt that the completed shell is attractive.

I’ve not seen one other helmet that I really feel appears fairly this spectacular. The aero-tuned form with the rear spoiler and angled function across the backside of the shell, all work to supply a steady helmet. There’s a equipped chin skirt, and it does assist to regulate the egress of wind below the decrease fringe of the helmet, so I most well-liked to make use of it. Followers of D-ring chin straps will just like the anodized ring Icon fitted. It’s easy, efficient, and good to make use of.

The Venting

Internally, Icon has a high quality EPS core, with glorious channeling to direct the air, and there’s a copious quantity of air to direct. The venting is plentiful; Icon lists 9 consumption vents and seven exhaust. Beginning on the jawline, there are 2 mesh lined intakes, these don’t have any movement regulation.

The chin and temples every have a simple-to-open port, after which the brow has a protracted regulator (which slides up, revealing 4 openings). With all the pieces open, there was sufficient airflow to dry out my eyeballs.

It’s fairly simple to make changes and discover a snug quantity of cooling. The EPS lining does an awesome job of channeling all of the air out by the biggest exhaust port hiding below the rear spoiler. The end on the sliders appears unbelievable, matching the metallic theme and enhancing the model of the Carbon.

I want the plastics didn’t have an entry-level really feel to them. They transfer with a barely free really feel, and I brazenly admit I’m nit-picking right here—however this helmet has a premium worth, so I’ve premium expectations.

See Additionally: The Finest Full Face Motorbike Helmets for 2022

The Visor

I respect that Icon consists of each the clear and the RST Tracshield visors. The visor system attaches simply by way of the Icon Fast Launch system. Icon claims that is the simplest visor change system in the marketplace. It was fairly simple, however I solely swapped as soon as, from the clear one it shipped with to the RST. It appears so good I can not think about altering it again anytime quickly.

The visor plastics themselves are good high quality, however I didn’t just like the visor lock. It’s merely a pin that holds the visor down once you slip the outlet drill within the decrease part of the visor down over it. It’s easy and it really works, however I discovered it removed from the elegant options rivals use. To seal the visor to the shell, Icon has a fundamental single gasket seal. Using at increased speeds produced some whistling right here, as a result of approach air flows off my windscreen.

The Liner

Icon created a singular 5-piece liner for the Airframe Professional, made out of moisture-wicking HyraDry materials. The consolation of the helmet may be personalized by changing your present cheek pads with thinner cheek pads (for a looser match) or thicker cheek pads (for a tighter match). As acknowledged earlier, this function was one I wanted to check out straight away after receiving my helmet. The upside is that this technique permits riders to considerably tune the fitment of the Airframe Professional, even going as far as to suit my rounder head inside this lengthy oval helmet.

The efficiency of the HydraDry materials was good. I wore this helmet throughout temperatures nearing 30 °C, and the moisture-wicking liner and substantial airflow stored it snug below the lid. In opposition to my beard, the liner materials is about common at resisting piling.

After I examine the liner in opposition to different premium class helmets, I want the HydraDry had extra of an elevated really feel like merchandise from AGV or Schuberth.

The Weight

Usually, when evaluating the carbon fiber model of a helmet to the usual model, it’s common to see weight financial savings between 50-100 grams. The Airframe Professional Carbon (primarily based on info I discover on-line) reveals this to be true when in comparison with the usual Airframe Professional.

Within the largest shell measurement that I ordered, the Professional Carbon weighs in at 1614 grams. This isn’t unhealthy in any respect and feels snug in nearly each using situation. It sits about midpack with related helmets. A Shoei RF-1400 is a bit heavier, and an AGV K6 or Scorpion R1 Air Carbon is lighter.

Security Certifications

SHARP testing reveals a 4-star score for the Icon Airframe, however nothing for the Professional Carbon. The general development of the shell appears very properly executed. It’s apparent that this can be a high quality helmet with an beautiful degree of end.

Using with the Icon Airframe Professional Carbon Helmet

Sliding my head within the Airframe Professional Carbon, I felt as badass as I knew I appeared. I’m useless on the subject of my using gear, and I need to look good and switch a couple of heads once I experience. The attractive styling of the Icon helmet completely garnered envious appears from different riders and longer stares from the cagers. I all the time benefit from the mysterious nature you acquire when behind a mirrored visor, and every time I caught sight of myself in a storefront window, I kinda cherished it.

However how did it carry out? I’ll simply get it out of the best way, I used to be not impressed.

Loudness

Fortunately I experience with Earpeace earplugs; there may be no approach this helmet may very well be used responsibly over 50 mph with out ear safety. Because it was, even the superb Earpeace plugs weren’t sufficient at 70 mph. The Airframe Professional Carbon is the loudest helmet I’ve ever had on my head.

Airflow

Icon has offered many air vents, and that’s a lot appreciated—however for me, the trail of the air significantly over my face was one thing I used to be by no means capable of dial in. My eyeballs had been drying out; the movement in entrance of me was so sturdy. Happily, the anti-fog carried out very properly, which allowed me to maintain the chin and brow totally shut and helped with this.

I like the quantity of movement, however Icon wants to enhance how that air strikes contained in the helmet. I’ll say that it didn’t matter if all vents had been opened or closed; they weren’t including to the noise degree.

Visor Optics & Efficiency

The visor optics had been superb, and I can’t state sufficient how a lot I like the purple/gold mirrored look, however that visor lock is horrible. It really works—I can not say it ever didn’t maintain the visor in place, however there may be simply nothing elegant about the way it capabilities. A pin by a gap is what you have got right here.

I can get previous the lock design, however I can not ignore the weak gasket across the eyeport. At increased velocity (presumably above the highway restrict, however I admit nothing) the gasket would whistle. I maintain coming again to the truth that this helmet is competing at a premium worth level. Why is there not a double gasket?

Scratch Resistance

Lastly, I perceive I generally is a tad fixated. I like the end of this helmet, however it’s delicate and susceptible to fingerprints and marks. I might polish up all of the metallic surfaces they usually attempt like hell to not contact them—as a result of any contact would simply stand out in stark distinction to the mirror end.

The shell itself additionally wanted some warning. I discovered various scratches showing and had no concept what I might have achieved. I used to be treating this lid just like the crown jewels.

Last Verdict on the Icon Airframe Professional Carbon Helmet

It could appear that I’m throwing lots of shade on the Airframe Professional Carbon, and I freely admit a few of that’s as a result of excessive expectations I had for it. I personal a number of Icon merchandise, and I actually like most of what I see from the model—therefore the bluntness and demanding nature of this evaluate.

The Airframe Professional Carbon is the best-looking helmet I’ve seen in a very long time, however does any of that matter if it’s so noisy I by no means need to experience with it? Icon manufacturers itself because the gear for the fashionable efficiency rider. I don’t know any trendy efficiency rider that isn’t trying to have a Bluetooth system of their helmet. The Airframe Professional makes no allowance for this, and for me that could be a main oversight.

I’ll all the time be the primary one to throw down the money for high-quality package, however I might wrestle at this premium worth degree. This helmet is so darn straightforward on the eyes, nevertheless it wants a couple of enhancements to stick with the competitors.

Room for Enchancment

• Repair the visor lock
• Enhance the vent regulators; they really feel as if they might break off simply
• Revise the airflow in entrance of the rider’s face
• Decrease the noise ranges contained in the helmet—would a unique neck roll assist?
• Speaker pockets and channels for communication system wires (one thing to assist the fashionable rider use trendy tech)

Favourite Features

• Simply have a look at it! Have you ever checked out it? Oh my, simply have a look at it!
• The flexibility to positive tune the HydraDry liner with alternate elements
• Visor fast change is lifeless easy

Total: 84%

Specs

• Worth (When Examined): $550.00

• Different fashions & colours: Black/Pink or Black/Gold

Necessary Hyperlinks / The place to Purchase