It’s is everything you’d expect from the fastidious construction quality Shoei’s Japanese factory is famous for—plus it bakes in some new technology never before seen in Shoei’s 80+ years of making helmets.

It comes in four shell sizes to help optimize fit, and like most Shoei helmets, we find this to be an intermediate oval interior shape (AKA: most of the North American market); and Shoei offers a deep catalog of optional head-liners and cheek pads to dial in the perfect fit. 

This sturdy fiberglass shell houses a multi-density EPS liner to handily meet DOT and SNELL certifications. It’s also bestowed with some new technology that makes it among the most protective Shoei we’ve ever had on our shelves. More on that—M.E.D.S.—below.

The biggest news for the VFX-EVO is that the helmet incorporates M.E.D.S. technology—a wonky acronym that stands for Motion Energy Distribution System.

Now we usually refrain from parroting PBMAs—Proprietary Bullshit Marketing Acronyms—but this one’s important, so pay attention!

Similar to MIPS (another PBMA exception) which  employed in some of our Bell helmet offering, and widely used in the action sports arena, the promise of M.E.D.S. is to simply to provide a “slip plane” barrier between your brain and the object you’re about to encounter.

Huh? Rather than simply absorbing direct energy (which it will also do), the latest helmet science is targeted at minimizing the rotational slop that happens with the brain inside the skull. 

Why is this important? Because real-world crashes don’t always happen in a linear fashion, as helmet safety standards testing would suggest. Instead, researchers have found that much of the concussive harm from a motorcycle crash has to do with the brain rotating inside the skull. Ouch.

By integrating an interior suspended layer of protection, the M.E.D.S system (much like the MIPS system found in other helmets) allows the shell to take the initial force of the impact and start to rotate around the head, while the inner portion of the helmet remains isolated.

It’s like the helmet gives worst part of the initial impact a head start. By the time the interior layer of the helmet —and thus the wearer’s head — catches up, the initial rotational force from the impact has (hopefully) already started to dissipate.

In short, this slip-plane concept “takes the edge” off the rotational trauma that would come in a helmet not equipped with a rotational suppression feature, and studies show this sort of preventative safety feature significantly cuts down on concussion incidence.

In addition to all that whizbang technology, plus Shoei’s tried and true Fiberglass work, incredibly well made, comfortable, and adjustable liner system, all the other sundry details of this epic off-road helmet have been tended to.

An expanded rib shape across the rear of the helmet provides the perfect perch for goggle straps and its muzzle is more than meets the eye.

The braced nose cover has been designed to improve safety—it features foam mesh to filter dirt and dust, and aluminum mesh to prevent roost from getting inside the helmet. All of it is removable for cleaning and maintenance.  

Features:

• Lightweight fiberglass shell construction
• 4 shell sizes increase fit options that help comfortably fit most head sizes
• Extra front intake vents combine with rear exhaust outlet vents and an enlarged neck outlet vent to maximize flow-through ventilation
• 3D Max-Dry removable liner system material absorbs two times its weight in moisture
• M.E.D.S. Motion Energy Distribution System– takes the rotational edge off of impacts that slosh your brain around inside your skull
• E.Q.R.S. (Emergency Quick Release System) – A.K.K: special straps under the cheek pads which allow them to be easily removed, so the helmet can be quickly taken off by emergency personnel after an accident
• Larger mouth piece for improved air intake
• Ergonomically shaped mud guard
• Snell M2020 and DOT approved