Q: The 6D helmet has made quite an impression on the Motocross world so everyone there knows how it functions but please break down the technology behind the product?A: Really it is pretty simple. Our Omni-Directional Suspension (ODS) technology separates a suspended inner EPS liner from an outer EPS liner by a quantity of elastomeric isolation dampers. This suspended inner liner does many things for the athlete in the event of an accident, the most important of which is scrubbing off a significant amount of rotational energy from being transferred. The design also allows for a much greater percentage of linear energy management and low-threshold energy compliance. This is to effectively say that it provides a softer, more progressive ride-down to “zero” in the accident event, thereby increasing time and reducing the severity of the impact. This graph reflects this visually pretty well!
Q: I often see a MTB or BMX rider have a few concussions and switch to a Motocross helmet as opposed to a cycling specific helmet. Is the 6D somewhat an amalgam of the both?A: I guess you could say that as our motocross and MTB/BMX (ATB-1) helmet share the same shell design. But that is where the similarities end! The shell layup on the ATB-1 is full carbon and uses less material for obvious reasons. The inner and outer EPS molds are different and modified to significantly improve air-flow and reduce weight. The comfort liner and cheek pads are made of our “SuperCool” liner foam, which is an accessory item on the motorcycle side. The visor, mouth piece, and shell vents are also specifically designed for the ATB-1 as well. So it is pretty much a completely different helmet. With the same benefits of course!
Q: There seems to be a few brands taking a page from your design and attempting to make something as close as possible. Are any of the other helmets using your technology?
A: No, there are no other helmets with our ODS technology. It is exclusive to 6D. There are a couple of other brands working to address rotational energy using the MIPS technology, but nothing else with ODS. The MIPs solution is one dimensional sliding on a single surface, whereas ODS functions in 3 dimensions, effectively providing 6 degrees of freedom; with translation and rotation around each X, Y, and Z coordinate. Hence 6D!
Q: How has the ATB-1 been tailored to suit pedal driven sports? I see more venting than the Moto model.A: Yes, that is correct. More venting, less weight, and certified to the necessary cycling standards for DH and BMX. (ASTM F-1952-10 & CPSC 16 CFR 1203) The European EN 1078 version will be available in the spring.
Q: We live in a strange world were marketing seems to supersede actual test and safety testing data. Are 6D helmets tested by a 3rd party? What safety standards do they meet?
A: This is an interesting question. The homologation testing for any given standard is conducted by a third party certified lab. In most other brand’s cases that is the extent of the testing conducted. Did the helmet pass or fail? Once the design passes the required standard for any specific country or discipline, then it is taken to market. Here at 6D we go further with our testing. We contract with a 3rd party laboratory here in LA to conduct additional testing on our helmets and our competitors helmets. In this further testing, we test for angular acceleration mitigation and low-threshold energy performance with the goal of analyzing the benefits of ODS compared to the competition. We believe this is incremental testing that most other brands are not conducting on their helmets. And this data is extremely important as to the effectiveness of a design because it is more related to the types of crash impacts one would experience in the real world. The 6D ATB-1 is certified to the ASTM F-1952-10 & CPSC 16 CFR 1203 standards in the U.S. with the European version certified to EN1078 (requiring a larger field of view) due out in the spring.
Q: The 6D is priced higher than most helmets out there. The safer the helmet the more it costs?
A: This is another difficult question, but in this instance I believe it is a valid statement. But maybe not for the reasons you might think. The 6D is just way more costly to manufacture. There are more parts, more molds, slow-downs on the production line and the cycle-times of the molding equipment. At the end of the process, it just costs more. I hate it, but it is what it is and there is nothing we can do about it. At least there is a significant benefit to the incremental cost! And I think that is how you have to look at it. Helmet X costs $495 or $625 or whatever, and the 6D costs $725. Is the improved design and performance worth the difference? That decision has to be made by the customer.
Q: Will the 6D Flight Crew sponsorship program extend to the cycling world?
A: Yes, we have a method to try and support up-and-coming racers that we channel back through our dealers. The best method is to find a dealer in your location and inquire with them. We are just getting started on the cycling side, so please be patient with us as we get things going. Thanks for checking in with us!
By Lloyd Ramsay
Action pics by Mike Carruth
After doing a BMX 'zine for ten years (1987 - 1996) FATBMX made it on the internet. The year was 1998. Here to stay.