Apr 13, 20223 min read

NEW LID ON THE BLOCK

Updated: Jul 21, 2022

Ruroc launched it's first ever road going helmet in 2019. With a killer marketing strategy, the Atlas 1.0 brought with it a new entry into the road safety sphere & made shockwaves in the industry! (pun intended).

With the assistance of crisply edited promotional content & an array of motofluencers in their arsenal, they really brought new life into the head safety scene. A couple years later, a vast amount of paint designs and adjustments to the 1.0 & Ruroc has released 3 more versions of the Atlas.

I have been sent the Atlas 3.0 in the Carbonised Inferno colourway to give a go. But is it worth the hype that has surrounded the brand since before the 1.0's launch?

Here’s my experience: the helmet arrived on a summer's day that happened to be the only day in the month that it decided to rain by the bucket full! Did it stop me from being super excited as I approached the delivery van and saw the RR box before me? A definitive no! With a brisk walk, near run, back inside I actually became a bit overwhelmed at the thought of this box. A full aerospace carbon helmet that looks like nothing else on the roads here in South Africa, just arrived all the way from the UK and is now sitting in the lounge. No Freakin Way!

I eventually calmed down and began to open the layered box only to find another, more enticing box. This time, in a premium solid black finish with a glossy printed Ruroc label that states "protection re-engineered" on the top. It was kind of like a Matryoshka Doll moment for me. Opening the first layer of the helmet's box is pretty cool. You discover that the logo is a functional inclusion. It is actually a neat envelope which houses a guide on how to use the helmet & Ruroc stickers. The packaging also serves to protect the helmet against damage during travel as it‘s well lined with rubber, the bottom being molded into the shape of the bottom of the helmet to keep it secure. Pull out the carrier and you get a neat looking bottle opener keyring which mimics the lids design. All that's left to open is the helmet bag itself and the dark tinted visor which is a sweet addition (which comes standard along with the clear).

This helmet is so light and when I say the helmet is light, I mean it is LIGHT. The entire box can be lugged around with one arm. The fit is a bit loose. I have noticed that Ruroc supplies thicker padding which I am definitely going to invest in. A serious pleasure for me is that the helmet allows me to easily fit my glasses on, which was usually a mission when wearing my previous helmets.

The field of vision is absolutely out of this world. There is so much you can see in your peripherals. The chin tie mechanism is something you have to experience for yourself. A patented magnetic lock design which still blows my (and everyone I show's) mind. It‘s secure even when pulling it in every possible direction. The only way it releases is if you pull the red tag that unclips it. There are also some other neat features such as the water tight lock they have on the visor & the simple and quick visor release.

I'm excited to start shopping on the many extras that Ruroc provide for the lid, such as the shockwave audio system which magnetically clips into the back of the helmet, as well as the Ruroc designed camera mount which maintains the beautiful contours of the design.

I did a road test on an Aprilia Tuono 1100 Factory on a very windy day. It is definitely a head turner. It‘s a helmet that not many would have seen here in South Africa unless you follow the brand on social media. The wind did sound pretty noisy but I could still hear the bike over all of this. From what I have gathered, the team has considerably reduced the wind noise in the 4.0 so it will definitely be something to consider. I also tested it without wearing ear plugs upon writing this post. I will share an update with the results of a test ride with ear plugs soon…

Overall, it is quite an experience riding with the helmet. From the visual experience, to the ease of use, to the head turning moments. I can confirm that my excitement was not let down. Stay tuned for a long term test review in the future. For now, click on the image below for a sneak peak of the Ruroc 3.0 Carbonised Inferno in action!