Fox Racing Friday | Ken Roczen and the All-New V2 Helmet

Fox Racing Friday | Ken Roczen and the All-New V2 Helmet

Presented by Fox Racing

It’s been several weeks since Fox Racing introduced the completely revamped V3 premium motocross helmet, and the new lid has been well received by racers, the media, and consumers alike. At the same time as the V3, though, an all-new V2 mid-level helmet was also introduced; one that boasts all of the same revolutionary safety features and design elements at the high-end V3, only with proprietary shell shape and design, and polycarbonate shell construction. 

The new Fox Racing V2 Helmet meets or exceeds DOT and ECE 22.05 standards, features a one-piece shell (in comparison to the V3’s two-piece design), boasts dual-density Varizorb EPS that is designed to spread the forces of an impact over a wider area thanks to its internal cone-shaped density variations, as well as the Fluid Inside technology that is designed to dissipate rotational energy transferred to the brain in the event of a crash.

Like the V3, the V2 boasts four different shell and EPS sizes in the size range of XS-2XL, ensuring that each size has as ideal a fit as possible. Eleven separate vents keep the air flowing through the helmet, and Fox’s proprietary Magnetic Visor Release System (MVRS) is used to fasten the visor to the helmet. In case you’ve been living in a cave for a couple years, the purpose of the MVRS is to reduce the chances of injury to the rider’s head or neck in the event of a crash, caused by the visor snagging on the ground. The V2’s visor is held on by three very powerful magnets which will release on impact in the instance of a crash.

While we have already crash-tested the new V3 and were impressed with the premium helmet’s performance, we were excited to try out the all-new V2 helmet when it was released. The fact that Fox was able to incorporate the new Varizorb EPS and Fluid Inside technologies into its mid-level helmet for $269.95 is impressive.

To be honest, the fit of the V2 is amazing. The XT2 inner liner is soft, easily removable for washing, and does a fantastic job of wicking sweat away from your head and face. The fit of the V2 is noticeably different than that of the V3, and the sensation of being “inside” the helmet is more apparent. Riders who prefer this to the closer-fitting chinbar of the V3 will love the feel of the V2, which still maintains a super-wide field of peripheral vision. Team Honda HRC’s Ken Roczen tried on the new V2 for kicks and was also so impressed by its high level of comfort, that he recently decided to have some painted up with the Red Bull scheme and finished racing the last few MX Nationals in them. An elite rider racing in a mid-level helmet by choice is nothing new: remember James Stewart did the same when he first switched to Bell Helmets and Yamahas. Everyone has a unique head shape and personal preferences: we think that the fact Roczen prefers the V2 speak volumes for the helmet’s quality of construction, fit, and safety properties.

In contrast to the other anti-rotational technologies incorporated by other helmet manufacturers, the Fluid Inside pads do not offer visible movement in your hands, but the testing data proves that in the instance of a rotational impact, the pads that lie between the comfort liner and EPS do indeed disperse energy and protect the wearer’s brain.

Throughout my two decades at the helm of TransWorld Motocross and in the years at MXracer before that, I have always preached that riders should always invest in a high-quality helmet because protecting the most important part of your body – your brain – should be of utmost priority. Seeing riders at the local track riding $10,000 motorcycles that are equipped with thousand-dollar titanium exhaust systems and $200 custom graphics, but wearing an entry level $100 helmet always baffles me. That old adage “dress for the crash, not the ride,” rings so true. Our sport is dangerous, and it is awesome to see helmet makers like Fox incorporating premium-level protective technology into their mid-level offerings. The Fox Racing V2? I give it two thumbs up. I’d give it more, but I only have two thumbs…

• Donn Maeda