First Look: EVS TAKT 981 Helmet

Click the following link for a 14-photo gallery of images of the EVS TAKT 981 Motocross Helmet. Click the following link to a video that'll will give you much better 360° look at the EVS TAKT 981 Motocross Helmet . Want to talk about it? Jump over to the Vital MX Forums.

After years of producing a full range of excellent safety products…braces, pads, protectors, undergear, gloves, neck rolls…pretty much everything but helmets, gear and boots, EVS has made and additional jump into the protective gear market with their TAKT helmets.

Joe Oehlhof got the honors of debuting the new Snell and DOT-approved helmet at Anaheim 1, and has been wearing it ever since. At the time we were impressed with the looks of the new lid, and after receiving a test sample in the Vital MX offices, that opinion hasn't changed. They've done a nice job on the graphics, and nothing's too extreme or gaudy.

Joe styling at Competitive Edge MX Park while wearing the new helmet.

The outer shell on the 981 is constructed from a composite blend of Aramid, Kevlar, Carbon and fiberglass, and one of the more unique features on the EVS helmets is the reshaped lower edge of the chin bar, which they've dubbed  or "Collarbone Impact Zone." A flexible rubber zone is integrated into the ribbing on the bottom of the helmet, and is designed to be a buffer zone between the shell and your fragile clavicles.

The "ProtEdge" compressed. If you're worried about contacting your collarbone with your chin bar, this might be a feature that interests you.

Starting on the exterior, you'll note plenty of ventilation points. There's a pair of forehead vents, as well as vents on the side of the helmet below the ears. In the rear, pairs of upper and lower exhaust ports help draw cooling airflow through the helmet.

Judging by the size of the mouthpiece port, you'd expect a fairly huge flow of air…though the hole behind the foam filter is actually rather small. The rubber nosepiece is rather wide, and sat well away from our face when trying it on, but if you like a narrow front to your helmet, it'd be worth trying it on before you buy to see if you can live with it.

As you'd expect in a helmet that will see heavy use (and sweat), the interior liner and cheek pads are removable and washable. Underneath the liner, the inner shell features a tri-density EPS liner to improve safety, while trimming weight. Our size large test helmet weighed in only a couple ounces over three pounds.

As noted on the inner warning label, the helmet is manufactured by KBC, who in addition to their own line of helmets, produces models for some other very well-known brands.

The visor is available in two versions, the one shown here, and a shorty. The helmet includes a light-duty helmet sleeve, is available in four color combos, and has suggested retail of $329.00.

For More Info:

EVS Sports
119 West Milwaukee Street – Suite B
Janesville WI 53548-2965
(608) 754-3800
www.evs-sports.com