MC Tested: 6D ATS-1 Helmet Review

You may remember this ATS-1 helmet from the pages of Motorcyclist magazine, or here on the website. We covered the history and technology in depth here (see A New Twist On Motorcycle Helmet Safety From 6D) mostly to praise 6D Helmets' revolutionary design. As a quick recap—instead of using a single EPS layer between the shell and padded liner the ATS-1 has two layers of EPS, connected with little rubbery, hourglass-shaped dampers that flex and squish in the event of a head impact. 6D cites years of research proving the system protects the human brain more efficiently than standard systems, especially during low-speed head impacts. I am inclined to believe them, though thankfully my testing of the ATS-1 did not include smacking my dome on anything.

I wore the helmet on a cold and wet street ride in Spain, on a sunny and 170mph day at a racetrack in California, and commuting to and from the office. First of all, it’s a little bigger than a typical lid—Honda’s NC700X, for example, has a storage compartment just big enough for a full-face helmet. It swallows Shoei’s RF1200 no problem, but the ATS-1 doesn’t quite fit. That’s arguably no big deal if you don’t own an NC700, but the point is that it’s a little bigger than a usual lid. The only other oddity that I noticed is that the chin strap is quite long—not really good or bad, just a little strange. Likely the kind of thing that will get sorted out as the helmet gets refined.

The visor mechanism has a lever that either cracks it open slightly or locks it shut (a la Scorpion helmets, in case you’re familiar). Overall the visor feels a little thin and cheap—then again, it’s easy to swap and didn’t show a hint of fog on that damp Spanish day. I didn’t find myself using the lock/crack-open feature, in part because the visor never fogged or popped open, in any of the environments in which I tested. That’s a good thing.

Padding inside is plush, though the liner is a little coarse compared to other helmets in this category. Fit is snug around the cheeks in the form of a race-designed helmet—think Arai Corsair X or Shoei X-Fourteen. In fact I brought both of those helmets to a day of track testing, and swapped between the Corsair, X-Fourteen, and ATS-1 all day. This 6D was noticeably quieter than the Corsair (no surprise with the Arai’s sideplates), more comparable to the X-Fourteen. Venting is also good on the ATS-1—a fringe benefit of the, “Omni-Directional-Suspension” system is excellent venting, since the space surrounding the rubber dampers flows air. I rate the venting comparable to the X-Fourteen, which is fairly high praise.

There aren’t many downsides, but the few are notable. First, the price of $849. That falls in with the Corsair X and X-Fourteen, but not as far as fit and finish goes—it’s just not as polished or refined as the Arai or Shoei. If it were, it would probably be $1,200. Lastly, the paint schemes are tame. Matte carbon, gloss carbon (shown here), or a white/black/exposed-carbon combination. I imagine as the 6D continues to grow, and sponsor world-famous racers, the graphics available will become more varied and exciting.

I’m as big a fan of wild graphics as the next person, but I think the plain carbon is a good look. Plus, the technology is undeniably cool. If you don’t believe in the design that 6D is selling, then help yourself to the other high-end options. I think the innovation is real, and I hope that 6D becomes a household name in helmets.

6D ATS-1 Carbon-Fiber Helmet
Price: $849
Grade: A
Verdict: You give up a bit of fit and finish, but you gain a major potential upgrade in protection for your head, especially low-speed impacts. It's damned cool, one-of-a-kind technology.
Contact: 6dhelmets.com