THE RIDE VERDICT

AFTER WEARING IT for a month, it’s clear there are some advantages to Vozz’s rear-entry system. One is how fast it is to put on and take off — the first few times it feels a bit clumsy but that’s just a lack of familiarity. After a week, it takes less than half the time of a double-d-ring lid.

Though I don’t wear glasses now, I did in the past so I can appreciate the enormous convenience of putting on a lid without removing my specs. And I’m impressed by the field of vision, though I’m not sure that’s anything to do with the fitting system.

I’ve tested the Vozz on nakeds, sports tourers and adventure bikes and not found any problems in use. But two other issues remain: the price; and wider awareness of the emergency release system. Vozz’s UK distributor says its plan is to “educate the emergency services”, but until that happens — until all paramedics are trained to identify the Vozz as different from other helmets, and how to remove the rubber plugs and two screws holding the hinge in place — there’s no way of knowing how likely it is the release system would actually get used.

QR codes on the sides of the helmet link to removal instructions on Vozz’s website, but would a paramedic really spend time waving a phone app around a patient that’s not breathing? I’m not convinced. And that’s a shame, because if you can’t be certain that the system would get used – and that your chance of an accidental neck injury really would be reduced — then it becomes so much harder to justify that substantial £595 price. MARTIN FITZ-GIBBONS