Motorsport heritage brand shifts focus to cycling lids
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Suomy is now in cycling, and we've got our hands on the new Gun Wind road helmet. Pictured is the 'HV White/Orange', which is one design out of 12 (Image credit: David Rome / Immediate Media)
The Gun Wind comes with a second set of pads which offers bug netting(Image credit: David Rome / Immediate Media)
Those that like to get rowdy may like the 'Jumper' full face. Six designs to choose from (Courtesy (BikeRadar edit))(Image credit: Courtesy (BikeRadar edit))
For the clock racers there's the new GT-R. It's available in a choice of three colours(Image credit: Courtesy (BikeRadar edit))
100% made in Italy(Image credit: David Rome / Immediate Media)
Deep channeling inside and quality in-moulding construction. The fit is quite similar to that(Image credit: David Rome / Immediate Media)
The Gun Wind offers a rounded external profile, with this little tail at the back mixing things up a little(Image credit: David Rome / Immediate Media)
Hiding behind the Suomy 'head badge' is a vent that leads straight onto the brow pad(Image credit: David Rome / Immediate Media)
Nothing too unique here, the retention adjustment does what you expect it to(Image credit: David Rome / Immediate Media)
An ID sticker tag is included with the Gun Wind(Image credit: David Rome / Immediate Media)
A classy helmet bag is included too. We believe a similar bag is given with all Suomy cycling helmets(Image credit: David Rome / Immediate Media)
The Scrambler is designed for the enduro mountain biker. We're keen to try one of these(Image credit: Courtesy (BikeRadar edit))
Suomy is an Italian motorsport racing helmet brand with an impressive number of world title wins under its belt. The Suomy motorsport division was recently sold off, with the founding ‘Monti’ brothers shifting their focus onto sporting protection, cycling being the first effort.
The Suomy name has previously popped up in cycling with the likes of the old Barloworld team, although these were actually rebadged helmets of another brand. In 2013, Suomy started to design its own cycling helmets and claims to have devoted its whole design team to the cause in 2014.
Said to be 100% made in Italy, the brand now offers a total of four cycling helmet models with plenty of colour and design choice in each. Covering road, mountain, downhill and TT, let’s take a look at the new range.
NB: We’re still clarifying international pricing and availability, with indications that at least some of these helmets won't be available in the UK.
Gun Wind for the road
At the Tour Down Under last year, we spotted the Suomy Gun Wind on the heads of Lampre-Merida riders, and a year on there’s now one in our own hands.
Externally, the Gun Wind offers a rounded shape with a short back. The venting starts at the forehead directly behind the brand badge and continues upward, getting large in size toward the centre of the lid. These large central vents are reinforced with ‘thermoplastic resin composite’. All up, there’s a total of 25 vents.
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The Gun Wind is available in two sizes to fit 54-58cm and 59-62cm heads respectively. On first fitting, this helmet feels very ‘Euro’ in its shape. If you like the fit of Kask, Lazer and Met helmets, then you’ll probably feel right at home here.
The helmet comes supplied with two inner padding options. The stock setup is cushy and is said to be anti-bacterial and anti-stink. The second option is slightly thinner but with the addition of bug netting. Other thicknesses of pads are available for sale aftermarket.
Also available for sale aftermarket are both a short and long length rain cover (aka Aero cover). In Australia, each cover costs AU$59.
Our Australian standard approved medium sample weighs 268g. Compare that to a claimed 230g for a EN1078 version in the same size. Purely for comparison's sake, our Australian standard-approved Giro Synthe weighs 284g.
The Gun Wind is available in a staggering 12 colour variants, including the Lampre-Merida team helmet. Our sample falls under the ‘HV’ branding, which refers to its hi-vis nature, and yep, it’s bright.
As with all other Suomy cycling helmets, a soft-lined storage bag is included.
Suomy is available in Australia through FE Sports, the Gun Wind retails for AU$369, with Special Edition colour variants at AU$389.
Scrambler for the enduro mountain biker
While the road-going Gun Wind is the only model we have our hands on, the new Enduro-focused Scrambler looks interesting too.
Information is rather scarce, but it appears the Scrambler offers a rounded external profile with deep head coverage. Ventilation appears generous, and the claimed 280g weight for a medium is impressive too.
There’s an adjustable visor, and somehow the entire chinstrap is said to be replaceable. Like the Gun Wind, this model will be available in two shell sizes and there’s multiple thicknesses of pads available to further customize the fit.
The Scrambler is available in ten colour and design variants. It’s a model we hope to get our heads into soon.
Expect to pay AU$219 to AU$239 for this one, with US and UK pricing and availability to be confirmed.
Jumper for the downhiller
Such a helmet should come as a natural path for Suomy, given the brand first appeared in 1997 with a helmet for motocross racing. The Jumper is a full-face helmet designed specifically for downhill and ‘extreme’ enduro use.
Like other top downhill helmets, the Jumper uses a mix of carbon, fibreglass and polycarbonate. With such a construction, weight is claimed at an impressive 690g.
Most surprising is that it appears the Jumper is only available in a single shell size. The Jumper features grippers for goggle straps and an adjustable visor.
Pricing and availability for the Jumper full-face helmet is currently unknown.
GT-R for the clock racer
Designed for triathlon or timetrial racing, the short-tailed GT-R is said to use the wind tunnel experience of the brand’s MotoGP products. When the clock is ticking, this is the helmet the Lampre-Merida team use.
Again, technical details are scarce but it appears the GT-R offers nine ventilation holes with some significant internal channeling. There’s a removable sun visor, with different tints available. An EN standards version carries an impressive claimed weight of 230g (we suspect without sun visor).
According to Suomy, a matt paint is used due to better sliding of the wind compared normal gloss coats.
There’s only one shell size on offer though, and it claims to fit heads from 54 to 61cm in diameter.
The GT-R is due to land in Australia soon and will sell for AU$379. Like all the other models, US and UK pricing and availability is still to be confirmed.
