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French start-up company The Beam is crowdfunding for an e-bike specific helmet called the Virgo.
The Virgo helmet is designed to fit the safety needs of electric bikes and scooters by featuring a unique design which combines lightness, airflow, and protection of the face in case of a frontal crash.
It is designed around the new European regulation NTA-8776, which is made for high speeds up to 45 km/h (28mp/h) and complies with regular bike certifications EN 1078 / CPSC.
The Virgo’s shell protects both the head and the face, with a connection to the helmet liner allowing for flexible shock absorption while simultaneously protecting the chin and jaw.
It also benefits from the MIPS brain protection system which is already used by many well-known helmet brands.
The Virgo has several visor lenses to ensure additional protection against weather conditions. The front visor is held in place by two magnetic fasteners on the front of the helmet, and the lenses are interchangeable depending on weather conditions.
To improve comfort and fit, the Virgo also comes with a rear adjustment system and different sizes of padding.
As an additional safety feature, the helmet comes with an energy-efficient and removable rear LED light/
The light also has a smart brake feature that automatically lights up when the rider hits the brakes.
It incorporates an accelerometer and when it detects a substantial decrease in speed, it automatically turns on the brake light on the back of the helmet. It’s secured by a magnet and can be removed and recharged via USB-C.
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Overall helmet weighs between 600g to 650g and is available in two sizes, XS/S and M/L.
The Virgo comes in four colours: carbon black matte, pure white matte, warm sand matte, and midnight blue matte
At the time of writing, the kickstarter campaign has secured £83,262 from 710 backers, exceeding the original goal of £8,691.
Backers of the crowdfunding campaign can buy the standard Virgo for $99 and the MIPS version for $129.
The MSRP will be $249 for the standard version and $269 for the MIPS model.
