Vemar Cikiqui (aka CKQI)
Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2009 2:33 pm
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/loodie/3614254519/" title="2009_Vemar_CKQI_Helmet_White_Pearl_633698729349809501 by loodieisthebestest, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3385/361 ... f703_m.jpg" width="240" height="240" alt="2009_Vemar_CKQI_Helmet_White_Pearl_633698729349809501" /></a>
I bought one off of eBay NIB (it really was) which was a little strange because they aren't available at dealers yet. Anyway, a few brief personal observations.
Blah.
I have noticed of late that you can't trust a product to be manufactured where it is 'designed.' The Vemar CKQI is no exception. It may have been designed in Italy, but in fact it is manufactured in China, at least according to the sticker under the liner. (Note that at least one site, webBikeworld, misreports that it is manufactured in Italy, and no where did I find an express representation that it is made in China). Now, 'Made in China' is not necessarily bad.
But in this case, I think the helmet is sub-par.
First, fit seems to be off - way off. My impression is that they run at least one size too small. The large sits atop my large head like a beanie (by comparison, a large Scorpion EXO 400, or HJC 3/4, fit me like a dream).
Second, finish is poor. Maybe it is not uncommon, but this is the first time I have seen a paint drip on a helmet, and there are a few spots where it looks like they didn't take the time to trim or smooth the 'plastic' edges. Okay, I don't know what material actually was used to construct the outer shell, but it has a 'plastic-like' feel to it. And while the liner is nice, and removable, the inner shell - painted black - is not confidence inspiring and seems to impart a spray paint odor to the inside of the helmet.
Most disappointing is the chin bar. It is held on by two plastic (or plastic-like) tabs on each side, one of which is hook-shaped, with a release button on each side of the helmet. I wouldn't trust the chin bar in an accident no way and no how. It strikes me (pun intended) as pure decoration. Maybe it would protect you from a flying insect or two. But I would no more call this helmet a modular as I would a helmet with a removable sun visor.
Now maybe this particular helmet was a promo or something and not a fair representation of the helmets soon to be available from dealers. And yeah, yeah, don't buy sight unseen. But I guess that is my message to anyone interested in this helmet.
As for me, blah.
I bought one off of eBay NIB (it really was) which was a little strange because they aren't available at dealers yet. Anyway, a few brief personal observations.
Blah.
I have noticed of late that you can't trust a product to be manufactured where it is 'designed.' The Vemar CKQI is no exception. It may have been designed in Italy, but in fact it is manufactured in China, at least according to the sticker under the liner. (Note that at least one site, webBikeworld, misreports that it is manufactured in Italy, and no where did I find an express representation that it is made in China). Now, 'Made in China' is not necessarily bad.
But in this case, I think the helmet is sub-par.
First, fit seems to be off - way off. My impression is that they run at least one size too small. The large sits atop my large head like a beanie (by comparison, a large Scorpion EXO 400, or HJC 3/4, fit me like a dream).
Second, finish is poor. Maybe it is not uncommon, but this is the first time I have seen a paint drip on a helmet, and there are a few spots where it looks like they didn't take the time to trim or smooth the 'plastic' edges. Okay, I don't know what material actually was used to construct the outer shell, but it has a 'plastic-like' feel to it. And while the liner is nice, and removable, the inner shell - painted black - is not confidence inspiring and seems to impart a spray paint odor to the inside of the helmet.
Most disappointing is the chin bar. It is held on by two plastic (or plastic-like) tabs on each side, one of which is hook-shaped, with a release button on each side of the helmet. I wouldn't trust the chin bar in an accident no way and no how. It strikes me (pun intended) as pure decoration. Maybe it would protect you from a flying insect or two. But I would no more call this helmet a modular as I would a helmet with a removable sun visor.
Now maybe this particular helmet was a promo or something and not a fair representation of the helmets soon to be available from dealers. And yeah, yeah, don't buy sight unseen. But I guess that is my message to anyone interested in this helmet.
As for me, blah.