There is an old military saying, which has been eagerly adopted by sportspeople the world over: ‘train hard, fight easy’. The idea is, the more extreme you push yourself in preparation for an event, the better your performance will be in the event itself.
That’s all very good for athletes themselves, but could the same approach be just as valid when it comes to sporting equipment? In the case of motorcycle-turned-bicycle helmet manufacturer HJC, the answer is a resounding ‘yes’.
Established in 1971 in South Korea, HJC is a brand that you will see more of over the next few years. Used by the TotalEnergies UCI Pro Team, their products have an astounding pedigree: Tour de France stage wins, a UCI Hour World Record title, Ironman triathlon wins, MotoGP… HJC lids are even worn by the Red Bull Oracle F1 pit team! Excitingly, HJC will also be announcing a partnership with one of the UK’s top pro gravel riders soon as their product range is expanded.
Not an obvious cycling destination, cycling is an established sport in South Korea. There are countless bike shops and high-end bikes are not uncommon – most brands are surprised by the appetite for cycling in the country. While the typical ride is often shorter than a typical European rider might undertake (the 633km Seoul to Busan ‘Four Rivers’ route notwithstanding) the popularity led to the passionate cyclists within HJC to develop their own helmets.
This is no side project, though; with a dedicated team of product developers working only on cycling products, testing and R&D utilises the company’s own labs and wind tunnel to ensure aerodynamics, ventilation, comfort and fit are all optimised. This optimisation then bounces back to the pro riders and testers, working closely with racers across Asia and Europe. Previous partnerships include Lotto Soudal, Premieretech, AG2R Citroën Team and, since 2024, HJC is the official helmet supplier to the TotalEnergies Pro Cycling Team, as well as their two development teams.
Away from the road and into the velodrome, HJC worked closely with Victor Campenaerts when he broke the UCI World Hour Record in 2019. The result was the company’s Adwatt 1.0 TT helmet, and later the Adwatt 1.5 Triathlon variant.
In accordance with Campenaerts’ requirements, the helmet was developed to be worn without a visor to improve ventilation. Through many iterations and hours in the wind tunnel with Campenaerts, HJC eventually delivered a helmet offering outstanding aero performance both with and without a visor. The most pleasing result – although admittedly, Victor’s sporting talents and training had a lot to do with it – was a new record of 55.089km.
Away from the track, HJC Sports has a whole range of performance helmets for the passionate cyclist, as well as commuters and recreational riders. The fit and function is always at the forefront, as getting this right is essential to comfort and therefore enjoyment on the bike.
At the top of the range, HJC offers two helmets as used by the TotalEnergies pro team.
HJC Furion 3 – €209
> Read the road.cc review here
We’ve said a lot about HJC’s involvement with top-level motorcycle racing and elite cycling, but the incredible aerodynamic form of the Furion 3 – with its sculpted air channels and intricate exhaust at the rear – is perhaps more reminiscent of Formula 1 levels of design detail. Even when stationary, this is one incredibly fast-looking helmet.
It is inside, however, where the real performance lives.
First, there is HJC’s own SLID (Sliding Layer Impact Distribution) technology. An innovative feature that uses gel material which ‘flows’ in the event of a crash, decelerating the head in both rotational and blunt force impacts reducing energy delivered to the brain minimising the risks of concussion.
Secondly there is HJC’s Selfit Pro technology. Working a little bit like a seatbelt in the car, the helmet cradle automatically fits to your head. Once you’ve adjusted the fit at the side of the helmet, which you need to do only once. This allows the fit to be the same every time you wear the helmet (there’s a small wheel to fit tune this on the fly).
Structurally there is internal reinforcement – an internal frame integrated into the EPS – to ensure the helmet holds shape to protect your head in a collision. This is used in addition to the in-mould construction, where the EPS is bonded together with an outer polycarbonate shell, while retaining the lightest weight possible of just 245g in a size medium.
Finally, there’s HJC’s wind-tunnel-tested design. With its Advanced Air Channel System – working in concert with HJC’s Coolpath technology – benefiting riders with great heat management, while the shape reduces wind resistance.
All in all, it’s a helmet truly worthy of place at the world’s greatest races. But it also provides noticeable performance benefits for road cyclists of all levels.
HJC Ibex 3 – €259
> Read the road.cc review here
The Furion 3 isn’t actually the zenith of HJC’s road bike line-up; that distinction is taken by the Ibex 3.
Utilising much of the same technology as the Furion 3, the Ibex 3 boasts Selfit Pro, Slid, and Coolpath provisions, as well as a total weight of just 240g. However, there are some small but significant details that add just an extra layer of performance. The unique design, featuring 18 air vents, brings a level of ventilation and aerodynamic efficiency that is almost unmatched among road cycling helmets.
No wonder it’s the helmet Team Total Energies chooses for mountain stages!
For more information about HJCs products, visit hjcsports.com
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