Helmetshopping can be a bit of a task! Lots of brands with many price points and even more features to kick around. With well over600 hrs. on my current lid (thankfully w/ no major crashes), I was looking for something similar to what I already had (lightweight, stylish, and solid protection).A huge amount of my riding is spent in the bush over long hours and heavyhelmetsput additional, unwanted fatigue on my neck. Duringmysearch, a relatively new brandcame across my computer screen that peaked my interest.Just1Racing had all the features I had come to enjoy in my former lid as well as a few extras. Beingfairly new to North America was alsoa plus asI would be some of the first to review this new brand and more specifically their J12 Mister Xhelmet.Here is what I learned...
Product Introduction
Just1Helmetswere developed with the primary goal of having the safest and most comfortablehelmeton the market. Priced in the moderate to high range, the J12 Mister X is their top-of-the-line model. With style, innovative technology, and safetyas their philosophy, here are some of the key features that make up the J12 Mister X helmet:
> Full carbon fiber outer shellused to keep the helmet lightweight, yet ridged. Combined with the shell, its EPS inner foam liner is designed specifically to fit with each of the two outershell sizes for for maximum rider safety, stability, and comfort.
> J.1.E.R. System (JUST1 Emergency Remove). The cheek pads have tabs outside the helmet that make them removable with minimal movement of the ride's head.
> N.B.F.F. System (Neck Brace Front Fit).Thisallows the helmet to not interfere with neck-braces and reduces whiplash in case of an accident.
Other noticeable features include a removable, hygienically treated liner for easy washing, strategically locatedair vents with aluminum mesh to keep debris out, a vented, adjustable visor, and nice helmet bag to protect the finish during transportation.
The Low Down
With approx.50 hrs. on the Just1 Mister X helmet, here are the key points I would like to touch on:
Q: Is it light?
A: Yes, Just1 did a excellent job in keeping the Mister X helmet light. Just1 claims 1250g +/- 50g on a size small helmet, with my medium coming in at 1250g. This is squarely in the ballpark for lightweighthelmets.Compared to another high-end brand, the Just1 Mister X is nearly a half pound lighter. That half pound can feel like a lot over a long day's ride.
Q: Is it comfy and how does it fit?
A: Like most buyers, I try on helmets at my dealer so any fitment issues can be addressed. I typically wear a medium and in some cases can be caught in between sizes with my head being on the smaller size. Just1 offers a sizing chart and when using it, my head size was on the small size of a medium. Coming in the mail, I didn't have the option for a test fit. Fortunately, the helmet fit excellent right out of the box.I have a fairly common shaped head, slightly flat along the back and the helmet conformed comfortably. The interior lining material is soft, well placed, and doesn't have a scratchy, hardened feel. The helmet pulls nicely over my head and it does not create any pressure points. The chin strap is well placed and comfortable. I did have some concern with the cheek pads upon my initial fitting, feeling a little too snug. I was worried that they would push my cheeks into my mouth when open, causing discomfort. But, this didn't turn out to the case. Optional cheek pad sizes are available to customize fit as necessary.
I do use various pairs off goggles, fromProGrip, 100% and Scott. The Just1 has a large eye port area and doesn't interfere with any of the goggles I use or cause any noticeable discomfort on the bridge of my nose.
Q: Is it hot and how's the ventilation?
A:I fall into the "sweats like crazy!" group. I sweat; A LOT! The Just1 Mister X is one of the best ventilated helmets I have used. The J12 helmet has 14 intake vents and 10exhaustvents. The vents cannot be opened or closed but do have wire mesh over the ports to prevent debris from entering. The lining does a excellent job of absorbing sweat and the helmet doesa excellent job ofventing moisture and heat away.For testing purposes I used the helmet with both long/short hair and hot/cooler days and was equally impressed. During one wet raining/snowing ride, no additional moisture was present inside the helmet. After a few rides, I did challenge a few friends to feel the inside of the helmet. Most declined but a few braved and were rewarded with a sweat free liner. Job well done Just1!
Q: Does it protect?
A: I didn't crash just to write this review, but the approach that Just1 Racing is taking certainly puts forth a good argument for rider safety:
> Using carbon fiber and only offering the helmet in two sizes makes for a very lightweight, yet strong shell. Also, the inner shell EPS foam is scaled to fit both outer shell sizes, creating a proper fit/weight ratio for maximum safety and comfort to the rider.
> Workingin collaboration with theOasi Bioresearch Group, anon-profit organizationthat puts emphasis on reducing injuries, especiallyinjuries related to off-road riding, the N.B.F.F system wasincorporated intothe helmet.Thechin area is designed to work in concert witha neck bracetofurther reduce whiplash and injury to a rider.
> In theevent of a accident, the Mister X has removable cheek pads. Called'J1ER', the cheek pads have small pull tabs on each side. With afirm tug, thecheek pads can be removed and pulled out of the wayto allow for easier removal ofthe helmet. In a crash where a spinal injury is suspected, this is an important feature.
> The helmet meets and exceedsECE safety standardswhich are similar to DOT standards, but European.
Q: Anything else to share?
A: The visor is large and rigid in comparison to some other brands I've used.Using5 aluminum screws, the visor stays in place with little risk of ever moving, even in the spills I took. The aluminum screws are welcomed over plastic units as they are lesslikely to break or strip.Unfortunatelyat the 50 hr. mark, I clipped a large overhead branch which split the visor in half. Due to the2 screws per side, the visor continued to stay in place.It doessit highon the helmet to allow for excellent vision that is especially noticeable on down hills.On the plus side, I found this visor for around $25 online which is nearly 3x less than some other visors out there. Definitely a win!
Sadly, this is not the most media friendly helmet. There are a lot of angles on the helmet making it nearly impossible to stick aGoPromount. I did mount one on the side near the goggle strap but it does weight the helmet unevenly and theGoProview is slightly blocked by the visor. There might be other media devices that have different mounting options, but I don't have those to try. I also have some concerns about mounting lights for night time riding as they use a similar mounting system. I have a mount called the ProShotthat allows myGoProto be mounted to the front chin bar of the helmet.
As for the neck-brace, I'm not one to wear one, but do have anAtlasunit. I spent a few hours wearing it, testing for comfort and compatibility with the Just1 Mister X helmet. At no point did the two interfere with each other. Just1 did there homework here and appeals to both parties regarding neck-braces.
Saves ?
- Excellent ventilation
- Lightweight
- Excellent view
- Comfortable
Crashes ?
- Limited options to mount media devices
Monk's Final Word 
Offering a protective, lightweight, and stylish helmet is what Just1 Racing delivered with the Mister X helmet. Its ventilation and lightweight were huge selling points because I live in a desert and ride long days. There is no question that the helmet works well in these conditions. Definitely a hit for me. It's a bit of a bummer that the standard mounts don't work for media devices but with a little digging, I found something that works for me.
