Monarch Aerohawk Helmet
MONARCH AEROHAWK HELMET
EVALUATION
The answer is blowing in the wind
THEY ALL LAUGHED AT DUNLOP’S pneumatic tire, telescopic forks and several other technical innovations that broke free from constraints of traditional design. Or, at least, people regarded them with much the same mirth born of skepticism they would later turn toward things like Sam Popeil’s Veg-O-Matic.
And it’s a fair bet you’ll have to choke back a guffaw or two when you first lay eyes on Monarch Helmet’s Aerohawk. Not that Monarch (PO. Box 3605, Chula Vista, CA 92011; [619] 427-1503) designed the hat for its amusement value. Instead, the firm’s intent was to create a shape more aerodynamic than that of round helmets. To do so, Monarch tested various shapes by taping wool tufts to a shell, mounting it on the hood of a car, then driving at speed and observing which shape gave the smoothest airflow, based on the disturbance of the tufts.
And in fact, the result owes much to the work of a Dr. Kamm, a pioneer in the field of aerodynamics some 50 years ago. The doctor’s signature shape took the well-known elongated teardrop, but chopped off the endwhich is precisely the case with Monarch’s Aerohawk. The firm claims all the usual benefits that accrue to a more wind-worthy design, namely a smoother, quieter passage through the air, resulting in increased comfort.
In theory, that’s a splendid concept, but in practice, it just doesn’t work. The Aerohawk exhibits no
more or less tendency to lift at speed than conventional round helmets, and it’s extremely noisy, largely because the chin piece sits so far from the wearer’s face. Plus, the Aerohawk is far more position-sensitive than round helmets. That is, when the rider turns his head, wind acting on the fiberglass shell’s sizable side area tries to keep turning the helmet. It’s noticeable at 60 mph, and aggravating in the extreme at 100 mph and above.
Such performance disputes Monarch’s claims for the DOT-approved helmet, for the Aerohawk demonstrates none of the benefits it is said to have. It also puts in question the need for any such aero-tinkering where helmets are concerned. Perhaps the Aerohawk (available in sizes XXS-XXL, in 26 colors, with prices starting at $169.95) would fare better in a sport where the user never had to turn his head. But for motorcyclists, it’s a laughingstock.
