Ruroc Eox helmet review | "It's a strong look but riddled with flaws"

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The Eox is the latest motorcycle helmet from Brit firm Ruroc and an evolution of the distinctive design established through the Atlas range. It’s a sleeker and sportier lid than its current stablemate, the Atlas 4.0 (which I’ve tested), and price-wise sits just below the range-topping ‘Track’ version. Unashamedly streetfighter in style, Ruroc’s lids are pitched as a premium product, and I’ve ridden in the Eox for over 2,000 miles in the last two months to see if it lives up to the hype.

How comfortable is the Ruroc Eox?

I’m usually a medium in helmets, but in Ruroc’s case found that a large fitted better. The Eox feels snug and secure when you slip it on, with a fit that offers peace of mind should the worst happen. There’s a slightly odd sensation to the internal liner though, as the prominent individual cushions lack organic fit and make it feel a bit like an eggbox.

It’s not uncomfortable, but I’m always aware that I’m wearing it. This could be down to the Rheon shock absorbing element in the liner, which is unique to Ruroc’s products.

My first ride in the Eox ended in less than 50 miles as an excruciatingly painful pressure point quickly developed above my right eye. The culprit was a partially installed plastic retainer for the liner, which was dealt with at the roadside by simply pushing it into the EPS with my thumb, but it wasn’t a great start.

I’ve since worn it for hundreds of miles at a time with no similar issue, and it is certainly comfortable enough to be worn all day long. Spectacle wearers take care though, as there’s only one point where the arms of your glasses can slide in, and that’s along the top of the cheek pads. It leaves no room for adjustment, but if you’re lucky like me it’ll be spot on.

One of Ruroc’s USPs is the Fidlock strap fastener, but I find this an unnecessary faff. Rather than a simple double D ring, it uses a magnetic catch to attach both halves, and although it feels securely locked, you’re left with an inch-square of metal tucked under your jaw and I find that unsettling. It’s also a pain to adjust and almost impossible to get right, so I’m constantly having to fiddle with it before each ride.

What is the visor like on the Ruroc Eox?

The Eox has a nice wide eye port with no restriction on peripheral vision, and the deep chin bar doesn’t affect the view of instruments. It ships with both dark and clear visors, each of which provide a distortion free window to the world, plus a Pinlock anti-fog insert. It’s a shame then, that the visor mechanism feels so crude.

When opening it to the first wide detent, there’s so much resistance that the visor twists out of shape before popping into position with a cringe-inducing crack. I’ve tried removing and refitting it several times as it really doesn’t seem right, but to no avail. It’s worth noting that the quick release system is just as bad, feeling stiff and vague in operation and robbing the Eox of high-end feel.      

How good is the ventilation on the Ruroc Eox?

Ventilation was a weak aspect of the Atlas 4.0, however this has been resolved to great effect with the Eox. When open, the top vents deliver a band of fresh air around the top of the forehead which has a similar effect to applying a cold compress in a darkened room.

The downside is that, open or closed, they generate a screechy whistle like a metal roller desperately in need of lubrication. It’s less prominent when you’re riding upright, but hunch into any kind of sporty position and it’s more than enough to take the shine off your day.

The signature chin vents, although thankfully silent, aren’t anywhere near as effective, and seem to direct air towards your mouth rather than up the inside of the visor. On one chilly early morning ride I couldn’t get enough of a draft to stop the Pinlock misting up, and although you can crack the visor open, any wind blast quickly overcame the detent to push it closed.

Is the Ruroc Eox a noisy helmet?

Despite the relatively smooth shell, it’s a very noisy helmet, with pockets of turbulent wind along the flanks that tend to roar, even at urban speeds. I tried it around town without earplugs and managed less than five minutes before I had to stop and shove them back in.

Does the Ruroc Eox look good?

The Eox’s distinctive looks are fundamental to the firm’s image, but because of the strength of the aesthetic, they do tend to be somewhat polarising. If you like the streetfighter styling, there’s probably not much that would sway you from buying one, but as the influencer’s lid of choice it does come with certain connotations, and that could well be a turn off.

It’s worth noting that the range includes several limited-edition runs, including coloured carbon finishes, a collaboration with the Ace Café and Star Wars tie ins, providing plenty of opportunity for those looking for exclusivity.  

Is the Ruroc Eox a good quality helmet?

Having been to Ruroc’s HQ, met the design team and seen the testing facility, not to mention the top notch materials involved in the construction, the quality of the Eox I’ve had on test has been disappointing. I’ve mentioned the visor mechanism and air vents already, but there’s more that needs addressing.

Aside from the fact that the EPS moves and creaks inside the outer shell with barely any encouragement, the cheek section has become completely detached on one side, revealing that it’s held in place by little more than a couple of squares of double-sided tape. This is really poor in my opinion, and I’ve never seen the like on any other helmet I’ve tested. There are also areas where the lining material has peeled away, as well as some excesses of fabric that haven’t been trimmed properly.

The exterior finish looks good from a distance, however the design has been poorly masked which gives an unfortunate indication as to the overall standard of Ruroc’s quality control, on this example at least.  

Is the Ruroc Eox good value for the money?

£459 certainly puts the Eox in the premium price bracket, and without the flaws it could go some way to justifying it. There’s no getting away from the negatives though, and at half the price I’d still walk away. It’s worth noting that Ruroc only offer a one-year warranty.

The closest competitor to the Ruroc Eox would be the Nexx X.WST3 Carbon below, which based on my experience of both brands, would be a far better buy. We can also recommend the Shoei NXR2 and HJC R-PHA 70…

So what’s the final verdict?

The Ruroc Eox has a strong look, but it’s riddled with flaws. Due to all the issues I’ve encountered, I couldn’t bring myself to recommend this helmet as is and certainly wouldn’t spend my own money on it. Everything points to a poor standard of quality control, which is a real shame because the team at Ruroc really do seem to believe in what they do.

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I discussed my findings with Ruroc’s Head of Design and Engineering Tom Savage, who was keen to stress that the helmet provided to us was a pre-production unit and not reflective of customer examples. This isn’t something that we can independently verify as yet, however he made the following points.

• The colour of internal plastic fixings has been changed from black to red so that operators can ensure they’re correctly installed
• Matched springs have been introduced to improve visor mechanism operation and prevent twisting
• Noise from the top vent was a known issue, and the part has since been modified
• The type of glue used to retain the EPS has been changed and there have been quality control improvements to ensure the inner shell has sufficient adhesive

Ruroc adds: “Many of the issues highlighted in Justin’s review were due to him being given an early pre-production sample. Most of these issues were rectified before the first production batch or addressed as rolling changes. This review is not reflective of what a customer would receive today when purchasing an EOX, as evidenced by our current average rating of 4.7 stars on Trustpilot for this helmet model.

“Our Head of Design and Engineering, Tom Savage, has noted several improvements since Justin’s test sample, including changes to the colour of internal plastic fixings for better installation accuracy, individually balanced springs to improve visor mechanism operation, modifications to reduce top vent noise, and enhanced adhesive quality control for the EPS.

“We acknowledge our mistake in providing Justin with a unit that wasn’t production-ready, driven by our desire to offer early access to the press. However, we are a young and innovative company built from a strong community of riders, and our direct-to-consumer business model allows us to receive immediate feedback. This enables us to be fast-paced, agile, and responsive in continually improving our products to meet and exceed our customers’ expectations.”

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