Talking the Torc I

New issue, new helmets: indeed, a new manufacturer in Torc, an American brand from H&H Sports Protection and now distributed on these shores by Custom Chrome Europe.

An impressive range of helmets, they’re focusing on two for now, the classic Bell-like T1 and the M50.

TORC T-1 Retro Full Face Helmet

Uncharacteristically, we’re going to start with the T-1 Retro Full Face for a couple of reasons: stylistically, it is still uncommon and in-vogue at the same time. And it conforms to both ECE 22.05 and DOT regs.

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Styled after the first full face helmets, with a huge opening and a thin chinguard, it conjures up a cool time in motorcycling history and is the next best thing to an open face helmet, if it fits you – which I say because I am aware of folk who have struggled with this style of helmet but not this specific brand.

Available in a range of graphic styles all their own, they have additional styling features in their moulding to further differentiate them from similar designs, and a very competitive price.

All are vented with externally accessed, switchable mesh-protected front vents in the chinguard and exhaust vents behind the crown at the rear, have anti-fog and anti-scratch visors, and removable premium faux suede liners. All are fastened by D-ring buckles, which guarantees a tight fastening.

Designed as a close-fitting helmet, you don’t get an in-helmet sunshield but you have a choice of four visors from clear to ‘chrome mirror’.

TORC T-1

T-1 Visors

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TORC T-50 Open Face Helmet

Slightly more contentious, for reasons of not being EU Compliant, and we can only assume that certification is in process, is the new M-50: a 5-stud Jet – aka 3⁄4 or open-face – helmet with an ultra-low-profile shell.

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Currently certified DOT only, it has an ABS outer shell, faux suede liner – the cheek pads are removable for freshening-up – and it’s secured by a D-ring buckle.

Again, designs rather than colours, and they tread a nice line behind the fashionable seventies retro and dark custom – even the mega flake colours are toned-down hues … well, except for the Bubblegum.

TORC T-50C

The T-50C barely warrants a description of its own, other than that the table of part numbers was getting crowded. In this case, the C stands for Classic, and Classic stands for Flat Black or Gloss Black.

The lining is described purely as black and is not removable but it’s still the 5-stud Jet outer and is still only certified as DOT.

TORC T-50 Accessorieshttps://www.debra.org.uk/what-is-eb/what-is-eb

What definitely does warrant a new section are the bolt-on – well, pop-on – accessories for the Jet helmets, but only because they fit both the T-50 and T-50C, and because we need something to hang the pictures off.

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All the visors are 3-stud bubble visors, from clear to anonymous, with further anonymity assured behind a full mask if you like the Mad Max vibe: this last item is secured by a strap rather than the studs and fill the whole opening, and apparently completely