REVIEW
ABUS YouDrop Full Face Helmet
Grams vs. Tech
ABUS's YouDrop lids for kids are relatively simple by current standards; there is no fancy licensed technology to manage rotational impacts (or to create noise and reduce breathability). It's just 422 grams of plastic and EPS foam in-moulded to create a lightweight full face at a reasonable 200 CAD.
My grom immediately noticed the feathery weight. The ABUS drops a full 296 grams compared to her Bell Super 3R MIPS. At the same time, she felt a bump up in breathability and comfort. Over the last seven months, she's only worn her other full face for night rides, and she's asked if we can rig a light up to her ABUS for the coming fall and winter.
Full confidence in a lightweight package.
Fresh Trail-Gnome-Penny sticker by @RideRitual.
The YouDrop has witnessed a lot of riding progression this year.
When I first checked in about the ABUS YouDrop Full Face, I wasn't certain about a couple of things. First of all, were the weight savings worth the theoretical decrease in safety features? In the battle of MIPS or Grams, which would you choose? For my grom, the weight savings and comfort increase on longer rides make the ABUS the clear winner.
Though I don't have any science to back it up, my feelings align with hers. She weighs a little over 60 pounds which, speed aside, is a huge difference in momentum hitting the ground compared to the adult mass the Bell Super 3R is up against. I'm confident in the kid-capable protection of the ABUS and that the significant weight savings are a solid win.
Thumbs up for big-day comfort…
…hike-a-bike adventures…
…after school forest chats…
…and making the most of springtime Pro-D days.
The other unanswered question was how the venting would compare on warmer rides that we had managed to bag in the early months of '23. Here again, Claire gives a solid thumbs up to the ABUS. Clearly the passive venting works for her.
We did remove the chin bar for long gravel climbs but, with rare exceptions, it is always on when we're trail riding. For the record this goes the same for me and my Kali Invader 2.0, even on some of the most intense local climbs.
No problem drinking water or eating a strawberry turnover without removing the chin bar.
WTF? A bicycle helmet that actually weighs less than claimed (440 grams).
We mainly removed the chin bar for gravel climbs on the hottest days. The mechanism has proven solid.
I was suspicious, but the velcro visor mounting has held up perfectly after many rainy rides and a few diggers.
In my own little feedback loop of grom riders, the ABUS YouDrop Full Face lords over all other lids. Claire and I regularly ride with three other kids that wear them, and I find myself recommending them to other parents at least once a week. Every shop in town should have a couple of colours of this lid on the wall.
For my daughter, it wins on weight, fit, and breathability. Money is still an abstract concept to her but the fact that it does all that for 200 CAD - significantly less scratch than the other full-face kid-lids I see - makes it even better. Lighter on your grom's head and lighter on your wallet.
The ABUS YouDrop kids' full face comes in black, blue, grey, or sage green and fits kids with 48-55cm noggins. As always, I recommend trying on a helmet before buying, if you can. For more information, check it out at ABUS.
Cooper Interjects
This piece was timely for me. About a month ago I transitioned from "I don't think toddlers need full-face helmets" to "good lord, my kid needs a full-face helmet immediately." How does such an abrupt 180 happen, you ask? Well, your kid drops in from the gate start at the BMX track, and then later that day you look down at your Hammerhead and see he's cruising downhill at 28 km/h. Yeesh, don't tell mom.
Two days later, I bought a blue YouDrop FF. My initial impressions of the Abus were good - it's impressively lightweight, the velcro'd visor is a nice touch, lots of size adjustment, and the chin bar is well located to be out of the way but still protective. While convertibility wasn't something I'd immediately thought of as a desirable feature, I'm glad to have it; there are a lot of situations in which he doesn't need a chin bar (in the trailer, puttering around the lawn, on the MacRide to daycare...).
Dropping in with the big kids now. It's a bit scary to watch, but he's confident as can be. I installed the brake on his Kids Ride Shotgun Dirt Hero shortly after the first review went up. I'll have updated thoughts on the bike later, but it's still all positive. Photo: Cooper Quinn
A's first impressions involved a few more tears (as is often the case with new things), but he is now very stoked to put on the chin bar and tear around at speeds and on features that are already making me nervous. I'm concerned about what year three holds for me, as a dad.
Overall, I'd say A and I would echo all the other things Andrew and Claire said above, and I'd happily recommend this helmet to others. Now, how do I convince him to use that brake a bit more often...
Abus Youdrop Helmet available locally and online at Obsession Bikes for 200 CAD and in the US for 135 USD
Height - Steve Buscemi-ish
Wait - Patiently
Ape Index - T-Rex
Age - The same as DOS
Favourite Trail(s) every week - Pipeline (thank you Ken!) to Lower Crippler (thank you Andy!)
Favourite Song(s) this week - I'm Your Man. Nick Cave (covering Leonard Cohen)
Favourite Colour - Cosmic Lilac
Bar Width - It depends
Reach & Stack & ETT - It depends
Crank Length - 175mm except when it's 170mm
Wheel Size - Hot For Mullets
Comments
Wapti
2 months, 3 weeks ago
Seeing the next generation sending it always warms my cold, dead heart.
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Andrew Major
2 months, 3 weeks ago
"...always warms my cold, dead heart"
So, you work in a bike shop too?
(Kidding, kidding)
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Wapti
2 months, 3 weeks ago
worse, law
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Andrew Major
2 months, 3 weeks ago
I’ve learned the hard way not to follow this comment up with “well, at least you don’t practice X-type of law” (invariably whatever X is, you do).
I do though often wonder how the joke became about dentist bikes instead of lawyer bikes. In my experience the lawyers always have more interesting rigs (and more them).
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Wapti
2 months, 2 weeks ago
Lawyers don't poke your gums with sharp instruments.
Usually.
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BarryW
2 months, 3 weeks ago
Great review as always guys.
Gonna recommend this one for some of my little nieces and nephews.
Maybe uncle Barry has some new birthday gift ideas.
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Andrew Major
2 months, 3 weeks ago
Thank you, Barry,
They're multiplying. In the last month Claire's ridden with three other kids who have one, and they're all impressed with the fit and lightweight. I've seen others on the trail, and I know of a couple of other local shops planning to have inventory.
I'll be surprised if these aren't popping up in shops everywhere that have technical terrain, so it should be easy enough for Uncle B. to check one out in person.
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BarryW
2 months, 3 weeks ago
I have a severe shortage of any good shops near me, but maybe if I drive an hour I can find one to touch.
It's a long term gripe. We have a local shop, but since it just got bought out by Trek I had some hopes it would be better than the hot garbage it has been. But so far no, they lied and told my brother he would need $500 worth of specific tools to do a seal service on his old Suntour fork, and you couldn't get the parts.
We did it with the easily available kit and no expensive tools.
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Andrew Major
2 months, 3 weeks ago
Out of curiosity, what model was SR Suntour was it?
Turning wrenches in a shop, SR forks fall into two categories. I'll generally only open the higher-end ones (Durolux, Rux, Auron, Aion, Axon, Zeron, Raidon) even for a basic service because if there is something wrong inside there is ready-enough availability of small parts and there are suspension-specific outfits I can send them too.
With the lower-end stuff, the potential pitfalls and headaches vs. the money (and difference) you can make dropping the lowers just doesn't add up. BUT, if the fork feels like unrideable sh*t anyways and you want to tackle it I'm always happy to offer encouragement. I've dropped the lowers on a number of them myself as part of getting the most out of basic hardtails I've reviewed like the Growler 20 and Marin SQ1 so I can share that experience.
I guess what I'm saying more broadly, is this is an excellent example of where communication is key. The shop could have easily delivered the message that, for good reasons, they don't offer service on basic SR products and that they could sell your brother a compatible new fork for $500, which I'd say is clearly what they were attempting to do.
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BarryW
2 months, 3 weeks ago
Aion.
Yeah, them saying they don't want to work on it is perfectly fine. But saying it isn't possible when all it needed was cleaning, new wiper seals and the new air shaft seal, and no special tools feels like some kind of nonsense from them.
But I hear you on the point that communication can be an issue.
As for your other points about making that thing I see missing, it's not the first time that has been said. My wife says it fairly regularly, haha.
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Andrew Major
2 months, 3 weeks ago
Yeah, with the Aion that's just silly. Even if a shop doesn't feel they have the expertise to do a full service - many shops won't just do a basic lower/seal service if the fork really needs a full 100hr teardown - they could easily offer to send that off for you. There are a number of B2B options.
If you ever need the next level, there are multiple options in the USA that are great to deal with like Envelo in Wisconsin and SR Suntour North America in Ridgefield, Washington. Up here in Canada, SuspensionWerx services and supports SR products.
------
That's funny, most folks' partners tell them the opposite fairly regularly, haha.
BarryW
2 months, 3 weeks ago
The big issue wasn't that they didn't want to service it, but telling him he couldn't/shouldn't do it.
Especially as Trek recently announced they would be doing in-house servicing for all suspension it seemed like a 'fuck off' answer more than anything.
And yeah, my wife is awesome like that.
Andrew Major
2 months, 3 weeks ago
"I have a severe shortage of any good shops near me"
When I see this comment I always like to plug Rob and the team at Cycology Bikes in CastleGNAR. Not because you live in Castlegar, and not even because I've ever stepped foot in the store, but because of something it represents.
I knew Rob as a customer, and when he moved to Castlegar the lack of a bike shop was not just a business opportunity but a missing nexus point for the community. It's the only shop I know that shouts out local trail builders and shop ambassadors on their web page.
.
I'm not saying you should open Barry's Bikes. But, if it’s something missing it’s not that hard to get basic accounts and set up part time helping folks.
If you already have most the tools you need to sort most things out there are professional outfits specializing in full-on suspension services and wheels if you need the support. For example, check out Sean Lerner's shop in Eastern Oregon which also does B2B sales.
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Jerry Willows
2 months, 3 weeks ago
That's a class act of a bike shop.... no diggers no trails.
Castlegar has such a small population and look at how many diggers there are.
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Andrew Major
2 months, 3 weeks ago
It’s neat to see the focus. Cycology is a for profit business of course - selling and servicing bikes - but they’re also crying to be a community hub. Really doesn’t cost much to say thanks and give credit where it’s due and I know they kick money back as well.
Cooper Quinn
2 months, 3 weeks ago
Me: 🍻
Nephews:🎂🎉🎁
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Andrew Major
2 months, 3 weeks ago
Cake is pretty hard to eat with the chin bar on?! You don't have a strawberry turnover emoji?
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chacou
2 months, 3 weeks ago
Great review and after we had a 7 y/o girl knock out two front teeth (thankfully, already loose baby teeth) at our Monday evening "Jr. MTB Team" club ride, I'll be recommending this one to every parent. Good weight, good price. I was skeptical of ABUS (due to politics and some hearsay) but putting all that aside this looks great. Way more affordable than my kids' Bell Super Air R.
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Andrew Major
2 months, 3 weeks ago
Cheers!
“Ahhhhhh No!” to losing teeth. Even baby teeth.
Compared to the Bell. More affordable and much lighter. It’s interesting how much different the Super Air fits compared to the 3R as well. I know a bunch of kids who have worn/currently wear the small 3R, including Claire, who are swimming in the same size of Super Air.
———
“I was skeptical of ABUS (due to politics and some hearsay)”
This comes up everywhere every time I write about this lid. I’ve even had some folks come after me quite aggressively about what a dis-service I’m doing women riders in general and my daughter specifically.
Just for housekeeping, I’ll copy paste the statements from ABUS from my first piece on this lid below.
———
Here’s the reply I received from my contact at ABUS (italics) and their official statement (below):
“We are aware of this issue as it has come up in other online forums. Below is our statement about the concerns and how ABUS is run today. Personally, I can tell you that ABUS is a great company to work for and treats every employee, no matter their sex or religious beliefs, with respect and allows for advancement within the company.”
“What was mentioned on Wikipedia and the article written about a family member had to do with how the company was run decades ago, by previous generations. ABUS is a 99 year old, family owned and operated company, now in its fifth generation of leadership. Board seats are passed down from generation to generation, and we believe future generations of the board of directors will look much different as new generations join the company. ABUS has women in management positions around the globe, from General Managers of factories to Product Managers responsible for designing and engineering our helmets and locks.”
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chacou
2 months, 3 weeks ago
That's interesting about the fit differences considering Bell lists both size Small as being for 52 - 56cm circumference head. My 7 and 9 are both in the size Small Super Air R Spherical and the fit is really good on them, they're both about 53cm circumference head. My son never removes the chin bar and my daughter never rides with it (she's not nearly as into riding as her little brother though) :shrug:
You shared that with me previously, re: the "politics" of ABUS. I recall seeing an explanation from Yoann about ABUS as well a while back when he picked them up as a sponsor. The helmets look good and that price and weight are tough to beat.
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Andrew Major
2 months, 3 weeks ago
Yeah, the fit thing is weird and why I always suggest shoes and helmets as two things you really want to dry on if you can. The helmet fit isn’t even close, especially in the chin bar, which you wouldn’t get from a sizing chart.
I’m sure they fit some folks really well - fit being so personal - just not my people.
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XXX_er
2 months, 3 weeks ago
when I was filling in at a shop I sold half a doz full face helmets for xmas to parents by pointing out it was cheap insurance for that 6000$ orthodontic bill, it seemed yo be a good sales ploy
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Andrew Major
2 months, 3 weeks ago
100%. I have a friend who knocked out a few teeth (and smashed his face up) last year on a totally benign section of a trail he’s ridden an infinite number of times. Never mind the ‘discomfort’ the expense in terms of replacement chompers and missed work was huge.
I’ve been wearing a full face all the time for a few years now and it was a big reinforcement for me. Crazy to think of all the friends I have who used to wear one crashing slowly on hardtails but don’t wear one with the speeds Enduro rigs can go.
I can’t afford to replace teeth, so a bit of extra warmth on a hot day, and reinforcing my status as beyond-not-cool.
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XXX_er
2 months, 3 weeks ago
back in the day i was riding a motocross bike on the trails around bby mtn golf course, I went over the bars got knocked out and I had a black rubber knobby print over my helmet,
Messed up neck & back but no damage to teeth or face and the expanded foam in the chin bar was compressed from 1" to 1/2"
dodged a bullet that time
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Andrew Major
2 months, 3 weeks ago
There are no certainties, but when I retired my Leatt DBX 3 full face it had gouges from a few terrain ‘kisses’ I was glad to have not experienced skin-to-rock.
I don’t have to what-if because I wear the full face any way, but why take the chance when I’m just a recreational rider (not racing XC or anything).
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earle.b
2 months, 3 weeks ago
We picked up a Leatt Enduro 2.0 Junior for our 6 year old daredevil. He loves being able to put on and take off the chin bar and he tells me he can send anything now that he has a full face. We watches a video of Wild Cherry and he'll frequently tell me he could ride most of it now that he has a full face (while actually walking many sections on Kirkford). Don't underestimate the increased courage that comes with a full face on kids.
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Andrew Major
2 months, 3 weeks ago
Interesting, I don’t have a frame of reference as Claire’s been wearing one since we really started mountain biking. Over confidence, I think, is still better than losing teeth.
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Foxone
2 months, 2 weeks ago
I purchased one for my 4 year old daughter, she picked up pace on the local pump track, and I was getting scared !
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Andrew Major
2 months, 2 weeks ago
I’ll still take chin bar bravery boosting over no chin bar :)
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