Canyon has launched a new range of high-end road helmets featuring HighBar’s rotary-dial operated chin strap.
According to the German brand, the new CFR helmets are faster, cooler and quieter than rival options, thanks to the HighBar retention system and shell shapes developed in partnership with Swiss Side.
The range consists of two helmets, the Disruptr CFR and Stingr CFR. The Disruptr is an all-rounder model, which balances ventilation, comfort and low weight, while the Stingr is a dedicated aero helmet.
Priced at £289.95 / €299.95, both helmets are claimed to weigh 275g in a size medium.
We’ve been testing one of the new lids ahead of the launch, so click through to read our Canyon Disruptr CFR helmet review, or keep reading for full details of the new range.
Setting a HighBar
The most notable aspect of Canyon’s new CFR helmets is their use of the HighBar retention system.
In place of traditional webbing straps and a buckle, the HighBar retention system employs flexible plastic arms paired with a rotary dial closure system.
According to HighBar, which developed this system independently of Canyon, it improves upon “century-old straps and buckles” by reducing the chance of poor setup.
As detailed in our how to wear a bike helmet guide, it’s critical to ensure the chin strap is correctly adjusted and tightened, so the helmet stays properly attached to your head in the event of a crash or incident.
With traditional webbing straps, this means adjusting the length, and potentially the fit around your ears too.
While this generally only needs to be done once, it’s fair to say not everyone gets it right.
Eric Horton, a product director at HighBar, says: “Peer-reviewed studies have shown loose straps can result in a 50 per cent decrease in head protection.”
Horton also points to examples of athletes from the WorldTour peloton to prove it’s not only amateur riders who get it wrong.
In contrast, HighBar says its retention system is much harder to set up incorrectly because it offers only one point of adjustment – tighter or looser – once the strap is rotated down beneath your chin.
Faster, cooler and quieter
As well as being safer, the HighBar system is claimed to offer tangible performance improvements compared to traditional webbing straps.
According to wind tunnel tests conducted in partnership with aero experts Swiss Side, the Stingr CFR helmet paired with the HighBar system is 7 watts more aerodynamically efficient at 50kph, compared to the same helmet with traditional webbing straps.
This is claimed to save a rider 16 seconds over 40km.
According to the brand, the reason for the gain is that traditional webbing straps flap in the wind at high speed, whereas the plastic arms of the HighBar system don’t.
Notably, this corroborates testing we performed with Swiss Side back in 2016. Among other things, we showed baggy helmet straps incurred a drag penalty of 4.4 watts at 45kph, compared to having them done up tight with a set of sunglasses worn with their arms outside the straps.
Canyon claims the HighBar system also brings benefits in terms of cooling and reduced wind noise.
Because the retention system is designed not to touch the rider’s skin, Canyon says its wind tunnel and CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) testing shows a reduction in surface temperature of 4.8ºC (40.6ºF) on areas where webbing straps would normally touch.
The brand doesn’t claim any specific increases in performance arising from this, however.
In terms of noise, Canyon claims the HighBar system helps reduce sound levels by 6 to 7.5 decibels, compared to conventional webbing straps, due to the lack of material flapping in the wind.
Canyon CFR helmets range and specification
The Canyon CFR range contains two helmets, the all-rounder Disruptr CFR and the aero-optimised Stingr CFR.
Both helmets are priced at £289.95 / €299.95 and are claimed to weigh 275g in a size medium. There are three sizes available: small, medium and large.
US pricing is yet to be confirmed because Canyon says the helmets won't be available there until later this year
The Disruptr CFR helmet is available in white, black or grey and includes a magnetic port at the rear, which can accept a Canyon rear light (available separately for £28.95 / €29.95).
The Stingr CFR is available in white or black.
As with its recently launched Tempr CFR shoe range, Canyon has opted to introduce its first helmets at its high-end ‘CFR’ level.
CFR, which stands for ‘Canyon Factory Racing’, is a label reserved for its flagship bikes and products.
Canyon says it designated these helmets as CFR products because they “are pushing the limits of performance”.
