ICON Ultraflite Carbon MIPS Full face Helmet

The Ultraflite Carbon is ICON's full face helmet with a handcrafted carbon fibre shell and MIPS.

Hydradry liner lined with Ax Suede, quick change Ultrashield prepared for a Pinlock insert, and an internal sun visor. Certified to DOT FMVSS 218, ECE 22.06 and PSC, and upgradeable to the HelmLink unit.

What a Carbon Shell Actually Means

Carbon fibre combines high stiffness with low density. In practice that gives you a shell that spreads impact energy across a wider area at a lower weight.

One thing worth being clear about: carbon is not magic protection. Certification is the reference, and this helmet meets ECE 22.06, the current European standard covering oblique and rotational impact testing. Carbon gives you that same approval at a lighter weight, and that is the real value.

The visible woven pattern under the clear coat is the shell itself, not a printed film imitating carbon. You can check by looking at it from an angle: real weave shifts in brightness as the angle changes, because the fibres reflect light differently in each direction. Printed imitation stays flat.

Weight and Neck Fatigue

The helmet weighs around 1.78 kg.

You do not notice weight in the first ten minutes. You notice it after the second hour on the highway, in traffic where you turn your head dozens of times, and at long stops where your neck carries the load without airflow supporting the shell.

Lower weight also means less force pulling on your neck in an impact, which is straightforward mechanics.

If your riding is long distance or daily, this is the point that justifies the price difference over the polycarbonate Ultraflite Gloss Black.

The Ax Suede Liner and Caring for It

The Hydradry liner in this model is lined with Ax Suede, a soft material sitting directly against your cheeks and forehead.

The texture makes a real difference on long rides, particularly when you are sweating, because a smooth surface reduces friction on the skin.

Washing: the liner comes out completely. Hand wash in lukewarm water with mild soap, squeeze gently without wringing hard, and dry in shade. Direct sun stiffens suede fibres and costs you the softness.

Frequency: roughly every two weeks in summer. Sweat and dust build faster in this climate, and a clean liner wicks better.

Avoid: harsh detergents, bleach and tumble dryers.

Caring for the Carbon Weave and Clear Coat

The clear coat over the weave is what protects the fibres and gives the finish its depth. All the care comes down to protecting that layer.

Rinse before you wipe. Dust here is fine sand, and wiping it dry drags it across the clear coat and leaves swirl marks. Rinse with lukewarm water first, then dry with clean microfibre.

No solvents. Alcohol, fuel and harsh cleaners attack the clear coat and leave it dull. Lukewarm water and mild soap only.

UV: clear coat yellows slowly under long sun exposure. Storing the helmet in shade and inside the supplied soft bag slows this noticeably. Do not leave it on the seat or fuel tank in open sun.

Wax: the clear coat takes automotive wax made for it, which adds some UV protection. Never apply it to the shield.

Vision Options

The helmet gives you three layers of vision control.

Ultrashield: optically undistorted with an anti fog treatment, removed and refitted on a quick change system.

Internal DropshieldUltra: drops and retracts on a switch. ICON specifies using it with the outer shield fully closed.

Pinlock insert: the shield is prepared for one, sold separately. It fixes inside the shield and creates a sealed air gap, the most effective answer to fogging on early coastal mornings and when you stop after riding at speed.

Important: ECE 22.06 approval covers the helmet with an approved shield fitted. When buying a tinted or mirrored replacement, choose a genuine Ultrashield from our ICON helmet shields and accessories, or an equivalent approved to the same standard.

HelmLink Preparation

The helmet is upgradeable to ICON's HelmLink unit, built on SENA technology and integrating inside the shell rather than clamping outside. The unit is sold separately; browse our helmet Bluetooth communication systems.

The internal pockets take standard 40mm speakers with no cutting. Cutting into EPS reduces its ability to absorb impact in that area, so factory space for a device is a safety point rather than a convenience one.

Sizing and Ventilation

The outer shell comes in three sizes across the range, so the helmet matches your head externally as well as internally.

The Speedwing Supervent system runs four intakes and two exhausts with channels cut into the foam. Ventilation depends on movement and drops off naturally at long summer stops.

The helmet is built on an intermediate oval head shape, the same fit as the Domain Rubatone. When judging fit, go by the crown rather than the cheeks, because cheek pads compress within the first fifteen to twenty hours of riding.

Before You Buy

There are no dedicated glasses channels in the cheek pads. Thin framed glasses go in fine if you put the helmet on first and slide the arms in after. Thick arms will press on your temples.

The carbon weave sits under a clear coat and needs the attentive cleaning described above.

The Pinlock lens and HelmLink unit are both sold separately.