Roof Boxxer and Boxxer Carbon Review: a cool-looking fibreglass/carbon flip-up helmet.
The Roof Boxxer (sometimes called the Boxxer 9 or Boxxer carbon) is the long-awaited addition to the Roof helmets family, taking their classic Boxer V8 and updating it slightly to make it a more user-friendly helmet while still keeping those iconic Boxer looks.
And like the old Boxer V8 – and the Roof Desmo for that matter – the Boxxer is a flip-front helmet where the chin guard flips right to the back of the helmet to give you a true open face helmet feel.
While the old Boxer V8 still looks cool, with the launch of the Boxxer, Roof has uprated a few of the features that might put off buyers. They’ve simplified the old chin bar opening mechanism (a bit), uprated the chin vents and introduced an adjustable comfort liner. And the styling and aero’s been tweeked to bring it a little more up to date.
So, if you’re thinking of buying a Roof Boxxer, here’s all the info you need to know.
- Modular helmet
- Fibreglass and fibre/carbon versions
- Fully rotating chin bar
- Dual homologated
- Micrometric fastener
- Weighs 1.55-1.6Kg
- Sizes XS-XXL
- 3 year warranty
- Expect to pay:
- £270-£340 fibreglass
- £350-£450 carbon
Best places to buy a Roof Boxxer?
Please click below to visit the Roof Boxxer helmets pages at our recommended stores. And if you buy from one, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).
Overall/Summary
French helmet maker, Roof, has been making Boxer style helmets for over ten years now and the Boxxer and Boxxer Carbon is the latest version.
It’s got heaps of distinctive style, is usefully dual-homologated with a chin bar that flips over to the back of the helmet so you can ride like an open face, or pull it down to convert into a full face when you need a bit more protection.
And most owners seem to love their Boxxers. They reckon it’s really well built, very comfortable and find it light weight for a modular.
It’s a little bit of a quirky helmet, with two separate opening latches for the chin bar and a large visor opened by a tab at the top: and no Pinlock anti fog available which is a shame (though the visor’s anti-fog treated).
So, if you’re after a helmet that’s a little different and converts easily from a full face to an open face (and being legal to use as an openface – not all modulars are) then the Roof Boxxer is a well liked, great performing modular helmet.
For tested alternatives to the Roof Boxxer, check out our suggestions at the bottom of the page. Or to buy, click through to our recommended shops above.
Safety
(more about helmet safety)
The Roof Boxxer is ECE certified which means it’s been taken through (and passed) a rigorous bunch of certification tests including a whole range of impact tests. But that goes for all helmets on sale in Europe.
Outside of ECE testing, the Boxxer hasn’t been independently tested. But looking at SHARP test data for Roof helmets, they’ve tested four fibreglass Roofs (Rooves?) and they’ve scored an average of 3.5/5. Which is an OK score. The old Roof Boxer V8 scored 4/5 which is good.
So, if we had to, we’d guess that the Boxxer will score a similar kind of figure for safety.
We’d hope that the chin bar score would be higher with the Boxxer than the Boxer V8 though. During testing that came unlocked 43% of the time which is obviously really poor.
Having said that, when they tested the more recent Desmo, its chin bar stayed locked during 97% of impact tests which is much better – meaning it came unlocked (but not necessarily open) in only one of the tests.
The Boxxer has a new latch mechanism on it though so hopefully it’s upgraded and improved. It’s simpler than the old, slightly weird, press-stud type system. But again, we’ve no data to show whether it’s safter too.
If you’re buying a modular because you like the idea of riding with it in open-face config, then the Boxxer’s chin guard is ideal because, unlike many modulars, you can push it right round to the back of the helmet to get it right out of the way.
It’s become a bit of a signature feature of Roof modulars – though you can buy Shark Evo One 2 and LS2 Valiant flip-up lids that do the same.
Some modular helmets aren’t legal to ride with the chin bar raised, but the Boxxer is. That’s because it’s been tested and approved by ECE – what’s called dual homologation or P/J homologated.
Not that it’s very likely you’ll get nicked if you ride with your chin bar up in any other modular, but it’s kinda good to know that your modular has been tested to work in both configurations.
Plus, while having that chin bar round the back can make your helmet feel a bit strangely weighted, having it out of the way at the front of the helmet does give a much better open face riding experience.
We’d expect protection levels to be solid enough on the Boxxer. But if you’re wanting a proven safe modular, you can always check out our Safest Modular Helmets page.
Helmet Noise
(more about helmet noise)
Like both the Roof Desmo and old Boxer V8, the Roof Boxxer is generally rated as about average for noise.
Modulars tend to be louder than full face helmets of course, but reading through online owner opinions, people seem to find it either pretty noisy or reasonably quiet. So I guess if you ride steadily behind a screen with the chin bar down and wearing ear plugs, you’ll probably find it quiet. Not so much if you ride a blade at full tilt!
All in all, probably don’t expect it to be super quiet and hopefully you’ll be pleased. And always stick in some decent ear plugs and it should be totally fine.
Helmet Shell and Padding
The Roof Boxxer is available in both fibreglass and carbon versions. Actually, the carbon Boxxer still uses fibreglass in its construction but with a layer of carbon over the top.
That carbon-composite makes the carbon version a tad lighter – but only around 50g lighter – and it also helps slightly with safety, with lighter helmets imparting smaller inertial forces on the head during an impact. Though obviously, in the case of the carbon Boxxer, it’s is very marginal.
Inside the Boxxer, there’s a dual density polystyrene shock absorbing liner, and the helmet’s secured in place using a strap that’s secured to the helmet in four places and uses a micrometric fastener to keep it locked.
Even though strap strength and helmet retention (the resistance to the helmet pulling off the head during an impact) is tested during ECE testing, that four point anchor is potentially a good addition to safety.
Visor Safety
There’s a large visor on the Boxxer to give decent vision. And while it does have Roof’s own anti-fog treatment to prevent misting, there isn’t a Pinlock system available should you need one. That visor’s just so curved, I guess they’ve struggled to develop one that works with Roof helmets, which is a shame.
Ventilation
(more about helmet ventilation)
In the chin bar, there are two vents that take air onto the back of the visor, plus another couple that vent towards the face. They’re both opened/closed by a small plastic slider that can be fiddly to operate in gloves.
Those two smaller chin vents to either side of the chin bar are actually exhaust vents to help improve circulation around the face. Again, it’s closable, so you can shut off all the face venting if you need to.
Up top, there’s a single central air vent that takes air through to grooves inside the helmet to cool things down inside. That’s operated by a single large slider behind the vent.
According to several Boxxer owners, venting generally works well. And of course, if you do need more air, you can always push up the chin bar for some serious levels of ventiation!
Visor
(more about visors)
The visor on the Boxxer is a reasonably basic affair. It’s not a quick change visor, it doesn’t work on a ratchet and it’s not Pinlock ready. All of which may or may not be a problem for you.
It’s also got a single central opening tab at the top of the visor. Having it central is good because it means you can open the visor with either hand which can be really useful. But having it at the top of the visor is unusual and can take a bit of getting used to because most visor tabs are at the bottom.
A couple of useful links…
– All our Roof helmet reviews –
– Our Top 10 modular helmets list –
The visor automatically raises when you push up the chin bar, which is a useful feature. And while it’s antifog treated, not all antifog treatments are great and there’s no Pinlock or other antifog insert available for the Boxxer.
Having said that, several owners said they found the antifog worked well on their Boxxers – though expect it to still fog during more severe rainy or cold weather.
Note that if you buy a Boxxer, some are supplied with a clear visor while other sellers will supply a tinted visor. Generally, UK vendors will sell with a clear visor but it’s worth checking the small print before you buy.
If you get a clear visor and want a tinted visor as well, you can buy tinted replacement visors for the Boxxer, but swapping them out is less easy than helmets with quick release systems because you’ll have to wield allen keys and fiddle around a bit. It’s also a bit tricker to wash after a ride too because it’s so curved and sits quite close to the helmet shell.
Overall though, Boxxer owners do rate the visor. It’s quirky and a bit fiddly but generally works well and gives a nice wide and clear view of the road.
Chin Guard
(more about chin guards)
Roof has upgraded the chin bar on the Boxxer from the old Boxxer V8.
Most chin bars on modulars can be opened either buy pressing a single button or a single two-button combo. The Boxxer is different in that you have to push a separate opening tab on either side of the helmet before the chin bar unlocks.
It can still be done by one hand because you can unlock one side then the other sequentially before pushing up the chin bar, but it’s not the most convenient system in the world.
We’re not sure how securely locked the chin bar on the Boxxer will be either. The Roof Desmo improved on the chin bar lock on the Boxer V8 (which scored pretty badly) because SHARP recorded that stayed locked an excellent 97% of the time during impact testing. So hopefully the Boxxer will be thereabouts too.
According to Roof Boxxer owners, the operation of the chin bar is generally well liked. Once you get the hang of the two catches its easy to use and it’s a simple action to push the bar up and slide it right over to the top of the helmet where it’ll sit conveniently out of the way.
Pushing the bar upwards will also open the visor to make sure it’s well out of the way too when the chin guard swings up.
To close the chin bar, it’s just a matter of firmly pulling the bar down where it’ll auto-lock in place.
Comfort and Sizing
(more about comfort and sizing)
Inside the Boxxer is a fully removable and washable comfort liner that’s also also antibacterial to keep it smelling better for longer. There are also adjustable pads inside to help tailor the fit.
It’s available in sizes XS-XXL. Check our fitment guide on how to measure your head to ensure you buy the right size helmet.
Owners mostly reckon the sizing’s spot on and even though Boxxers aren’t really very light (not compared to full face helmets anyway), many owners find them particularly comfortable and light weight to wear.
All in all, there’s no reported problems with comfort in the Boxxer.
Looks & Graphics
There’s a few classy and understated designs if you’re looking to buy a carbon Boxxer – called the Uni they all nicely show off that carbon fibre weave too.
If you’re ok with a fibreglass Boxxer, there’s a wide range of different colourways and designs, including the Fuzo in green, red or orange; harlequin style Faces or solid ‘Mono’ red, white or graphite.
Please click our recommended retailers below to see the latest designs and deals: we only recommend stores with great online reputations and service.
Best places to buy a Roof Boxxer helmet?
Please click below to visit the Roof Boxxer helmets pages at our recommended stores. And if you buy from one, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).
Roof Boxxer Video
Here’s the Boxxer launch video from Roof.
Other stuff – audio, weight, glasses, warranty
There are speaker pockets inside the liner of the Boxxer so you should be ok with a bluetooth kit as long as the speakers aren’t too deep.
While modulars are generally heavier than full face helmets, the Roof boxxer is actually quite light for a modular. The full carbon version is around 1.55Kgs while the fibreglass shaves a few grammes off at around 1.6Kg – both comfortably inside the typical modular helmet weight of 1.7Kg.
If you wear glasses, the good news is that Roof has designed the interior to work with glasses’ stems, so it should be ok for you.
Check our helmets that are great for glasses pages if that’s particularly important for you.
The Roof Boxxer should come with a 3 year manufacturer’s warranty.
Great Alternatives to the Roof Boxxer?
Tricky one this – depends whether you’re buying it because it looks cool, because you want a quality modular or because you want a modular with a chin bar that wraps over to the back.
If you want a dual homologated modular where the chin bar pushes right round to the rear of the helmet, take a look at the SHARP 4 star safety rated Shark Evo-One 2.
For another 4 star rated modular that’ll work great with a sportier bike, hop on over to our AGV Sport Modular review.
If you like the style of the Boxxer and don’t really mind if you wear a modular or not, check out the 4 star safety rated Simpson Venom. Works great on a sportsbike too (I bought one to use on my ZZR).
Or if you want the safest modular on the market, the original Caberg Duke scored 5 stars for safety and it’s now been updated as the Caberg Duke II. It’s a cheap helmet too.
Best places to buy a Roof Boxxer?
Please click below to visit the Roof Boxxer helmets pages at our recommended stores. And if you buy from one, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).
Other ways to find the Best Modular Helmet
If you're after a new modular/flip-up helmet, they've never been more popular and there's a ton of choice out there. You can find our latest top 10 modular helmets list here or check out all our modular helmet reviews here. You can also visit our Safest Modular Helmets page or our smart filters page where you can click the flip-up/modular check box then choose a few other features to find the best flip-up helmet for you.