Abus Pedelec 2.0 MIPS helmet review: An e-bike helmet for all seasons

The e-bike helmet market is awash with great options, with styles and models to suit all tastes and budgets. Brands vying for your custom range from Silicon Valley startups, fresh from their latest crowdfunding campaign, to wily old manufacturers who might remember when wheels were made of wood.

This Abus offering comes from a brand firmly in the latter camp. Despite not having the helmet heritage of Lazer or Bell, Abus have had skin in the cycling game for some time. Having started making padlocks back in 1924, founder August Bremicker quickly added a bike lock to the Abus catalogue a few years later.

Fast forward nearly 100 years and Bremicker’s brand is synonymous with cycle safety, whether that be keeping your bike safe from potential thieves, or keeping your head safe from potential collisions.

The Pedelec 2.0 MIPS is a thoroughly modern helmet that cements Abus firmly in the e-bike era. Complete with NTA 8776 certification (meaning it’s been tested to provide collision protection at higher speeds), the Pedelec ticks all the essential boxes whilst adding some great nice-to-haves.

This is far from a budget option, and there are competitors that do a similar job for a lot less cash, but on the whole the Abus goes a decent way to justifying the price tag.

I’ve been using it on both my pedal-assisted school run and on my old-fashioned (no battery) slog into the office. While the Pedelec positions itself as a lid for the battery-powered among us, if you also own a regular bike and want a do-it-all option, it’s worth knowing how the thing performs when you’re relying on leg-power alone.

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Design and aesthetics 

If you’ve been shopping around, you’ll have noticed that the majority of e-bike helmets have taken on quite an urban aesthetic. Often at the expense of ventilation (arguably less of a priority for the e-biker), many of the helmets on offer now feature a smoother dome without the contouring and airflow more commonly found on road or mountain bike lids.

The Pedelec 2.0 hasn’t fallen into that trap. The design here is much more akin to the traditional pedal bike helmets Abus has been designing since the '90s. OK, it’s not super streamlined, and due to the requirements of the NTA 8776 certification, the shell comes down lower behind the ears, but otherwise this has more of a road look than much of what’s on the market.

The overall design generally sways towards function over form. As well as getting decent vents rather than a street-style dome, you also get an in-built, fold-out rain cover. This anorak for your head (well, helmet) isn’t sexy, but it will keep the draft out of those vents when the weather turns.

As well as built-in rain protection, something else that might tick a box for you (it certainly does for me) is the lack of excess bulk. Compared to some of its peers, the Pedelec is definitely on the slimmer side. It also comes in well under 400g, which is lighter than many rivals.

When it comes to deciding on a colour, you’ve got three choices. None of them are going to win any awards for originality. Pictured and tested here, you have Signal Yellow (gloss). Alternative options are limited to Velvet Black or Silver Edition (both matte). Effectively, you’re choosing between lolly-pop-lady hi-vis, grey or black.

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Components and build

The Pedelec 2.0 is built in the conventional way. Abus uses an in-mould process, in which the expanded polystyrene (EPS) liner is foamed directly into the polycarbonate outer shell. This bonds the two together, which is a big part of why in-mould helmets feel solid while staying reasonably light.

The headline safety credential is NTA 8776. This is a Dutch standard written specifically for e-bike helmets, and it's more demanding than the EN 1078 standard every bike helmet sold in the UK is required to meet. Helmets that pass it have been drop-tested at higher impact speeds and have to cover more of the head, which explains that extended section towards the rear of this Abus.

Additional MIPS technology adds a thin plastic slip layer between the padding and the EPS. The idea is that it allows the helmet to rotate slightly relative to your head in an angled impact, reducing the rotational forces passed to the brain. It's a technology many riders now consider essential, and its absence from the standard model is worth bearing in mind if you're choosing between the two.

Weighing in 372g in a medium size, the Abus is lighter than a lot of its e-bike-orientated contemporaries. Given the abundance of features and extra coverage, that’s not bad going.

Fit is handled by Abus' Zoom Spin dial-adjust, which tightens a half-ring headband. The cradle is height-adjustable, so it not only provides a customisable degree of comfort, but it also creates an opening at the back to accommodate ponytails.

The straps get some thoughtful touches too. The webbing has reflective thread woven in, the dividers lock in place with a clamp, and it all fastens together with a magnetic buckle.

The front of the helmet has five large inlets which allow for plenty of airflow. They’re bigger than what you’ll find on most e-bike commuter lids, and they come with some bug mesh to help mitigate the chance of wildlife getting sucked into your helmet.

Then there are the commuter extras. The rear light is unfortunately a massive let down, with a measly 10-lumen output. Abus describe it as “especially bright”, but I found it to be pretty feeble. The brand claims it runs for at least three and a half hours on steady and eight hours on flash. It charges from flat in around an hour but uses the old-style Micro-USB.

Also at the rear of the helmet is the Pedelec’s true USP: the rain cap. It's a fabric cover stored in its own compartment, which you pull out and stretch over the shell and attach at the front using two small pegs. It has reflective panels of its own, and it's designed so the rear light stays visible when it's deployed. When it's not needed, it tucks back into the helmet, ready for the next downpour.

If you want even more, the Pedelec 2.0 ACE variant adds a flip-down visor and removable ear warmers. Abus also offers a winter kit as an optional extra for the standard model, which looks like it could be a welcome addition given the ample venting.

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Performance

A bike helmet can have all the bells and whistles you like, but if it’s uncomfortable, they’ll count for very little. The Pedelec 2.0 sat on the head very nicely, with a good amount of padding in all the right places. Too much padding ends up holding a lot of moisture on hot rides, so used sparingly and effectively is definitely my preference.

I’m usually sceptical of half-ring cradles, as I often find they are a recipe for pressure points and often leave a big red mark on the forehead, but this wasn’t the case with the Pedelec. The fit was good and it’s made all the better by being able to tweak the height of the dial adjuster at the rear. Some helmets opt for a limited range of settings here, but the Pedelec allows you to slide the dial up and down, giving you a good inch and a half of customisation. Good news for the ponytail’d out there, but also just a nice way to find your sweet spot.

The strap was easy to adjust, with the clamp fastener on the dividers allowing for optimum adjustment around the ears. The magnetic buckle was a great addition and a welcome upgrade to my regular pinch-and-clip model. I’m constantly having to remove my helmet with a combination of a child, a school bag and the weekly shop in one or more hands, so having a buckle that can be easily undone with one hand is a game changer. The Abus website states that they use a Fidlock buckle, mine came with what seemed to be an Abus own-brand version, but it worked just as well.

The light is unfortunately where the Pedelec comes a bit unstuck. While I would never rely solely on a rear helmet light when riding at night, they do add an extra dimension of visibility that can make the difference on the road. Having gone to the trouble of integrating one, it’s a shame that the Pedelec edition only omits 10 lumens. I’m pretty sure there is plankton that gives off a more eye-catching glow! The light has just two settings and charges using the old-style Micro-USB charging port.

Given that I was testing the Signal Yellow option, I felt as though the helmet was plenty visible enough without the light, so I didn’t let it sour my overall sentiment towards an otherwise decent bit of kit.

Where the Pedelec comes into its own is in its combination of extremely good ventilation and in-built rain cover. Having recently tested helmets such as the Lazer Verde, I appreciate that it’s difficult for manufacturers to find the line between letting air in and keeping water out. The Verde attempts to do this through clever engineering between the helmet’s shell and the EPD, but with limited success. The Pedelec does away with the need for clever engineering and instead opts for the best of both worlds: enough ventilation to keep you cool on my 40-minute pedal-powered commute, with the rain cap coming into play when the winds got up and the temperature dropped. A simple but extremely effective solution.

While the rain cap might not immediately appeal to the image-conscious, for anyone who has walked into a 9 am meeting having just been drenched in puddle water by a passing double-decker bus, you might want to reconsider. Unlike closable vents, which you’ll find on e-bike lids like Abus’ own Hyp-E, the rain cap still allows for some breathability, so it’s a nice middle ground. The cap easily attaches to two small pegs on the brow of the helmet. Getting the cap back into the compartment brought on mild PTSD from packing up tents in the rain and isn’t something you want to do in a hurry, but otherwise I’m a big fan.

Thankfully, I did not have to put the Pedelec’s safety credentials to the test, but I felt pretty secure in the knowledge I was in good hands. Coming complete with the holy trinity of NTA 8776 certification, Virginia Labs score and MIPS technology, the Pedelec not only feels like a robust unit, but it has the paperwork to prove it.

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Value

The Pedelec 2.0 MIPS has a recommended retail price of £190, although you’ll find it available for less. Although even with 20 per cent off, it’s still towards the top end of the market.

For your money, you get NTA 8776 certification, an integrated light and a magnetic buckle. These are some of the criteria you should expect when looking at this price bracket. You also get good ventilation that pairs with a rain cover for colder/wetter days.

There are a couple of areas where the Pedelec 2.0 is starting to look a little dated, though. The light is modest at 10 lumens and still charges via Micro-USB.

If the e-bike certification is your priority and you can live without the rain cover, there are some cheaper options. The Lazer Verde KinetiCore costs £99, is NTA 8776 certified and scores four out of five from Virginia Tech. It's also made largely from recycled materials. On the flip side, there's no integrated light, the ventilation is limited, and it's on the heavy side at 481g.

The Giro Camden MIPS is perhaps the most direct rival. It combines NTA 8776 certification, MIPS and a large built-in rear light, as well as vents that can be closed in bad weather, for around £120. The Bern Hudson ticks similar boxes for just over £100, although its light clicks in rather than being integrated.

The real bargain is the Specialized Mode, which adds MIPS and NTA 8776 certification to one of the highest Virginia Tech ratings around, at a budget price. You'll need to buy a light separately though.

If you're prepared to spend Pedelec money or a little more, there are a few helmets that arguably offer more. The Smith Dispatch MIPS costs £155 and pairs MIPS with Koroyd, NTA 8776 certification, a Fidlock buckle and an included rear light. It also has clever vents that help stop glasses steaming up.

Abus's own HYP-E has an RRP of £175 and adds front and rear lights, indicators and a remote to the NTA 8776 certification, making it a good option if visibility is your top priority.

Verdict

The Pedelec 2.0 makes a nice change to a lot of what currently dominates the e-bike helmet market. It’s quite old-school in allowing plenty of airflow and not opting for a skate-park aesthetic. However, when you get past the look, the Pedelec can go toe-to-toe with any of its contemporaries.

For starters, it’s about as safe as they come. Although it would be nice to see full marks from Virginia Tech, four out of five is very respectable, and that score is backed up by an NTA 8776 certificate and use of MIPS.

The light is the one component that lets the Pedelec down, and it’s a shame you’re not getting more brightness for your bucks. For me, lighting comes quite a long way down the list of priorities when shopping for a helmet, and is by no means a must-have.

At £190, it’s right up there with the top-end models, and if in-built visibility is important to you, there are better-illuminated options for the money.

However, if you’re looking for a helmet that can cope with a range of rides, the Pedelec is a strong choice. Having used this on both e-bike and pedal-powered rides, towards the tail end of an Indian summer, where the weather ranged from sweltering to bone-chilling, the Pedelec kept me cool when required but also gave the option of battening down the hatches if needed.