Two for one: open-face on the climbs, full-face on the descents. The ABUS Targon combines two helmets in one, making it a strong choice for riders who don’t want to compromise. We put the latest addition to the ABUS range through its paces on long enduro rides and in the bike park to find out how it performs.

ABUS Targon MIPS | Weight: 527 g (open-face), 1,007 g (full-face), size L | €349.99
Ash Purple | Manufacturer’s website

ABUS outgrew their lock-maker reputation years ago, steadily building a credible presence in the helmet market. Alongside their existing full-face, lightweight full-face and open-face models, the brand are now entering the convertible full-face category. The ABUS Targon promises true versatility thanks to its removable chin bar, which attaches to the open-face shell in a single motion using the mechanical Speedlatch system. With the chin bar fitted, the Targon meets the ASTM F1952-22 downhill helmet standard, including chin bar impact testing. That puts it among the few convertible helmets with full DH certification.

The Targon makes a strong first impression, with build quality that holds up to close inspection. Panel gaps, padding and the chin bar mechanism all feel premium and well engineered, and throughout the test period we found no cause for concern. At 527 g in size L, the open-face configuration sits towards the heavier end of the spectrum. With the chin bar fitted, the helmet tips the scales at around 1,000 g, which puts it firmly in the territory of dedicated full-face helmets such as the Sweet Protection Fixer 2Vi. By comparison, the lightweight full-face helmets in our group test averaged around 830 g.

MIPS has become standard fare at this price point, and the Targon is no exception. In the MIPS version, the ABUS Targon costs €349.99. Riders who place less value on it can crown their head with the new Targon, minus MIPS, for €299.99. Thanks to its wide range of adjustments, the helmet delivers a comfortable fit for every head shape. The pads in the chin bar adjust across three positions, and the Zoom Rapid Fit system goes further: a dial fine-tunes the helmet to your head shape with millimeter precision, and a press on the dial returns it to its starting position.

Thanks to the patented Zoom Rapid Fit system, which can be adjusted in height, the fit can be fine-tuned with ease, even while wearing gloves.

Climb or descend? The ABUS Targon put to the test

With a head circumference of 59 cm, we sat squarely in the middle of ABUS’s recommended size L. After a quick adjustment, we found a fit comfortable enough to almost forget the helmet entirely, even on full-day rides. Its 15 ventilation ports delivered enough airflow to keep us cool in temperatures of around 30 °C, though ventilation naturally can’t quite match a dedicated open-face helmet.

The ABUS Targon doesn’t feature adjustable helmet straps, though this is a consequence of the removable chin bar design and didn’t prove to be an issue in practice. If you ride with goggles, there’s plenty of room to stash them away securely underneath the visor when they’re not in use. Prefer riding with glasses instead? The visor also provides a safe place to stash them. One particularly neat design feature is the integrated action camera mount, which is seamlessly built into the helmet and makes for an elegant solution.

The chin bar is guided into position by a mechanical locating tab…

… and is then securely locked in place using the Speedlatch system.

The Targon attempts a difficult balancing act: airy enough for long transfer stages, yet robust enough for bike park duty. Whether the concept succeeds, however, is decided less on the trail than at the backpack, because the chin bar needs stowing somewhere during the climb.

Once we reached the trailhead, fitting the chin bar with the helmet still on our heads proved a little fiddly at first. After two or three attempts, however, the movement became second nature and the Targon transformed into a full-face helmet in seconds. Thanks to the mechanical locking system, the chin bar sits securely in place: nothing creaks, nothing rattles, and you’re ready to drop into downhill mode. On the trail, the helmet inspires a reassuring sense of security. After finishing the descent with big grins and plenty of high-fives, the chin bar comes off just as easily. One tip for riders with long hair: open the chin strap before removing the helmet to avoid catching any strands, though that says more about our tester’s hairstyle than the helmet’s design.

If you’d rather avoid an unexpected trip to the dentist after a crash, but find a lightweight full-face helmet too restrictive on the climbs and don’t want to give up the comfort of a traditional open-face lid while pedalling, then a convertible helmet like the ABUS Targon could well earn a place at the top of your shortlist.

Conclusions about the ABUS Targon

With the Targon, ABUS pair premium build quality with a host of thoughtfully executed design features. The Zoom Rapid Fit system delivers excellent comfort, the chin bar locks securely into place, and once fitted it provides that extra boost of confidence when it’s time to point the bike downhill. It’s a well-executed two-in-one solution for riders who want open-face comfort on the climbs and full-face protection for finally sending that feature that’s lingered on the to-do list for far too long.

Tester: Tristan Bulut
Test period: 4 weeks
Intended use: Bike park and trail riding

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Words & Photos: Tristan Bulant, Manne Schmitt