A new benchmark for convertible mountain bike helmets. The ABUS TARGON sets out to solve a problem that has held back convertible mountain bike helmets for years: how to combine the freedom of an open-face helmet with the protection of a full-face helmet, without compromising either experience. Tom Ayton joined ABUS at the very beginning of the project, challenging the category and helping define a new product concept. From ergonomic fundamentals and mechanical engineering to industrial design and functional prototyping, the ambition was clear: make both configurations feel like they were designed to exist on their own. Challenge Two helmets. One convincing design. Convertible helmets were nothing new. Getting them right was. Most existing solutions came with compromises: complicated handling, bulky proportions or a helmet that looked and felt like an incomplete version of itself in one configuration. The real challenge was to create a compact, naturally proportioned open-face helmet that could transform into a convincing full-face design without becoming visually oversized. Every millimetre mattered, particularly around the lower helmet line, the ear space and the integration of the removable chin guard. Comfort, freedom of movement, hearing, ventilation and a secure fit had to work in both modes. And switching between them needed to feel almost like magic. Solution Engineering the details that make the difference. We started with the fundamentals: a new, elongated European head shape and an extended interior volume designed around comfort and freedom of movement. The lower helmet line and front proportions were developed to look natural in open-face mode while keeping the full-face configuration compact and balanced. The Zoom Rapid Fit system brings another important ergonomic improvement. Its externally accessible adjustment dial allows riders to fine-tune the fit at the back of the head. A more stable fit helps prevent the helmet from being pushed towards the face during drops, steep steps and demanding riding situations. At the heart of the convertible concept is the Speed Latch chin guard mechanism, developed together with a leading Northern Italian engineering specialist. Its precise engagement is supported by a funnel-shaped lower helmet geometry that guides the chin guard into position. The ambition was simple: a connection that clicks into place almost intuitively. The design follows the ingenious, no-nonsense character of ABUS. Clear surfaces, purposeful lines and large ventilation openings take precedence over exaggerated motocross styling. The result is unmistakably mountain bike, rather than motocross-inspired. Ventilation was a priority from day one. Drawing on our previous helmet projects, including the ABUS AIRBREAKER and GAMECHANGER, we developed generous air intakes and internal airflow channels. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and virtual wind-tunnel testing helped refine the aerodynamic and ventilation performance. But digital development was only half the story. Complete 3D modelling and additive manufacturing on an EOS P 365 industrial 3D printer enabled us to produce functional prototypes, evaluate mechanical details and test successive iterations on our local trails. This created an exceptionally short feedback loop between digital design, physical product and real-world riding. A confident Product Identity with a purpose The name was part of the design from day one. TARGON. A distinctive, confident name with a character of its own. An old term for a mountain refuge, it captured something essential about our ambition: creating a helmet that gives riders the confidence and protection to venture further. There was another reason it felt right. The name echoed our original project target – a small but meaningful coincidence that made TARGON the natural working title surprisingly early in the process. We secured the trademark rights early on, making sure the name could grow with the product. More than a label, TARGON became an integral part of its identity, reinforcing the confident character of the design itself. Impact Confidence to take the next step. The ABUS TARGON makes the convertible concept feel like a natural choice rather than a compromise. A well-proportioned, comfortable open-face helmet when freedom and airflow matter. A full-face configuration when the trail calls for additional protection. Its design is about more than switching between two modes. It is about giving riders the confidence to explore further, progress at their own pace and take on challenges they might otherwise leave for another day. And there is a bigger ambition behind the product. The TARGON establishes a new design direction for ABUS mountain bike helmets – a lead design language with the potential to shape the brand's future MTB helmet portfolio. One helmet. Two possibilities. All trails. Precision for indecision.
