Smart Impact Protection
Let's be honest, most people don't get excited about materials science. But when it comes to your sport and passion, I bet you're a real nerd about the tech involved, aren't you? Us too. So let's explain why Rheon™ is in our helmets instead of MIPS.
This article breaks down what Rheon™ is, why materials like it are used in modern motorcycle gear, and why Ruroc uses it in some of our helmets, but without the jargon, lab-speak, or marketing fluff.
So... What Is Rheon™?
Rheon™ is non-Newtonian material, which translated into plain English is a smart, impact‑reactive material. In reality this means that most of the time, it's soft and flexible, but when it's hit hard, it instantly firms up to absorb impact energy.
So instead of being stiff all the time, it only firms up under impact. That makes it comfortable to wear, yet still effective during a crash. This is why material like Rheon™ is used in armour motorcycle jackets, pants and boots.
Soft when you wear it. Firm when you need it.
Rheon™ is one brand name associated with this type of adaptive impact material, but you may also be familiar with others, such as D3O and SAS-TEC, which use similar materials and also get used in protective gear created by many different brands.
Where Is Rheon™ Used?
Rheon™ isn't just a motorcycle thing. It's already used in places where impacts are serious business, including:
- Motorcycle gear, like Harley-Davidson protective jackets
- American football, including equipment worn by NFL players
- Cycling gear like mountain biking knee-pads
- And other action sports
In short: it's trusted in sports where people fall, crash, and collide… a lot!
See Rheon™ in Action
Rheon™'s own breakdown of how the material works and why it matters in protective gear.
Rheon™ vs MIPS: What's the Difference?
You might have heard of MIPS already, and this brand is often associated with high-end helmets for motorcycling and other extreme sports. MIPS is technology used in liners and designed to help reduce rotational forces by allowing the helmet to slip slightly on impact, thus protecting the rider's head within the helmet.
Rheon™ achieves a similar goal, but it works in a different way. Instead of relying on movement between the helmet shell and the liner like MIPS does, Rheon™ liners add this adaptive material directly to our liners, which allows movement between the rider's skull and the liner.
The added bonus with Rheon™ is that it also reacts to the force of the impact itself, firming up to absorb and spread energy, whether the hit is straight, angled, fast, or slow. We believe this adds an extra level of protection beyond what MIPS offers on its own.
MIPS
A low-friction layer between the helmet shell and liner. On impact, the helmet slips slightly relative to your head, reducing rotational forces. The system is passive: it behaves the same way regardless of impact speed, angle, or force.
RHEON™Ruroc's Choice
An adaptive material built directly into the liner. It reacts to the force of the impact itself, firming up to absorb and spread energy, whether the hit is straight, angled, fast, or slow. Manages both rotational and linear impact energy.
The two approaches aren't trying to solve the problem in the same way, and in some products across the industry they're even used together. Ruroc chose Rheon™ because it integrates directly into the helmet liner, stays comfortable in everyday riding, and adapts to a wide range of real-world crash scenarios.
Why Helmet Materials Matter
Most motorcycle helmets use EPS foam on the inside. That foam is really good at dealing with straight-on hits, like falling straight down. But real motorbike crashes aren't that neat. You might slide, hit the ground at an angle, have your head twist or bounce. That twisting motion is called rotational movement, and it's strongly linked to concussions and brain injuries.
Traditional foam can't do everything on its own, which is why newer helmets use extra materials to help manage those forces.
Direct Force
Your head hits something and stops suddenly. This is the classic crash test scenario, and EPS foam handles it well.
Twist on Impact
Your head twists as it hits. This is what's strongly linked to concussions and brain injuries, and what materials like Rheon™ are designed to manage.
Most motorcycle crashes involve both. Rheon™ reacts to the speed and angle of a hit, helping reduce how much force, straight and twisting, reaches your head.
Why Ruroc Uses Rheon™
Ruroc doesn't use Rheon™ instead of traditional helmet materials. It uses it alongside them. The idea is simple: cover more crash scenarios, not just one. By combining proven helmet construction with adaptive materials, Ruroc aims to give riders better protection in the kind of crashes that actually happen on the road.
You'll find Rheon™ built into the liners of:
How This Stuff Is Tested
Rheon™ is tested in proper labs using controlled crash tests. That means:
- Dropping helmets straight down
- Hitting them at angles
- Measuring how much the head would twist and slow down
Sensors inside test heads show how much force would reach your brain in a real crash. The harder and more awkward the impact, the more Rheon™ firms up to help absorb and spread out that energy.
Why Riders Should Care
No helmet makes you invincible. Anyone who says otherwise is lying. But better materials can:
- Reduce how much force reaches your head
- Help manage twisting forces linked to concussions
- Improve protection across more real-world crash situations
If you already care about impact protection in your jacket or armour, it makes sense to care just as much about what's protecting your brain.
When it comes to your head, small improvements can make a big difference.
The Big Picture
Motorcycle helmet tech is moving fast. The focus now isn't just passing standards. It's understanding how crashes really happen and designing gear to deal with that reality.
Rheon™ is part of that shift toward smarter, more adaptive protection. And when it comes to your head, small improvements can make a big difference.
FAQs
What is RHEON™?
RHEON™ is a non-Newtonian, impact-reactive material. It's soft and flexible in normal use, but instantly firms up under impact to absorb and spread energy, both linear and rotational.
How is Rheon™ different from MIPS?
MIPS uses a low-friction layer to let the helmet slip slightly on impact, reducing rotational force. Rheon™ is an adaptive material built into the liner itself. It reacts to the force of the impact, firming up to absorb and spread energy across both linear and rotational hits. Different approaches, similar goal.
Which Ruroc helmets use RHEON™?
Rheon™ is built into the liners of the AT4.0 CARBON, AT4.0 TRACK, EOX 2.0, RG2, and LITE+.
Does Rheon™ replace EPS foam?
No. Ruroc uses Rheon™ alongside traditional EPS foam, not instead of it. EPS handles primary energy absorption, while Rheon™ adds adaptive impact management for a wider range of crash scenarios.
Is Rheon™ the same as D3O or SAS-TEC?
They're similar in principle. All are non-Newtonian materials that stiffen under impact. D3O, SAS-TEC, and Rheon™ are different brands making comparable adaptive impact materials for protective gear.
Is Rheon™ comfortable?
Yes. It only firms up under impact. The rest of the time it's soft and flexible. You won't notice it's there.