It’s been quiet for a while now, but one of the biggest bike helmet brands from the early 2000s is heading back to Britain. Suomy Helmets started up in Italy in 1997 and quickly gained a strong following in the racing and sports bike world. It signed up a slew of top racers on sponsorship deals, with names like Troy Corser, Troy Bayliss, Loris Capirossi, Max Biaggi and Ruben Xaus on its books. The firm even scooped a couple of WSBK championships, with sponsored riders Neil Hodgson in 2003 and James Toseland in 2004 and 2007, and a 250 GP title in 2003 with Manuel Poggiali. Its race replicas were big sellers, and many a magazine road tester sported the latest Suomy track lid.
The brand faded a bit in the early 2010s but was taken over in 2014 by an investment fund in the Far East, alongside the KYT helmet brand, which launched in 2004. Production was moved to Indonesia, while the R&D department remained in Italy, near Lake Como. The firm says its Indonesian factory employs 3500 people, turns out millions of lids each year, and cornered a claimed 70% of the Asian market with the KYT brand.
And now, the Suomy brand, alongside KYT, is heading back to British bike dealers’ shelves, thanks to a new distribution deal spearheaded by Trevor Hall, former Spidi and Nolan importer through his MotoGear firm. Hall has set up a new firm – 2-Rev Ltd, with support from the MotoGear operation, and 2-Rev will be bringing in the new range of Suomy and KYT helmets this season.
“From our very first meeting with the team, there was never any doubt Suomy and KYT were the perfect fit for us, said Trevor Hall. “The company profile, the quality of the product, and the huge presence at all levels of motorsport are all driving factors for success, not only today but also in the future. With new developments in R&D and other exciting prospects on the horizon, we’re looking forward to getting started.”
Suomy’s expanded its range beyond the race-focussed lineup of 25 years ago and now boasts sport-touring, open-face and off-road designs. But its heart is still on the track, and it’s signed up a slew of top racers for 2025, including Davey Todd and John McGuinness at the Isle of Man TT, plus Peter Hickman in BSB and the TT. There are world-championship Suomy riders too: Francesco Bagnaia and Enea Bastianini in MotoGP, as well as the Lowes brothers, Alex and Sam, and Nicolo Bulega in WorldSBK.
“We’re excited and raring to get started; our sales team will be out on the road with the UK range imminently. If you have any questions in the meantime, contact us at [email protected] | 01536485484. or check out www.2rev.co.uk”