Inside HJC: Behind the Scenes of the Helmet Giant

HJC was founded in 1971 in South Korea by Wan Ki Hong, initially focusing exclusively on the development and production of motorcycle helmets. The company remains family-owned to this day, with several of Hong's relatives holding key positions. Over the years, HJC expanded gradually and recently added bicycle helmets to its portfolio, especially in the area of performance and racing models. The expertise gained from both worlds has been integrated into development, ventilation concepts, and aerodynamics.

Concentrating on a single product segment allowed for deep specialization, leading to early international success. HJC expanded into the USA in 1986, and by 1992, it had risen to become the market leader with the best-selling helmets, maintaining this position to the present day. In 2001, HJC Europe was established near Strasbourg, currently serving over 40 European markets. Additional branches in Germany and Italy provide further regional proximity.

HJC's production structure is currently spread across two plants in Vietnam and the headquarters: while South Korea focuses primarily on the development of high-end products and research, the factories in Vietnam, employing over 3,000 staff, handle large-scale production. Over a million helmets are manufactured there annually, with many steps still performed by hand.

HJC is also strong in the OEM business, producing special variants of the i20 for Harley-Davidson, which are marketed as official brand helmets.

Containers are shipped to Europe daily, where the logistics center in France distributes approximately 500,000 helmets per year. With an inventory of nearly 200,000 helmets, 14,000 spare parts, and a shipping frequency of at least two truckloads per day, HJC ranks among the most efficient helmet manufacturers in Europe. According to the company, the complaint rate consistently remains below one percent.

A standout feature of HJC is its dedicated wind tunnel with an attached lab, where aerodynamics, noise behavior, and ventilation are tested under realistic conditions. This research infrastructure forms the basis for technologies like PIM+ (Premium Integrated Matrix), which uses carbon, aramid, and fiberglass to create exceptionally lightweight and stable helmet shells. Additional features include COOLPATH™, an internal channel system for effective head cooling, and SELFiT™, a self-adjusting fitting system for optimal head comfort. These technologies are integrated into multiple shell and fit sizes, tailored to a variety of head profiles.

HJC made its entry into professional motorsport with the RPHA series. The RPHA 10 was developed in collaboration with MotoGP rider Ben Spies, who wore it during his racing season. Another prominent name is Jorge Lorenzo, who partnered with HJC from 2013 to 2015, contributing his experience directly to the development of the RPHA series, particularly the sport-focused RPHA 11. HJC further demonstrated its commitment to international motorsport by serving as the official title sponsor for the MotoGP races in Brno (2016), Le Mans (2017), and Germany (2019).

More recently, MotoGP fans recognize Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) as a wearer of the RPHA 1. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) also uses the helmet in races, praising its aerodynamics and stability. New for 2025, Miguel Oliveira (Prima Pramac Yamaha) joins the ranks, alongside emerging talents like Raul Fernández (KTM Tech3) and various Moto2 riders who have been signed by HJC.

HJC is also active in other racing categories such as WSBK, Freestyle MX, and the FIM EWC. Le Mans winner 2025 Marvin Fritz was present during our visit to Strasbourg, showcasing his RPHA 1, worn during his last race at Spa. Even upon close inspection, there was no discernible difference from an off-the-shelf RPHA 1. High-performance materials made accessible for everyone.

Beyond technical expertise and motorsport commitment, HJC focuses on visual differentiation. Through official licensing partnerships with brands like Marvel, Star Wars, and Pixar, the manufacturer creates helmets that transcend practical use to become coveted lifestyle products. The graphic designs range from superheroes and film characters to limited collector’s editions, with some designs selling out within days of their release. This blend of function, style, and pop culture makes HJC models particularly popular among younger riders, capturing attention well beyond the racetrack.

Looking ahead to 2026, HJC offers a wide range of models, featuring a total of 31 helmet types and 461 different designs. This allows the manufacturer to cover all segments—from kids' helmets and sporty full-face helmets to open-face helmets for urban commuters and cross models for off-road use. Details on the new models and color variants for 2026 will be available in September.