Matt Smith has been riding motorcycles for over seven years now. But the roots of his passion go back much further.
“My stepdad was part of a prison bike club,” he says. “Ever since then, it’s just driven me.”
Riding gave him a sense of freedom nothing else could. The hum of the engine, the open road, the space to just be. Like many bikers, it became more than just a hobby — it became a way of life.
Just Another Morning
December 4th, 2024 started like any other day.
The roads were clear. It was just past 8:30 in the morning. Matt was cruising down a familiar route on his 1250 Bandit. No bad weather, no warning signs.
Then it happened.
A car pulled out. According to the police report, Matt was T-boned on his left side — hard. The impact threw him 40 metres from where he was hit to where he landed. His leg shattered. His thumb broke.
Matt has no memory of the crash — everything that follows is what he’s been told.
“Even the Paramedics Were Surprised”
Matt’s body took serious damage. But what stunned the emergency responders most was how little damage his helmet had taken.
“I was wearing a NEXX X.WST3 Fluence — blue and red,” he recalls. “And it held up. Just scuffs and a small indent. You’d barely even notice it from the other side.”
For a 60mph impact, that kind of performance isn’t just impressive — it’s life-saving.
“Normally helmets blow apart in crashes like that,” Matt said. “This one didn’t. It stayed intact. Even the paramedics were surprised.”
The Road to Recovery
The crash left Matt with a long recovery ahead. He’s still undergoing physio, but he’s grateful. Grateful to be alive. Grateful for the helmet that protected him. And especially grateful for the partner who’s been by his side through it all.
“She’s been amazing. Couldn’t have got through this without her.”
In total, Matt had to undergo multiple surgeries — including the insertion of two metal rods in his leg.
A Change in Perspective
This crash wasn’t Matt’s first brush with danger — he’d had a low-speed slide at a roundabout years before, which he admitted was partly his own fault. But his mindset around gear shifted even before this latest incident.
“When I bought the NEXX helmet, I threw my old one on the floor — it literally blew apart,” he says.
That moment stuck with him. The difference in build quality was obvious. But it wasn’t until the crash on December 4th that the choice he made was truly put to the test.
“This NEXX helmet took a 60mph impact and barely flinched. That tells you everything. You get what you pay for. You can’t put a price on protection.”
Final Words to Fellow Riders
When asked what he’d say to other riders — especially those who might be tempted to cut corners on safety gear — Matt didn’t hesitate.
“How much do you value your life?”
It’s a blunt question. But after what he’s been through, it’s also the most important one.