Recommend me a Helmet

[JohnnyBoxer]

I know...............you'll all say 'one that fits you best'

However I'm after some deeper thinking

Currently I have an old Tour X (despite not being an Arai man, whatever that is )

I generally use it in summer on good days, or for trail riding and occasionally I have toured abroad with it

However the Tour X downsides are

Water runs down the inside of the visor in heavy rain

Your head gets ripped off at speed, when you look over your shoulder

Little flies enter the large visor apertures and dance in front of your eyes, behind the visor

It's noisy

My other lid, that I have used for touring is a Schuberth S1 and whilst a good helmet I fancy a change

It's quiet

Venting could be better

It's cosy

So, whilst I've never been a 'flip front' man, I tried a new Shoei Neotec and found it much like a normal full face (good) and not pointy like other flips

How good are they?

Do they leak?



Other helmets that have taken my fancy are the Shark Explore- R, which converts from a peaked helmet to a full face in seconds (based on the Shark Vision R)



........and the Shoei Hornet (as it maybe better than the Tour X)



Any other full face helmets that you rate and recommend - I'm more Shoei than Arai

 

[Gecko]

My Shoei hornet has been great - it certainly has never leaked and although noisier than a standard full face I don't find it uncomfortable at speed. I'd buy another if the need arose.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

I tried the Hornet and it feels better than the Arai, in the shop

 

[Gecko]

I never ride fast enough to suffer getting my head ripped off when looking behind

 

[Schtum]

I tried the Hornet and it feels better than the Arai, in the shop

Having both, I'd agree that the the Hornet is a better quality lid. However, the big issue for me is that in downpours I've experienced failures of the Pinlocks on both lids. I think the tight radius bend on the front of the visor on both Tour-X and Hornet prevents the Pinlock from sealing properly so that water runs between the inside of the visor and the lens. Also, swapping the visor on either helmet isn't a quick-change act.

These days, I mostly wear a Shoei GT Air which would be almost perfect if I could overcome the problem of misting spectacles. A smaller first position, ventilation opening, rather than the eye-watering one, would go a long way to helping that.

 

[Arsey]

I've gone from Tour X to Hornet to Caberg Tourmax.

The Caberg is my favourite of all three and costs less than half of the others.

Just used it on 1800 mile Ireland trip and it was brilliant.

See other thread for more detail

 

[(RIP) Mark H]

Just replaced my schuberth S1 with a Shoei GT Air last week now done 500 miles with it, It's noticibly quieter than the schui, lighter & very breezy and cool to wear was tight round ears but fixed that, worth a look, I paid £360 for a solid color (Silver)

 

[Davy F]

I've recently sold my TourX and bought a new Arai Quantum ST. Quieter than the TourX, tho' still probably not as quiet as others. It has a new design pin lock which now sits in a recess in the visor and the air vents seem to work very well pulling in fresh cooler air. I decided that I didn't need the pseudo off road looks of the TX anymore and did consider the Hornet too, but an Arai just fits my bonce perfectly and I always thought the Hornets peak to be too small to be actually useful.

Good luck with your decision, JB.

 

[notadrop]

Hi Johnny!

My latest is the Shoei Neotec. Brilliant for me. I ride all year, all weather. The Neo hasn't leaked down the inside except for a dribble or 2 in an absolute downpour (I was fed up with virtually every flip I had previously, doing this.)
Ventilation. For me the best I have had. Big scoop on top, good channelling, well ventilated liner. I found out how good it was one winters day when I must have opened it accidently while cleaning it before my commute. When I got out on the road the rush of freezing air let me know how good it was.
Drop down tint visor covers a large area and isn't to shallow or let a lot of light bleed through the side.
Down side? The speaker insert areas don't line up with my ears - but thats probably my ears!!

Yes I would recommend the Neotec

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Thanks guys, some very good info here & real world stuff

Keep it coming - I think a return to a full face is on the cards - with Neotec in the mix

I shall examine the GT Air & Viper too

More stuff please - any Shark wearers - especially the Vision-R ?

 

[Fugu]

I bought a Roof RO10 a couple of years ago, one of the old colours that Helmet City were selling off. it's probably the quietest helmet I have ever had.
It has a light tint to the visor, which are expensive to replace.
It's looking a bit tired now and I have replaced it with an Xr1100, not just as quiet but of course the Shoei has the pollock system which is good.

Used to swear by flip up helmets but no realise ow noisy they are compared to full face.

 

[oldnfat]

+1 for the GT Air....there is a thread in product reviews. Best lid I have had for touring ever. A big plus for me is the drop down sun visor. On many lids I find the optics a bit off whereas on the GT it is perfect. As above, paid £360 for solid colour against am RRP of £399.

Cheers

 

[Gargy]

Schuberth C3 flip lid works well for me.

Ventilation is about the best I've ever had, reasonable light, and much quieter than my old Multitec.

I will say that you need one on your head for at least ten minutes to ensure a good fit, as they used to be a bit wierd with their sizing's.

Good luck.

 

[JKW]

Hi Johnny!

My latest is the Shoei Neotec. Brilliant for me. I ride all year, all weather. The Neo hasn't leaked down the inside except for a dribble or 2 in an absolute downpour (I was fed up with virtually every flip I had previously, doing this.)
Ventilation. For me the best I have had. Big scoop on top, good channelling, well ventilated liner. I found out how good it was one winters day when I must have opened it accidently while cleaning it before my commute. When I got out on the road the rush of freezing air let me know how good it was.
Drop down tint visor covers a large area and isn't to shallow or let a lot of light bleed through the side.
Down side? The speaker insert areas don't line up with my ears - but thats probably my ears!!

Yes I would recommend the Neotec

JB - agree with everything notadrop says above...with a couple of additions...

Been happy with wet weather performance and pinlock in the main but last week, for the first time, had to find a dry place to stop and remove internal fogging which built up gradually...that said it was rain of fairly biblical proportions and incessant which means I never got any chance to crack open the visor for a bit of a dry out at all in a couple of hours' riding.

I can confirm that notadrop's ears are misaligned - speakers work fine for me!

Oh...and the ventilation in the Neotec is excellent!

 

[dicktheleg]

I've a Shoei Multitec which I moved to from a Schuberth Concept, better in all respects other than no drop down sun visor.

I think it's no longer available but the Neotec is it's replacement and that does have a sun visor, well worth a look I reckon.

 

[Gossy]

Been using a Neotec for a year now, so for about 5500 miles.

It's very comfortable over long days, not too heavy, I've never inserted the pin lock as misting not a real problem - for me.

The only negative being its not as quiet as my schuberth c2...more noisy with top vent open ..but much cooler.

I'd rather stick sunglasses on and open the visor up than use the integral shade.

Using the schuberth again now seems very insulating, so I don't use it - rather hear the birds..!

 

[earthmover]

Very happy with my X-lite 551 JB, has done quite a few miles in all weathers and all conditions.
Mark

 

[tiktok]

I recently bought new lids for my wife and I.

I now have flip front, full face and open face lids at home.

I use the Sharp safety rating (website) to determine what is the safest helmet for the price.


I would strongly recommend the HJC IS-17, you get a lot of bang for your buck. It's around £150.

However, the HJC does not fit my head. (I am a Shoei shape head). Instead I bought myself a Nolan N86 full face.


Both the HJC and the Nolan have an excellent finish, integrated sun visors and are fairly light weight.


As I use silicone ear defenders, I can't speak for the sound deadening properties.

Avoid flip front unless you do a lot of city riding, they are convenient but not as safe as full
Face.

 

[marcusfordus]

5 years with a Schuberth C3 just swapped it for the pro version. Still the best out there. You can also get it for Shoei NXR money if you know where to shop. Any issues with the original C3 have been addressed and it is the quietest on the market at present. I now dont need to wear plugs.

Sent from my XT615 using Tapatalk 2

 

[harry]

The Hornet peak is shorter than the Tour X, enough to make me swop back.