Xlite x-551
I just swapped out my Shoie Hornet Ds for an X-551 and love it. It fits like a glove and is more comfortable than the hornet (not that it was uncomfortable, the xlite just fits better)
The wind noise has reduced a fair bit from around the peak, the hornet was noisey in that area, but the xlite is noisey around the front neck roll but its a different pitch, more of a low shhhhhhhh instead of the hornets mid range roooooaaarrrrrrubmle (if you get what I mean?) so much quieter for motorway riding. The main difference is the aerodynamics...the xlite is by far a better helmet than the hornet in this department. The peak cuts the air far better and doesnt want to tear your head off at high speeds. The hornet was ok if the peak was pointing forward into the wind but made it difficult if you turned your head for a life saver at motorway speeds and in gusty wind conditions the hornet was a bit of a nightmare...it was unpleasent, uncomfortable and probably dangerous. The xlite has none of this, it is far more suited aerodynamicaly for high speeds and gusty conditions by a massive amount, it is a pleasure to ride at speed and now i have much more freedom of head movement (i would buy this lid again over the hornet based on this alone).
The xlite has an adjustable peak which means it actually does what it is supposed to do where as the hornet's doesnt. Riding into the setting or rising sun is no longer a problem and helps reduce glare by a huge amount. Also the inclusion of the internal sun visor is fantastic. I used to have a Caberg with this feature and loved it. No more sunglasses off, helemt off, sunglasses on, sunglasses off, helmet on, sunglasses on nonsense. One of the main benefits for me is again on the morning commute, sometimes i leave home in bright sunshine so put sunglesses on, only to ride 5 miles in country to find stretches of thick fog alternating with bright sunshine for the whole of my ride to work. This is exceptionally annoying and difficult when on the motorway in these conditions with sunglasses on. This is no longer a problem, a simple flick up or down of the switch at the side of the lid solves this.
The build quality of the xlite is great and due to its design (padding has cutouts for speaker and mic positioning) fitting the speakers and mic for the coms system was easy. I bought the x- com bluetooth system and it is more than loud enough for calls at motorway
The only downside at the moment is the pin lock on the xlite doesnt fit as well as the hornet so it does mist up a touch on my early morning commute. it may be my cack handed fitting or just not as tight a fit as it should be. It is something that i an live with at the moment and my tinker with before he frosty mornings return.
Overall i prefer the xlite over the hornet by a long way due to the vastly improved aerodynamics, less wind noise, a peak that works, internal sun visor and greater day to day riding comfort. I also managed to aquire a new boxed unused white xlite for a reduction of £100 making it £230. A much better price than others of this type.
Hope this helps
