Spada Sting Dual Sport Helmet Review

[Andy Hird]

My Spada Sting arrived on Wednesday, I haven’t used the Helmet for a ride, but have tried it on at home, so here’s a quick review.

My first impressions when I pulled it out of the box, where...Wow ! what a great looking helmet ! The styling is awesome !

I compared it to my Tour X and Airoh S4, and have to say the styling of Sting is far better than the Arai or S4. The styling is very similar to the Shoei Hornet, but in my opinion, with an improved chin guard. The best way to describe the styling of the Sting would be very "current". It makes the S4 and Arai look dated.

The fit and finish of the Sting is very good, the paint finish is good, and all the plastic and rubber parts look good quality. The liners are all removable and washable, there's plenty of venting, and the vent mechansims look reliable. The chin strap is one of the modern ratchet type. The visor action is good, but it doesn't snap to close. I can't comment on the visor water sealing, but I got the Missus to direct her hair dryer at the visor, and I didn't feel any drafts. The peak is rock solid, and fixed very securely, it doesn't flex, and looks like it won't create any vibration noise. It’s very comfortable, and the liners are of a very nice quality.

If you are thinking of getting one, I would fully recommend it for the price, of course the quality is not up there with Arai or Shoei, but it still is a very well made helmet, looks great and is tremendous value for money.

But here’s the deal killer for me:- I can’t wear my glasses with the helmet due to the cheek pad design. They don’t allow the ear pieces of my glasses to sit on my ears......so unfortunately the Helmet is going back to the shop. It’s a real shame, as I love the helmet, and it is very comfortable.

Cheers

Andy

 

[karnevil]

I have a Spada Sting.I wear glasses and am having no problems with the cheek pads.The arms need wiggling just to seat them on the ears but otherwise no problem.I have a number of pairs of glasses and none prove to be a problem.
With a balaclava on there is no wiggle needed.

 

[harry]

Seems it's your ears, Andy

 

[garvey2003]

Just looking at buying this helmet, anyone used it on the road? Interested in the wind noise

 

[stever1]

 

[jasext]

Had one since they first came out, used it for trail riding and a 10 day trip to Scotland. Loved it so much bought another while they were on offer for £67 from a link posted here

 

[snappo]

Had one since they first came out, used it for trail riding and a 10 day trip to Scotland. Loved it so much bought another while they were on offer for £67 from a link posted here

What's it like as a road lid mate, noisy, drafts, let's rain in, or is it good?

 

[jasext]

Really good, not as noisy as my Tour x3, not rain let in and no drafts so to speak, found it much better than the Tour x i had so sold that and bought another Sting.

They only problem i did find was a small piece of rubber on the chin guard was irratating me so just took it off.

Plenty of dark visors to be had cheap but i went for the new fog city insert which works a treat on damp days to stop the visor fogging.

Peak does'nt rattle like the Tour x either and the the only advantage i can see with the tour x is the slight difference in weight.

Even if the Tour x was the same price as this i would still opt for the Spada any day.

 

[metropolis2k]

I've had mine for a good 6 months or so now. It's excellent as a summer helmet as the venting is good and although it's not built as well as a Shoei or an Arai, the build quality is pretty good. The only issue with the build is the peak vibrates a little. It's easily cured by holding your finger on the peak so I suspect adding some foam or rubber underneath it will cure it permanently.

In winter there's a few issues - it fogs pretty quickly (I'm used to a pinlock on my Shoei to be fair), it is draughty around the visor and will let a bit of water in too in a downpour.

That said, all in all I'm very happy with it - I just don't use it all the time, particularly when it's cold or wet, I'd rather use a different helmet. In the summer it's the first one I'd pick up though.

 

[garvey2003]

Off to tr one at lunch today, my local bike shop has some in stock.
Can you wear goggles with the helmet if you wanted?

 

[GS TRV]

Its way too cheap to be any good

 

[garvey2003]

Just tried one on, fits nice but my nose hits the breath guard
Looks like it can come out but little unsure as to weather I can get a better breah guard or bigger
Does fog city insert fit theses?

 

[metropolis2k]

Can you wear goggles with the helmet if you wanted?

My ones do fit so I should think so.

Just tried one on, fits nice but my nose hits the breath guard
Looks like it can come out but little unsure as to weather I can get a better breah guard or bigger
Does fog city insert fit theses?

Someone in this thread said they fitted one so I guess so.

 

[jasext]

Yes easy to remove breathe guard and yes a fog city fits as i have one fitted to mine.

 

[shakey]

I have had a Spada sting for about a year now but I think I was spoilt by my last helmet which was a Schuberth c3 which was superbly quiet, didn't leak and with pin lock didn't fog up either. However having made a mistake with the sizing of the c3 which was just a bit too tight I lost a pile of money selling it and couldn't afford an Arai tour x or shoei hornet so settled for the spada.
Initial impressions were similar to those already mentioned in this thread, reasonable quality and good value for money.
But
I used the spada in some terrible British weather in the spring last year and it just didn't cope very well at all, water poured in through the gaps in the visor seal. It fogged up and was completely hopeless as the visor is either up/ open or shut. You can't just have it cracked open a little to try to clear the fogging.
The noise is close to unbearable but that may just be my own standards, a combination of my last lid being almost silent and the change to the duel sport style which are usually noisy.
However
I then used it for a blatt across France in the summer in lovely hot weather having had custom earplugs made for my lug holes and this helmet proved to be a real winner. It was hot so fogging not an issue, it's so well vented that it stayed very cool and comfortable, it's still noisy but earplugs sort that.
Conclusion
This is a sunny summers day helmet.
I won't be getting rid of this one as it serves a purpose in the right conditions but I am looking for a lid that will cope better in British weather.

 

[JayC]

Thanks for that report Shakey, I now have a good idea what to expect with the Sting. It's a lid I have been considering for some time now so your 'i' dotting and 't' crossing experience has helped muchly in my decision making.