Well, the title kinda gives it away.
My Shoei RF1100 is getting dinged up and the lining is starting to show wear. It's almost 7 years old now with almost daily use. I also have an HJC 3/4 helmet that works, but, is still just a 3/4. I will use it for quick errands. And, I wear glasses so my next helmet would be a modular with some sort of sun protection (visor or photochromatic). I would be happy with a helmet as quiet as the Shoei.
Have been looking for quite a while, reading just about every review and forum post I found. I really wanted a Lazer Monaco Carbon, but, the price and questionable quality/quietness still bothered me enough not to order one. Finding consistent information about how quiet a helmet is certainly frustrating. For every person that said a certain helmet was quiet was another who said it was noisy. Even a few owners of the Shubert said it was noisy! Wow.
And weight was a factor. I really wanted to stay near the weight of my Shoei (it hit the scale at 3lb 15 1/4oz). That meant the Shoei Multitec and Neotec were really at the upper end of the weight scale (even over it by a bit). This also ruled out helmets like the Shark Evoline.
So, I had narrowed my choice down to a few.
Nolan 91 or 104
HJCSymax III
LS2
I had left out the expensive ones merely because I did not see enough additional value for the money. Replacing a $600 helmet every 6-7 years was out of the question. The other helmets in the same price range, such as the Bell Revolver, had consistent complaints about noise so I took them off the list.
I traveled around the city looking for helmets to try on. I knew my Honda dealer had HJC so that was the first stop. The Symax III was a really good fit. The quality is much better than my older 3/4. I liked the sunshade and how the chinbar and visor operate.
So, then to the Nolan. I got lucky and a shop had a 104 in my size. Now, I do have largish ears. The liner of the Nolan has a layer that cuts across the top of my ear. I was REALLY disappointed cause the rest of it was really nice. I asked about a 91 and the dealer showed me a pic that had the same kind of liner (don't know if that is true or not).
[note: The same dealer had a Shark Evoline that I tried on. It was noticeable heavier than the Nolan next to it, fit was good and quality seemed good so if weight is not an issue you might try one]
I was about to order an LS2 to try out when I got a note from a Guzzi rider. He had tried a Symax and didn't like the modular thing (he got an HJC RPHA-10). It was the right size so I got it for a really good price. I figured if it didn't work out really well I could keep it as a spare.
End result is it is a really nice helmet. Less wind noise than the Shoei but about the same road noise. Probably cause the ear pockets have a much better seal. The visor works as advertised even though it could be a little darker (common issue for every drop down visor I have seen, may be a govt reg somewhere). And just for info my Symax weighs 1oz less than the Shoei. Keep in mind that I wear an XL in Shoei shapes and L in the HJC.
So, still don't know about the LS2. I may still try one someday. It also makes me interested in the HJC RPHA. If the cheaper Symax is good, is the more expensive helmet that much better? Don't know.
So, for now my search is over. Will still keep an eye out for other helmets to try on when I get a chance.
My Shoei RF1100 is getting dinged up and the lining is starting to show wear. It's almost 7 years old now with almost daily use. I also have an HJC 3/4 helmet that works, but, is still just a 3/4. I will use it for quick errands. And, I wear glasses so my next helmet would be a modular with some sort of sun protection (visor or photochromatic). I would be happy with a helmet as quiet as the Shoei.
Have been looking for quite a while, reading just about every review and forum post I found. I really wanted a Lazer Monaco Carbon, but, the price and questionable quality/quietness still bothered me enough not to order one. Finding consistent information about how quiet a helmet is certainly frustrating. For every person that said a certain helmet was quiet was another who said it was noisy. Even a few owners of the Shubert said it was noisy! Wow.
And weight was a factor. I really wanted to stay near the weight of my Shoei (it hit the scale at 3lb 15 1/4oz). That meant the Shoei Multitec and Neotec were really at the upper end of the weight scale (even over it by a bit). This also ruled out helmets like the Shark Evoline.
So, I had narrowed my choice down to a few.
Nolan 91 or 104
HJCSymax III
LS2
I had left out the expensive ones merely because I did not see enough additional value for the money. Replacing a $600 helmet every 6-7 years was out of the question. The other helmets in the same price range, such as the Bell Revolver, had consistent complaints about noise so I took them off the list.
I traveled around the city looking for helmets to try on. I knew my Honda dealer had HJC so that was the first stop. The Symax III was a really good fit. The quality is much better than my older 3/4. I liked the sunshade and how the chinbar and visor operate.
So, then to the Nolan. I got lucky and a shop had a 104 in my size. Now, I do have largish ears. The liner of the Nolan has a layer that cuts across the top of my ear. I was REALLY disappointed cause the rest of it was really nice. I asked about a 91 and the dealer showed me a pic that had the same kind of liner (don't know if that is true or not).
[note: The same dealer had a Shark Evoline that I tried on. It was noticeable heavier than the Nolan next to it, fit was good and quality seemed good so if weight is not an issue you might try one]
I was about to order an LS2 to try out when I got a note from a Guzzi rider. He had tried a Symax and didn't like the modular thing (he got an HJC RPHA-10). It was the right size so I got it for a really good price. I figured if it didn't work out really well I could keep it as a spare.
End result is it is a really nice helmet. Less wind noise than the Shoei but about the same road noise. Probably cause the ear pockets have a much better seal. The visor works as advertised even though it could be a little darker (common issue for every drop down visor I have seen, may be a govt reg somewhere). And just for info my Symax weighs 1oz less than the Shoei. Keep in mind that I wear an XL in Shoei shapes and L in the HJC.
So, still don't know about the LS2. I may still try one someday. It also makes me interested in the HJC RPHA. If the cheaper Symax is good, is the more expensive helmet that much better? Don't know.
So, for now my search is over. Will still keep an eye out for other helmets to try on when I get a chance.
