| Author | Message | ||
     Scott_in_nh |
What model do you guys like and why? I have a Shark Evoline that I bought about 3-4 years ago for about $300. They are not known for running small so I went with a large. The cheek pads were tight and it was a little difficult to get my glasses in place, but i loved the ability to flip the chin bar over and ride as a 3/4 helmet, and I love the built in, drop down, sun visor. The cheek pads broke in, but are thin over hard foam so they are still tight, my bluetooth speakers are hard to fit without losing room in the helmet, the chin bar is hard to latch, with the helmet closed it fogs easily (no pin lock) and does not vent well, and the helmet, if anything, has become less comfortable. The same helmet in an XL may fix the fit issues but there are still the other performance issues. I would call the Evoline the best idea with poor to just ok execution. Got sick of it after my last ride and began researching modular helmets with pin-lock and good venting and landed on the Nolan 100-5. https://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/nolan-n100-5-h elmet Received it yesterday and was hoping I would "hear the angels sing" when I put it on, which of course did not happen. it fits well overall, but has the usual snugness of a new helmet, which after wasting money and being uncomfortable for years in the Shark makes me nervous, especially because it is a $400 helmet. My glasses go on easily, the speaker pockets are better designed and seem like they would not cost any room in the helmet with speakers installed. what would you do? Are there better modulars under $500? is there such a thing as a truly comfortable modular? Should I give up on the modular and just get a full face with the features I want? How do you tell what helmet shape is right for you and when a new helmet will fit right in the long run? | ||
| Mnscrounger |
I have a Nolan N44 with the detachable chin bar. What I like is the face shield is longer, (since its designed to also work without a chin bar), and peripheral vision seems better. Although I almost always ride with the chin bar on, I like being able to convert to a 3/4 on the hottest of days. It's DOT, but not Snell rated, and fortunately I've never been in a dismount serious enough to test its protective capabilities. The price was around $225.00 if I remember correctly. It can accept the "NCom" bluetooth unit, but I went with a Sena attached to the side to save a few bucks, and be able to move the main unit over to my snowmobile helmet just by buying another installation kit. I intend to buy another when the liner gets worn, or the foam feels weak. | ||
| Crusty |
Helmet fit is a very individual thing. Everybody's head shape is different. So how do you find the right helmet? What worked for me when I lived in Massachusetts was going to the International Motorcycle Show at the Javitts Center in New York City. I would hit all the helmet displays trying on helmets until I found the one that fit best. Then, I would make a note of make, model and size. When I got home, I would go online and find that helmet for the best price. I remember one year when both my wife and I were trying on helmets. The helmet that fit me perfectly didn't feel good to her at all and the same applied when she found a helmet that fit her head. For me, the helmet that fits like they used my head for the mold is a Schuberth C3 size M. It's a top ranked modular that absorbed the shock of a serious impact two weeks ago when I crashed on I-75. I've replaced it with another C3. I suggest that you might try going to the show next winter and spend some time trying on helmets. It's the best way that I know to find the best fit. (Message edited by Crusty on April 10, 2019) | ||
| Airbozo |
I use the Shoei Neotec. I had to swap out the cheek pads with a smaller version which jacked the price up ~$40. Works great on my S3T, but on my XB12R, the fit makes it difficult to see 100% as I would like. I find myself bending my neck back a little more than I would like. I like it more than the other modular helmets I have owned because it is much lighter and doesn't cause neck fatigue. | ||
| Pwnzor |
What Crusty said. Each brand has a different shape, and that shape is what's going to determine your overall comfort. | ||
| Ratbuell |
Helmets are sized, and shaped - round, long-oval, wide-oval, intermediate oval... Crucial to know both details for yourself when you go shop. Modulars, don't get anything with plastic latches/pins. I rode with a Shoei Neotec for years. A very good lid, slightly too round for me but I lived with it (pressure point on the top-center of my forehead after about 2 hours' riding). Fit my Scala set just fine, decent wind noise levels, room for earplugs even with speakers. I used that one up last spring when I hit bambi and totalled my S2, so I started shopping. Ended up with a Klim TK1200 in traverse gray that not only fits PERFECTLY, but it is also more than 1.5 POUNDS LIGHTER than the Shoei (Klim: 2.2 lb; Shoei: 3.9 lb). Transitions visor, nice vents, decent wind noise. My one complaint that I need to fix with a dremel router is, the speaker pockets aren't very deep (and, my base-model Sena 3 speakers are not exactly low profile) so I need to rout out the speaker recesses so they stop knocking my earbuds loose. DOT/ECE approved. I've been extremely happy with this lid. I also love that when the light turns green, I can snap my chin down and the modular shield will drop into place, and latch properly, so I don't have to take a hand off the bars. But when I want it up, it has a good enough detent to stay put. It can also "over-open" clear back to the rear of my skull if I want. As always - don't cheap out on protecting your noggin. I live with head injuries every day - you have NO idea how important keeping your brain safe and happy is. The smallest physical change can turn into a HUGE personality/emotional change that you, quite literally, have zero control over because, by design, your brain controls YOU, and it determines who you are. Keep your melon safe, at any cost. | ||
| 86129squids |
 Joe knows. I posted this over in Crusty's thread, found it very interesting. Hope to see this tech in some MC hats in the future. http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2019/04/bontrager-w avecel-did-trek-just-revolutionize-safety-helmet-d esign/ | ||
| Chauly |
+1 on the Schuberth C3. On sale (clearance) for $300. Sena Bluetooth works great. I had a C1 years ago, but wore out the interior pretty quickly. This one seems to be better built. | ||
| Jaimec |
Big fan of the Nolan N104 helmets which have just been replaced by the N100-5 line. I also have an N44 which is a "Convertible" helmet. Full face in the winter, 3/4 helmet in nice weather. It also passes the ECE certification as a full-face helmet with the jawpiece in place, something most modulars can't claim. | ||
| Ratbuell |
C3 is still 1.2 lbs heavier than the Klim... It really is a HUGE difference. Like when you go to pick up a soda bottle and think it's going to be full, but isn't. If any of you have a Klim dealer nearby, check their stuff out. Absolutely worth the look - and, they have a "free replacement" policy. Use up any of their gear within 3 years of purchase, provide them with an accident report...and they give you a credit for every dollar towards a replacement piece of gear (or the exact same piece, if still current production). When I went down last May I was wearing a Klim jacket that I'd had for a year or so. Discontinued, so they credited me the money and I got a pair of pants from them - I had multiple other jackets, but my only pants got shredded in the wreck so they were priority. Awesome customer service, and honestly great gear. | ||
| Aesquire |
My HJC CL-Max is old enough to need retiring, so I'm going to start shopping. My Suomy Spec-1R fits like a glove, has great ventilation, is loud, and being discontinued and with no modular kin... Irrelevant. You just have to try them on. Period. A little chipmunk cheek is ok. Hot spots are not. Walk around the store for a while & chat with the salesman. My Suomy was discounted, but still expensive. So I passed, but the next spring it was another $100 off. I bought it on the spot. One tip. If you wear photosensitive prescription glasses, don't bother with iridium/metallic visors. They are too dark to ride at night if you lose track of time, my bad. But they block UV perfectly, so when you take your lid off, the glasses are at full clear. Take that as a plus or minus in your own case. The problem with buying online is you are not sustaining the local shop. Your choices narrow, then vanish. Like book stores. | ||
| Ratbuell |
I was nervous about going from the fighter-pilot sunshield in the Shoei (drop-down visor), to the transitions visor in the Klim. But...they did it right. It never gets "dark", just takes the glare off, so when you transition from sun to shade outside (and I'd normally have to flip up the fighter visor)...you're not blind. | ||
| Tombo |
Another Nolan N44 user. Not a traditional flip up but the opening is so large I don't hardly notice the chin bar (which is also removable). It is also accommodates communication gear nicely. Another one of my helmets is a Ruff Boxer, and the chin bar flips up and over the top of the helmet and rests behind the helmet. What I like about this helmet is you can flip the chin bar bike and ride with it open at any speed. The Ruff is also very light. | ||
| Scott_in_nh |
Thanks guys Shows and shops with a serious selection of street helmets do not exist in my area NH has no helmet law so only a small percentage of riders wear them here I read somewhere to try the helmet on with the cheek pads out. It helps you really feel the fit of the helmet. It Fits great front to back. Side to side I can fit a fingertip in The cheek pads squeeze my face a bit; but nothing as bad as the Shark does | ||
| Ourdee |
I rode with a Shoei Neotec for years. A very good lid, slightly too round for me but I lived with it (pressure point on the top-center of my forehead after about 2 hours' riding). Fit my Scala set just fine, decent wind noise levels, room for earplugs even with speakers. I rolled with a Nolan modular for years. It fit me like Joe's Shoei Neotec did him. Now I use a shoei 1200. Not modular, but I can wear it all day. | ||
| Etennuly |
A friend of mine bought a crazy modular helmet several years ago. It had more gadgets than a Swiss Army knife. It had the clear outer shield that could slide up to become part of the top shell, and with a drop down reflective inner sun blocking goggle like shield. We rode a nice ten hour day trip. He was really liking that helmet. Until we got to stop for dinner as the sun was going down. His nose was not protected from the sun by that drop down goggle at all. Nice helmet, but I never saw Rudolph wear it again.  | ||
| Zac4mac |
Found Nolan modulars back in the late 90s. Started with an N-100, a couple of N-102s, N-103 and currently an N104. They just keep getting better. I love the internal sun-screen but mostly the ski buckle. I HATE D-rings. Z | ||
| Jaimec |
That "Ski Buckle" chinstrap was copied by Schuberth I noticed. Schuberth used to use a strap that worked like a seatbelt, but the latest C3 that I saw used a system just like the Nolan. Basically, I can't justify the cost of the Schuberth when the Nolan is just as good for almost half the price. | ||
| Ratbuell |
Yep, got the buckle on the Klim as well. Still getting used to it - I keep grabbing for the D-rings and strap. Old habits die hard... | ||
| Crusty |
Yep, got the buckle on the Klim as well. The Schuberth also has one. | ||
| Ishai |
(Klim: 2.2 lb; Shoei: 3.9 lb) Joe- I see weight for the Klim listed as 3.6#... is there a special model that is 2.2# ? Ishai | ||
| Ratbuell |
Looks like I was mistooken (or I typed the grams-to-pounds numbers wrong). This article here shows 3.26# for the unpainted modular: https://badasshelmetstore.com/klim-tk1200-helmet-l ight-klim-helmet-choice/ Here's a good comparo article that shows the gloss-painted white one at 3.6# (and the article header photo looks to me like a white EBR?): https://www.motorcycle.com/products/klim-tk1200-ka rbon-modular-helmet-review mea culpa! | ||
| Ourdee |
I miss the ski buckle. | ||
| Zac4mac |
That ski buckle means I can put my helmet on AND take it off with one hand... even wearing winter gauntlets. | ||
| Figorvonbuellingham |
I can't live without the transitional lense that is on my Bell modular. The helmet is very loud so I wear earplugs. I guess that means plenty of ventilation. but the transition lense sold me and I can't see having a helmet without one. I wish some other manufacturers offered one. (Message edited by figorvonbuellingham on April 12, 2019) | ||
| Ratbuell |
Check aftermarket - lots of times you can get replacement shields that are transitions. | ||
| Jaimec |
I prefer the pop-down sun shields. Transitional lenses don't change from dark to light fast enough when entering a tunnel on a bright sunny day. Clicking the little release on the left side of my Nolan helmets pops the sun shield out of the way instantly. | ||
| Aesquire |
If you wear Transition glasses, you don't want a transition visor, too. That's an individual choice/issue. Hence my comment on metallic visors. If you don't wear glasses, or wear clear lenses, then they are great. But too dark to safely ride home in the dark. And carrying a spare visor, that's dependent on luggage. I usually have my tank bag stuffed with the liner for my mesh jacket on warm days. It will drop into the 40s F at night locally, even on 90 degree days. So a flip down secondary sun visor sounds great. If it fits over the glasses. And it fits. | ||
| Scott_in_nh |
I agree with Jaimec It means I need another helmet to take it to the strip as there aren't any SNELL certified helmets with the sun shield I think I am going to keep the Nolan I've been trying it on all week and have no hot spots while being appropriately tight in the cheek pads It has the sun visor, it comes with a pin lock visor, buckle chin strap, eyeglass cutouts, good venting, great visor stops, good speaker cutouts, etc. Pretty much as much helmet as you can get for $400 | ||
| Ratbuell |
My transitions glasses never transitioned inside a helmet, even with a clear visor. UV makes them darken. Most shields are UV shields, and don't let rays through...so the glasses never darken unless you open the shield. At least, mine never have. |
