Modern Vespa

I'm looking for a recommendation for a helmet to replace my Bell Revolver Evo. I'm not terribly happy with it in terms of fit or quality.

Two things that I need:

Modular Flip
Hi-Viz Yellow

Things I would like:

Flip Down Sun visor
Pinlock visor
~$400.00 price point

I have looked at the Nolan N104. It comes in the Hi-Viz yellow (but at a heafty premium apparently). I would also have to do a slight modification on this model to fit my Sena Bluetooth unit.

Any help from you good folks?

A quick search over at RevZilla for Hi-Viz - Modular - $400ish gave me:


Nolan N104 Hi-Viz
$529.95 Sale 15% Off! $450.45

LaZer Monaco Window Hi-Viz
$419.00

Shark Evoline 3 ST Century Hi Viz
$449.95 Sale 30% Off! $314.96

Nolan N44 Hi Vis
$419.95 Sale 25% Off! $314.96

AGV Numo EVO Stinger
$299.95

HJC SyMax 3 Hi-Viz
$309.99 - $314.99 10% Off MSRP $278.99 - $283.99

Scorpion EXO-900 Transformer
$269.95 - $279.95

Nexx X30V Hi-Viz Core
$359.00 Sale 40% Off! $215.40

Bell Revolver EVO Hi-Vis
$199.95



Good luck!

I'll second the Scorpion EXO 900 if it fits your head shape...I've worn one for four years and it's a great modular in hi-viz. I also have a tinted face shield that, combined with the slip-down sun shield makes it great for the early morning rides.

Karlu
Las Cruces, NM

that 1st reply is just like location location location .... 'weve got 250k to spend on our new home' .... 'ok look at this its 300k'

I originally tried an HJC as I heard good things about them here on MV but it is made for a rounder head than mine and the size that fit everywhere else pinched the top of my head front to rear. If not for that I would have bought it.
http://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/hjc-symax-3-hiviz-helmet

I ended up with a Shoei Neotec. I know it is outside your price range (it was outside of mine too) and doesn't come in hi vis (though it does come in bright yellow and white) but it is by far the best helmet I have owned. Great air flow and solidly built. Comes with a pinlock insert too. I stressed a bit about the price but now having used it almost daily for nine months I am happy I splurged.

http://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/shoei-neotec-helmet?utm_source=product&kwd=&adtype=pla&kw

+1 on Shoei Neotec. I got mine during the winter and wore it for the first long(ish) ride last weekend. ~150 miles and felt great. Also pondered long and hard before the splurge, but am very happy (queue that one guy...).

I didn't end up going with a helmet from RevZilla (got a Bell Star from a local vendor), but I talked to them about what I needed, my headshape (eggy oval) ..and my pricepoint and they were happy to give me recs that fit my criteria.

Though it may not be unbiased, as they'd like to sell you a helmet, I'd take your specs and run it past them and see what they'd recommend.

^^^^ Daily!? For NINE MONTHS?!! Brother, I'm moving to Florida....

Almost daily. Sometimes it is just too damn hot to ride.

I love my Nolan N-104. MUCH better than my Bell Revolver. And the modification for the Sena is easy. I highly recommend it.

Caberg Modus has all of the features you want

Love mine in matt black

I bought an HJC 16 somethingorother and while it fit better than anything I tried, it wasn't quite right. Well, maybe not perfect is the better way to say it. So the first time I really cleaned it I took the insides all apart and put them back in the best way I could. Suddenly the thing felt much better.

So check the bits and paneling in your helmet. I discovered they can be put together in different ways and make the fit very different.

Harv

this guy is funny...

Price point is nice, but fit and quality are far more important. The damn thing will be on your head every moment you ride -- you want comfortable and you want protection. I have a Shoei Neotec -- very pricy but it fits my head and I know it will protect. Had a Shoei full face before that.

The Nolan is nice, but didn't fit me. It isn't made with ear cutouts so it was uncomfortable on my head, YMMV. Also, the Nolan has a different chin strap from the standard D-ring that also felt uncomfortable. Again, go for fit, finish and manufacturer reputation -- how much is your brain worth?

All depends on who you ask. I think my brain is worth lots. My wife questions if I even have a brain.

I had a Caberg Justissimo helmet for years. great helmet, unfortunately not imported into the US, as far as I know.
Shark or Nolan are probably the best ones you are going to find in the US for what you want to spend.

Extremely helpful information.

If you haven't already looked, WebBike World has to be the worldwide authority on helmets. All aspects of helmets are discected and discussed, sometimes in minute detail. Issues of weight, fit, build quality, vision, noise suppression, etc., etc, are all covered for helmets from the last 5 to 10 years.

Here's the link; it will provide you with hours of research material. Good hunting!

http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycle-helmets/motorcycle-helmets.htm

Agree that webbikeworld is a great place for objective info.

There have been great recommendations made here...my recommendation is to try several of these on if possible to ensure a good comfortable fit.

+1

I posted the Sena installation on my blog: http://scootcommute.blogspot.ca/2014/03/project-report-installing-sena-smh10.html

My first reply is context context context...

I started out w/ the Nolan N104 Hi-Viz $529.95 Sale 15% Off! $450.45 because ckaiserca stated that he's been looking at the Nolan N104...

But hey - thanks for reading and responding to my post.

Ride safe!

I agree that fit is critical - Nolans fit me perfectly. I can order a medium and know that it will work great. Probably helps that I much prefer the racketing helmet closures to D rings. I doubt I'll every buy anything other than a Nolan.

N104 owner since September. I find the fit to be excellent (everyone's skull and hair is different) as is the visibility. That they don't use the typical D-ring for securing under the jaw is a major plus to me---I cannot stand D-rings. The drop-down sunvisor really works and I use it a lot. Very easy to make disappear or drop down with gloves on while riding.

The negatives:
The Pinlock has never been a secure fit on the visor. I've owned two. I think there is a basic tiny flaw in the sizing that prevented a complete seal, regardless of how I use the adjustment screws at each end. Because the visibility with them is so fine, I simply purchased some clear drying silicone, snipped off the pin-ends, and glopped on the Pinlock. It now works excellently through my PNW wet and foggy rides at all hours.

The helmet is on the noisy side, but I figure just about all are. In a few years when this one gets retired I'll check out a Shoei, but I may just stay with Nolan.

M

I don't know if there's a CycleGear near you, or if they ship to Canada, but their house brand, Bilt, has some modular Hi-viz options. I haven't ever used one of their helmets, so I can't give you any more input other than to say that they exist...

I just got an HJC CL-16 Hi-viz helmet, but it only hits 60% of your desires. It's not modular and doesn't have a drop-down visor. However, it is Hi-viz (with a really cool design), includes a pin-lock visor, and I got mine for $70.

Mark