Modern Vespa

I posted in general and I'd like for y'all to look at it. I need a new helmet and prefer a modular/flip style helmet. Thanks for weighing in!

Have the Nolan #2 & #3. Cost was about $200 +/- some. The #2 had the tinted visor outside, and the newer #3 has the visor inside. Riding with 3/4 helmets all my days, I am trying to adjust to these. Finding myself keeping the visor open a notch or two, for venting. Noise wise, guess a fair level rating, is ok. Using a 3/4 helmet on the scooter, with old style snap shield. The head fit is a "MAJOR ISSUE", for any brand. They do not all fit "standard heads"! Some brands are narrow, or wide, or in the middle. Lots of luck, almost as bad as picking a "new bike style"!

I just ordered this from Revzilla, http://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/nexx-xr1r-carbon-helmet
Know it's not modular, but it is carbon fiber and only weights 1200 grams or 2.64 lbs.

On summer I ride with my 3/4 helmet, for the rest of the year I have a HJC IS-Max. It cost less than $200, it is very comfortable, it has the flip up solar visor and right now, Newenough.com is giving the HD solar visor for free (via gift card). Have them send the price to you and compare with others companies. I would sugest to check fit and finish for the HJC brand at your local dealer, and if you like it, then, order through the web.

http://www.newenough.com/street/helmets_eyewear/closed_face_flip_up_chin/hjc/is_max_solid_and_metallic_motorcycle_helmet.html

Edited: link added.

After a lot of surfing I was about to plump for a couple of Nolan Air N.Com's Bubbajon, seemed good quality and the aftersales is supposed to be very good.
Plastic was on the counter in Thessaloniki, then they told me they had to go to Athens to get the com system fitted by a specialist, 2-3 days, so I backed off, didn't have the time.
With the year zooming past and limited 2 up riding in winter, I think a couple of pairs of new ski abouts is about to leap frog the list.
Will certainly be looking at them again next spring though, let us know what you went for, I certainly want a pair with a com system.

brand brand brand is 1 thing but comfort is what you want. The only way 2 really know is to try them on period. You also need to wear it for at 30 min to ensure no pressure points and everything is good. Now on to features most have decent vents in the chin bar and on top, look under the foam liner for the air channels in the hard foam and that the channels lead to an exit point. When shopping at the dealer ask them if you could test drive it to check for wind noise . Then when all done by all means buy the lid from them.

www.WebBikeWorld.com does thorough tests on more helmets than anyone else. They even tell you what head shape X helmet is made for. Go there to get objective reports.

"You also need to wear it for at 30 min to ensure no pressure points"

Given the price of the things I was intent on doing that, alas, my wife got the hump after 5 minutes, tore hers off and went to the coffee shop next door, muttering profanities in Russian, leaving me to stumble about the shop, booble headed in 30Deg.C for a further 15 minutes, then I gave up.
Certainly felt more comfortable than my existing Shoei.
For serious ventilation, you could move to Bulgaria, their law states only that a "safety helmet" must be worn.
Thus, when I first moved here I thought to myself "what an industrious little 3rd world country", with everyone bopping about back and forth to their building sites on their 2 wheels...sigh...no..the builders helmet constitutes as ATGAT here. Cheap as chips...

+1 on the IS Max. Just got one about a month ago. Love the flip down tinted visor. Very light and quiet. Previously had the Shoei Multitech. That was a great helmet as well, but it did not have the drop down internal visor.

double post

That's a bad-ass looking helmet Wayne. I *do* wish I could wear a full-face. ain't happening. I'd try one of these if there was a local dealer...

Hey amigo! I currently have two HJC's and if you remember Susan's is teh 3/4 HJC. I'm just disappointed that my Symax II is literally falling apart after only 2 years. The general consensus seems to be that's about all they're good for with constant use. I guess about $200 every couple of years isn't terribly bad - but it's like clothes - I hate to go shopping for 'em with the vagaries of fit. I was surprised today when the Shark, Shoei and Scorpions all fit best with a large. Normally I feel like I wear an XL. Anyway - I do like my HJC - I just want it to last longer...

I purchased a great modular helmet from JC Whitney. The size is true to what they say in the description and it flips up easily.

look at these http://www.compacc.com/p/Zox-Nevado-R-SVS-Flip-Front-Helmets-Graphic-Closeout

I do read their reports but they are so frustrating with their ambiguity that it makes me nutz - I dunno what to think after most of their reviews. Like the Shark Evoline. They *sound* like they rave about the series 2 yet they say that it's the heaviest helmet and the ventilation sucks. I'm also very much confused by their noise ratings - I understand their disclaimer that it's subjective so - use the technology that they actually use - just don't reference! I refer to their use of a dummy head with mics to pickup noise. So make a setup that blows wind or a fixture to put in a standard position on a test bike and give us the noise at various speeds.
I'm not even sure of their head shape anymore. In theory after today I have a round head since the Shoei and Shark both fit well. Yet in the past some Shoei and Aria helmets hurt like hell. I've always been comfortable with the slight oval shaped thus my current HJC helmet.
I tried on the Scorpion EVOX 900 today and was really wowed by a couple of things: it fit well and the pump up cheek pads actually worked great! I also like their side slider to activate the internal "Top Gun" visor. The Shark Evoline is cool in how it instantly converts to 3/4 but the ability to quickly remove the chin bar is pretty nifty too. The vents appear much much better on teh Scorpion than the Shark or the Shoei. Didn't Fuzzy get one of these?

A friend has a Scorpion flip up that he has just replaced with a Nexx, x tra large size--he might be willing to sell if thats your size. PM if so.
I have a Nolan flip up style, but it is heavy. I went back to my old Shoei full face--so much lighter!

I am getting the Black/Red one.

I rode 30,000 miles with a HJC SiMaz II and had no complaints.

I wanted a HI-Vis yellow and bought a Scorpion EXO 900 flip up. One size smaller than HJC to fit my head. Much much quieter. Face shield will not fog ever. Glasses may fog inside but the face shield will not. Much better optical quality in face shield. Warmer in the winter and about the same in the summer riding with the visor cracked open. Black strip around the bottom came loose a bit shortly after purchase. It comes with a leather guard closing the area betwen front of helmet and under chin. It was too tight against the chin for me so I removed it. Did not significantly increase noise or cold in winter. Glued it back and moved on. I have ridden 20,000+ miles with it and am happy. Paid about $260 for it. If you want a 3/4 it quickly converts to one but I have no interest in riding without full face so have never done it.

Thanks Fuzzy - I thought it was you (and someone else) that had teh Scorpion EXO 900. I've read several complaints about that black strip coming loose - no problem with just DIY fix? I think the whole conversion thing is a novelty with this helmet as it means you're packing around spare parts and having to pull over to do it. I routinely flip up my visor on the Symax and use the tinted visor to protect my eyes. great airflow but at any speed the visor will eventually get slammed down. Who knows - perhaps on those back road jaunts on days like today (HOT) it will be a good helmet. I'm glad to hear the helmet has been good to you over the miles - longevity and comfort are two biggies - the size I tried on was also a L versus my XL in the Vega and Symax helmets. How does that cheek inflator thing work for you? It is a useful item or just a gadget?

I've been using a Shoei Multi-Tec ever since I bought my MP-3 in Sept of 07 and it is still in great shape after 17,000 miles on the MP3 and 2,500 on the Tiger. While it doesn't have the built in visor, I've been using pinlock visors that allow an insert to be put inside the lens which prevents fogging. A bonus is that you can get clear/tinted/yellow or orange inserts. One poor design of the inserts is that the corner of it near the pins tends to break easily.

It's been my experience unless your sitting behind a windshield, a full coverage/flip-up helmet get's max ventilation inside when moving with the lens closed or almost closed. If you have the lens open it cuts down on the air flow thru it when moving.

Also, if you have a bald head like me, unless you wear a headskin/do-rag there's no where for top incoming air to go. With a do-rag on you can actually feel the air hitting your head ! 8)

The magic phrase being behind a windscreen. The F1 is pretty good at deflecting air - It does hit the top of my helmet so that vent is pretty important. Danged if I don't like that Shark Evoline 2 but it's $200 more than the Scorpion. The kicker is the Scorpion gets better air flow according to reviews. I'm unlikely to actually need to flip to 3/4 on the move so that's the lid I'll probably get. Surprisingly the local shops have it at the same [prices as the big internet shops like Revzilla and MCS. Go figure.

Might have been me you were thinking of WRT the Scorpion Transformer. I picked one up many months ago and have worn it every ride since, several times converted to 3/4. Mostly I like it but it is on the heavy side and ventilation is not as good as you might expect with the neat looking vents (well, the 3/4 version vents nicely ) Have had no material issues with anything, it's held up well and I've disassembled a few times for cleaning. I am pleased with the purchase. The flip down internal visor is handy but with my Rx shades and the flip down I get psychedelic rainbows in my vision when sun is at an angle - far out, man... I use the flip down only when driving into direct sun and it works well. Fogging of the visor is pretty much nonexistant, but the eyeglasses fog easily due to minimal ventilation - but visor cracks open a notch and stays there. All in all I would recommend it, and we just bought a second one for my wife, same color.

It's too bad there isn't a wind tunnel when you're shopping for a new helmet.

I would not say the Scorpion is any better air flow than the Si-Max II. Not worse but not better. In hot weather with either one I ride with face shield cracked open.

Thanks Rick - final question for you or Roy about that pump up cheek pads. Dos it help the noise? The fit? Just a marketing ploy?

I never use it, the fit is just right without it. Now that you mentioned it tho I should have relayed earlier that I find the left rear at the collar is a bit tighter on my neck, and that is where the pump-and-release controls are located. Only am aware of it when doing a lot of head swiveling.

Others have told me the inflating collar is useful for them but I have little use for it myself. My wife gets her new helmet tomorrow so has yet to try it - she may find the inflation collar beneficial, I'll let you know.

+1
Of no use to me as the helmet shape is already tight on my head. A narrower head would I believe benefit. You can test it in the store when you test the fit.

Seemed like it fit me really snug too - I figured it might help with the seal and thus noise since a lot comes from around teh hinge area - at least on my HJC it does... I'm back to the store today to give it the extended wear test for 20 minutes or so. Does it break in at all - I mean adapt to your head in the tight spots? I don't recall any but I know my HJC had a cheek bone issue that smoothed out after a week or so.

My Xformer has remained snug, and if anything it is slightly on the too-snug side. It does not bother me too much but on and off I sometimes wonder if I need to look on the floor for my stripped-off ears... When worn 3/4 it's different, of course. I would say it has adapted to me a little, but mostly as the minimal padding compresses and has slightly shifted. The padding seams are stitched in rolls over the forehead that I am aware of from pressure and they do leave a small mark after I wear for a while, but they have become less obtrusive in time.

I would add that it is not a particularly quiet helmet and I use earplugs for anything other than just the short ride to work... but it is considerably more quiet than my Fulmer.

You can pull the liner out and sand the foam down just a little for a custom fit if it's just tight on the sides or the front at the forehead. My brother did this and loves the way his Multi Tec fits now

they do break in very little though. If you encounter a tight spot when demoing try a different lid. if you encounter a tight spot after purchase, you can sand the hard foam liner of compress the area with your thimb to relieve that spot pressure. Don't forget to do a test ride for noise.

Shoei Mulitech - great helmet.

You must have an "oval" head, or a Shoei-head.

Ran into PapBear at Cycle Gear and we looked at the Shark Evoline helmets. I really like 'em and I could convince myself to splurge the money but the helmet just defeats the reason I wear a modular to begin with - glasses. It rips them off my face and mangles them going on and coming off. Something about the rake of the lower jaw. Anyway - took my time and just could not figure a way. So he needed to go to teh Ducati dealer and the Powersports place is right next door and we heard rumors of a parking lot that was painted with the MSF course - so off we go. I'm damn glad he moved here - it's fun having a scooter buddy. So we picked up his parts from the Ducati dealer, found the MSF course and ran it a couple of times. Y'all will be happy to hear I can still do the box on my 500. 1st try!
Went to the Powersports place where we examined the Shoei and the Scorpion EXO 900. PapaBear was sufficiently impressed with the Scorpion - he currently has a Shoei R1000 but wants a modular. He likes the Shoei Multitech modular but also likes the flip down Top Gun visor after he saw mine. So now he's also considering the Scorpion. I gotta say after another fitting it is snug and fits well with no pinch points I could tell. The pump thingie didn't seem like it did much but maybe in actual use down the road... ?

Wait a minute... you're trying to put your helmet on and off while you are wearing your eyeglasses? I've never tried because I know how snug the Scorpion helmet is - no way my specs would make it. Have you been able to do this with other helmets?

OK I just tried with my old Fulmer and with effort I could keep my specs on, but it's risky at best and I need my glasses. I just always put them on after the helmet, and remove 'em before taking helmet off.

I'm massively impressed with Scorpion as a whole. I have their 3/4 helmet with pop-down inner eye visor and the fit is WONDERFUL! I know that's not a full modular helmet, but when trying on the Exo transforming one, it felt really good. Their jackets are great, too. Sexy styling with quality safety elements. The price is really good for what you get, too.

Some people say that if you want true quality, you have to be willing to pay for it, especially in helmets. I've found that some gear companies, however, know how to give you great quality at a price you can reason with. I started out as an Icon girl since they have great moto-styling for women, but I'm quickly becoming a big Scorpion fan.

Just to chime in about the Evoline and glasses, as I wear them as well. To avoid ripping them off my face each time I put on/remove the helmet, I convert the helmet to its 3/4 mode. From there, it's either entering the helmet face-first from the bottom, or removing the helmet by pushing the helmet backwards off the head, allowing the face to exit the helmet first. Both techniques allow me to keep my glasses on without much fuss. Still, I can understand how this may/may not work, depending on who's using it.

Just some additional cents to toss in on the subject matter...

I currently do it a couple times a day with my Scorpion and previously with my SyMax II. One of the flip up advantages is it pulls apart more than full face to get on. Also both when new were harder to do without moving glasses, but loosened up over time.

Yep - most helmets do not have any sort of channel for the arms so I have a tough time getting them in and over my ears. I've heard people describe this as the difference between straight & curved. Mine are curved. The technique that I've always used is probably not the best thing for the helmet but it gets teh job done and has caused no issues with any helmet I've owned. I grab the straps, position the helmet just up to my glasses from the top and then pull the helmet apart to spread slightly enough to just clear the glasses and pop the helmet on. If I'm clumsy it might skew them a bit but they're still in position which is the important part.