Weo
7th October 2008, 20:07
Hi all Weo here,
I've been wanting to get a different helmet for awhile now. Recently my shield ratcheting mechanism broke on my Shoei (my fault :o) and it will take almost a week for a replacement, so I used it as an excuse to get a new helmet from our sponsor Motorcycle Superstore (http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/). It came in before my Shoei parts. :clap
I have been very happy with my Sheoi TZR except for two things, one of which was my fault. First, the visor fogs up VERY easily. I ordered a pinlock system to see if it makes a difference. Secondly, I bought one size to large. It felt good at the dealer, but after a week or two the pads broke in and it was noticably loose in highway conditions. Depending on how the pinlock works, I'll keep it for winter when I wear a balaclava. It's worth it to note that the TZ-R is at the lower end of Shoei's FF lineup.
I couldn't justify getting the X-Eleven from Shoei since my budget went to purchasing a 1250 kit, among other projects so I started reading reviews at Web Bike World (http://www.webbikeworld.com/Reviewed-motorcycle-products/Products.htm)to get an idea of what I wanted. I also remember trying on the Carbon HC F-15 at an Indy I go to in IL when I visit my family, and it fit well.
I ended up purchasing a white F-15 (HJC's top of the line FF; half the price of the Shoei X-Eleven), and plan on adding a couple stickers of my performance mods in the future.
Here's what she looks like unmolested:
http://www.hjchelmets.com/images/products/product_images/fs15/solid/white.jpg
At a glance, I noticed that the nose/breathguard was detachable by 3 easy snaps. The size was a little tight out of the box (the way it should be new). The helmet pad liners were very smooth and comfortable. The chin vent opens down like a door, and the head vents slide up from a center mounted slide control. The head vent looks to have an exhaust port at the top of the visor. The controls were easy to manipulate with heavier gloves. I did not notice any manufacturing defects.
There is a spoiler near the rear with metal mesh vents. With this particular model, it appears as though it does not open to the inside, and works for aerodynamics rather than head venting. I believe that some HJC helmets have an actual adjustable rear vent to the inside for airflow during hot conditions. There is also a mesh vent on the side of the chin, presumably to aid the chin vent. The venting was at least as good, if not better than the TZ-R.
The HJC visor system doesn't have all of the partial open positions that I get with my Shoei. I usually ride in the warmer weather with the Shoei either one ratchet open, or second ratchet from top open. Since I usually wear glasses I still have eye protection with it open. The first position lets me get a good breeze, the second doesn't catch the wind around town, and both don't allow the bottom of the visor to cross into my viewing field. The HJC does allow a tiny crack if desired, and in the upper positions, the visor's bottom only cuts through at about 15% or so of the horizon. Not too bad. The visor was crystal clear with no distortions.
Another nice feature, was that the chin strap end has a snap down. Although not a big deal, my Shoei's chin strap ends would sometimes flap the side of the helmet... a little annoying, but no big deal. The HJC snap secures the end so it doesn't flap in the wind. It also uses the standard two D-ring system.
I received the helmet today, took it out of the box, and headed for the highway. Temps today were around 60F and humid.
I don't know if my Shoei highway experience was due to the fact that I had a size to large with my Shoei, but this helmet loves the highway!!! :wonderlan With my Shoei TZ-R on the highway, I could feel helmet lift and significant wind resistance when I turned to check my blind spot. With the HJC, I barely noticed the wind resistance at all, and no noticable resistance when turning my head to check behind me. Wind noise was similar, if not less than my TZ-R. Although my zipped up fleece might have influenced that.
I used the breathguard (Shoei also has a nose/breathguard available) and only noticed slight fogging when stopped. I'll try it without the breathguard later and see if it makes a noticable difference.
I'm VERY happy with this helmet, and highly recommend it. :smoke
I've been wanting to get a different helmet for awhile now. Recently my shield ratcheting mechanism broke on my Shoei (my fault :o) and it will take almost a week for a replacement, so I used it as an excuse to get a new helmet from our sponsor Motorcycle Superstore (http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/). It came in before my Shoei parts. :clap
I have been very happy with my Sheoi TZR except for two things, one of which was my fault. First, the visor fogs up VERY easily. I ordered a pinlock system to see if it makes a difference. Secondly, I bought one size to large. It felt good at the dealer, but after a week or two the pads broke in and it was noticably loose in highway conditions. Depending on how the pinlock works, I'll keep it for winter when I wear a balaclava. It's worth it to note that the TZ-R is at the lower end of Shoei's FF lineup.
I couldn't justify getting the X-Eleven from Shoei since my budget went to purchasing a 1250 kit, among other projects so I started reading reviews at Web Bike World (http://www.webbikeworld.com/Reviewed-motorcycle-products/Products.htm)to get an idea of what I wanted. I also remember trying on the Carbon HC F-15 at an Indy I go to in IL when I visit my family, and it fit well.
I ended up purchasing a white F-15 (HJC's top of the line FF; half the price of the Shoei X-Eleven), and plan on adding a couple stickers of my performance mods in the future.
Here's what she looks like unmolested:
http://www.hjchelmets.com/images/products/product_images/fs15/solid/white.jpg
At a glance, I noticed that the nose/breathguard was detachable by 3 easy snaps. The size was a little tight out of the box (the way it should be new). The helmet pad liners were very smooth and comfortable. The chin vent opens down like a door, and the head vents slide up from a center mounted slide control. The head vent looks to have an exhaust port at the top of the visor. The controls were easy to manipulate with heavier gloves. I did not notice any manufacturing defects.
There is a spoiler near the rear with metal mesh vents. With this particular model, it appears as though it does not open to the inside, and works for aerodynamics rather than head venting. I believe that some HJC helmets have an actual adjustable rear vent to the inside for airflow during hot conditions. There is also a mesh vent on the side of the chin, presumably to aid the chin vent. The venting was at least as good, if not better than the TZ-R.
The HJC visor system doesn't have all of the partial open positions that I get with my Shoei. I usually ride in the warmer weather with the Shoei either one ratchet open, or second ratchet from top open. Since I usually wear glasses I still have eye protection with it open. The first position lets me get a good breeze, the second doesn't catch the wind around town, and both don't allow the bottom of the visor to cross into my viewing field. The HJC does allow a tiny crack if desired, and in the upper positions, the visor's bottom only cuts through at about 15% or so of the horizon. Not too bad. The visor was crystal clear with no distortions.
Another nice feature, was that the chin strap end has a snap down. Although not a big deal, my Shoei's chin strap ends would sometimes flap the side of the helmet... a little annoying, but no big deal. The HJC snap secures the end so it doesn't flap in the wind. It also uses the standard two D-ring system.
I received the helmet today, took it out of the box, and headed for the highway. Temps today were around 60F and humid.
I don't know if my Shoei highway experience was due to the fact that I had a size to large with my Shoei, but this helmet loves the highway!!! :wonderlan With my Shoei TZ-R on the highway, I could feel helmet lift and significant wind resistance when I turned to check my blind spot. With the HJC, I barely noticed the wind resistance at all, and no noticable resistance when turning my head to check behind me. Wind noise was similar, if not less than my TZ-R. Although my zipped up fleece might have influenced that.
I used the breathguard (Shoei also has a nose/breathguard available) and only noticed slight fogging when stopped. I'll try it without the breathguard later and see if it makes a noticable difference.
I'm VERY happy with this helmet, and highly recommend it. :smoke