Helmet Reviews - With Helmet City
I recently visited HelmetCity's Chichester store to meet Dean to try on some of the vast stock they have, this has given me the opportunity to be able to review some of the popular race helmets on offer. Dean has a vast amount of knowledge on helmets which was beneficial in helping me pick this years race helmet.. but before we get to which one I went for, here are the ones I tried:
Arai RX-7v Evo -£699
https://www.helmetcity.co.uk/arai-rx-7v-evo-diamond-white/
First impressions out of the box, nice updated look on the classic Aria. Lots of vents which was easy to see if they were open or closed and to open and close with a gloved hand. Trying on the helmet I was immediately impressed on the comfort and softness of the padding inside the helmet, almost feeling like a memory foam pillow. I also note that all internal padding was removable and fully washable- the liner and foam can be further separated for a deeper clean. The helmet has an optional rear spoiler/diffuser for aerodynamic purposes and would no doubt help with buffeting and stability. It also brings the more rounded style of the helmet inline with its rivals. The exterior side pods are much improved and are now tethered to the helmet therefore no risk of loosing these. It also has an F1 inspired visor locking/release catch which was very easy to use. Overall I was really impressed with this helmet and a serious contender!
Bell Race Star Flex - currently on Sale £369.99
https://www.helmetcity.co.uk/bell-race-star-flex-dlx-matt-black/
First impressions out of the box, looked really nice, stealthy and very light. I had never tried a carbon helmet before and it had a completely different feel and noise while holding it. The carbon fibre almost makes the helmet sound hollow.
The liners for this helmet are attached magnetically which I thought was a really good feature and much easier to remove for cleaning over some of the popper/sliding systems in other helmets brands. Trying on the helmet, again really light. Good visibility, nice wide aperture. The cheek pads did feel higher on my face and I felt that the lower part of my chin wasn’t covered as well. The helmet was comfortable but just somehow didn’t feel as plush and supported for me as some of the others and I did find the sound of the carbon fibre outing a little distracting.
HJC RPHA-1 - Currently on sale £524.99
https://www.helmetcity.co.uk/hjc-rpha-1-pol-espargaro/
First impressions out of the box, typical race helmet shape. Smart looking. Despite being the same size helmet as all the others that I tried It was far too small so had to go up a size. Removable liners for easy cleaning. I did feel even with the larger size helmet it still felt tight on the back of my head and probably would have been an issue with any prolonged use. It also had a shorter front on it which made it too close to my mouth. For me it wasn’t suitable with my head shape, which is a shame as it’s a smart looking helmet.
Shoei X SPR - PRO £699
https://www.helmetcity.co.uk/shoei-x-spr-pro-matt-black/
First impression out of the box, immediately felt familiar as I had raced in a Shoei x-spirt III for the last two years. The vent system has changed making it easier to see if they are open and close and the visor locking system is now located on the chin making these both welcomed improvements. One thing I struggled with with the x-spirit III was visibility, so I was very happy that this also had been improved considerably and gave a really good range in a full tuck position on the bike. The liner is removable for washing and you can even order larger/smaller liners to make the helmet fit more customisable. There are a few changes in the overall shape/aerodynamics of the helmet which I think will help with buffeting- though i personally didn’t have any issues with this on the previous model. This helmet is also FIM certified so is suitable for road racing.
All manufactures seem to offer a different style in terms of visors which can really influence your choice in helmets and what you want from it. Some have 3D visors which can’t take a pinlock but generally will offer a tear off pack. Personally having used pinlocks I wouldn’t want to revert back to relying on a breath guard to stop visor misting. I haven’t needed to use tear offs yet but can understand that these are essential for some riders so making sure your visor is compatible for this is vital.
A visor locking system is something to consider, a good secure mechanism that’s easy to use is a must having had crashes where the visor has come off in the past.
Overall the experience reconfirmed that helmets are not a one size fits all and visiting a specialist of all the brands where you can try them all on and have the knowledgeable advise really is a serious consideration and helmets do continue to be updated and improved so what might not have worked a few years ago might just now be the perfect fit.
I personally had tried an Arai helmet a few years ago and I didn’t like it or it’s fit however it was now a serious contender for me and the comfort of this helmet really was impressive.
The shoei, with it already being familiar and having the improvements that I felt it needed also made this helmet a top runner. I already knew how to take it apart for cleaning and changing out visors.
So In the end I went with the safety of familiarity and chose the Shoei x-spr pro. It really was a tough choice and had Shoei not of made those improvements the Arai would have been a no brainier for myself and the hands down winner. I look forward to testing one out on track soon!
As a side note, having a removable liner for me is a must.. you can even order a complete new set so that over a race weekend you can have a fresh liner, what luxury! I also think this give you longer use of your helmet if you’re able to keep it fresh and clean as opposed to a cheaper helmet that could start to be an unpleasant place to put your head after only a few months of summer use!
If you’re in need of a new Helmet, HelmetCity have a huge amount of options in a variety of styles and budgets depending on your requirements.
I am able to offer readers 15% off a new helmet or the huge range of other products that HelmetCity offer:
HCDMR for 15% off full price items on orders over £50
