THE PRODUCT TEST Sports helmets These are the helmets you see racers wearing. But are they any good for road riders? By Matt Hull Photographs by Chippy Wood What is a sports helmet? It s a helmet designed to deal with the specific requirements of on-track use whether that s racing or trackdays as well as the rigours of road riding. That normally means light weight, a sleek shape, high-performing ventilation and padding that is easily removable for washing, as track use tends to make a rider very sweaty. These helmets are generally the most expensive in their respective manufacturers ranges, as they use materials that are both tough and light, and they often debut the most advanced developments in straps, padding, vents and visors. These materials and details will often filter through the rest of the range over time. The importance of fit In fast riding your head will come in for a lot of buffeting, so to reduce fatigue it is essential to have a helmet that fits perfectly. Your crown may be right but your cheeks may feel slightly tight, or vice versa. You can buy different size cheek pads for most of these helmets to tailor the fit. A couple of helmets on test also had adjustable interiors, so it s worth having a play to get it fitting as well as possible. Snug is good. Safety Helmet manufacturers approach protection in different ways. Most shells are a composite of carbonfibre, fibreglass and aramid fibres (such as Kevlar) for lightness, abrasion and impact absorption. Most have a multiple-density EPS (expanded polystyrene layer) to help dissipate impact forces. The Shark s EPS features ridges like a crumple zone, while the Bell has a dual EPS that can move slightly to reduce twisting forces. The AGV s shell is made from pure carbonfibre, to save weight. Many of the helmets now have quick-release cheek pads to aid removal. All feature double D-ring straps. How we tested them We didn t crash test the helmets. All pass the ECE 22.05 requirement to be sold in the EU and some have been through the government testing system, Sharp, which gives star ratings from one to five for impact protection. Some also pass the Snell test for use in the US. Nor did we mark the helmets for comfort. Everyone s head is different in shape, so what suits our testers may not suit you. We have noted the shape of the helmet, to steer you towards products most likely to fit you. It s crucial to go and try several helmets yourself, and get an in-store expert to help you. The focus of our months of testing was living with the helmets and giving them hundreds of miles of hard use. A minimum of 500 miles were covered on the road in each helmet, on both a Honda Africa Twin and a Yamaha MT-07. We logged comfort, noise, vision, ease of use, tendency to mist, overall quality and shape. We then tested them on track to see how they rated for buffeting, misting, visor changing, plus vision and comfort in a prone position. We tried them without any chin curtains or anti-mist inserts during our track tests to get an idea of what the venting is like for those who wear glasses. We changed visors, adjusted interiors where possible, and repeatedly opened and closed vents to understand which helmets will serve you best. Raindrop-style profile of a sports lid lets the airflow follow a line from screen to hump Special thanks go to No Limits Trackdays (www.nolimitstrackdays.com) and the circuit staff at Mallory Park 90 JULY 2016 JULY 2016 91
Sharktooth headset fitted here is not included X-Lite X-802RR patterns 399, plain 299 www.motogear.co.uk Measured weight 1366g, notched Interior Removable, carbon anti-sweat On track: There s little buffeting and, being the lightest helmet on test, you hardly notice you re wearing it. Vision is good, and the Pinlock anti-mist insert sits high enough for when you re in a prone riding position. The visor lock is flimsy, but will also hold the visor open a small amount to prevent misting. Top vents are only average. On road: Horizontal peripheral vision is good, venting is good and the interior is comfy, though the cheek pads feel high. Neck curtain seals well, but it s still quite noisy. But it s so light and the sumptuous interior makes wearing it a joy, with little buffeting when turning your head. And all for a great price. On track...9/10 On road...8/10 Interior...9/10 Visor changing...8/10 Venting...8/10 Noise...8/10 Buffeting...9/10 Use with glasses...6/10 Quality feel...8/10 TOTAL...73/90 Shark Race-R Pro Carbon patterns 400, plain 330 www.nevis.uk.com Measured weight 1506g Material Carbon/aramid/fibreglass composite Visor 5mm, tear-off posts, notched, lockable Anti-fog Coated Interior Removable, anti-bacterial On track: Lightweight, with excellent venting options and secure, solid visor. Good forward vision when prone. But needs breath guard (included with helmet) fitted to prevent misting. On road: Little peripheral vision compared with more modern designs, so have to tip your head to see dials. Visor can be adjusted to be stiffer or easier to open. Nice wickable interior, good for glasses, and neck curtain keeps drafts out. Interior has carbon fabric to wick sweat and prevent nasty whiffs. Excellent chin guard Visor-changing mechanism is simple, but lock button is fiddly and not the most secure Vents work OK, though top ones aren t that noticeable and hard to find with thick gloves RACE REPLICA This is the Chaz Davies replica, which costs 100 more. There is also an even lighter version, the X-Lite X-802RR Ultra. On track...9/10 On road...7/10 Interior...7/10 Visor changing...8/10 Venting...8/10 Noise...8/10 Buffeting...9/10 Use with glasses...8/10 Quality feel...7/10 TOTAL...71/90 Neck curtain is tight getting on and off but seals well. Cut front curtain out for track work Spoilers are to help reduce buffeting, though you really have to be going rather fast to test it Arai RX-7V patterns 499, plain 599 www.whyarai.co.uk Measured weight 1620g Material Structural net composite Shell shape Round Shell sizes 5 Visor Pinlock posts, 3D, lockable Anti-fog Pinlock Max Vision Interior Removable, Eco-pure On track: Heaviest on test but not noticeable. Needs to be tilted up for best forward vision. Changing visors takes some getting used to. Venting is excellent and adjustable on the move. On road: Comparatively quiet. Vents are easy to use with gloves, and it s the most comfortable helmet for wearing all day. Exit vents can be closed, unlike most, reducing drafts. Largest and heaviest on test, but the RX-7V hides its size well On track...8/10 On road...8/10 Interior...10/10 Visor changing...5/10 Venting...9/10 Noise...6/10 Buffeting...9/10 Use with glasses...8/10 Quality feel...9/10 TOTAL...72/90 92 JULY 2016
The most modern looking helmet here, with a shell made from carbonfibre AGV Pista GP 799 www.agv.co.uk Measured weight 1551g Material Carbonfibre Visor Double lock, tear-off posts anti-bacterial On track: Most track-focused helmet on test. Vents are huge, with bungs to close. Interior has sweat band. Secure visor, great vision for track riding. No buffeting at all. On road: Noisy but surprisingly comfy. Interior can be adjusted and comes with extra padding. Horizontal peripheral vision not brilliant. AGV Corsa ( 499) more road-orientated. On track...10/10 On road...7/10 Venting...9/10 Noise...5/10 Buffeting...9/10 Use with glasses...6/10 Quality feel...9/10 TOTAL...72/90 Comes with built-in sweat band Shoei X-Spirit III patterns 649, plain 549 www.shoeiassured.com Measured weight 1392g Material AIM+ composite Shell shape Medium oval anti-sweat On track...10/10 On road...7/10 Venting...9/10 Noise...5/10 Buffeting...7/10 Quality feel...9/10 TOTAL...72/90 Newest design here and superb on track, but slightly compromised on road On track: Faultless on track. Good vision, comfortable in several positions, good visor and lightweight. Venting is totally adjustable. Or road: Vents make this a noisy helmet. Position on upright bike not as comfy as other lids. Visor lock easy to catch when opening visor. Spoilers can be removed Kabuto is very light, great price and comfortable on road and track Kabuto RT33 patterns 360, plain 330 www.kabuto-europe.com Measure weight 1384g Visor Pinlock ready, tear-off posts Anti-fog Pinlock Max Vision inc Interior Removable, Coolmax On track: Very lightweight. Good vision all round, with an easy-to-use visor mechanism. Mists up badly and vents don t seem to help. No buffeting. On road: Quiet, lightweight and comfortable for all-day use, with good vision. Top vent only cools middle of head though. On track...7/10 On road...9/10 Venting...5/10 Noise...8/10 Buffeting...9/10 TOTAL...70/90 Comfy over long distances 94 JULY 2016
At 269 this has to be one of the best value helmets Scorpion EXO2000 Air 269 www.tranam.co.uk Measured weight 1371g Material AIM+ composite anti-sweat, pump fit On track...9/10 Interior...8/10 Use with glasses...6/10 On track: Good fit, improved with air-pump cheek pads. Good visor and decent peripheral vision. Lightweight feel but there s a little buffeting. Vents are only adequate. On road: Comfortable interior, quite noisy and interior feels wet in hotter weather. But nicely made and very good for price. Spoiler will break away in crash HJC RPHA11 patterns 449, plain 329 www.oxfordproducts.com Measured weight 1403g Material Carbon/fibreglass hybrid Shell shape Medium oval Interior Removable, anti-sweat On track...7/10 Interior...8/10 Venting...5/10 Noise...8/10 Use with glasses...7/10 Quality feel...8/10 Comfortable and available in loads of different colour schemes On track: Good all round. Comfortable, though feels sweaty quickly. OK venting, although front side vents operated from inside so can t be adjusted easily on the go. Top vents not that efficient. On road: Comfortable, great visor system can even change visors with the helmet still on. Mesh vents operate from inside Beautiful design, great vision and innovative EPS design Bell Racestar 599 www.bellhelmets.com Measured weight 1504g Visor Lockable Interior Removable, wickable On track: Superb horizontal peripheral vision thanks to aperture shape. Vents work well to demist visor. Not as light as its carbonfibre construction would have you believe. On road: Plush lining. Neat touches like magnetic tidy for strap, and EPS that helps reduce twisting. Fit is wider at bottom than most, so good for some head shapes. On track...9/10 Interior...7/10 Use with glasses...7/10 Peripheral vision is excellent 96 JULY 2016
Good on track and a great road helmet with excellent vision BMW Race 455 www.bmw-motorrad.co.uk Measured weight 1419g Material Carbonfibre/fibreglass Visor Tear-off posts, lockable Interior Removable, wicks sweat On track: Good vision horizontally, but has to be worn tilted up for good forward vision. Lining is comfortable but gets wet and sticky. Vents are very effective when open the chin vent demists very quickly. On road: Vents are too much on road. Visor change mechanism is fiddly. Good vision, and a good overall road helmet On track...6/10 Interior...7/10 Visor changing...6/10 TOTAL...64/90 Simple but feels easy to break LS2 FF323 Arrow R patterns 220, plain 200 www.ls2helmets.com Measured weight 1474g Material Fibreglass tri-composite Shell shape Long oval Visor Lockable Interior Removable, anti-bacterial On track...5/10 On road...6/10 Interior...7/10 Visor changing...8/10 Venting...6/10 Noise...3/10 Buffeting...7/10 Use with glasses...7/10 Quality feel...6/10 TOTAL...55/90 Great looks and superb vision for just 200 On track: Incredible vision, but visor distorted at the top. Venting is poor so the visor mists up unless you fit the Pinlock insert. Nice, comfortable fit, with little buffeting. On road: Noisy. Visor is easy to use and change. Comfortable interior, though even with vents closed it still seems to be drafty. Visor mechanism is easy to use THE VERDICT WE FOUND that the better a helmet is for track riding, the more compromised it is for road riding. So never assume just because you re buying the most expensive from a range that you re getting the helmet that s best for you many riders will be better off with the next helmet down in the range. The X-Lite X-802RR just pips the rest and gets the RiDE Best Buy triangle as it costs less than half the price of some rivals. The AGV Pista GP, Arai RX-7V, Shark Race R Pro and Shoei X-Spirit III are all superb alternatives and get Recommended triangles. The Kabuto, Scorpion and HJC all give a fine balance between road and track at a good price, with the Bell bringing new safety ideas. The BMW is more of a road helmet but good nonetheless, and the LS2 would be great for those with limited neck movement as its visor aperture is so big. Bell Racestar shows why vision is so important on track 98 JULY 2016