Hi all, I am having a problem finding the right flip-top helmet for my head - I bet I am not alone here. I consider my head shape to be slightly round and 57cm circumference. The best fit hemet I ever had was the Arai Quantum F and since then I cannot say I ever had the perfect fit. Since then I bought:- Arai Quantum - fit not as good as Quantum F Shark Evoline Flip top - thrown away after 6 months Shoei Neotec - small - exchanged after a month for a medium size which I am still using after a lot of mods with extra foam here and there. Even enlarged the speaker recesses to stop the pain on my ears when fitted the Sena Neotec headset system. I have tried the Arai Rebel and Renegade and seem to be a good fit but are not flip-top. From my research it seems that Arai are no longer making the Quantum F shape and the Rebel / Renegade are the closest to that. So to narrow my search... are there any of you with similar shape head that found the right flip-top helmet. Please let me know...
Either shell shapes have changed or depletion of hair on top has made my requirements “different” as I used to wear Shoei but have had success with Arai and Shark (though the Shark helmet build was rubbish..) Now using HJC. Great quality and fit. The only solution is to keep trying helmets on though, until one that fits is found. There is considerable variation even from same make helmets just with a different model.
I thought I always had an Arai shaped head. I tried lots of different makes including Shoei, AGV etc but they just didn’t fit/sit right. Which was a real shame as they were a lot cheaper than the Arai equivalent. And then I tried an XLite 803 Ultra Carbon...........brilliant fit. Extremely light in comparison to the Arai. And best of all......half the price!
Arai model shapes differ so suit global markets. For example Chinese people have a different shaped swede to Western European’s. The RX7 Corsair fitted me great but other models felt odd.
I’ve had two Arai’s, a Quantum back in the 90’s and more recently a Chaser v Spencer replica. Both gave me a upper jaw and headache after an hour or so. The Chaser I had custom fitted at an Arai dealer because of the discomfort caused by the Quantum, but to no avail. A Shoei I bought in the early 2000’s fitted perfectly and was so comfortable. Guess I don’t have an Arai head!
Another vote for X-Lite. My last 2 helmets have been X-Lite flip ups. Very comfy on my round bonce. The 1004 ultra carbon flip up model represents good value as it has recently been replaced by the 1005 model.
Schubert C3. Have roundish bonce. Fits well and quite quiet for flip front. Shoei are similar. Didn’t fit me as well as Schu.
Another vote for HJC... I’ve just bought a RPHA 7 with the drop down visor, I prefer it to my £600 Shoei X Spirit 3 The vents and visor are so much easier to operate, and the visor change mechanism is streets ahead, must be the easiest one I’ve ever tried. I’m sure they do a decent flip up lid? Agree also about the build quality on Shark lids, my mate had a Shark Skwal? and he’s had about 4 visors on it as they keep cracking around the mounting pivot, in the end he’s spent over £200 on replacement visors, so he’s binned the Shark and also bought a HJC
My Shark literally fell apart within a year. My helmets get hard use with multiple tours, highish miles and used in all weather but other makes can last the guideline five years without issue. The main lining detached from the shell and moved around. Add in the fog insert which was supplied, kept popping out. On one occasion just before St Bernard pass where it would have been bloody handy due to rain and fog that gave way to snow! Not a good time to be steamed up. Also the paint chipped easy and the seat belt type chin strap popped open one day, making me suspicious about that type of strap fastening being safe. Best avoided imo.
My mate tried my HJC last year and liked it. He also has made the switch and is very pleased. Visor change is easy. Lining good quality. Vents work well without being noisy. Recessed ready for coms. mine came with standard and a tinted visor and anti fog insert. Light weight too. Thumbs up from me and the bonus of being cheaper than the big two. Mine is the RPHA 11 version.
Never looked at X-lite and possibly I should as it is a bit rounder than more oval. Is the x-lite x-1005 better (up market) than the Nolan N1005 or newer N90-3.
