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-   -   Alternative Crossover Helmets...need your thoughts? ( https://www.xt660.com/showthread.php?t=18698)

Chris1811 23-03-12 11:55
Alternative Crossover Helmets...need your thoughts?
 
Hi all,

Ive been looking at alternative Crossover Helmets.
In an ideal world id love to have a Tour x4 or a shoei Hornet, but unfortunately I don't have �300 - �400 to spend.

I have found some alternatives and would like to know what you guys think.
Have any of you ever owned them etc??

Airoh

http://www.ghostbikes.com/products/H...or-helmet.html

Spada

http://www.ghostbikes.com/products/H...le-helmet.html

Nitro

http://www.ghostbikes.com/products/G...mx-helmet.html

HJC

http://www.mandp.co.uk/productinfo/2...Dual-Sport/HJC

Uvex

http://www.mandp.co.uk/productinfo/2...ual-Sport/Uvex

V-Can

http://www.mandp.co.uk/productinfo/2...al-Sport/V-Can

I still value my head and im leaning towards the more expensive ones as in the old saying 'you get what you pay for' but is this true?

Cheers All

Chris

Gas_Up_Lets_Go 23-03-12 12:39
I always had Aria lids, the last being the TourX, I moved to the Shoei Hornet and I have to say I wouldn't go back, I just find the Shoei more comfortable, lighter, quieter and the quality is about the same.

Anyway, that doesn't help you.



Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris1811 (Post 170034)
My mate has, or rather had one of these (I say had because he left it in the barn and the Mice made a home with it!) and he was really taken with it. The quality is good and it was fairly light too.

I've had HJC's, two in fact, the first one was poor, the second was diabolical. But that was a few years ago, so things may have changed.

Usual advice Chris, try them on (if the shop won't let you, walk away) and see what feels best. They will all do the same job, just some will last longer (they do have a shelf life) than others. Consider things like exchange visors so you can go darker when the sun is low in the sky etc etc.

Good luck!

Onanist 23-03-12 13:00
I have the Airoh, bought it as a second helmet for the trip to work, keeping my AGV for touring. That hasn't happened, the AGV has been left on the shelf. The Airoh is comfy, light and causes no pressure to my head on long trips. I took it to Iceland without the peak (as you can run with the peak or without) and it was just superb. Would deffo have another one.

stoic bloke 23-03-12 13:53
+1 on the airoh, I guess it's like Darren says, try one for the fit.

i bought mine for a rally and liked it so much, i use it for trailing, commuting etc, due to the type of buckle we cant use for racing, double ''d''s only, mcui rules.

I would get another! when needed

hagland2431 23-03-12 15:29
I've been looking too and when I get a pay rise lol I will probably get this http://www.denniswinter.com/off-road...met-black-p617

Chris1811 23-03-12 17:01
Quote:
Originally Posted by hagland2431 (Post 170041)
I've been looking too and when I get a pay rise lol I will probably get this http://www.denniswinter.com/off-road...met-black-p617
Thats a nice looking helmet that! Within price range too acerbis make some good parts so presumably the helmets would be ok.

I like the look of the Airoh, ive heard alot of good reveiws about them. How have you guys found the visor? When the one on my wulfsport is half open allowing abit of airflow through it vibrates from left to right and makes a god aweful noise. On inspection the visor is found the be held on by two small bolts that also hold the peak on. Theres no propper locking mech for it.

maxwell123455 23-03-12 20:41
Captmoto use to rav about the Airoh, but cant for the life of me remember what model he had.

feck 23-03-12 21:07
Duchinni d311 gets my vote. Good helmet for the money.

Pleiades 23-03-12 22:44
Quote:
Originally Posted by hagland2431 (Post 170041)
I've been looking too and when I get a pay rise lol I will probably get this http://www.denniswinter.com/off-road...met-black-p617
That Acerbis does look a nice lid, peak looks rigidly mounted and it should be fairly good quality, flip down sun shade too. However, it does seem a little weighty at 1600g (similar to a Tour X3), when a Hornet is 1430g and an Airoh S4 is a featherweight 1370g.

Pleiades 23-03-12 22:52
...and if you want a properly cheap DS helmet try this...

http://www.ghostbikes.com/products/o...or-helmet.html

mozza 23-03-12 23:45
I got my agv ax8 ds in the post yesterday, rode to work with it on this morning and have to say its a really good helmet. �250 but you pay for quality. It's really light, comfortable and really well vented- a lot more wind noise than my agv stealth but I suppose you expect that with that style of helmet. It's the first time I have ridden in a crossover type helmet but I doubt I will ever go back. I really recommend it.

Chris1811 24-03-12 00:11
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pleiades (Post 170052)
...and if you want a properly cheap DS helmet try this...

http://www.ghostbikes.com/products/o...or-helmet.html
I currently have the wulfsport prima, the model before that one! Its a good helmet, not too loud, comfortable and light weight and good in a crash (I unfortunately tested it 2 years ago) however the visor and peak aren't fixed that well from new.

There are some good alternatives popping up cheers for all the input folks. Seems like most folks are saying airoh bit the acerbis and the duchinni also look great! Will have to do some more digging!

Cheers folks.

Pleiades 24-03-12 00:52
Looking closely at the Duchini and the Acerbis, I am pretty sure they are exactly the same helmet and apparently manufactured in China...

Woottonboy 24-03-12 02:40
blurred vision in bent visors
 
I find some helmets with tight bends in the visor can cause blurry vision particularly with polarised optical glasses. Since I am as short sighted as a Muppet this affects me.

It's not so noticeable standing stationary in the shop (under artificial light) but as soon as you move into natural sun light it is.

At a guess, I'd say it could be poor light transmission in the plastic or poly carbonate. Usually a problem in the cheapest of the cheap units.

feck 24-03-12 04:26
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pleiades (Post 170058)
Looking closely at the Duchini and the Acerbis, I am pretty sure they are exactly the same helmet and apparently manufactured in China...
without trying to appear churlish ;) i think you will find most things these days are :D

boneman 24-03-12 22:45
I'm with Mozza
 
+1 with the DS/crossover style.

I looked at heaps of DS helmets. Arai XD is nice, very rigid and with some great features (it should for the price). Usually ride with a Shoei TZ-something or other, but have to say that that expensive helmet stays in the garage now.
The Hornet DS is as light, just as quiet, gives great vision and the peak is invaluable (especially on the commute to work when the sun is either rising or setting). It is a little bit of a strain off centre in the wind, but not uncomfortably so (peak is smallish).
In the winter it is a bit draughty, nothing that a polypropylene buff won't sort out.
Some of the cheaper helmets are heavy, noisy and look not well put together. I didn't look at the Airoh, but it comes recommended. Might be a good compromise between price & performance.
Have you looked on ebay? Good option if you are sure of your size...
Cheers, Boneman

Chris1811 24-03-12 23:06
Quote:
Originally Posted by boneman (Post 170081)
+1 with the DS/crossover style.

I looked at heaps of DS helmets. Arai XD is nice, very rigid and with some great features (it should for the price). Usually ride with a Shoei TZ-something or other, but have to say that that expensive helmet stays in the garage now.
The Hornet DS is as light, just as quiet, gives great vision and the peak is invaluable (especially on the commute to work when the sun is either rising or setting). It is a little bit of a strain off centre in the wind, but not uncomfortably so (peak is smallish).
In the winter it is a bit draughty, nothing that a polypropylene buff won't sort out.
Some of the cheaper helmets are heavy, noisy and look not well put together. I didn't look at the Airoh, but it comes recommended. Might be a good compromise between price & performance.
Have you looked on ebay? Good option if you are sure of your size...
Cheers, Boneman
As you and many others have said the Airoh seems to be the way forward. Allthough I do like the styling of the acerbis and the duchini. The sun visor (similar to what is on my caberg) is so useful!

Im going to have a shop around next weekend to get size comparrisons.

hagland2431 24-03-12 23:42
I think the acerbis is ACU + ECE 22.05 Approved but the Duchinni is only ECE 22.05

Chris1811 25-03-12 00:18
Quote:
Originally Posted by hagland2431 (Post 170087)
I think the acerbis is ACU + ECE 22.05 Approved but the Duchinni is only ECE 22.05
What does this mean?

I dont uneerstand all this ACU + ECE stoof! Haha

Rybenuk 25-03-12 23:23
As far as i know(now), ECE tag allows the helmet to be signed of in Europe(legal safety tests) and ACU allows you to use it in motor sport?

Simplified answer but its about that I think?

feck 25-03-12 23:31
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rybenuk (Post 170144)
As far as i know(now), ECE tag allows the helmet to be signed of in Europe(legal safety tests) and ACU allows you to use it in motor sport?

Simplified answer but its about that I think?
That`s about right although looking at them they are exactly the same helmet but acerbis being more involved in extreme offroad sports would have presumably got the ACU rating for their version... Obviously Duchinni are more interested in scooter riders and commuters ;)

If I may throw another apple in the cart, check these puppies out :

http://www.afxhelmets.com/helmets/dualsport/index.php

So confused now :bricks:

Rybenuk 25-03-12 23:47
We get those here as Spada Stings...

Chris1811 26-03-12 15:14
Quote:
Originally Posted by feck (Post 170148)
That`s about right although looking at them they are exactly the same helmet but acerbis being more involved in extreme offroad sports would have presumably got the ACU rating for their version... Obviously Duchinni are more interested in scooter riders and commuters ;)

If I may throw another apple in the cart, check these puppies out :

http://www.afxhelmets.com/helmets/dualsport/index.php

So confused now :bricks:
There are some nice lids cropping up in this thread. It seems like there really is a whole host of alternative less expensive DS helmets on the market that are just as good as the generic Tour X and Hornet ones.

Just gotta decide which one now haha

Pleiades 26-03-12 15:51
The AFX was criticised on webbikeworld.com (and other reviewers) because of the visor, both its poor seal and fairly bad optical distortion issues. Optical distortion does seem to be a common problem with the budget helmet brands. See here...

http://www.webbikeworld.com/r2/motor...ets/afx-fx-37/

I'm in the market for a new lid and am probably leaning towards a Uvex SLT, but the problem seems to be not the choice of DS lids, but finding somewhere close enough that has them in stock to try on (to of course buy later on the web!). Its easy to find an Arai, Shoei or X-Lite dealer, but less so the more obscure/cheaper brands (the ones mentioned in this thread), they seem to be mostly/only be available online.

feck 26-03-12 21:17
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pleiades (Post 170164)
The AFX was criticised on webbikeworld.com (and other reviewers) because of the visor, both its poor seal and fairly bad optical distortion issues. Optical distortion does seem to be a common problem with the budget helmet brands. See here...

http://www.webbikeworld.com/r2/motor...ets/afx-fx-37/

I'm in the market for a new lid and am probably leaning towards a Uvex SLT, but the problem seems to be not the choice of DS lids, but finding somewhere close enough that has them in stock to try on (to of course buy later on the web!). Its easy to find an Arai, Shoei or X-Lite dealer, but less so the more obscure/cheaper brands (the ones mentioned in this thread), they seem to be mostly/only be available online.
Aaaaah but that is the fx-37 which is the first model. It would seem whoever AFX are, they are listening to the users criticisms and adapting their product accordingly. Check out this review of the new fx-39 and see what they have done :D

http://youtu.be/ltJS0ZKoR6w

I think that personally I am going to go with the Acerbis even though I initially bigged up the Duchinni. Someone pointed out that they are the same helmet, I definitely prefer the styling on the Acerbis though and everyone I know who has a sunvisor in their AGV etc etc swears by them.

Although having said that, my mind changes daily ;)

Chris1811 26-03-12 22:29
Quote:
Originally Posted by feck (Post 170193)
Aaaaah but that is the fx-37 which is the first model. It would seem whoever AFX are, they are listening to the users criticisms and adapting their product accordingly. Check out this review of the new fx-39 and see what they have done :D

http://youtu.be/ltJS0ZKoR6w

I think that personally I am going to go with the Acerbis even though I initially bigged up the Duchinni. Someone pointed out that they are the same helmet, I definitely prefer the styling on the Acerbis though and everyone I know who has a sunvisor in their AGV etc etc swears by them.

Although having said that, my mind changes daily ;)
I change mine daily too haha although I can't agree more when it comes to the sun visors! My caberg flip up jobby has a sun visor in it and its a fantastic peice of kit to have in your lid!

feck 26-03-12 22:44
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris1811 (Post 170204)
I change mine daily too haha although I can't agree more when it comes to the sun visors! My caberg flip up jobby has a sun visor in it and its a fantastic peice of kit to have in your lid!

dude, your flipping little blue bouncy man in your sig keeps making me think my beautiful monitor has a dead pixel ;)

Chris1811 27-03-12 10:28
Quote:
Originally Posted by feck (Post 170210)
dude, your flipping little blue bouncy man in your sig keeps making me think my beautiful monitor has a dead pixel ;)
Haha ive just noticed that it looks like it has a . next to it or something!!

Chris1811 27-03-12 13:10
Quote:
Originally Posted by Keithblade (Post 170237)
http://i372.photobucket.com/albums/o...uadron_blk.jpg



I have one of these, I dont wear it much because I have loads of helmets and I can't get the Roof off my head. However it is a very good helmet for the price. The graphics are quite neat too Chris.
I have seen the helmets before but not in the form of a road going lid. I used to downhill mountian bike and I was a 661 fan but my mate swore by the Marushin lids. Crashed it a few times too and came out fine!!!

Suppose if the make good DHMB lids they will make cracking road helmets too.


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