millsan1
Mini Bike
Hey guys.
I have always been a Shoei guy. My last helmet was a Qwest, which I have had for a little over a year. A couple weeks ago, it fell off the bike and put a good doink in the shell, so I decided to replace.
I had purchased a Multi-tec last year but was very unimpressed by it. It felt flimsy. Sold it right after buying it, never rode with it.
I have a friend in the MC business and he said he would buy a Neotec for me, and if I didn't like it, he would just keep it to sell in his shop. He also saved me $60 off internet pricing, which is nice.
So, I ordered a Neotec in Black, XL. I have always worn an XL Shoei.
Helmet came in and I went to look at it. The fit is good. A smidge snug, but that is more likely due to new helmet syndrome than anything else. The construction is world better than the Multi-tec. It feels solid, with no rattles or looseness, both in the open and closed position. The flip down fighter pilot shade is very effective, easy to use and does not distort your vision at all. I have a pretty big nose and was concerned about contact, but there is a good finger of room between my nose and the bottom of the shield, which covers my entire field of view. The Pin Lock shield is great. Could not get it to fog up. The movement and operation of the chin bar is equally smooth and intuitive.
I use a SENA SMH10 for my communications and music. I had to make slight modifications to get it to fit. The cheekpad on the side where the base unit connects had to have the hard plastic trimmed so the wires would fit correctly. I took out a 1/4" notch. Nothing that shows, nor anything that effects functionality. In order to get the boom to work easily, I removed the chin air dam. (mesh piece under the chin bar). I did not like the feel of that anyway and have never ridden with that piece in place on any of my helmets.
The helmet also comes with two removable pieces of foam and plastic over the speaker locations. I assume this is to reduce helmet noise. There is a flat piece that goes against your ear and then a built up piece that goes into the spot where the speakers go in the helmet. Once the speakers were in place, with the extra foam bit, the padding pressed against my ears in a way I did not like. I removed the filler piece, leaving the flat surface, and all was well. The plastic tabs that secure these ear pieces to the helmet do leave something to be desired. They are a soft and the pieces do not feel solid when in place. They never moved, but did not feel solid. This is my only complaint about the helmet and it is almost not worth mentioning. The speakers were very secure, using Velcro.
Everything in place, my GF and I went for a 500 mile ride this weekend. Good mix of highway, back road burning, around town and country road cruising. Temps form the 50s to the 70s and from sunny to foggy. Speeds from 25 to 125.
5'10", 30" inseam, Sargent Seat, Cee Baily Euro Cut windscreen.
This is a very quiet helmet. It is much quieter than my Qwest, which is also pretty quiet. It was even quieter with the chin bar in the up position. Almost silent. I spent a majority of the time with the chin bar up and the fighter pilot shades down. The shade control is very easy to manipulate. The rest of the time was spent with the chin bar down and the fighter shield down. Small amount of time with chin bar down, fighter shield up, regular shield down.
In all configurations the helmet was quiet and comfortable.
The SENA worked equally well with the chin bar up or down. When the chin bar is up, there is some wind noise on the recipients end, but conversations were normal. Above 75 MPH, the wind was annoying to the GF. Anything under 50 MPH and it was not noticeable.
I have very good peripheral vision and the pin locks are just there. Nothing bad, but I do see them. Slightly distracting for the first hour, but then stopped noticing them after that.
The venting on the helmet is excellent. My head was cool and comfortable the whole ride.
So in conclusion, I am very impressed with the build quality, fit and finish. The Fighter Pilot screen is great to have. I used it extensively. Having the choice of riding open face when puttering or putting down highway miles, or going full face when being more aggressive is perfect for me. I wholeheartedly endorse this helmet. Anyone who has thought of a modular but had reservations would be well served by looking at this lid.
I have always been a Shoei guy. My last helmet was a Qwest, which I have had for a little over a year. A couple weeks ago, it fell off the bike and put a good doink in the shell, so I decided to replace.
I had purchased a Multi-tec last year but was very unimpressed by it. It felt flimsy. Sold it right after buying it, never rode with it.
I have a friend in the MC business and he said he would buy a Neotec for me, and if I didn't like it, he would just keep it to sell in his shop. He also saved me $60 off internet pricing, which is nice.
So, I ordered a Neotec in Black, XL. I have always worn an XL Shoei.
Helmet came in and I went to look at it. The fit is good. A smidge snug, but that is more likely due to new helmet syndrome than anything else. The construction is world better than the Multi-tec. It feels solid, with no rattles or looseness, both in the open and closed position. The flip down fighter pilot shade is very effective, easy to use and does not distort your vision at all. I have a pretty big nose and was concerned about contact, but there is a good finger of room between my nose and the bottom of the shield, which covers my entire field of view. The Pin Lock shield is great. Could not get it to fog up. The movement and operation of the chin bar is equally smooth and intuitive.
I use a SENA SMH10 for my communications and music. I had to make slight modifications to get it to fit. The cheekpad on the side where the base unit connects had to have the hard plastic trimmed so the wires would fit correctly. I took out a 1/4" notch. Nothing that shows, nor anything that effects functionality. In order to get the boom to work easily, I removed the chin air dam. (mesh piece under the chin bar). I did not like the feel of that anyway and have never ridden with that piece in place on any of my helmets.
The helmet also comes with two removable pieces of foam and plastic over the speaker locations. I assume this is to reduce helmet noise. There is a flat piece that goes against your ear and then a built up piece that goes into the spot where the speakers go in the helmet. Once the speakers were in place, with the extra foam bit, the padding pressed against my ears in a way I did not like. I removed the filler piece, leaving the flat surface, and all was well. The plastic tabs that secure these ear pieces to the helmet do leave something to be desired. They are a soft and the pieces do not feel solid when in place. They never moved, but did not feel solid. This is my only complaint about the helmet and it is almost not worth mentioning. The speakers were very secure, using Velcro.
Everything in place, my GF and I went for a 500 mile ride this weekend. Good mix of highway, back road burning, around town and country road cruising. Temps form the 50s to the 70s and from sunny to foggy. Speeds from 25 to 125.
5'10", 30" inseam, Sargent Seat, Cee Baily Euro Cut windscreen.
This is a very quiet helmet. It is much quieter than my Qwest, which is also pretty quiet. It was even quieter with the chin bar in the up position. Almost silent. I spent a majority of the time with the chin bar up and the fighter pilot shades down. The shade control is very easy to manipulate. The rest of the time was spent with the chin bar down and the fighter shield down. Small amount of time with chin bar down, fighter shield up, regular shield down.
In all configurations the helmet was quiet and comfortable.
The SENA worked equally well with the chin bar up or down. When the chin bar is up, there is some wind noise on the recipients end, but conversations were normal. Above 75 MPH, the wind was annoying to the GF. Anything under 50 MPH and it was not noticeable.
I have very good peripheral vision and the pin locks are just there. Nothing bad, but I do see them. Slightly distracting for the first hour, but then stopped noticing them after that.
The venting on the helmet is excellent. My head was cool and comfortable the whole ride.
So in conclusion, I am very impressed with the build quality, fit and finish. The Fighter Pilot screen is great to have. I used it extensively. Having the choice of riding open face when puttering or putting down highway miles, or going full face when being more aggressive is perfect for me. I wholeheartedly endorse this helmet. Anyone who has thought of a modular but had reservations would be well served by looking at this lid.