Helmet Review, Shoei RF1000

A bit over a month ago, I bought myself a new helmet, a Shoei RF1000,
to replace my RF800 as my day-to-day lid. After a month of daily
commuting ()@#!$*@# rain), and one weekend ride through marin, I think
I can give a report.

Purchasing:

I went over to Road Rider and I bought it there, because I wanted to
try on the entire assortment. Of the helmets they had, this had both
the nicest features (removable visor, light) and, more importantly,
FIT ME the best. Since I had spent so much time trying on the helmet,
I bought it there.

RF1000, wineberry red (a deep metalic red).

Design:

Obligatory removable visor. The rear has one of those
spoiler-thingies on the back (which we've seen on race helmets but not
on the "standard" helmet).

Chin vent is ok to manipulate while gloved, the forhead vents are a
little harder but are very low profile when both closed and opened.

Comfort for me is very good: I have large ears, and the GAP in the
padding around the ears fits me very well. Not to mention its light.

But the best has to be the road dynamics. On the freeway (VFR, so
face is in a SMOOTH but fast windstream) the wind noise is very low: I
don't bother with earplugs unless I'm going serious distance, which is
a big BIG plus.

Likewise, the helmet is very stable in the windstream, no buffeting or
anything.


Fogging: My glasses will fog at <20 mph unless I crack the visor, no
suprise there. At freeway speed, no fogging.


Plus:
Snell M2000
Easy removable face shield
QUIET. Very quiet.


Minuses:
Cost.

 

Thanks for the report.

 

Are you going to tell us, or is it too embarrassing?

nb

 

IIRC, it was ~$300 when all is said and done, including breath guard
(extra, darn it. Nolan includes it as standard, and I think KBC does
as well), tax, and a replacement helmet halo.

Which is a bit of an ouch when $100 will get a snell rated HJC or KBC,
so same measured level of protection, (but a good deal noisier and
heavier).

On an objective level, its past the point of diminishing returns, but
as I use it daily, I'm glad I paid the extra for the comfort (for me)
and the low noise and aerodynamic stability.

 

Did we gain anything for this visor incompatibility?

 

Perhaps the noise reduction, it IS quieter than the RF800 (30 miles on
the freeway: no earplugs, no problem, which is not what it was for me
with the RF800), and the face-shield profile may have played into the
reduced noise.

 

I think the RF-1000 visor area is larger, and it will lock shut now.

-B

 

I bought a RF-1000 recently too.

I used to have a RF700. It fit pretty well, but I replaced it with a
Quantum/e, which was replaced with a Quantum/f. I had tried the RF800
and RF900 on, but neither fit me.

The RF1000 uses a different internal shape than the other helmets. It's
pretty damn comfy.

I got mine at Road Rider, since they will replace the cheek pads at no
cost. I needed to use the 33mm (thinner) pads. It's "Axis Yellow" in
color. Not something they normally stock, but they had one when I
stopped by. (I'm not sure what the "Axis" relates to. The helmet is
rather benign with no signs of evil.)

It's a pretty quiet helmet. Quieter than the Arai Quantum/f that I
replaced. I still wear ear plugs, since the RS wind screen puts
turbulent air right near the top of the helmet. The first day or two
were distracting because I heard a lot more traffic sounds that I
could with the Arai.

It doesn't come as low around your chin as the Arai, which makes a
difference when it's really cold.

There is some fogging when it's cold, but there's a little lever on the
side that will hold the helmet cracked open. It's a 3-position lever.
Forward is "crack visor", middle is normal, back locks the visor shut.

I paid $270 or so, plus $35 for a high contrast (orange) visor.

-B

 

Is the liner removable? (I'm guessing not, but you never know.) Also, how's
the weight compared to the Arai?


-Josh

 

It's a lot lighter than the Arai, or at least it seems that way.

The liner isn't removable, but the cheekpads are.

-B