Shoei X-Spirit

Tried one on and it fits well. But what's it like for noise? I'd get another
Arai to replace the current 6 yr old Quantum F, but I've found it very noisy
even with ear plugs.

Oh, and what's the pinlock system like - gimmick or not?

 

I have a Shoei X-Spirit in the One True Colour
(<http://www.dstoremilano.com/catalog/images/xspirit_ukawa_TC2.jpg -
No decent OTC photos online) which I purchased on a quick visit to
Brighton with Mr. Muck for many pennies.

Like all helmets, wind noise depends on many factors so my experience
isn't going to reflect yours at all but I think it's reasonably quiet
at around town speeds making the usual noises at motorways speeds and
beyond but that's why earplugs are around. I think I need to point
out that at motorway speeds my head isn't pushed around as much as on
my old HJC flip up or el cheapo OGK which is a bonus on longer jaunts,
especially as I use an unfaired bike.

Pinlock fog shields are better than blow jobs. I've had one for a
year and it still performs perfectly. If you wear polarized
sunglasses then you also get an uber-trippy HUD in summer.

Not that I've ever bought one, but replacement visors (and black
visors, etc) are quite costly, but I'm sure could be sourced online.

The helmet also comes with a variety of accessories such as stickers
(should one be bored on a rainy Sunday afternoon), wind-chin-thing
(the name escapes me) a couple of small bottles of liquid (never
opened them) a couple of cotton buds if you're short and some posh
looking kitchen towel in a sealed packet. The included instruction
manual probably highlights what these are for but I've never been
bored enough to look.

The quick release system works as one would expect and causes no
problems with the functioning of the helmet.

If it's any review: I'd buy one again.

 

I'm not a fan of lurid paintschemes, as since they only do black and light
silver, black it will be.

Arais are known for being noisy due to their side pod design. I'm hoping
this Shoei will be quieter.

Good oh. Beats the fog city that's faithfully resided in my clear visor for
4 1/2 years.

<checks> Hmm, no worse than replacements for the Arai - which i need anyway,
cos my light tint has an irritating deep scratch right bang in the middle of
view.

 

I like it and it seems to work for me.
--
Adie
(replace spam with nickname to reply)

UKRM FAQ: http://www.ukrm.net/faq/

ZX9R
keeper of the FAQ for my sins
MRO#11 BOTAFOF#7 BOTAFOT#130 DIAABTCOD#17 MIB#24 YTC#16 BOB#15 ex-UKRMMA#22 BOMB#11

 

Better than a blow job?

 

Not much and the Shoei fogs up like a ****.

 

In uk.rec.motorcycles, Kiran belched forth and ejected the following:

Out of all the lids I've tried on this year, this is the only one that
fits me properly as well.

Depending how much they cost at the NEC, I'll let you know.

I wouldn't buy a lid purely for it, I'd be more interested to know if
you need fingers like bananas to open the visor!

 

In uk.rec.motorcycles, BGN belched forth and ejected the following:

I've never needed to replace the visor on my Shoei Raid in 3 or 4 years;
it's been out in all weathers and spent around 18 months on the London
despatch circuit and apart from when I dropped it a couple of times,
there's not a mark on it (the visor).

Is that the "Double-D" or seat belt type? I've not had a DD lid for
fsking years!

I certainly liked the ones I tried on and even the Raid II didn't fit as
well as the Raid I've got. Most of the lids I tried on felt like they
were on my head rather than my head being in them IYSWIM.

 

Double-D - but when I said quick release I was referring to the
visor's quick release.

 

Adie wrote

I commuted a pinlock into London for a couple of years and it is the
dogs bollox with regards to no misting, no argument.

However... the minute dust and grit in the Capitals air worked it's way
in about half a centimetre and slowly but surely left a ring of scratch
around the edge which was a downer, especially in the dark. Also when I
replaced it I never did achieve the perfect seal of the first one and it
tended to mist at the bottom thereafter.

So, on balance, only use one if you are a weekend warrior is my opinion.

 

Shoei changed from seat belt to DD fasteners in recent years, and I
have to say it was a great improvement. The old ones would never stay
at the required tightness, even during the course of a decent length
trip, and were a right PITA to adjust. I used to resort to sticking a
safety pin through the straps to stop it slipping.

--
_______
..'_/_|_\_'. Ace (brucedotrogers a.t rochedotcom)
\`\ | /`/ GSX-R1000K3 (slightly broken, currently missing)
`\\ | //' BOTAFOT#3, SbS#2, UKRMMA#13, DFV#8, SKA#2, IBB#10
`\|/`
`

 

I've never had any of those problems and it's used several times a day
in the nicest and most shit of weathers. Mine was fitted by the
shoppe though.

 

FWIW I've got an Astro/R in bike-and-leather-matching black and it seems much
quieter than my old Quantum F.

It too has a pinlock, but I CBA to use it