I want to kill my helmet

[moto-rama]

(Mods, can you flip this into reviews and recommedations? gracias!)

I used to like my rather expensive Schubeerth C4 Carbon helmet. Then I found that when I was 175 miles from home a couple of weeks back that the Visor, and the Pinlock should be called the "wet weather vision reduction/elimination system"
Without going in to a major explosion of expletives, suffice to say that You Would Think for 900 bucks they could have made an updated visor/pinlock for the C4, but nooooooo, they told us to buy the C5....

Not buying another Schuberth, ever. Didn't I say that back a few years about BMW motorcycles? (So much for proclamations)
I've been wearing a modular helmet like this much of the time, sharing time with my wonderful but aging Arai Profile. I am finding that there are no really perfect modulars out there, all them seem to have some deal-breaking problem that owners complain about.

I am tempted to just stop looking and go back to something comfortable, reliable like a Shoie or Aria fullface.

Is there anyone really happy with their modular?

Things that matter to me are weight, ease of opening/closing, good weather resistance, overall "quality", option to install Bluetooth.

 

[Demoni]

I have yet to find a modular helmet that checked all the boxes...

My daily driver is a C4, based on the hype surrounding Schuberth helmets and the amount of $$ I paid, it has left me disappointed. Overall build quality is fine, however it is no where near as quiet as I was expecting. In addition when riding at certain speeds it generates an annoying whistle. The eccentric pin lock adjustment mounts do a poor job of retaining an air tight seal. Visor easily fogs up when I'm stopped or riding in moist conditions.

During a trip in Italy I was impressed by the AGV SportModular helmet I lived in for a few days. The fitment was much tighter vs my C4 and reminded me more of my AGV Pista. No way to put it on or take it off without first removing my glasses. It is not a quiet helmet but the wind noise was constant at a variety of speeds. Spend multiple hours wearing it in cold and wet conditions, never had it fog up on me. Granted it was a brand new lid so it's possible that could be a issue after some break-in.

I will say I enjoy the built in BT system on my C4. The speakers are not the loudest but the system just works for my needs (music).

 

[dravnx]

Been sporting a Shoei Neotec for 5 or 6 years. Never fogs, not super quiet but I wear earplugs. Never leaks. Fogging or not is predicated on the pinlock properly installed. It must have a perfect seal all the way around. I made the mistake of installing a Sena SRL integrated systems I won't go into how much this system sucks.

 

[larry kahn]

Are you allowed to wear something other than a Schuberth and Aerostich riding a BMW? You may be shunned...

 

[berth]

On my Neotec, I don't have a problem with my visor fogging.

My glasses, however. That's another story. Do they make pinlocks for progressive lenses?

 

[BillSmith]

Have a Shoei Neotec with a pinlock. Great helmet.

 

[moto-rama]

Are you allowed to wear something other than a Schuberth and Aerostich riding a BMW? You may be shunned...

:R Well, I have had a lot more motorcycles than helmets. I had a BMW R50/2 and was one of the only people I knew who ever wore any kind of helmet in the late 1960s, like my Bell Star, fullface, the visor did Not Open. I drilled pinholes in the visor to get air, then put duct tape over the holes when it rained...Does that count, though?
....Aerostich is still around after 40 years, and I am still riding, after nearly 55 years, partly due to a Roadcrafter saving my skin.

Have a Shoei Neotec with a pinlock. Great helmet.

I am leaning in that direction. I had a Multi or whatever that first Shoie modular was, and liked it a lot. So I bought a Neotec (the first one) and despised it. It barely got any use, so I got a C3 Schuberth.. and Liked it enough to get the C4 Carbon, which is crap.
It's amazing how the same manufacturer will build a helmet that's really good, then wreck it with the "New Improved Model".

If I am really disappointed in a product from a company like Shoie or Schuberth that only makes helmets, it makes me a little crazy.
Most of the biggest disappointments happen sometime after you'vr already had it for a while, too. There's nothing you can ask the maker to do for you, so you stew over it, in your leaking helmet.

So it's down to 2 choices:

Neotec 2

AGV TourModular (which is available in the EU, but not here, so I can't try one on, yet) This helmet is claimed to be even better than the SportModular.

Also will be chucking Sena Comms gear for Cardo with those 45mm JBL speakers.

 

[llrdhsktr]

Shoei Neotec or Nolan modular

 

[moto-rama]

Shoei Neotec or Nolan modular

I wonder if Nolan has improved their products. The first modular I had was a Nolan..it underwhelmed me.
The lining, pads and overall feel was not in the same class as Shoie or Arai.

Do you have a recently made Nolan ? What do you like or not like about it?

 

[Norton Margie]

I used to have a Schubreth. When it came time to replace, the new Schubreth did not fit at all, and I went to a Shoei Multitec. Then that wore out so off to a Schoei Neotec. It has worked very well for me - including 100 or so miles of drizzle in Oregon and various other rain events

 

[BillSmith]

No modular is going to be whisper quiet. My Shoei certainly is not.

Dry? Absolutely. And tested in very harsh fashion. Conditions on a coast-to-coast ride was downpour so bad the cars on I-80 in Illinois came to a near crawl of barely 25 mph and snapped on their flashers. That was worse than earlier--and later--heavy rains ridden at speed. No leaks.

Everything else did. Gloves, boots, bags...jacket under Frogg Toggs was dry at core. Helmet as mentioned above, no leaks. Maybe I got a good one. It will get tested again this summer.

 

[PaleHorse]

I picked up a Neotech 2 a few months back. Rode with it in a few of the recent storms and commute over the SC mountains. No fogging problems and it stays dry. Not as quiet as the X14 non modular. I had the Sena integrated com put in it. The drop down shaded visor is also nice to have. Think Shoei did a great job designing the 2.

 

[llrdhsktr]

I wonder if Nolan has improved their products. The first modular I had was a Nolan..it underwhelmed me.
The lining, pads and overall feel was not in the same class as Shoie or Arai.

Do you have a recently made Nolan? What do you like or not like about it?

I've had several Nolan modular models. The latest I have is the N104, an older model I've used as a spare, as I upgraded to the Schuberth C3 Pro, then the Shoei Neotec II. The N104 is not in the same class as the Shoei or Arai, but I feel it is more than adequate for the price. It fits me well and feels solid.

 

[moto-rama]

Been sporting a Shoei Neotec for 5 or 6 years. Never fogs, not super quiet but I wear earplugs. Never leaks. Fogging or not is predicated on the pinlock properly installed. It must have a perfect seal all the way around. I made the mistake of installing a Sena SRL integrated systems I won't go into how much this system sucks.

Are you still using the Sena?

Can a Cardo BT be fitted to a NeotechII?

I've seen some positive discussions/comment about the larger speakers that can be used with those. (40mm?) I am a little underwhelmed with the Sean "built-in" SC1A that comes with my Schuberth.

 

[norcalkid]

I have had a Scorpion AT950 for years, love it. Just bought the new 960, they kinda cheaped out. It's heavier, and the sun visor isn't as easy to operate. The older 950's are on clearance for like $220 at Cycle Gear, hard to beat at that price if not wanting to spend a lot.

 

[moto-rama]

Well....Still undecided.

But it is down to 3. (Yes, I added the Shark Evo to the list.) The Shark Evo is priced somewhat lower than most of the premium helmets, so I'd like to see one before I make a decision. But I do like the somewhat gimmicky flipback chinguard, I think I like it, anyway. Like I said, got to see it first.

So the Shark, NeotechII, and the Sportmodular.

 

[moto-rama]

Survey says....

AGV Sportmodular, Cardo Edge

The helmet landed today, nice fit, so that's nice, very light, too.
Tomorrow, a test ride, and the Cardo should be here to install.

Full review later.

 

[moto-rama]

Lighten up, already. AGV Sportmodular Intial Impressions

After a month or so of cogitation, reading and physically sizing up the latest modular helmets, I purchased an AGV Sportmodular.
I sprang for a Cardo Edge BT comm system to install to it.

OK, first of all, "Fit": The Lg Size helmet fits my 23'" head just about right. Slightly more snug than a Shoie or Schuberth XL but looser than an Arai Profile.
It looks very cool, Rossi buys a Sport Touring Rig!

The lining is reversable, for warm or cold day riding. The visor and pinlock have excellent lens quality and optics. No fog, not even in Daly City this AM at 830 AM.

The ventilation is decent, at least it was today, which was a perfect day. 55-70 F.
The helmet is amazingly light, which is a BIG deal for me, so that's a plus. It's slightly noisy at speeds over 70, which I would expect from a lighweight lid, but not bad.
It does not leak. I tested it with the garden hose. No leaky.


But, it has a few buts.

The buts: Fitting/Installing the Cardo was a major pain, but it sounds great.
The inner lining isn't as easy to manage as I'd like, and for 600 bucks, it feels a bit cheap.

The Worsts are:
The chin-guard takes a lot of slam (ming) to get it to lock into place, in fact I couldn't open and close it on the fly without some difficulty.

The Visor has this annoying lock clip/hook/button set up that isn't at all easy to lift, even with both hands. I am thinking about disabling the lock somehow. The visor-side locking mechanism also is a visual distraction when the visor is partly open. It reminds me of the movie, "The Jerk".

All things considered, I wish it had a Cardo Built-In BT, but they don't offer an alternative to a Sena made unit. (poop!) I hate tearing apart the insides of a helmet, especially when it's obvious that doing it more than 2 or 3 times will greatly degrade the cheaply made parts, like the plastic clips, and other stuff that should be easy to use, and made well enough to withstand some manhandling. It's obvious that being very careful with the liner parts is critical.


I give this helmet a "B+".

 

[BillSmith]

Thanks for the detailed review. That issue with the chin guard would be a dealbreaker for me. I like to flip anytime I'm stopped for even a second, using it as a visor to shield eyes from sun. It goes up and down when I need to sneeze, suck on a water bottle while underway or just vent when it is 100+.

Hence the Shark EVO is a no-go for me, if that's the only alternative position it locks into place. While I understand the Shark lid is trying to get the bar out of the slip stream, I'm wanting it up there. With the sun overhead, I'll even ride at highway speeds with the chin bar up as a visor--like a ball cap.