7kings
Member
I'm looking for some feedback here on ADV helmets. Although I spend 99% of my riding on tarmac, I wanted an ADV helmet instead of a traditional FFH for a few reasons:
1. Airflow. I live in SW Florida, where it's stiflingly humid and hot most of the year, and I wanted a helmet with a large viewport that I could ride shield-open with sunglasses and get a ton of airflow while still maintaining the safety afforded by a full-face helmet.
2. Visor. Although I wasn't a big fan of visors initially, their utility in providing a nice shady spot for my face is undeniable, and I've come to appreciate their appearance as well (see point 3 below).
3. The aesthetic. I'm not going to lie - an ADV lid just looks right on an ADV bike.
I bought a Bell MX9 Adventure (MIPS) when I got my S10, and have been sort-of happy with it, except for a few points that are really beginning to grate on me. First, there are some sort of weird pressure points pressing against the back of the cartilage of my ears, resulting in soreness after 30-40 minutes of riding. I've tried the thinnest cheek pads Bell offers, and although it helped a little, the discomfort is still there. Secondly, the NOISE... Anything over 45mph sounds like I'm in a wind tunnel (it actually sounds as loud as a half-helmet - no joke). Even with the visor down, it's louder than I would expect and really begs for earplugs, which I'm not a fan of. Lastly - and this is my fault for not researching well enough, I guess - it's very difficult to get my sunglasses on with the helmet in place.
Okay, so that being said, I'm wondering if I just picked the wrong ADV lid and should have spent a few dollars more for something nicer, or if the crazy wind noise is just nature-of-the-beast and is something that I'd have to accept as part of life should I stick to an ADV helmet?
I know there are other, pricier ADV helmet offerings out there, such as the Arai XD4 and Shoei Hornet X2, which both seem to get piles of glowing reviews as great all-around helmets. I'm wondering if they really are that much better than the Bell and are worth the $$, or if it's mostly hype? I'm not opposed to buying a more expensive helmet if that's going to make me happy, but I don't want to end up with a $600 ornament just sitting on the shelf because it wasn't really any better than what I have now...
Your feedback is greatly appreciated.
1. Airflow. I live in SW Florida, where it's stiflingly humid and hot most of the year, and I wanted a helmet with a large viewport that I could ride shield-open with sunglasses and get a ton of airflow while still maintaining the safety afforded by a full-face helmet.
2. Visor. Although I wasn't a big fan of visors initially, their utility in providing a nice shady spot for my face is undeniable, and I've come to appreciate their appearance as well (see point 3 below).
3. The aesthetic. I'm not going to lie - an ADV lid just looks right on an ADV bike.
I bought a Bell MX9 Adventure (MIPS) when I got my S10, and have been sort-of happy with it, except for a few points that are really beginning to grate on me. First, there are some sort of weird pressure points pressing against the back of the cartilage of my ears, resulting in soreness after 30-40 minutes of riding. I've tried the thinnest cheek pads Bell offers, and although it helped a little, the discomfort is still there. Secondly, the NOISE... Anything over 45mph sounds like I'm in a wind tunnel (it actually sounds as loud as a half-helmet - no joke). Even with the visor down, it's louder than I would expect and really begs for earplugs, which I'm not a fan of. Lastly - and this is my fault for not researching well enough, I guess - it's very difficult to get my sunglasses on with the helmet in place.
Okay, so that being said, I'm wondering if I just picked the wrong ADV lid and should have spent a few dollars more for something nicer, or if the crazy wind noise is just nature-of-the-beast and is something that I'd have to accept as part of life should I stick to an ADV helmet?
I know there are other, pricier ADV helmet offerings out there, such as the Arai XD4 and Shoei Hornet X2, which both seem to get piles of glowing reviews as great all-around helmets. I'm wondering if they really are that much better than the Bell and are worth the $$, or if it's mostly hype? I'm not opposed to buying a more expensive helmet if that's going to make me happy, but I don't want to end up with a $600 ornament just sitting on the shelf because it wasn't really any better than what I have now...
Your feedback is greatly appreciated.