Anyone ride with the ICON Variant ?

[~TABASCO~]

Seeing if anyone rides with one of these ? I think they look pretty good and they seem to get good reviews... If you own one will you let us know what you think... Thanks ::008::



http://www.google.com/search?q=ICON+variant&hl=en&tbo=d&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox&rlz=1I7GZAG_enUS438&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=VSOkUMqONJTFqQHEsIG4Cg&ved=0CAQQ_AUoAA&biw=1024&bih=519

 

[advswede1981]

I have the matte black one with the smoke visor and it honestly looks badass! I haven't used the very high-end helmets so I can't compare to them but I'm very happy with this one.
1. The price was very reasonable for the quality you get.
2. The reviews were great and I did a lot of research on other helmets before buying this one. Now when I have it I agree with 99% of all the positive feedback I had read before I bought it.
3. The fit is initially pretty tight but gives after a couple of hundred miles and now it's very comfortable. The padding is high quality and removes very easily.
4. There are several ways to adjust the airflow so you can easily adjust to fit your preference.
5. It's starting to get cold here in Arizona and its in the high 30's when I drive to work in the morning and I haven't had any condensation buildup on the visor at all yet.
6. I ride with all vents open and it does get a little loud at higher speeds, which in my opinion is to be expected. However, there is plenty of space around the ears if you want to use ear plugs. I have not yet sealed all vents and don't know how quite it can be that way, which tells me that the noise really doesn't bother me at all.
7. Fields of vision is great and the visor doesn't distort anything.
8. Based on my limited experience with other helmets I would give this a 9/10 and would highly recommend it.
9. I'm trying to think of something negative to say about it but the only thing I can think of is that the matte black color is very unforgiving about hiding minor scratches. If you plan on using it off road a lot I would probably recommend you pick another color.
::026::

 

[Longboard]

::026:: ::026:: ::026:: ::026:: ::026:: ::026:: ::026::

Can't say it any better. I love mine ::008::

Longboard

 

[GrahamD]

Guy at work reckons it's great.

Mine is overdue for replacement so I might be a big fan boy and buy one, and just cop the flack.

Then I suppose I will have to get the boots and the twat suit and look like a complete wannabe.

 

[~TABASCO~]

Make sure it's the whale skin suit.

 

[Camel]

Ive got the Matt Black one to...looks great. Cant add much to what advswede1981 said, 100% correct in my opinion. I would get another one if I damaged this one. A lot better than my fly Tracker, probably more comfortable than mt AGV K4. The field of vision is probably the best of all helmets Ive owned. For what you pay, it is packaged great with excellent helmet bag and lens cleaner,and cloth. Looks like it should be worth more.

 

[CREnorth]

I've got many helmets in the line up (like most here) and the Variant is my favorite. I agree with advswede1981 on his review. For me the long distance comfort is why I like the Variant so much, seems like on long trips there is always somthing that finaly starts to bug you, cold,heat,the seat ect. for me it's never the helmet.
The venting is very good on hot days. There may be two cons for me. First: on cold days the shield does not seal down hard, it seems to leak air a bit. Thats good on hot days but not cold ones. Second: The visor shape is what helps with the good venting but on mine the visor would kind of creek and click if the windshield was at the wrong height and there was to much buffiting. I have thought of epoxying the visor to the helmet but the duct tape I put on works great and looks kinda battle worn. My Variant was one of the first ones out there so the newest ones may not do the visor noise, I don't know.
Mine is the grey metalic with the smoke shield. Yes I would recommend giving this helmet a look. ::008::

 

[Swagger]

Nice looking lid. I've not used Icon products in the past so can't comment on their quality. I do know that I've seen the Icon Raiden Patrol jacket and that looks pretty damn cool. Not sure how it functions though.

 

[~TABASCO~]

I really like the looks.. I might one day have to find a store that has them in stock to try one on...

 

[twinrider]

A friends has one. After owning it for a bit, he said the build quality wasn't up to Shoei/Arai standards and ended up replacing with an Arai XD-4.

I thought the Variant looked pretty bulbous when he was wearing it. As in "Houston do you read me?" ::025:: The Arai looks much better imo.

 

[FacePalm]

Ive got the Hi-Viz orange that I was planning to use for commuting. I've also got a Nolan N-104. I've gravitated to the Nolan because I like that its modular & also really like the flip down sun visor. Since I've only worn it once, heres what I can say from my limited experience...
1. Fit & finish are excellent. Love the graphics & colors.
2. Visor is clear with no distortion/ seals tightly when full down.
3. Venting is excellent. Have not ridden on a hot day yet but have no issues with fogging in the cold.
4. It does let in some wind/road noise. Have always ridden Harleys w/ half-shell lids so this is my first full-face helmet. Have nothing to compare it to.
5. I ride with the OEM windscreen on the Tenere but also have the MadStad bracket. Wnd buffeting is minor, no real issues with it catching in the bill.
6. Only things I would change: make the visor easy to remove/ replace and maybe add an internal flip-down dark visor like my Nolan.
::008::

 

[~TABASCO~]

COOL ! I want to still save up and get a black one or something for the summer... I dig that look ::008::

Can you post some pictures of yours ? Thanks

 

[Abercrombie tenere]

I bought one for my son for his birthday to use on his R6. Icon calls it an urban assault helmet so he thought it was cool? I was not impressed with the quality of our two Icon helmets for the price. I thought it looked great and took it out for a fair evaluation while riding my FZ1. I found it to be very uncomfortable and pulled heavily when turning my head for a check of my blind spot or in cross winds. I had pressure point pain in a matter of minutes, had a lot of wind noise, and found it had a strange fit on my head. I know fit is subjective and all heads are shaped a little different.

The coolness must have wore off on my son also, cause he sold it after a few months. He is now looking for a new helmet.

On the head shape thing, I was very disappointed last weekend at the Minneapolis motorcycle show. I had my heart set on a new Arai for use on my new to me Ducati 999 and found that I do not have an Arai shaped head. I tried all their models and found the medium fit too loose and the small had immediate pressure pain on my forehead. :'(

 

[gmtech]

i got the lizard skin lookin aftermath one it is sweet and comes with both clear and smoked shield

sizes run big i wore small fulmer but a large icon
othr than that its sweet

 

[~TABASCO~]

i got the lizard skin lookin aftermath one it is sweet and comes with both clear and smoked shield

sizes run big i wore small fulmer but a large icon
othr than that its sweet

If ya get a chance can you post a picture or two ? Thanks

 

[iridemotorbikes]

Nice looking lid. I've not used Icon products in the past so can't comment on their quality. I do know that I've seen the Icon Raiden Patrol jacket and that looks pretty damn cool. Not sure how it functions though.

I have a matte black Variant, dont wear it all that much but its a nice lid. Nothing bad to say about the ICON Variant, I'm just a Shoei guy, they fit me like a glove.

I have two Icon Patrol Jackets, 1 Red- 1 HI Vis Yellow. It's a really nice product, very well made. I've been out in the rain with the matching patrol pants and stayed 100% dry. I have way too many Moto jackets but the ICON Patrol has been my go to/ favorite for the past 7-8 months.

 

[immigrant]

This helmet is so comfortable, it is like wearing sex on your head. It beats my Shoei Hornet hands down. Zero buffeting @ 215km/h. I bought it as a "to work and back" helmet cause I did not want to take my expensive ones to that environment, but it has become my favourite helmet. I have a helmet fetish, so i have quite a collection to compare too. The finish is rough, but it is the first helmet i have had that does not fog

by the way Tabasco - the $33 shipping cost i sent you for the Remus were sent back!?! My money not good enough for you?????

 

[~TABASCO~]

Nice helmet !

I'm not sure I know what you mean. Please PM me. Thanks.

 

[AlsoRan]

On the head shape thing, I was very disappointed last weekend at the Minneapolis motorcycle show. I had my heart set on a new Arai for use on my new to me Ducati 999 and found that I do not have an Arai shaped head. I tried all their models and found the medium fit too loose and the small had immediate pressure pain on my forehead. :'(

I was told by a rep once in order to get the correct sizing on the Arai try taking out the cheek pads and then fit the helmet to your head. Then you can order the correct size cheek pads (or cut them down) to fit. I was also in-between sizes and this worked.

I tried on the Variant a couple of weeks ago at the BMW dealer (they never come over to help anymore since I park the Super T in front of the place ). It was a nice helmet I almost bought it to replace the XD. Will probably go for it after reading the good reviews here...

 

[zamfield]

Excellent lid... Got the Dark Earth color.