New Shark Rsi Helmet

http://www.kneedraggers.com/image_storage/e/88/e8885bd4979b39e5dba1880423669127_rough.jpg

Here is the specific helmet i bought.

First off it's graphics scheme is called the Karma, I should humbly let you know that this is designed for a girl which I am not.
I wanted a helmet with a nice design, I also wanted it to be primarily white with some red accents, this came close, and yes those are flowers, I'm not allergic to flowers, I am allergic to Bee's , and dust mites so there!

I checked with web bike world for their helmet reviews, and low and behold I found out that I have an oval shaped head! Well if you also have an oval shaped head this may fit you pretty well.

Bar none this is the most comfortable helmet I have ever put on, I have purposely stayed away from Arai, and Shoei helmets because I did not want to pay for them (or feel like I needed to) I came from an older HJC CL-14 that I wore pretty regularly, it was pretty decent, if not fitting a little loose, it had crappy ventilation, and looked like crap. About a year ago I bought a Scorpion exo-400 based on a vfrd riders review and recommendation. i quickly found that it doesn't fit me very well, i would get head aches from frontal lobe pressure, and regularly bite the inside of my cheeks because the cheek pads were too thick, it looked pretty nice though, in the solid color anthracite.

The Shark is light, the sticker on the back says 1550 grams, this is consistent with what WBW measured on their test, to put the weight in perspective using a calculator from google that equals 3.4 lbs. at the bottom of this post i will plagiarize their helmet weight comparison chart where you will find the rsi at no. 22 of 86

besides the weight, the inside materials are very soft, I found the exo-400's to be rather abrasive in comparison, and well my old hjc was just well worn, kind of like your favorite blue jeans. Like I said before the ventilation was excellent, I had to close the vents because it was pretty cold out, no fogging from the face shield even when i was deliberately breathing up wards to wards it.

Lastly the face shield replacement mechanism is the easiest I have ever encountered, even though the Scorpion was pretty slick it felt like you were going to break something, and the dials were pretty tight on mine making me fumble between using two hands to turn the dial leaving nothing to pop the shield off. Or not being able to turn the dial enough with one hand (believe me i have enough M.A.N. in me the dang helmet was twisting with the dial and moving on me). But with the shark you literally lift the shield to half mast, push the button on one side while slightly lifting (not pulling) and then the same for the other side. then to replace the shield you try to put it on approx half mast, and push it down into place, it will find the groove on it's own.

Here's the kicker, it's affordable. I got mine for $237.50, including free shipping. i think retail is 325 or 345 you can check on that if you are interested. I literally ordered from the website that had the cheapest price (only in the girls color i got), and it arrived at my door step 36 hours later, seriously it may have been off a could minutes, but I'm on vacation so i was home when it was delivered. I ordered from motonekoparts.com, I googled them, and did a forum search here and a couple other places to gauge other peoples experience with this business. I'd say practically the same things I read.
Most places on line showed the price for other graphic designs to be 265 to 285. And more typically 295-315

I set out wanting to spend 250 and willing to spend 300 for the first time in looking for a helmet. This is the best I came up with, I still wont spend 500 or even 600-650 for a replica helmet, it's still not worth it for me but if i needed a new helmet again next week i wouldn't hesitate to spend up to 300 shipped for another one of thees.

here's that chart

Quote

Full-Face Helmet Weight Comparisons, Sorted by Weight (See Graph Below)
Helmet
Size Weight (grams) Weight (lbs/oz) Shape*
HJC CL-5 Open Face (For Reference) L 1301 2 lbs. 13-7/8 oz.
Shark RSX M N/A N/A
1 BMW Sport Integral Carbon L 1000 2 lbs. 2 oz.
2 OGK FF-4 L 1409 3 lbs. 1-3/4 oz. R
3 Airoh TR1 XL 1411 3 lbs. 1-3/4 oz. R
4 Nitro N1200-VX XL 1426 3 lbs. 2-1/4 oz.
5 M2R MR10 XL 1426 3 lbs. 2-3/8 oz.
6 Airoh S4 (Enduro) XL 1445 3 lbs. 3 oz. R
7 Bell Mag-8 L 1445 3 lbs. 3 oz.
8 Schuberth J1 XL 1480 3 lbs. 4-1/4 oz. R/LO
9 HJC AC-12 Carbon XL 1489 3 lbs. 4-1/2 oz. R
10 ROOF LeMans (Modular) L 1492 3 lbs. 4 oz. R
11 CMS GP-4 XL 1495 3 lbs. 4-3/4oz.
12 Zamp JS-1 (Open face) XL 1497 3 lbs. 4-3/4 oz.
13 Nolan N94 Casey Stoner Replica XL 1499 3 lbs. 4-7/8 oz. N/LO
14 Shoei VFX-R Air (Motocross) XL 1508 3 lbs. 5-1/4 oz.
15 URBAN N20 Astro L 1511 3 lbs. 5-1/4 oz. R/N
16 Craft RX6 Revolution L 1518 3 lbs. 5-1/2 oz.
17 Marushin X-Moto XL 1518 3 lbs. 5-1/2 oz. N
18 ROOF Rover L 1525 3 lbs. 5-3/4 oz. R
19 Shoei Hornet (Enduro) XL 1542 3 lbs. 6-3/8 oz. R
20 Schuberth R1 XL 1552 3 lbs. 6-3/4 oz. LO/R
21 ROOF Boxer (Modular) L 1558 3 lbs. 7 oz. R
22 Shark RSI XL 1565 3 lbs. 7-1/8 oz. LO
23 Vemar VSR XL 1566 3 lbs. 7-1/4 oz.
24 SparX S-07 XL 1569 3 lbs. 7-3/8 oz. R/N
25 Suomy Extreme Spec-1R XL 1570 3 lbs. 7-3/8 oz.
26 Z1R ZRP-1 XL 1572 3 lbs. 7-1/2 oz.
27 Zox Azuma R XL 1578 3 lbs. 7-5/8 oz. R/LO
28 AGV Ti-Tech Rossi XXL* 1582 3 lbs. 7-3/4 oz.
29 Arai Vector XL 1583 3 lbs. 7-7/8 oz. IO
30 Akuma V-1 Ghost Rider L 1591 3 lbs. 8-1/8 oz.
31 Shark RSR XL 1601 3 lbs. 8-1/2 oz. R
32 Osbe X-Race XL 1601 3 lbs. 8-1/2 oz.
33 HJC CS-R1 XL 1605 3 lbs. 8-5/8 oz. N/LO
34 Shoei TZ-R XL 1606 3 lbs. 8-5/8 oz. R
35 Baehr Silencer (aka FM F10) L 1607 3 lbs. 8-3/4 oz.
36 Shoei RF-1000 XL 1610 3 lbs. 8-3/4 oz.
37 Caberg Trip (Modular) XL 1614 3 lbs. 8-7/8 oz. R/N
38 Shark S 650 XL 1615 3 lbs. 9.0 oz. LO
39 Vega Summit II (Modular) XL 1615 3 lbs. 9.0 oz.
40 KBC VR-1 L 1616 3 lbs. 9.0 oz.
41 Bell Apex XL 1620 3 lbs. 9-1/8 oz. R/LO
42 Bell Zephyr XL 1620 3 lbs. 9-1/8 oz. IO
43 OGK FF-3 L 1623 3 lbs. 9-1/4 oz.
44 Arai Quantum II XL 1624 3 lbs. 9-1/4 oz. R
45 Akuma Stealth XL 1631 3 lbs. 9-1/2 oz. R/N
46 Icon Mainframe XL 1632 3 lbs. 9-1/2 oz.
47 ROOF Boxer V L 1638 3 lbs. 9-3/4 oz. R
48 Shoei X-Eleven XL 1635 3 lbs. 9-5/8 oz. O
49 HJC FS-10 XL 1641 3 lbs. 9-7/8 oz. R
50 KBC VR-2 XL 1652 3 lbs. 10-1/4 oz. R/LO
51 Vox Flip-up XL 1652 3 lbs. 10-1/4 oz. LO/N
52 KBC VR-3 Stealth XL 1653 3 lbs. 10-1/4 oz. R
53 Arai Profile XL 1658 3 lbs. 10-3/8 oz. LO
54 Craft R2 Aerospeed L 1660 3 lbs. 10-1/2 oz.
55 AGV Miglia (Modular) XL 1666 3 lbs. 10-3/4 oz. R
56 HJC Sy-Max (Modular) L 1667 3 lbs. 10-3/4 oz.
57 GMAX GM68S XL 1677 3 lbs. 11-1/8 oz. R
58 Zeus ZS-2100 B (Enduro) XL 1680 3 lbs. 11-1/4 oz. N
59 Bell Sprint XL 1688 3 lbs. 11-1/2 oz. R
60 Arai XD (Enduro) XL 1693 3 lbs. 11-3/4 oz.
61 HJC CL-XS (Enduro) XL 1697 3 lbs. 11-7/8 oz. R
62 HJC CL-14 XL 1704 3 lbs. 12-1/8 oz. R
63 KBC Force RR XL 1705 3 lbs. 12-1/8 oz. R/N
64 Zox Nevado R (Modular) XL 1706 3 lbs. 12-1/4 oz. R/N
65 Lazer Century (Modular) XL 1710 3 lbs. 12-3/8 oz.
66 HJC CL-SP XL 1713 3 lbs. 12-3/8 oz. R
67 Caberg Convertible (Modular) L 1717 3 lbs. 12-5/8 oz.
68 Shoei Syncrotec Police (Modular) XL 1731 3 lbs. 13 oz.
69 Scorpion EXO-700 XL 1733 3 lbs. 13 oz. R
70 Joe Rocket RKT 101 XL 1737 3 lbs. 13-1/4 oz.
71 Zeus ZS-508 (Modular) XL 1741 3 lbs. 13-1/2 oz.
72 Fulmer AFS7 XL 1749 3 lbs. 13-3/4 oz.
73 Vega Summit XPV (Modular) XL 1762 3 lbs. 14-1/8 oz.
74 Z1R Eclipse (Modular) XL 1765 3 lbs. 14-1/4 oz. E/R
75 AFX FX-11 Lightforce XS 1771 3 lbs. 14-1/2 oz.
76 Scorpion EXO-400 XL 1785 3 lbs. 15 oz. R/N
77 Shoei Multitec XL 1786 3 lbs. 15 oz. R
78 Schuberth S1 XL 1789 3 lbs. 15-1/8 oz. O
79 AFX FX-87X (Snowmobile/Street) XL 1799 3 lbs. 15-3/4 oz. R
80 Caberg Justissimo (Modular) L 1806 3 lbs. 15-5/8 oz.
81 Scorpion EXO-1000 XL 1821 4 lbs. 0-1/4 oz. N/O
82 Schuberth C2 (Modular) XL 1827 4 lbs. 0-3/8 oz. O
83 Nolan N102 (Modular) XL 1850 4 lbs. 1 oz. R
84 Nolan X-lite X-1002 (Modular) XL 1855 4 lbs. 1-3/8 oz.
85 KBC FFR (Modular) XL 1867 4 lbs. 1-7/8 oz.
86 HJC FS-Max (Modular) XL 1911 4 lbs. 3-3/8 oz. R
Notes: Actual recorded weights using Polder electronic scale, claimed accurate to 1 g or 0.125 oz. Red numbers serve as reference to intervals of 10 in chart below. *Shapes: Round, Earth, Intermediate Oval, Oval, Long Oval, Neutral (fits anything but the extremes).

*The AGV Ti-Tech XXL size is equivalent to a size large in other helmets, in our opinion.

good luck
-Martin

:+1: on the Shark features. I have the RSR2 helmet and LOVE it.

i am also glad to know i have an oval head after being called a block head for all these years :goofy:

what's the noise levels like?

[image: View Post]ss_burns, on Feb 29 2008, 09:50 AM, said:

what's the noise levels like?

pretty quiet, can't hold a conversation with my wife indoors with the tv OFF unless i'm standing less than 6 ft away.

there's a little whistling with the shield up, and a small amount of buffeting above 50 mph.

much better than the hjc, a little louder than the shark.

pretty!

girl graphics or not, i think that's a pretty snazzy helmet.
i have an oval head and currently have a HJC CL-SP and it's pretty noisy and took a long time to fit my head right - got the klingon head for quite a while.
i'll definitely try one of these out next year when i need to replace my helmet.

I really like my RSX (the mid-range one)
:thumbsup:

Yea , I bought one a year and a half ago - I think the review is correct - strong oval shape , high quality graphiccs and interior, excel. shield & mechanism . . . I didn't notice any venting at all , but haven't used in cold ( below 55 ) when it's noticable. - I guess I have more round shape - my old Arai Quantum fit much better , the Shark RSi is pretty impossible with glasses, to me. Got a Suomy Spec 1 - discontinued Gardner graphics ( best lookin ever ) the Suomy fit is tighter than Arai , same size M. maybe even worse shield mech.

Wow , my 100$ HJC AC-12 is in the top 10 :thumbsup:
BTW NewEnough has them for 80$ now.

I have always wanted a Shark tho.

[image: View Post]mechdziner714, on Mar 13 2008, 10:57 AM, said:

Wow , my 100$ HJC AC-12 is in the top 10 :thumbsup:
BTW NewEnough has them for 80$ now.

I have always wanted a Shark tho.


i have both the hjc ac-12 and the shark rsr2. there is a difference, but for 80% of the time, the ac-12 is great in my mind.

fit is better on the shark for my head and the front 4mm glass gives me more protection from debris..quick change is awesome and the venting is better. cold weather mask with shark eliminates ALL fogging and keeps your glasses clear too. unless i am at the track or cold weather riding, the ac-12 gets the nod from me

That's a great looking helmet. I�ve read great reviews of the Shark.

I recently stepped up from the HJC CL-14 (black, large) to the Shoei X-11 (light silver, medium).
Paid $435 shipped. Got the HJC about 5-6 years ago in a store for ~$120

Their weight is pretty close, but the Shoei is waaaay more stable at speed. The HJC would 'lift' on the highway. Also, turning my head caused the helmet to catch the wind and jerk my head. It got so annoying (and painful) I started doing split second head checks. With the Shoei I can turn my head on the freeway and there's no wrenching on my neck. My head checks are now way safer.

The HJC was my first helmet so while trying them on they all seemed tight. I bought a large, but in retrospect I should have gone with a medium. When trying on helmets this time I took the cheek pads out of some of them. What I noticed was the tight helmets in medium were only tight in the face, but perfect around the noggin. The large ones felt great in the face but loose up around the skull. With helmets, the snugger they are on the skull the safer they will be in a crash (integrated force distribution). I figured I�d either microwave or freeze the cheek pads to break them in faster, but I ended just leaving a full ammo can on them for a day. Now they don�t smoosh my cheeks up into my eye holes.

The Shoei is slightly less noisy, so instead of needing ear plugs all the time I only need then above ~50mph.

The ventilation is way better.

The Shoei came with removable breath shield (anti-fog) and chin skirt :blink: . The breath shield fogs up my glasses. I haven�t used the chin skirt yet, but I think it�s for noise. I�ll try it on my next long trip.

It came with wipe on cleaner and anti-fog stuff.

I can�t get my head in without it pulling my music ear buds out :pissed: but it doesn�t pull out the ear plugs.

I almost tried the Shark, bit I give my new Shoei a 9.5/10.

I"m looking for a tinted visor for my ShArk RSR2 Furtif - anyone have any websites that sell the visors?

Helmet made 2005/Feb if it makes a difference.....

thanks.

I have had a Shark RSX for a year and love it. The light weight, easy visor change and antifogging are great features. Mine is very comfortable, the only negative I've noticed is that the outer coating chips much easier than my old Arai did.

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n306/jcpearce/SharkRSX.jpg

wish i could help....i bought mine at the local honda dealer.