I currently have a 3/4 helmet and want a new full face for the up coming season.
How do people like the CL series helmets? Im looking at the CL-16 and CL-SP. I tried the 16 on today in large and it fit well, i assume the SP will fit the same. The SP looks a little nicer and seems to have have better features and vents. Thanks for any advice.
Tom
I have an HJC Sy-Max flip up and love it.
Not too heavy? I want to go as light as I can.
I really want a nicer brand like Shoei or Arai. However, Shoei helmets dont fit me, large is too tight, XL is too loose. Arias are like puppies surrounding your head but cost over 1/3 the cost of my bike!!!!
My old Arai is seriously like riding with a pillow wrapped around my head. Every time I pulled it on I would think "man this thing is comfortable!
My first helmet was an HJC CL and didn't have any complaints with it. I just bought an HJC FS10, which is nice enough. It's no where near as comfortable as the Arai but I assume I'll get used to it eventually, maybe it'll break in eventually. The annoying part is that they stitched the chin strap right where it hits your jaw bone. The strap doesn't really want to flex there and it hurts when you tighten the strap. Again, hoping that'll break in eventually.
When you're shopping you can obviously pick up and feel the weight of the helmets. I've only gone with HJC helmets in my 10 years, and all have been some variety of CL. They feel good on my head but are certainly not the lightest helmets out there. I'm guessing it is more about what fits your particular head than anything so the best thing to do is go try some on at the store.
Quote from: mike__R on April 15, 2011, 05:49:40 AM
When you're shopping you can obviously pick up and feel the weight of the helmets. I've only gone with HJC helmets in my 10 years, and all have been some variety of CL. They feel good on my head but are certainly not the lightest helmets out there. I'm guessing it is more about what fits your particular head than anything so the best thing to do is go try some on at the store.
Yea they all have a different interior shape. As i mentioned the RF line by Shoei isnt for me.
Got fat cheeks? Are you sure the Shoei is too tight?
I had a HJC Symax on when I was hit from behind in 03, high sided off, and rolled on the ground scratching it up all around. Ins company totalled my 97 GS and gave me $200 on the helmet replacement so I thought it was time to get a better helmet. The Symax was getting well worn inside but I had liked it for a long time.
I tried on both the XL and L size Shoei RF-1000 and the L was much too tight and the XL seemed to be maybe OK. I always put helmets on and wear them around the store for a while before buying and as I was trying the XL I thought to remove the cheek pads and try it. It was actually too big around my head without the cheek pads squeezing my fat cheeks. Got a L size out, removed the cheek pads, and it was a good fit on my head without cheekpads. Thinner cheek pads made the RF-1000 just right and it's been a light weight and very comfortable helmet since. I dropped about 40# last year and it became too loose but putting some new cheek pads in close to the original too tight ones made it just right again.
I bought a HJC CL-Max a while back and use it for winter use now and the RF-1000 for summer use. The CL-Max is heavier but comfortable enough but not as comfortable as the Shoei or the old worn scratched Symax I still have on the shelf.
Try the Shoei without the cheekpads for actual fit on your head, I never tried the RF-1100 myself, afraid I might buy one. :icon_lol:
Hi Jack,
Im a skinny guy but yea my cheeks are a little big. The L HJC fit perfect, slightly pressing on my cheeks and just a little bit of free movement. The L Shoei was very tight on my cheeks but possibly good otherwise but the cheek pads were soo tight i could get past it. The XL was just too loose on my head.
I too wore the helmets for a few minutes each, as your supposed to. In that whole time not one person came over to help or see if i needed anything :icon_rolleyes: Im pretty sure i know how a helmet should fit but some assistance would be nice when dropping $$ at a store. I will go back, and other places and keep trying on helmets until i find one I like. Ill just try not to land on my face with my 3/4 until then :icon_lol:
Comparing my old CL-12 to my new Qwest, I think you would be happy with the HJC. Not too heavy. Decent ventilation. Better anti fogging tendencies than the Shoei.
I think I will have to hurt the wallet and go for an Arai. There really is no price on ultimate comfort. I plan on doing some long rides and im sure it will make a difference.
Not to mention i spent $200 on my helmet for my road bike so.....
I have an HJC CL-SP and it's a nice helmet. A little noisy at times, but I listen to music anyways. :dunno_white:
Any of you guys with HJCs notice a common whistling noise coming from the visor mounting? My arai made some normal wind noise, but my new HJC has a bit of a whistle to it once I get to 30mph and above. I can put my hand over the left side of the visor and it stops. Is that just an HJC thing, or is it just my helmet?
I had two shields, one tinted. One of them whistled sometimes. I could usually fix it by adjusting the plates.
I figured it was worth making sure everything was tight and adjusted before I assume it's a permanent feature.
I just bought a Scorpion exo 1000 modular, and I like it a lot. I have a humoungous jaw, and needed a 3xl. The helmet has inflatable cheek and neck pads, a built in sunvisor, and is convertible to a 3/4 helmet with visor.
I find it pretty quiet at speed, with good ventilation. Not too bad on the wallet at $279.00
Dave the old fart :icon_confused:
My FS10 has a built in sun visor, it's a great feature!
hj cl series is shyte
sun wrapping crap
Cheap too
I've had a few CL's and they were all decent for the price. I now have an IS for my main helmet and really dig the retracting sun visor feature.
-Jessie
I have the CL-16 Slayer, the only issue is lack of vents
It has 2 vents you can open to allow air air, my old Scorpion had about 6.
As far as comfort, the CL-16 is awesome, it's not too tight, yet not too loose. Also, the visor can be opened just slightly enough to let a good breeze in while keeping the critters out.
Overall, it was work the $140ish I spent for it on BikeBandit
-j
I have a CL-SP and I like it.
The only other helmet I have really worn is a shoei rf-1000.
I don't think the vents on my clsp really do much, I cant tell a difference when they are open vs closed.
The shoei seemed slightly lighter, quieter, and had a little better air flow but it is also 3 times the price of the CL.
I think the CL is good looking and plenty comfortable, the shoei is a little better but not 300% better.
My old aria had 7 vents, and I thought it was too much. It was a lot of adjustability, but honestly the only one I ever used was the one by my mouth. It was too much work to sit there flipping all kinds of switches when I was riding. If I wanted more air I just cracked open the bottom of the visor slightly. My new helmet only has 2, and that's one area I sometimes feel that simpler is better. The only time I've ever noticed my head getting hot is when I get stuck in traffic, and vents aren't going to help if you're not moving anyway.
Well I ended up with the Arai Quantum II for a good price since they are discontinued. Hopefully the rain stops in the northeast tomorrow so I can test it out.