I purchased a new Nolan N-104 last month and finally got to use it for more than a ride around the block when we went to Westoc this month so I can now tell you what I think about the new helmet.
I have been wearing Nolans for a while now, A 100E, a 102 and now the 104. Overall, this is an excellent helmet as long as you can live with a few quirks...
I purchased mine from Revzilla in yellow as an XL, the same size I wear in the 102 and 100.
QUirk #1
The fit matches my head shape well (round) but the cheek pads were WAY too tight. I had to purchase a set of the XXL cheek pads to get a good fit.
Quirk #2
The visor is enormous, offering the best visibility I have ever had in a helmet but the first notch to hold it open is about 1.5 inches and it slams shut meaning that you cannot ride with the visor cracked open to allow more air flow. There are several caveats to this however. First, If you push open the forehead vent past the first detent and fully shut the visor until it clcks, it uncovers and opens two direct vents that blast air onto your forehead. I did not know this at first, but once I found out how to work it, I was comfortable even at 109 F. as long as the windshield was down. When combined with the pinlock fog shield, I never had a problem after this. At slow speeds, you can keep the visor open as long as you don't look down.
Quirk# 3
The control for the internal sun shield is located on the left jaw and is a little hard to operate. There is also a "lock the chin piece up" switch that I found hard to locate for a few days with gloves on that got inadvertently locked a few times.
Intercom
I was able to install my Sena intercom without any trouble by using the stick-on base rather than the clamp. I had seen some folks that cut a hole for the clamp, but this was not necessary. Since the 104 is plumbed for Nolan's Bluetooth, there are preformed cutouts in the foam for speakers that look very functional but since I use the ear-bud adapter, I have not tested this out yet. (On another note, I broke another one of those this trip, even after the revamp, Sena has not got this right yet.)
Noise
With my ear-buds in, it was all day quite. With them out, it is fairly noisy, about a 4 on the 10 point scale if the vent is open, a 6 with them closed.
Ventilation
Excellent, there are preformed air channels in the top that I sopuld not feel making a breeze, but as I said, even at 109, I was never uncomfortable.
Buffet and vibration
Very smooth, I run a stock windshield and unlike more rounded helmets, there is no significant buffeting at any windshield position. With the 100 and 102 I had to run the screen all the way down or all the way up to keep from getting a lot of head buffet, the 104 is stable and smooth at all speeds.
Fit and finish is typically Nolan good. I did have one trim strip pop out at the bottom but I popped it right back in.
I found that the internal sunshade is not dark enough but it fit well around my glasses. I am going to add a dark smoke visor for daylight which should cut down on heat as well since the visor is VERY easy to change, unlike the 102 that required 4 hands and a lot of luck.
Overall, a great helmet, I am very pleased.
Chris
I have been wearing Nolans for a while now, A 100E, a 102 and now the 104. Overall, this is an excellent helmet as long as you can live with a few quirks...
I purchased mine from Revzilla in yellow as an XL, the same size I wear in the 102 and 100.
QUirk #1
The fit matches my head shape well (round) but the cheek pads were WAY too tight. I had to purchase a set of the XXL cheek pads to get a good fit.
Quirk #2
The visor is enormous, offering the best visibility I have ever had in a helmet but the first notch to hold it open is about 1.5 inches and it slams shut meaning that you cannot ride with the visor cracked open to allow more air flow. There are several caveats to this however. First, If you push open the forehead vent past the first detent and fully shut the visor until it clcks, it uncovers and opens two direct vents that blast air onto your forehead. I did not know this at first, but once I found out how to work it, I was comfortable even at 109 F. as long as the windshield was down. When combined with the pinlock fog shield, I never had a problem after this. At slow speeds, you can keep the visor open as long as you don't look down.
Quirk# 3
The control for the internal sun shield is located on the left jaw and is a little hard to operate. There is also a "lock the chin piece up" switch that I found hard to locate for a few days with gloves on that got inadvertently locked a few times.
Intercom
I was able to install my Sena intercom without any trouble by using the stick-on base rather than the clamp. I had seen some folks that cut a hole for the clamp, but this was not necessary. Since the 104 is plumbed for Nolan's Bluetooth, there are preformed cutouts in the foam for speakers that look very functional but since I use the ear-bud adapter, I have not tested this out yet. (On another note, I broke another one of those this trip, even after the revamp, Sena has not got this right yet.)
Noise
With my ear-buds in, it was all day quite. With them out, it is fairly noisy, about a 4 on the 10 point scale if the vent is open, a 6 with them closed.
Ventilation
Excellent, there are preformed air channels in the top that I sopuld not feel making a breeze, but as I said, even at 109, I was never uncomfortable.
Buffet and vibration
Very smooth, I run a stock windshield and unlike more rounded helmets, there is no significant buffeting at any windshield position. With the 100 and 102 I had to run the screen all the way down or all the way up to keep from getting a lot of head buffet, the 104 is stable and smooth at all speeds.
Fit and finish is typically Nolan good. I did have one trim strip pop out at the bottom but I popped it right back in.
I found that the internal sunshade is not dark enough but it fit well around my glasses. I am going to add a dark smoke visor for daylight which should cut down on heat as well since the visor is VERY easy to change, unlike the 102 that required 4 hands and a lot of luck.
Overall, a great helmet, I am very pleased.
Chris
