Last1Out
STOC 7165; KLRST 52
Searching for a quieter helmet, I decided this morning to test the four lids I presently own against each other. The test bed was a stock 2009 KLR 650, the route was the same for all testing, 12.5 miles with speeds from 20 to 70, all rides followed the same route the same way, no reversing. The candidates are: Shoei RF1000; Shoei Multi-Tec; HJC IS-16 and HJC-CL-Max. The RF is about 3 years old, the CL-Max 2, the Multi-Tec 1 and the IS-16 is new. I removed all the breath guards and chin shields to test each model evenly. OK, who is the quietest? Let's cut to the chase.
The RF1000, despite it's age, beats the other three hands down. Even though the KLR throws the fairing's wind stream right at my neck and chin, the RF 1000 had no trouble handling the breeze. The RF is also a supremely comfortable lid and is still my personal choice for those long haul, multi day adventures.
Second place is actually a toss up, and I was really surprised by this. The Multi-tec is a quiet helmet, but I got a lot of low frequency booming from the lid when speeds went up over 30 mph. The CL-Max was almost as quiet (that was the surprise), but the sound frequencies that reach your ear are higher than those of the Shoei, and that makes it sound louder, but only by a very little. Adding the chin curtain onto the Multi-Tec quiets things down considerably, approaching the RF 1000 range. The CL didn't come with a curtain, but using my gloved hand as a shield didn't do much.
Last was the new guy on the block, the IS-16. It is noisier than the other three, but again, it's due to high frequency sound that intrudes more than the others. This was a bit of a surprise because the ear padding surrounds your ears and I was expecting a much quieter ride than what I got. Standing on the pegs got the helmet out of the KLRs wind stream and the helmet became noticeably quiter, so I added the chin curtain back in, but it really didn't help much. The sound level isn't bad, but it higher than the other three.
Differences. The CL-Max gives your a lot more chin room than the Multi-tec, a good thing if you use radios. The CL-Max's windshield is a disaster. I have two Maxes, one for me and the Mrs., and you can't open the screens without the things coming off in your hand. If you can get them to work, after about 5 or 6 times the mechanism on the helmet will break. HJC will send you replacement parts for this for free. BUT, since you can raise the chin bar and scratch your nose, a fixed windshield is something you learn to live with. The Multi's chin bar sits very close to your face, and some find this claustrophobic. It's doesn't bother me, and with the chin curtain in, I can use the Multi the same way I use the RF, all day, all night, and have flip up versatility. Shoei windshields are also the best in the business.
The IS-16 has an internal sunshield, it's handy and quasi-useful, and the helmet is comfortable but mine doesn't cover my entire chin the way the RF does. This might be why it's noisier, too. The RF1000, after three years and tens of thousands of miles, is still a Cadillac, in the very best sense of the term.
The RF1000, despite it's age, beats the other three hands down. Even though the KLR throws the fairing's wind stream right at my neck and chin, the RF 1000 had no trouble handling the breeze. The RF is also a supremely comfortable lid and is still my personal choice for those long haul, multi day adventures.
Second place is actually a toss up, and I was really surprised by this. The Multi-tec is a quiet helmet, but I got a lot of low frequency booming from the lid when speeds went up over 30 mph. The CL-Max was almost as quiet (that was the surprise), but the sound frequencies that reach your ear are higher than those of the Shoei, and that makes it sound louder, but only by a very little. Adding the chin curtain onto the Multi-Tec quiets things down considerably, approaching the RF 1000 range. The CL didn't come with a curtain, but using my gloved hand as a shield didn't do much.
Last was the new guy on the block, the IS-16. It is noisier than the other three, but again, it's due to high frequency sound that intrudes more than the others. This was a bit of a surprise because the ear padding surrounds your ears and I was expecting a much quieter ride than what I got. Standing on the pegs got the helmet out of the KLRs wind stream and the helmet became noticeably quiter, so I added the chin curtain back in, but it really didn't help much. The sound level isn't bad, but it higher than the other three.
Differences. The CL-Max gives your a lot more chin room than the Multi-tec, a good thing if you use radios. The CL-Max's windshield is a disaster. I have two Maxes, one for me and the Mrs., and you can't open the screens without the things coming off in your hand. If you can get them to work, after about 5 or 6 times the mechanism on the helmet will break. HJC will send you replacement parts for this for free. BUT, since you can raise the chin bar and scratch your nose, a fixed windshield is something you learn to live with. The Multi's chin bar sits very close to your face, and some find this claustrophobic. It's doesn't bother me, and with the chin curtain in, I can use the Multi the same way I use the RF, all day, all night, and have flip up versatility. Shoei windshields are also the best in the business.
The IS-16 has an internal sunshield, it's handy and quasi-useful, and the helmet is comfortable but mine doesn't cover my entire chin the way the RF does. This might be why it's noisier, too. The RF1000, after three years and tens of thousands of miles, is still a Cadillac, in the very best sense of the term.
