Table of contents

• 14 sporty motorcycle helmets put to the test Full face helmets from 800 to 1000 euros
• AGV Corsa
• ARAI RX-7V
• BMW Race
• HJC RPHA11
• ICON Airframe Pro
• LAZER Osprey Aerial Carbon
• LS2 FF323 Arrow R
• NISHUA NRX-1 carbon
• SCHUBERTH SR2
• SCORPION Exo-2000 EVO Air
• SHARK Race-R Pro
• SHIRO SH-336 carbon
• SHOEI NXR
• X-LITE X-802RR Ultra Carbon
• MOTORCYCLE final scoring
• This is how MOTORRAD tests
• TuV test stand for motorcycle helmets
• The totally subjective hit lists of the editors
• Markus Biebricher (53)
• Thorsten Dentges (44)
• Klaus Herder (53)
• Jorg Lohse (46)
• Double D-ring is the most secure closure
• High development costs for sports helmets

Klaus Herder

50 pictures

Klaus Herder

1/50

mps photo studio

2/50
Visor without detent and with locking in the field of vision.

mps photo studio

3/50
Classic shape, classic high weight, but well balanced.

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4/50
Anyone who has managed to get started feels really good.

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5/50
Impeccable visor with a large field of vision.

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6/50
The supposedly narrow entry is not a major obstacle, as the upholstery is rather soft.

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7/50
Appears even lighter than it is and can be easily put on and taken off.

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8/50
The airiness, however, increases the noise level.

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9/50
A real mystery: what is the hard edge in the neck??

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10/50
Otherwise it is very drafty and very loud inside the Korean.

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11/50
The self-tinting visor is quite remarkable, the rest is not.

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12/50
Even getting started with ease is only of limited help.

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13/50
Getting in is not an easy exercise.

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14/50
Huge field of vision, great visor lock – but the rest then falls off a lot.

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15/50
The weight can hardly be felt …

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16/50
… But drafts and wind noises reveal quite clearly how fast you are.

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17/50
The white cheek pad segments may be a bit annoying …

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18/50
… and there’s a lot more to complain about with the almost perfect helmet.

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19/50
… It’s still quite loud.

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20/50
The extremely large field of vision is convincing, but the somewhat cumbersome putting on and taking off is not quite so…

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21/50
Getting in is not easy …

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22/50
… but once inside, you can look forward to a perfect fit and a lot of visibility.

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23/50
The relatively light Shiro lets it crash powerfully – from 100 km / h …

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24/50
… Then air and noise have quite free access.

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25/50
… namely an almost perfect fit and high wearing comfort.

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26/50
Looks rather inconspicuous, but has it as a fist under the shell …

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27/50
The light X-lite convinces in almost all categories.

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28/50
X-LITE X-802RR Ultra Carbon.

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29/50
SHOEI NXR.

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30/50
SHIRO SH-336 carbon.

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31/50
SHARK Race-R Pro.

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32/50
SCORPION Exo-2000 EVO Air.

mps photo studio

33/50
SCHUBERTH SR2.

mps photo studio

34/50
NISHUA NRX-1 carbon.

mps photo studio

35/50
LS2 FF323 Arrow R.

mps photo studio

36/50
LAZER Osprey Aerial Carbon.

mps photo studio

37/50
ICON Airframe Pro.

mps photo studio

38/50
HJC RPHA11.

mps photo studio

39/50
BMW Race.

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40/50
ARAI RX-7V.

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41/50
AGV Corsa.

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42/50
Tight entry, but comfortable lining and a neat fit.

Klaus Herder

43/50
Clamped: the probe equipped with sensors is positioned at the crime scene.

Klaus Herder

44/50
Everything is going downhill in Cologne: the TuV Rheinland drop test rig in action.

Klaus Herder

45/50
Dream job: Autobahn A 81, air temperature eight degrees, light drizzle at times: Honda (left) and Yamaha at the pre-start.

Klaus Herder

46/50
Sedentary activity: After each test round, Messrs. Herder (left) and Lohse diligently fill out protocols. Hairstyle? Better not ask!

Klaus Herder

47/50
MOTORRAD travel uncle, Markus Biebricher (53) particularly likes very light helmets and larynx-friendly chin straps.

Klaus Herder

48/50
MOTORRAD trend scout, Thorsten Dentges (44) attaches great importance to a very large field of vision and good suitability for glasses.

Klaus Herder

49/50
MOTORRAD Seniors’ Advisory Board, Klaus Herder (53) prefers helmets that are as quiet as possible and that are absolutely suitable for long journeys.

Klaus Herder

50/50
MOTORRAD-Allwetterheizer, Jorg Lohses (46) Preferences are a tight fit and aerodynamic quality.

clothing

Helmets

14 sporty full-face motorcycle helmets in a comparison test

14 sporty motorcycle helmets put to the test
Full face helmets from 800 to 1000 euros

Full-face motorcycle helmets can be bought for low three-digit, occasionally even double-digit amounts. But you can also spend 800 to 1000 euros on it – and then of course expect significantly more from such full-face helmets in all criteria. This test measures and compares these.

Klaus Herder

04/14/2016

For around 800 to 1,000 euros, with a bit of luck, you can find a ready-to-drive motorcycle sweetheart with a fresh HU sticker and halfway treaded tires. So in the Kawasaki GPZ 500 S league & Co. For the same money you can also get a nice full-face helmet. No, not gold-plated or with a Rossi autograph, but a completely normal production model with the current ECE helmet standard, a missing sun visor and a clasp that allows you to tuddle a strap between two metal rings according to old-fashioned custom. In other words, a sports helmet like the one that MOTORRAD chose as a test participant for this helmet test. The only requirements: series model, tested according to ECE-R 22.05, double-D chinstrap fastener.

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The somewhat inexperienced reader may now wonder why people are willing to spend significantly more on what they think is less. Where a good flip-up helmet with lots of chichi and much more comfortable – which will certainly be more expensive to manufacture – can be obtained for less than half the price. A clear answer: Because the flip-up helmet in question would probably no longer be as comfortable at a speed of 240 or more. And because said flip-up helmet would probably only be good for hazardous waste after a sweaty day of racing training.

AGV Corsa

mps photo studio

Visor without detent and with locking in the field of vision.

• providers: AGV, Tel. 00 39/1 31/85 30 11 (Italy), www.agv.it
• price: 729.95 euros (decor / replica 779.95 / 849.95 euros)
• Sizes: XS to XXL
• Weight: 1315 g / 1504 g (manufacturer information XS / L weighed)
• To dye: Black, matt black, eight decors / replicas
• Helmet shell: Carbon / aramid / fiberglass mix
• Clasp: Double-D
• Country of Manufacture: Italy, ECE test mark E 3 (Italy)
• Replacement visors: clear / tinted / mirrored, 64.99 / 64.99 / 79.99 euros
• Furnishing: Breathing air deflector, wind deflector on the chin, visor with tear-off visor holder, three tear-off visors (since April 2016 with Pinlock from 749.95 euros), helmet bag, foam pads for head and cheek correction

plus: Helmet padding fits evenly and without pressure points, comfortable lining; good visor locking and ventilation position; decent aerodynamics (up to 200 km / h completely neutral, above that only minimal lift and slight impulse when looking sideways); good build quality; good shock absorption values

minus: Difficult to put on and take off, turns out extremely small; Visor without detent, closes easily, locking in open position always in the field of vision; Field of vision very limited laterally; Ventilation lever z. Sometimes only very fiddly to use and largely without any noticeable function.

Conclusion: A consistently decent, but not an outstanding helmet. Relatively high weight and only average acoustic quality reinforce the impression that the price for what is offered is quite ambitious.

ARAI RX-7V

mps photo studio

Classic shape, classic high weight, but well balanced.

• providers: Arai Helmet (Germany), Tel. 0 21 33/9 76 77 14, www.arai.de
• price: 799.00 euros (decor / replica 949.00 to 1099.00 euros)
• Sizes: XS to XXL
• Weight: 1620 +/– 50 g / 1602 g (manufacturer information / L weighed)
• To dye: White, black, matt black, eleven decors / replicas
• Helmet shell: GRP mix
• Clasp: Double-D
• Country of Manufacture: Japan, ECE test mark E 4 (Netherlands)
• Replacement visors: clear / tinted, 74.95 / 74.95 euros
• Furnishing: Breathing air deflector, wind deflector on the chin (pull-out), Pinlock visor (enclosed), helmet bag, maintenance oil

plus: Crisp, perfect fit all around, no pressure points, comfortable lining, firm upholstery; Visor absolutely practical, even without locking, significantly improved (but still somewhat playful) locking, good ventilation position, large field of vision; good aerodynamics, no lift up to 250 km / h (over 200 km / h but slight restlessness when looking sideways); relatively quiet, nevertheless good perception of ambient noises; Chin and upper head ventilation very effective; very good workmanship.

minus: Difficult to put on and take off; Ventilation lever z. Sometimes only very fiddly to use; Visor ventilation openings always in the field of vision; very difficult; Shock absorption values ​​only below average; Price (especially decors).

Conclusion: Absolutely convincing in practice, proven “sneaker feeling”. But in terms of weight and shock absorption, the Japanese leaves a lot of points. Which is probably due to the Arai philosophy (“hard shell”).

BMW Race

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Impeccable visor with a large field of vision.

• providers: BMW Motorrad, Tel. 0 89/38 26 10 01, www.bmw-motorrad.de
• price: 595.00 euros (matt black 620 euros, decor / replica 670.00 euros)
• Sizes: XS to XXL
• Weight: 1350 +/- 50 g / 1466 g (manufacturer information / L weighed)
• To dye: White, matt black, three decors / replica
• Helmet shell: GRP / carbon / kevlar mix
• Clasp: Double-D
• Country of Manufacture: Spain, ECE test mark E 9 (Spain)
• Replacement visors: clear with tear-off visors / tinted, 80.00 / 75.00 euros
• Furnishing: Wind deflectors on the chin (two pieces, short / long), visor with tear-off visor holder, four tear-off visors, double visor disc (mounted), helmet bag

plus: Easy to put on and take off; decent, more comfort-oriented fit; clearly defined visor locking, good ventilation position, very large field of vision without annoying double pane edge; excellent aerodynamics, absolutely stable even at very high speeds; low noise level; effective ventilation, very easy to use ventilation slides; good build quality.

minus: Chin strap may be hinged too far back, can press on the larynx; Cheeks are squeezed very hard by the pad; Ventilation cannot be closed completely, “forced ventilation” may be a bit too strong.

Conclusion: The comfort-oriented German from Spain is completely convincing in practice, but ends up at the bottom in the shock absorption test. No security risk, but with it
decisive points are lost.

HJC RPHA11

mps photo studio

Appears even lighter than it is and can be easily put on and taken off.

• providers: HJC Germany, Tel. 0 21 31/52 35 60, www.hjc-germany.de
• price: 399.90 euros (decor / replica 449.90 / 549.90 euros)
• Sizes: XS to XXL
• Weight: 1315 g / 1330 g (manufacturer information / L weighed)
• To dye: White, black, seven decors / replica
• Helmet shell: Fiberglass / carbon / aramid mix
• Clasp: Double-D
• Country of Manufacture: South Korea, ECE test mark E 1 (Germany)
• Replacement visors: clear / tinted / mirrored, 49.95 / 49.95 / 59.95 euros
• Furnishing: Breathing air deflector, wind deflector on the chin, visor with tear-off visor holder, Pinlock visor (enclosed), tinted replacement visor, helmet bag

plus: Easy to put on and take off; very good fit, head is well enclosed, very easy to wear, no pressure points; clearly defined visor locking, good ventilation position, very good visor locking, large field of vision; good aerodynamics (from 180 km / h only minimal lift noticeable); excellent ventilation, very easy to use; good build quality; good shock absorption values.

minus: Chinstrap securing a bit fiddly; in a very sporty sitting position, the upper edge of the visor cutout is in the field of vision; slightly higher noise level, from 180 km / h wind noise very present; evaporates heavily when new.

Conclusion: HJC has long since arrived in the upper-class helmet, which is also proven by the new top model. In terms of noise reduction, however, there is a little more. If you like it particularly light and airy, this is the place to buy.

ICON Airframe Pro

mps photo studio

A real mystery: what is the hard edge in the neck??

• providers: Parts Europe, Tel. 0 65 01/9 69 50, www.partseurope.eu
• price: 386.00 euros (decor 405.00 to 445.00 euros, carbon 644.00 euros)
• Sizes: 2XS to 3XL
• Weight: 1580 g / 1562 g (manufacturer information / L weighed)
• To dye: White, black, matt black, eight decors, two carbon
• Helmet shell: GRP mix (alternatively: carbon)
• Clasp: Double-D
• Country of Manufacture: South Korea, ECE test mark E 1 (Germany)
• Replacement visors: clear / tinted / mirrored, each 49.50 euros
• Furnishing: Breathing air deflector, wind deflector on the chin, tinted replacement visor with double lens and tear-off visor holder, helmet bag

plus: Satisfactory, rather comfort-oriented fit; good visor ventilation position; very large field of vision at the side; good aerodynamics (from 180 km / h only slight vibration); decent workmanship (exception: sharp-edged visor); good shock absorption values.

minus: Difficult to put on and take off, hard edge in the neck bothers; Chinstrap relatively far back, can possibly press on the larynx; Visor cut-out upper edge always in the field of vision in a sporty seating position; Visor locking very fiddly; Ventilation slider easy to use, but without noticeable function, permanent pull on eyes; extremely high noise level from 130 km / h.

Conclusion: The heavy one for a real sports helmet Icon too many serious weaknesses and can only be driven over 180 km / h with a certain ability to suffer – too loud, too drafty. And the operation is also weak.

LAZER Osprey Aerial Carbon

mps photo studio

The self-tinting visor is quite remarkable, the rest is not.

• providers: CIMA motorcycle clothing, Tel. 0 82 34/90 23 63, www.lazerhelmets.de
• price: 549.00 euros with self-tinting Lumino WideRace visor (without Lumino 399.00 euros, with GRP shell 279.00 euros)
• Sizes: XS to XXL
• Weight: 1300 +/- 50 g / 1342 g (manufacturer information / L weighed)
• To dye: Black / white, four decors / replica
• Helmet shell: Carbon (alternatively: GRP)
• Clasp: Double-D
• Country of Manufacture: China, ECE test mark E 6 (Belgium)
• Replacement visors: clear / tinted / mirrored, 39.90 / 49.90 / 59.90 euros, Lumino 119.00 euros
• Furnishing: Breathing air deflector, wind deflector on the chin, self-tinting visor with Pinlock visor (mounted) and tear-off visor holder, three tear-off visors, helmet bag

plus: Relatively easy to put on and take off; clearly defined visor locking, satisfactory visor locking, good ventilation position, large field of vision without annoying double pane edge, well-functioning self-tinting function; decent build quality; Weight.

minus: Unsatisfactory fit, too soft and crumple, no clearly defined fit; Visor cut-out upper edge always in the field of vision in a sporty seating position; moderate aerodynamics (lift from 150 km / h, hikes, increased again from 200 km / h); strong wind noise from 130 km / h; Ventilation lever without noticeable function.

Conclusion: If a sports helmet is weak in terms of fit, aerodynamics and acoustics, it will not achieve a top result. Rather below average shock absorption values ​​and a rather ambitious price unfortunately do not make it any better.

LS2 FF323 Arrow R

mps photo studio

Huge field of vision, great visor lock – but the rest then falls off a lot.

• providers: LS2 Germany, Tel. 0 44 51/9 60 29 80, www.ls2helmets.com
• price: 299.90 euros (decor / replica 329.90 / 349.90 euros, carbon 399.90 / 429.90 euros)
• Sizes: XXS to XXL
• Weight: 1390 +/- 50 g / 1430 g (manufacturer information / L weighed)
• To dye: White, black, matt black, eight decors / replicas
• Helmet shell: GRP mix (alternatively: carbon)
• Clasp: Double-D
• Country of Manufacture: China, ECE test mark E 9 (Spain)
• Replacement visors: clear / tinted / mirrored, 29.00 / 32.00 / 39.00 euros
• Furnishing: Breathing air deflector, wind deflector on the chin, visor with tear-off visor holder and Pinlock visor (enclosed), reflective sticker (enclosed), helmet bag

plus: Good visor locking, good ventilation position, extremely large field of vision; decent build quality.

minus: Difficult to put on and take off, chin strap not optimally hinged; Fit somewhat unsatisfactory, “jerking back” necessary, sometimes much too tight, sometimes too airy – no clearly defined fit; no clear visor notch; moderate aerodynamics, a bit restless from 150 km / h, wanders a little; Adjustment of the chin and upper head ventilation without noticeable function, somewhat drafty “forced ventilation” (but not on the eyes); rather below average shock absorption values.

Conclusion: Lots of good approaches, but the bottom line is that the impression is rather ambiguous. For a real sports helmet, above all, fit and aerodynamic qualities are missing. After all, the price is okay.

NISHUA NRX-1 carbon

mps photo studio

The weight can hardly be felt…

• providers: Louis, Tel. 0 40/73 41 93 60, www.louis.de
• price: 299.90 euros
• Sizes: XS to XL
• Weight: 1180 +/- 50 g / 1220 g (manufacturer information / L weighed)
• colour: Black (carbon)
• Helmet shell: Carbon
• Clasp: Double-D
• Country of Manufacture: China, ECE test mark E 13 (Luxembourg)
• Replacement visors: clear / tinted, 34.99 / 39.99 euros
• Furnishing: Breathing air deflector, wind deflector on the chin, Pinlock visor (enclosed), helmet bag, padded helmet bag

plus: Easy to put on and take off, chin strap optimally articulated; still satisfactory fit (but could fit a bit more fully), comfortable lining; good visor locking and ventilation position, large field of vision (pinlock edge but may be a bit annoying); extremely low weight, hardly noticeable on the head; good shock absorption values.

minus: Visor notch quite coarse; somewhat unsatisfactory aerodynamics (from 150 km / h slight restlessness, from 200 km / h additional clear impulse); Ventilation slide fiddly and without noticeable function, somewhat drafty “forced ventilation”; already from 130 km / h very strong wind noises, overall quite loud; clearly evaporates when new.

Conclusion: If you didn’t know better, you’d expect a bicycle helmet to be worn – the Nishua is really very light. And not yet fully fermented, because some weaknesses in detail are annoying in (sports) practice.

SCHUBERTH SR2

mps photo studio

The white cheek pad segments may be a bit annoying …

• providers: Schuberth, Tel. 03 91/8 10 60, www.schuberth.com
• price: 669.00 euros (decor 749.00 euros)
• Sizes: XS to XXL
• Weight: 1300 +/- 50 g / 1326 g (manufacturer information / L weighed)
• To dye: White, matt black, three decors
• Helmet shell: GRP mix
• Clasp: Double-D
• Country of Manufacture: Germany, ECE test mark E 13 (Luxembourg)
• Replacement visors: clear / tinted / mirrored, 55.00 / 69.00 / 85.00 euros
• Furnishing: Breathing air deflector, wind deflector on the chin, Pinlock visor (mounted), helmet bag

plus: Easy to put on; very good fit, head is well enclosed, pleasantly firm padding, lies evenly everywhere; very light to wear, no pressure points; clearly defined visor notch, good ventilation position; excellent aerodynamics, is stable under all conditions; low noise level, nevertheless good perception of ambient noise; very good ventilation, very easy to use; good build quality; low weight; excellent shock absorption values.

minus: Weaning off may be a bit difficult; Pinlock edge in the field of vision, visor locking a bit fiddly and difficult to close while driving; White cheek pad segments may reflect in the visor.

Conclusion: The people of Magdeburg have a lot of helmet experience – and their own wind tunnel, which you can see everywhere in this thoroughbred sports helmet. In addition to many practical points, there are also very good laboratory values. And with it the test victory!

SCORPION Exo-2000 EVO Air

mps photo studio

The extremely large field of vision is convincing, but the somewhat cumbersome putting on and taking off is not quite so…

• providers: Scorpion Sports Germany, Tel. 02 12/2 33 88 49, www.scorpionsports.eu
• price: 369.90 euros (decor / replica 399.90 / 439.90 euros)
• Sizes: XS to XXL
• Weight: 1350 +/- 50 g / 1394 g (manufacturer information / L weighed)
• To dye: White, black, matt black, 16 decors / replicas
• Helmet shell: Kevlar / Dynema / fiberglass mix
• Clasp: Double-D
• Country of Manufacture: China, ECE test mark E 13 (Luxembourg)
• Replacement visors: clear / tinted / mirrored, 35.90 / 35.90 / 44.90 euros
• Furnishing: Breathing air deflector, wind deflector on the chin, visor with tear-off visor holder and pinlock visor (enclosed), tinted replacement visor with pinlock and tear-off visor holder, helmet bag

plus: Still satisfactory fit, no pressure points, generally more comfort-oriented; clear visor locking, good visor locking, extremely large field of vision; satisfactory aerodynamics (from 180 km / h only slight restlessness); Upper head ventilation relatively easy to use and with a good effect, good workmanship.

minus: Slightly difficult to put on and take off, visor ventilation position too far; from 130 km / h strong wind noise, overall relatively high noise level; Chin ventilation easy to use, but without any noticeable effect; Impact absorption values ​​in the upper range.

Conclusion: A typical case of “solid midfield”. No serious weaknesses, but – apart from the field of vision – no outstanding strengths either. The properly done Chinese waits for the right head – then it’s all right.

SHARK Race-R Pro

mps photo studio

Getting in is not easy …

• providers: Shark Helme Germany, Tel. 0 41 08/45 80 00, www.shark-helmets.com
• price: 449.99 euros (matt black 469.99 euros, decor / replica 499.99 / 529.99 euros)
• Sizes: XS to XL
• Weight: 1320 g / 1458 g (manufacturer information / L weighed)
• To dye: White, black, matt black, eight decors / replicas
• Helmet shell: Carbon / aramid mix
• Clasp: Double-D
• Country of Manufacture: Thailand, ECE test mark E 11 (Great Britain)
• Replacement visors: clear / tinted / mirrored, 84.00 / 84.00 / 94.60 euros
• Furnishing: Breathing air deflector, wind deflector on the chin, anti-fog visor with tear-off visor holder, reflective sticker (enclosed), helmet bag

plus: Clever chinstrap securing by magnet; very good fit, head is well enclosed, snug fit, upholstery pleasantly firm and yet comfortable, no pressure points; clearly defined visor locking, good ventilation position, large field of vision; excellent aerodynamics, is stable under all conditions; rather low noise level; very good ventilation; good build quality; very good shock absorption values.

minus: Difficult to put on and take off; Visor locking fiddly and difficult to operate with gloves; Ventilation lever on the forehead is tiny and awkward to use.

Conclusion: French parents, Thai obstetricians – the result was an all-round successful sports helmet for the very fast pace. A few grams less, and maybe even the test win would have been possible …

SHIRO SH-336 carbon

mps photo studio

The relatively light Shiro lets it crash powerfully – from 100 km / h …

• providers: Shiro, Tel. 00 34/9 68/58 51 71 (Spain), www.shirohelmet.com
• price: 375.10 euros
• Sizes: XXS to XXL
• Weight: 1250 +/- 50 g / 1366 g (manufacturer information / L weighed)
• To dye: Carbon, matte carbon
• Helmet shell: Carbon
• Clasp: Double-D
• Country of Manufacture: China, ECE test mark E 9 (Spain)
• Replacement visors: clear / tinted / mirrored, 27.85 / 27.85 / 33.90 euros
• Furnishing: Breathing air deflector, wind deflector on the chin, helmet bag, padded transport box

plus: Very easy to put on and take off; good visor lock, relatively large field of view; still satisfactory workmanship; low weight; satisfactory shock absorption values.

minus: Chin strap may be too far back, can press on the larynx; unsatisfactory fit, no defined fit, sits more on the head than around the head, everything is very plush and slippery, chin part may be too close to the head; Visor ventilation position too far; Unsatisfactory aerodynamics (starts moving from 130 km / h, very restless from 150 km / h, significant lift, moves backwards); extremely high noise level, from 100 km / h very strong wind noise; Ventilation slider without noticeable function, permanent strong drafts on the eyes, practically no longer drivable from 200 km / h.

Conclusion: Looks light and airy during dry runs, but fails in practice – this is definitely not a sports helmet. And even longer stretches of the motorway in touring pace can be exhausting with the Chinese-Spaniard.

SHOEI NXR

mps photo studio

Looks rather inconspicuous, but has it as a fist under the shell …

• providers: Shoei, Tel. 02 11/1 75 43 60, www.shoei-europe.com
• price: 429.00 euros (metallic 459.00 euros, decor / replica 529.00 / 559.00 euros)
• Sizes: XXS to XXL
• Weight: 1400 g / 1342 g (manufacturer information / L weighed)
• To dye: White, black, matt black, red, silver, gray metallic, 15 decors / replicas
• Helmet shell: GRP mix
• Clasp: Double-D
• Country of Manufacture: Japan, ECE test mark E 6 (Belgium)
• Replacement visors: clear / tinted / mirrored, 59.95 / 59.95 / 99.95 euros
• Furnishing: Breathing air deflector, wind deflector on the chin, Pinlock visor (enclosed), helmet bag, maintenance oil

plus: Perfectly hinged chinstrap, very good security; excellent fit, head is optimally enclosed, pleasantly firm padding, lies evenly everywhere, very well balanced, no pressure points; clearly defined visor locking, good ventilation position, good visor locking; excellent aerodynamics, is stable under all conditions; low noise level, nevertheless good perception of ambient noise; very good ventilation (exception: chin part, hardly any effect); very good workmanship; low weight; satisfactory shock absorption values.

minus: Difficult to put on and take off; Ventilation lever z. Sometimes a bit fiddly to use.

Conclusion: Cleverly done – Shoei did not send the new X-Spirit III into the race (“racing and not sports helmet”), relied on the proven NXR and mercilessly won in almost all categories. Price? Very fair – a clear buying tip!

X-LITE X-802RR Ultra Carbon

mps photo studio

Impeccable workmanship meets high practicality.

• providers: Nolangroup Germany, Tel. 07 11/3 10 85 30, www.nolangroup.de
• price: 519.99 euros (decor / replica up to 659.99 euros)
• Sizes: XS to XXL
• Weight: 1260 g / 1300 g (manufacturer information / L weighed)
• To dye: Carbon, seven decors / replicas
• Helmet shell: Carbon
• Clasp: Double-D
• Country of Manufacture: Italy, ECE test mark E 3 (Italy)
• Replacement visors: clear / tinted / mirrored, 47.95 / 47.95 / 67.95 euros
• Furnishing: Breathing air deflector, wind deflector on the chin, Pinlock visor (mounted), helmet bag, care oil, visor cleaning cloth

plus: Very easy to put on and take off; very good fit, head is well enclosed, pleasantly firm and surprisingly comfortable upholstery, lies evenly everywhere; very light to wear, no pressure points; good visor locking, good ventilation position; very good aerodynamics; very good ventilation (exception: chin part, hardly any effect), relatively easy to use; very good workmanship; excellent shock absorption values.

minus: Ventilation lever on the forehead is a bit tricky to use; Noise level overall still sufficiently low, but relatively strong wind noise from 140 km / h.

Conclusion: In the last sports helmet test, the predecessor model X-802 R won the test. The top model of the successor almost does the same almost four years later. One thing is clear: the northern Italians know how to build top helmets!

MOTORCYCLE final scoring

But that was really close. Only four points difference between the top five and those rated “very good” – that suggests a consistently very high quality standard.

Klaus Herder

Sedentary activity: After each test round, Messrs. Herder (left) and Lohse diligently fill out protocols. Hairstyle? Better not ask!

And behind it, too, there are some helmets that score well in the practice categories, but unfortunately fail to score a few on the shock absorption test bench and the scales. Which does not have to be a real obstacle to the purchase decision, because the decisive factor is on the pitch, i.e. during the personal fitting and test drive. In the lower third of the test field, “satisfactory” predominates. And in the truest sense of the word, if the term “sports helmet” is not interpreted too sportily and “only” is looking for a proper helmet.

	MOTORRAD verdict	Purchase opportunity
SCHUBERTH SR2	very good	Buy now from Amazonhttps://amzn.to/2ujH5c4
SHOEI NXRhttps://amzn.to/2ujH5c4	very good	Buy now at Louis.de
SHARK Race-R Pro	very good	Buy now from Amazon
X-LITE X-802RR Ultra Carbon	very good	Buy now from Amazon
HJC RPHA11	very good	Buy now at Louis.de
ARAI RX-7V	Good	Buy now from Amazon
BMW Race	Good	Buy now from Amazon
AGV Corsa	Good	Buy now from Amazon
SCORPION EXO-2000 EVO Air	Good	Buy now from Amazon
NISHUA NRX-1 carbon	Good	Buy now at Louis.de
ICON Airframe Pro	satisfying	Buy now from Amazon
LS2 FF323 Arrow R	satisfying	Buy now from Amazon
LAZER Osprey Aerial Carbon	satisfying	At retail
SHIRO SH-336 carbon	satisfying	Buy now from Amazon

This is how MOTORRAD tests

Five copies of each helmet model were put to the test: three in size M, one each in size L and XL. Two specimens in M ​​did not survive the helmet test because they were destroyed as part of the shock absorption test at TuV Rheinland in Cologne.

Klaus Herder

Dream job: Autobahn A 81, air temperature eight degrees, light drizzle at times: Honda (left) and Yamaha at the pre-start.

The three remaining test samples had to show what they can do in practical trials. For this purpose, the Yamaha YZF-R1 from the MOTORRAD long-term test fleet and a Honda CB 1000 R drove on the largely unregulated A 81 motorway between Heilbronn and Wurzburg and on neighboring country roads.

On the disguised Yamaha up to 250 km / h on the clock, on the Honda the testers let it be a maximum of 215 km / h. After each test lap, the driving impressions that were still fresh were recorded. In order to be able to classify these a little better later, the legendary conference room dry test was on the program at the MOTORRAD editorial office in Stuttgart at the end of the test program, in which additional colleagues who were not affected by driving impressions were involved. Once again, it was all about handling, fit and workmanship. And as always, the editors’ totally subjective hit lists were created, proving once again that the best helmet is the one that fits and pleases you personally.

TuV test stand for motorcycle helmets

The successfully completed examination according to the helmet test standard ECE R 22.05 is a basic requirement for making it into the selection for the MOTORCYCLE helmet test. However, the editors consider the mundane re-measurement of the ECE shock absorption values ​​to be superfluous. On the one hand, this is due to the fact that the helmet manufacturers observe themselves closely. Peter Schaudt, helmet expert at TuV Rheinland: “As soon as a provider with new models appears on the market, we receive them from competitors to check the ECE values.”

On the other hand, in the opinion of MOTORRAD, the ECE only defines a minimum requirement for motorcycle helmets. On the one hand, this is due to the sometimes absurd test specifications, in which the drop tests are carried out with helmets frozen to minus 20 degrees. In addition, the points of impact are precisely defined in the European standard. Which in turn encourages some helmet providers to reinforce the test points accordingly. A procedure that is within the legal framework, but which makes critics scoff at the fact that this method can even be used to knit a bobble hat so it is ECE-compliant.

For this reason, MOTORRAD sat down at the table with TuV expert Schaudt and accident researcher and biomechanic Florian Schueler as early as 2009 to develop a practical test procedure for helmets. For seven years now, the “MOTORCYCLE helmet standard” has proven itself in numerous comparative tests. Central point: the helmet continues to fall from a height of around three meters on the test stand of TuV Rheinland, but not on the ECE edge anvil, but on a real guardrail carrier (“Sigma post”), which, according to Florian Schueler, is often tragic in accidents Role. The helmets are also tested at room temperature; the impact on the left and right side occurs at both low and high speeds. According to ECE, an acceleration value of 275 g is permissible in the event of an impact on the test anvil. The probe equipped with sensors forwards the g-value to a computer, which calculates the HIC-value with the help of other parameters (duration of force application). The “Head Injury Criterion” is considered by doctors and biomechanics as an informative value for making statements about possible brain / skull injuries. The ECE allows a maximum HIC value of 2400. An abstract number, but above all far beyond good and bad.

The MOTORRAD expert crew agrees: “In the MOTORRAD test, HIC 1000 should be feasible!” The top scores in this helmet test show that some helmet manufacturers have almost achieved this target value. The majority of the test field still has some catching up to do.

The totally subjective hit lists of the editors

Points don’t lie. But they cannot always depict full life in all its facets, and so even the most extensive helmet test can only show tendencies and give a rough direction. Which helmet is ultimately the best for the inclined reader can only be decided by one person: the reader himself. And only after a detailed fitting and test drive. It has meanwhile become a good tradition for the editors involved in the helmet test to choose their own personal winners and losers, far removed from any point tables, in order to show you, dear reader, one very important thing: Every head is different! Take a closer look at the final rating table, weight it, make a small pre-selection – and then off to the helmet dealer.

Markus Biebricher (53)

Klaus Herder

MOTORCYCLE travel uncle, Markus Biebricher (53).

MOTORCYCLE travel uncle, especially likes very light helmets and larynx-friendly chin straps.

1. Shoei NXR
2. Nishua NXR-1 Carbon
3. Shiro SH-336 Carbon
13. Icon Airframe Pro
14. Scorpion EXO-2000 EVO Air

Thorsten Dentges (44)

Klaus Herder

MOTORCYCLE trend scout, Thorsten Dentges (44).

MOTORCYCLE trend scout, attaches great importance to a very large field of vision and good glasses suitability.

1. Arai RX-7V
2. X-lite X-802RR Ultra Carbon
3. Shoei NXR
13. Lazer Osprey Aerial Carbon
14th. AGV Corsa

Klaus Herder (53)

Klaus Herder

MOTORRAD Senior Advisory Board, Klaus Herder (53).

MOTORRAD Seniors Advisory Board, prefers helmets that are as quiet as possible and absolutely suitable for long journeys.   

1. Schuberth SR2
2. Arai RX-7V
3. Shoei NXR
13. Icon Airframe Pro
14. Shiro SH-336 Carbon

Jorg Lohse (46)

Klaus Herder

MOTORCYCLE all-weather heater, Jorg Lohse (46).

MOTORCYCLE all-weather heater, crisp seat and aerodynamic quality are his preferences.

1. Shark Race-R Pro
2. Shoei NXR
3. Arai RX-7V
13. Shiro SH-336 Carbon
14. Icon Airframe Pro

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Double D-ring is the most secure closure

Anyone who is interested in a sports helmet most likely has very specific ideas about what the object of their desire must be able to do. And what it doesn’t need. For example a sun visor, because it only weighs unnecessarily much, and if you drive quickly in circles in bright sunshine, you will mount a tinted visor anyway. Ratchet or other click-plug quick-release fasteners are also not an issue, because it is not without reason that the motorsport associations still stipulate the good old double D-ring as a chinstrap lock: with no other system is it so reliably guaranteed that the chinstrap actually works every time is optimally closed. It may be a bit cumbersome, but it is still the first choice in terms of security.

Anyone who gazes heavily in a mostly stooped position also appreciates the largest possible field of vision, because with Vmax there is not much time to look over the shoulder, and the upper edge of the visor cutout, which is hardly disturbing in a normal sitting position, can be very annoying when the driver is almost lying down and the clear view severely hinder.

High development costs for sports helmets

A good sports helmet is also equipped with a robust lining and permanently firm upholstery, which can be easily removed and installed and does not take offense with tens of times cleaning. A perfect visor mechanism with a locking option is also included, and the fact that the visor can be changed easily is also a matter of course for sports helmets. The only possible helmet shell is a thermosetting material, which is still clearly superior to the injection-molded shells (“thermoplastic”) in terms of durability.

Sophisticated aerodynamics, successful acoustics – all of this and a lot more drive up the (development) costs for real sports helmets tremendously. The reward for all the effort: in the best case scenario, a helmet for life.

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