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The helmet came with a synthetic carry bag, and because it is a Shoei many ther accessories are available, including tinted visors and the like.
Safety wise... it has kept me alive, but that hasn't been a particularly tough challenge as in the time I've had the hat I haven't crashed ... Read review
Advantages: Well made, light, tough, good looking Disadvantages: Cold in winter with too many drafts, poor visor mechanism
...and because it is a Shoei many ther accessories are available, including tinted visors and the like.
Safety wise... it has kept me alive, but that hasn't been a particularly tough challenge as in the time I've had the hat I haven't crashed once! It does feel solidly made and carries the ACU gold approval sticker, and seems solid enough. The chin guard is larger than average too, but without looking so.
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I'm normally a cheapskate were helmets are concerned. I knock hell out of them, and as a result have always refused to pay more than £150 for one before - that's more than enough to throw away, and even that was painful. I've had Nolan, Bieffe, Bell, and AGV helmets and been generally happy with my lot.
But then I lashed out £4000 on a bike, and the salesman offered an XR900 at a knockdown price as a deal sweetener... so welcome Mr Shone to the world of £300 plus hats.
The XR900 comes in all the standard colours, but the Chimera and one or two other patterns are intended to look custom painted. Mine is red black and white with a gold dragon on the side... very distinctive and slightly oriental looking. Quite cool is the general consensus on the paint job.
The lacquer on the hat is good quality, but like all painted helmets it does suffer from chips and knocks. At three years old it has started to look scruffy.
The lining is a good quality synthetic material, soft to touch but without being sweaty. Top marks for the luxo-lining.
The exterior has three main vents, one on the chin just below the visor, one above the visor, and one at about 2'o clock on the back / top of the helmet. All are supposedly opened and closed through the use of levers and slides. In practice the slides feel cheaply made and do not close properly, this leaves the helmet potentially too draughty to use in winter. The visor is also prone to steaming up, despite the purpose of the chin vent being to direct air across the visor to prevent fogging.
That visor is a bit of a pain too. It has a two position catch , one position supposedly prevent visor closure whilst the other allows the visor to be fully closed. Neither work properly, the visor closes on one side but not the other, and with the catch set to 'off' the visor will still not close at all. The visor release mechanism seems robust , quick and reliable however, and no tools are necessary to remove it for a wash at the services! Again poor marks all round for the visor though.
The chin strap has a quick release catch and is relatively well made, with the exception of the 'catch covering' strap never lining up where it is supposed to. Infuriating at times. The catch also has a rubber cover, this slides around the strap and can often prevent the helment being fastened at all.
The comfort for me is fine, I have a 62 head and the main reason for purchase was the comfort of the fit. This really is excellent with no movement and no pressure points. It is the best fitting helmet I've ever had, even straight from the box let alone now when it is worn in. The helmet is tight though, I have a great deal of trouble fitting even tiny headphones under it, and 'glasses on' helmet wear can be painful and frustrating.
The helmet came with a synthetic carry bag, and because it is a Shoei many ther accessories are available, including tinted visors and the like.
Safety wise... it has kept me alive, but that hasn't been a particularly tough challenge as in the time I've had the hat I haven't crashed once! It does feel solidly made and carries the ACU gold approval sticker, and seems solid enough. The chin guard is larger than average too, but without looking so.
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Very comfortable, but felt like it shoudl be £125 rather than £300 due to the build quality of many of the parts. Too cold for winter use, and too expensive not to be a year round piece of kit.
