Happy new bike day.... WTF, what do you mean it's a Yamaha ???

[weeksy]

Can we have a photo after you've been howling down the B roads.

Of course you can. Even if it's rubbish.

The backup plan of Mt 09 system is always there.

[weeksy]

So as an update, i didn't fit the XSR900 painted system, the MT09 system is staying on.

Ebay search brought up some cheap Evotech Performance crash protection though which has just arrived

2020-07-28_01-08-13 by Steve Weeks, on Flickr

2020-07-28_01-00-23 by Steve Weeks, on Flickr

[weeksy]

Then this arrived..

2020-07-28_01-18-09 by Steve Weeks, on Flickr

[MingtheMerciless]

That lid's going to attract every black fly for miles......

[weeksy]

That lid's going to attract every black fly for miles......

It's too pretty to take out of the box, i'm buying another lid and keeping this one in a glass case.

[KungFooBob]

I used to work with a bloke who told me that when he was an apprentice in the 70's he had a red waterproof over suit and a yellow helmet, he got nicknamed 'The Zit'.

[Horse]

I used to work with a bloke who told me that when he was an apprentice in the 70's he had a red waterproof over suit and a yellow helmet, he got nicknamed 'The Zit'.

A mate had a yellow PVC waterproof suit (I think his father 'borrowed' it from the council) to go over his leathers. That left the black helmet, gloves and boots.

He described himself as looking like a bruised banana:)

[weeksy]

ANyway... I sat and pondered and debated and debated and pondered and decided "Nah, the L is too tight, it's going back"

So i arranged via Sportsbikeshop to get an XL in, i didn't care what colour i just wanted to try it for sizing.

They had this scheme in Reading


Boy do pictures not do it justice, it's a beautiful helmet indeed ! Wow...

Tried it on.... It was WAY better in the XL than the L...

But then i tried on a Shoei NXR and X-Spirit 3 just out of interest.

2020-07-28_05-12-31 by Steve Weeks, on Flickr

Left the shop with a matt black NXR and dark visor. It wasn't/isnt my favourite colour of helmet, but arguably goes with anything and TBH there wasn't any others that were doing it for me. Added bonus is that it's £240 less than the Arai and £280 less than the X-Spirit 3. I didn't notice any improvement in comfort from the NXR to X-Spirit 3, so was happy. I've owned both and loved both before, so again, i was happy.

Finally we can put this helmet debate away for a couple of years at least.

[KungFooBob]

Interesting thing about matt helmets. I'm sure Shoei have caught up because it's been a few years since I last looked, but at the time only Arai's had a special matt paint that didn't show greasy finger prints.

[MrLongbeard]

Interesting thing about matt helmets. I'm sure Shoei have caught up because it's been a few years since I last looked, but at the time only Arai's had a special matt paint that didn't show greasy finger prints.

Mine is a did for it, but then it's a Quest I got NOS, the trick is to not touch the paint if it bothers you.

[weeksy]

Interesting thing about matt helmets. I'm sure Shoei have caught up because it's been a few years since I last looked, but at the time only Arai's had a special matt paint that didn't show greasy finger prints.

Mine is a did for it, but then it's a Quest I got NOS, the trick is to not touch the paint if it bothers you.

After the time, effort, travelling, shipping back and forwards etc, i just wanted a helmet i could put on my head and think "ahhhhhh" and this was it

[v8-powered]

But then i tried on a Shoei NXR and X-Spirit 3 just out of interest.

Left the shop with a matt black NXR and dark visor. It wasn't/isnt my favourite colour of helmet, but arguably goes with anything and TBH there wasn't any others that were doing it for me. Added bonus is that it's £240 less than the Arai and £280 less than the X-Spirit 3. I didn't notice any improvement in comfort from the NXR to X-Spirit 3, so was happy. I've owned both and loved both before, so again, i was happy.

Finally we can put this helmet debate away for a couple of years at least.

I'm currently an X-Spirit wearer and very happy with it however is time to replace it, can't really justify another X-Spirit for the riding I do now and was looking at the NXR however the RYD gets some great reviews - did you happen to look at the model too?

[weeksy]

I didn't sorry.

[v8-powered]

I didn't sorry.

No probs, you mind me asking what you paid for the NXR?

[weeksy]

https://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/motorc ... rod/193449

Helmet city are doing some models and sizes for £280 but I'd already done it all at SBS so just made sense to get it done as I'd lost patience with myself

[Jody]

Just throwing my 2 penneth in RE ceramic coating.

I had the headers on my Superduke coated from almost brand new, I forget the name of the firm but they assured me of their quality "we do all the Aston Martin Racing cars"......

The coating didn't last, just seemed to fade away. I ended up replacing the whole system with a second hand Akra (£1000!!!).

[weeksy]

Just throwing my 2 penneth in RE ceramic coating.

I had the headers on my Superduke coated from almost brand new, I forget the name of the firm but they assured me of their quality "we do all the Aston Martin Racing cars"......

The coating didn't last, just seemed to fade away. I ended up replacing the whole system with a second hand Akra (£1000!!!).

Good info, thank you. I don't see me fitting the headers now until the day i wheel it into a dealer, unless he wants with the MT09 system, then they'll be in the back of the car with the bike on the trailer. But I also don't see an exhaust coming in the near future either... I'd rather spend £800 on fuel and tyres really at the moment.

[Rockburner]

Then this arrived..

2020-07-28_01-18-09 by Steve Weeks, on Flickr

Do those helmets still use the Arai visor mounting mechanism that's usually behind the big sidepods?
Or is it a different system and you need to unscrew the screws to take the visor off?

[Rockburner]

ANyway... I sat and pondered and debated and debated and pondered and decided "Nah, the L is too tight, it's going back"

So i arranged via Sportsbikeshop to get an XL in, i didn't care what colour i just wanted to try it for sizing.

They had this scheme in Reading


Boy do pictures not do it justice, it's a beautiful helmet indeed ! Wow...

Tried it on.... It was WAY better in the XL than the L...

But then i tried on a Shoei NXR and X-Spirit 3 just out of interest.

2020-07-28_05-12-31 by Steve Weeks, on Flickr

Left the shop with a matt black NXR and dark visor. It wasn't/isnt my favourite colour of helmet, but arguably goes with anything and TBH there wasn't any others that were doing it for me. Added bonus is that it's £240 less than the Arai and £280 less than the X-Spirit 3. I didn't notice any improvement in comfort from the NXR to X-Spirit 3, so was happy. I've owned both and loved both before, so again, i was happy.

Finally we can put this helmet debate away for a couple of years at least.

Interesting. How is the fit in the Shoei compared to an Arai? I've always found Arai's to be the only helmets that really fitted my head shape - so interesting that the NXR fits you as well. I'm probably going to be looking for a new helmet soon.

My gf has an NXR and says it's very comfy and very quiet and is very happy with it (albeit her only other experience was with an ancient VEMAR).

[weeksy]

I've always been OK with both. The Arai is shallower at the front so my nose can sometimes touch the breath guard thing if fitted, the Shoei seems to protrude more in that area giving more clearance.

It was hard to say 100% on the Arai above as i had to wear a Balaclava thing so i was allowed to try it on.... Which was a shame as i may have gone with the Arai, but i tried both on about 5-6 times each and swapped between, deciding each time the Shoei was the best fit, but really wanted the Arai... so kept going back to it