HJC CL-SP Helmet Review

This review is going to take a hard look at a helmet we've owned for quite some time now and that is the HJC CL-SP helmet.  If you aren't familiar with HJC helmets then you should know that HJC motorcycle helmets have long been a favorite of riders around the globe.  They provide a great value for the money and incorporate a lot of features found in much, much more expensive helmets.

If you are unfamiliar with HJC helmets then you should know that they basically offer something for everyone.  The "AC" series, consisting of the AC-11, AC-12 and the SyMax, have long been considered the best that HJC has to offer.  The venerable AC-12 has recently been replaced with the FS-15 but a HUGE number of AC-12 helmets are still available and offer a great value.  The AC line of helmets are constructed of a composite fiberglass shell.

The "CL" series of helmets provides a great bang for the buck and is marketed by HJC as being the most popular helmet sold in North America and we believe it.  If you start looking, you will see these helmets everywhere on a Saturday ride.  The CL helmets offer a polycarbonate composite shell and are both Snell and DOT approved. Like the AC line of helmets, the CL series has many of the features often seen in much higher priced helmets but at a much lower price.

The "CS" series of helmets are HJC's economy or value line.  They meet DOT specs and offer a thermoplastic shell.

This 3 tier approach allows HJC to offer something for everyone and we don't doubt one bit that HJC's claim to being the #1 selling helmet in North America is dead on.  As I said before, you will see HJC helmets on riders heads everywhere you look.  After owning a number of HJC helmets over the years, I can tell you that their success is no accident, they offer a great product at a great price.

If you aren't hooked on the brand appeal of a Shoei or an Arai then what more could you esxpect from a helmet at this price point?  The CL-SP line meets both DOT and SNELL certifications, offers superb quality, fit and finish and is very comfortable going down the road.  Let's dig into a bit more detail.

Helmet Weight

Weight is a very subjective thing and if it were up to me I would leave it right out of most of my reviews.  What is heavy to one rider, is just right to another and in reality helmet weight isn't anywhere near as important as the wind resistance that it gives.  A well designed helmet will feel as light as a feather on your head under speed.  I wear an XL and it weighed in right about 3 lbs and 12 oz.

At this weight the HJC CL-SP is not a lightweight but I have to say, you would never call it a heavy helmet after riding in it.  It feels great going down the road and doesn't fatigue you at all.

HJC CL-SP Visor

The HJC CL-SP uses a patented mechanism to provide more tension on the visor to keep it closed and provide a quality seal against the eye port.  One thing that I will say I did not like about this helmet is that the visor can only open to two positions, half way open and full open.  This doesn't allow you to crack the visor in the morning when you need to defog or just get a touch of cool air that the vents can't provide.

The fit and finish of the visor was very good.  It is not uncommon in the lower end helmets to have a visor that doesn't seal all that well against the eye port but that was not the case on the HJC CL-SP helmet.  It closed positively and sealed nicely.

Visor removal is a piece of cake and I might even say that the HJC CL-SP has one of the nicest visor removal setups that we've seen.  The simpler the better and this one is very simple but has a quality feel that feels very secure and positive. Switch the rocker lock switch off, raise the visor, push the lever to the open position and the visor comes right off.

Helmet Fit and Comfort

This is one of the areas that this helmet REALLY shined.  We have the good fortune to test, ride, wear, destroy a ton of helmets over the course of time and this simple little HJC CL-SP helmet is one of the most comfortable we have worn...ever.  The liner is cushy and very comfortable against your skin and it exudes quality construction.

HJC offers a removable liner that is finished off with a nice mesh liner so you can't see through to the shell.  The liner's fabric is made from what HJC calls Nylex "bioceramic" fabric.  This is a very smooth fabric that they treat with anti-bacterial properties and is designed to wick moisture away from the skin.

I don't know about the science behind it, but it looks good, feels good and felt good on my head.

The CL-SP internally is a bit on the round side.  I am one of those fortunate ones that has a moderately neutral head.  It is slightly oval but not enough that I can't wear most motorcyle helmets.  The HJC helmet lines are usually designed to fit a wide range of heads, which is part of the reason they are so popular.  They fit.

Venting and Air Flow

Venting and air flow is very near and dear to my heart as I live in Georgia and it gets hot here in the summer time.  Heck, it gets hot here in the winter time so I prefer helmets that flow large volumes of air.

The trend lately has been to put these god awfully ugly giant vents on helmets that look like they would suck in more air than a 747 but in reality they usually just make a lot of noise.  The HJC CL-SP is a helmet that has bucked that trend.  They provide a subtle and very simple venting system that works well.

The chin vent is a simple to operate open/close vent setup that works well.  It feels very solid and snaps open or shut with a very positive feel.  This same chin vent flows air right onto your face through a pair of vents in the rear of the chin bar.  I love a helmet that puts air directly on your face, the more the better for me.  I should note that a small amount of the air is directed up onto the back of the visor to help keep it clear. It worked well.

The HJC CL-SP also has two very simple top vents that use a sliding cover to expose the vent.  Like everything else on this helmet, the covers are easy to use and feel good when you operate them.  I had no trouble operating with or without gloves.  The vents are small, so I wasn't expecting much but I will say the air flow was very good, much better than I expected.

Noise Levels

I look at noise levels like I do helmet weight.  It is very subjective and what would be considered too loud for one rider might be just right for another.  Their are too many variables that go into rating the "noise" of a certain helmet.

I will say this, the HJC offers a simple venting system and a snugly fit visor combined with plush liner and interior so it should be no surprise that I found this helmet to be pretty quiet.  I don't notice any unusual wind noise or excessive sound of any kind.  Cheap motorcycle helmets are usually a bit louder than the high end helmets but that simply isn't the case here.

Conclusion

Helmet snobs will always turn up their nose at a helmet like the HJC CL-SP but honestly I can't figure out why.  I actually like this helmet much more than many of the high end helmets I have ridden with in the past.  I am an HJC fan and have owned a number of these helmets from the day I started riding.  In fact, an HJC was my very first helmet that I ever owned, but you can bet it won't be the last.

MSRP on this helmet is 170 to 190 dollars depending on the paint scheme so take a look at the helmets we found for you below....I think you will agree.....you can save yourself a LOT of money on a great motorcycle helmet.

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