Our Answer

Kat.....great question and the answer is absolutely. HJC helmets are great quality and are DOT approved and most are also SNELL approved as well.

They provide a great bang for the buck in the motorcycle helmet world. You can check out more HJC Helmets here.

What made the VR-1 series so revolutionary at the time was that it was a full featured helmet that included a lightweight design, cool graphics, quality construction, but with a low price tag. From a safety standpoint this helmet has it all, being fully DOT certified as well as Euro ECE 22.05, BS 6658 Type A ACU and met Snell 2000 standards as well. It was almost too good to be true that a Snell approved helmet could be purchased for such a low price, which in this case was below $200. The VR-1 is comfortable, lightweight and could easily compete against helmets that cost much more.

Looking at the KBC VR-3, the latest in the VR series, when compared to other helmets in the same price bracket the VR-3 comes out near the top of a group of similar helmets made by more well known manufacturers. It's a stylish helmet that looks much like what the more established manufacturers like Bell and Shoei are making, but at an incredible price.

The KBC VR-3 is proof positive that you don't need to spend a small fortune to get a good quality helmet. Overall it's a great helmet, but not nearly as revolutionary as the VR-1 was when it was first introduced. At the time that the VR-1 was entered the market, it really was one of just a handful of helmets on the market that could offer so much for so little. Today however, more and more manufacturers have followed their lead and produced helmets that offer exceptional value. This puts the VR-3 in a tight race with many of the well known brands, which means that in order to compete against the big guys, KBC has to build a great helmet, or be destined to fail.

KBC VR-3 Helmet Review: Weight

Compared with other full featured helmets, the VR-3 is pretty standard in the weight department. A size XL VR-3 helmet weighs in at just 3 pounds and 10 ounces, or 1653 grams. Compared to the Shoei X-Eleven at 1635 grams and the Arai Profile at 1658 grams, the VR-3 ranks well.

As you may have experienced before, some helmets have that top heavy feeling, but not the VR-3. Weight seems to be distributed well and even when you turn your head quickly to check your blind spot, or to avoid an obstacle, the VR-3's weight is evenly distributed.

The good news is that it's light, but the bad news is that some of this weight reduction was achieved by removing some vents. In general though, this helmet is light enough; not the lightest, but balanced well enough all the way around so the weight isn't as much of an issue.

KBC Stealth Helmet Review: Shape

The KBC Stealth VR-3 is generally quite round when compared to other helmets. For those that have a hard time finding the perfect fit for a round head, this might be the helmet for you. A size XL KBC VR-3 almost seems to be one size smaller than comparable helmets, so you will need to keep this in mind. For whatever reason this seems to be a trend in motorcycle helmets lately; Making the helmet slightly smaller, forcing the buyer to go up one size to find the perfect fit. It's not a big deal as long as you find one that fits, just keep in mind that you may need to try on two sizes before finding the right fit. If you end up finding that you're right in between two sizes, it might be wise to buy the larger one to avoid having to deal with the feeling that the helmet is too tight. This could certainly get annoying and uncomfortable, especially during a long ride.

KBC Stealth Helmet Review: Visor

Using a fairly standard visor removal system that most helmets seem to be using today, it's not quite as easy as some of the competitors, but not exactly hard to deal figure out either. Compared to a similar helmet by another manufacturer, for example the Bell Apex, it is slightly more difficult to remove the visor.

To remove the visor, slide the visor into the top position and pull the small lever downward that releases a retaining clamp that is connecting a small plastic button on the visor. Some VR-3's can be a bit more difficult if the parts don't quite fit perfectly together, but in general it's not a huge issue since it's likely fairly rare that you will be removing the visor fully.

One strange little flaw of the helmet design is that they have placed a raised KBC logo on the front of the helmet, above the visor. When the visor is slid to the open position, there's very little clearance between the helmet and the added logo. Unfortunately the lip on the visor that seals it, catches as the visor is raised and also causes the visor to not close fully as well. It's not a big issue either, since pushing on the visor to seal it completely fixes the problem, but it's something to be aware of.

KBC Stealth Helmet Review: Noise

Compared to many comparable helmets on the market today, the KBC Stealth VR-3 is fairly quiet. With the unique seal on the visor, it seems to do an adequate job at keeping the wind out and also at keeping the noise to a minimum. According to KBC's own advertising, their unique visor design was added to minimize noise from wind, rain and other road noises. If you're riding a bike with a short windscreen, you may notice a little noise, depending on how the air flows off the windscreen onto the helmet, but on many bikes, this won't be an issue.

Noise level might vary for you, depending on what you wear under your helmet. If you wear a properly fitted helmet over a liner and include a pair of quality earplugs, your noise level will vary.

KBC Stealth Helmet Review: Airflow and Venting

If we had any criticism at all with the KBC VR-3, it would be with the air vent system. The helmet comes with a small top vent and also a small chin vent. Air is vented through a screen mesh and up through an opening at the front of the helmet, near the breath guard and then the air flows toward the rear of the visor.

Unfortunately though, the air vent opening for this dual system is small and very little air seem to come into the chin vent, making it almost unnoticeable. As for directing air onto the riders face, there's no channels in the chin bar area that would allow this and the on/off switch for the vent only moves about 5mm from side to side. This simply is not enough of an opening to make a difference or provide enough airflow.

Depending on the shape of your head, the short chin area could be an issue for you and may not allow enough room for the nose to the clear the breath guard. For many, this lack of airflow could become a problem and the inside of the helmet may become sweaty and damp.

There is a top vent that includes a sliding switch which is easy to open, even with gloves on. The vent openings at the top are small as well which certainly doesn't help with the overall ventilation. The air that does manage to make it into the helmet is pointed at the head of the rider, through a vent located in the top of the liner.

The KBC Stealth VR-3 comes with a wind lock built-in right under the chin which is meant to prevent air from entering under the chin and flowing onto the rider's face. This is very effective stopping the wind noise, it prevents proper airflow. Like most other helmets, the top vent also provides some exhaust, but it's hard to say whether this actually adds any value.

In terms of overall ventilation it would seem that the ventilation in the chin area would be considered poor, while the top venting is fairly decent.

KBC Stealth Helmet Review: Style, Quality & Miscellaneous

The graphics and design of the KBC VR-3 is very attractive, but upon closer examination there appears to be a few small bumps in the paint. Most likely this was from poor cleaning prior to painting and it could be something that has been corrected on other helmets. For such a great helmet overall, it is too bad that KBC didn't manage to provide a flawless paint job, since this is what everyone notices right away.

The helmet itself is made of tri-composite aramid fibers as well as impact resistant epoxy resins and uses the most up-to-date bag molded construction. This helmet uses a D-ring attachment with a separate button that secures the chin strap and in terms of liner quality, it's very similar to the KBC VR-1.

Overall the KBC Stealth is a great helmet that offers so much, for a relatively low price. The venting is somewhat disappointing and something that each user will have to decide based on their own preferences. It simply needs one small change; Adding more depth to the chin area and this would be a near perfect helmet.  In the bang for the buck department, it's a winner.

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KBC VR 2 Stealth Motorcycle Helmet Flat Black XLarge XL    US $127.99

Off Road KBC Stealth X 7 Motocross Helmet W Visor    US $90.00

HELMET KBC XXL STEALTH VR 2 BLACK GUN MATTE    US $165.99

KBC VR 2 Stealth Motorcycle Helmet Adult Medium M    US $99.00

KBC Stealth VR3 Black Full Face Motorcycle Helmet L    US $247.99

KBC VR2 Stealth Motorcycle Helmet Black XL    US $9.99

KBC VR2 Full Face Motorcycle Helmet STEALTH BLK GM XXS    US $159.98

KBC VR 2 Stealth Motorcycle Helmet Flat Black XSmall XS    US $127.99

KBC VR 3 VR3 Stealth Aero Silver Helmet Medium M SALE    US $103.99

KBC VR 3 VR3 Stealth Aero Blue Black Helmet XLarge XL    US $103.99

KBC VR 3 VR 3 Stealth Aero Blue Black Helmet Small S    US $103.99

KBC VR 2 Stealth Motorcycle Helmet Flat Black Small S    US $127.99

KBC VR 2 Stealth Motorcycle Helmet Flat Black XXL 2XL    US $127.99

KBC VR2 Stealth Motorcycle Helmet Size L Di vs    US $24.99

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For most consumers, KBC quickly gained ground quickly simply because of their attractive price, but in terms of quality, we can't say that they are consistently as good as some of the bigger players. We're not talking about huge quality issues, or design flaw, but just small issues that have more do to with quality control as opposed to actual poor quality. If the company stepped up their quality control slightly, they could easily compete against the more established brands in the industry. Like our review of the KBC VR-3, we noted quality issues with the paint and also with the vent, and little problems like this, that could be easily corrected seem to be an issue for KBC. Still, they do build good helmets and should certainly be kept in mind if you're out shopping for a new one.

The KBC Force RR, though a great helmet, would appear to be build with the same shell as the VR series, leaving one to wonder if it's different enough to warrant a new name since it's based on a shell that's over 5 years old.

KBC Force RR Helmet Weight

If you want to compare size XL helmets, an XL KBC Force RR seems to be sized somewhere between a large and an extra large, if compared to other brands. For some this may cause an issue finding the right fit, but if your usually a size L, you may need to go up to an XL for a proper fit.

In terms of the weight of the helmet, it weighs in at 3 lbs, 12 1/8 ounces which is comparable to similar Shoei and Arai helmets. Although the design looks similar to the VR-3, obviously it's not identical since there is a different in the overall weight, with the KBC Force RR weighing a few grams more. The helmet seems to be balanced well, from front to back so you should be free from the top heavy feeling that sometimes accompanies helmets.

For those with a more round head, you're going to love the KBC Force RR as the inside shape seems to be suited well to a round head. Often this is something that bikers normally complain about, so this is great news if you're more spherical about the shoulders. The helmet fits tightly around the cheeks, which may or may not work well for you. The interior has a removable liner which works well and appears to be made of quality materials, but it feels thin in some parts of the helmet where you can feel some of the harder spots inside the helmet. KBC has left the ear pockets without lining, so if you're so inclined, you can easily fit speakers in.

KBC Force RR Helmet Visor

It would appear that KBC has ironed out the closing and sealing issues that related to the VR-3 and the visor on the KBC Force RR opens and closes smoothly without catching on anything. Attractive dimples are fashioned into the side, which give the visor an overall nice look and feel. As for removing the visor, KBC has made some adjustments to previous designs and this time the visor can be easily removed. The visor seals tightly at the top thanks to a molded rib on the top side, along the inside, however does not seal tightly along the bottom. It leaves about 1mm opening at the bottom, which can rattle at times, but didn't seem to cause any real concerns.

KBC Force RR Helmet Noise

The KBC Force RR over is a quiet helmet, easily blocking out noise from wind, rain and other road noises and even the vents are quiet, which is a surprise as this issues plagues even the most expensive helmets at times. Of course if you choose not to wear earplugs and a helmet liner, you may not find the same results as we did, but for the most part, the noise suppression was impressive.

KBC Force RR Helmet Ventilation

If you read our review on the KBC VR-3, you learned all that you needed to know about the chin vents and the rest of the ventilation system in general. There's a vent in the top and also a small vent located right at the chin. Air is directly through the chin and up to an opening located right behind the visor. Air flows in the direction of the breath guard and then toward the rear of the visor.

If we look at vent size in general, they're relatively small and the mechanism that is responsible for opening and closing the vent is hard to find, especially when wearing gloves. It's simply too small to find and doesn't provide enough airflow in general. When looking at the chin ventilation, the on/off switch only moves back and forth by about 5mm, which is inadequate to provide enough airflow.

If you think this helmet sounds a lot like the VR-3, it's because in many ways, it is similar. One of the issues that was present in both the VR-3 and also presents itself in the KBC Force RR is the short front to back or side profile. Depending on the size of your head, it's quite possible that you may feel slightly cramped, where you chin will come close to touching the rear of the chin bar. This of course won't affect everyone. One item that seems to be missing from the Force RR is the wind blocker which was built in to the VR series helmets.

KBC Force RR Helmet Style & Overall Quality

Lets face it; these graphics are hot! One model that we tested was called the Speed Demon, which was gold in color. The graphics were attractive and modern and overall gave the helmet a sort of edgy look. The addition of a skull and speedometer graphic that was marked at 300km/h certainly gave this helmet a sporty look.

Just like the paint issues that seem to be present in other KBC helmets, upon close examination, small dimples appear under the paint. If you've ever tried spray painting in your garage and didn't properly clean the item, you know what we're talking about. It just appears that KBC didn't clean the helmet well enough, or paint it in a dust free environment. It's too bad because the design and graphics are so cool, they just need to work on the paint application part of the process.

From a safety standpoint, the KBC Force RR is Snell and DOT approved and as an added bonus, it even meets European ECE 22.05 standards.

Yet another handy feature, which helps to finish this helmet off well is the addition of a D-ring system that attaches the loose part of the chin strap.

KBC Force RR Helmet Summary

Overall this is a great helmet. It looks cool, it's built with quality materials and it's quiet. Depending on the size of your head, it may feel a little cramped, and the ventilation system is certainly not perfect. At it's core it is somewhat disappointing that the KBC Force RR seems to be a dressed up version of the KBC VR-3. For many this will be a solid helmet that will do the job just fine as it provides a good value for the money, but we'll be interested to watch if KBC can build a totally new helmet in the future.

KBC Helmets come in a variety of shapes and colors as well as other styles....you can check out the whole lineup of KBC Motorcycle Helmets here.

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KBC Force RR Motorcycle Helmet Dark Small S New Special    US $55.99

KBC Force RR Race Motorcycle Helmet XL Black Silver    US $15.51

KBC Force RR Solid Full Face Motorcycle Helmet Large    US $6.50

KBC Force RR Solid Full Face Motorcycle Helmet Medium    US $30.00

NEW KBC FORCE RR TOP GUN SILVER BLACK X LARGE XL HELMET    US $65.83

KBC Base Plate Ratchet VR 2R VR 3 Magnum Force Tarmac    US $10.95

KBC Force RR Blade 2 Motorcycle Street Full Face Helmet    US $49.99

KBC FULL FACE STREETSTYLE FORCE RR MINT COND SIZE MED    US $65.00

KBC Force Air F18    US $1.00

KBC FORCE RR FULL FACE MC HELMET XS BLU BLK NWT    US $99.99

KBC FORCE RR FULL FACE MC HELMET XL BLU BLK NWT    US $99.99

KBC FORCE RR FULL FACE MC HELMET MD BLU BLK NWT    US $99.99

KBC FORCE RR FULL FACE MC HELMET LG WHT BLK NWT    US $99.99

KBC FORCE RR FULL FACE MC HELMET LG BLU BLK NWT    US $99.99

KBC FORCE RR FULL FACE MC HELMET MD WHT BLK NWT    US $99.99

KBC FORCE RR FULL FACE MC HELMET XL WHT BLK NWT    US $99.99

New KBC Force RR Top Gun Sport Motorcycle Helmet    US $98.61

KBC Force RR Blade 2 Motorcycle Helmet Blue XL    US $90.00

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Motorcyclists need all of the visibility that they can get, so it's no surprise that wearing a brightly colored helmet like the Scorpion EXO-700 Neon, is one of the single best things a motorcyclist can do to make sure that they are seen by oncoming traffic.   If you don't believe us, check it out the next time you are out riding, chances are you will notice the brighter colored helmets much sooner and from a greater distance than you will a darker colored helmet.

The new Scorpion EXO 700 Neon helmet is quite frankly, one of the brightest colored helmets you can buy and Scorpion should be applauded for making this neon color.  Hopefully other manufacturers will follow suit and give riders a choice that they deserve.

Scorpion EXO-700 Neon Helmet

A neon helmet might not even make a stir if it were not from a company that has produced some of the best selling motorcycle helmets on the planet over the last few years.  The Scorpion EXO-700 being one of their most very popular helmet lines.  The venerable Scorpion EXO-700 helmet was the predecessor to the wildly popular EXO-400 and EXO-1000 Scorpion helmets.

Scorpion has made a number of improvements to their EXO-700 helmet series since it was first introduced and you should be more than satisfied with it today.  The helmet uses an advanced fiberglass and Kevlar "matrix" shell that you will be pleased to know, meets both Snell and DOT safety certifications.

The ventillation system is excellent and the visor has been dramatically improved and the Scorpion visor is now very easy to remove and the round visor removal tab on the side of the helmet is now coated in rubber, making it much easier to grip and operate.

The visor also has a large tab on the lower left, which makes it very easy to find when wearing gloves and it's very easy to lift and lower. The visor also smartly pops open just a crack for ventilation, and the Scorpion "EverClear" anti-fog system really does seem to work.

The ventilation is great, the liner is the typical Scorpion quality and this is generally a helmet that you will be quite satisfied with under just about any condition.

Conclusion

In a nutshell, the Scorpion EXO-700 motorcycle helmt is the same great helmet with a sexy new coat of bright, high viz neon paint.  This combination produces one of the best examples of a quality, attractive and safety aware motorcycle helmet that you can buy.  If being safe while riding is a priority, then the Scorpion EXO-700 helmet is one that you should consider.

J.D. Power and Associates ranked Scorpion EXO in the top two and three places for the Customer Satisfaction category, out of 40 helmet brands in the United States over the last two years.

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Scorpion EXO 900 Helmet Neon Yellow MD 19 100 50 04    US $279.00

Scorpion EXO 900 Helmet Neon Yellow LG 19 100 50 05    US $279.00

Scorpion EXO 900 Helmet Neon Yellow X LG 19 100 50 06    US $279.00

Scorpion EXO 900 Helmet Neon Yellow XX LRG 19 100 50 07    US $279.00

Scorpion EXO 900 Helmet Neon Yellow 3X LRG 19 100 50 08    US $279.00

SCORPION EXO 700 M C STREET HELMET XL NEON YELLOW    US $159.00

Scorpion Helmet EXO 700 Neon Yellow Large L NEW    US $209.95

Scorpion Helmet EXO 700 Neon Yellow Small S NEW    US $209.95

Scorpion Helmet EXO 700 Neon Yellow XSmall XS NEW    US $209.95

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I found some HJC Helmets online that look pretty good and some of my friends have them and love them but I want to make sure I get a good motorcycle helmet starting out. Are HJC Motorcycle Helmets any good when it comes to quality and stuff like wind noise?

I saw a carbon fiber one the other day at a shop and it was AWESOME looking, but is it a good helmet? Thanks in advance for any help you can give.

Our Answer

Mike, thanks for asking and congrats on the new motorcycle. If you are smart then you will buy a helmet and most importantly WEAR It. New riders tend to crash...a lot.....so be careful.

As for the HJC motorcycle helmets, yes I think they are great helmets at a very reasonable price. I think most riders would be hard pressed to know the difference between an HJC and a Shoei if the stickers weren't there but that's just my opinion. I am not knocking Shoei as they are great too, just saying that HJC helmets are, indeed, a good motorcycle helmet.

If you saw a sexy little carbon fiber helmet in the HJC line up then it's probably an HJC FS-15 Carbon helmet. It is the latest incarnation from HJC and replaced the venerable AC-12 Carbon helmet last year. We recently wrote an HJC FS-15 Carbon Helmet Review and you can check that out to get our thoughts in more detail.

Good luck with the bike and if you know your size then you can pick up a screaming deal on an HJC FS-15 Carbon helmet below.

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NEW HJC FS 15 FS15 CARBON HELMET BLACK GREY XL    US $224.99

HJC FS 15 FS15 CARBON HELMET BLACK GREY MOTORCYCLE L    US $224.99

HJC FS 15 FS15 CARBON HELMET MOTORCYCLE MED    US $224.99

Large HJC New FS 15 FS15 Carbon Fiber Motorcycle Helmet    US $299.99

HJC FS 15 FS15 HELMET Red Carbon Fiber LARGE new    US $224.99

XL HJC New Fs 15 FS15 Carbon Fiber Motorcycle Helmet    US $299.99

NEW HJC FS 15 FS15 HELMET BLUE CARBON FIBER LARGE    US $224.99

HJC FS 15 FS15 RED CARBON HELMET MOTORCYCLE XLG NEW    US $224.99

HJC FS 15 FS15 Motorcycle Helmet Carbon X Large    US $249.99

HJC FS 15 FS15 MOTORCYCLE HELMET BLUE CARBON FIBER XL    US $224.99

XS HJC FS 15 FS15 Carbon Fiber Shell Motorcycle Helmet    US $299.99

HJC FS 15 CARBON FIBER MOTORCYCLE HELMET XL FREE SHIP    US $249.95

HJC FS 15 FS15 Motorcycle Helmet Carbon Small    US $249.99

HJC FS 15 FS15 CARBON HELMET MOTORCYCLE BLUE MED new    US $224.99

2XL HJC FS 15 FS15 Carbon Fiber HJC Motorcycle Helmet    US $299.99

HJC FS 15 CARBON FIBER MOTORCYCLE HELMET LG FREE SHIP    US $249.95

HJC FS 15 FS15 Motorcycle Helmet Carbon Large    US $249.99

XL HJC FS 15 FS15 Carbon Fiber Blue Motorcycle Helmet    US $299.99

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Did you see this article and what did you think about it? I was kind of surprised that Shoei and Bell and KBC didn't participate. If you haven't read it then you should.....it's good.

HJC helmets actually scored higher on average in impact testing than Arai helmets, which surprises me considering the price of an Arai helmet. I guess 800 bucks doesn't buy you the best? What do you think of this motorcycle helmet test?

Motorcycle Helmet Test Article

Our Answer

Sonya...thanks for sharing the article and asking us our opinion. I must admit I am both suprised but not shocked at the article. I know HJC is a very good quality helmet and that they would score at least as well as most major helmet manufacturers but I am surprised that Arai didn't score better....if that makes sense.

I've always been a fan of HJC and they make a great quality product. If you are looking for a decent helmet at a very good price then check out the HJC FS Helmets. They aren't the most expensive helmet but they're still an excellent quality product.

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HJC CL 15 CS R1 FS 15 DARK SMOKE HELMET SHIELD VISOR    US $24.99

HJC FS 15 Motorcycle Sport Helmet Full face Flat Black    US $50.51

Medium HJC FS 15 Matt Matte Black Motorcycle Helmet    US $180.22

HJC FS 15 FS15 Carbon Fiber Helmet Large L NEW    US $223.99

HJC FS15 FS 15 CARBON Motorcycle Helmet NEW    US $229.99

Large HJC FS 15 FS15 Matt Matte Black Motorcycle Helmet    US $180.22

NEW HJC FS 15 CARBON FIBER SNELL MOTORCYCLE HELMET SM    US $249.99

HJC FS 2 Gloss Pearl Helmet Size Small    US $14.99

HJC FS 15 FS15 Solid Motorcycle Street Full Face Helmet    US $119.99

Large HJC FS 15 FS15 Prism MC 51 Motorcycle Helmet L    US $200.24

XL HJC FS 15 FS15 Prism MC 51 Motorcycle Helmet New    US $200.24

HJC FS 15 FS15 Helmet Carbon Fiber Black Grey Small S    US $234.99

HJC FS 15 CARBON FULL FACE HELMET BLUE LARGE    US $212.96

HJC FS 15 CARBON FIBER MOTORCYCLE HELMET COPPER MD    US $249.99

HJC FS 15 CARBON FIBER SNELL MOTORCYCLE HELMET BLUE XS    US $249.99

HJC FS 15 CARBON FIBER SNELL MOTORCYCLE HELMET RED SM    US $249.99

HJC FS 15 CARBON FULL FACE MOTORCYCLE HELMET LARGE    US $212.96

HJC CL 15 CS R1 FS 15 SILVER MIRROR HELMET SHIELD VISOR    US $34.99

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Our Answer

Hey Eddie....thanks for the question. In my experience No...HJC Helmets do not run small. I wear an XL in many different brands of helmets and I wear an XL in the HJC line up too.

The HJC FS-15 helmet series is a great helmet. We recently reviewed one of them and were quite impressed with the bang for the buck. HJC doesn't have the snob appeal that a Shoei or something similar might have but they are great motorcycle helmets.

I think you'll be happy with your choice. You can find a lot more HJC Helmets here but my current favorite is the HJC FS-15 Surge. It's hot.

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HJC FS 15 FS15 SURGE MOTORCYCLE HELMET BLACK LARGE    US $155.35

HJC FS 15 FS15 SURGE MOTORCYCLE HELMET BLACK XLARGE    US $155.35

HJC FS 15 FS15 SURGE MOTORCYCLE HELMET BLACK MEDIUM    US $155.35

HJC Full Face Snell DOT Helmet FS 15 SURGE MC5 Black MD    US $116.99

HJC FS 15 SURGE FULL FACE MOTORCYCLE HELMET RED LARGE    US $112.15

HJC FS 15 FS15 Surge Helmet Red Black MC1 XXLarge XXL    US $129.99

HJC FS 15 FS15 Surge Helmet Blue Black MC2 XXL 2XL NEW    US $129.99

HJC FS 15 FS15 Surge Helmet Silver Black MC5 XLarge XL    US $129.99

HJC Full Face Snell DOT Helmet FS 15 SURGE MC5 Black XL    US $116.99

HJC FS 15 SURGE FULL FACE MOTORCYCLE HELMET RED MEDIUM    US $112.15

HJC Full Face Snell DOT Helmet FS 15 SURGE MC5 Black SM    US $116.99

Large HJC FS 15 FS15 Surge MC 1 Red Motorcycle Helmet    US $215.99

Medium HJC FS 15 FS15 Surge MC 1 Red Motorcycle Helmet    US $215.99

HJC FS 15 FS15 SURGE MOTORCYCLE HELMET BLUE XLARGE    US $155.35

HJC Full Face Snell DOT Helmet FS 15 SURGE MC1 Red XL    US $116.99

HJC Full Face Snell DOT Helmet FS 15 SURGE MC1 Red LG    US $116.99

HJC Full Face Snell DOT Helmet FS 15 SURGE MC1 Red MD    US $116.99

HJC Full Face Snell DOT Helmet FS 15 SURGE MC5 Black LG    US $116.99

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The AC-12 Carbon, which we reviewed a few months ago has been officially replaced with the FS-15 Carbon helmet.   Carbon helmets aren't for everyone but they are definitely one of our favorites....I'm a sucker for that sinister looking carbon weave look.  I don't see too terribly many of them around as most riders it seems prefer something a bit more garish and decorative.  I subscribe to the K.I.S.S. principle for most everything I do though.

If you are expecting something totally different from an AC-12 then you are going to be disappointed as the FS-15 Carbon is simply an updated and more refined version of the AC-12 Carbon.   It's probably safe to say that HJC is oneo f the largest producers of carbon fiber motorcycle helmets in the world so you know they've probably figured this stuff out pretty well by now.  Our initial impressions of our HJC FS-15 carbon helmet was great, the quality and construction appears to be visually flawless and that usually means the rest of the helmet does not disappoint either.  Let's find out.

Paint, Graphics and Overall Quality

As we said earlier, the visual appearance of the FS-15 Carbon is virtually flawless.  It's sleek, shiny and the carbon fiber construction showed absolutely no imperfections to our naked eye.   Paint is not an issue but the clearcoat was thick, glossy and showed no imperfections to our visual inspection.

I am probably a bit superficial but I dig helmets that LOOK good first.  Don't get me wrong, a helmet is all business and you want quality when you need it, but let's not kid ourselves.....a sexy helmet that works is sexier than an ugly helmet that works.  The FS-15 Carbon is sexy....period.

Further inspection shows that the vents, interior and visor all fit snugly and work perfectly and we couldn't find anything that didn't look like it was meant to be that way.  Good looks check....how about safety standards?  Check.  The FS-15 Carbon meets DOT safety standards and it carries the Snell certification as well which is an impressive one-two punch.

So far....so good.  The FS-15 Carbon appears to be a stellar example of HJC quality at an affordable price.

Helmet Fit and Comfort and Internal Shape

Helmet fit is always tough to review as fit is so personal to most people but if you've been riding motorcycles very long and have worn a variety of helmets you get to understand the terminology and realize that you will adapt to almost anything as long as the fit isn't unreasonable.

In our opinion the FS-15 Carbon in our opinion provided a comfortable fit that we would describe to the neutral, meaning it is designed to fit a wide variety of heads.  If you have an abnormal shaped head then you probably know it as you probably have a difficult time finding helmets that are comfortable for you.

Liner and Material Comfort

As can be expected from the way the review started, the liner and cheek pads are very comfortable and quite supportive around the face.  The padding is a bit on the stiff side, which might be a function of simply being a brand new helmet, but it was still quite comfortable.

The helmet does provide a snug fit and applies a slight pressure to the cheeks when worn but that is exactly what you want, a helmet that fits snugly with not too much pressure is far better than a helmet that is too loose and will come off in the event of an accident.

HJC calls the liner material "SilverCool" which I have no idea why they chose this but it feels like fleece and was very, very comfortable.  I was able to wear the helmet for several hours with no pressure points and no discomfort of any kind.  I like it....HJC FS-15 Carbon is still doing well.

The liner is removable and HJC claims it to be a "moisture-wicking and odor-free interior with advanced silver anti-bacterial fabric".

One thing worth nothing, especially if you are blessed with Dumbo ears like myself, the ear pockets on the FS-15 Carbon are slightly larger than most helmets and they are fully padded as well.  I often find most helmets tight around my ears and I was ecstatic to find the extra room in the FS-15 Carbon.

Venting and Air Flow

If you've read many of my reviews you know that air flow and venting are important to me.  I live in Georgia and I typically prefer a large volume of air flowing across my head and through the helmet.  The FS-15 Carbon does not appear to offer anything unique as far as venting but it is nonetheless a proven design that works well.

The top vent, chin vent and rear exhaust assemblies are constructed from some sort of rubberized material that is finished in matte black.   Like everything else on the helmet they fit perfectly and look great against carbon fiber weave.  Very sinister and complimentary to the overall look of the helmet.

The top vent is a simple tab that you push towards the rear to open and to the front to close.  It was easy to find and operate even with a gloved hand.   The foam liner has large channels molded into it which allows the air from the vent to pass into the top of the helmet.  Even though the air has to flow through some material to enter the helmet, it does appear to work nicely.   It's fairly cold this time of year in Georgia so I couldn't test it under extreme conditions but we would expect it to work well.

The chin vent is just as simple as the top.  It snaps down to open and up to close the vent.   A portion of the air from the front chin vent is directed through the chin bar onto the face but the majority of it is vented up to the back of the visor to keep it fog free.

I would definitely say that the vents function quite positively and feel firm when operated.  This is important as many lower quality helmets end up breaking the vents after a small bit of useage.  We don't foresee that happening with the FS-15 Carbon.  We should also mentino that the helmet also has always-open, screen-covered vents on either side of the chin bar and always-open exhaust vents in the rear.

Visor System

The FS-15 Carbon uses HJC's proprietary RapidFire visor removal system.  It isn't the simplest design we've seen but it works well and once you get used to it then it is a piece of cake to operate.  Lift the visor all the way up until the two arrows line up; push the trigger and the thing pops right off.  If you can't do that then you sure as heck don't belong on a motorcycle in the first place.

The clarity of the visor is very good and the range of visibility to the peripheral offered no issues.  The visor shuts positively and seals perfectly against the eye port.  Another nice touch is that it offers the standard HJC locking system....push in the rocker switch and the visor will lock shut for when you are approaching supersonic speeds.

HJC claims a 95% protection rating from UV rays and claims their visor to be coated with an anti-scratch and anti-fog coating.    We couldn't measure this or see it but the visor remained clear during our testing so we would tend to think they are being straight.

Noise Levels

Noise is sooooo subjective of a rating that I sometimes hesitate to even include it, so bear in mind that these are MY impressions of the noise levels of the helmet and your mileage may vary.

I expected the lightweight carbon construction to be a bit on the loud side with the HJC FS-15 Carbon helmet.  I am happy to say that I was pleasantly surprised to find that the HJC FS-15 Carbon helmet is pretty quiet and I was more than satisfied with the noise level that the FS-15 provided.

Just remember that your opinion of the noise level could be quite different and in fact a number of conditions can affect helmet noise including helmet fit, your motorcycle, weather conditions, even what you are wearing for a jacket.

All that said, I don't think anyone would classify this helmet as a loud helmet.

Conclusion

If you've read this far, then you know that I like this helmet.  It impressed me in almost every way and combines great looks, quality construction, HJC engineering all wrapped up in a lightweight and comfortable package that is DOT and SNELL certified.

The nice part of the mix that I didn't get to yet is the price.  MSRP is 449.99 in the U.S.A. which is already a great deal for a carbon helmet built this well but you can find deals even lower than that if you know where to look.

If the Carbon FS-15 isn't your thing then bear in mind that the FS-15 series of helmets also come in non-carbon versions and offer some fantastic deals with a basic solid color FS-15 coming in at an MSRP of $219.99 while the graphic and metallic versions range $224.99 to $269.99 at the time of this writing.

HJC FS Helmets on Ebay

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HJC FS 15 FS15 Carbon Fiber Helmet Large L NEW    US $223.99

HJC FS15 FS 15 CARBON Motorcycle Helmet NEW    US $229.99

NEW HJC FS 15 CARBON FIBER SNELL MOTORCYCLE HELMET SM    US $249.99

HJC FS 15 FS15 Helmet Carbon Fiber Black Grey Small S    US $234.99

HJC FS 15 CARBON FULL FACE HELMET BLUE LARGE    US $212.96

HJC FS 15 FS15 Helmet Carbon Fiber Black Grey Medium M    US $234.99

HJC FS 15 CARBON FIBER MOTORCYCLE HELMET COPPER MD    US $249.99

HJC FS 15 CARBON FIBER SNELL MOTORCYCLE HELMET BLUE XS    US $249.99

HJC FS 15 CARBON FIBER SNELL MOTORCYCLE HELMET RED SM    US $249.99

HJC FS 15 CARBON FULL FACE MOTORCYCLE HELMET LARGE    US $212.96

NEW HJC FS 15 CARBON FIBER SNELL MOTORCYCLE HELMET MD    US $249.99

HJC FS 15 CARBON HELMET MOTORCYCLE RED MED    US $224.99

HJC FS 15 FS15 Helmet Blue Carbon Fiber CF Large L NEW    US $223.99

HJC FS 15 FS15 Helmet Red Carbon Fiber CF Large L NEW    US $223.99

HJC FS 15 FS15 Helmet Copper Carbon Fiber Small S NEW    US $223.99

HJC FS 15 FS15 Helmet Red Carbon Fiber CF XSmall XS NEW    US $223.99

HJC FS15 FS 15 CARBON BLUE Motorcycle Helmet NEW    US $229.99

NEW HJC FS 15 CARBON FIBER SNELL MOTORCYCLE HELMET LG    US $249.99

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HJC FS Helmets on Amazon

The Bell Apex series of helmets are the value line of helmets in the Bell lineup with the Bell Star series of helmets being the top of the line offering from Bell.  We, just like most of you, are big fans of quality helmets that can be bought at discount prices.  Nobody wants a cheap motorcycle helmet but everyone wants a bargain.

The helmet world is full of choices in this day and age so why would anyone pick a Bell motorcycle helmet?  What makes them worth investigating?  Good question, and one that we had ourselves so we decided to take a closer look at a buddies Bell Apex helmet.

Let's take a deeper look at some of the details.

Helmet Weight

The shell of the Bell Apex is constructed from a Kevlar composite, which typically means a lightweight helmet and the Apex did not disappoint.  It's no featherweight but it did weigh in at a svelte 3 lbs., 9 oz. in the XL size.   So while it isn't a superlight helmet, a Kevlar shell simply sounds cool.

Under power the Bell Apex cut through the air nicely and does no impose a significant amount of buffeting or drag like some helmets can do.  No matter the weight, the design is much more critical to how it feels going down the road.   We road all day with the Bell Apex atop our noggin and felt great at the end of the day.

Bell Apex Fit

The Apex is one of those helmets I would describe as having a "neutral" shape, meaning it isn't round but nor is it the typical longer oval shape helmet.  It personally fit me well, very similarly to the HJC CL-SP helmet that I am so fond of wearing.

Bell has carefully designed their helmets to fit a wide variety of heads and this neutral shape seems to be more and more common with other manufacturers as well.

Bell Visor

I was pleasantly surprised by the visor setup on the Bell Apex helmet.  I recently reviewed an HJC CL-SP and I ahve to tell you, that visor is one of the best I have ever seen.  I expected the visor on the Apex to come up short in comparison but I was pleasantly surprised.  The visor is quite sturdy and produced almost no flex under a moderate amount of torque.

The Apex visor uses Bell's quick release removal system.  It worked quite simply, just raise the visor up the 3rd position, pull down on the D-ring and it pops right off.  A child of 5 could work this visor pretty easily.  I wouldn't hesitate to say it is one of the simplest visor removal systems of any helmet we've tried.

Noise Levels

Noise can be a very subjective factor in a helmet review but I would say this helmet exhibited nothing out of the ordinary when it came to helmet noise.   I rode it on a bike with no fairing and I wear ear plugs so your results may be slightly different, but I was perfectly content with the noise level of the Bell Apex helmet.  The liner was quite snug so combine that with the ear plugs and it's really no surprise that it sealed against my head nicely.

Venting and Air Flow

I am a big fan of motorcycle vents that flow a lot of air and work simply.  The more simple the setup, the better in my opinion.  The Bell Apex sports a top sliding cover that operates two small air vents.  Both of these vents are covered with a fine, mesh screen.  The small size of the vents and the design of the linder did not allow a lot of airflow across the top of the head at all.

Your experience may differ, but when I rode, at the angle that I ride at, I barely felt any air flow at all in the top of the helmet.  This makes for a nice quiet helmet, but very little air flow.  I guess it depends on which is more important to you.

The chin vent on the Bell Apex was a direct contrast to the top vents in that it flowed a decent amount of air.  It's designed similarly, with a sliding plastic cover that exposes two screen mesh covered vents.  The air exits these vents and onto the rider's face through a rectangular opening in the rear of the chin bar.

The excellent flow of the chin vent makes up somewhat for the very poor flow of the top vents but it's still not enough for me.  I am biased in this regard though, I prefer a LOT of air flowing around my head....I can live with extra noise, as long as I have air blowing across my scalp.  Some riders prefer a quiet helmet over air flow though and this helmet is that.  It's dead quiet, at least on my shape head.

Paint, Graphics and Overall Quality

The Bell Apex helmet comes in a number of different graphic combinations from a mild solid color to a wild and funky Yakuza style graphic.  The helmet we looked at was the Bell Apex Double Cross.  This design in our humble opinion was sweet, as we're a fan of a more understated design than something that is over the top.

The surface finish on the Bell helmets is a unique finish that kind of reminds me of the pearl coats that adorned some of the show cars in my youth.  It looks "deep" and was pretty attractive if you ask me.  The graphics were very smoothly applied and appeared consistent around the circumference of the helmet.

The helmet overall was of excellent quality.  The visor fit nice and snug, the liner is outstanding and one of the nicest we've seen.  The fit, finish and construction left nothing to be desired on our example.  Bell seems to be back, and back with a quality motorcycle helmet that you would be proud to wear on the Saturday ride with all your friends.

Conclusion

The Bell Apex meets both DOT and Snell approval and offerws a five-year warranty on the helmet.   In summary, I would say I am pleasantly surprised that the Bell Apex is such a good helmet.  Bell is not one of the names that you typically think of when you think of a motorcycle helmet but that could change over the next few years.  The Apex is available in a wide variety of other colors and patterns, it fits nicely, it's priced moderately, it's quiet and seems to do everything well.

I would list it as one of my all time favorites if the top vents flowed better than they do.  In spite of that, I will say it's a far better helmet than some much better known brands and even some that cost twice what this helmet cost.

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BELL Helmet Shield Visor Apex Sprint Arrow 118787 NEW    US $21.99

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BELL APEX BLITZ Motorcycle Helmet ZX6 ZX10 ZX Green md    US $119.40

BELL APEX BLITZ Motorcycle Helmet ZX6 ZX10 ZX Green XS    US $119.40

Brand New Bell Apex Helmet Snell 2005 Approved    US $109.00

BELL SPORTS APEX ADULT BICYCLE HELMET    US $49.95

DOT SNELL BELL APEX FULL FACE MOTORCYCLE HELMET NEW XS    US $99.95

DOT SNELL BELL APEX FULL FACE MOTORCYCLE HELMET NEW S    US $99.95

Bell Apex Helmet Reactor Silver Black Medium M    US $129.99

BELL APEX Motorcycle Helmet Edge Medium Blue Silver    US $149.99

Bell Apex Helmet Tagged Silver Black Medium M    US $209.95

Bell Apex Double Crossed Motorcycle Helmet Large H07    US $124.00

Bell Apex XX Full Face Motorcycle Street Helmet Blue    US $119.97

BELL APEX MOTORCYCLE HELMET STREET BIKE BLACK MD    US $149.99

Bell Apex Helmet Metallic Silver Solid Medium M    US $199.95

Brand New Bell Apex Helmet Size XXL Gray White Blue    US $109.00

Bell Apex Helmet Matte Black Solid Medium M    US $199.95

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