Shoei 1100

[Northern Pirate]

Hi Guys this is my first posting, coming back to Biking after a long time out. Ive been looking at Helmets, Ive seen a Shoei 1100 reduced £249, last years colours I think, its matt black. Anyway what do you think of the Shoei, Ive also looked at an AVG Skyline and a Shark Visor. The Shoei doesn't have build in sun shade.Thanks in advance for any help.NP

[clancy]

How well it fits is more important than brand and price, go to a shop and try on lots of brands, find what fits the best and go from their. All brands have different shapes
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[Mumrah]

I agree with Clancy. I went to a shop and tried a load on. Turns out of I have an abnormally small head and I'm either an XXS or XXXS in different brands. Don't find your size in one brand and assume it will be the same for all others.

I also made sure I tried them while wearing my bike gear and tried doing lifesavers. Some lids protrude too far and prevent me from turning my head properly.

[-Matt-]

Besides fit being priority as mentioned above it depends on your needs really. If you'll be commuting all year at different hours do you want the hassle of changing between tinted/clear visors everyday potentially/wearing sunglasses in the helmet - if not i'd look for one with an internal shade.

Personally I would never spend that much on a helmet in my current position as theres a lot more you can get with the spare cash, not to mention other/better gear to hopefully increase overall safety whilst on the bike. I've made do with mainly lids around the 50 quid mark excusing two I paid just shy of 100 quid for [one of which was equal to the 50 quidder's, one of which was shockingly worse ].

Money and brand doesn't mean much as long as they meet the basic standards for a lot of people.

[stonesie]

I've had one of these for 3 years now and I really like it so if it fit's you nicely then it will serve you well for years.

As has been mentioned you do have to swap visors or buy a light reactive pinlock insert for the clear visor, and fit is king, you don't want it flopping about or any pressure points.

[arry]

It's a well constructed lid with good enough vents and visor mech. If it fits, then it's good to go.

[recman]

I do like the look of the 1100 but then having two Shoei lids myself, I'm probably biased.
I've read that because of the extra vents, the wind noise is increased a fair bit even with the vents closed so see if the shop will chuck in some gratis decent earplugs.

[Northern Pirate]

The Shoei was £320 reduced to £249 that puts it in the same range as the AVG and the Shark,the guy showing me the AVG/Shark mentioned the carbon fibre that they were made of,is there really no difference between a £50 helmet and a £350 one. I have tried on all 3 and know its down to personal choice.NP

[-Matt-]

In terms of safety i dont think there is. Extra money might buy you a lighter helmet as per the CF ones, and sometimes quieter helmet (although ive had cheap helmet thats very well sound proofed and know people that complain about noise in their expensive helmets so I think its just roulette in that respect.

Not many cheap helmets supporting pinlock visors is the main negative of them if youre talking real budget 30-50 quid ones. But up the budget to 100 or so and pinlocks are common, and still saved yourself a ton or money vs helmets in your OP for example.

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

[kitty kat]

I have an AGV & a Shoei XR1100, I did pay over £200 for each of them, but then I find there are very few lids that fit properly and I need a very light one due to a neck injury a few years ago.
I find both my lids to be very noisy, but the vents on the shoei are good & the AGV has the sun visor, but lets rain in through the top of the visor, I only use this one on sunny days.

[esullivan]

I've had the Shoei XR1100 for almost three years now. I like it very much. It's light and well ventilated, but it is loud and I'd like a sun visor.

I wear ear plugs almost all the time, so the loudness isn't too much of an issue, but the lack of a sun visor is a bit of a pain. In the summer, I wear a lightly tinted visor, but in the spring or autumn, I have to decide before I head out whether to put my sunglasses on. Many times, I'll start off in the clouds and rain and end up on the North Circular (or somewhere equally impossible to pull over) with the sun blazing in my eyes and shining off of wet roads.

I'm thinking of Shoei's GT-Air for my next lid. Supposedly, it's quieter, and it has a sun visor.
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Current: '14 VFR800X Test passed 31/10/12.
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[karoshi]

[Doovy]

I've also had my XR1100 for just over 3 years now and it still looks fresh and fits great, although it is a painted scheme and not matte black (or you get the very worn look as posted above).

Definitely a from me
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[Northern Pirate]

Thanks for the info guys, the Shoei was matt black which marks up to easily and the painted ones Ive seen for sale are the wrong size, ok if you wont XS or XL.Also the Shoei has no sun visor so its a toss up between a AGV Sky line or the Shark Visor both around £189 if you shop around. The Shoei is £400 which is to rich for me, thanks again as its important for us newbes to get it right with your advice and not waste hard earned money.NP

[Dave McCool]

Been using XR1100's now for about 3 years - I've been more than happy with them.

First one was written off on an ill-fated BCF meet at the Ace Cafe - it was only about 30 hours old!

Second one lasted almost a full three years but 2 weekends ago it sacrificed itself to save my noggin once again. Picture is attached, basically the result of a 70mph highside (will get around to making a thread once I've got pictures of the bike) where I landed on the back of my head. Not sure the picture really conveys the damage (phone pic, taken in A+E waiting room...), but it is significant. Didn't even have a headache...

Downsides:

- as mentioned above; quite a noisy lid, my old Shark was definitely quieter, but I always wore earplugs so not a massive issue for me.

- also mentioned above; do not buy in matte! Looks boss as fuck from a distance but pretty much impossible to keep clean - I certainly never managed and I tried almost everything.

Great lid, comfy as hell and saved my bacon more than once. Can't see me ever not buying a Shoei again.

N.B. I do realise plenty of other lids could/would have done the same job, but I can vouch for this one, and that's enough for me to be brand loyal, at least for the foreseeable future.
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