Having worn glasses since I first got my drivers license, I feel your pain and may have to try those modular helmets out.

That reminds me, I need to get my bike out and running.

This video came out yesterday, a review of the first full carbon fiber modular.



Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwhxJwVUGmE

I have used five different modular helmets since I started riding in 1988. Two Nolan N100's, a System II Schuberth, a C3 Shuberth, and a late model Shoei. The Shuberth C3 was by far the quietest, but it also had the least airflow and didn't vent well behind a large wind screen. The System II is no longer on the market but was also pretty quiet. The Shoei was almost as quiet as the Schuberth, but had far better ventelation, even behind the windscreen. The Nolans were the loudest, but only compared to the Schuberth. I never found the Nolan to be too noisy to wear. The Nolan also has the best mechanism for retracting the moveable part of the helmet. All the other helmets flip straight up, and that can act like an air scoop at highway speeds. The Nolan uses a rotary system that allows the chin piece to stay tight to the helmet when open, so even at highway speeds it doesn't catch air.

The closeout priced Arai Vector 2 arrived. Report is as follows...comparing to Shoei RF1100
1. Easier to put on
2. Lighter
3. Fits more securly
4. Chinstrap further towards neck making it more retentive
5. Opening wider for better peripheral vision
6. Shield locks down hard
7. Muted silver and flat black looks great
8. Less muffled sound as I speak I hear myself clearly
9. Vents are more directly in line with oncoming air
10. My eyeglasses frames fit properly and I am not staring out the trifocal reading area! The liner does not move the earpieces upward. So happy.

Made 7/16 so it is alive until 7/2023. Five year warranty from now.

ETA: Not good with wind noise. Not good at all. Much noiser than Shoei RF1100.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: 4MUL8R,

Happy that you are happy with your new brain bucket.

But, having put a Shoei to it's intended use a couple years back, I can vouch for it without reservation. They work as intended.

One word. Sneezes.

I returned the Arai Vector 2. Will be running up to Morton's BMW tomorrow for a look see at what they have. Measured head for size tonight. According to Shoei and Arai I wear a L, not a XL.

If modular are quieter, and would be easier to wear headphones, I'm going for it. I can't stand how the headphones get ripped out of my ears when I drag the helmet on. If I go down to size L, this will happen more than it does on the size XL.

It's nice to flip up the face at a long stoplight and light up a smoke :-)

Visited Morton's. Nice selection of many brands.

Schuberth -- hard, rigid foam. Not comfortable.
Shoei -- many models, all quite excellent but expensive.
Arai -- many models, all seemingly devoted to excellence.

I learned that a modular helmet is no guarantee that you can wear your glasses and put on the hat. No modular helmet allowed this.

I learned that a modular helmet is no better at keeping my Shure SE215 earbuds in my ears when I drag it over my head. Clearly the overwire earbuds are at fault, but I was hopeful.

I learned that brand new helmets can be dated 2009! Not gonna buy those.

I learned that Arai has a great focus on incremental change and improvement devoted to the real crash events.

I learned that a helmet that is challenging to put over your head is probably the right size. I have worn XL for years, and need to wear L.

So, I ordered another Vector 2 on closeout.