Motorcycle and Scooter appreciation

Did you read my previous post about it being the worst helmet known to man?

Yeah but I'm all about looking cool.

yellow bubble visor

I'm out

Currently own an Arai RX-7 GP, before that had a Shoei XR-1000 and both I couldn't fault. The Arai prob clinches it in terms of build quality but not sure it needs to be so well finished. More visor related but have been using a dark tinted one for the last 2 months and it's been a revelation.

I thought about retro full face a few months ago (might even have posted in here about it) but I did some reading and asked some people and the over powering opinion was that they are shit for actually riding in. Like, there wasn’t even one person that I could find saying “ oh yeah I used one for awhile, it’s not that bad “, they were all just like “ nope, fuck that, too warm, horrendously uncomfortable “.

So in the end I bought a Matt black Bell motocross lid and took the peak off. I like the looks but it whistles like fuck at anything over about 30mph.

I quite like those Shoei EX Zeros. Good for a bit of warm weather pootling for sure.

I've ordered the Equation version and I'm putting a yellow Biltwell peak on it with Ethen goggles that have an orange stripe strap! I went for the multicolour because my bike and clothing are usually stealthy so I like a bit of contrast for safety. The goggles are supposedly photo chromatic.

I can't wear open face any more, my nose has been stitched up twice. I liked the light weight in comparison with my current Shoei Neotec. It felt really comfy in the shop anyhow.

My affinity for Shoei products is well documented. Sounds cool!

Obviously beauty is in the eye of the beholder and all that, but IMO the Ex-zero is wayyyyy uglier than the Bullit. Although its much nicer in the flesh than in product shots.

@Vince the Bell fit is quite odd, its very round rather than the usual oval shape. Though this is altered on Moto3 helmets these days, for some reason. And the Eliminator doesn't seem to suffer from it as much.

@Nahguavkire I've spent a day in a Bell Eliminator and really rate it, very light and comfortable, though the look is an acquired taste and needing that separate plug plate for rainy days is a bit dumb, particularly since they describe it as a "no BS" helmet.

I don't rate the Premier ones personally, if anything I think they're overpriced - the Trophy is no better than a Gringo S. I want to cull them from the offering work, but they bought me back by supplying half decent lifestyle shots unlike 90% of other brands.

I ride in a Nexx XG100R for 'proper' journeys and I'm very happy with it. Very tempted by that chrome Eliminator though...

Wildcard goggle use option: Roeg Peruna. Goes with everything, the Roeg guys are hilarious.

make you look odd in real life.

+1 to this.

I've yet to see anyone wearing a retro lid irl that looked good.

Too contrived. A simple modern one with some sort of retro graphics is a better way to go.

Ideas?

The derbi?

Have a look/ask on the Derbi Terra Facebook group. It's the same bike with different fairings and slightly different gearing, but with the advantage that loads more Terras were sold.

Everyone looks cool in a XG100R Motordrome

*disclaimer, not the one I have, I got plain black coz I'm dull

Roeg Peruna

This looks great, by far one of there best looking classic moto helmets I've seen! I'm bound to want to goggle up at some stage so will keep this in mind!

Nexx XG100R

Glad to hear a second person vouch for these, I didn't know what to make of them as I wasn't familiar with Nexx at all but my colleague who's a lifelong biker, used to work in the trade for years etc. rates them also so duly noted!

Bell Eliminator

Can't decide if I'd get on with the styling on these... They're possibly a bit "Screaming Eagle Road Glide" for me but I'll see if I can get to have a peep at one in the flesh. Shame as all of my cycling helmets are Bell and I get on really well with them including Full 9.

The derbi?

Z750

Been reading a bit on the 750's since your last post, and they do seem to have a bit of trouble.

You got your eye on another bike?

Small bikes are awesome and underrated. A while ago I had a weekend on an Inazuma 250 and it was a riot. You can really wring it's neck and not worry about much.

I hate riding or getting out of London at the moment. I never see third and there's a constant paranoia about traps and hazards.

You got your eye on another bike?

An insurance quote put an end to my desire for a Daytona.
So an adventure type bike of sorts. Adventure seems to be a modern trend so 2nd hand market is fairly pricey still.
Dual sport bikes tend to be 90s and awesome but not ULEZ compliant or 2000s and butt ugly. My uncle has a new Africa twin, dream bike (one of)

An insurance quote put an end to my desire for a Daytona.

Mine wasn't as bad, but like fuck If I'm trusting it in London. One day.

I'd love a 90's Africa Twin, but they fetch for near decent modern stuff monies, so It makes sense to look at newer stuff.
Strictly dual sport or mainly road? Tiger?

Mainly road but then I would bet that 99% of dual sport bikes never see the dirt. So many non-nodding power rangers on GS out at the weekend.
Would love a tiger but I don’t have money to add to the fund for the next one. Might get £2.6k for the Kawasaki once it’s fixed up. That doesn’t go far in Triumph tokens

There's still the Speed Four/TT600/Daytona 600/650

£208 fully comp insurance for the win! Turns out my 2001 CBR is technically a 'classic bike'.

Also on the helmet chat, can anyone recommend a very well ventilated flip up helmet? Ideally quite quiet too and not ££££ (I realise I'm asking for 4 of a 'pick only 2' criteria).

I wanted the 650 first, didn’t like the newer 675 but then I kind of convinced myself and I’m not sure I could go back haha.
My arse from 7 hours on the Z... my word. I’m sure a sportsbike would be a lot of fun but longer trips are what I fancy

The Ex Zero needs a peak of some sort to balance the chin bar otherwise it looks odd especially in product shots. I don't think too much about the look of a helmet beyond the safety aspect, more the comfort and practicality so the lack of internal visor on the Bell would really count against it, unless I end up with goggles on the whole time.

The Bullit chin bar looks too narrow on the plainer finish but I have seen some great paint jobs on them recently, some really bad ones too. When I put one on I didn't like the feeling of it, the padding seemed to be a very poor fit for my head. I really wanted to like it at the time. I'm not winning any beauty contests anyway so I tend not to judge too harshly :)

I'm going for a Versys 650 and keeping the SV as it's of little value. It's a hideous thing to look at, but its grown on me, its cheap, reliable, fun and it has a proper good fan base.

Are you employed through your own company?

May be worth looking at a new bike on lease or finance.

Saw a new Africa the other day. Looked awesome. At the smaller lower insurance end there's a Honda CB500X which could be worth a test ride.

Are you employed through your own company?

No sadly. Working for the man.

there's a Honda CB500X which could be worth a test ride.

Yeah the CB500X looks pretty awesome. Trying to persuade my Dad to look at them but he's convinced he needs something more powerful. His reactions and stability aren't what they used to be so something smaller and more upright than his current 900 would be a good idea in my opinion.

The chin bar really is the making of a helmet, for some reason. Loads of people seem to love the Bullitt (if the fit suits their head) for the huge amount of peripheral vision, which results in that tiny chin bar.

Somehow I’ve managed never to have a helmet with an internal sun visor, I just stubbornly get annoyed about altering light levels. I imagine if I’d had one, I’d feel differently about choosing a helmet without.

On topic. Uncle's twin with his latest project