Which Shoei Helmet

[Oilhed]

I'm looking for a new Helmet.  Been riding with Shoei since the 80's.  Since my last helmet did a great job in my crash I'm shopping for another Shoei.  What are your opinions?

[Cablebandit]

I voted Quest since that was going to be my next helmet before I found a great deal on an X12.  I also have a Multitec but it's loud.  My wife has an RF1100 and likes it as well.

[AzItLies]

Love my new Qwest... fit's like a glove! (yes, it's a W not a U)

[1KPerDay]

X-11 on closeout, IMO. Light.

wear earplugs (as you should with any helmet, 'cept maybe a Shuberth).

[ConPilot1]

I like my Multitec a LOT.

[sleazy rider]

 

My Shoei Multi was a floor model purchased on closeout 4 years ago, so it sees very limited duty now.  It was replaced with a Scorpion EXO 900 that's not quite as good.

[Cageless-in-Seattle]

I voted Multitec.  I still use my RF1000 for local trips, but I find myself grabbing the Multi most of the time.  I like simply lifting the front of the Multi for taking photos or drinks and eats and during refueling stops.  I wear earbuds to listen to tunes and repeatedly taking off the helmet and rubbing against the buds would make my ears ache on longer trips.  Another plus for me is that the helmet's wine red color matches my red VFR.  

[DangerMoney]

The one that fits your head best.

[ConPilot1]

Best thing about the Multi is that it flips open with one hand and up with a quick shot of the thumb.
Smack the thing down with two fingers and it snicks shut easily. A few other flips' I've tried including the
Scorpion 900 had really crappy releases. That said the Scorp 900 was the most comfortable helmet I've tried on
but it's a heavy SOB. I really hated the pull-release lever which I've heard of them cracking off in the cold weather,
so I passed on the Scorp 900 in favor of the Multitec.

[1KPerDay]

If you have any chin, the Multi won't work, FYI.

Doesn't for me. And I'm not Jay Leno.

[AzItLies]

If you have any chin, the Multi won't work, FYI.

Doesn't for me. And I'm not Jay Leno.

haha that's an interesting point. "The Chin", last I saw, was hawking his Arai. But oddly for me, my arai QII has less chin room then the Shoei Qwest does ??

Another thing about the Qwest though, the bottom of the helmet is not flat... it's angled down in the front. If your intent is to store it in a saddle bag, you may want to check the fit first...

[Flying W]

Bought my wife a Qwest because they are supposed to be real quiet and comfortable....and of course she hates it.... well hate may be a strong word for it but she says its no more comfortable or quiet than her three year old Scorpion EXO 700 and wishes we hadn't given it away. Just cant win sometimes  

[McHack]

I have a TZ-R that I "LIKE" but,  the venting isnt that effective... However, it IS fairly quiet.

That said, I'm thinking of a Qwest...  soon as a BUY A BIKE!  

[1KPerDay]

 soon as a BUY A BIKE!  

http://www.sport-touring.net/forums/index.php/topic,66802

[SVTNate]

I haven't tried the others, but I've been riding with an RF-1100 since... well, whenever it was released.  A year or so?  Longer?  Anyway, great helmet and very comfortable with very good airflow and aerodynamics.  Quiet enough for me.  

[Last1Out]

I like my multi a lot, but when you go long (over 300 miles) it starts to feel heavy. I like my RF-1100 better, it's great for the long hauls and flows air like mad. But I still use both.

[Hambonee]

I love my QWEST and with the chin piece it comes with it's super quiet. That being siad it does not folw a ton of air from the top vent out so if I lived a bit further down south it might be hard to use during the summer.

[bogfro]

I own both the Qwest and the RF1100.  I like the RF1100 better because it vents better and has better options for defogging.  It also seems to have smoother airflow.  The Qwest is a little quieter, but I always wear earplugs anyway.

[Oilhed]

I own both the Qwest and the RF1100.  I like the RF1100 better because it vents better and has better options for defogging.  It also seems to have smoother airflow.  The Qwest is a little quieter, but I always wear earplugs anyway.

Do they both have a thingy over the nose and under the chin?  I had to buy them for my RF-900.

[bogfro]

Do they both have a thingy over the nose and under the chin?  I had to buy them for my RF-900.

If you mean the detachable breath guard and the detachable chin curtain, then yes, they come with the helmets.  I don't use either of them though.

[Hambonee]

I own both the Qwest and the RF1100.  I like the RF1100 better because it vents better and has better options for defogging.  It also seems to have smoother airflow.  The Qwest is a little quieter, but I always wear earplugs anyway.

Just put a pinlock shield on the Qwest like I did. Fogging issues gone!

[motormike]

I didn't vote because I don't have that much direct experience.

I have a Scorpion EXO-700 that I bought one year ago.  I chose it over a Shoei RF1100 based upon price and features.  I was new and wanted to keep my initial gear purchases down.  The Qwest is relatively new so I would look at that and the RF1100 if I was buying.

If the RF1100 is better at venting and anti-fogging then that would be my choice.  The folks at Web Bike World say the Qwest is better than the RF1100 because of price and weight.

http://www.webbikeworld.com/r2/shoei/qwest/

[Papa Lazarou]

I'm looking for a new Helmet.  Been riding with Shoei since the 80's.  Since my last helmet did a great job in my crash I'm shopping for another Shoei.  What are your opinions?

Do you wear glasses? If so, the Multitec. But wear earplugs-they are noisy.

If not, one of the others. Or a dehydrated armadillo.

[photomd]

When I was looking at helmets at Cycle Gear in Atlanta last month, the salesmen told me the Qwest is made to vent on the racetrack, ie, at higher speeds as compared to the RF1100. I don't have any experience with either one other than they're comfortable. I'll probably try to pick up the RF1100 on closeout this winter as I don't spend much (...or better yet, I NEVER spend) time at racetrack speeds.    I ride tractors.  

[Cablebandit]

Do you wear glasses? If so, the Multitec. But wear earplugs-they are noisy.

If not, one of the others. Or a dehydrated armadillo.

Yup, they are noisy.  I wear glasses and no longer wear the Multitec.  I still had to remove the glasses to get it on/off.

[bogfro]

Just put a pinlock shield on the Qwest like I did. Fogging issues gone!

I have tried those, along with Fog City inserts before.  They're horrible at night, so I don't use them.  RF1100 still vents much better than the Qwest in hot weather.

[bogfro]

If the RF1100 is better at venting and anti-fogging then that would be my choice.  The folks at Web Bike World say the Qwest is better than the RF1100 because of price and weight.

http://www.webbikeworld.com/r2/shoei/qwest/

I don't notice the weight difference between the two, but I notice a huge difference in venting in hot weather.  RF1100 also seems to have slightly smoother airflow.  I think the RF1100 was maybe 50 bucks more......big whoop-di-doo in the grand scheme of things.

[bogfro]

Another feature of the RF1100 that they don't advertise, for some strange reason:

The chin vent (and thus eyeball and face shield vent) has 3 settings: open, half-open, and closed.  So you can adjust the wind speed to a middle setting, in addition to "on" and "off".


On the top vents, the Qwest has one single vent, located above the forehead.  So your cool air only enters in the center of your head, pretty high up.  The RF1100 has 2 lower-down temple area vents, which seem to do a much better job of covering the entire head for venting.  Plus the chin vent, in the fully open position, seems to move more air than the Qwest.

[Justin]

I voted "other" - because the right helmet is the one that fits best, no way a poll can tell you which.

[Joey Stalin]

I tried on a bunch of helmets at a store yesterday, nothing really struck me as a perfect fit, although the Qwest did fit the best of everything. I couldn't get any scorpion to feel comfortable.

I like the idea of the RF1100 venting well in summer, but that also means it is going to be mighty cold in winter, I presume.

[Papa Lazarou]

I tried on a bunch of helmets at a store yesterday, nothing really struck me as a perfect fit, although the Qwest did fit the best of everything. I couldn't get any scorpion to feel comfortable.

I like the idea of the RF1100 venting well in summer, but that also means it is going to be mighty cold in winter, I presume.

You may have an Arai shaped head. Try one of them.

[Oilhed]

My first helmet was an Arai.  I've been happy with the Shoei shape since.  Just ordered a RF-1100 and a big discount.

[agent9]

Also always been an Arai guy. My current helmet is well past its best days. Yesterday I went and tried on a Qwest and ended up ordering one.
Very comfortable helmet and a price point I can afford right now.

[NotDeadYet]

I'm a Shoei guy, they just fit my head.  I've been wearing an older RF1000 which just completed its duty as a result of a crash.  I was going to go with the RF1100 but I found a great deal on a Shoei X12 at PowerSportsXpress.com on ebay and pulled the trigger.  I guess I won't get to try it out until spring but I thought the price was right.  

[MCRyder]

Interesting thread.  I'm looking for a new lid to replace my Shark RSI.  I wore Shoei all thru the 80's and 90's before switching over to Nolan flip-front helmets.  After several years of that I went back to a full-face helmet with my Shark, which fits great.  Tried the new Scorpion EXO-750, didn't fit my head shape.  So I'm coming back to Shoei.  It's down to the Qwest vs. the RF-1100.  The Qwest is less expensive, but I really like the RF-1100 in this graphic scheme:



Awesome!

[GerryPetrecca]

I like my Multitec a LOT.

+10.

[Oilhed]

I love the Shoei RF graphics but money is just too tight.  I went with the matte black for a different look.  I like the matte grey as well.

[motormike]

Interesting thread.  The Qwest is less expensive, but I really like the RF-1100 in this graphic scheme:



Awesome!

Yeah, that is a sharp looking helmet and a design that I would choose.