Shoei for a longer-oval head

[expatbrit]

So...

Apparently, Xmas has come early, thanks to Revzilla. I actually won something on their ZLA Live giveaway today.

Hopefully, I'll have some money for a new Shoei. Now, I just bought and love my new Bell, but my girl needs a new hat. She has a Shoei right now, and it's not  enough of a long-oval fit. I'd like to pick up a new, longer fitting helmet for her.

Any suggestions as to which, if any, of the current Shoei's is going to work best? X-12, RF-1100, Qwest?

[Indefatigable]

RF-1100 worked for me.  I tried an AGV and Nolan but couldn't get them to work but the RF-1100 fit perfect.  I had the advantage of being near Revzilla's showroom so I got to try them all on and eliminate the guess work.    

[DangerMoney]

I'm also a long oval and I've got an X-11. Tried on an X-12 and it's the same shape.

[Flying W]

Not the Quest.. My wife has the oval head syndrome and although it seemed to fit her well at cycle gear the Quest was very uncomfortable for her on our first day ride and she complained about excessive wind noise just reinforcing the fact that it wasnt the right fit for her... o well, another $500. helmet going to spend its life sitting on the shelf in my garage.

[sprint_st]

Had an Arai Quantum for a long time which is for oval heads.  Worked well for me.  Then went to a Signet II which was for long ellipticals and that did not work well.  Finally discovered that I had a Shoei head.  RF1000 was great and RF1100 was even better, got one now.  Neotec is on order.  Only modular that ever fit right.  I'm living proof that no two heads are the same.  Comp. Accessories is only an hour away and they have a zillion helmuts and almost every size on the shelf.  Shoei's are the ONLY ones that fit my XL melon.

[expatbrit]

Heh. Yeah -- her RF-1000 gives her a headache after some longer rides from pressure on the forehead, so I'm looking for 'more ovaltastic' than that. Because I have the Shoei cash (in theory), I'm biased towards getting one of these for her. Plus she's got a small head, so multiple shell sizes are a huge plus.

[sprint_st]

Heh. Yeah -- her RF-1000 gives her a headache after some longer rides from pressure on the forehead, so I'm looking for 'more ovaltastic' than that. Because I have the Shoei cash (in theory), I'm biased towards getting one of these for her. Plus she's got a small head, so multiple shell sizes are a huge plus.

You have a CycleGear in town which carries Shoei's.  You should take her in and make sure you have the right size.

[expatbrit]

You have a CycleGear in town which carries Shoei's.  You should take her in and make sure you have the right size.

Yup. Planning on it, though I do hate to go shop one place and then buy elsewhere/on-line. Not very good for the bricks and mortar, and I do value those.

[sprint_st]

Yup. Planning on it, though I do hate to go shop one place and then buy elsewhere/on-line. Not very good for the bricks and mortar, and I do value those.

Know what you mean.  IMO, buying helmets without trying them on is risky business.   I'm kinda lucky.  I just bought a Shoei Neotec from a local dealer who had a sale with a price lower than online. Probably would have paid a bit more to support my dealer too.  I'm an hour's ride from Competition Accessories in Fort Mill, SC.   I go to their store and try the helmet on (biggest selection of helmets this side of Daytona), and order it FROM THEM online for a discounted price.  I do shop at CycleGear because they have sales with some great prices from time to time.

I knew about the CycleGear in Albuquerque because my son is at Kirtland and I paid him a visit last August.  We stopped in the CycleGear for me to do some shopping.

[expatbrit]

Sounds lucky.

We just ordered an RF-1100, so see how that works out. Reputedly, it's the ovallest of the Shoei's. Sizing isn't an issue; pretty confident there.

[crispiegee1]

Last year, I purchased a Shoei X-Twelve and - even though my head is oval - I found it to be comfortable. It's not as quiet as my RF800, but it seems to leave a bit more room for my nose.

I still hope to try on a Schuberth C3 Pro one of these days. I know it's not a long-oval shape, but I love the idea of a really quiet helmet and I think it's neutral enough to fit me well.

[KLRchickie]

I tried on Shoei's (and Arai's) at the bike show in January.  I *think* it was the brand new GT Air that was the ovalest fitting Shoei - more oval than the RF1000/1100 in my opinion.  

Arai's current best fit for me seems to be the Signet Q.

My head is in the insanely-uber-long oval class, helmet wise.

[sprint_st]

Last year, I purchased a Shoei X-Twelve and - even though my head is oval - I found it to be comfortable. It's not as quiet as my RF800, but it seems to leave a bit more room for my nose.

I still hope to try on a Schuberth C3 Pro one of these days. I know it's not a long-oval shape, but I love the idea of a really quiet helmet and I think it's neutral enough to fit me well.

My RF1100 is great but I really wanted a modular but none of them would fit both my and chin at the same time until Shoei came out with the Neotec.  Got one and it is great.  When I tried the C3, it "fit" OK but just OK.  When I put a Shoei on it is snug but no hot spots or potential hot spots.  The C3 probably is a good helmet but I could tell immediately it just didn't have that perfect Shoei fit for my head.

[crispiegee1]

I tried on Shoei's (and Arai's) at the bike show in January.  I *think* it was the brand new GT Air that was the ovalest fitting Shoei - more oval than the RF1000/1100 in my opinion.  

Arai's current best fit for me seems to be the Signet Q.

My head is in the insanely-uber-long oval class, helmet wise.

Have you tried the Arai Profile? That is heaven for long oval people. I tried the Profile (or maybe its predecessor - I can't remember) several years ago and loved it.... SUPER comfortable!

The only thing that steered me away from buying it was that people I knew who had both Shoei and Arai helmets often said that Arai helmets have more wind noise.

[KLRchickie]

Have you tried the Arai Profile? That is heaven for long oval people. I tried the Profile (or maybe its predecessor - I can't remember) several years ago and loved it.... SUPER comfortable!

I had a Quantum/f several years ago & tried on what the opinionated Arai guy at the show recommended - so I dn't know if I've had a Profile on  

The only thing that steered me away from buying it was that people I knew who had both Shoei and Arai helmets often said that Arai helmets have more wind noise.

 

Zed fits an RF1000 to a Tee and finds it the noisiest thing around.  My old Quantum had a nice thick neck roll, as do my current Suomy Vandals & they are WAY quieter than his Shoei.....

[Papa Lazarou]

Bit too late, but I'd have gone for Arai or Shark, not Shoei.

[crispiegee1]

Zed fits an RF1000 to a Tee and finds it the noisiest thing around.  My old Quantum had a nice thick neck roll, as do my current Suomy Vandals & they are WAY quieter than his Shoei.....

Really? Okay, that's good info to have. Maybe I'll try an Arai next time. With what they cost, it's hard to be very experimental with helmets. I've had my heart set on a Schuberth because - having purchased several cheap, very loud helmets - noise is my number one concern.

[KLRchickie]

Really? Okay, that's good info to have. Maybe I'll try an Arai next time. With what they cost, it's hard to be very experimental with helmets. I've had my heart set on a Schuberth because - having purchased several cheap, very loud helmets - noise is my number one concern.

Our experiences have suggested that the "puffier" the padded area around the neck opening is, the quieter the helmet will be.  ZED has tried putting a hand up to block the space just behind his jawbone whilst riding along and the noise level in his helmet reduces dramatically.

[expatbrit]

Bit too late, but I'd have gone for Arai or Shark, not Shoei.

Well. I had a Shoei for free.

[sprint_st]

Bit too late, but I'd have gone for Arai or Shark, not Shoei.

If you don't try it on, following this kind of advice can lead to disappointment.   For ME, Shoei's have always fit better than Arai's, but some Shoei's don't fit right either.  My first Quantum fit great but my Signet did not.  Point is, try it on and then make your decision.  Lots of helmet dealers have good exchange policies too.