New Caberg Solo - $75!!

[SoloRider]

I got the Gara a while back because it was the only one they had in my size. I finally got a chance to wear it for an extended period (500 miles over the last two days) and it was comfortable the whole time. It was a little noisy but I wear earplugs anyway. And, I could still hear my SS2R exhaust over the noise. The flip up/down sun visor was great. i was riding through tree lined roads at midday so I kept going in and out of shadows and flipping the dark visor up and down all day. I don't know how I rode 20 years without it.

Product testimonial is now over.

[Sport-Touring]

[Greg MacD]

How is the sizing on the Caberg helmets? I am using a Shoei RF-800 in Large now, love the fit, I read the Caberg helmets run a bit small, can you all fill me in? Do the Cabergs fit a more round head or oval head?

Thanks, Greg

[Cricket1]

I got the Caberg a few weeks back, and they seem to run slightly small. Their sizing chart puts me clearly in the Medium size, so that is what I ordered. It fits ok, and is better after being broken in, but I probably should have got a large. My Nolan 102 is a large, and I just put medium cheek pads in, cause the helmet was just slightly too big. The Caberg probably fits a rounder shape head better, as my melon is more long/oval, and the medium seems a little too round for me. The Caberg restricts your view more than the large Nolan, maybe the large Caberg would be better.

BTW-The flip down visor is great!

[Grnarrowe]

I tried the Solo on at Road America back in June, I was looking for the Justisimo GT, the flip up version, to replace my Jarow Mono X2. This is a Caber before they were Caberg. I called IP after getting back from vacation thinking they had some in stock, wrong! So I went to www.Designerhelmets.com. They are in the UK and ship to the US. Got my lid in about a week and a half. If you need replacement shields they should have them. And if IP has any Solos left I may order one as a spare.
I got a large as the X2 was a large and it is a bit snug but as it gets worn it fits better.

[Hardware]

...BTW-The flip down visor is great!

I'm liking that feature more and more, especially after getting caught on a daytrip with the dark tinted shield on my X-11.

I checked out an HJC FS-10 helmet in a dealership with the, "One-Touch Integrated SunShield" and I have to say I was very disappointed with the overall quality and feel of the helmet.  The mechanism on the sunshield felt flimsy and nothing about the helmet seemed to even approximate the sense of build quality I get from my Arai or Shoei lids.

What's the build quality on the Caberg, and particularly the integrated tinted visor like?

[Cricket1]

I'm liking that feature more and more, especially after getting caught on a daytrip with the dark tinted shield on my X-11.

I checked out an HJC FS-10 helmet in a dealership with the, "One-Touch Integrated SunShield" and I have to say I was very disappointed with the overall quality and feel of the helmet.  The mechanism on the sunshield felt flimsy and nothing about the helmet seemed to even approximate the sense of build quality I get from my Arai or Shoei lids.

What's the build quality on the Caberg, and particularly the integrated tinted visor like?

I have only ever had HJC's or Nolan's before, and the Caberg's build quality seems as good as a Nolan. The integrated visor is pretty dark, and when all the way down, just barely touches my nose. No big deal, as I can move it up a bit.

I got the Gara as a back up lid, since the N102 is perfect fit for my head, and since I wear glasses, very handy. I just heard the new Nolan N103 has a similar built in visor.  If it's as good as the Caberg, the N103 will be my next lid.

[awlittle]

Ordered one.  Wanted Silver but only have sizes other than small in the graphics  
Thanks to the OP  

[Netminder]

Looks like nothing but smalls left now.

[BHW]

Bob, this one isn't the one you were referring to, but I found this review slightly helpful:

http://rswarrior.com/forums/p/48515/671427.aspx

That's my review. I ended up selling that helmet a few months later. I wanted to get rid of my solid black gear, and that helmet never got worn, it never ended up fitting me properly. I always grabbed something else first (Suomy, Shark). A few months after that review I edited it on a different site. The tinted visor proved to be useless in the long run. It never sat close enough to my face to keep glare and light out of my eyes. I still prefer a really dark visor for daytime, or glasses. The vents were useless in hot weather. Above 70* and I couldn't tell a difference in the open and closed positions. I do not like quick release chin straps. I still prefer double d rings. I never felt like the quick release strap was adjusted properly. I regretted paying over $200 for that helmet. That being said though, for under $100....I think it's a good deal....unless you live in the south where it gets really hot. I felt like the tinted internal visor was cheap, and no replacement for good glasses or a dark visor.

[SoloRider]

Looks like nothing but smalls left now.

They've only had small Solos for quite a while now. That's why I got the Gara for $69 (medium). I've worn it up to two hours at a time and it's been very comfortable. It was snug when I got it but has broken in well and even when new it wasn't uncomfortable. I rode in 80+ degree weather yesterday and I was very comfortable. In fact, what bothered me was air coming in through the bottom of the helmet. I don't like the wind in my eyes but that probably kept me cooler.

[McRider]

I've had my Caberg for a month or so now, and although I like a lot of its features, I'm having a hard time getting it to fit around my ears.  It seems to have virtually no ear pockets, and when I wear glasses the stems get pressed between my head and ears.  I have been depressing the Styrofoam around the ears with a drift and a hammer, and it is getting better but still not quite good enough.  After a full day of riding it gets painful.  I'll keep pounding the Styrofoam until I get it right.  

[atadaskew]

Hmm, must be an individual fit issue cuz I've put speakers in the ear pockets of my Gara and have zero comfort issues.

[RBEmerson]

+1.  Time to sand your ears down, no?  

[McRider]

They don't call me dumbo for nothing.  Actually, I don't have big ears, and a friend of mine who bought the helmet on my recommendation has had the same problem.  

[atadaskew]

When you put it on, is the visor on the front or the back of your head?
 

[Bravo12]

Great find on the Caberg Solo.  I was just about to pull the trigger on this deal (in black) but decided to search for some user reviews on the Solo first.  I found this review that said the liner leaves no room for helmet speakers.  Well, I just ordered a set of helmet speakers today, so that's out.  I'll probably stick with my previous plan of getting a new flip-up in a few weeks (I'm looking at the KBC FFR).  Thanks for sharing this find, though.  

[RBEmerson]

Um, clearly the writer didn't take the liner out and look around.  BTW, the liner is designed to come out for cleaning.  

Looking under the liner also shows that the helmet's vents aren't set up to give air hose blasts to your head but to keep air moving.  I wish the chin vent did more but the rest of the venting worked well enough to avoid a sweaty head in this summer's hot weather.  

Which comes back to the vents, which are noisy.  Enough so that speakers probably aren't a total win unless the volume's cranked way up for long stretches.  Good way to have bad hearing (BTDT [/sigh]).  Go with Ety's or similar noise-suppressing plugs instead.  No need to carve up the liner and a good way to keep the noise down - win-win.  

[atadaskew]

  I found this review that said the liner leaves no room for helmet speakers.

I have helmet speakers in mine.  They fit perfectly in the ear recess under the liner and I have no issues.  So much for that review...

[Craigart14]

If anyone is still interested, I just got the Caberg Solo Gara with the red, white, and blue graphics.  My head measures 57 cm, and I have two HJC's, both XL, which fit perfectly.  The Caberg, also an XL, is a tiny bit snug, and a bit hard to pull on.  Once on, it's comfy.  I wear glasses, and it can be tricky to thread the flexible titanium ear pieces into place--but that happens sometimes with the HJC, too.  The sunshade flips down--and back up--instantly, so it should work well for going through tunnels or turning onto heavily shaded roads.  It doesn't give you the full coverage of a tinted shield; there are gaps around the bottom outer edge of the shade, but it gives me better coverage than the clip-ons I wear with my glasses and it should eliminate the need to carry an extra shield.  Haven't been able to test it on the bike yet (bad front wheel bearings, which I expect I'll get changed tomorrow), but for a tad less than $80 shipped, I'm a happy camper so far.  Iron Pony still has them in a bunch of sizes.

Craig

[stefrrr]

Hey guys - what would you say the shape is on these? Suitable for a long oval?