who has a shoei Air

[Vex]

I just got the new Bell Race Star Flex DLX and it's amazing, coming form my original Race Star. Aside from being lighter and having more protection, the cubbies for speakers are perfect, and the magnetic cheek pads are fantastic. I always had an issue with my cheek pad unsnapping because if the tech crammed under it. Not having that issue now.

[kawamad]

I also have the shoei gt 2 air affaire tc6 with the bespoke slr2 intercom and find it excellent for the com's also find the helmet is first class I used to always use aria helmets which I found was a good fit for me. so was a bit undecided about buying the shoei but found it to be excellent fit and with the sena srl2 being bespoke it dose not press on your ears use to use the aria helmet with a cheap bt type intercom and ended up chucking it in the bin after only 10 mins got really bad ear ache. the shoei gt2 helmet also as the inside drop down visor which is a excellent add on and the pin lock anti mist which work well. also found it to be lighter than the aria chaser helmet.. the sena srl 2 intercom is expensive and was reasonable easy to install once you work out it fits and how to remove the helmet inners.. all in all.. I think the shoei gt2 air helmet and sena srl2 intercom is the best on the market for full faced helmets and intercom's.

[Prof J]

and the Cardo Packtalk Slim with JBL speakers...

zxhoya,

How are you finding the Cardo setup, pros/cons?

[Jasonvii]

Had the GT air 2 and was a great helmet very comfortable and light.
Changed a few times due to different bikes, as I wanted a flip lid for a bit of everything so due to how good I felt the Gt air was I have gone for the Shoei Neotec 2 with Sena setup that was made in conjunction between them both and it works a treat!
Helmet build quality is 1st class as expected

[Prof J]

Not Shoei Air specific, but Shoei NeoTec 2. I came from a Shoei Neo Tec (1). I have had Shoei since I can remember, sometimes that is a long time, and sometimes just to yesterday. LOL

I purchased it, starting in Chicago, last late summer, at least fitting in Chicago for the first time, they had a small, and that was way too small. They reserved a medium in Denver, and when I arrived there a week or two later, and that fit, though just a tad too loose, but much better than the small, so I ordered the medium, and their thickest pad set, and it was delivered to my house after I returned.

The helmet fit, with the thickest pads, is just a little too 'thin' around the cheeks. I will likely have a seamstress make up a 1/4" cheek-neck, one piece soon, something I have been meaning to get done. The one seamstress that said she could make one up, with the materials I supplied, said it was 'too hard' to do. Crazy.

I like the flip up front. The windscreen, when fully down, seals well, and needs just a little nudge, or push to fully seal. I like that. The helmet comes with an inner pin/fog shield, and that works well for winter months. I keep it in year round.

The helmet has a number of wind screen detent position when the wind screen is up. These detents will keep the screen 'up', except for the several lowest positions, in strong wind, which forces the wind screen down. For me that's in the 50-60+ mph range. I wish the wind screen had one more 'lower' position, and it would hold in position in strong wind. I will likely make some sort of small rubber piece to keep the 'door' open in my favored lowest position, which is about 1/2 height of the current lowest position. Shoei calls the front chin bar a "360 Pivot Locking System". Not sure what the 360 is about.

Given that the cheek and neck padding is a tad to thin for me, I get some wind noise I believe, otherwise, it would largely be blocked out, and would be a very quiet helmet. I've used a few materials, and or pads on the shoulders, moving the air mass away from the bottom of the helmet, and it is pretty quiet. The H2 windscreen shoves the air flow right at my neck - lower chin, even now that I have cut the windshield down several inches.

There are three components to air flow for the interior of the hemet. The 'exhaust' at the rear, moves the incoming air from the chin area, and the topmost intake air vent on the top of the head, well. I can easily tell when one, or the other vent is open, as the air flow is that good. The chin vent pushes the airflow up in front of the face and is easy to enjoy and notice. The topmost vent, flows air onto the crown of the head, and is also easy to notice its' flow. Each air vent is very easy to glove find and activate.

The helmet has a flip down dark screen. It is easy to glove find and 'flip, and does a good job with its' darkness level. It is very similar to a VietNam Huey pilots helmet that I have, in that manner, height wise. It would be an improvement if it was 'taller', meaning another 1" + of face coverage, when it is flipped down.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CmI403 ... sp=sharing

It has a chin ratchet strap. That is nice. I have to attach something to be able to make it bike helmet lock friendly.

It is designed to have the "Sena SRL Communication System" integrate with it. I'd probably go to a Cardo system. No experience with either, but the reviews on Cardos' are very positive, overall, when compared to the Sena systems.

The longest I have ridden with this helmet has been about 10-12 hours, with some short stops in between. It has remained comfortable during long rides, including these longer, all day rides, as well.

Out of 5 stars, I'd give this helmet 4.5.

[Prof J]

I've had the GT Air and Sena 10R for about 5 years now and I love it. As mentioned the drop down visor is awesome and it's comfortable and moves air.

Just purchased the Bell Race Star Flex DLX helmet because of the reviews and the Cardo Packtalk Slim with JBL speakers...because of the reviews. Haven't had a chance to test them out yet but the Bell is definitely lighter (carbon) and has plenty of vents. No drop down lens but it has a 'Panovision ProTint Photochromic' shield that darkens when exposed to the sun. I don't know if it was a mistake but there were 3 shields in the box, 2 regular and 1 ProTint already installed.

Both helmets are XL but the Bell helmet is considerably larger, I look like the Vader in' Space Balls' but I believe it offers 1st rate protection and it's Snell approved.

zxhoya, what are your thoughts about the Packtalk Slim with JBL speakers now?

[zxhoya]

I've had the GT Air and Sena 10R for about 5 years now and I love it. As mentioned the drop down visor is awesome and it's comfortable and moves air.

Just purchased the Bell Race Star Flex DLX helmet because of the reviews and the Cardo Packtalk Slim with JBL speakers...because of the reviews. Haven't had a chance to test them out yet but the Bell is definitely lighter (carbon) and has plenty of vents. No drop down lens but it has a 'Panovision ProTint Photochromic' shield that darkens when exposed to the sun. I don't know if it was a mistake but there were 3 shields in the box, 2 regular and 1 ProTint already installed.

Both helmets are XL but the Bell helmet is considerably larger, I look like the Vader in' Space Balls' but I believe it offers 1st rate protection and it's Snell approved.

zxhoya, what are your thoughts about the Packtalk Slim with JBL speakers now?

Well I'm not overly impressed.

1st off, I have no experience with it as far as communicating with other riders, only as a Bluetooth media player while riding.

I will give it credit for having better overall tonal quality over the Sena as far as listening to music but the problem is that the volume level is pretty low so when you're moving it's hard to here.

The 1 caveat is that I have the PacTalk Slim paired with the Bell Race Star Flex DLX helmet and the wind noise is brutal. The helmet is extremely light and I love the vision out of the Panovision ProTint Photochromic shield but compared to my GT Air (1st Gen) it's way too noisy for me to enjoy the helmet on a daily basis. It would be a great track helmet but I'm a street rider.

I'm thinking about moving the Packtalk to the GT Air and see if it will perform better, I'm thinking it will but not to much better.

I want to give the Sena 50R of S a try.

[Prof J]

Well I'm not overly impressed.

1st off, I have no experience with it as far as communicating with other riders, only as a Bluetooth media player while riding.

I will give it credit for having better overall tonal quality over the Sena as far as listening to music but the problem is that the volume level is pretty low so when you're moving it's hard to here.

The 1 caveat is that I have the PacTalk Slim paired with the Bell Race Star Flex DLX helmet and the wind noise is brutal. The helmet is extremely light and I love the vision out of the Panovision ProTint Photochromic shield but compared to my GT Air (1st Gen) it's way too noisy for me to enjoy the helmet on a daily basis. It would be a great track helmet but I'm a street rider.

I'm thinking about moving the Packtalk to the GT Air and see if it will perform better, I'm thinking it will but not to much better.

I want to give the Sena 50R of S a try.

zxhoya,

I'm pretty torn about getting a system at this time. The write up and Youtube reviews on the Cardo/Pactalk systems, almost always, have the Pactalk coming out over the Sena systems, except for two things that I recall, Sena with BT 5 being a much better tech, and poor volume on the Pactalk. I've got Viper for Android on my phone, and I can boost the volume some, but I'd start to worry about distortion. I really only hear OK with one ear, so having sufficient volume is important. I'd only want it for music, GPS, phone, so far.

I've been using Taotronics with ANC bluetooth ear set and it works best for my hearing range in keeping out wind noise, better than the newest Bose, Samsung or Sony ear bud sets. I just installed a higher windscreen, and that brings the impact right at the helmet chin area. Not really much help, but I can lay on the tank and get the hearing quiet others may experience when they are out of the wind. I can't lay there but for a few seconds.

What a great difference that is compared to sitting in the flow. I've got a piece of plastic, can't recall the type, but I picked it up after researching last year and it's the same plastic type as OEM. I may eventually get to that - someday.

I've got a Shoei Neotec 2, which I like a lot, except the neck padding is way too loose, and I am finally going to get a seamstress to do up a add-on neck pad this or next week. A few local seamstresses said it was too hard. I think that will help, or hope, mild to moderately. A lot of wind gets in the neck gap.

I just picked up a new Shoei GT-AIR 2 off an auction for a little over $350. I think that seems a good deal. I'll try that out, even though it's a surprise for my Honey.

Getting back to the Pactalk. I've contacted Cardo, asking them about getting BT 5+ and better volume. No answer yet.

Does the "Auto volume sensitivity'" not function well? I heard you have to turn of the gadget after you turn auto volume sensitivity off, to reset it to the setting change, and then the volume is 'loud'.

Thanks for the info.

[JohnQ]

and the Cardo Packtalk Slim with JBL speakers...

zxhoya,

How are you finding the Cardo setup, pros/cons?

I have almost this setup.
Cardio PTB + JBL + GTA2

Cons;
Speakers don’t snap in pockets. They try but not stay. I’m leaning on using the Velcro pads to hold them. I have the ear space for it.
Ok google functions can pound sand.

Pros;
Syncs up w/o drama, battery goes all day, typically don’t need the antenna for r2r off road, easy to handle calls and pandora, WATERPROOF af (like several hour monsoon, trail is a flash flood waterproof), volume is more than enough for me and I’m deaf according to my wife. Volume on a wheel is very nice. The ambient noise comp seems to handle the additional wind noise I’m getting on this bike fine. Having no problems with phone conversations at 60mph.

Never did the Sena thing so can’t compare.

Don’t have anyone to street ride with so can’t speak about r2r on the road. Can testify r2r works excellent in the mountains of WV off road regardless of weather... Unit works fine r2p on the Voyager with the wife.

The GTA2 is my first “nice” helmet. It’s MUCH more quiet than my 950AT, comfy too. Haven’t crash tested it like the 950 so can’t speak to that. Right now the GTA2 doesn’t have a con for me.

I’ve have the Cardo in 2 helmets and used extensively on 3 bikes for 3 seasons.
Scorpion 950AT(off/on road), GTA2(on road).
H2SE, Versys1K, WR250

No regrets on helmet or Cardo.
HTH

[Prof J]

and the Cardo Packtalk Slim with JBL speakers...

zxhoya,

How are you finding the Cardo setup, pros/cons?

I have almost this setup.
Cardio PTB + JBL + GTA2

Cons;
Speakers don’t snap in pockets. They try but not stay. I’m leaning on using the Velcro pads to hold them. I have the ear space for it.
Ok google functions can pound sand.

Pros;
Syncs up w/o drama, battery goes all day, typically don’t need the antenna for r2r off road, easy to handle calls and pandora, WATERPROOF af (like several hour monsoon, trail is a flash flood waterproof), volume is more than enough for me and I’m deaf according to my wife. Volume on a wheel is very nice. The ambient noise comp seems to handle the additional wind noise I’m getting on this bike fine. Having no problems with phone conversations at 60mph.

Never did the Sena thing so can’t compare.

Don’t have anyone to street ride with so can’t speak about r2r on the road. Can testify r2r works excellent in the mountains of WV off road regardless of weather... Unit works fine r2p on the Voyager with the wife.

The GTA2 is my first “nice” helmet. It’s MUCH more quiet than my 950AT, comfy too. Haven’t crash tested it like the 950 so can’t speak to that. Right now the GTA2 doesn’t have a con for me.

I’ve have the Cardo in 2 helmets and used extensively on 3 bikes for 3 seasons.
Scorpion 950AT(off/on road), GTA2(on road).
H2SE, Versys1K, WR250

No regrets on helmet or Cardo.
HTH

JohnQ,

Thanks for taking the time for the info, very helpful.

Does your phone 'hear' the OK Google' requests, just lousy follow through?

"Haven’t crash tested it like the 950 so can’t speak to that.". Hope that was not a bad health event.