well folks?...i finally got to take my Shoei X11 for it's virgin test ride...and i even removed my puig touring windscreen and slapped the stock windscreen back on to get some real wind go'in...
annnnd?.......here's the list of things i noticed on a short jaunt 'round backroads town and up the interstate a ways...and the firts thing I noticed was the great periphial view the X11 offers as it seeems the visor wraps around the sides pretty well and as a result?..."head checks"...required a minimum of actual neck movement..and I liked that.
I also liked the 2nd thing i noticed..."VENTILATION"......gobs of it...so much so that even at reduced speeds of under 40mph?..i could feel the breeze flowing clean through the helmet...hit 60mph+?...and i could actually feel the breeze moving the hair on top of my head...under the helmet....very cool.
Aero's: the damn thing is awesome...purposefully sitt'in bolt upright?...stickin my mellon up into the full wind?...and i didn't feel any wind pressure even begin to assert any force whatsoever till upwards of 80mph or so. Also?...full wind head checks at 120mph snatched a little wind but nothing neck-snapping..no problem....but the real cool part?...was this...as i tucked on down?...i coulkd actually feel the helmet "Rolling The Winds Pressure Point" and just as it crested?...(rolling over the top).....as soon as the helmet just began to exhibit the slightest sign of "Lift"?...the rear spoiler thingy strated pressing it right back down on my head again...also...."Buffeting"?.....was "Non-Existant"....even when quartering a TT at 80mph.
"Noise Levels": I was real apprehensive (if not a tad anxiouse) reviewing the noise levels of this helmet as i've heard so much about it "Both Ways".....some say it's remarkably quiet (taking into consideration how much ventilation and air it flows) while others?...claim it to be on the noisey side....me?..I found it to be "Both"
"Quiet"....annnd...."Noisey"....as follows....at lower speeds?...I could hear much more of my busa's workings...engine, brakes, chain...but as the speeds rose?...it seemed like it actually got quieter...and i think this is because the helmet is so well designed aero wise that while it is loud at nominal 'round town speeds?...it's windslick ways make it "seem loud"....as there is no "Wind Roar"....and now?...because there is no wind roar?...you hear the bike more...but it's anything but....loud...and imho?...is very quiet for a helmet of this particular breed.
Now...I didn't have the opportunity to do any real high speed stuff...so i'll reserve cooment on high speed aeros but so far?...low-mid speed aero's are great and i love this lid...best i've ever owned...so far.
and for my old '03 Slvr/Graphite busa?...i'm calling the chris vermeulen TC-5 graphix......
a...
"MATCH"
and....L8R, Bill.
annnnd?.......here's the list of things i noticed on a short jaunt 'round backroads town and up the interstate a ways...and the firts thing I noticed was the great periphial view the X11 offers as it seeems the visor wraps around the sides pretty well and as a result?..."head checks"...required a minimum of actual neck movement..and I liked that.
I also liked the 2nd thing i noticed..."VENTILATION"......gobs of it...so much so that even at reduced speeds of under 40mph?..i could feel the breeze flowing clean through the helmet...hit 60mph+?...and i could actually feel the breeze moving the hair on top of my head...under the helmet....very cool.
Aero's: the damn thing is awesome...purposefully sitt'in bolt upright?...stickin my mellon up into the full wind?...and i didn't feel any wind pressure even begin to assert any force whatsoever till upwards of 80mph or so. Also?...full wind head checks at 120mph snatched a little wind but nothing neck-snapping..no problem....but the real cool part?...was this...as i tucked on down?...i coulkd actually feel the helmet "Rolling The Winds Pressure Point" and just as it crested?...(rolling over the top).....as soon as the helmet just began to exhibit the slightest sign of "Lift"?...the rear spoiler thingy strated pressing it right back down on my head again...also...."Buffeting"?.....was "Non-Existant"....even when quartering a TT at 80mph.
"Noise Levels": I was real apprehensive (if not a tad anxiouse) reviewing the noise levels of this helmet as i've heard so much about it "Both Ways".....some say it's remarkably quiet (taking into consideration how much ventilation and air it flows) while others?...claim it to be on the noisey side....me?..I found it to be "Both"
Now...I didn't have the opportunity to do any real high speed stuff...so i'll reserve cooment on high speed aeros but so far?...low-mid speed aero's are great and i love this lid...best i've ever owned...so far.
and for my old '03 Slvr/Graphite busa?...i'm calling the chris vermeulen TC-5 graphix......
a...
"MATCH"
and....L8R, Bill.