LS2 Valiant II | This is a discontinued helmet now, but it’s still available in stores. There’s a new Advant X out now, which we’re hoping to review very soon; that’s certified to ECE 22.06, and is a new design that won’t draw the legal attention of Shark. Shoei NXR2 | The Shoei NXR2 has excellent aerodynamics and a great visor. If you have the budget, knowing which one suits you best between this and the Arai Quantic is impossible without trying them both on. But you’ll be delighted with either. For example, the retro Shoei Glamster’s got an AIM shell and that scored 4 stars out of 5 when tested by SHARP. Same with the Ex Zero and Neotech II– both AIM shells and both 4 star rated.

You’d have thought that because it’s an open face helmet, you’d get pretty much all the ventilation you need without really trying. Three top vents venting through to a single rear exhaust. Word is that it’s effective. Arai Rapide | The Rapide shares a lot of similarities with other Arais, but that speaks more of the consistency in the brand’s shell shapes over the years. Distinctive graphics, a squared-off chin and a very effective visor help this lid stand out. The other’s the DOT (US) helmet that’s also available in white too, and it comes in sizes XS-XXL and in two different shell sizes. Caberg Flyon | The Flyon is another true ‘jet’ with a full-length visor. It appears to be discontinued now, though they are still available in stores at some good prices. Our riding instructor reviewer was impressed. Nobody can tell YOU what the best helmet is. Not a shop owner, not an influencer, and definitely not a shop-owning influencer. Why, because nobody has worn every single helmet.But provided you get the size that fits and you’ve the right shaped head, then it seems like the J-Cruise II is one of the quietest open face helmets out there. But having said that, noise perception is always going to be just that… perception. It’s what you think that matters. And in the case of the J-Cruise II the vast majority of owners we found say they’re more than happy with the noise levels on the move, and that it’s super quiet for an open face helmet. In addition to and as a result of producing technically innovative products for enthusiasts, Sena has come to be the Bluetooth communication supplier of choice for the industry’s leading motorcycle and helmet OEMs. Leveraging our longstanding design and development expertise, Sena has partnered with many other manufacturers to bring Bluetooth communication to a wide variety of brands and retailers. Sena’s products are offered worldwide through its global network of distributors, retailers and OEM partners.

So, here’s what the Shoei J-Cruise II is actually like – taken from the comments and opinions of riders around the web who actually own one. All in all then, the J-Cruise II does a good job of making a protective helmet; just not anywhere near as protective as a full face or the safest modulars. Helmet Noise (more about helmet noise) This refers to how far you can get from another intercom user and still communicate. Remember that the distance stated in marketing copy refers to the device’s range over perfectly flat ground. Shoei have made the sun visor a bit longer than the old J-Cruise too. That’s often welcome as there’s always a few folks saying their sun visor doesn’t drop down low enough (just like we found with the J-Cruise I).Weight is a strong point for most open face helmets, and despite having the extra weight of electronic gubbins, the Sena Savage is no exception. Most owners say it’s a lightweight helmet and the figures prove it: it weighs around 1.1Kg (2.4lbs) which is really light compared to most other types of helmet. White Savage with long peak fitted The Sena Savage on review here is an open-face helmet with a built-in Bluetooth intercom. I’ve been wearing it while riding several bikes, including the Kawasaki Vesys 1000 and Honda MSX125, but it’s best suited to custom, cruiser and street machines… Don’t worry about missing directions if you’ve got music playing. With a good helmet, you can prioritize GPS so it will automatically mute other devices while instructions are given. There’s even an inflatable donut supplied that you can rest the helmet in upside down while it’s on charge, even though you can easily get to the charging port when it’s stood upright.

The fact the helmet-mounted controls can’t be seen bothers some riders—especially those wearing gloves. Sound Quality Open-face (jet), full-face, adventure, modular (flip-front), and retro helmets; which is right for you? The original J-Cruise was very well received with hardly any areas of weakness reported. So now it’s on with that difficult follow up: to try and replace the J-Cruise with a helmet that’s even better than the original. At its most basic, Bluetooth is a low-frequency radio signal that allows a number of devices to be connected (paired). Early Bluetooth could only pair one device at a time. Now three is common, which means you can have your smartphone for music or calls, a GPS for directions, and an intercom to talk to others (a passenger riding pillion or other riders). Built-in FM radio is another common option. Entry-level Bluetooth helmets allow up to three people to communicate, though more is possible (see details below).

Helmet roll-off is a potential thing with all helmets – but a double-d ring fastener should be good for keeping it firmly on your head. Just make sure you’re diligent with fastening it – any strap’s only as effective as the piece of meat who’s fastening it up. Of course, you need to ensure you get the fitment right in the first place. With the J-Cruise II that means you need to have a medium oval shaped head – and if you’re between sizes, make sure you buy the size up as we’ve heard from owners who found their helmets to be too tight when they were on the cusp. It’s not their most technologically advanced shell construction – that’s their AIM+ shells. But it is a solid helmet shell material, evidenced by other AIM helmets scoring pretty well when SHARP tests them.