With less integrated styling than the other modulars and unimpressive detailing and features, the Lazer Century received indifferent marks for appearance. The protruding chinbar is visibly separate from the IMAC composite shell and pivots on big, obvious aluminum pivot screws. The back features a large, lenticular reflective panel inset into the shell. Two squeeze-together buttons operate the plastic latching mechanism for the flip-up section and ensure that it can't be deployed accidentally, but it must be opened to don the helmet. The retention strap closes with a quick-release buckle, which is nicely padded and comfortable.
The shield is easy to operate but seals somewhat ineffectively. The stick-on seals around the eyeport look cheap and may eventually peel off, and the eyeport itself is smaller than others. The only vent is in the chinbar, but it is an effective defogger. The lack of a top vent or perhaps the fact that the Century extends farther down than most others (and has a chin dam) may be why two testers rated it as the quietest helmet here. The chinbar is heavily padded and fits closer to the wearer's mouth than most others. Modest, removable padding and a less-than-plush material made some users uncomfortable with the interior. The somewhat flimsy faceshield requires a coin or screwdriver to replace. (Lazer conveniently sells shields and other parts through its website.)
Overall, it got mixed reviews from wearers, ranging from A- to D, but it excelled in the protection area, with consistently strong results in all our lab tests. With street prices starting at $150, it is a great protection buy in a motorcycle helmet.
LAZER HELMETS
AGV/Lazer USA
3201 E. Mulberry Street, Suite D
Fort Collins, CO 80524
(970) 221-2630
LazerHelmets.com
This updated version of the popular Italian N100 retains the unremarkable styling but features a new, all-steel two-lever latching system at the sides of the chinbar. The system may be operated with both hands or just the left, but it does not appear vulnerable to accidental opening. The articulated face-section pivot system keeps the face section close to the front of the helmet, giving it a low profile when open. You won't need to lift the face section to put the helmet on or take it off, but the flimsy chin dam gets in the way.
Most testers were impressed by its appearance and smooth finish. The chin strap uses a ratcheting buckle, permitting quick fastening and adjustability but with a slight comfort penalty. The eyeport is large. The faceshield has no apparent positioning system but seems to stay put anyway. It can be changed without tools. Two intakes and an exhaust opening serve the useful top vent. The cat's eyes chinbar vents made effective shield defoggers.
Our Classic model ($245 retail, $190 street) and the multicolored Rapid have a removable and washable interior padding that snaps in place, making it easy to position properly, though it sometimes fell out as we slid the helmet off. Sizing tends to run large.
The Nolan is a classic example of why it's important to wear a helmet before you buy. Two of our editors found it very comfortable and continued to use the N100E after the test was done. However, one staffer was miserable in this helmet and gave it failing marks for comfort. Those who the helmet fit well gave it high marks, but the one low rating overall pulled the wearer's score down to a C+. The Nolan was one of the stronger protectors in our lab tests.
NOLAN HELMETS
Cima International
399 Wall Street, Unit L
IL 60139 Glendale Heights
(630) 690-3162
Nolan.it
Although somewhat big, heavy and bulky, the German-made Concept (from the firm that introduced the first modular motorcycle helmet under the BMW brand in 1978) provides a few unique features, including a small compartment on the right side for first-aid information and a retractable tinted shield that eliminates the need for sunglasses. The carbon-fiber shell features a spoiler on the back to reduce lift along with a barely effective top vent with an exit. The single large rocking chinbar vent was more useful, but not for defogging the faceshield.
The Schuberth has a "cracked open" or "city" setting that permits the shield to be opened just enough to provide some extra airflow. The depth required to accommodate the retracting tinted shield means that the helmet extends out at the top of the eyeport, which is wide and fairly tall. The face section has all-steel latches and opens with a single button on the left of the chinbar; it must be opened to don or doff the helmet. It may be quickly changed without tools, once you learn the trick.
The comfort padding is also removable and washable. A slightly awkward push-button buckle fastens the strap, which is plushly padded. It runs small, so plan on one size larger than you usually wear. Everyone was comfortable in the Schuberth even though it was somewhat noisy (projections like that first-aid-info pocket create wind noise), and it received a B- average wearer's score. Its performance in impact testing was unremarkable. Street prices run around $360.
SCHUBERTH HELMETS
Intersport Fashions West, Inc.
15602 Mosher Avenue
Tustin, CA 92780
(714) 258-2120
(888) 311-5399
Schuberth-USA.com
Shoei's modular entry offers the firm's excellent quick-change shield system (just deploy a lever on each side and pop the shield off) with a cam lever to unseal the shield for a bit more airflow. The face section's steel latching mechanism opens with a single control located on the outside center of the chinbar. It was slightly clumsy to operate with heavy gloves but seems unlikely to open unintentionally. It takes a bit of pressure to lift it to full open, but it closes and latches very smoothly. You can remove the helmet with the face section latched, but it is less awkward and painful just to open it. The face section is prominent, has large, unsightly pivot screws and is not integrated into the fiberglass shell, although the finish quality is excellent. A smallish brow vent offers little airflow and is slightly awkward to deploy because of its small control nubbin. The same sort of puny control operates the chinbar vent, which, with a large intake and elaborate four-point exhausts, is useful and effectively defogs the shield. There is also a small breath deflector. The eyeport is large, and the faceshield's optics, operation and seal are excellent.
The helmet fastens easily with D-rings, and a somewhat awkward clip on the strap's end can be used to prevent the strap from flapping. The interior is as nice as any here. Noise levels and fit comfort were above average for most riders, and one commented about its weight. It got a B average rating. With heavy force, the Syncrotec rolled off the head of our roll-off-prone rider, but it didn't roll off the standard headform in lab testing. It stood out in our protection-performance testing, with solid impact scores all around. Street prices run under $370.
SHOEI HELMETS
Shoei Helmet Corp.
3002 Dow, Suite 128
Tustin, CA 92780
(714) 730-0941
Shoei-Helmets.com
Made in Taiwan, the Zeus ZS-508, with street prices under $90, is a reasonable no-frills choice for riders looking for flip-face function at an accessible price. The finish of the ABS shell had notable rough spots around the small, cheap, loose vents on the top and chin, and it had obvious chinstrap rivets. The vents were only minimally effective and virtually unusable with heavy gloves. However, it got compliments for its integrated appearance, with the face section fitting flush with the shell. The retaining strap fastens with D-rings and has a simple elastic band to prevent strap flapping. With no padding, it dug into riders' chins more than other retaining straps did. The face-section latch, operated by a single button inside the chinbar, was not very smooth and required two hands to close. However the helmet could be put on or removed with the face section latched.
The face section stuck out more than most when open. The faceshield operated easily, sealed well and stayed put. You need to remove two screws to change it. With no chin dam and a modest neck roll, riders found it noisier than average for these helmets, but the comfort rated a surprising B- average. Although the interior was a bit sparse and padding was skimpy, the fit was average-to-good for our testers. The availability of an XXXL will be a plus for large noggins. It gets a low protective score because it could be rolled off the heads of two testers and came close on the third if opened. It also performed poorly on our chinbar-impact test, transferring a lot of energy, significantly more than any of the others because it has virtually no padding in the chinbar. Testers gave it an overall score of C-.
ZEUS HELMETS
Tri-R Distributing
8910 W. 192nd Street, Suite G
Mokena, IL 60448
(708) 478-2329
(800) 747-6457
HEAD PROTECTION RESEARCH LABORATORY
6409 Alondra Boulevard
Paramount, CA 90723
(562) 529-3295
HPRL.org
SNELL MEMORIAL FOUNDATION
3628 Madison Avenue, Suite 11
North Highlands, CA 95660
(916) 331-5073, (888) SNELL99
SMF.org