Shoei XR1100

[quickbuck]

Okay,
Report of helmet EARLY:

Rode down to Waikanae with my old XR800, to meet up with my brand spanking new XR1100.... Long story as to why it was in Waikanae, but that is for another time... Or not!

Anyhow, after opening the box, and having a play, I put it on to head back home.
Light? Yes. Same weight as the XR800, but really feels lighter.. Better C of G I would say.
Vision... Much better, and that is more than just a clean visor!
Double D rings.. Will take a while to get used to them again.... But better than the clip that I only adjusted when it got really slack!!! Yes, I'm slack!

Ventilation Great....

BUT. The NOISE! I realise there has to be noise with ventilation, but heck this whistles more than an Avery full of cockatoos!

I take back what I said earlier about it being the bike causing it... It isn't.

There is comfort in the fact that the helmet doesn't blow around as much due to the wind tunnel testing.
But obviously the wind tunnel dummy didn't have ears!

Oh well, will have to get used to ear plugs... Should have been wearing them anyway.

One thing I really love... The Visor system. The little black thing doubles as a lock.
It used to just keep it ajar on the XR800, but now locks too.... Wonderful.
The ratchet seems lighter, so I'm guessing there is a very good reason for the lock.

Over all, I think it is an improvement on the XR800 at least... And it was less expencive from memory. XR800 was $750 on special back in 2001.

[Pussy]

Agree with quickbuck re the XR800... was the quietest Shoei I've had, too.
Just recently got an XR1000 run out to replace my six year old X-Spirit..... earplugs are a must now!

[quickbuck]

Agree with quickbuck re the XR800... was the quietest Shoei I've had, too.

I guess we have been spoilt then......
Oh well,
A nice day out...
New rubber both ends (400 miles on the rear, and 130 miles on the front.. for you nanas who say be careful!), Near new pads on the front....
New helmet.... Time to find the twisties and get rid of the Metezler Elephant on the edges

[steve_t]

Quickbuck, have you tried adjusting the visor? A lot of early reports said there was loud whistling coming from the visor and a quick tweek to the ratchet system was all that was required to sort it out. I'm still looking at getting an 1100 so interested to see if you can reduce the wind noise
Cheers. Hope u showed them twisties what's what

[quickbuck]

Quickbuck, have you tried adjusting the visor? A lot of early reports said there was loud whistling coming from the visor and a quick tweek to the ratchet system was all that was required to sort it out. I'm still looking at getting an 1100 so interested to see if you can reduce the wind noise
Cheers. Hope u showed them twisties what's what

Will have a look at adjusting the (now apparently automatic) visor system, and see if that makes a difference.

Out for another ride today.. only about 35 k, but it seems I'm getting used to the noise... OR, it that I'm going deaf?? I didn't put plugs in.

Yes, I really gave it to the twisties.... LOVE the new tyres!

[Grumpy]

I've ridden with Arai's for around 12 or so years now and think they are the bees knees but the visors are really crap. They never seal properly and changing them makes me break out in a cold sweat thinking I might break that side cover thingy. Time for a new helmet so I thought I'd give the XR1100 a go.

Not bad. Nearly as comfy as the Arai but definately as noisy but then I've always used earplugs on a long ride so that isn't really an issue. Love the visor. I never realised just how bad the Arai one was until I tried this one. The other thing I noticed was the stability in the wind. My bike doesn't have alot in wind protection so buffeting is a fact of life on a ride but the XR1100 is much easier on the neck. All in all, a good buy.

[quickbuck]

The other thing I noticed was the stability in the wind. My bike doesn't have alot in wind protection so buffeting is a fact of life on a ride but the XR1100 is much easier on the neck. All in all, a good buy.

At the end of the day, this too would reduce rider fatigue... and that is a good thing.

I'm glad you like the new lid

[NZsarge]

I've ridden with Arai's for around 12 or so years now and think they are the bees knees but the visors are really crap. They never seal properly and changing them makes me break out in a cold sweat thinking I might break that side cover thingy. Time for a new helmet so I thought I'd give the XR1100 a go.
Interesting, i've had a couple of different models of Arai now (RX7 GP and a Chaser) and not had any issues with the visors what so ever, changing them is easy as once you get your head around how to do it, there are plenty of videos on YouTube for instruction

Not bad. Nearly as comfy as the Arai but definately as noisy but then I've always used earplugs on a long ride so that isn't really an issue. Love the visor. I never realised just how bad the Arai one was until I tried this one. The other thing I noticed was the stability in the wind. My bike doesn't have alot in wind protection so buffeting is a fact of life on a ride but the XR1100 is much easier on the neck. All in all, a good buy.

Interesting comment about the buffeting, I agree this might be an area where the Arai is not the best out there, due to unfortunate issues i'm in the market for a new helmet, i'll probably stick with the RX7 GP but there is a new Arai coming out soon which is placed just below the GP which is more road orientated but has 95% of the GP's features. The other Helmet i'd like a closer look at is the new X12 Shoei but the graphic I really like they don't have in stock at the moment.

[Grumpy]

Don't get me wrong. The RX7 is a great lid. I could wear mine all day with no discomfort whatsoever. My issues with the visor are more to do with the seal or lack of it. I guess I got used to it in the end but when I took the Shoei for a test ride it really bought it home. I had the same issues with both my Arai's.

I have to admit the hefty price tag is another reason why a new RX7 wasn't on my shopping list.

[vifferman]

Whelp, I love my XR1000, and its paintwork conicidentally matches the bikes perfectly for colour. However (but!) I apparently bought it in July 2007 or thereabouts on specail at Motomail, and having commuted with it most days for that time, it's tired. the strap covers (which Whites don't stock) are worn and ripped, and the vinyl round the bottom is flaking. It also stinks of perspiration and zorst fumes, and apparently the only way to clean it is to immerse the whole lid in warm soapy water. So... working practically next door to Motomail, I went shopping for a new lid. Most of the 2012 models were on display, but the one I wanted wasn't in stock, and wouldn't be until mid-January, and even then, they couldn't promise that either of the two on order weren't already assigned to customers. Bummer...
So.... last week I bought an XR1100 Bradley, for $799, plus some extra shekeldollars for a dark-tinted visor. The paintwork freaks my wife out, because the stylised Union Jack on it looks like it has a white coffin with a cross on the top of the helmet. I pointed out that I couldn't see it anyway, so it didn't matter, and the extra red and white on the helmet makes it stand out more than the mostly blue'n'black of the XR1000.


Despite being offered a test ride before I bought it (only the second time ever this has happened in 38 years of motorcyling!) - which I declined - this morning was the first road test.
First impression (apart from the new helmet snugness and new helmet plasticky smell) was it seems to be missing the "flick the lever to open the visor a crack" of the XR1000. Leastways, it does something but there isn't a small visible gap at the bottom, so maybe it just pops the visor off the seal. Cetainly, once I got up to sub-warpspeed, it started to whistle like air was coming in, butd locking the visor killed that. Interestingly though, despite the visor being locked closed, ventilation was moar betterer, with the chin vent open. The latter now has three positions: closed, open-a-crack, and open. There are now four rear zorst vents, and these do an admirable job of pulling air through the shell of the helmet via the venturi effect.
Secondly, it's differently noisy to the XR1000 - less wind rustle, but sort of a low booming noise. Now, the XR1000 has less space around the chinbar, and mine has been fitted with a chin curtain (which comes standard in the box with the XR1100), so this is understandable.
Another reason for more 'boominess' may be that the XR1100 now seems to be designed to allow for intercom systems (and there's some conjecture on teh interwebz that maybe Shoei are venturing into this arena). There are now perfectly formed earcups in the appropriate positions, so rather than having padding up around your earholes, there are now earhole earholes. This may allow some external noise to filter in.
The small rear spoiler on the XR1000 has now morphed into a boiRacr one, extending out at the bottom of the rear of the helmet shell by nearly 20mm, to aid stability at warpspeed. Coupled with a redesigned shell shape, this should be a boon for racers, but whether it makes a significant difference for riding at legal speeds is unlikely. The tacked-on plastic splier for the rear vents on the XR100 has now become a moulded-in feature of the XR1100.
The new model feels very light, but has actually put on some weight (muscle?), to the tune of about 120-135g, depending on the shell size. Part of this may be due to the New! Improved!! visor mechanism, which uses gears'n'springs'n'magic to pull the visor tight onto the rubber seal. The rest is due to added material to aid it in meeting the rigorous Snell Foundation standards
The XR1100 is more of a 'premium' helmet than the XR1000: it has pinlock visors as standard, fully removable (and washable [and replacable]) lining, and just reeks of plastic quality. I've already checked, and unless I fall on my noggin (which I've done only once since 1973, and that was at a near standstill), I should be able to keep this helmet longer than 5-and-a-bit years, as Shoei keep spares for 10 years, so I can replace the lining and strap covers in a few years time.

NekMinnit: Fitting the Sena SMH10 Bluetooth Intercom, and using it with the SM10 Bluetooth Stereo Transmitter. Stay tuned...

[vifferman]

My ideal was to buy a system that would enable the vifferbabe and I to communicate while riding, and to also listen to music if we so desired. Another useful option would be to be able to take hands-free phone calls, although because we aren't exactly social animals, this wasn't hugely important. Complicating things was the fact that we have two different helmets: my XR1100, and the vifferbabe's very basic Raid, which has non-removable padding, and no recesses for speakers. Further lack of flexibility was caused by Sena not selling a system that would accomodate various fitments. Overseas (yonder), one can buy the SMH10 with the bluetooth units and either the 'normal' speakers + boom microphone fitted to the base unit, or bluetooth units with the plug-in mikes (boom or wired), plus a socket for headphones. Here only the first kit is available, with various single options for the base unit. Ideally (and user / potential user demand may see this introduced soon) would be a system where the base plate has only sockets fitted, and you buy whatever options of microphone and speakers or earplugs you want to fit to it, either Sena or aftermarket.
Even more complicating is that I find decision-making hard, and didn't want to consult the pillion about this because it would likely be an emotional rather than rational discussion. Soap, I ordered a Sena SMH10 twin-pack (with the boom mike / speakers), two single base units (for plug-in earbuds, and with two microphone options), and an SM10 (for dual stream bluetooth stereo transmission). Plenty of redundancy, and probably not the most sensible overall buy from an economic point of view. It means that at least one (possibly two) base unit with the boom mike and speakers may ultimately be unused, or maybe one of the other base units. Either way, some parts and money are wasted. I also had in mind that I would try the boom + speakers + noise-attenuating earplugs option, and swap to wired microphone + earbuds if that didn't work. Ideally I wanted to be able to put my helmet on and take it off with minimum drama, as I commute twice daily. I also had in mind that maybe the vifferbabe would decide she'd like a more betterer helmet, so we could buy another XR1100 and fit both with the same setup, so needed some flexible options.

I spent a good deal of time fondling all the bits, reading the literature, re-reading the reviews on Webbikeworld. I was amazed at how small the units were, and at the high quality (which I guess you'd expect, given the price they sell for here!). Then much monkeying around with the mounting brackets was done, to see whether they would even fit.
There are two fitting options:

• A plastic base bracket, which is thin plastic, rather flimsy, and which has a very thin adhesive strip. Allen bolts are screwed through this into the base unit mounting plate.
  Several users and testers had said the thin plastic bracket is was prone to coming adrift.
• A metal clamp piece with a rubber backing, that is wriggled in between the helmet shell and the EPS padding. This is then fastened with the allen screws to the base unit plate (which also has a rubber pad), clamping the helmet shell between the two parts. I thought it may be too thick, and had toyed with using one of the spare fittings, removing the rubber pad to make it thinner, then grinding the metal down to make it thinner still.

The fitting looked problematic for the above reasons, and because the robust metal bracket plates were not thin, but the crack between shell and liners was. Also, these units are desinged to go on the left side of a helmet, which means potential interference with the Shoei visor locking / cracking open lever.
Because the XR1100 has a rather thick rubber trim at the bottom, I had doubts that the first plastic bracket would sit far enough out to clear this. I was also not completely happy about the strength of it. Neither option was looking great, plus I had visions of being able to pop the units on and off the helmets easily, without fussing with the wires, clamps, etc. So, I'd ordered some 3M Dual-Lock, with the idea of potentially being able to simply pop them on and off the helmets with minimum fuss. The idea was this could go on either bracket, if I removed rubber pads, or replaced the thin adhesive strip on the plastic bracket.
As it turned out, the Dual Lock was a no-show [turned up Monday morning] so I took a deep breath, and had a go at using the metal brackets (Sena's preferred mounting option).

[Maha]

Was tha you in Motomail on Saturday?...Anne bought the same model helmet, wasn't looking to spend that much, but what a stunning helmet.
I got me Urban Camos though...

[vifferman]

Was tha you in Motomail on Saturday?...Anne bought the same model helmet, wasn't looking to spend that much, but what a stunning helmet.
I got me Urban Camos though...

No, I bought it on Wednesday or Thursday the previous week. I now wish I'd bought the Skeet in green; I wanted it in blue, but they're not turning up until mid January, and may be already spoken for. I like the one I've got, but the missus reckons it's got a coffin on the top! I told her I can't see it, but she don't like it, nosirreee...

[Jezxa]

I don't like my XR1100. I wear it because it seems to be the only thing that actually fits me properly but compared to my Shark RSX its very noisy and the visor system is inferior.
Its quite a noisy helmet and I find it whistles like a mother at anything over 80ish kmh. The visor fogs up a lot in colder weather but in its defense I haven't used a pinlock insert yet.
My next helmet will definitively be another Shark if I can find one that fits my oval head-shape. The Speed-R looks very nice but if it doesn't fit it I could maybe try a different Shoei like the X-spirit 2 but $1100+ seems a bit excessive for a helmet.

[Maha]

I don't like my XR1100. I wear it because it seems to be the only thing that actually fits me properly but compared to my Shark RSX its very noisy and the visor system is inferior.
Its quite a noisy helmet and I find it whistles like a mother at anything over 80ish kmh. The visor fogs up a lot in colder weather but in its defense I haven't used a pinlock insert yet.
My next helmet will definitively be another Shark if I can find one that fits my oval head-shape. The Speed-R looks very nice but if it doesn't fit it I could maybe try a different Shoei like the X-spirit 2 but $1100+ seems a bit excessive for a helmet.

It comes with a pinlock insert...salesman put it for Anne at the counter.