Review: Shoei Hornet DS helmet

[motorambler]

I figured I'd share my thoughts on this product. I have written a review here (http://motorambler.com/2010/01/15/review-shoei-hornet-ds-helmet), but for those of you not wanting to open another browser tab I'll copy/paste the review (without images) below. I'm not about to fix any formatting issues.

Feel free to ask any questions or leave your own impressions :)

Review: Shoei Hornet DS
2010 JANUARY 15
tags: airoh, airoh s4, arai, dual-sport helmet, dualsport helmet, helmet, hornet, hornet ds, hornet ds 2, hornet ds ii, review, shoei, xd, xd3
by motorambler

Manufacturer: Shoei

Product: Hornet DS

Bought From: Orca Bay Suzuki

When: August 2009

Overall Orca Bay Suzuki Shopping Experience: Recommended

Friendly and knowledgeable staff
Good product selection and prices
Willing to deal a little on price

We dual-sporters often find ourselves in a bit of a pickle when it comes time to choose a helmet. One the one hand, we need a helmet with a peak (a.k.a. visor) to blot out the sun, and a large eye-opening to accommodate goggles. On the other hand, we need the warmth and protection of a shield when we’re on the highway riding to our favourite spot.

Enter the Hornet.

Like its (few) competitors, the Hornet leads a triple life. Dual-sport duty requires nothing more than fastening the D-ring and you’re now the envy of all your mates. If the local motocross heroes won’t let you play in the sandbox, simply remove the shield and greet your new buddies. Lastly, if a Latte Grande is next on the menu, unscrew the peak and your superbike friends are none the wiser.

But that’s not all…

The build quality of the Hornet is on par with the rest of Shoei’s line, and by that I mean outstanding. The paint and clear coat are immaculately laid. The liner fits perfectly within the shell and all vent holes are void of any stray fabrics or other blockages. Speaking of vents, there are three intake systems on the Hornet:

In the chin: a shutter type vent directing air both forward towards the lower face and up along the vertical axis of the shield via ducts

In the brow: two dual-position holes directing air downwards over the face

In the peak: a large slot shaped intake directing air to the top and rear of the head

Exhaust is handled by two circular openings in the upper rear of the shell. Overall, the Hornet vents and seals very well for a multi purpose design.

Wind noise is also surprisingly absent, with only a hint of turbulence coming from the peak when turning your head at an angle. I was also pleasantly surprised to find that the peak does not create as much lift as I expected it to, regardless if I was on a fairing equipped bike or not. To be fair, the peak isn’t as long as one found on a traditional motocross helmet, making it slightly less effective at blocking out the sun.

Sizing is a non-issue if you follow Shoei’s sizing chart. Get yourself a seamstress tape or a very flexible tape measure and measure along the widest part of your head (just above the brow). It’s best to ask a friend to help you with this.

So, what’s not to like? Like everything else in life, the Hornet is not without a few quibbles. I suppose a real concern would be that neither the peak or the visor are equipped with a quick release mechanism, meaning a (large) coin is required to remove them, and there are (nylon) screws to strip or lose. This poses no issue for me because I don’t normally ask the Hornet to change hats very often. Heck, to be honest I’ve only taken the visor and peak off once to give the lid a good cleaning, but now I don’t even bother doing that (dirty just looks cooler). Got full size goggles? Forget it! While your mileage may vary, my goggles were a no-go so I replaced them with Spy Targa II’s. My last gripe is more of a personal issue than anything else, and I must emphasize this problem was only evident during the first few uses of the helmet. Because I shave not only my face but also my entire head, I found that the Hornet’s cheek pads would really irritate my skin if I put it on soon after shaving. I would routinely find myself pulling on the chin straps and opening the helmet as much as I could before putting it on or removing it.

The Good

exemplary build quality
flat out looks cool
multi purpose
quiet
does everything well

The Bad

peak and shield both lack quick release mechanism
peak could be a tad longer
small eye-opening requires the use of small(er) goggles

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

[bchunter]

Thanks for the review. This was one of the ones I read before I bought my helmet. Now I am just waiting for it to come in. I am stoked.

Thanks for taking the time to make up a review. It helps spend our hard earned $$ wisely, or as wise as a guy can be :P

[tomcycle]

I have this helmet as well

Very happy with it, although like all helmets with a visor, it fogs easily when riding off road and you work up a sweat. For true dual sport riding where you are doing road and off road the same day it is a good choice. I find this very comfortable for my large mellon

:tup::tup:

[Sabre]

Great review! :hb:

I've drooled over the Arai XD for several years, but my head simply won't fit one. If, like me, you have a head like the creature from Alien (you know, a bit elongated...perhaps mum had to squeeze a bit much years ago...), then you know the agony of having a tremendous pressure point on the forehead.

Since my Shoei road lid fits perfectly, I tried the Hornet. Perfect! It's all-day comfortable, nicely made, and seems to be just the ticket (a compromise!) for dual sport riding.

Now...what were Shoei thinking with that useless peak? I can't even see it while wearing the helmet. Doesn't seem like it does anything useful...YMMV.

BTW, a Respro Foggy will solve all your fogging problems. A special treat if, like me, you're cursed with eyeglasses.

[bchunter]

I ordered mine off the internet (none here to try on) and went with the sizing on the Shoei website. I just got it yesterday and it fits great. The fit and finish is of top quality compared to the other cheaper helmets that I have purchased in the past. I am looking forward to trying it out next week.

Thanks again for the review motorambler. I read it when I was in the process of deciding which helmet to buy without actually seeing or trying any on.

[bchunter]

Just an update on this helmet, I have been using it for 2 months. Today I went sledding and wore my old dirt helmet, an HJC, and man was I ever disappointed with it. It did not fit well, and did not have anywhere close to as much padding on the lower cheek and chin as the Hornet does.

I highly recommend the Shoei. I now know for a fact that spending some more $$ on this helmet is worth it in the quality that it offers.

[broxy]

Love mine! I tried the Arai, but it didn't fit my head well. It's too bad the peak isn't longer, but it's really only a factor late in the season when heading west. The downside to the longer peak is also the buffeting and vibrating. I do a ton of research before I buy stuff, and this was a very common complaint. A friend of mine took the peak right off his XD, he hated it so much.

I now have a Troy Lee Designs Blais jacket for the Leatt. Awesome jacket! That said, I really liked my Thor jacket.

http://b-rod.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Bike-Gear/Leatt-neck-brace-3/805700362_GEzsw-800x800-1.jpg

[VR Trooper]

Thanks for the review motorambler, and everyone else's input.
Waiting for my Hornet to arrive shortly.

[Howtzer Dog]

Does anyone run the "ICON VARIANT"? I tried one on at Rivercity in Kamloops. I'm waiting for a nice day so I can ride over there and go for a test run with it. My MX helmet sucks at any speed over 100Km.

[Old Phart]

I've also tried a couple of MX helmets for dual-sporting and find that at any decent speed they try to rip my head off. My HJC road helmet is comfortable but heavy and not so good with goggles. Goggles seem to be preferred off road cause they are easier to clean than a visor and, since they are closer to the eyes than a visor, they are easier to see through when wet and/or dirty. My present MX helmet (also an HJC) came with a visor that flipped up and down like on the Hornet. I removed it because it was hard to see through when it got dirty. Don't know what the solution is - let's hear some more ideas!

[Cowgirl]

I have a Fulmer dual sport and an Arai XD. The Fulmer is fine on the Wee which has a good windshield but impossible on the WR - way too much lift. The XD on the other hand never moves and there is no lift even when shoulder checking. It fits my head perfectly and the quality is excellent. I have an Icon street helmet which I don't like. For the price the Icon seems cheap and built of poor quality materials. It doesn't have the finish I would expect of a helmet in this price range.