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Riders GearHelmets, gloves, jackets, etc. You need to protect yourself from everything and anything. So what should you buy? Check out what others have to say. Riders Gear Forum sponsored by Sportbike Track Gear
Alright guys... it's time for me to buy a new lid. I've pretty much narrowed it down (I think) to a Suomy Spec-1R Extreme Bostrom or a Shark RSR2 Duhamel. To those of you that own either of the shells, what are your feelings? From what I can collect, the Shark may have a little less peripheral vision but has a thicker visor and is a bit better bang-for-the-buck. Any opinions?
vs.
My wife thinks they're both ugly... lol. I ride a blue 07 zx10 so I'm not worried about being matchy matchy... Open to other lid suggestions as well. Money isn't really a concern but I am looking for the best option.
I currently have a Suomy Spec-1R Extreme Gambler and I love it. Its a very light helmet with a great fit and finish. Coming from an RX-7 Corsair, this helmet is up to par. Graphics are unbelievable and the Alacantra lining is plush. Wind noise is a factor, although that comes hand and hand with ventilation. If you decide to go with the Spec-1R I recommend using some ear plugs if you don't already use them. Another issue others run into is the visor mechanism. If you tend to change visors often I suggest looking into a different helmet seeing as you need a screw driver to properly seal the visor. For myself, that isn't an issue seeing as I use a mirrored visor and I rarely ever right at night.
Also, I belive the head shape for the two models you listed are completely different. You might want to try them on before commiting your $500 or so.
do not buy anything without checking them out in person.
with that being said, once you see a Shark you will buy it. they are amazing helmets.
the quality, fit, finish, whatever is excellent. i have the Shark RSI which has a different visor, so i can't comment on the vision thing since mine is fine. i have never been able to try out a Suomy, but i know the liner is mine is super soft and feels great.
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MSF Grad: July '06
2006 Ninja 250R 12,150 miles- sold!
2005 SV650S 7,200 miles- sold!
2008 GSXR 600 not enough miles
I run the suomy extreme and i love the helmet, it fits a bit small so make sure to size up. Also, you dont need a screwdriver to remove the lense on this helmet. But its a pain in the ass to do regardless.
I run the suomy extreme and i love the helmet, it fits a bit small so make sure to size up. Also, you dont need a screwdriver to remove the lense on this helmet. But its a pain in the ass to do regardless.
That's a sweet looking Bostrom helmet, but then I like red and extravagant graphics.
I can tell you about the helmet having owned a Spec-1R now for better than a year.
Pros...
Great ventilation, the helmet moves lots of air.
Light weight, not quite carbon fiber helmet light, but definitely lithe.
Comfortable liner, it is very push and soft, plus you can remove it for cleaning.
Amazing graphics, as good as the pics look, they pale in comparison to seeing the lid in person. These helmets absolutely shimmer in the light and I can't tell you how many thumbs up and positive comments I've gotten.
Good faceshield, the anti-fog coating really works. Plus the shield is infinitely adjustable rather than having preset 'detents'. So you can just barely crack it open for example, to get some air in the rain without having the visor wide open.
Cons...
Changing shields is a bit of a PITA - mind you, I've done it and when you get the hang of it, the change process goes fairly quick. Like the video posted above shows, you need a screwdriver. Still, the shark mechanism is way, way easier. On the flip side, Suomy shields are less expensive than shark.
Noise, and I mean lots of it. This is the noisiest helmet I've ever owned and I've had Arai, AGV, and Bell. I oftentimes ride with earplugs so that makes it a non-issue. If you don't though, be prepared for some serious wind roar. The Spec-1R (and Extreme) appear to be a good 5-9 dB louder than quieter helmets like the Shoei RF-1000. I know 5-9 dB doesn't seem like much but the dB scale is logarithmic so, 5-9 dB equals way louder. If you value your hearing and like the helmet, wear earplugs, enough said...
Other details...
These run small by a good 1/2 size or so. I wear a small in almost all other helmets but use a medium in Suomy and that fits fairly snug.
I have a slightly oval shaped head and this helmet felts perfectly.
Overall: I'm very happy with mine. It is a very cool, sharp looking helmet with great ventilation and has been very durable. I've used it on the track at high speeds and it is very stable with not a hint of bobble. I've never owned a shark so I can't comment on their quality. They certainly seem very lightweight, plus the visors are very thick and well made. One thing I've noticed which I really didn't care for is that the eye opening on the Shark feels notably smaller than that on other helmets I've tried - including my Suomy. It may sound odd but I felt a bit claustrophobic (visually) while wearing the Shark for a good 30 minutes in a store the other day.
Hope this helps...
Last edited by Emma_Peel : 07-01-2008 at 04:23 PM.
I've had my RSR2 for about 1500 milies of riding. I've never had a Suomy to compare with. The only one I tried didn't fit me well.
Pros...
Great ventilation, but it's mostly over the top of the head. Still, it's light years ahead of the KBCs I had owned pereviously.
Dispite the great ventelation very quite. Still want plugs for long or very high speed rides and you can sometimes get some low frequency rumble from the big top intake.
Light weight, very light. I don't have numbers but I never have a tired neck.
Liner is somewhat rigid to facilitate air movement and wicking away sweat. It freaked me out when it was brand new but I didn't notice it after about 20 minutes.
Graphics are well made and applied. I have the Muggeridge with the gloss matte combination. Looks good and even with a few oopsies on my part hasn't been scuffed or nicked.
The faceshield is increidble. Clear, STRONG, and very quick and easy to change. Adjustable tension so you can set it to taste.
Cons...
Sheilds are easy to change but VERY expensive. To the tune of $70+ each for basic ones.
Could be more aerodynamicly neutral with your head turned. It only really matters when you're looking over your shoulder. On a track day you'd never notice it.
With those big air intakes sometimes bugs and small debris like sand can get through and get into the helmet.
Observations: Visibility is better than some helmets, worse than others. This is a track oriented lid so visibility is good up high but less so down low to increase strength and coverage around the jaw. I wear glasses and periphrial vision is better than they are.
The Shark is ECE certified instead of Snell. I like the ECE certification because it's based on more current research and requires ongoing batch testing of the helmets, not just a one off test case sent to a lab. The other lid that fit me well was the Arai Vector. The ECE rating, stronger visor, and finding the Muggeridge on close-out were the major factors in picking the Shark over the Arai.
Suomy is shutting down their US stores - Suomy USA Ceases Operations News Article // RoadracingWorld.com
I just purchased a Shark RSI myself, I liked the fit better than the Arai I tried on.
Suomy is still going to be distributed and sold in the USA. The article mentioned above actually states that as well as dealers continuing to service & sell the helmets.
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Suomy or Shark
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