Have a quick modular helmet comparison from a man with a silly shaped head.
Since I couldn't find any helmets nearby (within 150km) that would fit, I ordered couple helmets that I couldn't find any info or reviews on, to test out.
Well, any fitting helmets might be a bit of an overstatement, but full face helmets are too claustrophobic to my taste, so I haven't tried too many of those. On the expensive end, a flip up Shoei seemed to fit, but I was rather looking for either another modular helmet, to replace my Nolan N43 Air, or an adventure type helmet. Those types and a long oval head seems to be almost an impossible combo, so I was rather surprised that both helmets I ordered fit, up to a degree at least. And since there doesn't seem to much info about either of those I thought I'll write something up.
I'll start with Airoh Executive. At around 240eur, so within the normal budget price range. I got it in the subtle hi-vis orange colour on the basis that if I'll end up owning two quite similar modular helmets, I might as well add some color to the other one.
While numbers tell the weight of it should be quite close to my Nolan, it does feel really light, which it of course is at just under 1.5kg. It's still a solid build though, having less flex with chin guard on and a bit more without it, comparing to Nolan.
And then, the honest surprise, IXS HX-145. Not much to complain with a 130eur price tag. If anything, I was expecting very little from it because of that. It's even more jack of all trades helmet, as it's still a modular helmet as well, but has adventure helmet features as well.
While it is heaviest of these three, I still wouldn't call it heavy as such. It's new enough for even the web shop I bought it from to have any info about it. But it was interesting and cheap enough to try and it sure didn't disappoint (apart from not fitting my head shape well enough). :lol:
Few variations of the whole group
Visors open
Sun shade comparison. Nolan is clearly the worst here with Airoh having the best setup
And since we're talking modular, without chin guards
Like Nolan, IXS looks ridiculously large on my head, as the outer shell is quite round and I need at least an L-size helmet to fit, depending on brand. Airoh has more oval shaped outer shell as well, so it actually looks like it could be about the right size..
All three have quite thin and open lining, compared to some full face or flip up helmets I've tried and none of them have any kind of chin curtain to control noise from below the helmet.
Nolan
IXS
Airoh
Comparing chin guards, there are clearly different takes on the idea between these three
While Nolans take is probably the best compromise with the ease of installing and removing by feel, release button placement etc, I really like how it's done on the IXS as well. Release buttons are on the chin guard itself and are very easy to find and use and the dual layer locking guides work excellently. Airoh on the other hand is a bit fiddly, with release buttons being very small, and on the side of the helmet. So you need to pull those small buttons backwards, while simultaneously pulling the guard off. It is still usable though, but worst in this comparison.
Close up of the IXS lock and guide mechanism
And while very simple, the way it's done on Airoh and Nolan, latter pictured here
Back to the main issue of shape and fit. Nolan is a sixe XL iirc, while both Airoh and IXS are size L. And while my Nolan sort of fits, it's slightly loose from sides and if I wear it for several long days my forehead starts to bruise up. And there's no chance I can wear a hood of any kind (or longer hair).
Width of the IXS is good, but it's too short as expected. Quite unfortunate, because I liked everything else about it. Surprisingly Airoh actually fit me, even if that could have slightly longer interior as well, still. But I can fit a hood there and there's no clear pressure points at least, as there usually tends to be with almost every helmet. And since I had them, I thought I'll do a quick side by side test how they fare with my bike, which would be a half faired bike that basically leaves helmet above any (or most) wind deflection.
And good news just kept on coming for the IXS. With shield up (how I like to ride whenever possible) it was the most quiet and stable helmet, with least wind swirls on the eyes. Closing the shield didn't change any of that. Up to motorway speeds it was still the most quiet out of these three and despite the sun visor very stable. Only when looking straight ahead though, it does catch wind at speed when looking to the sides.
Airoh didn't do too well in comparison, to be honest. At low speeds with shield up something made an irritating whistling noise. Nothing loud, just irritating. And at speed it was probably the noisiest when measured in dB. But frequency and the type of noise is much less irritating than what Nolan makes, which should make it easier to control.
TLDR sum up then.
-IXS HX 145 would be a great deal even with twice the price, I feel. Needs slightly less oval head than mine though.
-Airoh Executive is a better fit for me than my Nolan and I think it will stay. And dispite small technical details it feels like a solid build and looks less stupid on my head due to having more oval shell.
-Nolan N43 Air that I've had for few years now still works great as a well ventilated helmet that feels like an open helmet even with the chin guard on. But not perfect fit shape-wise to wear for longer periods.
