Mr. Fillingham- As you point out, using good sense is the most important riding skill, and good safety gear is not to be left out of the equation. I also like to eat blueberries each day, as I have heard that they are full of anti-accidents.
Like we used to say in the RCAF... You have Bold pilots and you have Old Pilots... You don’t have many Old Bold Pilots... Using your brain and common sense is the answer for survival.... Protection gear is never the only answer for safety. 👍 Will seriously consider the RE open face helmet when time comes! Thank you Uncle Stu.
I couldn't agree more with the vast majority of what you say in your videos. My first line of defence in just under forty years of riding has always been removing as many distractions as possible before riding and giving my senses as much chance as possible to pick up risks as early as possible...
I can agree on this! Started riding again after 25 years, and I first got myself a regular full face helmet, but it just didn't feel safe with the amount of headmovement I had to do to see anything, and how little I could actually see of my peripheral vision and the road close infront of my bike.. . I still have a closed helmet, but a retro style with a huge visor so that I can actually see out of it. Feels a lot safer now, and gives me a better chance of avoiding dangers, or dangerous situations.
Great video Stuart and I couldn’t agree more regarding the use of ‘Grey Matter’ as our prime source of personal protection, far to many people disconnect their brains as soon as they swing a leg over, putting themselves and others at risk and giving all motorcyclists a bad name. Have a great weekend 👍
Super video again. I have been riding for a million years and open face is my choice. As stated, better peripheral vision, increased awareness of road conditions/nearby traffic and improved riding confidence. The feeling of the wind on the face, clearer sounds and better all round vision adds so much. I do have a full face option which is gathering dust, always feels too insulated from traffic/road information, Liam
Great review as always Stuart. I've always used a full faced helmet from when I first started riding. My reasoning wasn't for 'safety' but instead it was for comfort. I just felt more comfortable with a full faced helmet, especially when I was racing dirt bikes. But with that said, I bought one of the RE open faced helmets and I love it! To add to what you said, the difference in visibility and feeling connected is amazing. With a full faced helmet I feel secured, but kind of disconnected. I'm not sure how to explain it and to each their own, and I'll still use both depending on how I feel, but I love my open faced RE helmet.
Great review, and outstanding opening 4 minutes. As my long passed father used to say, "the world sadly lacks common sense and integrity." the former seems to be spreading like a virus (can I say that) Keep them coming please.
Thanks for a good walkthrough on the helmet. I got the orange crush helmet for my RE INT 650 - orange crush. I am very happy about it. The button on the strap in the back of the helmet is somehow loose and noisy when riding - but there is an easy solution to that very minor problem. You really got value for your money with this helmet - or Royal Enfield in general.
I’m glad we have a choice of gear. I started riding 3 years ago, wearing an open face helmet. Within a few weeks, a stone got kicked up by the car in front and hit the rim of the helmet just above my eye. That got me thinking, and I bought a different open face helmet with a clear front visor. This style suits my bike, my riding and my personal comfort. For 90 quid, this looks pretty good. Like the flip up visor too - wouldn’t have a helmet without one now.
I got one same colour as my battle ship green classic tribute. Had it some weeks. I can keep my glasses on when putting it on or removing it. There are press studs underneath the visor. I removed it as it had a draught from above that irritated my eyes. I use vintage style goggles that fit over glasses, really looks and feels great. The padding does not stop you hearing well and there is room for speakers if you want. I ordered a medium, same as mu full face helmets and it fits like durex, very comfy. Best open face ive bought and I have bought some. Great review stu.
Namaste from India, I really liked your video, especially the part about using the grey matter between our ears😉. I love your appreciation for Royal Enfield motorcycles and easily resonate with your idea of owning one, as I own a RE Thunderbird 500. Keep riding 😎👍🏻
Another honest review, there's not many reviews on open face helmets. And everything I've ever bought that you have received has been quality and of top shelf components. So when it's a bit brighter I know where to shop.
I can attest to helmets vs accidents, I had a man pull out in front of me, I hit him in the tail light area, and I was launched off the bike. I slide about 10 feet, and the only thing that didn't hit the ground...........was the helmet.........great video as always.
All my helmets, from 1974 onwards have been full face. Got a new HJC cheap as a black Friday deal and was a bit dubious at first as it was quite a lot cheaper that I´ve been used to paying over the years. But done soon a 1000 km with it and am both impressed and happy with how good the fit is, and the quality is also reasonable. Always a nuisance to find a good one with enough room for specs, this one is great in that aspect, too. And the main reason (besides the good price) that I bought it. So there are more reasonably priced but still aduquate helmets out there in the market than it used to be. The one you are reviewing looks very nice, if I go ahead and buy me an RE (which I´ve thought about a lot lately) I can see myself using a helmet like that with that bike. Nice review, as I´ve come to expect from you. Good luck in the 2021 season!
Thanks for this Uncle Stu, just ordered the Matt red no visor on offer for £67.50 at the moment in readiness for my 350 Classic arriving next spring. Your video sealed the deal as it reassured me on the quality and also proved me with the size info I needed which the RE shop site didn’t.
Great points again fella. Love my open face when I want to disconnect from everything, no music, phone or sat nav. And my favourite saying for riding, ride to avoid the slide Keep it rubber side down
Great video 👌🏻I own the same model helmets myself one in matte black and one matte green....the cost is much cheaper(£30) in India though...they are pretty good quality ....and me being a Cranio Maxillo Facial Surgeon myself...I ride an Interceptor 650 too🍻
I would wear an open face helmet for running around locally on my 155. Not for giving it a bit on the mighty 390. Caberg helmets all have the same fastening system. I have a full face and an open face from Caberg. The best-fitting helmets I have ever worn. This RE offering looks fine to me, Stuart. I had a bubble visor in the early 70s. I am making a point of not knowingly buying anything Chinese, certainly motorbikes etc.
A bit about what to do with your old helmet would be good. The only suggestion I have is to give it to your local fire and rescue department who can use it to train recruits how to remove a helmet from an injured motorcyclist.
Hi Stu,just got back from my first ride with a new RE helmet and visor as per your review.Its everything you said,comfortable,good for spectacle wearers and the visor does an excellent job of blocking the wind.Thank you so much,you’re costing me a fortune,but it’s money well spent.
The trouble with common sense is its not very common , you are exactly right about the first line of defense , it's probably the reason I've never had my face ripped off whilst riding with an open face helmet and I've been doing that for 30 odd years , in that 30 years I've come off once ( diesel on a round about ) and its usually your arms and legs that get it first before your head or face . That looks like a good helmet for the price and I like the bubble visor , good review, helmets should be reviewed more imho .
I have always used an open face helmet for 65 years. Accidents just don't happen they are caused. Avoid the cause and you save having an accident. I use an open face helmet as it gives me a very good peripheral vision that goes a long way to avoiding accidents. Good frontal vision avoids frontal accident as good reaction time can save the day all helmets meet this criterion. Vehicles closing in from the side need to be seen early as often the car driver hasn't seen you and closes in on you. An early vision of this happening gives you more time to react. I have tried Full face helmets but they have that closed vision like being in a car. I like the open-air wide vision feel.
Hi Stuart - We are having a terrible year in Queensland with motorcycle fatalities. Nearly 50% of the road toll this year! And a lot of single rider accidents. A lot not using their skills nor riding to the conditions! So your greatest protection is attitude not safety gear! Cheers Ian
Hi Stuart Thanks again for the video I’m off to work so haven’t watched it all yet but have watched the first one , I recently recovered from open heart surgery due to a birth defect in a valve and motorcycling has been massively therapeutic from those first vulnerable steps back on the bike to fitness again . I have thought long and hard about safety but if we give up the things we care about no point in getting fixed anyway ,I wear an open faced helmet and feel that the benefits of situational awareness etc and lack of claustrophobia outweigh the risk plus I like the oxygen . My daughter is a paramedic as is her fiancée and they have no strong leaning either way but I showed them the first video and they agreed on the point made re access to the airway and vomiting into a full face helmet so personal choice is the key I think if you are comfortable you will be less distracted Ps just bought my first R E Thanks again for the effort you put in
Great review, Stuart! Sweet looking helmet! I have their Royal Enfield riding jacket and as with this helmet, it is a great value. Looks nice and fits nicely, with all the protection you could want!
Cheers Stuart for pointing out the RE open face strengths and weaknesses, strengths it appears to have many. I'm encouraged by the bubble visor, as it looks like it has a good amount of space and distance between the screen , mouth and eyes, ( useful for shades , if worn and mics if needed but also the visor not steaming up so quickly on those fresh mornings)
Splendid review Stuart . Im thinking of trying out an open face . My only objection to having one in the past was not a safety issue but keeping me face warm when it goes under 5c , but thats what scarfs are for yeah . Wonderful review .
Nice review Stu. Always good to know about a classically stylish and economical helmet that meets government safety standards. Will definitely take a look at the RE line for my next helmet purchase. Thank you!
The gray matter and how much you use is most important by far.Maybe Royal Enfield took that into consideration when they omitted the blue tooth option.Really enjoy your videos.
Really nice job! I am wondering whether or not you are able to comment (or perhaps did, and I missed it) on the shape of this helmet? Most helmets are shaped intermediate oval, while a few are more round oval, and a few are long oval. Without a round oval shape I get pressure, "hot spots" and headaches at the temples. I have some inquiries out to vendors, but so far no answers. Could you possible measure the inside of yours and see how symmetrical it is front to back and side to side? Thanks! I always enjoy your videos and find them chock-full of common sense, which is less common nowadays!
Great review with the usual large portion of good, old fashioned common sense. I have observed that common sense is a commodity that is in very short supply these days.
Interesting commentary regarding peripheral vision...open face v full face. I do wear a full face however have had a couple of incidents. Firstly I was waiting at lights and a car reversed out from the right straight across the road, assuming the car behind had given them space - well the first I knew was lying on the ground bemused and just aware I had been hit. Another incident on the motorway behind a slow moving vehicle and waiting to exit with another vehicle close behind when a van (yes it was white) decided to cut in - luckily I did manage just to see him in time and had the hard shoulder to escape to. Having a go with the RE open face as a spare lid to compare.
Super review! I was just wondering where I left my brain, but now that's plugged back in, I could be tempted by one of those...for when I finally get on two wheels 🙄 Funny though, waaaay back when I was first thinking about getting into biking, loads of people said, 'don't get an open face helmet, because'...well you know the rest. Nice to see that common sense is still in use, even if it is a dying art. Cheers Stu.
35 years of riding with both full face and open face. The only advantage a full face helmet has over an open face helmet is weather protection. I find them to be warmer in the stupidly cold weather that we occasionally have here in The Netherlands. Give me an open face helmet with a visor for 80% of the year and a full face for the other 20%!
Great vid, as always Stuart. Thank you. A thought for a topic as a follow on from the Full Fillingham.... Post Wash Lubrication.. where, how and with what (if you’ve already covered this in a previous video, then I apologise). Right... off to the Royal Enfield website 😊👍
I truly believe helmet choice and even use of one should be up to the rider. Myself I choose to wear a helmet even though I have the freedom in Arkansas not to wear one at all, currently I switch back and forth between a open face, a modular, and full face. The later two because I have adapted them for use as helmet cams. This helmet you reviewed seems interesting because of the back strap and the included visor. Currently I use a Schuberth modular, full face Biltwell Lane Splinter, and an open face Biltwell Bonanza. I tried a Bell 500 and it's fit in my size put too much pressure on temples and caused me to have headaches, the next size up was too loose of a fit.
A slight quibble uncle Stu, IMO maintaining your motorcycle would be the 1st line of defence followed by riding skills, then ABS, TC etc. & then as you say last but not least helmet, leathers, gloves etc. if your brakes fail say from bad maintenance it's game over. Take care another good video.
Hi Stuart, I actually bought one of these helmets shortly after your video came out. I was in the market for an open faced helmet to use on my Classic 500 and I homed in on this helmet. Your review certainly helped me with my decision. There are a couple of things that I’d like to raise though: The first is, despite being still advertised at the time as a leather edged helmet, when it arrived it had a rubber edging to it. I contacted the seller and raised the issue, to be told that this was the new design and the leather edge is no longer available. I was offered a full refund, however, although disappointed, it wasn’t a deal breaker, so I kept the helmet. Even after two years of ownership, I’m still very pleased with it, apart from one aspect, I can’t for the life of me find a replacement visor. It’s a long shot, but I wonder if you have any idea why nobody seems to have or have had them? Regards, Mark.
Sir I have a question if you may:- I'm apprehensive about the aerodynamics of this or similar helmets. Does it cause more wind pressure/backward force while riding in comparison to a closed face one?
Hi in my opinion no not at all, I only use the helmet with the bubble visor so I can’t comment on how it would feel without the visor in place, I also have a full face Arai helmet and I can’t tell any difference in the wind pressure between the two, hope this helps.👍🏻
Back in the day when I was 19 and riding my 1971 Bonneville , I wore an open face Captain America helmet and a pair of imitation Ray Ban Aviators for eye protection. Oh how youth is wasted on the young . And gloves? What were those? That combination worked ok as I never had an accident on that bike for the 8,000 miles that I owned it. Now it is open face on my Harley and a full face on my RE Continental GT 650 .and gloves and jackets and all the rest. Ride the way you like and ride often.
Whilst it's true that your first line of defence is yourself, the rider, I think a lot of road users, four wheels or two, over estimate their ability. I use plenty of safety gear, including airbag jacket, but it is not my first line of defence. I regard other road users as potential idiots and are not often disappointed! - Chris Johnson.
A heartiest thanks 🙏 to you once again my beloved and respected stuart sir ji. And again this awesome video about open face helmet 🪖 from Royal Enfield is quite amazing and quite informative. And do believe me I am already having 6 open face helmets from my beloved Royal Enfield company which includes desert storm, and now recently I have already ordered one more open face helmet which is chopper battle green camo mlg. And after watching your awesome video I am again tempted to buy one more open face helmet in white camo mlg . And again a millions and millions of tons of love and blessings from India 🇮🇳 and especially Amritsar city where I do live. And may lord almighty always blesses you with grace health wealth and prosperity and happiness and a healthy life full of love and blessings and guffaws of laughter and infinite peaceful living. And please do take care of yourself and be safe and secure and healthy. And as far as our India 🇮🇳 is concerned nowadays there are many corona cases are coming and people are quite fearful and in panic. But we are still going to our shops but ther are quite good chances of lockdown in the coming days. And may lord Ganesha blesses us all and keeps us healthy and safe.
Nice video Stuart, very true on the Bell helmets, I've had the same issue when on certain rides it digs into my head making me want to throw it out at times. Got a free helmet when I bought the Interceptor, but it's not like the one you've reviewed here. Will go around to Royal Enfield to have a look at this one.
Very good safety points. Especially, when you mentioned the most important safety gear anybody has is their own "Grey Matter!" I absolutely agree 100%! :-) Peace, Stiletto :-)
Hey Stuart, I've chimed in on one other of ur helmet vids, so my thoughts are on file already. As for the using ur head while riding,,,, always been my feeling. I've been riding since. '75, riddin in shorts and tshirt, to jeans and a heavy leather jacket. Never official gear. Never fallen, 0 accidents. I've had full face, 3/4 , and skull pot helmets. Never ridden for race, but have ridden fast, 134 on my VMAX. Once, that was enough. But have always ridden as traffic allows. And defensively. I so agree, the head is the best riding safety gear. Helmet second, cause even a small slow speed crash can cause head injury. Arms and legs will heal, not so much a head knock. Plus, I can't afford any loss of Gray matter,,haha. Personally, I like full face mostly for noise. Rushing air is never quite. I've had bubbles, shields, glasses, even goggles, giggles. But none beat a good full face. Have never spent more than 150 bucks for a helmet, and thankfully never had to test a less expensive helmet. I'm 68 now and just bought a 2005 t100, about 8 months ago. I have a bagger and a full faced by ls2, that weren't over 100 bucks each. Very well made and perfect for my old man years of riding. You're so right about hardware and using ur head while riding. Ride safe everyone. Thanks Stuart.
I can actually say I got one before you did... lol an orange crush to patch the color of the Interceptor. And I also like the fit of the helmet very comfortable and I do like the quick-release strap. Stay safe. This time this video didn't cost me money....lol 😁👍👍
Here in the U.S.A. , certain states have helmet free laws , it is awesome to ride without one , I did this for years , and drank many beers while riding from bar , to bar , tavern to tavern , and without a problem . Now , I like half helmets , and open face helmets , I wear one everytime I ride . But I do miss going without . The modern traffic issues , and idiots on the road , is why I wear one . Choice is yours , but with that said , how much is your head worth ? That is what you need to ask yourself . Stay safe , cheers .
Another great vid stu I agree with the great all round vision you get with the open face helmet tho mine can be a bit noisy, even tho I have a full face helmet to I always seem to go to the open face one more often!
If you left a video camera on an italiano road and rode off, you would not find it when you drove back. How I miss England. I wish you’d made this video before I just bought a full faced helmet last week :) great video as usual, need I really add?
I love the idea of one of these, but I fear there would be too much wind moving around under the shield once underway. I have an eye issue where it’s best to avoid too much drying. Nobody can truly say how much is too much, and it’s impossible to be precise, but Stuart is there a LOT of air moving around in there at say 50mph? Like loads more than a full-face with the all vents open, or only a little more. Again, it’s all relative. Probably shouldn’t even ask 😆
What a great review and what a brilliant helmet! I want one and I don't have a RE. So if you see an old bloke on a green Triumph Bonneville wearing one it's possibility me.
@@gasgas2689 You’re correct but it’s Stuart’s fault. I have been following his channel for years and every time he reviews “stuff” from Motone Customs I think “that’s looks good perhaps I should buy that for my Bonneville”. End result is that what started out as a payday project tribute is now one of the most expensive Bonnevilles out there. But I do wish that I had started off with a RE Interceptor.
@@johnsamson-snell9558 Hopefully you should be able to sell your glitzy Bonneville for more than the cost of a new Interceptor . . . . . . but then you'll start spending on that :). I have YSS suspension, heated grips, screen, fork gaiters, rack and box, and apparently soon a matching Orange Crush helmet! Yesterday I fitted cheap chinese LED front side lights - they are really crap but I had bought them so I may as well fit them. The thing with RE accessories (not the crappy LED side lights I bought) is that they are affordable, made very well indeed and they fit properly.
Hi Stuart, lovely review. My only apprehension regarding open face helmet is the pressure of wind pushing the head backwards i.e. they not being aerodynamic. Could you kindly confirm that which visor design available with RE would cause least resistance - bubble visor or straight visor or chopper style (cut for the eyes) ? Thankyou
The american DOT spec is the lesser of the two. So, if it's ECE proven, it is automatically DOT stamped. You sounded a little uncertain as you mentioned DOT, so I thought i'd verify that for all. Good video, thx.
Good riding (and driving) is about being fully concentrated, and aware of what is around you. I'm not a fan of modern vehicles with massive screens, and other distractions.....Too many people preoccupied by screens than the road ahead of them.
ECE certificate is a sticker because the same helmet is sold in India with an ISI mark(very similar standard) in the same place. Unfortunately government of india banned all helmets without ISI mark 2 years back, even if their quality and standard was higher, imported from europe. Maybe they pass the quality test of both and sold in both countries with respective stickering.
@@jimporter Your talking rubbish jim, DOT is the standard set by the US Department of Transport its not a self certification it must go through type approval as does any other helmet. I don't care how Us reviewers regard DOT certification. so please don't make my comments section look untidy with ill conceived conjecture based on bubble gum logic.
A lot of lower end, and let’s face it that DOT is the lowest end, manufacturers use only 2 shell sizes. They make up the various sizes by changes in the interior foam. Better made brands, like a lot of ECE and SNELL, use 3-5 shell sizes, thus less bobble head look and a better overall fit.
@@jamessloanofficial ya, I get that. It's a cheap way to go. I'm a medium for the most part, and typically most manufacturers use the large shell size and pad it more. It wasn't always that way, but since most have shifted their manufacturing to China, it seems to be the trend.
@@terrycavender You get what you pay for, as they say. One of the best things to ever happen for me, helmet wise, was a visit to the Arai truck at a race. Free sizing evaluation and I left with a much better understanding of fit and selection. I’m a L/XL so I just accepted the big head until then.
I was going to buy the same one as yourself but it was not obvious that they came with the visor. Unless you bought the orange or blue one. 🤔. Which is a pity as I ordered from elsewhere
I’ve been considering these. They look sharp. I’m sure you already know but DOT is a joke of a safety rating. It’s like a shitty honor system basically. ECE and Snell are the only two I look for.
A neat looking helmet but open face not for me. Not from the safety view but I’m not keen on getting a soaking face if I get caught out in the rain on a cold day. It would make the rest of the journey so miserable. Hope there is some Continental stuff coming soon 👍
I tried one of these helmets last week and agree with you views . However ,what put me off was the fact there was no ventilation. Perhaps this would be on the more expensive model . Many thanks
I never knew some people were against open face helmets do to safety concerns. Helmets are optional in my state so the only debate I hear is if that should really be permitted. Are you required by law to change your helmet every 4 years?
Mr. Fillingham- As you point out, using good sense is the most important riding skill, and good safety gear is not to be left out of the equation. I also like to eat blueberries each day, as I have heard that they are full of anti-accidents.
🤣
🤔🤣🤣
Like we used to say in the RCAF... You have Bold pilots and you have Old Pilots... You don’t have many Old Bold Pilots... Using your brain and common sense is the answer for survival.... Protection gear is never the only answer for safety. 👍
Will seriously consider the RE open face helmet when time comes! Thank you Uncle Stu.
I couldn't agree more with the vast majority of what you say in your videos. My first line of defence in just under forty years of riding has always been removing as many distractions as possible before riding and giving my senses as much chance as possible to pick up risks as early as possible...
I can agree on this!
Started riding again after 25 years, and I first got myself a regular full face helmet, but it just didn't feel safe with the amount of headmovement I had to do to see anything, and how little I could actually see of my peripheral vision and the road close infront of my bike.. .
I still have a closed helmet, but a retro style with a huge visor so that I can actually see out of it.
Feels a lot safer now, and gives me a better chance of avoiding dangers, or dangerous situations.
Great video Stuart and I couldn’t agree more regarding the use of ‘Grey Matter’ as our prime source of personal protection, far to many people disconnect their brains as soon as they swing a leg over, putting themselves and others at risk and giving all motorcyclists a bad name. Have a great weekend 👍
Beat me to it.
My thoughts exactly 👍🏻
Super video again. I have been riding for a million years and open face is my choice. As stated, better peripheral vision, increased awareness of road conditions/nearby traffic and improved riding confidence. The feeling of the wind on the face, clearer sounds and better all round vision adds so much. I do have a full face option which is gathering dust, always feels too insulated from traffic/road information, Liam
6:31 Belgaum is my hometown. So happy to see featuring it on the global channels like this.
Great review as always Stuart. I've always used a full faced helmet from when I first started riding. My reasoning wasn't for 'safety' but instead it was for comfort. I just felt more comfortable with a full faced helmet, especially when I was racing dirt bikes. But with that said, I bought one of the RE open faced helmets and I love it! To add to what you said, the difference in visibility and feeling connected is amazing. With a full faced helmet I feel secured, but kind of disconnected. I'm not sure how to explain it and to each their own, and I'll still use both depending on how I feel, but I love my open faced RE helmet.
Great review, and outstanding opening 4 minutes. As my long passed father used to say, "the world sadly lacks common sense and integrity." the former seems to be spreading like a virus (can I say that)
Keep them coming please.
As my headmaster Mr Ben Rushton used to say. “Gumption my boy, use your gumption”
Thanks for a good walkthrough on the helmet. I got the orange crush helmet for my RE INT 650 - orange crush. I am very happy about it. The button on the strap in the back of the helmet is somehow loose and noisy when riding - but there is an easy solution to that very minor problem. You really got value for your money with this helmet - or Royal Enfield in general.
I’m glad we have a choice of gear. I started riding 3 years ago, wearing an open face helmet. Within a few weeks, a stone got kicked up by the car in front and hit the rim of the helmet just above my eye. That got me thinking, and I bought a different open face helmet with a clear front visor. This style suits my bike, my riding and my personal comfort. For 90 quid, this looks pretty good. Like the flip up visor too - wouldn’t have a helmet without one now.
I got one same colour as my battle ship green classic tribute. Had it some weeks. I can keep my glasses on when putting it on or removing it. There are press studs underneath the visor. I removed it as it had a draught from above that irritated my eyes. I use vintage style goggles that fit over glasses, really looks and feels great. The padding does not stop you hearing well and there is room for speakers if you want. I ordered a medium, same as mu full face helmets and it fits like durex, very comfy. Best open face ive bought and I have bought some. Great review stu.
new version has no press studs looks cleaner with visor removed. just one point, Err.. if it fits like a Durex I think you may be putting it on wrong?
Namaste from India,
I really liked your video, especially the part about using the grey matter between our ears😉. I love your appreciation for Royal Enfield motorcycles and easily resonate with your idea of owning one, as I own a RE Thunderbird 500.
Keep riding 😎👍🏻
Another honest review, there's not many reviews on open face helmets. And everything I've ever bought that you have received has been quality and of top shelf components. So when it's a bit brighter I know where to shop.
I can attest to helmets vs accidents, I had a man pull out in front of me, I hit him in the tail light area, and I was launched off the bike. I slide about 10 feet, and the only thing that didn't hit the ground...........was the helmet.........great video as always.
Great review. My old open-face is well past it's use-by date, this one will match the bike. Thank you for drawing it to my attention.
All my helmets, from 1974 onwards have been full face. Got a new HJC cheap as a black Friday deal and was a bit dubious at first as it was quite a lot cheaper that I´ve been used to paying over the years. But done soon a 1000 km with it and am both impressed and happy with how good the fit is, and the quality is also reasonable. Always a nuisance to find a good one with enough room for specs, this one is great in that aspect, too. And the main reason (besides the good price) that I bought it. So there are more reasonably priced but still aduquate helmets out there in the market than it used to be. The one you are reviewing looks very nice, if I go ahead and buy me an RE (which I´ve thought about a lot lately) I can see myself using a helmet like that with that bike. Nice review, as I´ve come to expect from you. Good luck in the 2021 season!
Thanks for this Uncle Stu, just ordered the Matt red no visor on offer for £67.50 at the moment in readiness for my 350 Classic arriving next spring. Your video sealed the deal as it reassured me on the quality and also proved me with the size info I needed which the RE shop site didn’t.
Great points again fella. Love my open face when I want to disconnect from everything, no music, phone or sat nav.
And my favourite saying for riding, ride to avoid the slide
Keep it rubber side down
Great video 👌🏻I own the same model helmets myself one in matte black and one matte green....the cost is much cheaper(£30) in India though...they are pretty good quality ....and me being a Cranio Maxillo Facial Surgeon myself...I ride an Interceptor 650 too🍻
I would wear an open face helmet for running around locally on my 155. Not for giving it a bit on the mighty 390. Caberg helmets all have the same fastening system. I have a full face and an open face from Caberg. The best-fitting helmets I have ever worn. This RE offering looks fine to me, Stuart. I had a bubble visor in the early 70s.
I am making a point of not knowingly buying anything Chinese, certainly motorbikes etc.
A bit about what to do with your old helmet would be good. The only suggestion I have is to give it to your local fire and rescue department who can use it to train recruits how to remove a helmet from an injured motorcyclist.
As always good video
Plus I agree about the bluetooth phone set I go out on my bike to get away from my phone 😎
Hi Stu,just got back from my first ride with a new RE helmet and visor as per your review.Its everything you said,comfortable,good for spectacle wearers and the visor does an excellent job of blocking the wind.Thank you so much,you’re costing me a fortune,but it’s money well spent.
Defensive riding is the key to keep shiny side up , stay safe regardless of what you ride . Great video.
The trouble with common sense is its not very common , you are exactly right about the first line of defense , it's probably the reason I've never had my face ripped off whilst riding with an open face helmet and I've been doing that for 30 odd years , in that 30 years I've come off once ( diesel on a round about ) and its usually your arms and legs that get it first before your head or face . That looks like a good helmet for the price and I like the bubble visor , good review, helmets should be reviewed more imho .
I have always used an open face helmet for 65 years. Accidents just don't happen they are caused. Avoid the cause and you save having an accident. I use an open face helmet as it gives me a very good peripheral vision that goes a long way to avoiding accidents. Good frontal vision avoids frontal accident as good reaction time can save the day all helmets meet this criterion. Vehicles closing in from the side need to be seen early as often the car driver hasn't seen you and closes in on you. An early vision of this happening gives you more time to react. I have tried Full face helmets but they have that closed vision like being in a car. I like the open-air wide vision feel.
Hi Stuart - We are having a terrible year in Queensland with motorcycle fatalities. Nearly 50% of the road toll this year! And a lot of single rider accidents. A lot not using their skills nor riding to the conditions! So your greatest protection is attitude not safety gear! Cheers Ian
It can be both. Attitude and ATGATT doesn’t need to be mutually exclusive
Hi Stuart
Thanks again for the video I’m off to work so haven’t watched it all yet but have watched the first one , I recently recovered from open heart surgery due to a birth defect in a valve and motorcycling has been massively therapeutic from those first vulnerable steps back on the bike to fitness again .
I have thought long and hard about safety but if we give up the things we care about no point in getting fixed anyway ,I wear an open faced helmet and feel that the benefits of situational awareness etc and lack of claustrophobia outweigh the risk plus I like the oxygen .
My daughter is a paramedic as is her fiancée and they have no strong leaning either way but I showed them the first video and they agreed on the point made re access to the airway and vomiting into a full face helmet so personal choice is the key I think if you are comfortable you will be less distracted
Ps just bought my first R E
Thanks again for the effort you put in
Great review, Stuart! Sweet looking helmet! I have their Royal Enfield riding jacket and as with this helmet, it is a great value. Looks nice and fits nicely, with all the protection you could want!
Excellent commentary again Stuart
I’m an open faced helmet wearer
Was thinking of buying one before now I will .., 👌
Cheers for that !!
Cheers Stuart for pointing out the RE open face strengths and weaknesses, strengths it appears to have many.
I'm encouraged by the bubble visor, as it looks like it has a good amount of space and distance between the screen , mouth and eyes, ( useful for shades , if worn and mics if needed but also the visor not steaming up so quickly on those fresh mornings)
Splendid review Stuart . Im thinking of trying out an open face . My only objection to having one in the past was not a safety issue but keeping me face warm when it goes under 5c , but thats what scarfs are for yeah . Wonderful review .
Nice review Stu. Always good to know about a classically stylish and economical helmet that meets government safety standards. Will definitely take a look at the RE line for my next helmet purchase. Thank you!
Thanks Stuart . I went for the Baker style. It arrives Wednesday. My first open face so it will be a real change for me.
The gray matter and how much you use is most important by far.Maybe Royal Enfield took that into consideration when they omitted the blue tooth option.Really enjoy your videos.
Thanks for this review Mr. Fillingham. Very detailed and covers all the key points riders would consider before making a purchase.
Great review. As usual full of common sense, informative and BS free. Thank you.
Ive never considered open face helmets but that one is really nice
Splendid, humorous introduction and comments!
Bell Custom 500 and AGV RP 60 for me...and goggles!
Yes good helmet, I got the Orange Crush to go with my bike. One year on the helmet looks as good as new.
Really nice job! I am wondering whether or not you are able to comment (or perhaps did, and I missed it) on the shape of this helmet? Most helmets are shaped intermediate oval, while a few are more round oval, and a few are long oval. Without a round oval shape I get pressure, "hot spots" and headaches at the temples. I have some inquiries out to vendors, but so far no answers. Could you possible measure the inside of yours and see how symmetrical it is front to back and side to side? Thanks! I always enjoy your videos and find them chock-full of common sense, which is less common nowadays!
Great review with the usual large portion of good, old fashioned common sense.
I have observed that common sense is a commodity that is in very short supply these days.
Well said!
Interesting commentary regarding peripheral vision...open face v full face. I do wear a full face however have had a couple of incidents. Firstly I was waiting at lights and a car reversed out from the right straight across the road, assuming the car behind had given them space - well the first I knew was lying on the ground bemused and just aware I had been hit. Another incident on the motorway behind a slow moving vehicle and waiting to exit with another vehicle close behind when a van (yes it was white) decided to cut in - luckily I did manage just to see him in time and had the hard shoulder to escape to. Having a go with the RE open face as a spare lid to compare.
great helmet! tight at first but comfy none the less. It is broken in and is now very comfortable.
Good review and a good comment about safety gear being the last line of defence.
Thanks for the review! Very comprehensive. Fantastic!
Mahindra design lab for Europe is going to be set up in UK .
Dammm UK must be producing hella lot of designers .
Super review! I was just wondering where I left my brain, but now that's plugged back in, I could be tempted by one of those...for when I finally get on two wheels 🙄 Funny though, waaaay back when I was first thinking about getting into biking, loads of people said, 'don't get an open face helmet, because'...well you know the rest. Nice to see that common sense is still in use, even if it is a dying art. Cheers Stu.
Stuart, what a superb opening shot...
35 years of riding with both full face and open face. The only advantage a full face helmet has over an open face helmet is weather protection. I find them to be warmer in the stupidly cold weather that we occasionally have here in The Netherlands. Give me an open face helmet with a visor for 80% of the year and a full face for the other 20%!
Great vid, as always Stuart. Thank you. A thought for a topic as a follow on from the Full Fillingham.... Post Wash Lubrication.. where, how and with what (if you’ve already covered this in a previous video, then I apologise). Right... off to the Royal Enfield website 😊👍
I truly believe helmet choice and even use of one should be up to the rider. Myself I choose to wear a helmet even though I have the freedom in Arkansas not to wear one at all, currently I switch back and forth between a open face, a modular, and full face. The later two because I have adapted them for use as helmet cams. This helmet you reviewed seems interesting because of the back strap and the included visor. Currently I use a Schuberth modular, full face Biltwell Lane Splinter, and an open face Biltwell Bonanza. I tried a Bell 500 and it's fit in my size put too much pressure on temples and caused me to have headaches, the next size up was too loose of a fit.
A slight quibble uncle Stu, IMO maintaining your motorcycle would be the 1st line of defence followed by riding skills, then ABS, TC etc. & then as you say last but not least helmet, leathers, gloves etc. if your brakes fail say from bad maintenance it's game over. Take care another good video.
It looks a very decent lid, very impressed with the visor, it should be universally adopted.
Brilliant video as always Stuart and that’s a very nice looking helmet at a great price, I might have to purchase one 🤔👍🏻
A very nice looking helmet... Well done Royal Enfield! Thank you for the video
Bye stuart 🙂
Hi Stuart, I actually bought one of these helmets shortly after your video came out. I was in the market for an open faced helmet to use on my Classic 500 and I homed in on this helmet. Your review certainly helped me with my decision. There are a couple of things that I’d like to raise though: The first is, despite being still advertised at the time as a leather edged helmet, when it arrived it had a rubber edging to it. I contacted the seller and raised the issue, to be told that this was the new design and the leather edge is no longer available. I was offered a full refund, however, although disappointed, it wasn’t a deal breaker, so I kept the helmet. Even after two years of ownership, I’m still very pleased with it, apart from one aspect, I can’t for the life of me find a replacement visor. It’s a long shot, but I wonder if you have any idea why nobody seems to have or have had them? Regards, Mark.
Sir I have a question if you may:-
I'm apprehensive about the aerodynamics of this or similar helmets. Does it cause more wind pressure/backward force while riding in comparison to a closed face one?
Hi in my opinion no not at all, I only use the helmet with the bubble visor so I can’t comment on how it would feel without the visor in place, I also have a full face Arai helmet and I can’t tell any difference in the wind pressure between the two, hope this helps.👍🏻
Back in the day when I was 19 and riding my 1971 Bonneville , I wore an open face Captain America helmet and a pair of imitation Ray Ban Aviators for eye protection. Oh how youth is wasted on the young . And gloves? What were those? That combination worked ok as I never had an accident on that bike for the 8,000 miles that I owned it. Now it is open face on my Harley and a full face on my RE Continental GT 650 .and gloves and jackets and all the rest. Ride the way you like and ride often.
Whilst it's true that your first line of defence is yourself, the rider, I think a lot of road users, four wheels or two, over estimate their ability. I use plenty of safety gear, including airbag jacket, but it is not my first line of defence. I regard other road users as potential idiots and are not often disappointed! - Chris Johnson.
The inability see you own limits is a lack of riding skill.
A heartiest thanks 🙏 to you once again my beloved and respected stuart sir ji. And again this awesome video about open face helmet 🪖 from Royal Enfield is quite amazing and quite informative. And do believe me I am already having 6 open face helmets from my beloved Royal Enfield company which includes desert storm, and now recently I have already ordered one more open face helmet which is chopper battle green camo mlg. And after watching your awesome video I am again tempted to buy one more open face helmet in white camo mlg . And again a millions and millions of tons of love and blessings from India 🇮🇳 and especially Amritsar city where I do live. And may lord almighty always blesses you with grace health wealth and prosperity and happiness and a healthy life full of love and blessings and guffaws of laughter and infinite peaceful living. And please do take care of yourself and be safe and secure and healthy. And as far as our India 🇮🇳 is concerned nowadays there are many corona cases are coming and people are quite fearful and in panic. But we are still going to our shops but ther are quite good chances of lockdown in the coming days. And may lord Ganesha blesses us all and keeps us healthy and safe.
Nice video Stuart, very true on the Bell helmets, I've had the same issue when on certain rides it digs into my head making me want to throw it out at times. Got a free helmet when I bought the Interceptor, but it's not like the one you've reviewed here. Will go around to Royal Enfield to have a look at this one.
Very good safety points. Especially, when you mentioned the most important safety gear anybody has is their own "Grey Matter!" I absolutely agree 100%! :-) Peace, Stiletto :-)
Hey Stuart, I've chimed in on one other of ur helmet vids, so my thoughts are on file already. As for the using ur head while riding,,,, always been my feeling. I've been riding since. '75, riddin in shorts and tshirt, to jeans and a heavy leather jacket. Never official gear. Never fallen, 0 accidents. I've had full face, 3/4 , and skull pot helmets. Never ridden for race, but have ridden fast, 134 on my VMAX. Once, that was enough. But have always ridden as traffic allows. And defensively. I so agree, the head is the best riding safety gear. Helmet second, cause even a small slow speed crash can cause head injury. Arms and legs will heal, not so much a head knock. Plus, I can't afford any loss of Gray matter,,haha. Personally, I like full face mostly for noise. Rushing air is never quite. I've had bubbles, shields, glasses, even goggles, giggles. But none beat a good full face. Have never spent more than 150 bucks for a helmet, and thankfully never had to test a less expensive helmet. I'm 68 now and just bought a 2005 t100, about 8 months ago. I have a bagger and a full faced by ls2, that weren't over 100 bucks each. Very well made and perfect for my old man years of riding. You're so right about hardware and using ur head while riding. Ride safe everyone. Thanks Stuart.
I got a red one 3 months back in india 🇮🇳 at just 30£ from Amazon. They're simply fantastic for the price.
Nice review, well presented and informative.
Thank you.
I can actually say I got one before you did... lol an orange crush to patch the color of the Interceptor. And I also like the fit of the helmet very comfortable and I do like the quick-release strap. Stay safe. This time this video didn't cost me money....lol 😁👍👍
Here in the U.S.A. , certain states have helmet free laws , it is awesome to ride without one , I did this for years , and drank many beers while riding from bar , to bar , tavern to tavern , and without a problem . Now , I like half helmets , and open face helmets , I wear one everytime I ride . But I do miss going without . The modern traffic issues , and idiots on the road , is why I wear one . Choice is yours , but with that said , how much is your head worth ? That is what you need to ask yourself . Stay safe , cheers .
My own choice for riding my Classic was always to be an open-face helmet with made in England classic goggles😇
Another great vid stu I agree with the great all round vision you get with the open face helmet tho mine can be a bit noisy, even tho I have a full face helmet to I always seem to go to the open face one more often!
Superb review with some wise words on safety. I was wondering if my old Arai from the 90s is still legal?
For the price.i was surprised that it has a removable liner. .allso like the placment of the ec2205 marker. Its nice lookin lid all round
If you left a video camera on an italiano road and rode off, you would not find it when you drove back. How I miss England. I wish you’d made this video before I just bought a full faced helmet last week :) great video as usual, need I really add?
Great and balanced review, nice job 👍👍👍👍
Nice video Stuart! Have a good weekend bud! 👍
skill and restraint....so true.
I love the idea of one of these, but I fear there would be too much wind moving around under the shield once underway. I have an eye issue where it’s best to avoid too much drying. Nobody can truly say how much is too much, and it’s impossible to be precise, but Stuart is there a LOT of air moving around in there at say 50mph? Like loads more than a full-face with the all vents open, or only a little more.
Again, it’s all relative. Probably shouldn’t even ask 😆
What a great review and what a brilliant helmet! I want one and I don't have a RE. So if you see an old bloke on a green Triumph Bonneville wearing one it's possibility me.
. . . .and soon you will be riding an Interceptor and thinking 'hey this is better than a Bonneville!"
@@gasgas2689 You’re correct but it’s Stuart’s fault. I have been following his channel for years and every time he reviews “stuff” from Motone Customs I think “that’s looks good perhaps I should buy that for my Bonneville”.
End result is that what started out as a payday project tribute is now one of the most expensive Bonnevilles out there.
But I do wish that I had started off with a RE Interceptor.
@@johnsamson-snell9558 Hopefully you should be able to sell your glitzy Bonneville for more than the cost of a new Interceptor . . . . . . but then you'll start spending on that :). I have YSS suspension, heated grips, screen, fork gaiters, rack and box, and apparently soon a matching Orange Crush helmet! Yesterday I fitted cheap chinese LED front side lights - they are really crap but I had bought them so I may as well fit them. The thing with RE accessories (not the crappy LED side lights I bought) is that they are affordable, made very well indeed and they fit properly.
Hi Stuart, lovely review. My only apprehension regarding open face helmet is the pressure of wind pushing the head backwards i.e. they not being aerodynamic. Could you kindly confirm that which visor design available with RE would cause least resistance - bubble visor or straight visor or chopper style (cut for the eyes) ?
Thankyou
Nice video. I enjoy your work. Excellent information.
The american DOT spec is the lesser of the two. So, if it's ECE proven, it is automatically DOT stamped.
You sounded a little uncertain as you mentioned DOT, so I thought i'd verify that for all.
Good video, thx.
Good riding (and driving) is about being fully concentrated, and aware of what is around you. I'm not a fan of modern vehicles with massive screens, and other distractions.....Too many people preoccupied by screens than the road ahead of them.
Please, Dont forgett the subtitles... Thanks for the video!
No Bluetooth is a positive selling point.
I am more concerned if there is adequate ventilation when the temperature tops 100 degrees (40 celsius).
A very good review. Cheers
ECE certificate is a sticker because the same helmet is sold in India with an ISI mark(very similar standard) in the same place. Unfortunately government of india banned all helmets without ISI mark 2 years back, even if their quality and standard was higher, imported from europe.
Maybe they pass the quality test of both and sold in both countries with respective stickering.
yeah I'm sure its just a production convenience!
@@jimporter Your talking rubbish jim, DOT is the standard set by the US Department of Transport its not a self certification it must go through type approval as does any other helmet. I don't care how Us reviewers regard DOT certification. so please don't make my comments section look untidy with ill conceived conjecture based on bubble gum logic.
Looks unusual for a DOT lid, much smaller size overall, the ones you see in the US are so large the make you look like a a bobblehead.
A lot of lower end, and let’s face it that DOT is the lowest end, manufacturers use only 2 shell sizes. They make up the various sizes by changes in the interior foam. Better made brands, like a lot of ECE and SNELL, use 3-5 shell sizes, thus less bobble head look and a better overall fit.
@@jamessloanofficial ya, I get that. It's a cheap way to go. I'm a medium for the most part, and typically most manufacturers use the large shell size and pad it more. It wasn't always that way, but since most have shifted their manufacturing to China, it seems to be the trend.
@@terrycavender You get what you pay for, as they say. One of the best things to ever happen for me, helmet wise, was a visit to the Arai truck at a race. Free sizing evaluation and I left with a much better understanding of fit and selection. I’m a L/XL so I just accepted the big head until then.
I was going to buy the same one as yourself but it was not obvious that they came with the visor. Unless you bought the orange or blue one. 🤔. Which is a pity as I ordered from elsewhere
I’ve been considering these. They look sharp. I’m sure you already know but DOT is a joke of a safety rating. It’s like a shitty honor system basically. ECE and Snell are the only two I look for.
A neat looking helmet but open face not for me. Not from the safety view but I’m not keen on getting a soaking face if I get caught out in the rain on a cold day. It would make the rest of the journey so miserable. Hope there is some Continental stuff coming soon 👍
Is your face not waterproof?
Haha, I sometimes wonder. But I don’t find it any fun being wet & cold on a motorcycle.
Keep up the good work. Cheers from Vietnam
Ok food for thought. I just bought one from Hitchcocks Motor cycles for £35.00 with out visor. Only sizes left is 580 = 600 cm
600cm? how big is your head?
The usual great vlog and what a nice looking lid although I have to say not liking the visor but each to his own, I’d wear goggles👍
A very nice looking helmet at a remarkable price point.
👏👍👏
I tried one of these helmets last week and agree with you views . However ,what put me off was the fact there was no ventilation. Perhaps this would be on the more expensive model . Many thanks
you don't require vents in an open helmet!
Nice one Stuart, going to check them out...
Looks nice Stuart!
"...for God' sake, don't do any DYI, or eat peanuts." Nobody puts a pointier end on the obvious like you, Uncle Stu.
And there was I about to open the jumbo bag of ready salted with the jigsaw. Close call!
Nice helmet review stuart thanks
I never knew some people were against open face helmets do to safety concerns. Helmets are optional in my state so the only debate I hear is if that should really be permitted. Are you required by law to change your helmet every 4 years?
Loved the starting soundtrack... Whose music is that?