my new hat

[Banned_imp]

Holy crap!!!

I just looked it up on a Canadian website - $930!

I'm going to have to think really hard about that.

[Nortoon_imp]

Holy crap!!!

I just looked it up on a Canadian website - $930!

I'm going to have to think really hard about that.

You forgot to add the sales taxes. $930 + 120 = $1,050.

And Shoei advises you should change your helmet every 3 years.

[2017EX_imp]

Yup, they are pricey, but these days top of the line helmets are all pricey and there is usually an extra premium for modular. I had not checked pricing on Arai in a while, and when I did, it was sticker shock as well. Doing the conversion from $930 Canadian to U.S. dollars came out to $719.21 U.S. before U.S. sales tax, which averages about 8%, depending on the city the buyer lives in.

The MSRP on the Neotec II is $699 U.S., as listed by Shoei. I was able to negotiate a discount off MSRP with my local shop fortunately, so that might be worth a try ( the worst that can happen is the dealer will say no ).

My owners manual lists a warranty of 5 years to the original owner, or 7 years from the date of manufacture to the original owner, whichever comes first. Originally, I had thought to buy an original Neotec on close out. I found a NIB Neotec on EBay at a big discount. That was until I asked the seller what the date of manufacture sticker applied to the Styrofoam lining inside the outer shell, and under the soft removable liner said. The reply was 06-13! Consequently the helmet was 5 years old with only a couple of years left on the 7 year shelf life warranty. I also discovered something interesting that had never occurred to me. Shoei will only honor the warranty if the helmet is purchased from a dealer in the same country where the buyer resides. The explanation was that government required helmet standards very from country to country.

I do have a preference for the added use flexibility of a modular, and have been a fan of Shoei quality and design for a long time. As always though, regardless of brand, the best helmet that can be afforded that fits correctly and suits the wearers needs in terms of features, is the one to go with.

[alprider]

only colortest........no drivetest........ok between will be a black jacket...

btw. at my dealer i payed 628sfr or 627 USD but got 10% discount (100% without tax and discount 649sfr and listprice at shoei :699sfr)

since 9 years i have/had now a schuberth C2....
https://www.google.com/search?q=schubert...WGsKZrdVM:

[LikeAfox_imp]

I have seen this helmet for 599 at Cycle Gear, and you can still get it for less if you wait for a sale. It's supposed to be a very quiet helmet, according to reviews

[jimgl3_imp]

you can't hide money! LOL! I'm so jealous!

[4 Paws_imp]

Bought one recently at my local dealers at a pretty fair discount from retai, better than most websites. Went on an 800 mile 2 day ride after a few local rides to “break it in”. Helmet is replacing an HJC Neotec 2 modular helmet, I religiously wear good earplugs when riding.
Impressions- comfortable but. ........
I have a Shoei head and have owned several full coverage Shoei through the years plus an Arai, the HJC was my first modular.
In full coverage the Shoei is quiet! Expected the same from the modular - wrong. I rate it equal to the HJC IS-Max 2 in terms of quiet and superior as far as the shield and built in sun screen go plus comfort but not $$$ superior.
Honestly, I’m disappointed. Wishing I had bought the full coverage and sacrificed convenience of modular for quiet of full coverage.
Shoei makes a good,quality, comfortable helmet but the world has caught up.

[Henrik_imp]

I have always been annoyed by how the helmets proposed here in Europe are proposed in basic colours. Sure, there are some famous riders' copies and I have used for some time a Nakano helmet that I did like. This limited selection of designs is very apparent with Arai helmets, and I tend to prefer their helmets.

So, during my recent trip to Japan, I went to see what I could find there. I was really happy to find my new helmet! It is the latest Arai model called Defiant-X in the US and Renegade-V in Europe (XD in Japan). I just love the Japanese graphics on this one, and it also makes it quite unique here now since I will probably be the only one with it.

Oh, and it is the most comfortable helmet I have ever had!

[the Ferret]

Cool helmet. Sort of like a Japanese painting.

[2017EX_imp]

My first modular was also an HJC, CL-Max model, which is an older design. It was the most comfortable for my head shape of any helmet I have ever worn. Shoei is, for me the next most comfortable. Both HJC and Shoei are neutral oval.

I had tried full face before, and just could not get over the "my head is in a bucket" feeling. Then I tried modular and loved it. The HJC my Neotec II replaced, had a plastic locking system for the chin bar, whereas both the original Neotec, and the new Neotec II both have all stainless steel chin bar locking systems.

What I like about the Neotec II: It is comfortable, and has removable, washable, and replaceable soft liner, as most premium helmets do. The retractable sun shield is nice as a back up, but I prefer my prescription polarized sun glasses. Air flow is good, with easy to operate vents, top and front, even wearing gloves. The visor is easy to remove and install, and appears to seal better than the original Neotec. Seamless integration for Sena com system, for those that want it. I REALLY like the all stainless micro ratchet chin strap buckle, after all the years of double D ring. Once adjusted, it is real easy to buckle and unbuckle even with gloves on. All aspects of Fit and finish are first rate.

The jury is out on: I will not be able to tell whether or not I like the Pin Lock anti fog shield insert until the weather gets cold/er. Installation is a little tricky, but does not distort view. I took the removable chin curtain off and will use the helmet without it until the weather gets cold, because I dont like jockeying the curtain over my chin whenever I open or close the chin bar, and dont like the feel of the curtain against the underside of my chin while I ride. This obviously allows for more wind noise, but I wear a good pair of ears plugs so I can live with that. I might use the chin curtain on a road trip, or in cold weather, but wont know until I can test in those situations. The standard cheek pads the helmet comes with are 35mm, which at the moment squash my face a bit, so I will have to see after the 10% break in whether or not to go to 31mm pads which are the next size thinner.

What I dont like: Wind noise WITHOUT ear plugs was about the same as my old HJC CL-Max near as I could tell. I had hoped for a noticeable improvement there. Since I do not use a com system, I think I will try filling the com ear phone voids with a pair of Shoei Ear Pad C fillers ( $6.20 a pair ).

Bottom line for me: Number one is head protection with newer technology than my old helmet. Given I prefer a modular, I knew up front modulars tend to be noisier than full face, I wear good ear plugs anyway, so wind noise is not a deal breaker for me. In retrospect, all helmets are quieter now than they were back in the day when I first started riding, and back then we did not use ear plugs either. The only other modular brand I can think of that has put as much into modular research, design, and technology as Shoei is Schuberth, but Schuberth was not comfortable for my head shape. All things considered, I would still buy a Neotec II. Even with the substantial discount off MSRP my dealer gave me, it would have been nice to get at a lower price point, but " you get what you pay for" and "it is what it is" largely applies here, LOL.