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HJC CS-12 Lotus Helmet
by hazeybabe07
When my 16 year old daughter first got her 50cc motorbike back in November, I was really concsious about the choice of helmet, I was really worried and obviously wanted her to get the best one that she was able to afford. HJC came recommended to us by a family friend who is owns a motorcycle himself and I did some research and found that ... it has quite a good name.
We got this helmet off Ebay, not secondhand but from a shop. It was £80, now £50 and my daughter really liked it. She isn't too girly and wanted a blue bike so she chose this because of the colour and also because of the name. I thought this was a great price for the helmet and was pleased with the brand that we chose.
HJC helmets come from a size xxs to an xxxL as well as youth sizes as well. The fittings of the helmet are very accurate and when the helmet came, it fitted my daughter like a glove.
I haven't worn the helmet so I'm going to let my dauhter talk about the comfort and riding in it now:
The helmet is comfy and there are lots of ventilation holes in it to make it breathable when I'm on my bike. These can be opened or closed weather depending. The visor is meant to be anti fog although I don't realy think this works, it still gets a little steamy if it's cold out, which it has been lately. The strap on the helmet isn't the best, you have to put it through a loop then bring it back around and shut a little press stud so it can be awkward if you put your gloves on first but other than that, it's a snug comfy fit that doesn't move around on my head whilst Im riding which is what is important. I love the design, it's got glitter on the darker silver parts which makes it still a little bit girls, but too over the top. The size of the visor gives lots of visibiltity so I can see fine. It's not too heavy at all, Its only an xs helmet so I wouldn't expect it to be very heavy anyway. The only problem with is it that it doesn't fit in the seat of my bike which is why I've bought another one for when I go shopping which does fit. Ive not come off my bike, yet!, so i can't comment on the reliability or strentgth of it just yet, but if the opportunity arises, I will get my mum to update the review!
Overall, I think my daughters helmet is very good. It's snazzy looking and easily available at a reasonable price. It also comes in red and black to match your bike or clothing if you prefer. I'd definitely recommend it because my daughter is very pleased with it so far!
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Abus Granit X-Plus 54 HB
by Housto
Living in London, I knew that researching and selecting my bike locks would be as important as researching my bike! Cycle theft is rife here so, it was important to me to know the ins and outs of the lock beforehand.
I chose the Abus Granit X-Plus 54 HB, which is what's commonly referred to as a U-lock or a D-shackle lock ... because of the shape. In the review I differentiate between the metal U part of the lock and the locking unit (where the key goes in). Abus is a well-known brand in Europe, and is manufactured in Germany. From my own work in manufacturing with German companies I am hugely respectful of the culture of quality there, so for me knowing the lock was produced in Germany was a big plus.
One of the best resources for choosing locks for bicycles and motorcycles is an organisation called 'Sold Secure' which was established by the Northumberland and Essex police and (according to their website) is now administered by the non-profit trade group the Master Locksmiths Association. Manufacturers apply to have their products tested by Sold Secure, and they rate the quality of the locks by having professional locksmiths try to break them! The Abus Granit X-Plus 54 lock was rated 'gold standard' by Sold Secure (the highest rating) so I knew that this lock had withstood a battering from the experts. Immediately this gave me the confidence to buy. I guess it also allows Abus to charge a premium for their products - as the Granit X-Plus 54 is currently on sale for £79.99 at www.cyclesurgery.com. This is definitely at the higher end of the lock market, although the Abus Granit Extreme comes in more expensive at only £179.99! As the replacement value of my bike is around £290.00, I felt it wasn't a big deal to invest this much in protecting it. Cycle Surgery also say on their website that this lock was twice the winner of the 'What Mountain Bike' magazine lock reviews.
The lock has a lot of features to help it withstand the brute force of an attack. First of all it's made from a 13mm piece of hardened steel, which helps to repel extremely harsh attacks by saws or bolt cutters. The top part of the U is slightly pointed, instead of being a traditionally rounded U shape. According to Abus, this patented parabolic shape increases strength the lock's strength, especially against attacks from pulling (by cars) and twisting (although I am not sure of the science that explains this). I've been using this lock for perhaps 3 years now, and there is only one dent in the hardened steel, which I think is really impressive since it clangs around in my bag, and on the streets of London mostly every day of the working week.
The weakest point of any lock is where the U meets the locking unit. This lock has a specially engineered Abus 'powercell' double locking mechanism, which apparently prevents the force and power of any attacks being transferred across the whole product. I am sure with this kind of highly competitive product that patented engineering solutions need to stay under wraps (and it isn't good to make the information available to potential thieves), but as a consumer I find it hard to understand the manufacturers explanations of what a 'powercell' mechanism actually is, or does. It would be so good if Abus explained just a little bit more about these features, as otherwise it's just a case of taking them on trust. The place where the key is inserted to actually 'lock' the product has a patented Abus cylinder for highest picking resistance and an automatic keyhole cover.
My own experience of using this lock has been very good. Ultimately it has been very successful as I have never had my bike stolen (although I don't want to tempt fate)! The lock itself couldn't be easier to use, it's simple and quick to insert the key and click the lock closed. The lock comes with a spare key and a unique code card, which is helpful if you lose one or want to share the lock with a partner. If you lose both keys then simply present the code card to order another one. I think this system is great, as it ensures that the lock has maximum longevity. The lock unit has worn extremely well, with no dents at all, just some scratches in the plastic. The only thing that has happened is that one end of the U doesn't sit as snugly into the locking unit as before (by about 3mm). I think the U part might have bent slightly in use. It doesn't seem to have affected the hold the locking unit has on the U part of the lock, which is as solid as ever.
The only problem with buying such a secure lock is that weight is ultimately a trade-off, although this lock weighs in quite respectably at 1.4kg. It is possible to buy a standard bracket from Abus to mount this lock to your bike's frame.
At the end of the day, I don't think you can rely on just one lock to secure your bike in a high theft area, and instead you need to use several different strategies. This is one of two locks that I use on my bike, locking the frame and wheel to proper cycle parking. The second lock is also an Abus, but this time a round loop 'O' lock. Having two locks of different types is recommended by the London Met police force, as thieves may be equipped with tools to break either one or the other type of lock. I also think it acts as a big dis-incentive as my bike tends to have double the protection than other bikes where I park.
Overall I would absolutely recommend this Abus Granit X-Plus 54 lock to anyone as part of their bike security scheme. It is well designed, with some great features and as I can testify that it is robust and well-made enough to perform through time.
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Shoei X-Spirit Kagayama 2
by yackers1
People's heads are different shapes and sizes and it is of the utmost importance to buy a helmet that fits properly. I would never buy a helmet because of the make or model, or because it is available in a specific colour scheme, although I am aware many people do.
In my opinion, one of the most important things when buying a ... helmet is to ensure it is the perfect size. Too big and you find that it will move around on your head, especially with the wind, which I find impairs vision and concentration. In addition to this if you have an accident there is the possibility the helmet will come off, which could lead to severe consequences. If the helmet is too small then it will 'dig' in somewhere, that is providing you can actually get it on, which will lead to aches and pains, which could also lead to a lack in concentration.
The X-Spirit is the top of the range Shoei helmet that is constructed out of fibreglass and carbon fibre. In fact, it contains the most carbon fibre of any helmet currently on the market, hence making it very strong and very rigid.
The Shoei website claims "Numerous hours in the wind tunnel and on racetracks around the world has made the X-Spirit an aerodynamically superior helmet with minimal lift and drag, plus incomparable fit and ventilation". I can confirm the X-Spirit is very streamlined and with its rear spoiler it really does reduce wind resistance and drag, although it does look strange. It wasn't until I tried this helmet I appreciated just how much resistance my old helmet created and the X-Spirit goes through the air like a hot knife through butter.
The medium sized X-Spirit weighs in at 1.33Kg, which makes it one of the lightest helmets on the market. It's lightweight increases the comfort as neck muscle fatigue is reduced during periods of extensive wear. Although it is lightweight the strength is not compromised due to the amount of carbon fibre.
One of the best things about the X-Spirit is the fully removable inners. The cheek pads, skull-cap and neck roll can all be removed to ensure the perfect fit. In my case I am the small side of medium, therefore, I bought a small helmet and had it fitted out with medium sized pads and the fit is spot on.
In addition, the removable inners can be cleaned (although they shouldn't be machine washed and tumble dried as this will ruin them) which stops your helmet from smelling, which is great because there is nothing worse than a smelly helmet. Helmets become smelly through general wear and tear, it is a fact of life, but the ability to remove the inners and replace them if necessary does allow you to keep your helmet fresh. The chinstraps can also be removed and cleaned as necessary.
The visor on the X-Spirit is a mist-retardant CX-1V pinlock that comes with a removable anti-fog insert as standard, therefore there is no need for other de-misting agents. Whilst this works very well you can see a faint outline of the insert, especially in sunlight or in the dark when dealing with oncoming car lights, which creates a distraction by providing something to look at whilst taking your focus off the road. Another feature of the visor is that it is fully lockable meaning it remains tightly shut, at the flick of a switch. Personally, I don't see this as much of a selling point as I like to be able to lift my visor during the claustrophobic moments I get when wearing a helmet for extended periods. If you are a racing then I can see the usefulness of the locking feature but for the road? Even the sales man said the locking feature was pointless since in all his 20 years of riding he has never known a Shoei visor to lift up once it was shut.
The X-Spirit is the most comfortable helmet I have ever worn, and I can only attribute this to the 3D cheek pads and skull cap, the lightweight outer shell, the increased ventilation and the streamlined design that reduces drag. In addition to being comfortable it is also very quiet and I no longer need to wear earplugs.
One disadvantage of the X-Spirit is the limited range of colours and designs. The colours available include white, black or silver, none of which are that exciting and the graphics on the patterned helmets also lack originality and flair. It is possible to get the helmet re-sprayed without damaging the outer shell, so you can colour code it to your bike or have a replica of your favorite racer, but it is expensive to have this done.
At £535 for a patterned, and £495 for a plain version, the X-Spirit is not cheap and there are many cheaper makes of helmet available but can you put a price on your head? I want to know that if I do have an accident I am going to have the best possible chance of coming out unscathed, and the X-Spirit gives me this confidence. After all, if it is good enough for the MotoGP racers, who consistently reach speeds of up to 200 mph, then it should be more than good enough for everyday road riding.
(This review has been posted on other sites under the name of Yackers1)
Overall, the X-Spirit is a great helmet and it is one I would highly recommend, providing it suits your head shape. I find mine very comfortable, very quiet and there are times when I almost forget I am wearing it. The removable inners ensures the best fit and also allows cleaning, hence preventing a smelly helmet. I appreciate it is expensive but then a helmet is probably the most important bit of safety kit you are going to buy so it is definitely worth spending a little extra.
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