Summary: Is this the coolest-looking helmet on
the planet? Its looks make up for its shortcomings; thin padding,
tight fit and slightly higher than average noise levels.
It's official: Airoh has now taken over as purveyors
of the most outrageous motorcycle helmets on the planet.
That distinction was previously held by ROOF, and although
their Boxer V is way out there,
the Airoh TR1 looks like something left aboard a Cardassian scout ship.
Kanar anyone?
This thing is so cool -- so different -- that people and
cagers literally do the stop, swivel and stare routine as I glide by on the
black Multistrada. Yeah, and some of them drool, too. No
kidding!
Of course, the Creamsicle color probably has something to do
with that also...
But, as we've said before, looks are one thing; performance
is another (did we really say that?). And other than a few quirks,
without which it wouldn't be an Airoh, I still say this baby is a must-have.
But that's just me. I'm sure I'll get more than a few emails
suggesting that the helmet instead came from Uranus.
So how about we get on with it and let you decide for
yourself?
Paint, Graphics and Overall Quality The Airoh TR1 has a thermoplastic shell, and it feels, well, plastic-ky.
Both the Airoh S4 Enduro helmet
we reviewed last year and the TR1 have this different feel, but I'm assuming
that's the price we have to pay for the material, which is probably better
suited to molding Airoh's unique designs, and as long as it meets ECE 22.05
safety standards, it must be as good as anything else.
The paint quality and the overall gloss finish, which I
think is a clear coat, is excellent on our TR1. Word on the street is
that Airoh quality can be variable, especially with the moving parts, but
this helmet is very nicely put together, considering it's basically plastic.
Airoh is really pushing the European marketing for the TR1
recently, and they've made it available in a wide variety of colors, solids,
stripes and even chrome.
How about a chrome TR1 on your Monster Chromo? The
helmet shown here is actually the TR1 "Duo", and it is available in the
white/orange shown here, along with white/blue, white/red, white/gray and
even black/orange, which is too over-the-top even for me.
I see no flaws at all in the paint, surface finish or
preparation on our TR1, and even the Airoh decal is very nicely applied and,
I think, cool looking. All of the plastic bits work well. As
long as you don't mind the plastic, you're all set.
Score: Some Airoh owners may disagree, but based on
this single example, I'll give the Airoh TR1 an "Excellent" rating for
paint, graphics and overall quality (see the ratings descriptions in the
summary table at the end of the page).
Helmet Fit and Comfort
The Airoh TR1 just feels small overall, and it has a thin plastic shell and
very thin padding, which don't do much for the cause either. I don't
know why Airoh didn't scale up the shell a bit to leave room for more
padding inside, because the padding is really only about 4 mm thick (about
1/8") and between the tight fit and minimal cushioning, I sure wonder how
they get the ECE safety rating. UPDATE: See comments section
below; apparently, the TR1 is homologated as a "Jet" style open-face helmet.
The liner that's in there feels OK; not the most comfy
cushy, but more like plain old cotton or something. Airoh says it's
Coolmax and removable, as are the cheek pads. They also claim that the
liner is "sanitized". Hmmm....
There are no ear pockets to speak of, which means that my
ears get pinned back, making the helmet feel even tighter. Instead of
padding, we get plastic where the ear pockets should be. Ouch.
So, like most high fashion, you'll have to suffer to look
cool. I still like to look cool, and I can't believe I'm saying that
I'll suffer just to do so.
Score: I rate the TR1 a "Poor" for fit and
comfort.
Internal Shape
The TR1 has what I'll have to call a non-normal fit. It just isn't
like the majority of helmets I've tried. It feels very round inside
and very tight.
The top of the helmet feels lower (shorter) than normal, and
the sides are tight, so it's a bit like forcing 3/4 of a youth soccer ball
over my head. I think the sizing runs at least one size smaller than
stated; that is, the XL shown here fits very tight, much like a smallish
size L might on my head.
Inside, the helmet feels like it has a tight band around the
top, gripping my forehead.
The helmet also seems short in both the top-to-bottom and
front-to-rear dimensions. My chin is right up against the back of the
chin bar and the bottom of the helmet seems to sit up above my jaw line.
If I had to do it over, I'd order an XXL.
For more information on motorcycle helmet internal shapes
and selecting and fitting motorcycle
helmets, see the
wBW
Motorcycle Helmet FAQ page.
Score: I give the TR1 a "Poor" rating for its
other-than-average, smaller than normal and tight fit.
The gray slider above the "TR1" rotates the internal sun shade up and down.
The tab for removing the chin guard can be seen to the right of the "TR1"
script.
Airoh TR1, top vents.
Rear exhaust vent.
Airoh TR1 with chin guard removed. The dummy tabs can be seen between
the
helmet and the chin guard. NOTE: The chin guard provides minimal
protection
only and does not offer the same protection as a flip-up or full-face
helmet.
Air Flow
The Airoh TR1 has dual vents on top; each is separately adjustable. The
top of the liner has some mesh openings, and the air flow isn't bad, but is
diminished somewhat by the tight fit of the helmet.
The liner doesn't really have any channels up top that might
allow air to flow over the rider's head, which also limits the amount of air
flow. But overall, it isn't as bad as some.
The removable chin bar is vented, and the air is directed
inside the chin bar on either side of the rider's face. However, my
mouth is pressed so close to the back of the chin bar that it gets rather
stuffy in there.
The helmet has two small exhaust vents in the lower rear of
the shell, designed to match the shape and style of the intake vents up top.
The overall style is very nice and it all just works to make this a
great-looking helmet, in my opinion. But, like most motorcycle helmet
rear exhaust vents, who really knows if they work?
The TR1 is small and short enough that a good volume of air
comes up from underneath, helping to keep things ventilated.
And about that chin bar? Yep, it's removable.
See the video tour below, but the sliders on either side of the helmet
unlock the chin bar and allow it to be pulled from the helmet. Airoh
provides two plastic dummy latches to fill the holes left on either side,
and the TR1 turns into a pretty good imitation of a "jet" style helmet.
I think it looks much cooler with the chin bar in place, but not everyone
will and it's nice to know the option is there and it's easy to do.
Score: I give the Airoh TR1 a "Good" rating for
venting and air flow.
wBW
Video Tour of the Airoh TR1 Helmet
Visor
One of the coolest features of the TR1 has to be the visor. It looks
like something that came from a fighter pilot's helmet. The
polycarbonate is thick and it has lifting tabs molded in on both sides, so
both righties and lefties will rejoice.
Like the rest of the helmet, the visor has style -- this
isn't just a piece of polycarbonate thrown on to keep the bugs out.
For example, the visor is attached on the sides by beautiful machined
aluminum plates that can be removed with an Allen wrench. The lifting
mechanism rotates the visor smoothly but through only 3 detents from fully
closed to fully open.
The big, bubble-shaped clear visor and the eye port conspire
to provide a wonderfully wide view; helped, I think, by the closeness of the
helmet to my face, another artifact of the thin shell, thin liner and small
size. It's wide and high and I can see traffic lights up above with no
problem. Side-to-side vision at stop signs is also enhanced. Why
don't all helmets give this much visibility?
And guess what? The TR1 also has an internally
rotating sun shade. It works via a slider on the left-hand side of the
helmet; the slider has a style coordinated with the vents and the rest of
the helmet.
There is a slight problem in that the helmet fits me so
tightly that the sun shade needs a good, strong tug to engage; I think the
padding is squeezing the sun visor into the helmet shell, making it hard to
move. The sun shade can be stopped at any position though, and I've
been lowering it to just above my
cut-down eyeglasses
to keep out some of the glare from the overhead sun.
Score: I'll give the N94 a "Very Good" for the
quality of the visor and its two lifting tabs and an "Excellent" for
visibility and the internal sun shade.
Weight
The Airoh TR1 in size XL weighs a miniscule 1411 grams (3 lbs. 1-3/4 oz.).
This gives it the unique distinction of being the lightest weight full-face
helmet we've ever reviewed. If, that is, you want to call it a
full-face helmet. I do.
We've learned over time though that helmet weight isn't as
important as we first thought. As long as the helmet is well-balanced,
fits correctly and comfortably and the weight isn't outrageously abnormal,
it's mostly difficult to tell at street speeds the difference a few grams or
more will make.
See the wBW
Motorcycle Helmet Weights page for a chart that compares the weights of
all of the helmets we've reviewed.
Score: The TR1 gets an "Outstanding" when it comes to
light weight, but, like other helmets we've tried, it comes at the expense of some other important
characteristics.
Noise and Aerodynamics
You'd think that with the thin shell, thin padding and smallish overall
shape that the TR1 would be noisy. Well, it isn't the quietest helmet
I've worn, but it really isn't that bad -- certainly nowhere near the noise
levels in the very loud Nolan N94
Casey Stoner replica.
Probably due to its tight fit, the TR1 seems to have about
the same volume of noise whether the rider is behind a windscreen or in the
open. I don't notice any undue turbulence-induced booming noises from
underneath and turning my head side-to-side doesn't change the volume much
either. It's a steady noise alright, but bearable when wearing
earplugs.
Note that perceived noise levels are highly variable and
are based on owner opinions and can vary depending upon the way the helmet
fits. We always wear correctly inserted
earplugs when we ride -- see the wBWEarplugs and Hearing
Protection page for more information on choosing and wearing ear plugs.
Score: I rate the Airoh TR1 as
"Good" when it comes to noise control.
Miscellaneous The TR1's chin strap uses a plastic notched tongue that slides into a
clasp. The lever on top of the clasp is raised to release the strap.
The notches allow some adjustment once the chin strap is secured. A
metal slider allows the chin strap to be lengthened.
Don't forget: Airoh helmets are not distributed in the
U.S.A. (at the time of publication), so you'll have to score one from
Europe. The TR1 does not meet DOT approval for sale in the U.S. at
this time.
Conclusions
Not everyone will agree, and that's fine, but the Airoh TR1 is so different
and, I think, so cool-looking that it's worth the couple of annoyances just
to shock the cruiser-riding neighbors. This helmet was made for
Multistrada owners!
Comments? Send them to
Comments are ordered from most recent to oldest.
From "M.D.": "I thought I would send you an email about
my recent attempt to order an Airoh TR1 helmet from Bikegear UK. This
is more of an informational email for your U.S. readers that may not be
familiar with ordering from overseas and I also wanted to point out
incorrect shipping information that is on the Bikegear UK website (or, maybe
it was my incorrect interpretation of that information).
After seeing your review of the Airoh TR1 helmet, I was
pretty sure it was going to be my next helmet. I thought some of the
issues that you had with your example were from having a size too small, so
I planned on ordering the next size larger. The reader comment from
"N.M." seemed to confirm my thinking.
In any event, I placed an order for a Mat black TR1 helmet
from Bikegear UK and paid via PayPal. Their website lists two
international shipping options:
1) Freight or International quote - I interpreted this as
requesting a quote for the "slow, cheaper" option for shipping to the U.S.
There was no dollar cost for this option since it was for requesting a
quote.
2) Airmail International shipping for $39.18 USD - I figured
this was "more expensive, quicker" shipping and it is the option I chose.
The next business day I received an email from Bikegear
stating that shipping was actually £35 for shipping to the U.S. and I still
owed $40.72 for shipping. After a few emails and using their Live
Online Support chat feature, they stated that the website does ask for quote
for international shipping (true, but it also offers an Airmail option).
In the end, they said the Airmail option was incorrect and they're trying to
fix the problem, but I would still need to pay an additional $40 for
shipping.
If I would have known before hand that shipping was going to
be $80, I probably would have placed the order anyway. But paying one
amount, then being asked to pay double that after placing the order, just
left a bad taste in my mouth. At that point I decided to cancel the
order.
Bikegear UK was helpful in all their emails and their Online
Support chat. After I canceled the order, they refunded my payment via
PayPal almost immediately. I couldn't have asked for better customer
service from that stand point, I just wish they would have better
information regarding shipping to the U.S."
From "N.M": "I really liked your article on the TR1.
I have one TR1 that I use in Northern California, and I thought you might be
interested in my comments.
Definitely the looks are there, and it is a head turner, as
you mentioned. For me specially in Jet mode, without the chin guard,
the looks are even more impressive. I realize now also after seeing
the detailed pictures in your site that I like better the orange/white color
you have, mine is the yellow/white one, but anyways...
I think something important to highlight is that this is a
Jet helmet. Not a full-face helmet at all. TheTR1 chin guard is
actually considered an "accessory" by Airoh. This is what Airoh says
about it: "Attention! The chin guard is an accessory for your Jet
helmet designed to prevent insects or foreign bodies from nearing your face.
For this reason, in the case of an accident, it does not guarantee
protection against all types of impact".
You are very right about the sizes. My normal helmet
is a Shoei RF-1000, which is size Large. If fits me perfectly.
My head is 59cm. My Airoh is an XL, and fits me very well also.
So it is one size larger that expected. Airoh charts (and the sticker
on the helmet) mentions their XL to be for 61-62 cm. But my head is 59
cm and the XL is the correct size for it. So I guess also this is not
a good helmet for very large head sizes at all, as the larger size I think
is now XXL.
I actually love the fit of it. Of course, it is my
head and all are different , but it is an excellent fit. Reading your
article I think most if not all of the fit problems you mention are just
related to it being at least a size too small for you. Everything fits
perfectly for me, except the ears that I would like to have more room,
specially if you are used to Shoei/Arai helmets.
For the chin guard: it has too much ventilation for cold
weather, as its air intakes cannot be closed. I think it's great for
summer, but for winter it gets really cold and there is no way to avoid it
unless you tape the intakes or another trick. Otherwise there is
definitely good ventilation, maybe too much for my taste..
Another thing about the chin guard: it needs to be treated
very gently... Plastic around the chin guard fastening system is very
delicate. Be always very careful if you remove /reinsert the chin
guard multiple times. It cannot be treated as another though full face
helmet. I broke one small piece of plastic on the right side
fastening, but fortunately I could fix it perfectly with some cement.
My favorite: Visibility: really impressive. I think this improves
safety significantly. It is so easy, helped by the helmet low weight
also, to check around you.
Integrated sun screen. Love it. Easy to slide
on-off. Very practical for me. Much better coverage than the Nolan
one. Closer to the face. Goes lower. I wear normally sun
glasses here in northern California and on a 2 hour ride will go
alternatively through dark redwood forest areas, sunny roads, very dense fog
while by the ocean, back to sunny roads, back to forest covered roads, etc.,
and getting my shades on and off so easily with a lever is a blessing.
In my case improves safety also. Thanks again for your reviews and
great site!"
From "A.P.": "Hi there, I write from Italy and I read
all of your helmet reviews. I want to tell you about the Airoh TR1,
that this (helmet does not have) a homologation as a full face helmet in ECE
22.05. (It is homologated as) a "Jet" style helmet. The chin
guard would only protect you from the wind and cold probably. (It's
probably better to compare it to an) open face or modular flip-up helmets
than a full face. Many thanks for your very professional work on
reviews."
Comments are ordered from most recent to oldest.