Shark RSX "Intense"
by Rick for webBikeWorld.com
More:
Shark RSX "Eagle" Owner's Report by "Mr. Monk"
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Background
We published an Owner Report on the Shark RSX
in December of 2007, submitted by "Mr. Monk", who really liked his RSX in
the "Eagle" graphics designed for the U.S. market.
The helmet looked and sounded pretty impressive, and since
I'm a big fan of Shark helmets and I've been looking for a new helmet
anyway, I decided to take a closer look at the Shark lineup
during my visit to the 2008 Powersports Dealer Expo back in February.
I always make it a point when I'm at the show to stop by for a chat with
Shark's Export Director
Christophe Miravalls to see what's new, and this time I planned on using the opportunity to try
on a few different Shark helmets for myself.
But first I had to decide on a size. I'm at the upper end of a size large, with a head
circumference that I measure at 60.5 cm with the tape held snug. This
sometimes causes a problem, because that measurement often falls between a large and an extra-large
in most of the helmet size charts.
I usually choose an XL, especially if the helmet has a neutral fit, because I need
the extra room on the sides. The widest part of my head is over my
ears, and a too-narrow helmet can really squeeze my cheeks. Some
helmets make me feel like my head is in a C-clamp, which, as you can imagine, gets pretty
painful after an hour or so!
But the problem with many of the XL helmets I've tried is they
can tend to be a little loose in the rear or on top. This is also a
concern, because a perfect fit would feel snug all around, and it's
important to have a secure fitting helmet to allow the padding to remain as
close as possible to my head to get as much reduction in force as possible
during a crash.
Christophe took a couple of measurements and he declared me
a size large, so I rolled up my sleeves and dove right in, determined to
find my next "perfect" helmet.
Now visiting the Shark booth at the Dealer Expo is like
being a kid (or adult) let loose in a chocolate shop -- everything looks fantastic and I
don't know which one to grab first and I want one of each!
But I remembered
that the Shark RSI we reviewed is
a long oval shape, which unfortunately just doesn't fit my "earth" shaped
skull, so I passed on that one and tried on a couple of different
Shark RSR2 (review) helmets in
various colors, and they felt pretty good. Then I picked up this RSX in the "Intense" graphic pattern
shown here, and when I tried it on and discovered it felt great, I was sold.
So the RSX was placed into full-time service back in March, and I've
been wearing it ever since. I just went back and re-read Mr. Monk's
Owner Report on his RSX Eagle, and I have to say that his review is spot-on.
I really can't add much more, but can only reiterate his findings in this,
my long-term update report, which I've abbreviated from a normal full
webBikeWorld review.
Paint, Graphics and Quality
The paint and graphics on the RSX in the "Intense" graphics shown here are
outstanding. I think it's probably the highest quality finish I've ever
seen on a helmet. The photos don't do it justice -- the black "tribal"
graphics really do look like they're sticking out from the helmet with a 3-D
effect.
The overall build quality is also perfect -- Shark is one of
the most popular motorcycle helmets in Europe, and, in fact, was the
top-selling new brand distributed by Tucker Rocky in the U.S. in 2007, and
for good reason. Their reputation for quality and for breakthrough
technologies in safety are second to none.
This RSX feels like it's carved from piece of billet. Everything works just as it should and it feels like it
will last a long time.
Liner
The liner is very comfortable and has thick padding. Both the cheek
pads and the liner are removable and washable, and different sized cheek
pads are available for a custom-tailored fit. Since I'm between sizes,
I ordered a set of XL cheek pads, which are thinner than the size L cheek
pads that come with the size L helmet.
Remember that ordering extra cheek pads is counterintuitive;
you have to think about what size you want to make the inside of the helmet.
In this case, I wanted to go from a size L to XL in the cheek pads.
The XL cheek pads are thinner, not thicker, as you might think.
The RSX feels great when I slip it on. The original cheek pads were just a touch too snug, but
the replacements are perfect.
The helmet has large ear pockets that are also lined, and although I
haven't yet installed a set of intercom speakers, I'm sure there will be
adequate room. Even though the helmet fits snugly, I can still loop my
metal framed eyeglasses over my ears.
Fit
The RSX is just a touch on the neutral side of round. It's not as
round as the Arai Quantum II; I'd say the RSX and the
Shoei RF-1000 (review) have
a nearly identical fit. The RSX feels great, and I've worn it for a
few hours at a stretch with no problems.
What's important is that it feels snug, yet I don't feel any
pressure points. This gives me more confidence that the helmet truly
is a perfect fit and that it can do its job of protecting my head in case of
a crash, without excess space causing too much acceleration before my head
meets the padding.
Shark is very committed to safety and technology -- their
display booth always has videos and dissected helmets showing the various
technologies they use to improve protection. The RSX meets both DOT
and ECE 22.05 safety standards.
Be sure to visit the wBW
Motorcycle Helmet FAQ page for more information on choosing and fitting
a motorcycle helmet and for a description of the various head shapes.
Venting
I was a little concerned about how much air might flow through the vents on
the RSX, because the
chin vent and top vent seem on the small side. But now that the
temperatures are averaging in the high 80's, I'm very pleased to report that
the vents actually work very well, and they do so with a minimum amount of
noise.
The top vent works via a spring-loaded click mechanism;
press down on the little bar that sticks up towards the back of the vent to
open, and press down in the center of the vent to close it. It feels
very solid and secure and the mechanism is a tight fit with no unwanted play.
The chin vent also works with a spring-loaded click; press
once to open and again to close. The chin bar has two air passageways
in back, through the thick padding, which allow air to pass through to the
rider's face, above the small chin curtain.
We weren't able to publish a video of the RSX when Mr. Monk
submitted his report, but we have one now (below) that illustrates the
operation of the vents.
Overall, I'm pleased with the venting -- and I agree with
Mr. Monk -- the helmet passes more air than I thought it would and I'd say
it actually flows more air than the majority of helmets I've worn.
Visor
Mr. Monk described it perfectly -- the visor on the RSX is great. It
uses a friction system which provides an infinite adjustability for raising
or lowering the visor. It's very easy to remove; turn the little metal
lever that looks like a "comma" so that it's in line with the slot cut into
the visor, lift the visor slightly (no need to raise it all the way) and
push the button while you pull the visor out.
To replace it, simply pop it back on the button and turn the "comma" lever
90 degrees. The little "comma" lever can be tightened if necessary to
adjust the friction, but mine was set perfectly from the factory and I
haven't touched it since I opened the box.
The visor also has a snap at the bottom, which can be seen in the photo
above, to hold it secure during high-speed runs or over-the-shoulder head
checks.
Shark is the only helmet manufacturer I know of that uses a
3 mm thick visor. This is a full 33% thicker than most visors; Shark
claims to use Formula 1 technology in their visor, and I'll bet this one can
withstand a lot more impact than lesser visors. We measured this one
at an actual 3.2 mm, which is very stout.
But the visor has perfect optical qualities, so you'll never
notice the difference. There are no imperfections or waviness
anywhere; just a solid, thick piece of polycarbonate to protect your eyes.
Noise
The RSX is surprisingly quiet, especially considering the amount of air it
flows. Noise from the vents is very minimal, although there can be
some turbulence-induced noise around the bottom of the helmet under some
conditions, like when riding behind a short windscreen. This is
variable and depends on the rider, the bike and even the type of clothing
the rider is wearing. But overall, I'd say the RSX is slightly less
noisy than average.
See the wBW
Earplugs and Hearing
Protection page for more information and a list of earplug reviews that
we've posted on the site.
Helmet Weight
The RSX shown here in size large weighs 1553 grams (3 lbs., 6-3/4 oz.).
This is relatively light and the helmet feels perfectly balanced. Like
Mr. Monk, I feel no undue turbulence when riding or during head checks.
For more information on motorcycle helmet weights, visit the wBW
Motorcycle Helmet Weights page to compare the weights of all helmets reviewed on webBikeWorld.
Eye Port
This is the one feature of the Shark RSX that may be bothersome to some
riders. The eye port on the RSX is about average in the top-to-bottom
dimension, but the sides of the eye port are cut forward
slightly, which reduces side-to-side (peripheral) vision more than some of
its competitors.
This bothered me slightly at first, but I've become used to
it, and installing the thinner cheek pads has helped. The thicker
cheek pads squeezed my cheeks more, which would cause my eyes to
involuntarily squint when I turned my head to check for traffic.
This may only be an issue for me with my round shaped head,
but it's something to note. I can only guess that the eye port is
slightly narrower due to something that has to do with the safety features
of the overall design.
Conclusion
Again, I agree with Mr. Monk's findings and conclusion right down the line.
The Shark RSX is a relatively expensive helmet, but this is top-of-the-line
quality, made by one of the most respected names in motorcycle helmets.
It's no wonder why Shark is becoming one of the best selling high-end
helmets in the U.S.A.
| Product
Review: Shark RSX Motorcycle Helmet |
|
|
| Available
From: Shark
Helmets and
Shark U.S.A. |
Suggested
Retail Price: $479.99 |
| Colors: Solids and
graphics. Sizes: XS to XXL, two shell sizes. |
Made
in: "100% Made in Europe", according to the label. |
| Ratings Scale:
For reference, our ratings scale is subjective and ranges
from unacceptable to poor, good, very good, excellent and
outstanding. |
| Product
Comments: Warranted for 5 years. Review Date:
December 2007; July 2008 |
Comments? Send them to
Comments are ordered from most recent to oldest.
From "B.G.": "I’ve just spent my first week in my new Shark
RSX, finally retiring my trusty, but old, Shoei RF900.
My initial impressions largely mirror yours and Mr. Monk’s, in
all except noise, oddly enough. I always wear earplugs (currently use some
custom made a couple of years ago in NZ, at a race meeting) so comparisons are
reasonable between my Shoei, a KBC VR-1 I also use, and the Shark.
I think my old Shoei is quieter, for some reason. The
Shark is quieter than the KBC though. I ride a 2004 Speed Triple, so
absolutely no protection from the wind blast (except the riding position now,
clip-ons have replaced the standard bars), and it doesn’t matter whether I’m
flat on the tank or crouched in the normal riding position, the noise is the
same.
Not excessive, by any means, but not as quiet as I had expected
given your description(s). I guess it does go to prove that there’s no
hard and fast rule for helmet noise, or the lack of it.
I love the fact that I can turn my head with no appreciable
movement of the helmet on my head, which may just be a function of the improved
fit and snugness over the old (and probably a bit sacked out) Shoei, but the KBC
does move around a bit too. I just think the fit of the Shark is better.
Perhaps the weight is a factor too.
Air flow definitely feels good, although here in South Florida
in the middle of summer, nothing helps when it’s 90 degrees on the highway every
afternoon! I certainly arrive home with a less sweaty scalp though, so I
guess it does have a drying effect, if not a cooling one. A pity my
perforated leather jacket doesn’t do the same.
Thanks for the great writing and detailed reviews – your site is
unique."
From "D.M." (7/08): "Thanks for the Shark RSX helmet
follow-up review. I purchased the RSX Holoyang on the strength of all the
positive Shark helmet reviews and the Mr. Monk piece
on your site.
I bought the helmet at Motoneko (best price I could find) in
Maryland through the web without trying it on. I know, I know. You
should try it on first. Well...I took a chance, measured my head multiple
times and went for it.
Now I have about 750 miles on this helmet and am surprised how
little I think about the helmet on my head. That's how much I like it.
It fits my XL oval head true to size with the standard pads, a little snug on
the cheeks, but that's the way it should be.
The Holoyang graphics are cooler than what I had seen online.
I also purchased the chrome mirror shield later, which is excellent in full sun
and in lower light. The thick shield inspires confidence. The
venting is sufficient, but I find myself partially opening the shield at slower
speeds in high heat. I honestly feel as though my money was well spent.
Thanks again for the research and information on your site."
