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| Owner Comments (Below)
Editor's Note: We reviewed the
Zeus ZS-08 modular helmet
years ago, and it proved to be one of the best flip-up helmet bargains ever.
Zeus has recently improved their entire helmet lineup for 2008, and H.B.C.
filed this report on the new Zeus ZS-2100 B.
Summary: Intended to go after the top-end
cross-over style of helmet, Zeus has taken a current model and with one
minor addition, created a very viable alternative. Overall quality and
finish is not up to Arai standards, as an example, but from a function
perspective it is very close and even ahead in some areas.
This helmet can hold its own and then some. Its
features and competitive pricing make this cross-over or "Enduro" styled
helmet a real deal.
Origins
The Zeus brand is manufactured by the Gao Jin Industrial Company of Taiwan,
and they have been producing motorcycle helmets since 1988, when they first
started making helmets for the burgeoning Taiwan market.
Expansion came quickly and the company now produces
motorcycle helmets for riders all over the world. Their objective is
to produce "cool and comfortable" motorcycle helmets of "exceptional quality
at reasonable prices with advanced features", according to their website.
The Zeus ZS-2100 street helmet becomes the ZS-2100 "B" model
by virtue of its large peak, good for both touring and off road excursions.
A seemingly sophisticated product, the entire peak unit is aerodynamically
shaped. The peak is easily removed and the fully recessed shield
changed without tools.
The shell is a lightweight thermo-injected alloy (plastic).
The helmet features a full ventilation system with a new larger chin intake
vent, while the interior uses Cool-Weave fabric. Cheek pads and liners
are removable and changeable for a custom fit.
Our test unit was the popular Titanium solid colour.
Discrete in appearance, graphics and markings are limited to a medium-sized
Zeus sticker on the rear and a stylized "Z" logo on the front of the visor.
In this case, minimal is good.
Mixed Signals
The chance to do an evaluation on this helmet came about quite suddenly and
due to limited availability a large was not available. The medium unit
on hand was a tight fit, so an XL was chosen. Somewhat loose along the
bottom half and in the crown area, it did not move around much at all and it
was secure on the head.
In the overall helmet shape hierarchy, the Zeus ZS-2100 B
seems to fall into the neutral zone -- a compromise between oval and round.
For this rider, the Arai RX-7 Corsair is a natural fitting helmet, but in
comparison, the Zeus also fits well without any severe pressure points
(appreciating that this was an XL, one size up from that normally worn).
Equally neutral is sizing; Zeus helmets seem to follow a
very common sizing standard, with all previous Zeus helmets have been large
as well. Sizing consistency seems to have remained through the years
-- not a bad thing. See the wBW
Motorcycle Helmet FAQ page for more information on choosing and fitting
a motorcycle helmet.
Putting on the helmet for the first time identifies the most
glaring issue -- the D-ring assembly strap is short; very short, and the
right hand side strap is far too long. I have to reach up into the
helmet to use the D-ring and if I had larger hands, it would be even more
difficult.
Finding a way to keep the overly long strap out of the way
becomes an issue, albeit a minor one perhaps. The small red elastic
retainer ring located just above the D-ring is hard to access and in any
case, there is far too much strap to get it cleanly tucked out of the way.
A shorter strap and a snap connector would solve this problem.
Given all the other pluses of this helmet, and as we did
have an early release unit, the harness issues were fed back directly back
to the Zeus representative by the dealer. Hopefully the shortfall will
be quickly addressed.
The rest of the experience is positive. The helmet
goes on smoothly, and the liner material is soft and encompassing. The
ear cutouts are generous; good for comfort, glasses and installing a
headset. The larger shell sizing and shape of the chin bar provides
extra chin room up front as well.
The Cool Weave fabric liner is plush and comfortable and
should provide good cooling properties. The removable liner pieces fit
snugly together inside the shell. All in all, the interior of the
helmet is a pretty comfortable environment.
Air Management
As with many other size XL helmets, the shell is quite large but the shape
of the helmet seems pretty conducive in providing smooth air flow and
reducing noise levels. The side indents actually seem to help in
minimizing lateral noise by channeling air up alongside the helmet rather
than just around the bottom edges.
The front chin bar has a fairly distinct spoiler shape on
the bottom edge and while there is no pull-down chin spoiler for additional
protection, the shape works well
Ventilation
The front intake vent is large but its shape fits well into the overall
helmet design. This vent is controlled by a simple slide located on
the inside panel that controls how much air flows into the helmet via the
two interior vent holes. The lower vent hole is wide but narrow while
the top one is much smaller and oval in shape.
Both these vents are located so as to flow air into the
helmet around the chin and nose areas. Some of this intake air also
flows down around the bottom of the helmet, helping to offset external air
turbulence and draw air from the helmet. The upper air flow moves
across the shield and gets pulled into the top liner ports located in the
brow piece of the helmet.
These two small brow vents help pull air up across the visor
and the front of the face and then across the inside top of the helmet.
This flow reduces moisture build-up or misting, and feeds additional fresh
air to the front top of the helmet, to the degree desired, as controlled by
the intake slider.
On the topside, two exterior stick-on vent pieces provide
additional air intake control. Each black plastic molding has a simple
three position slide control: forward is closed, middle is partially open,
and fully back is closed.
Although the vent moldings appear sturdy, the slider control
is pretty flimsy and the settings hard to feel. In their defense
though, the two top vents do provide a noticeable increase in air flow in
the top of the helmet, especially when the ambient air temperature is around
0C/32F -- we could only hope the air would feel that refreshing at 30C
(86F)!
Zeus ZS-2100 B (left) compared to Arai XD-3
Zeus ZS-2100 B and Arai XD-3
The Peak of Perfection
The peak on the Zeus ZS-2100 B is a very distinguishing feature of the
helmet. Although similar in size to the peak on the Arai XD (wBW
review), it is a bit wider and definitely higher in profile. Some
individuals remarked that it was somewhat obtrusive, but obtrusive or not,
it is extremely effective.
Even though wider and higher in profile than the Arai XD
peak, the Zeus ZS-2100 B peak does not "catch" as much air, mainly due to
its aggressive shape, multiple large cutouts and increased clearance between
the peak and helmet surfaces.
As with any peak of this type, shade and rock protection
should be good as well, something always appreciated, especially when
travelling through varying light conditions or following someone down a
gravel road at speed.
The peak is removed by unscrewing three large plastic
screws, one on the top and one on each side. Unlike other cross-over
helmets, removing the visor on this model does not impact shield integrity,
as integrated but separate mounting mechanisms are used.
Many will see the peak mounting approach taken as simplistic
and others as a cost-cutting move, but no matter the reasoning, it just
works. This is actually a major plus for the Zeus ZS-2100 B, as
converting the Arai XD is an overly complicated procedure that needs to be
addressed.
Noise Levels
Without taking any formal noise readings, the Zeus is as quiet, or quieter
than the Arai XD and very close to the Nolan 102 (wBW
review), a helmet that, in my opinion, works extremely well behind what
is one of the best windscreens ever put on a motorcycle, that being the BMW
R1200GS Adventure (wBW
article).
Little or no air turbulence is felt, or heard around the
bottom of the helmet, due in part to its slippery shape and (possibly) the
channeling inserts along the sides of the helmet. While the visor
makes itself felt with a slight air tug now and then, it does not create
turbulence of its own.
With earplugs in place, there were no obtrusive low
frequency vibrations or air pressure changes felt in the ear, which
typically means that air flow is being well managed by the helmet and that
the interior is being sealed to the degree needed, and sounds dampened.
A poor fitting helmet, along with poor air management along
the bottom edges can contribute significantly to noise levels and greatly
decrease overall rider comfort and ability to focus on the ride. See
the wBW
Hearing
Protection and Earplug page for more information about
choosing and wearing earplugs.
Removing the peak makes virtually no difference in noise
levels; a testament to its design. Air flow across the aerodynamic
front remains steady and minimal turbulence is felt, even during a short
road ride on a standard motorcycle (sans windscreen, fairing or spoiler).
Visor
The clear visor fits snugly against the gasket around the front opening of
the helmet providing a good seal. The visor was somewhat stiff to use,
both due to its newness and minimal clearances between the helmet, the visor
and the side of the peak. With the peak removed, the visor moves with
much less friction.
The clear visor on the ZS-2100 B is solid and did not seem
to have any optical imperfections. Removing the peak provides access
to the visor mounting system, which is a ratchet style mechanism with a
small release tab, similar to many other generic mounting systems.
To remove it, open the visor fully, and push down the two
small tabs on the lower end of each side assembly, align the two tangs that
are part of the centre hole molding on the visor with the slots on the
centre bezel of each side assembly and pull each side straight out.
Reverse this process for assembly, and make sure the two
tabs are moved back up to the locking position. Six position settings
are available: closed, four detents; and, fully open. As noted, the
whole assembly is pretty stiff, requiring some force to open or close the
shield, although the left-of-centre visor tab is easy to feel and use
safely.
Visibility
The front cut-out profile of the helmet provides good visibility and there
are no lateral blind spots per se, even with the wide peak installed.
As good as this helmet is in the visibility department, it still falls short
of the Arai XD which provides even better visibility, front and laterally.
Weight
The helmet weighs in at 1680 grams (3.37 lbs), about 30 grams heavier than
the base ZS-2100, due to the peak being added. Using the wBW
Motorcycle Helmet Weights chart, this puts it in 58th spot of 87, pretty
good, especially considering the shell size. The ZS-2100 B is actually
lighter than the original Arai XD and in the neighborhood of the
GMAX
GM68S, the
Bell Sprint and lighter than the
Arai XD and the
HJC CL-XS,
another "Enduro" styled helmet.
Nits-N-Picks
| What I Like |
What I Don't |
-
Quality and value is very good.
-
The helmet is quiet.
-
Excellent visor, it works well in
managing air over the helmet, provides shade and protection
and, is easily removed and carried separately for use as
needed.
|
-
There is no length adjustment
possible on the D-ring side (like Nolan provides).
-
Top exterior intake vent
mechanism is flimsy, a more positive detent is needed for
settings.
-
Shield is stiff and difficult to
open easily, friction points evident.
|
Conclusion
Even though the Zeus ZS-2100 B helmet was only available for a short period
of time, it worked well.
Overall the helmet is well designed, well made and
comfortable (although final judgment on that cannot be made until the proper
size needed is available). As a cross-over or dual-sport helmet, it
emulates the best and works almost as well. It is, simply put, not just a
deal, but a really good deal.
My overall rating: good, bordering on excellent.
Editor's Note: We have not yet been able
to determine when the ZS-2100 B will be released in the U.S. market.
Comments are ordered from most recent to oldest.