Long term mini review: budget bike gear.

Well, I was riding home tonight, and just thinking about my next helmet.
It got me wondering about the gear I currently own, so I thought I'd
share those thoughts with you lot.

Helmet.

Nitro N60, cheap and cheerful when I bought it, about £70 IIRC, and this
is now in its third year of use. By far the longest I have ever used a
lid. It's just about the quietest, and by far the most comfortable. It
is showing signs of wear now, and needs replacing, but it's like those
knackered shoes that you can't bear to throw out. I'm loathed to change
it, simply because it does fit so well.

It has excellent ventilation too, although from the start the visor has
never quite fitted the shell snugly, and does let a little rain in
through the top. Not a serious issue though.

Would I have another? Absolutely. A fibre lid for that price, with
comfort, low noise level, and long life too. Excellent.

Clothing.

I bought a set of Rev'it textiles year before last, again at the cheapy
level, although the suit was still just a gnats over £200. This has been
in use all year round since then, and has been used more than not during
the worst weather. I normally use leathers in the summer, but last years
weather was bad enough that I wore these during the summer too - they
don't have ventilation though, so not much use on a hot day.

They only leaked once, after over a year of use, during a torrential
downpour for about half an hour, but a quick treatment with NikWax wash
in water proofer fixed that. I even used them subsequently in a very bad
downpour last autumn without a leak at all - it was so bad the bike was
misfiring.

They are usable in a wide variety of conditions, as they have nice thick
thermal liners, which are so warm that you only need to put a jumper on
in extreme conditions. You can wear just a T shirt down to freezing on
short journeys.

I've just finished my second winter with these, and although they don't
need replacing yet, I would heartely recommend them, and definitely look
for buying these again.

The conditions that these have been used in have been pretty hard. I
commute from Durham to Newcastle every day, which is some 44 miles round
trip. Over a year I can top 10,000 miles of commuting round the North
East's worst traffic, and some of the heaviest road gritting I have ever
seen. These garments have suffered a lot.

 

I took my Nitro N500-V apart when I got my Uvex and wasn't impressed
with one or two things. The first of which was the veltilation, or lack
of it. Half of one of the front vent holes seemed to be uncovered, and
none of the top vent holes lined up either. The amount of sticky and
masking tape was a bit alarming too, as was the method of fixing the non
working vents to the shell.

I'd have to look very carefully at another Nitro before I bought one
again.

 

Bear said...

Nitro sell millions of helmets worldwide and are currently the biggest
selling helmet in Europe. I personally sell thousands of them a year on
my patch alone. It's taken me since October '05 to muster 12 returns to
fill 2 boxes and send them back to the warehouse. Not one of them was
returned for a safety related issue. We have a warranty action rate
lower than 0.01%, not bad for anything that is mass produced. Most of
the time this is for silly things like damaged vents or ratchet mechs,
which I replace FOC for customers in the shop.

No helmet looks pretty when it's cut apart and even the pricier ones
have the vents plastic welded into the shell in exactly the same manner
as ours. You'll find masking tape holding liner trim in place as part of
the build proceedure in £400 helmets because masking tape's adhesive is
one of the few things that won't attack the inner polystyrene liner.
Bear in mind that Muck's fibreglass N500/510 with removeable/washable
liner, flush fitting visor, double D-ring strap fixing etc retailed at
50 quid. Consider that it has been that price for 4 years and you
realise they work out as excellent value for money. This is especially
true when compared to the spec of the lower range Japanese made helmets
with their fixed liners and pod style visor mechs. The overall fit and
finish of the Japanese helmets is a little better, but is it really £150
- £200 better?

It's a shame Muck feels that way about his Nitro, but it has to be said
he's in a very small minority. If he wants a much better made helmet,
he'll have to dig a damn sight deeper into his pockets next time he's in
the market for a new lid.

 

Andy Hewitt said...

N600 or N610, same thing different graphics.

Nice

Be quick, dealers are running out of them fast. They're being dropped
from the range.

 

In uk.rec.motorcycles, Lozzo belched forth and ejected the following:

What are they replacing them with?

 

(Andy Hewitt) wrote in message

<snip>

Isn't insomnia great? I worked late-ish tonight and got home at about
10.30 or so. Fell asleep watching TV and woke up at 3.30. Can't sleep
now...

Well.... I probably do somewhere in the region of 15-20k miles a year
and have done for the last 4 years or so with my work commute.

Here's my list:

Winter Helmet: Arai RV
I suppose I'm sold on the brand. I've been using Arai helmets for seven
or so years, before that I used Kiwi helmets and other stuff around the
100- mark. Before that Stadium IIRC... Anyway, the Arai helmets seem
to stand up well to daily use and is comfortable. They are noisy
though.

Summer Helmet: Arai SZ
This is an open face with a full face visor (which can be left open.
Supremely comfortable. I'm on my second now. I really like these
helmets, they are fucking expensive though since from memory they cost
more than the RV. They make you look like a BMW riding **** though.

Jacket: Cheap Triumph textile jacket
Bought at the NEC 3.5 years ago for 70 quid. *Still* going strong.
It's got a little armour and plenty of pockets. The velcro is starting
to suffer a bit. It's still pretty much waterproof. Probably on the
list to be replaced but it is the best jacket I've owned.

Winter Trousers: Shoei textile
Bought at J&S two years ago. Starting to let in a very little water
when it hammers down with rain for >30 minutes. Cost about 120-, they
have stood up well to the use. Probably on the list to be replaced...
for next winter.

Summer Trousers: No brand leathers
Bought about 7 years ago. No armour at all. Cheap (50-) and cheerful.
I might replace them as the stitching is starting to fail but they
basically do the job well.

Gloves: Held something
Bought at the NEC this year from BigJ. About 40 quid and they are good
for a simple unlined glove. They've got a rubber blade stitched into
one finger which means I don't need to cock around with a v-wipe any
longer (which is nice)

Leathers: Shoei two piece
Bought about six years ago. Not used since I sold the 9r. The Shoei
stuff crashes well.

Winter boots: Altberg
Can't remember what model. I ordered clubmans but these wouldn't fit my
calves and they couldn't make them any larger (note I've a muscular
frame, it's not 'cos I'm a fat bastard). They ended up taking another
model and then adding goretex lining to them and making them to measure.
Cost about 200 quid. These don't let in any water. Very good boots,
well insulated as well.

Summer boots: Daytona Winner
Cost about 200quid. Very comfortable and light. Also quite waterproof,
but not as much as the altbergs. Would buy again, but probably won't
need to in a hurry. About 2 years old (I think)

Ipod
Cost nothing, got given it at a trade show. It's one of the fourth
generation ones. Absolutely necessary for boring commutes. The MMI
isn't as good as the second generation which had the classic four
buttons above the 'wheel'.

Headphones
Sony something in-ear headphones. Fit comfortably under helmet. Not
particularly sensitive when compared to the apple original ones.

Attitude:
Yes, I do own this road, now get the **** out of the way before I am
forced to undertake you. Officer.

 

I know, they're good for the price. I would by a polycarb one though,
not another composite one. A working veltilation system, and stronger
side plates will be what I'll be looking for.

 

As the warehouse monkey generally responsible for dealing with
warranty returns, I can confirm this. Cheap they most certainly are;
nasty they are not. Factory testing is extensive, to which the
inestimable Mr. Varnsverry has attested on several occasions.

 

I'd still expect a £50 lid to have some form of working ventilation.
Prove to me that the veltilation has improved, and I'll consider buying
Nitro again. I'll even bring the shell along to BOSM, and you can see
for yourself.

 

Muck said...

You're the only person I've known complain about the lack of venting in
a Nitro. If anything, people complain because there's too much and it
can get a bit chilly in winter.

 

The air must come from the under chin area, and exit past the visor seal
somewhere, because it sure isn't exiting through the shell any place.

 

Bad form and all... but..

tell a lie... The one vent in the middle on the chin peice does seem to
actually let some air through.

 

In uk.rec.motorcycles, Muck belched forth and ejected the following:

Open the fucking visor then.

It's caked up with flies, you ****.

 

You have to, or it mists up something cronic. The cracked side plates
let one end of the visor ping off at random intervals for that fresh air
feeling.

More like not even drilled with holes to let air in, or not lined up
properly.

 

Muck said...

So replace the fuckers then. Hardly rocket science for a man doing a
mechanical engineering degree, is it?

 

You're an equipment-abusing animal. Buy a Uvex if you want a
mist-free lid.

For £50 for a fibreglass helmet, you can afford ten minutes with a
Dremel to improve ventialtion if that's your thing.

FWIW, the Nitro lids I've tried have been very good all round,
especially considering their price point.

 

Replace the plates / visor on an old worn out lid, or get a £300 one for
£100. It's economics, not mechanical engineering.

 

I did buy a Uvex, you know that. What's that abusing comment about? That
meant to touch a nerve or something? Not even anywhere near.

Yes, they are, agree 100%, I'm pointing out that why have spend money on
fitting vents with little screws through the shell, if you're not
actually going to use them for anything but looks and increasing wind
noise? Surely it'll not be that hard to sort it?

I'm not calling Nitro lids crap, or calling into question Loz. I'm just
telling what I see when I took it apart, and spent the last few years
riding round with the thing on my head.

 

The N510 shell is vented at the chin, cheeks and brow. The bit on the
back is more of a "feature" than a vent, although AFAIK it should
function. Personally I find helmet vents noisy; if I want fresh air,
I crack the visor open a bit.

 

Replacement ratchet mechanisms are available. Ask me nicely and I
might be able to bring a spare set to BoSM, if you're going.