Her Favorite Color is Chrome!
Written: Sep 21 '04 (Updated Sep 21 '04)
|
Product Rating:
|
|
|
Pros: Looks really good, way comfy, and if it's not, you can adjust it.
Cons: Chrome damages easily, padding leaves stupid-looking dots on my forehead.
The Bottom Line: If you want a sharp looking helmet, and have clear weather, buy it! The non-chrome version would be great.
|
|
|
| hularider's Full Review: KBC VX-7 Wolf Helmet |
For the first three years of my motorcycling, I've worn the cheapest DOT/Snell approved helmets I could find. Because of the amount of riding I do, they get pretty thrashed in a year, so I generally buy myself a new one each birthday.
Then, in February, my Honey bought me my "engagement bike," a beautiful silver and blue piece of "movable art." Since the bike came with a coupon for a big discount on gear, I decided to spend it on a more comfortable helmet. As my eyes swept the racks of helmets, they were stopped by the brilliant reflections off a CHROME lid! Shades of "Her Favorite Color is Chrome!" It was a perfect match for the metallic silver of my new ride. I was thrilled!
Slooooooowly I pulled it on . . . . siiigh - it fit! SOOOO much more comfy than previous helmets!
I had to have it. With my new bike coupon added to my preferred customer discount, I ended up paying about $150 for the new topper.
Over the past 6,000 miles, I have been MOSTLY delighted with my new purchase. I have not "crash tested" it, so I can't speak to that. But it is comfy, good looking, unusual enough that people SEE it as they drive by me (do get used to Darth Vader jokes, though).
The visor stays put most of the time. It is relatively easy to remove and replace. I also really like the little snap on the chin strap, so the end does not flap around.
The removable pads can be adjusted and mooshed to give a truly custom fit, though I think technically that will negatively impact the DOT and Snell ratings.
There are actually several small downs, though they are worth putting up with in exchange for the comfort, but if a comparable helmet came out - same price, comfort, and good looking, I would buy that one and compare the two.
While the pads are way comfy for a head shaped like mine, even with a do-rag, they leave little DOTS on my forehead. That makes me feel REALLY DORKY!!! So I make a point of having my do-rag down over my forehead, or else I wear a bandana around my forehead.
The vent covers are flimsy, and the first time I pulled it on, I accidentally pressed on one, and it cracked around where the posts hold it up off the vent.
The biggest problem I find with the helmet, though, is that if you want it to look nice, you can't wear it in the rain. I live in a place where we get over 200 inches per YEAR!!! SHEEEESH!!!
The first time I wore it and it started raining, water got in under the edges of the film that makes the chrome look so shiny, and lifted it right off! Now I have what looks like pink tomato mosaic virus crawling around on my helmet! I'll be putting reflective tape over the unsightly marks - cut it into pretty decals that will offer more conspicuity. But I think it should not be something that happened.
When I contacted my dealer, they contacted the manufacturer said I would have to ship it back to them for them to look at it and see what was wrong. My dealer offered to loan me the helmet they loan out for test rides, but I declined that. I didn't want to stick my head in someone else's stinky cooties - and I felt the manufacturer should have just replaced the helmet and then taken the damaged one back for examination. So, do note that if something goes wrong with the helmet, there is not much manufacturer support.
Recommended:
Yes
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
hularider
|
|
Member: Leilehua Yuen
Location: Hilo, Hawaii, USA
Reviews written: 69
Trusted by: 8 members
About Me:
HulaRider is an author, artist, and educator who specializes in Hawaiian culture and arts.
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.