Shoei J.O2 helmet review

This is a slightly tricky one for us, in that we simply are not huge fans of open-face helmets. Now we not believers in protection just for the sake of protection. Rather, we are believers in equipping motorcyclists with the appropriate level of protection. This is why we don't mindlessly chase AAA-rated garments. Too often they come at the expense of wearability and comfort. And that's why we have not historically been huge advocates of airbags. And why we don't advocate wearing off-road boots for popping down to the shops. Motorcycles are dangerous. Nothing you wear can remove all the risks. And if safety and protection are your sole focus, you might just have to face the reality that motorcycling is not for you. You'll be much safer staying at home, and watching the telly! But all this having been said we have to admit that we do have reservations about open-face helmets. Yes, we understand trying to look cool; and believe me we are well aware of the attraction of having the wind on your hair. But you can do a lot of damage to your face if you come off your bike, even at low speeds; and we just don't fancy the odds. I had a very minor off a couple of years ago. I was barely moving, but hit the ground and ended up sliding down the road on the front of my helmet, which luckily was a full-face one. But what was clear to me was that if I had been wearing an open-face, some reconstructive surgery might well have been called for. And for a period I feel sure that I would have been sipping my lunch through a straw. Now if you come into the shop looking for an open-face helmet we will always have a conversation with you about whether this is your best option. We will always talk about the inherent dangers when you wear an open-face. And we will do this because a lot of youngsters, a lot of those who are new to bikes, and a lot of those who have only taken up motorcycling in order to make a style statement, have never given a second thought to the aforementioned downside. Now maybe it's a moral weakness, maybe it's hypocrisy, maybe it's simply a desire to stay in business, but we have come to the view that we are not going to, point blank, refuse to sell open-face helmets. Some experienced riders know and accept the risks, and so we feel that we can't afford to give people yet another reason not to come and visit us! Anyway, I have now finished my treatise on why you might not want to buy an open-face helmet. So let me now tell you why, if you are going to buy one, that helmet should be the Shoei J.O2. And why, ironically perhaps, you should probably buy it from Motolegends. The orignal JO was always the best open-face helmet on the market. Its replacement, the J.O2, is in every way a Shoei, made to the same standard as the Neotec and the GT Air. And we say this because many motorcyclists believe that all helmets are as protective as one another, because they are all similarly accredited. Let me be clear. That's not the case. Shoei is a major player in MotoGP having shaped, alongside Arai, the new FIM standard as well as ECE 22-06. Remember that 22-06 represents a pass mark. Arai and Shoei test their helmets to a much higher standard. And they then continue to batch test them as they come off the production line in the way that the off-shore factories simply don't. All bikes have to pass the homologation standard, but that doesn't of course mean they're all built to the same standard. Or brake in the same distance! The fact is that most open-face helmets are produced to hit a price point. And that's because most open-face helmets are sold to scooter and moped riders, whose main reason for being on two wheels is often to save money. Apparently, in pricing terms, the hot spot, where most open-face helmets are sold, is £99.99. And given this £350 for the base J.O2 puts it out of kilter with the market. Many bikers will shun it, therefore, as they know they can get a nice-looking, open-face helmet for much less. To find out more about the Shoei J.O2 helmet, click here - https://www.motolegends.com/shoei-j-o... Why not pay us a personal visit? Click here for directions and opening hours - https://www.motolegends.com/customer-... For the latest news and reviews, subscribe to our YouTube channel by clicking here - https://www.youtube.com/user/motolege... To follow us on Facebook, click here -   / motolegendsuk   To follow us on Instagram, click here -   / motolegends_uk