Bonneville America Forums Forums Rider Safety Forums Helmets and Gear Shoei X-Eleven versus RF-1000

Does anyone have the Shoei X-Eleven or RF-1000 or even the TZ-R? How good are they? How do the compare? How quiet are they?

I ride with an Memphis Shades Alleycat windshield. Would either of these helments get good enough venting for use during 95+ degree summer days? I commute daily, 10 miles in traffic, 5 miles on the Interstate, each way.

Is the X-Eleven worth the extra $180 over the RF-1000?

Tom, I use the RF-1000 on a daily basis and have been very pleased with the purchase. I tried the X-eleven and decided the RF was plenty for me. The helmet is a little noisy, especialy with all the vents open. However, it sure flows a lot of air at speed. I ride in Souther MS with ambient temps at 95 to 100 degrees and 80 to 90% humidity...it does fine in really hot weather. There is no low res booming from under the helmet but I do get the occasional tea kettle whistle if the wind hits it just so. It is very light and holds up well. One warning, replacement shields are pretty $$$$.

I have used the RF-1000 for over 3 years and 34k miles now, and could not ask for more out of a helmet.

I look at it as a helmet "system" - offering crash protection, comfort, and weather protection, and probably a lot more if I wanted to go in to it. I smile inwardly every time I get caught out in the rain in it, because it really works so well.

Vented well, it dissipates any fogging quickly with just a slight crack of the shield. I have no noise complaints although I thought it was more quiet (wind noise) before I added a fly screen to the bike.

My shield is fine, after 34k+ mostly running around Houston, Tx with all the major road work we have going on around here. Barring anything unexpected, I will not be requireing a new shield before I retire the helmet, and when I do retire her, it will likely be for another of the same.

The liner has held up perfectly, and although other than cheek pads it is not removable, it cleans easily with a damp cloth, and a light dose of Fabreze keeps any odor at bay. Really.

$300 I paid for it in 2004 (Cycle Gear), and have not seen it for sale for less than $350 since. That sounds like a lot for a helmet, but consider how many hours your head might be in it, and if it works, and is comfortable (you never hesitate to pull it on for any ride - that = comfort to me), it really is a bargain. That said, I could not justify $500-600 for a helmet as I can not imagine anything being that much better than what I already have.

Travelling 100 mph for 34k miles would be 340 hours with my head in that helmet, and considering traffic and red lights, etc., I may not have averaged 30 mph....that is a lot of time in there. If the shoe fits, you will wear it, if it hurts to wear it, you won't.

We bought my wife a Scorpion Exo-200 - a 3/4 with a full-face shield (no chin-bar), and the quality and fit represents exactly the $130 we paid for it. No comparison. Even the chin-strap on the RF-1000 is worth paying an extra $100 for.