Helmet fit is extremely subjective, so always try any lid on (or other biking gear) before you buy. I find the Savage to be very comfortable with no pressure points; If anything it’s perhaps slightly on the large side for me, but not to the extent that I’d consider going down to a small. As the average head shape varies around the world, some manufacturers make different shaped lids for different regions; besides the fact you won’t have a useful warranty, it’s not recommended to buy a helmet from overseas. A. Maybe, maybe not. If they share the same Bluetooth brand, it should be okay. Also, sometimes two helmet makers might seem to use different Bluetooth brands when they’re actually made by the same company, so pairing might be possible. The problem is that it’s often difficult to find out who makes what, especially with cheaper helmets. It’s also great to see that it’s manufactured in four different shell sizes. That’s just what you want to see with a premium priced helmet like the J-Cruise 2 and means the helmet you buy should be well optimised for fit, size and safety. The new EXO-COM BlueTooth Communicator Kit allows you to connect to other riders, your mobile device, and to your music. The powerful Bluetooth 5 processor chipsets provide outstanding DynaMESH intercom capabilities that keep you connected by auto-reorganizing the MESH network as your riding group moves and even reconnects to riders who rejoin the group.

First up, and in a similar vein to the J-Cruise II – and even more practical – is the Nolan N40-5 GT. It’s a supremely versatile modular helmet that can be converted into a jet by fully removing the chin bar. The best of both worlds! Sena Savage The Sena Savage works as a great quality classic open face helmet and it works as a bluetooth headset too… mostly. Sena has kept the outside of the helmet nice and clean and minimal. There’s one large jog/dial button (volume/play/pause/pairing/voice config/scan) and a phone button on there (answer/end/speed dial/pairing/radio on/off) and that’s it. Input is using a glove-friendly dial and phone button Depending on how proficient you are with stuff like that, that’ll be either a walk in the park or – as a couple of owners found – a real pain in the arse. There's one major problem with this helmet; you are forced to use the LS2 proprietary communication system. The actuator to work the face shield is located right where you would install any other system. This makes it awkward, if not impossible, to use another system. A smaller, slightly less annoying problem is the small size of the vent controls. They can be difficult to catch with your gloved finger. Specs

What also good to know is that Shoei says their polycarb visor cuts out 99% of UV rays. Polycarbonate’s known for cutting out at least 95% anyway, but it’s always good to see an exact figure, especially if you’re planning on riding somewhere sunny. Sun Visor (more about sun visors) Outstar S has a transparent full-face visor and a retractable sun visor for maximum comfort in all situations, and the helmet's ventilation system ensures excellent air circulation thanks to two upper intakes and two rear outlets. Outstar S has an elegant and practical three-button interface for easy control of the helmet's communication system even while riding a scooter or motorbike.

It’s fair to say that Shoei has made quite a bit of effort with the aero of the J-Cruise II, wind tunnel sculpting it to reduce drag and hence noise. They’ve also pushed some ear pads inside and made the visor fit tighter, slightly re-shaping it to divert the air. All of which should reduce noise when you’re riding. If that sounds good to you and you’re in the market for a no nonsense, classic open face helmet, then you should probably read on to find out more about the Sena Savage bluetooth open face helmet. So, given that every AIM shelled Shoei scored a four star rating (apart from the original GT Air that scored three) we’d have to say that, were SHARP to test the shell of the J-Cruise II (which they won’t because it’s not got a chin bar) then I guess it probably would score 4 stars. Sena Savage | The Savage seems to have been discontinued, and we’re struggling to find any for sale. Which is a shame, as it’s a really great – if plain – open-face helmet with good quality Bluetooth comms built in. Weight is a strong point for most open face helmets, and despite having the extra weight of electronic gubbins, the Sena Savage is no exception. Most owners say it’s a lightweight helmet and the figures prove it: it weighs around 1.1Kg (2.4lbs) which is really light compared to most other types of helmet. White Savage with long peak fittedInterior liner —All the helmets featured here offer removable liners that are anti-moisture and anti-bacterial. Avoid non-removable liners (found in cheap helmets)—it’ll be a stink factory before you know it. The three-button control on the helmet’s left side is simple and intuitive. Most of the system’s major functions are mapped to a single button press. Some open-face helmets have a drop-down sunshield that helps protect the eyes, but wind will typically still whip up under these at speed. Really, you’ll need to buy a pair of goggles to wear with an open-face lid. You’ll find a ‘J’ on the label, indicating that it’s homologated as a ‘jet’, or open-face helmet. There’s even an inflatable donut supplied that you can rest the helmet in upside down while it’s on charge, even though you can easily get to the charging port when it’s stood upright. From July 2023, the production of all motorcycle helmets certified to the long-standing UK and European standard of ECE 22.05 will cease. From that point, any helmets made for sale here will have to conform to ECE 22.06, a much tougher testing standard that means you’ll be provably safer.

Couple that with the fact that the old J-Cruise helmet was highly rated for ventilation anyhow, even with just that single vent up top. An open-face, or ‘jet’ helmet is great in the summer, and the favourite of many custom, cruiser and even trail-bike riders, but it has no protection on the front so your face is vulnerable to stones and bugs (you’d be surprised how much a bee can hurt at 70mph). You do also need to be aware that in a crash, an open-face lid is far less protective than the other options. Fog Free Fog Free An anti-fog coating is applied to the inside of the visor to aid in preventing the visor from fogging during use. (31) Caberg Flyon | The Flyon is another true ‘jet’ with a full-length visor. It appears to be discontinued now, though they are still available in stores at some good prices. Our riding instructor reviewer was impressed.

Key considerations

We found a few owners who’d done just that and none complained they couldn’t get third party visors or peaks to fit, so buy from a reputable brand like Bell and all should be fine. Comfort and Sizing (more about comfort and sizing) This may not be a crucial factor for riders who simply want to hear others in their group relatively clearly. But this is more important for riders who want a system that they can enjoy music on. The intercom is one of the biggest successes of the Sena Savage. Most owners found it easy to pair with another Savage headset and most think the quality’s great. The slower you go, the better the perception of voice sound quality, but you can hold a conversation up to around 60-70 on most motorcycle types (faired or unfaired). Sena helmets are covered by a 5 year warranty (very good) but it seems they’ve less faith in their electronics because that’s only covered for 2 years (what?!). I bet Sena wrang their hands a bit over that decision because it seems like an admission that the electronics won’t last. Still, if I’m feeling charitable, I guess there’s a lot more can go wrong with electronics than a helmet. Best places to buy a Sena Savage?