MyBB Motorcycle Owners Thread

[PhireSide]

Strangely enough Takealot only seems to stock Shark units from FT, no other brands?

Perhaps it's to create brand awareness or something as they never used to be a big player in the helmet scene until a few years ago (unless I have been living under a motorcycle-less rock since mothballing the KLR)

 

[Bunta]

On a different note: had a minor heart attack on Saturday. Went to take cover off bike, undo clips, start peeling back, farking neighbour's cat was chilling on the seat under the cover. Jumped out as I got to it.

Dunno how it got under there.

HAHA, has happened to me too. Wife had a lekker laugh, cos one of the Security Cameras face the carport.
I walked in and she was still laughing.

 

[PhireSide]

So while I am on a tangent with this helmet hunting of mine, I came across a locally manufactured helmet brand called Spirit that seems too good to be true. I can't seem to find many reviews on them besides a few mentions on Think Bike forums.

The three I have in mind so far are listed below:

1) Spirit Torque - R1899.00
2) Airoh Storm - R2499.95
3) Shark S700 S Prime - R3799.95

All the ones listed above have the built-in sunvisor (I am converted - I need it) but the Shark is outside my budget. I don't want to get into the debate of buying the most expensive lid you can afford as it's probably a subjective one - but I cannot afford to drop R10k on a helmet unfortunately. All the helmets listed are ECE 22.05 & SABS safety certified.

I will probably see if I can try them all on for size and fit sometime this week or the next.

 

[UrBaN963]

So while I am on a tangent with this helmet hunting of mine, I came across a locally manufactured helmet brand called Spirit that seems too good to be true. I can't seem to find many reviews on them besides a few mentions on Think Bike forums.

The three I have in mind so far are listed below:

1) Spirit Torque - R1899.00
2) Airoh Storm - R2499.95
3) Shark S700 S Prime - R3799.95

All the ones listed above have the built-in sunvisor (I am converted - I need it) but the Shark is outside my budget. I don't want to get into the debate of buying the most expensive lid you can afford as it's probably a subjective one - but I cannot afford to drop R10k on a helmet unfortunately. All the helmets listed are ECE 22.05 & SABS safety certified.

I will probably see if I can try them all on for size and fit sometime this week or the next.

I have a Spirit Octane - about a year old. Bike was stolen so not riding anymore. It's been pretty good, the sun visor works well and its quite comfy. Never been dropped. I was happy with it (still am, just not riding anymore).

 

[PhireSide]

I must have missed when your bike got stolen - sorry dude that really sucks

Thanks for the feedback. What's your helmet size? I have a local guy I can go to to test fit them and he would probably let me borrow one for the day to see how it handles with wind noise - one of my bigger concerns

 

[UrBaN963]

I must have missed when your bike got stolen - sorry dude that really sucks

Thanks for the feedback. What's your helmet size? I have a local guy I can go to to test fit them and he would probably let me borrow one for the day to see how it handles with wind noise - one of my bigger concerns

I’ll have to check for you but I think it’s a small. Not sure of actual inner dimensions or anything. Have brand new gloves too.

 

[Archer]

So while I am on a tangent with this helmet hunting of mine, I came across a locally manufactured helmet brand called Spirit that seems too good to be true. I can't seem to find many reviews on them besides a few mentions on Think Bike forums.

The three I have in mind so far are listed below:

1) Spirit Torque - R1899.00
2) Airoh Storm - R2499.95
3) Shark S700 S Prime - R3799.95

All the ones listed above have the built-in sunvisor (I am converted - I need it) but the Shark is outside my budget. I don't want to get into the debate of buying the most expensive lid you can afford as it's probably a subjective one - but I cannot afford to drop R10k on a helmet unfortunately. All the helmets listed are ECE 22.05 & SABS safety certified.

I will probably see if I can try them all on for size and fit sometime this week or the next.

I found them to be very 'hard' probably due to the interior lining being quite thin and/or soft. This was a good 3 or 4 years ago, maybe it has changed. Have you looked at Caberg? Very nice helmets in the 3k range at motorcycle world in Parow CT. I've heard that is somewhere on Planet Êth

And again, it is more about finding the right fit. If the helmet shape isn't the same as your head it is more less effective

 

[Pox]

Sun-visors - my Shoei has one but I've almost never used it. I prefer to ride with wrap-around sunglasses. Helps with glare and sunlight, but has the extra bonus of that I can ride with the visor up without going blind from the wind. Nice on hot days. Plus you then still have sunglasses when you are done with the bike trip.

I found that with the sunvisor down and the visor up, it channeled the air up into my eyes, was worse than with it no sun-visor.

Also I second the pinlock. Only anti-fog solution that really works.

 

[SauRoNZA]

So while I am on a tangent with this helmet hunting of mine, I came across a locally manufactured helmet brand called Spirit that seems too good to be true. I can't seem to find many reviews on them besides a few mentions on Think Bike forums.

The three I have in mind so far are listed below:

1) Spirit Torque - R1899.00
2) Airoh Storm - R2499.95
3) Shark S700 S Prime - R3799.95

All the ones listed above have the built-in sunvisor (I am converted - I need it) but the Shark is outside my budget. I don't want to get into the debate of buying the most expensive lid you can afford as it's probably a subjective one - but I cannot afford to drop R10k on a helmet unfortunately. All the helmets listed are ECE 22.05 & SABS safety certified.

I will probably see if I can try them all on for size and fit sometime this week or the next.

Don't buy something that you can't find ANY information on anywhere but their own website.

Referring to Spirit of course.

It's not worth your brain.

 

[PhireSide]

I’ll have to check for you but I think it’s a small. Not sure of actual inner dimensions or anything. Have brand new gloves too.

I have a fat head - might need to see what my circumference is

I found them to be very 'hard' probably due to the interior lining being quite thin and/or soft. This was a good 3 or 4 years ago, maybe it has changed. Have you looked at Caberg? Very nice helmets in the 3k range at motorcycle world in Parow CT. I've heard that is somewhere on Planet Êth

I am not familiar with Caberg and unfortunately I am a province away from you Capies. But I will be there next month for a weekend...maybe I should swing by and see what they have. I am sure British Airways wouldn't mind a bit more hand luggage

The padding would also be a game-breaker if it's not soft enough but sadly this is something you may notice a month or two down the line and not immediately. Some helmets I have worm have pretty much kept their original shape and pressure around my head, others have loosened up quite a bit.

And again, it is more about finding the right fit. If the helmet shape isn't the same as your head it is more less effective

Indeed

/goes to find tape measure

Sun-visors - my Shoei has one but I've almost never used it. I prefer to ride with wrap-around sunglasses. Helps with glare and sunlight, but has the extra bonus of that I can ride with the visor up without going blind from the wind. Nice on hot days. Plus you then still have sunglasses when you are done with the bike trip.

I found that with the sunvisor down and the visor up, it channeled the air up into my eyes, was worse than with it no sun-visor.

Also I second the pinlock. Only anti-fog solution that really works.

I broke a nice pair of K-way sunnies like that, but then again the helmet was a bit on the tight side around my temples. And yip, comfort is a must. I have no issue with bringing along an extra pair of sunglasses on my trip as I ride with a backpack anyway - but obviously the less clutter the better. I can't afford to add even more weight to an already heavy pig

 

[SauRoNZA]

Sun-visors - my Shoei has one but I've almost never used it. I prefer to ride with wrap-around sunglasses. Helps with glare and sunlight, but has the extra bonus of that I can ride with the visor up without going blind from the wind. Nice on hot days. Plus you then still have sunglasses when you are done with the bike trip.

I found that with the sunvisor down and the visor up, it channeled the air up into my eyes, was worse than with it no sun-visor.

Also I second the pinlock. Only anti-fog solution that really works.

I'm the exact opposite again.

I love the fact that I can have the sun visor down and the main visor open. Especially when first heading out and being stuck in suburbia before hitting the highway.

Sunglasses or a full tint visor don't give me the option to change anything while on the move.

I can't stand sun/glasses inside my helmet, even with the special channels for them. And inevitably I drop them in the process of putting them down while putting helmet on or off.

 

[Sinbad]

The Shark manual says "don't ever ride with the main visor up and the sun visor down". I suspect that thing can shatter into your eyes if a stone or something hits it?

 

[PhireSide]

Don't buy something that you can't find ANY information on anywhere but their own website.

Referring to Spirit of course.

It's not worth your brain.

This was my thinking as well. I would like to see how the SA offering stacks up to the international brands, but with something as vital as a helmet...I don't know.

I am leaning towards the Airoh but have been looking at the Caberg's that Archer suggested too

 

[SauRoNZA]

This was my thinking as well. I would like to see how the SA offering stacks up to the international brands, but with something as vital as a helmet...I don't know.

I am leaning towards the Airoh but have been looking at the Caberg's that Archer suggested too

It's definitely not "locally manufactured". It's a chinese rebrand for sure and that's why you find next to zero information on it.

Has no safety ratings to speak of for that very reason.

One person I know who tried one had it physically falling apart long before even crashing it.

If it's not listed here...

https://sharp.dft.gov.uk/

You simply don't use it.

(Sub Models have different names in different countries sometimes and not all models are listed, I just rather mean if the manufacturer doesn't exist on a safety website for this purpose they aren't very safe).

 

[SauRoNZA]

There is also this...

https://www.hellopeter.com/spirit-motorcycles/reviews/poorly-contructed-and-designed-helmets-2233327

 

[Hamster]

Most of the Spirit information you'll find will be on this thread and on ThinkBike. Long story short - are you willing to risk brain damage and death to save R2000 and not get the Shark.

I mean if your budget is tight get crappier gloves and jackets but don't go "cheap" on a helmet.

 

[kfc4unme]

Agreed on above. As an example, I sometimes see guys on brand new 1200 GS rocking a spirit helmet. Can afford 200k bike but skimp out on the helmet.

 

[KingMikel]

Agreed on above. As an example, I sometimes see guys on brand new 1200 GS rocking a spirit helmet. Can afford 200k bike but skimp out on the helmet.

This irks me too.

 

[PhireSide]

Most of the Spirit information you'll find will be on this thread and on ThinkBike. Long story short - are you willing to risk brain damage and death to save R2000 and not get the Shark.

I mean if your budget is tight get crappier gloves and jackets but don't go "cheap" on a helmet.

I already have all the other gear - including a helmet but since it's the most important bit it's the one I will consider thinking much more carefully about.

But then you head down that slippery slope again - how much is enough when it comes to 'good protection'? Someone else may come along and say "Ho hum, that Shark is kuk, spend another R2000 and get an AGV" after which another will say "AGV is inferior, buy a Bell" - etc etc etc.

In an ideal world I would buy the top of the line helmet and be done with it but sadly financial constraints come into play and somewhere I have to draw the line and set a limit - which does unfortunately limit me to something below R3000 at the present time.

 

[Hamster]

I already have all the other gear - including a helmet but since it's the most important bit it's the one I will consider thinking much more carefully about.

But then you head down that slippery slope again - how much is enough when it comes to 'good protection'? Someone else may come along and say "Ho hum, that Shark is kuk, spend another R2000 and get an AGV" after which another will say "AGV is inferior, buy a Bell" - etc etc etc.

In an ideal world I would buy the top of the line helmet and be done with it but sadly financial constraints come into play and somewhere I have to draw the line and set a limit - which does unfortunately limit me to something below R3000 at the present time.

As a general guide: https://sharp.dft.gov.uk/helmets/

And then they are DOT, ECE and SNELL approved (or more) and you can enter the holy war of debates about which safety standard is better. ECE has more rigurous tests as opposed to DOT, DOT is American though so some American brands are never sent for ECE testing etc etc...