HJC RPHA 70 – Helmet Overview

I’ve been incessantly carrying the HJC RPHA 70 helmet for practically six months now and I consider I’ve put in enough miles that I can now present a full consider.

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I’ve been carrying it in a wide range of local weather circumstances and driving conditions. After six months and quite a lot of different tons of of miles, the TL;DR mannequin of my consider is that this: the HJC RPHA 70 is an efficient helmet that is, by and large, positively definitely worth the money.

Observe the “by and large” caveat there. Although it’s unquestionably probably the greatest attempting lid in my current line-up*, the RPHA 70 is not my frequently helmet – that honor going as an alternative choice to my Shoei Neotec II. There’s one foremost trigger for this, which I’ll get into further on. Nevertheless first let’s start with the basics.

Made in South Korea (which my partner refers to as “Good Korea,” versus “Naughty Korea”), the RPHA 70 sits in direction of the best of HJC’s fluctuate relating to value and top quality. South Korea is ranked No. 21 on the Democracy Index, by the easiest way, which places it above the USA. As always, the facility of a country’s democratic institutions won’t basically mirror the usual of working circumstances, nevertheless I consider it serves as an ideal indicator. Nevertheless maybe you really don’t care regarding the those that make your stuff, paying consideration solely to value. Throughout which case, HJC’s website online lists the helmet as starting at €399.90 for major black. Nevertheless in checking Fortamoto and quite a few totally different gear web sites it’s clear it’s possible you’ll get it for a lot much less.

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Loosely aimed on the touring/sport-touring market, the RPHA 70 comes equipped with a photo voltaic visor, a washable liner that is comparatively easy to remove, and anti-fog lens. Observe that it’s not a Pinlock anti-fog lens; it would come up later as soon as I deal with complaints. The helmet strap is secured by the use of an ideal ol’ frequent D-ring and HJC says the helmet is designed to easily accommodate the Cardo Packtalk Slim communicator. I’m afraid I can’t vouch for that system, nevertheless will say that my Sena 10C slotted in with beautiful ease.

Oh, and HJC says the helmet has been designed with glasses wearers in ideas, a specific groove having been created throughout the lining for frames.

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In distinction in opposition to a Shoei GT Air II or Schuberth R2 (two helmets I’d take into consideration as choices to the RPHA 70, although the R2 lacks a photo voltaic visor), the HJC feels only a bit funds throughout the hand. Not horrible, not enough that it’ll basically stop me from making a purchase order order, nevertheless enough that you just uncover. There’s no getting throughout the truth the plastic feels considerably thinner, considerably additional inclined to bear over time.

That may be very true of the visor. A protracted-term proprietor would possibly want to consider the prospect that he or she could be ordering a model new visor in some unspecified time sooner or later via the helmet’s life. Summer season has been painfully sluggish to achieve proper right here throughout the British Isles, so I’ve not had plenty of options to scream earlier hedgerows on a sunny day, nevertheless I consider {{that a}} kamikaze bumblebee, hit at, say, 80 mph, could go away a reasonably large scratch.

There are little plastic spoiler thingies in direction of the upper once more of the helmet that I doubt have loads smart use and that I fear could break if the helmet had been to be bumped in opposition to a desk or dropped from a high of higher than 9 inches. Small air circulation switches seem equally unlikely to resist long-term, ham-fisted abuse. The paint scheme appears to be good, though, and internally the usual is with out question. The padding is every cosy and durable – possibly a teeny bit an extreme quantity of.

HJC’s sizing is true, nevertheless in case you occur to get a appropriately sized helmet you will just about positively have some very important doubts when you first put it on. The ingress is form of small. “Ingress” is barely a elaborate phrase for “opening” – , the bit you set your head by the use of. The cheek and neck padding is thick to help block out noise, nevertheless squeezing your noggin into place could be tough. You really should jam it on; it isn’t good. In the event you’re the type of one who wears a neck buff that you just pull over your face in chilly local weather (or to help block out pollen throughout the spring/summer season), you will notice it considerably powerful to steer clear of having the helmet pull the buff down when putting it on.

The good news is that after you lastly stuff your thoughts area into the helmet it’s actually pretty cosy in there. Or, successfully, it turns into cosy after a while. The first dozen or so events I wore the helmet it squeezed my head and face loads that I didn’t actually really feel like carrying it for higher than half-hour at a time. Over the months, however, it has adjusted/molded to my head and I’m now content material materials to placed on all of it day. It’s comparatively mild, so, as quickly because the padding has been broken in, you really don’t uncover your self carrying it.

Within the meantime, there’s padding on the helmet straps, so that they acquired’t cut back into your neck.

Effectivity

Let’s communicate considerably additional about that visor. The plus side of its being considerably skinny is that it seems to produce a clearer view than visors of comparative helmets from totally different producers. And there’s an essential visible view.

The visor has considerably latch on the doorway that snaps it shut for higher-speed driving, which, like all the tabs and switches on this helmet, raises considerably question mark for me relating to long-term sturdiness. It hasn’t broken, nevertheless I concern it may well. All through the latch is a miniscule swap that you will wrestle to perform with bare fingers, to not point out gloves. That is the visor lock. I complained about this perform as soon as I reviewed the RPHA 11 and I hate it way more proper right here. The RPHA 11 is ostensibly aimed towards riders who could journey observe, so the flexibleness to lock a visor shut could make sense there; nevertheless on a touring/sport-touring helmet it is merely one factor with the potential to harass.

Equally annoying is the anti-fog lens’ poor effectivity. I reap the benefits of the RPHA 70 for my sporadic vlogging efforts and in case you occur to look at these films you’ll uncover I’m repeatedly fussing with the visor, making an attempt to filter the fog that builds too shortly on one thing nevertheless the driest day. All through the winter I found it downright horrible. On one considerably making an attempt journey to work, the visor fogged so totally whereas I was on the motorway that I wanted to drag to the side of the freeway and take away the visor absolutely.

“Why didn’t you merely journey with the visor up?” you can ask. And therein lies my remaining grievance regarding the visor: it acquired’t maintain open. On the plus side, it’s moderately easy to remove – even when carrying winter gloves and standing on the side of a motorway.

Must you haven’t guessed, the visor is the rationale the RPHA 70 is not my frequently helmet. Which is a damned shame on account of there are so many totally different points to like about it. The dropdown photo voltaic visor, for example is environment friendly and simple to utilize.

I journey a unadorned bike these days (Triumph Bonneville T120) and the helmet is admirably quiet even at motorway speeds. Folks with screens would possibly uncover themselves disagreeing, however. After I’ve worn the helmet on bikes with screens/fairing I’ve seen considerably additional roaring, which I attribute to those plastic spoiler thingies getting caught up in disrupted airflow. Equally, whereas airflow feels clear on a unadorned bike at velocity, I’ve seen my head being pushed spherical a bit when behind a show display screen.

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The helmet has a wide range of vents and exhaust ports nevertheless I can’t help feeling that the majority are too small to be environment friendly, with switches too small to be helpful. The two rear vents are hilariously miniscule, opening no more than 2 or 3 millimeters. I really cannot inform the excellence between their being open and their being closed. I’m equally unconvinced by the two chin vents. The swap for one in every of them is unimaginable to hunt out whereas driving, whereas the alternative swap is bafflingly positioned inside the helmet – it is essential to take the lid off. The exception to the rule proper right here is the large, easy-to-use vent on the best of the top. It even has two settings, which I consider is spiffy.

Furthermore, I’ll degree out that I’ve on no account had complaints regarding the amount of air that may get into the helmet. I’ve on no account felt scorching or stuffy. Though, perceive that I reside in a country the place summer season temperatures hardly exceed 23°C. Within the meantime, for all my complaints regarding the anti-fog lens, I give the helmet full marks for safeguarding rain out whereas driving (assuming the visor is shut).

Verdict

Your very good state of affairs for the RPHA 70 comes when driving a unadorned bike on a dry-but-not-too-hot day. That sounds a bit limiting in case you occur to’re someone who lives and commutes yr spherical within the UK, nevertheless I consider there are many riders available on the market who will uncover the helmet matches utterly to their typical driving conduct.

Broadly speaking, I am an enormous fan of the helmet and get pissed off by the seemingly easy-to-resolve factors which may make it so loads higher. Match it with an exact Pinclock lens. Stop making an attempt to be fancy with small and pointless vents; observe totally different producers’ leads and supply two large, simple vents that actually work. If HJC had been to deal with these two areas I’d be posting a glowing consider.

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As is, I’m nonetheless blissful to recommend the helmet if a person is content material materials to position up with its foibles. The RPHA 70 is mild, cosy (after a break-in interval), and seems good. It is my go-to lid when occurring bike launches the place I do know I’ll be photographed. And from my experience in crashing whereas carrying the RPHA 11 I actually really feel protected carrying it; I do know I can perception it to protect me, which is a vital aspect of any helmet.

There could also be moreover, the truth is, the advantage of the HJC’s value. Using Fortamoto as a info, Shoei’s GT Air II will worth you €100 additional for primarily the equivalent choices and further weight (1.4 kg vs 1.5 kg). So, as I discussed on the very start: an ideal helmet that is, by and large, positively definitely worth the money. You’ll adore it, as long as you don’t spend an extreme period of time dwelling on the best way it might very nicely be greater.

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* Which contains a Shoei Neotec II, Shoei RF-SRSchuberth C3 Skilled, BMW System 6 EVO, and Bell Qualifier.