Nikko MotoRacing Vortex N916 orange helmet

[Hardcore]

Nikko Motoracing helmet N916 Vortex, with optional smoke colored shield. I bought this when I got the Repsol, which was around August, 2011. I've ridden the bike about 11K miles with this helmet in all weather except SNOW!

The pic was taken thru a window - all I have right now, sorry.

Bottom line - I love this helmet. It's a steal for the price and it's orange scheme is a near-perfect match to my Honda Repsol.

I always swap the mirrored, smoke-colored shield out for the clear one that comes with the Vortex when daylight savings ends.

Pros - Price, color and graphics, physical styling, function, comfort, DOT rated, features like reflectors and sunshield, I like the 916, reminds me of the Ducati. I like that it's Nikko, because I'm Miko.

Cons - Loud, breezy, face shield sometimes flies up at speed when looking over my shoulder, vents are hard to find.

I don't mind that it's loud because I never hit the highway without ear plugs.

No worries with this Vortex. If you read "Blowing the Lid Off", the talked-about Motorcyclist independent helmet review from about 5 years ago, where the ZRP Z-1 StrikeBlade (a $100 lid) came out on top with the most protection against brain injury, then you already know the scam that is current helmet pricing. I personally owned, used, and unfortunately "tested" the ZRP Z-1 when some dopey bastard reared me while waiting to make a turn. It truly is a fine helmet.

My friend's reaction to my Nikko helmet was "I can't believe you'd put a $150 lid on your head." It's deeply ingrained cost snobbery. Not his fault. If you want the feature list from the Vortex N916, you can look it up. I really never use the sunshield, but it's cool that it's there, I guess. If I forget my sunglasses one day. I love that I didn't have to settle for graphics like a graveyard or The Reaper or a bomb exploding. Just nice swirlies.

I've been caught in HEAVY rain in this helmet and I guess it's as "water tight" as anything else.

[RW_Robert]

Ok, i maybe missing it but what is the price?

Duh, I see now. Nice set up bud!

[Visionary]

What helmet did you have prior to this? Any idea how the fitment compares to that of a HJC brand...or SHOEI?

[Hardcore]

Originally Posted by Visionary

What helmet did you have prior to this? Any idea how the fitment compares to that of a HJC brand...or SHOEI?

These cheaper helmets will never hug your face like an HJC. I remember my old HJC - I would have to be careful not to bite the insides of my cheeks because there were so well, uhh... "supported". Shoei, almost the same, and both Shoei and HJC are relatively quiet, and not too drafty.

The $150 Vortex fits well. (The ZRP Strikeblade was actually a pretty sloppy fit. Usually LARGE fits me, but their large... it wasn't that it was too big, but kind of LEMONHEAD shaped and just weird.)

The Vortex is a normal large and fits fine. Not sloppy. But not like an HJC. The shield flying up does piss me off, but then I remember the price };-p