Since I started riding, I’ve been pretty loyal to AGV and Shark when it comes to lids. I’ve got quite the collection but for the past year I’ve only been wearing my AGV K3 S-V since it’s so comfortable. It has seen plenty of road tests, track days and it has even been my choice for when I take my go-kart out.

Check out our product reviews here…

It’s about time a new contender entered my personal helmet rotation and the 6D ATS-1R has already impressed me. Unboxing it, I was welcomed with quality packaging, three visors (including the clear one that comes on the helmet) and a Pinlock system.

Pulling it out of the box and the ATS-1R is secured by a zip up back instead of a conventional cloth helmet bag, this properly protects your lid from any bumps or scratches when storing/transporting it. Unzipping the bag and I’m greeted with a solid black colour, changing it up from my usual eccentric colour scheme choice. The solid gloss black colour scheme works well to show off the carbon-fibre outer shell, subtle in the dark but looks great when the sun hits it.

First course of action is getting rid of that clear visor, my refusal to look up the instructions proved handy as it showed that the visor couldn’t be removed by accident or pressure. After searching up how to properly do it, a latch on each side pops the visor straight out. McLeod’s sent me a choice between a Dark Smoke (anti-scratch and anti-fog) and Light Smoke (just anti-scratch but Pinlock ready) and of course I went for the darker one!

Throwing the lid on for the first time and it’s pretty roomy inside. My long nose has plenty of space, my cheeks sit comfortably against the padding with my usual XL size and my glasses don’t feel like they’re digging in at all!

Under the chin is a small fabric guard with some elasticity that tucks in well to properly seal off your head in its own cockpit. I haven’t had a lid like this before and I never realised how much a difference it makes in terms of comfort and protection from the elements.

The helmet itself is relatively light, weighing in at 1640 grams, it’s definitely not one of the lightest on the market or in my collection but it doesn’t feel heavy on my head at all. In terms of visibility, its fine for the road and we will see how it goes on track in full tuck.

Other features include a conventional double d ring strap, plenty of vents to help your head stay cool and an emergency release system which seems to be an industry standard across all lids now. I’m looking forward to putting it to the test with my daily riding soon, check back in a few months for a full review of the 6D ATS-1R helmet!

Tech Talk
The brand name name “6D” is a reference to the engineering term 6 Degrees of Freedom, which refers to the ability to move three dimensionally on the X,Y and Z axis, including rotation about each axis. The Omni-Directional Suspension system utilises this term to maximise its ability to absorb and mitigate energy. Read further into their Omni-Directional Suspension system here.

This impact system is improved over the last model ATS-1R, with the new design taking heavy inspiration from the ATR-2 motocross helmet. For 2022, 6D have shed 200 grams off the total weight with the new lid weighing in at 1560 grams (medium).

For comfort, they’ve redesigned the shield base plates for an improved feeling and seal.  The fitment as a whole has been improved thanks to a larger shell opening and cheek pad shape, combined with a new chin curtain and neck cuff. The internal breath guard directs fresh air up the inside of the shield, while exhausting breath down and out to reduce fogging.

6D know not everyone’s head is the shape, so they have multiple pad options available to help you feel comfortable. All of these features are wrapped up neatly in a 3K carbon fibre shell with three visor options: clear, light smoke and dark smoke. All of which are VESC-8 certified and anti-scratch. A clear Pinlock 120 anti-fog insert is also included. 

The 6D ATS-1R is available now at your local motorcycle store or through McLeod’s Accessories for an RRP of $999.95 in a choice of gloss black, matte black, gloss silver, grey and gloss white.

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“From a young age I have always recognized Arai as the safety and comfort leader in the helmet industry, so when the opportunity to wear them came up I jumped at the chance, the Fit and vision for me is perfect and the advanced air flow system In the helmet makes fogging and heat in the helmet non existent. Arai’s experience and technology is still the industry leader in race helmets” he said.

Glenn is the conduit to entertain, educate, create and connect. His passion to ride motorcycle started at the age of 4 but quickly moved into racing. At 8 yo he started to compete in Motocross and started to win multiple Junior MX championships. 

With over 30 years in motorcycling racing, wins in Motocross and Australian Superbikes with ASBK proves Glenn Allerton the results and is perfect match to the race developed Arai RX-7V Helmet.

Glenn Allerton Has a Reputation as a fighter to the checkered flag!

• 2008 Australian Superbike Championship – Honda – 1st
• 2009 Australian Superbike Championship – Honda – 2nd
• 2010 Australian Superbike Championship – Honda – 3rd
• 2011 Australian Superbike Championship – BMW – 1st
• 2013 Australian Superbike Championship – BMW – 2nd
• 2014 Australian Superbike Championship – BMW – 1st
• 2021 Australian Superbike Championship – BMW – 2nd
  

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Bryan Staring has also made the move to Arai Helmets for the 2022 season, also wearing the top of the line RX-7V lid. 

“Racing in Arai helmets is the dream for me. I couldn’t be happier to have the support of this well known manufacturer with an enormous history of being the helmet of choice for the world’s top riders. When selecting a helmet, there are many things that are important, like crash testing and safety standards, the quality of the materials in the shell, the fit and the energy absorption of the EPS foam.”

“Then for specific racing use, the ventilation, field of view and antifog capacity for racing in the rain, are all points to consider. Arai is a premium brand that excel in every one of these requirements.” he said.

Bryan Staring – Career Highlights:

• 2004 125GP Australian Champion
• 2009 Australian Supersport Champion
• 2010 Australian Superbike Champion
• World Superstock 1000 Race Winner – 2012
• Former MotoGP Rider – 2013
• Former WSBK Rider – 2014

The RX-7V represents the summit of Arai’s knowledge, experience and know-how in helmet technology. With a PB-SNC² outer shell, the revolutionary VAS (“Variable Axis System”) visor system and a significant increased smoother area around the temples, the RX-7V offers the new benchmark in the premium helmet segment.

From the anti-microbial material liner with an even slimmer frame, to the ducts, improved diffuser and the integrated Air Channels, every part shows the attention to detail that is so typical for Arai. Arai has continually improved the “glancing off” performance by learning from real scenarios.

Click here to find out more about the Arai RX-7V…

Thanks to the stronger, smoother shell and VAS, the RX-7V is closer to the ideal lid shape than ever. With VAS, the visor mounting position is lowered 24mm in pursuit of the ideal smoother shape that raises the ability of glancing off energy. As a result, this has made it possible for the shell to be completely smooth above the test line of the Snell standard.

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The RJAYS Apex III features and aerodynamic design but it doesn’t stop there. RJAYS say it has an advanced polycarbonate shell, combined with the inner structure, the Apex III has a certification of ECE 22.05. Featuring an internal sun visor with an easy use lever, meaning you don’t have to worry about swapping to a clear visor at night as you can just click the lever. The clear visor that comes on the helmet has UV protection to keep your eyes safe.

Along with this are top vents to allow air to flow through the interior air channels, a quick release Micrometric chin strap and a removable liner to ensure the inside stays clean.

The Apex III in a solid colour has an RRP of $139.95 or if you want to switch it up with your style, you can get one with a livery for an RRP of $149.95. They are in-stock now through Cassons or you can contact your local motorcycle store to check the stock. Check out the full catalogue here.

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An internal flip down sun-visor, and the ability to seamlessly integrate with the Sena SRL2 Communication System makes the Neotec II the pinnacle of modular helmet design with no-compromise to full face protection.

The Neotec II has a new ventilation system with inlets at the upper head and chin area, as well as outlets at the back, dramatically improving ventilation. The aerodynamics are also improved back in 2018, making it what Shoei claim to be one of the quietest touring helmets on the market today.

There is now an integrated spoiler, integrated vortex generator and new aero deflector chin spoiler. The cheek pads include a noise isolator for maximum noise reduction and comfort, while the interior is completely removable and washable. The leather chin strap is also wider, to further block excess airflow and wind noise. The visor is 3D-molded (CNS-3) and offers extra wide vision and great sealing.

Click here to see the latest Shoei catalogue from McLoed Accessories here. The Shoei Neotec II Jaunt will be landing in stores this month for an RRP of $1199.90. Available in sizes XXS – XXL. 

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Being humans, we are very individual in the way we think, act and appear, clothing is a very personal and individual thing, it is for some a way of expressing who they are, who they follow in racing, what they want to project to another person or they just simply want to have protection from the elements and in the worst case scenario, from a crash.

This thought can then be extended into the different areas of motor cycling, trail riders, Motocross riders, Trials riders, Road racers, weekend riders, commuters, tourers, learners, pillions and casual riders.

Open any motorcycle magazine and you will find pages of ads that are promoting a certain brand, style, comfort level and safety level in their clothing. Clothing also extends to Helmets, boots, gloves, eye protection, body armour and so on. For all of us this can be quite daunting when trying to work out what may be the best or in many cases the most affordable items to by for your riding style and type.

Looks or Style:
To many riders, this is a very important part of their individuality and motorcycle life. We can have extremes at both ends of this, ie, the outlaw bikie, the tattooed and unwashed of the motorcycle world, they wear nothing but what the club has laid down in their laws, as riders they tend to shun away from safety gear, wear open face, cheap helmets, sunglasses are optional for eye protection, Jeans, boots rarely gloves and plenty of patches. 

We can also have the weekend warrior, the Claytons clubbie, they can usually be found in groups outside the local Cafe sipping on latté, they are normally much cleaner, the bikes are cleaner and they also have the open face helmets, although they tend to be less stubborn on this subject and will wear a full face if the weather is bad.

Then we have the Beach rider, thongs, board shorts and singlet, these guys are actually good value, their bikes are always very low in kilometres when they sell them, probably to do with the amount of time they sit in the shed waiting for the owner to re grow skin to 90% of his or her body after the crash on the first day of summer two years ago.

There are also a lot of us that have our hero’s in the racing scene, many of us buy replica leathers, helmets, gloves, boots and so on, even the bikes we ride we copy our hero’s, I swear, last weekend I saw Rossi, Stoner and Baylis on the Old Road! For others, it is nothing more than being very practical in what we wear and ride in, we look for weather protection and safety first and then think about the style of the item.

Weather protection:
Everyone has a comfort zone, everyone has a expected or accepted level of protection they want. We see it every time we go for a ride. On hot days, the guys that wear T shirts because it’s hot, the guys that still wear leather jackets in the heat. The riders that at the first drop of rain stop, normally under a bridge or overpass and put the wet weather suit out, or the rider that will take the gamble and not have a wet weather suit.

The distance of your ride can have a big impact on your choice of weather protection, there’s nothing worse than getting soaked to the skin in the first km’s of a thousand km trip. It can also be just as frustrating to spend 15 mins getting into your wet weather gear to find it turns into a 38 degree day just 10 mins up the road.

Budget:
One of the biggest influences on what we buy. Everyone has a budget, everyone has an opinion on what is too expensive or too cheap. This is where you have to do your home work, shopping around with different suppliers of product, getting feedback from people about a particular brand or style of clothing or helmet, getting into stores and physically trying stuff on. These things all help to give you a chance to make a valued decision on how much you are prepared to spend.

Safety Helmets are required by law in Australia to meet a certain level of safety, from the very cheap helmet to the most expensive, they all must meet that level of safety to be sold in this country. The more exotic the materials the more you pay, the flasher the paint work, the more you pay. Yes some brands offer a much higher level of protection, but the final choice is yours. There are no regulatory standards for clothing for road use, different suppliers offer certain information on their product, abrasive tests and so on. Try to buy what you can afford but with the highest level of protection for your money.

Understanding:
A strange category. What I mean by this, is an understanding of what you want from your safety gear. Do you want the maximum protection from a crash? The maximum protection from the elements? Clothing that offers some built in protection but not over the top in both price or safety? Do you want to just ride in jeans and T shirt and not  be concerned about the consequences? Many riders don’t understand these questions and don’t know how to come to a decision as to what is best or needed by them. Experience is one of the ways to learn how to make that choice, but experience can come at a cost, you may learn the hard way after a crash and then realise that the thongs and shorts weren’t such a good idea after all. Each rider has to make that decision before he rides, and each of us as individuals, will make different decisions. Let’s all hope we make the right ones.

Type of riding:
This goes back to what was said earlier, there are so many different forms of riding, from racing to road riding. If you were doing a track day, you wouldn’t turn up in jeans and runners, you would make sure that you had the appropriate clothing for the day, the same goes for riding down to the corner shop, it’s easier to leave the thongs and shorts on, but is it really the correct way to ride? The old saying, horses for courses is true, pick you clothing to suit the riding. Types of safety gear out there is immense, let’s look at what you can get and what you really need for a particular discipline of riding.

Trail riding / motocross:
Weekend trail riding in one of the biggest actives in the world. Protective clothing is a must, There are very few of us that go all day on the trails without some sort of fall or obstacle being flung at you. Helmets are different to road helmets, usually very light, large peaks and open frontal areas for goggles to fit. Boots are very tough robust and rigid to support the foot, ankle and lower leg from injury and obstacle ( rocks, stumps and the like) that may be in your way or you land on.

Body armour is very extensive, Back, chest, knee, elbow, neck and hands all need to be protected. The type and style of this can vary, but it is very very different from what you may have as a road rider. Pants and shirts are usually light and offer minimal protection, the armour is relied on quite heavily to do this task. Cuts, grazes, bruising and broken limbs are part of the sport so protection is a must.

The Scratcher
This type of rider is there in big numbers, many have a type of bike that has some form of link to racing or has been modified to be better than stock. The riders usually take pride in what they ride, as a result they know that protection is vital if they are going to have a play on their favourite bit of road. These riders tend to have two piece or one piece leathers, back protectors, armour in their leathers, good quality gloves and good quality helmets. 

The track rider / racer
At the high end of the sport where speed and pushing to the limits is an everyday occurrence, the need for top quality safety gear is a must. One piece leathers with built in armour, additional back protector and chest protector are the norm, quality gloves, top level boots and helmets are also a must for these riders. Coming off the bike at extreme high speed requires a very, very high level of safety gear.

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The reinvented RPHA 90S Carbon is the most compact modular helmet, resembling a full-face helmet through weight and appearance, yet functioning as a modular helmet.

HJC say the carbon outer shell is extremely light weight and is a compact shell construction. The helmet also features a premium Integrated Matrix / P.I.M. Plus: Reinforcement materials, including Carbon and Carbon-Glass Hybrid fabric, provide enhanced Shock-Resistant performance, more comfort, and lightness of helmet (6 layers)

The Maximised air vent with easy slide operation has been partnered with tailored EPS air channel design provides cool air through the interior of the helmet. Along with this is a multicool interior with advanced anti-bacteria fabric provides enhanced moisture wicking and quicker drying function than previous generations.

Click here to find out more info on the HJC RPHA 90s Modular, available now from your local motorcycle dealership or online for an RRP of $999.90 in a solid colour or $1049.90 in a Carbon Graphic outer design.

The HJC RPHA 11 is the Premium Sports helmet of the range. Much like the 90s, the 11 features a Carbon Fibre outer shell which is extremely light weight and aerodynamic design for outstanding air flow ventilation and extreme performance.

The 11 also features the P.I.M and has a Max airflow top vent six-stage variable airflow is adjusted by glove-friendly dials on each intake vent with an “Advanced Channeling Ventilation System” which gives a full front-to-back airflow, flushing heat and humidity out of the interior. Other features include built in communication speaker pockets, an extra Dark Smoke visor, the Multicool interior with anti-bateria fabric and a eye and sun glasses friendly EPS design.

Click here to find out more info on the HJC RPHA 11, available now from your local motorcycle dealership or online for an RRP of $899.90.

The final helmet in the line-up is the HJC RPHA 70. Marketed as the Premium Sports Touring helmet, it has a lot of the same features as the 11 but with a less aggressive and more street appealing style.

Using the RPHA Carbon shell, its a tough helmet designed to keep you safe out on the road. Your head will stay cool with their dual-purposed top vent which has an intake and exhaust which operate simultaneously for maximum air circulation.

An Integrated Sunshield will help keep the sun out of your eyes, the anti-fog coated smoke tinted sunshield deploys quickly and easily by bottom positioned new operation system.

Click here to find out more info on the HJC RPHA 70, available now from your local motorcycle dealership or online for an RRP of $899.90.

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