Kip
Anchorage, AK
Nice...
My second helmet. Had a shoei dirt before. It had no face shield. This one does and I just love it. The visor is a little short but still able to block out the sun when needed. Only thing I have a complaint about is the the fit. My head is between sizes. Went with the smaller of the two. Face smash!!! Hope it will break in sooner than later! Other wise great solid Helmet.
Captain Kirk
Mission Viejo, CA
Shoei - Hornet DS Helmet
This is an excellent dual sport helmet. Set up with Roko straps it works great. Like all helmets with peaks, you do get some drag at 55 mph plus, but since you can remove it for longer high speed rides, all is good. Motorcycle Superstores gets the nod on the cost benefit with the best pricing.
Phillip M
Huntsville, AL
Hornet DS
I've been riding with this helmet for about 2 months and I'm COMPLETELY happy with it. Another killer product from Shoei. Very impressed with the ventilation, I can feel the air flowing all the way around my head (which is a huge plus in the Alabama humidity). I also got the smoked shield and its perfect for riding at night and taking the glare off oncoming headlights, yet still being able to see the road in front of you. The visor design is perfect, doesn't drag at speed (75-80mph so far) and blocks the setting sun just right. Costs more than some other brands, but you definitely get your money's worth (how much do you think your head is worth???)
I also have the X11, but already planning on selling it, since I know the DS is going to be my full-time helmet. Perfect dual sport helmet, waiting to see how many more KLR riders I spot wearing one!
Glenn
Moab, UT
Great helmet
This is a great helmet, a little expensive, but it is quiet, and fits me well.
Graven
Somerset, PA
Hornet DS
This is one of the best, if not the best helmet that I have ever owned (definitely the most expensive). The fit is the best for sure. Order it on size, not one size larger as some say. I sent one back and got the size that Shoei recommended in the first place. It feels tight out of the box and still does when you try it on in the house. Start your engine and go for a ride and it is near perfect. The wind does blow it around if you get side winds over about 15 MPH. If it is a calm day, you would never notice the visor or anything. I had it up to around 90 in calm winds and was amazed with it, as it is stable. I would buy this again for sure. This is my first Shoei and I don't think I could go back to anything less now.
Bee Hall
Helena, MT
Great Helmet
I have worn this helmet for about 400 miles now and I really like it. The ventilation really works and you can feel the air circulating over and around your head. I ride with ear plugs so it's kind of hard to judge the noise level but seems acceptable to me. I have ridden in some pretty good crosswinds (25mph) and the peak doesn't seem to grab the air too bad when riding around 55mph. Haven't taken it up to 75 yet so don't know how it might handle there. If I'm going to be running at those speeds I would probably take the peak off if caused any problem. I really like the feel of this helmet on my head it is snug but not so snug as to give me a headache. It just feels solid with no wiggle. I know the price is high but I figure my head is worth it!
Scott
Los Angeles, CA
I Feel Safe With It
My background has been dirt riding only, but I just bought my first dual-sport bike. My helmet was a $79 KBC until a co-worker convinced me to spare no expense on a helmet. Also, being used to goggles, the face shield intrigued me. I love being able to flip it up, rather than pulling the goggles down. Also, in the Winter, it's MUCH warmer and far more convenient than the MX setup, where I would have to wear something over my nose and mouth to stay warm. As far as comfort, it's about the same as the cheap helmet... but the style is no comparison. The minute I put it on, I noticed that people just respect me more. The features and look are just great, even though it makes me look very much like a bug. Even the ladies are friendlier. Boy would they be shocked if they knew that under the helmet is a 50 year-old bald guy. In any case, the bottom line is safety... and I feel safe with this helmet.
Brent
Manhattan, KS
Great Unique helmet!
When looking at purchasing one of these, and your head measurements are close to the top definitely go with the next size up. The helmet fits a little tight at first but you break it in after a while. Great look, feel, and features. Would definitely purchase again in the future.
DD
Anchorage, AK
Awesome
This is my second Hornet DS. I liked the first so much, I bought another. Expensive yes. A fantastic helmet though. The interior can be swapped for smaller/larger cheekpads and such...makes for perfect fit.
david mcclure
atenas costa rica, TX
great helmet shoi hornet ds
Love the helmet, have had nothing but Shoei top of the line street and motocross helmets in the past and being a guide. This helmet does the job a true dual sport helmet. also helps prevent fogging of goggles as I wear prescription glasses.
Bud
Vista, CA
Shoei - Hornet DS Helmet
Awesome fitting helmet! It is the snug and very comfortable, as well as very light. I love it and would recommend it to all the half cap folks!
Rob
Elizabethville, PA
High end helmet, worth the $$$ ???
Well, as soon as I opened up the box for this helmet, I could see a quality item inside. The finish and attention to detail was very good. Now time for a fitting. I orded this helmet with the shoei size configurations, and I noticed that it fit as expected, very comfortable and easy to put on (following the directions in the manual very helpful). The chin strap is perfect, and I like the snap button that holds the excess strap. The clear sheild has a good view from inside, very clear and no noticable distortion. The venting on the helmet seems to work , I tried both open and closing vents and you can notice a difference in either direction. The visor is nice, and not too large (like a true motocross style helmet) so at speed , you don't notice the resistance so much, mind you there is some noticable noise from the visor and depending on your speed, (i noticed at 65 mph) you can get a slight vibrating coming somewhere between the helmet and visor. This is especially noticable if there is a good crosswind while riding. BUT it wasn't there all the time, so I call it a non issue. Under 60 mph, no noticable vibration at all. I've been in the rain and the seal between the helmet and lens is excellent, it keeps out the rain and no wind enters. The helpful thumb tab on the lens is well thought out, very easy to work. I think the price is alittle steep for a helmet, and it took a few years to step up to this price in a helmet, but now I notice there is a real difference in quality. I can go out and know I've taken that extra step towards providing the best protection for my head and be comfortable knowing that it may help me from having to learn the ABC's again.
Russell Stacy
Henderson, NV
Shoei Hornet DS Helmet
The helmet is good looking with lots of vents that open and shut and probably one of the best or maybe the best for its purpose. It will probably scratch easy and I could not find a matt black that I wanted so settled on Gloss Black. The helmet is very pricey and I think $250 is more reasonable but I'd buy it again at the $392 I paid there's just not a lot of competition out there for this type of helmet.
Erik
San Francisco, CA
Great helmet
I just had my first ride with this helmet and I wish I had bought one sooner. The peripheral vision with the helmet is excellent (when compared to my RF-1000). Between the RF-1000 and the Hornet the helmets are pretty much the same size and have the same interior shape (I ordered the same size as my old RF-1000). The hornet is definitely louder at freeway speeds as is to be expected with the peak and extra attachments exposed to the wind. At freeway speeds the helmet does pull your head a little but nothing that’s not manageable and better than my MX helmet (bigger peak). I really like how easy it is to open and close the windscreen the little gripper on the left hand side is great and easy to grab even with gloves on.
Aaron
Bristol, TN
Shoei Hornet Helmet
Great helmet! Much lighter than most road bike helmets…great cross between a road and dirt bike helmet.
Jim Moss
Wirtz, VA
Nice Lid
I have always been a Shoei fan and since and I recently bought a DS I think this will work well. I had no problems with the visor causing turbulence at speed except when passing a big rig. I do like it and plan to give it the acid test on a 6700 mile ride in June '08. I do wish they had a dark shield available.
Jim
Israel Garcia
somerset, NJ
The shield
The shield of the helmet has a small error in the curvature, and causes a light fault in the vision of the objects, but by other it seems to me a good helmet.
Peter Carter
Tucson, AZ
Hornet
Great fit, low wind noise, ventilation is great in cold weather defogging the screen.
Deeson Swain
Washington, NC
Hornet DS
Great helmet, fit is nice, weight is low. It is a bit loud and the visor causes it to pull at speed. The visor is also shorter than a MX helmet so it doesn’t work as well off road. The shield is very nice and you are able to wear goggles with the shield in place, it actually will still close correctly with the goggles on if you wish. Works many times better on road than a full MX helmet but at street speeds it is no RF1000.