Elwood
California, MD
New convert to modular helmets
I've been riding for more than 25 years and must have owned at least a dozen different helmets over the years. The last few years, I've become a huge fan of HJC helmets, having owned a CL-14 and a CL-15. They offer great value for the money and the Sy-Max II is no exception.
I've always worn full-face helmets, so this is my first modular style. It fits better than my last helmet, a Shoei RF-1000, but doesn't flow quite as much air. The facehsield and internal sun shade work well, and the latching system for the flip-up chin bar seems quite sturdy. Best of all, I was able to re-use the Rocketmate headset I had installed on the Shoei, and it actually fits much better in the Sy-Max II. The ear pockets are deeper and better positioned for headsets, and there was no problem using the Rocketmate's boom mike.
All-in-all, a superb helmet for the money!
Gil
Dayton, OH
Great Helmet
My wife and I each purchased a helmet and we both love them. The features are great and it has the best airflow of any helmet I have ever owned. You can feel the air flow over the top of your head with the top vents open. The helmet is also very aerodynamic and does not cause any buffeting at any speed (Up to three digit speeds any way). I would highly recommend this helmet to anyone. My wife got a medium and I got an extra large and they fit us perfectly. They run true to size.
Mark
Comstock Park, MI
Great for those who wear glasses
I wear glasses and with the flip-up open face feature, you can spread the helmet at the sides and be able to put on and take off the helmet wearing your glasses without bending them out of shape. And you can easily talk to people without having to take it off. The built in flip-down sun shield is superb and the visor is easy to remove and clean too. And, I get lots of compliments which is rare for a helmet.
Barbara Bouchard-Miller
Titusville, FL
HJC - Sy-Max II Modular Helmet
Extremely comfortable and perfect fit for me. Love the color. It is light which is important for a lady.
Harold Klassen
Marcus, IA
HJC-SY-MAX ll MODUALAR HELMET
I've had the helmet just over a month now and so far it's working very well. Not having to wear sunglasses is a big benefit, the shade works well. The air flow is good. It's much lighter than my last modular. The shield comes off easily, comfortable for an all day ride as well. Noise level not any better or worse than other helmets I've had. All in all I'm very pleased, can't beat the value.
Klent
Wichita, KS
Great Helmet
I highly recommend this helmet if you are looking for a great full face system.
Michael Sartisky
New Orleans, LA
HJC Sy-Max II Modular Helmet
Excellent full coverage helmet, with superb features (especially the retractable sun shield, comfortable and especially suited for warm weather riding.
patrick lee
portland, OR
HJC - Sy-Max II Modular Helmet
I like the extra shade, for the money great buy. I am happy with it.
Bob
Milwaukie, OR
HJC Sy-Max II
The fit is good. I used the chart and also double checked by visiting a local dealer to try one on. The helmet looks great and functions well. Noise and vents are what I expected but do not rate a 5. Price was better in here was better than any local stores including shipping.
Aaron
Thomasville, NC
HJC - Sy-Max 2 Mod Helmet
Great helmet for the price. Nice buckle, comfortable, removable padding. Mod works easily with one hand while fastening securely without needing to close forcefully like some of the cheaper mod helmets. Only complaint is that the hide-away sun visor rattles in the wind if you use it with the mod in the up position. The sun visor is a nice feature though if you ride into the sun and your sunglasses aren't dark enough or if you only have clear glasses.
Richard
Birmingham, AL
SyMax 2
My first modular and overall, I like the Symax-very lightweight and the built in sunglasses feature is great. I rode over 100 miles in the pouring rain and the helmet did not leak at any seem. Both top air vents and "defroster" air scoop on the front work very well to keep shield defogged. Finish is very good, but the sizing runs small, so order one size up if you plan to wear a do-rag, balaclava, etc. Chin bar seems too close to my chin, but I have a big head (XXL), so may not be a problem for others. A good buy overall.
Don Rathjen
Cathlamet, WA
Sy-Max ll
Great helmet. Best I've ever bought, low-wind noise. Visibility is great out of the sides. Better than my more costly Bell. Sun shade is a little high, wish it was higher. But the fit is excellent.
Andrew Williams
Blair, NE
Best helmet I have owned!!
I haven’t had the opportunity to wear this helmet a whole lot, However having worn it I found that its by far the most comfortable helmet I have worn. I love the face that the air flow vent work properly like I just got it. My previous helmets air flow vents always got very difficult to move after awhile. I LOVE the built in sun visor. Very convent when riding from the day into the night not having to carry a clear tint to put on after dark! The only thing I don’t Love about the helmet is how close the front sits to your face. Very quite helmet I love it.
Ray Lackey
Laurel, MD
HJC SyMax II Modular Helmet
Love the helmet but it definitely runs a size small... fortunately, the large I first purchased and attempted to break in (but never did) fit my wife who is now riding 2-up with me... I purchased an XL and am very happy with it... with both of us using the same helmet, couldn't be happier... with warmer wx coming, time to purchase an open-faced helmet with her. :)
Susie
Boise, ID
Nice helmet
Really like the sun visor option which eliminates the need for sunglasses.
Robert Nordmeyer
Marysville, WA
Sy-Max II
Overall, a great helmet. Fit and finish/details very good. Tint of sunvisor light for riding into sun, but easily remedied with stick on sunshield applied to top edge of sunvisor. Ventilation OK, but cold weather fogging occurs, just as in other full face helmets. I use fog city proshield insert in mine to see clearly in condensing weather. Visor requires a push down from the top to close evenly, which sometimes closes top vent with gloved fingers. I love the modular flip-up style, it allows all kinds of activity without helmet removal.
Hooty
St. Croix, NS
Super deal on a great helmet
My wife and I bought 2 of these helmets a couple of days prior to leaving on a two week tour through the Alps. Steady riding in lots of different weather and long days. The helmet fit was great with no pressure points, and the protection from the elements was great. A good compromise between a full face (which is a pain for those of us that wear glasses), and a full face. I found the integrated sun visor adequately shielded the sun. The only issue I had was with visibility when you forget place the chin section all the way up or all the way down! My previous helmets were open face so I didn't have that problem. I only managed to do it once and quickly learned that you can't see through the black fiberglass! Overall, a great helmet.
John A
naperville, IL
HJC - Sy-Max II Modular Helmet
Real satisfied with it, I like the light shade of the sun shield, and also like the 3 positions, if you have a big nose, you may want to use the second notch, I wear glasses and have no problem. It’s hard to just crack the shield to stop it from fogging up. They need a half click on the first notch. When riding in cold weather I advise using two ear plugs in the two air exhaust. The cold air comes straight in, on top of your head. Needs a chine curtain if riding in cold weather. Overall I love this helmet
.
Leonard
Beaverton, OR
Features over Function
Excellent feature set. The sun shield fits perfect and takes the glare off the cars. I have the silver mirrored main shield and with the two paired up and was able to ride toward the setting sun without squinting. The cheek pads don't fit my face shape that well and triangular ear cutouts still catch a corner of my ear. That made for a painful break-in until the pads softened up a little. Shield fogging is really annoying when stopped. My dealer confirms for me that there are no breath guards for the SyMax II, so when stopped, the shield fogs up the first time you exhale. I tried several coats of two different anti-fog sprays with no luck at solving that issue. I will need to go buy a generic anti-fog film for it. On airflow in cooler weather (40-55 degrees), If things get chilly, closing the vents doesn't help warm things up. However, the chin vent that also defogs the shield (when moving) does put a nice breeze across your forehead. Top vents though make no distinguishable difference in the cooler spring weather. Will have to see how they do in the summer. A remarkable amount of air comes up from under your chin, so in colder weather, I recommend trying the chin curtain. For loudness, it didn't seem too bad until the other day when I put in my earphones. I have the kind that insert into your ear canal like earplugs and seal out all outside noise. I spend a lot of time in the server-room at work and use them to effectively block the noise in that room. However, on the highway under this helmet, I could hear my music, but it was really competing with other noise making it seem less like headphones and more like some quiet speakers, tempting me to reach for the volume which was already pushing the safety limits judging from when I turned it on just before starting out.
Colleen Madderra
Bishop, CA
HJC-Sy-Max ll Modular Helmet
The helmet is of excellent design with very few flaws. Wind is not too bad. Excellent features, with a good price tag. The only thing that seems to be a problem is when the clear shield is up its difficult to push the sun screen shield up release button with gloves. You have to remember to put the sun screen up before the clear shield is in the uppermost position. Other than that, it is a very good helmet.
Barry Bearden
Pollock Pines, CA
HJC-Sy-max modular II
Got the Sy-max II about 3 weeks ago. The Fit & finish very good, comfortable and easy to use, quiet for a modular. All the features are easy to use and work fine. Inner tinted shield works really well. Sizing seemed normal. I'd buy it again.
John Hafer
Winchester, CA
HJC SY-Max II Modular Helmet
The helmet fits great, is well made and looks great. My only complaint is that I wanted a 'flat' black color and it was not available. Anyway, I have a comfortable helmet for the cold mornings.
Glenn
St Louis, MO
HJC-SyMax II Mod Helmet
I really like this helmet because of the integrated sun visor. It doesn't go as low as I would like but does provide additional eye protection from the sun. Best when used with a pair of sunglasses. The flip up visor works well and stays firmly seated when riding. Helmet is a little noisier than my Arai but probably due to the visor release on the top. Good ventilation. Good fit and finish for the price. This is my first mod helmet and I really like that feature.
George
JACKSONVILLE, FL
Almost the Best of Both Worlds
I like an open face helmet in the summer, short trips, good weather, and easy to put on over my glasses. I like a full face for winter, long trips, bad weather, but a real pain to put on over my glasses!! I've had a number each type, alternating between open and full. I eventually ended up buying two helmets. When it was time for a new helmet[s], I was a bit skeptical about buying a hybrid. It has, however, turned out to be a very good compromise and definitely cheaper than buying two helmets! Excellent value for the price. Love the flip down sun visor!!
Brian Burke
Las Vegas, NV
HJC - Sy-Max II Modular Helmet
I had a non-modular HJC that hurt my ears. This one is molded around the ears so its more comfortable, but it doesn't hold to my head as well. The air flow adjuster on the top rattles when in the closed position. Wind noise is a little more pronounced compared to the non-modular HJC. Modular function works real well with either hand even with gloves on. The internal sun visor has a third position that is used for removal but I need to use so it comes down far enough to actually cover the sun. I replaced the clear face shield with a slightly tinted one and the net result is good enough to stop wearing my Oakley’s under the helmet. Riding directly into the sun is still a bear so I am considering tinting the sun visor more to get more blockage. Overall I am very pleased with the helmet and I would buy another one. The price is about half of comparable helmets.
Tim
Coshocton, OH
Great Helmet!
This is the best helmet I have ever had. It is comfortable, quiet, and looks great. The flip-up feature is great! No wind drags at all, even when I turn my head and that in really unusual for full helmets and was a pleasant surprise! The only shortcoming it has for me, the internal sunshield in the lowest position rubs against my nose. I do have a slightly larger than normal nose, but, not big enough that the shield should be hitting the sunshield. Besides that, the best full helmet I have ever owned!
Mark
Sarasota, FL
Great helmet
I was initially leery of a modular helmet. However, this helmet is better than I expected. The fit and visibility are great. The air flow is not perfect but is adequate. Being able to get some heat relief by using the easy lift is priceless in the Florida weather. The look of the helmet is sharp. This is another fine HJC product. By the way, Motorcycle Superstore has a fair price and the helmet arrived quickly and in excellent condition.
Michael Cheeseman
Gander, NL
HJC Sy-Max II Modular Helmet
The helmet fits really good and very comfortable. The sun visor is easy to put down & lock in place. The visor retracts very quickly with the push of the release button. Air flow was very good, on hot days my head felt cool from the air flow. The field of vision for the helmet is really good. I also installed an headset into the helmet and it works very well. Overall my wife & I are very pleased with the helmet.
David
Dixon, IL
Noisier than original symax
I have worn the symax II for 5 months and find that the fit is good. The flip up chion bar operation is smooth. I find though that the shield hard to open. The sun shield is not dark enough, I wear sun glasses under it. I hear a clicking or scratching noise that makes you think that there is something wrong with you cycle. It turns out that the sun shield release button is vibrating causing the noise. The symax II is also noisier than the orginal symax.
Brent
Saco, ME
Lots of wind noise for $$$$
As a first time rider I really have no comparison. But it seems like a lot of wind noise for such an expensive helmet. Maybe it's because it's modular I don't know but that is the biggest complaint. Other than that I love the build in sun visor.
Jeff
honolulu, HI
Better than Nolan
Bought this after returning the Nolan Outlaw. Unlike the Nolan helmet, the quality of the lining is very good. The soft micro-fleeced fabric makes it comfortable. The size chart is on the money. A little snug at first but breaks in well. The sun visor can stay down while the face shield is open, also while the chin bar is flipped up. All the stickers come off easily, if you like your helmet clean like me. The sun visor could be darker, and the chin strap pad could be longer. Other than those two minor points it's a very good helmet. I would buy it again.
David Ganung
Lake Stevens, WA
HJC-Sy-MaxII Modular Helmet
It was a very tight fit to begin with; both ears would get soar if I wore the helmet for over 2 hours straight. Air flow could be better. Here in Washington we get fogged up visors to over heated heads when going from the west side to the east side of the state. I had to lift the face shield to either clear the fog from my breath or cool my head in the heat.
Very good looking helmet, I really like the dark internal face shield for riding in the sunny weather. It easily retracts when the sun goes down or a cloud covers it. I would recommend this helmet to anyone who wants a full face helmet. IT IS GREAT, once it gets broke in.
Adam
Rockford, IL
Noisy but nice
Great helmet size is advertised. Weight hasn't been a issue for me, I have heard some complaints but find it comfortable. Features are great, easy to operate with gloves. This helmet is a modular so there is noise as with all modulars. It actually amplifies when closed, as all of them do. The visor is rock solid open, and the chin in the up position is rock solid works great.
Harry
Lindenhurst, NY
Symax
Air flows best when sun shade is down
DANNY
SANTAQUIN, UT
HJC-SY-MAX II HELMET
THIS HELMET IS FANTASTIC. IT FITS LOW ON THE HEAD AND IS VERY COMFORTABLE, THE EAR POCKETS ARE A FANTASTIC FOR SPEAKERS. THE SUN SHADE IS EXCELLENT FOR DAY RIDING AND NOT HAVING TO CHANGE FACE SHEILDS WHEN IT GETS DARK IS A BONUS. I AM BUYING THIS HELMET AGAIN FOR MY WIFE, AND IF I NEED TO I WELL DEFINATELY PURCHASE THIS HELMET AGAIN FOR MYSELF.
Jim Schneider
DeSoto, IA
cheek squeezer
I’ve had the helmet for only three weeks and like it very much. The sun visor is effective but not as much as a previous retractable visor helmet I have owned, but also cost is now over $600. The only other problem is the too fat/thick cheek pads squeeze my cheeks too much but with constant compression overnight it seems to be getting better or I am just getting used to it. I think it is well worth the money!
John Parsons
Moose Jaw, SK
Sy-Max II
The XL fits my 7 1/2 inch head perfectly. Ventilation is adequate, but cooling vents could be better. The shield is good, but stiff to open, resulting in using the entire chin-bar most of the time. There are better helmets, but not anywhere close to this price.
Gene
Millsboro, DE
Nicely designed helmet
I recently purchased a new motorcycle and had not been on two wheels in years, so this was my first helmet purchase in a long time. I decided I wanted to try the modular design, and I'm glad I did. It comes in handy all the time when I need to hear a little better, or talk to someone but don't want to have to take the helmet off. Everything is nicely designed.
Ron Alvey
Centerville, UT
HJC- Sy- Max II
VERY GOOD!
Chris Daugherty
Fayetteville, GA
Great Looking Summer Helmet, Awesome Features
I've worn XL and XXL HJC Helmets for about 8 years, my new sy-Max II fits tighter than any of the others. I choose it because of the sunshield (it looks really good and I get a lot of compliments and questions about it) and the flip face. The sunshield has a good tint but fits loosely in its travel slot and will rattle in turbulent wind. The flip face makes popping noises when I pull the helmet on with it. The helmet has great airflow, even around the top corner of the face shield; I won't be wearing this helmet this winter.
Char
Aurora, IL
Great Helmet
I bought this helmet a couple of months ago. I have a small and the fit is snug but getting better as it breaks in. Weight is good. Love the shaded visor and its ease of use. Go directly into the sun in the am and visor works well. I've had a bit of trouble with fogging early in the morning and have to crack the shield open so the ventilation could be a bit better. Cracking the shield open also creates more wind noise. Overall, I like this helmet and would recommend it to others.
Patrick
Merrimack, NH
Sy-Max II Helmet
The helmet looks great but there are some definite pros and cons. Pros: Cool fighter pilot like sunscreen that is easy to deploy and retract. Sharp styling. Easy to remove interior for cleaning and installing Chatterbox equipment. Easy lift front section
Cons: Lots of wind noise at higher speeds. Clear Visor is tricky to open; you need to flip it up from the tap on the left hand side. Air flow is not as good as expected.
Chris Daugherty
Fayetteville, GA
Buy it Big! It is a great helmet!
I love the Helmet; Glad I read the reviews and bought the XXL. The last F.F. HJC I bought was an XXL and was a little loose, With the SY-Max II, it is snug. Lots of airflow through the helmet, I won't be wearing this one this winter, but it is great for the summer. The sun visor is the main reason I even looked at the helmet, I wear transition glasses but the ultraviolet protection in most shields removes the reason for the glasses to darken, leaving no protection against the brightness; it is a good tint and I get a lot of compliments and questions about it.
Robert Neff
Vinton, IA
Sy-Max II
Having put one of these on at a local Honda dealer, I knew enough to get the next larger size than I typically wear. Other than that, the helmet has been exactly what I needed ... a way to get more tint in front of my eyes when driving directly into the sun. I always wear sunglasses as my eyes are very sensitive to light. So on my original Sy-Max, I had to not only wear sunglasses, but I also had to put on one of their tinted visors. Worked great ... except when the sun went down. I would take off the sunglasses, but I still had to look through the tinted visor at night. This internal tinted visor is a great idea and works flawlessly. One button push and it retracts back up into the helmet. The helmet is not all that quiet in wind. But I have no experience with other brands so I don't know if others are any less noisy. Bottom line, I love this thing for its features.
F Wilmar
Tahoe City, CA
HJC Symax II
A very comfortable helmet. The slide down sun glasses/visor means I can ride with a clear rather than tinted visor. A bit more airflow noise than my old Symax helmet, but other features more than compensate.
Herb Pitzman
Woodstock, IL
HJC Sy-Max II Modular Helmet
I had the previous model of this helmet which I liked very much. I wore an extra large which I felt was to large so I ordered a large in the sy-max II. I could not wear this one at all; the new helmets seem to run small. I re-ordered an x-large and it is smaller than the previous x-large. I like the features of this helmet, but after 1-1/2 to 2 hours you want to take this off. It seems to bother me in the front of the helmet where the liner is seamed. I did not have that problem with the older model. We are long distance tourers so helmet features and comfort are very important. I still like the helmet and hope that it maybe breaks in a little more. The sun shield is a nice feature however it not as dark as a good pair of sun glasses.
Doug
Flower Mound, TX
HJC - Sy-Max II Modular Helmet
After having this helmet for about a month now I wanted to share my experience. Here’s my opinion: Finish (mine is silver) -beautiful, smooth, even, deep metallic finish. Seals and rubber are straight and tight. Wind noise - not perfect, but about what you would expect for a flip up helmet. Fit- definitely runs small. The chart put my head at a large, I bought an XL. It still is snug and getting better as it is breaking in. Definitely get a size up. The chin area also is a little snug. I can stick out my chin a bit and touch the inner face area. I would like a little more room there. Weight- Not bad I would say. My old Bell full face feels heavier. No pain in the neck after an hour at a time. Not bad considering all the moving parts crammed in there. All in all, nice helmet, nice features, good fit (if a little small) and finish, and there isn't anything out there now that is quite like it. I'm very happy with it and would definitely recommend it.
Chas
Jacksonville, FL
Great Helmet!
Have always used modular helmets, and I found this one to be of great quality and value. The integrated sun shade is great! Could be a little darker, and air flow isn't as great as other helmets, but for the money and features, this is a tough helmet to beat!
ERIK SMITTLE
THORNVILLE, OH
BULK DELIVERY DRIVER
Great looking helmet, really like the slide down sun shield behind main visor! I live in the country and ride down roads that are in and out of the woods. This is a problem with dark shields or sun glasses. With this helmet you can slide down the sun shield; just hit the button and it pops out of sight. Great feature!