Eyeglass fogging and HJC RPHA-Max helmet review

[Monkeyman]

Might as well combine these into one thread.

I got in my first ride of the year today (WOOHOO!!!). Only about 25 miles because my eyeglasses kept fogging up. (I know it will improve as the weather warms up but I don't want to wait that long to ride.) First time out with my new lid (HJC RPHA-Max modular), too. I've had modulars before and know that, since there's nowhere for my breath to go, it tends to fog up glasses. My glasses don't have an anti fog coating because I couldn't get some other coating with it (I forget which other I felt I needed). I've been cleaning them with a doctor recommended anti fog spray. Not sure it's helping much.

Any suggestions?

On to the helmet review. The HJC RPHA line (-10 is full face, -Max is modular and -X is dual sport) is a step above the standard HJC line in both quality and price. The fit/finish is outstanding, along the lines of the Arais, Shoeis and Nolans but a bit below the Schuberth. The fit is neutral to medium oval as opposed to basketball round like the rest of the HJC line (and the Schuberth). The cheekpads are a bit snug but that's a good thing as this doesn't move a millimeter when head checking. Revzilla list price for my RPHA-Max is just over $400 although they price match and I paid just over $300. The price is lower than most of the other premium brands and 1/3-1/2 the cost of the Schuberth C3.

HJC claims the RPHA-Max is 2db louder than the Schuberth. I'd guess that's being a bit optimistic but still much quieter than alot of similar lids. For those who listen to a stereo, I can hear mine just fine although it's a bit more muddled than when I was wearing my Bell Mag 9 (3/4 with a face shield). I'd say that's probably pretty normal. With my windscreen all the way down, I got a good amount of wind noise but that puts the dirty air right at my head level. With the wind screen about 1/2 way up, I got minimal noise. With it all the way up, I got VERY little. (I can adjust my wind screen 4" up/down.) Zero buffeting no matter where the wind screen was or when I was head checking.

The drop down sun visor was optically correct (and worlds better than the one on the Bell) but not very dark. (Revzilla sells replacements for $22 in smoke (stock), dark smoke and amber.) The RPHA-Max comes with a clip on breath guard that really doesn't do much.

It has a standard double D ring closure. Because of the extra neck roll (to keep turbulence down), it's a tight fit trying to get it buckled and the snap for the excess strap is impossible to use. (I'd much prefer the ratchet system like Nolan has.)

The face shield has a center mounted, locking hasp which is handy but, if you wear bulky gloves, it's difficult to use. (I wear snowmobile gloves in winter.) Simple and easy with normal (3 season) gloves. Good detents and the flip up section is easy to flip and stays up. Solid locking when it's down and just unlocking it gives you a pretty solid detent just enough to defog your glasses (see above). It comes with a Pinlock ready face shield WITH the Pinlock insert. The face shield didn't fog up at all @ 38* nor did the drop down sun shield.

This lid isn't very flexible (good thing) so if you wear earrings, be careful putting it on/taking it off.

Overall, I'd give this an 8. If the noise was a little less and my glasses wouldn't fog up, I'd give it a solid 10 (maybe an 11 with a ratchet closure) at the price I paid (just over $300).