WINTER SPORTS

SHoei Hornet DS Helmet

The Shoei Hornet DS helmet, specifically designed for the adventure touring and dual sport market works as well as possible over the widest range of dual-sporting conditions.   The Shoei Hornet helmet overcomes the dual sports enthusiast’s dilemma of whether they should ride with a full face, on-road helmet lacking the air flow, visibility, eye shade, and style of a motocross helmet… or use the motocross helmet, goggles, and buffeting visor on the street with its limited face protection, high levels of wind noise, and lack of thermal protection in cold temperatures.

Like its (few) competitors, the Shoei Hornet DS leads a double triple life. Dual-sport duty requires nothing more than fastening the D-ring and you’re now the envy of all your mates. If the local motocross heroes won’t let you play in the sandbox, simply remove the shield and greet your new buddies. Lastly, if a Latte Grande is next on the menu, unscrew the peak and your superbike friends are none the wiser.

But that’s not all…

The build quality of the Shoei Hornet DS is on par with the rest of Shoei’s line, and by that I mean outstanding. The paint and clear coat are immaculately laid. The liner fits perfectly within the shell and all vent holes are void of any stray fabrics or other blockages. Speaking of vents, there are three intake systems on the Hornet:

• In the chin: a shutter type vent directing air both forward towards the lower face and up along the vertical axis of the shield via ducts
• In the brow: two dual-position holes directing air downwards over the face
• In the peak: a large slot shaped intake directing air to the top and rear of the head

Exhaust is handled by two circular openings in the upper rear of the shell. Overall, the Hornet vents and seals very well for a multi purpose design.

Wind noise is also surprisingly absent, with only a hint of turbulence coming from the peak when turning your head at an angle. I was also pleasantly surprised to find that the peak does not create as much lift as I expected it to, regardless if I was on a fairing equipped bike or not.

Sizing is a non-issue if you follow Shoei’s sizing chart.  Get yourself a seamstress tape  or a very flexible tape measure and measure along the widest part of your head (just above the brow). It’s best to ask a friend to help you measure your noggin.

So, what’s not to like? Like everything else in life, the Hornet is not without a few quibbles. I suppose a real concern would be that neither the peak or the visor are equipped with a quick release mechanism, meaning a (large) coin is required to remove them, and there are (nylon) screws to strip or lose. This poses no issue for me because I don’t normally ask the Hornet to change hats very often. Heck, to be honest I’ve only taken the visor and peak off once to give the lid a good cleaning, but now I don’t even bother doing that (dirty just looks cooler). Got full size goggles? Forget it! While your mileage may vary, my goggles were a no-go so I replaced them with Spy Targa II’s. My last gripe is more of a personal issue than anything else, and I must emphasize this problem was only evident during the first few uses of the helmet. Because I shave not only my face but also my entire head, I found that the Hornet’s cheek pads would really irritate my skin if I put it on soon after shaving. I would routinely find myself pulling on the chin straps and opening the Shoei DS Hornet helmet as much as I could before putting it on or removing it.

The Good

• exemplary build quality
• flat out looks cool
• multi purpose
• quiet
• does everything well

The Bad

• peak and shield both lack quick release mechanism
• peak could be a tad longer
• small eye-opening requires the use of small(er) goggles

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