Helmet modifications.

[SteveM]

I can't be the first, and I'm sure there'll be some Karen's, but here goes.

Last summer, I saw a Shoei Neotec 2 at Nault's in a color I liked and at a good, no sales tax, price. I normally wear a size M in Shoei. This was a Small, but it felt really good...

...in the store.

As I rode it more, it was definitely too small around my forehead and temples, throbbing headaches. It wasn't like too-tight cheek pads that will break-in. I tried compressing the EPS with my thumb and a spoon, no real difference.

Saturday, I got more aggressive. There's a 20 MM difference in circumference between a M and S, divide by PI and 2 and a 3MM shave will match a medium. I marked the hotspots with stickers on the outside of the helmet, removed the lining an used a curve rasp to start trimming away material. I went slowly, taking a little at a time from the forehead/temple line down into the cheeks. I'm sure I removed less than 3MM. I put the lining back in and wore it for 30 minutes. The difference was amazing.

Pulled the liner out again and sanded everything smooth, blew out all the particles and dust, and wiped it down. I was concerned about the exposed EPS degrading, so I masked everything off and rattled canned the inside in black. After letting it dry, and the fumes to dissipate, I reassembled and put 120 pain free miles on it this weekend.

I'm sure I voided the warranty, and I'd never sell it, but it now fits perfectly.

Someone HAS to have done this before.

[loudbeard]

I was in this exact position last season with my Shoei RF1400 in Large. It fit excellent, Seacoast sized be up for it, but once I started wearing it while riding I had the same headaches and pressure points you described.






I ordered another RF1400 in XL.

[SteveM]

I was in this exact position last season with my Shoei RF1400 in Large. It fit excellent, Seacoast sized be up for it, but once I started wearing it while riding I had the same headaches and pressure points you described.






I ordered another RF1400 in XL.

Did you return the L, or sell it?

[loudbeard]

Did you return the L, or sell it?

Sold it to a friend for a friendly price.

[RandyO]

the way I look at it (coming from NH a no helmet required state), if it's comfortable, yer more likely to wear it, modified or not, and any helmet is safer than no helmet, I really don't care what Karen and Nancy are spouting

[MattR302]

Here’s a thread about doing that
https://www.advrider.com/f/threads/h...oblem.1338421/

[SteveM]

Here’s a thread about doing that
https://www.advrider.com/f/threads/h...oblem.1338421/

I read through that. I can’t see where there was any real room to remove cushioning where mine was tight, as the cushions at the point is only 9mm.

I do like the idea of experimenting with adding foam at the top to make it sit properly at the eyes.

[LuvDog]

i've done similar before. Some helmet shell sizes are the same for Small-Medium with just different padding. So I was in the same boat... got a great deal on a small lid and then got creative with modifying it to fit.

[OreoGaborio]

Just throwing this out there... sometimes a solution for hot spots is to go THICKER... At least when it comes to the comfort lining. Never woulda believed it till I experienced it during a fitting at Seacoast with some cheek pads. I was pretty amazed. I thought for sure that the ones I initially tried were too thick, but going even thicker felt perfect.

I also couldn't believe how comfortable an EXTRA FEKKING SMALL helmet could be. I went from racing in an Arai medium, to a small, to an EXTRA small for my race lids. (Still generally wear my larger lids for longer term comfort at the track & on the street. The XS is still super comfortable but it hugs the fek outta my mellon.)

[Stoneman]

the way I look at it (coming from NH a no helmet required state)

Under 21 years of age are required to wear a helmet.

Under 16 for bicyclists.