I had been looking for an open-face helmet for those rides when I just don’t feel like wearing one of my full-face helmets or my set of Viking horns (don’t ask!). I have been riding for years but never tried a Shoei helmet. I knew the lids have an excellent reputation and are very popular with my riding buddies who use full-face helmets.

On my first inspection out of the box, I noticed the Silky White Shoei RJ-Platinum R offered some pretty neat features. It was very light. I’ve never liked heavy helmets, especially on longer rides, so I give Shoei credit for using very lightweight material while still meeting full DOT and SNELL ratings. I also noted the padded liners easily snap in and out for ease of cleaning. As someone who rides a lot in the summer, this is a welcome feature. And Shoei’s full five-year warranty means it has great confidence in its product, materials, and design.

The RJ-Platinum R features full-cheek protection with slits in the interior padding to allow vision or sunglasses to be worn without pinching your temples. Clever. I played with the adjustable vents while riding and found them quite effective. I did not use them, but the helmet features snaps for easy installation of aftermarket faceshields. All you need to do is pop off the standard GT visor and you’ve got four snaps ready and waiting. You never know when the rain is going to surprise you, or when you’ll be cruising past open fields during June bug mating season. And that optional faceshield in your saddlebag could come in handy.
My only real complaint with the RJ-Platinum R was its shape. I felt the top of the helmet was too high in the crest and the whole helmet a little too rounded, like a big gumball. I think I even heard a wisecrack about The Great Gazoo.

In summary, I found the Shoei RJ a very comfortable helmet. I have a large head and usually wear an XL. I was surprised to find this XL was a tad loose. Keep in mind that you can add padding inside the helmet for a little extra snugness. This is definitely a helmet worth checking out if you’ve been thinking of adding an open face to your choices. RB

The rear exhaust vents lets the warmed air from your head out the back.

Sources

Shoei
RJ-Platinum R, $233-248
www.Shoei.com