Shoei Z-100

Shoei Z-100

EVALUATION

This is the answer to the question: What do you get when you spend $200 for a street helmet.

A lot, as it turns out.

The list: Kevlar/fiberglass shell, DOT and Snell 80 approved; an opening big enough and wide enough to provide the wearer with almost-panoramic peripheral vision; a sturdy, thick (2mm) face shield that’s pre-curved for an easy fit; a seven-click mechanism that opens the shield with the push of a finger; and a nifty closing device that drops the shield quickly and neatly with a press of a button on the left side of the helmet.

And style . . . The Z-100 was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro, the man responsible for the looks of the Lotus Esprit, the Volkswagen Scirroco and the DeLorean. Now, this isn't styling for style’s sake, an approach that inevitably leads to much foo-foo that looks good but doesn't work. No, the Z-100 was styled for function’s sake.

Take the rubber lower protector, which juts out in front. Nice-looking, eh? But it serves a purpose as well, acting as something of an air dam that helps counter helmet-lift at high speeds. And to further reduce buffeting, the Z-100 is streamlined, with thin covers over the face shield attachments.

Our riders found the Z-100 comfortable. The chin spoiler really works. The lining, firm foam covered by soft ribbed cloth, extends up to the wearer’s cheekbones. While that high padding at first makes the Z-100 seem restrictive, maybe a mite too confining, it contributes to a close fit and adds stability. Finally, because of the streamlined exterior, flushfitting shield and abundant padding, the helmet is quiet; wind noise is negligible.

While we approached the chore of changing shields with forboding (we feared the natty closing mechanism would make the task difficult), we couldn’t have been more pleasantly surprised. You simply lever off the plastic covers with a thin-blade screwdriver, then remove the mounting screw.

The Z-100 is attractive. Even non-riders were moved to compliment the elegant simplicity of the styling. It's available in four colors: red, black, white or silver. The solid base color is broken by a flat gray band.

The Z-100 weighs 3.3 lb., average for a full-face helmet. Suggested price is $199. It's available at your local dealer.