Nolan N85 Helmet - Solid
4.5
5
25
25
Great Helmet For Under $200
I've been riding with this helmet for a couple of months now. I'm not sure I can add much to the existing reviews, so I'll just emphasize some of the points other reviewers have made. This is almost certainly the best bang for the buck you'll get out of a helmet. If you want to move up to something a bit more premium, but don't want to shell out the money for a Shoei or Arai, then this is your helmet. I upgraded to the N85 from a Z1R Phantom, and the N85 is leagues above it. The comfort, soundproofing and built-in VPS are my favorite features - very well-done. And it's always nice to get a custom Pinlock that just snaps into the visor instead of one of the sticky ones that you have to position perfectly. The helmet also seems pretty durable. I tend to sling around and accidentally drop my helmets on occasion and so far I haven't had any reason to question the toughness of the N85. I'm definitely happy with the N85 and would recommend it to anybody who wanted to get an entry-level premium helmet but didn't want to spend more than $200.
May 20, 2013
Great features
Have owned this helmet for two months riding every day. Aerodynamics are superb. Love the cam lock chin strap. On and off in a flash Pinlock anti fog shield is great. Shield is a snap to take off and put back on. I ride without it in the summer. Only drawback for me was the comfort padding in the top seemed thin which but I could have lived with that before putting an 1/8 inch of neoprene in the top. Overall great helmet. Feels very secure. Glad I bought it Great price at revzilla.
May 17, 2013
Bang for the Buck !
Ridding with this helmet for 2 years now. A few durability issues such as the integrated pin-lock failing to function and fog is forming in between the two visors. Everything is changeable so nothing to worry though.
I ride a CBR1100XX Blackbird and at 80mph the helmet is behaving perfectly in any position. A little bit on the loud side and slight whistle. Would recommend ridding with earplugs on longer rides.
Overall good and complete helmet for the price range
May 15, 2013
Very nice helmet
Quality helmet and a very reasonable price. Love the built in visor. Compared favorably to more expensive Shoei and Arai helmets I looked at in stores. I took a chance buying a Nolan without seeing one first, but was very pleased.
May 13, 2013
Very Pleased
For the money, i do not believe there is a better helmet on the market. The pin lock system works great, and the ratcheting chin strap is something I find i can no longer live without. Matte Black finish also appears to be more durable than other helmets I've owned in the past.
Get this helmet, you won't be disappointed.
April 30, 2013
Feature Rich Entry Helmet
With its interior visor, quick change exterior visor mechanism, communication adaptability, quick release chin strap, included "Pinlock" visor and excellent finish...for the price its tough to beat.
It's only average in terms of comfort, airflow and noise but keep in mind it's an entry level helmet.
If you are needing to remove the communication cover I would suggest removing the left cheek-pad and disengaging the clip with a screwdriver from the inside as the exterior clip mechanism is poorly engineered.
The optional Nolan "basickit 2" is well thought out and sounds great...I am very impressed with the quality of the microphone.
Again, for the price...its hard to complain but I would suggest it would cost little more to provide more comfortable cheek-pad material and additional care in ensuring the rear sizing sticker are placed on straight instead of carelessly slapped on.
April 26, 2013
Full Face Value
Great fit and comfort. Like the slide down tinted visor. ride about half of of the time with the clear visor up or off and just the tinted visor down.
April 22, 2013
Fantastic value
I was very impressed by this helmet. The polarized visor lets you ride easily during the day with the clear visor - great for me, as the sun is often down when I come home from work, so I don't need to worry about switching visors. I will say that both the polarized visor and main visor do fog rather easily, though. The pinlock for the main visor alleviates most of this, but at low speeds, the polarized visor will fog up QUICK.
This helmet fits me quite well, I just wish the cheekpads were a little beefier. For reference, a medium Shoei GT Air fits me like a glove (but I don't have $600). The ratchet locking system could be a concern if you've got a lot of chin, as the padding does not cover the whole thing. The noise seems average, but I generally ride with earplugs.
My favorite aspect is the aerodynamics. The integrated spoiler and very low-profile vents mean that you can ride at highway speeds with virtually no resistance. I've honestly caught myself going 40+ in a 20 just because it felt like I wasn't moving.
Overall, this helmet is great if you don't have a large chin and don't live in a climate where fogging would be a concern.
April 15, 2013