AFX FX-100 Wave Helmet
3.7
5
3
3
Excellent Helmet
I purchased this as a spare helmet hoping that the extra vents would make for better hot weather riding which they do. In 50 - 55 degree weather with the vents open after 10 miles my ears and cheeks were cold and red, closing the vents did not make enough difference to reverse the cold feeling but the vent on the top did begin to whistle. Twisting and turning my head did change the tone but I could not find a spot where it went silent. It is not loud but could become annoying after a few steady hours. It goes away when I open the vent and isn't noticable with earbuds in at medium volume. I have not experienced the rattle others have mentioned, the top vent does seem to have ample play which could easily cause a rattle– riding position will probably be the determining factor there. Like all helmets without a breath box, at a stop in cool weather the shield will fog if I don’t exhale downwards. I really like the quick release feature on the chin strap; it’s a two inch long plastic tab with ratchet teeth that slides into a spring clip. As the name implies, it is quick and easy - the down side though is that there is no D ring to secure your helmet to your bike. This is not a problem for me as I use a security cable strung through the spring clip. (Plastic fastener may make this ineligible for use at Track Days) The internal shade works well. Out of the box, I would have preferred a darker tint but in use it is adequate. A plus here is that the shade does not lock in the down position and can be raised with a gloved finger just enough to scratch an itchy nose/eye or can be moved to full open position where it will lock in place. As for the noise level, I can only compare it to other my other helmets and I’d say this is the quietest one I own. To give you an idea, I have an HJC CP-SP and if I have my Bluetooth headset in (Plantronics unit not intended for MC use), the noise drowns out the sound by 40-45MPH; with the AFX FX-100, the noise doesn’t drown it out until 60-65MPH. To further compare the two, the HJC starts to lift and bobble at about 75-80MPH while the AFX was still smooth at 85MPH.
The only downside to this helmet is the field of view; peripheral vision while riding down the street is adequate however looking over your shoulder at a crooked intersection requires noticeably more effort as does checking instrumentation and backing into tight spaces.
This is a great helmet; it’s comfortable and affordable with plenty of features. As I mentioned before, I bought it for hot weather riding however it has quickly become my main choice for anything other than riding in cold weather.
April 16, 2012
OK for some, not for me.
Lets start with the good: Its light, there is little distortion through the main visor and I really like the quick release. I didn't have any issues with it being uncomfortable as some have mentioned. The inner flip down smoked visor is handy, but the whole mechanism feels like it will break sooner or later. The materials feel pretty good. I especially like the suede type liner material.
The bad: Its extremely noisy for a full face helmet. I wear custom molded earplugs, and it is still very loud..... and mine whistled pretty loudly on top of the wind noise. The top vent rattled just like I expected it to from the other reviews and there is a little distortion from the inner drop down screen, but not too bad at all. Also, this thing doesn't breath very well at all and even with the front vent open (which doesn't seem to make a difference) the visor fogs very easily in the morning.
But for me there are two glaring issues that make it a "No Recommend".
1. It is NOT designed for an upright seating style like my GS, or any adventure bike for that matter.... which is probably the reason it doesn't flow air and whistles.
2. If you like the Shoei fit.... you probably wont like this one. I like the Shoei fit, but I cant stand this thing. It feels too tight on the forehead, too loose on the cheeks, and too tight on the ears.... in fact there seems to be no ear pockets at all.
I would have sent this back if I could, but it seems like I will be selling it locally and finding something else.
On another Note, Revzilla was very helpful... as always. I will be coming back for all my gear.
August 15, 2011
Overall great helmet
I had this helmet for about 6 months, it saved my head in an accident, while I owned the helmet it was very comfortable, it had a snug fit, the quick release and integrated sun visor worked awesome, the ventilation was average, I wish there was more air flow, but I ride in temperatures near 100, so I will always want more airflow, overall I'm satisfied with my purchase. help up great during my accident, paramedics appreciated the quick release, on the chin strap.
May 8, 2011