HJC RPS-10 Motorcycle Helmet ReviewHJC R-PHA10 (in Europe)
by Rick K. for webBikeWorld.comMore: wBW Reviews Home | wBW Motorcycle Helmet Reviews | Owner Comments (Below)
Summary
HJC moves slightly upmarket with a solid offering, but how does it compare with the Shoei Qwest?
Background
We've always been partial to HJC, for a number of reasons. First of all, the helmets are available -- you can find one at just about every Mom 'n' Pop motorcycle dealer on the planet. That makes a big difference; after all, the "best" helmet in the world is a theory if you can't find one to buy.
HJC also has the price/performance range completely covered. From the bottom-of-the-line CS-series all the way up to this latest RPS-10, with stops along the way for motocross, cruising, flip-uping and even a side trip to Carbon Fiber World -- if you want it, they got it.
Then there's value. When you can buy a helmet like the time-tested CL-series, which has been around since Odin's floppy hat version (the latest is the CL-16) and get both DOT and Snell 2010 standards in a whole mess o' colors for less than 130 bucks, we're talking the textbook definition of "deal".
Let's see...what else? There's the HJC reputation, the reliability, the support network... Somehow, HJC seems to have it all dialed in. The only thing missing? The "Wow" factor. The very ubiquitousness of the brand gives it less snob appeal than, say, Arai or Shark or Schuberth.
So along comes Ben Spies. And the HJC RPS-10. Is this enough to give HJC that last missing piece -- desirability?
I guess the FS-series, which held top spot in the HJC lineup until the RPS-10 came along, didn't do enough in this regard. Or HJC wanted to cash in on the Spies phenomenon. Or both. Who can blame them? It takes money to sponsor a talent like Spies!
In any case, the HJC RPS-10 is an up-market attempt by the Toyota of motorcycle helmets. Sort of like trying to sell a Lexus next to a Corolla? Hmmm...perhaps not quite.
Unfortunately, HJC's timing was slightly off. They released the helmet just as the fantastic Shoei Qwest (review) hit the dealers' shelves. The helmets are priced within $20.00 of each other and after wearing both for the last several weeks, I think they're natural competitors.
It isn't often when we have two helmets -- or any product, for that matter -- that are competing in the same "space" (to use an overused consulting term). So I can't help but compare the two and I'll weave some of those thoughts in this review. Let's get started...
The HJC RPS-10: Paint, Graphics and Overall Quality
Evaluating the paint and graphics on this plain white RPS-10 is even more difficult than doing the same for the metallic silver Qwest. But it does appear that HJC did a good job on this one; the paint is very evenly applied without a hint of orange peel or dust specks.
The finish and final clearcoat feels sturdy, if anything can be told from clearcoat "feel". It still doesn't have that "hard" surface commonly found on some of the European helmets (like the Nolan N90 (review) for example) and it's difficult to determine the actual thickness of the clear coat, but overall, the finish is excellent.
Compared to the Qwest, however, there are a few immediately noticeable differences. I found a few small rough edges here and there on the RPS-10, like the edges of the plastic top and rear vent covers. Those covers don't quite match the curvature of the helmet, although these are very small nits to pick. This RPS-10 also has a couple of stitching miscues and a loose thread here or there, which also reinforces the differences.
But it's these very little things that make the difference when comparing the two helmets, although I'll still give an "Outstanding" rating to the RPS-10.
Compared to other HJC helmets, the RPS-10 is definitely a step up and I do think the helmet is probably the equal of some of the best quality helmets available. Is it that much of a step up, however, from the HJC FS-15 (review)? Ummm....I'm not so sure about that.
The biggest noticeable difference between the Qwest and the RPS-10 becomes apparent on the inside of the helmet. I just don't think that the RPS-10 is as comfortable as the Qwest. The liner fabric used in the HJC is smoother but not as plush as the fabric used in the Qwest, and the padding doesn't feel as thick either.
The fabric does seem to dissipate heat better in the RPS-10 than the Qwest however, which keeps my head cooler. But the smooth material seems to pull or pill very quickly; my beard stubble created some pilling in the fabric on the edges of the cheek pads the very first time I wore the helmet, which doesn't bode well for longevity.
The bottom line here is that I just think the Qwest interior is a more comfortable place to spend some time, so I'd rate the RPS-10 as a "Very Good", which is two notches down from the Qwest's "Outstanding".
Again, it's unfortunate for HJC that both helmets arrived in one box. It's possible that I would be singing a different tune if the RPS-10 arrived first, without a Qwest for comparison...but I don't think so. After reviewing around 150 motorcycle helmets over the last 10 years, I have a pretty good database of knowledge built up in those little gray cells, which does help at comparison time.
The other bits and pieces on the RPS-10 all work very nicely and the liner is carefully installed. It's also fully removable, unlike the Qwest, which has removable cheek pads only.
Score: I'll give the HJC RPS-10 an "Excellent" rating for paint (in solid colors) and overall fit and finish. See the Summary Table at the end of this page for a description of our rating system.
HJC RPS-10 Slide ShowHJC RPS-10 Helmet Fit, Internal Shape and Liner
Other differences between the RPS-10 and the Shoei Qwest are apparent in the fit and the internals. I've been wearing both helmets back-to-back on rides and I have them right next to me here in the office as I'm writing this, so I can say with confidence that the Qwest is a neutral to slightly round shape, compared to a neutral to slight narrow fit for the RPS-10.
In fact, the RPS-10 probably shades closer to slightly narrow than the Qwest does to slightly round. I think the internal shape of the RPS-10 is felt in a more immediate way because the helmet shell overall feels a bit more snug than the Shoei.
The Qwest comes in a remarkable 5 different shell sizes, but HJC doesn't list the shell sizes for the RPS-10, at least that I can find. Since the RPS-10 is available in sizes ranging from XS to XXL (XXS to XXL for the Qwest), my guess is there are perhaps two shell sizes, one to cover XS, S, M and one for L, XL, XXL?
The internal fit of the size large RPS-10shown here feels slightly small, about 1/2 size smaller than expected and not as roomy as the size L Shoei Qwest. Where the Qwest feels all cushy and soft and padded inside -- and fits my very round head nearly perfectly, the RPS-10 feels like it has thinner padding, which again makes the difference in the internal shape more apparent.
I can definitely feel the oval-ish form towards the top of the RPS10; there's slightly more room at my forehead and the cheeks feel tighter. Also, my chin hangs out the bottom of the helmet, although the large chin curtain masks this to a certain extent. The RPS-10 feels like it's sitting a bit high, so all of this combined tells me that the helmet has a slightly narrow shape. It fits but in reality it is probably not the best choice for my particular head shape.
Since internal shape and fit is based personal preference, this isn't something I'm factoring into my ratings, however. The biggest difference though is in the padding, which feels thinner in the RPS-10 and the liner material, which just doesn't feel as plush or soft to me.
Also, the padding under the chin strap in the RPS-10 is not long enough to cover my neck, so the unprotected central part of the strap causes quite a bit of chafing on my skin.
Taking everything into consideration, I'll have to shade my final shape rating on the RPS-10 also, making it a split between "Neutral" and "Slight Narrow" in the chart above. Ultimately, I'll call it a "Neutral" though because I do think it should fit a wide range of head shapes.
The RPS-10 has relatively deep ear pockets, which should be adequate for speaker mounting. The pockets have a thin section of padding at the bottom but it looks like speakers could either be mounted on top of the material, underneath against the EPS liner or it may be possible to cut out the liner at the pockets and mount the speakers directly on the EPS.
More information on helmet fit can be found in the webBikeWorld Motorcycle Helmet FAQ page, along with the chart that lists the helmet weights of webBikeWorld reviewed helmets and also by shape on the webBikeWorld Motorcycle Helmet Shapes page.
Score: I'll give the HJC RPS-10 an "Excellent" rating for an internal shape that should fit a wide majority of head shapes, a comfortable liner that isn't as comfortable as the Shoei Qwest, with slightly thinner padding and slightly lower quality of material.
Independent top venting system on the HJC RPS-10 uses roller wheels with 5 click positions.
The chin vent is a slightly complex design but doesn't flow a lot of air.
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HJC RPS-10 Face Shield, Eye Port and Visibility
Another new helmet, another new face shield and ventilation system... I guess the manufacturers must figure that since it's much easier to recognize that something new and pry shekels out of a customer's pocket if a helmet has a redesigned face shield and vents. After all, a new helmet shell material is completely invisible to the prospective buyer.
So now we have another type of face shield lift system. The RPS-10 has a type of spring clip lift tab on the center of the face shield. The central mounting position is a plus, because it can be grabbed with either hand and this location helps prevent twisting or torque of the face shield when it's lifted.
But having to squeeze the spring-loaded tab together to both lift and close the face shield makes it one step too fussy, in my opinion. I gave it time, thinking I'd get used to it, but I haven't yet. It takes a positive action and you sort of have to think about what you're doing, especially when closing the shield (see the video below) which takes concentration for a task that should be a very simple operation. So I'm not a fan of the new HJC lift tab system.
On the plus side, the new tab system does serve to lock the face shield closed and it does have a slight first opening to allow defogging. But so does the Shoei system, in a simpler fashion I think (although that one still isn't perfect yet either). I'd rather see a hybrid of the Arai system, which uses a click arrangement to lock the face shield, but perhaps located in the lower center position on the shield.
Note that apparently the Ben Spies replica will have a "normal" face shield without this lift tab; see the note from D.M.B. in the Comments section below. So this may be an option for owners who wish to replace the new face shield design with a traditional version.
The HJ-20 face shield is marked as meeting VESC-8 specs and it has good optical qualities. It is slightly chamfered inwards at the top and bottom on the outside, just like the face shield on the Shoei Qwest. However, there is some distortion at the lower edge, around the centrally located lift tab mechanism.
The RPS-10 face shield seals tightly against the 360-degree eye port gasket and it does pass our water resistance test. The excess water is shunted behind the face shield and out on to the sides of the helmet, rather than into the eye port itself.
The RPS-10 does not have the same outstanding outward visibility of the Shoei Qwest however. This is one of those things that, were it not for the Qwest, the comparison wouldn't be as dramatic. But the RPS-10 chin bar seems taller than the Qwest, so the vertical sight lines aren't as generous. I removed the breath guard almost immediately from the helmet because it blocked too much of the eye port.
The horizontal visibility is good, probably slightly better than average. We've been working on a way to quantify the eye port visibility in terms of included angles of vision and hope to report on that soon. So in the meantime, it's a subjective rating.
The face shield measures 2.1 mm thick on this helmet. It is fitted with Pinlock pins and a Pinlock anti-fog insert (review) is included in the box, although ours was bent due to a packing error, which made it unusable.
The face shield uses the HJC "RapidFire" removal system, which works well and is illustrated in the video below. The base plate has two stainless steel Philips head screws on either side for adjustment, if necessary, but our face shield fits tightly, so no problem there.
webBikeWorld Opinionator - HJC RPS-10 Outward VisibilityScore: I'll give the HJC RPS-10 a "Very Good" rating for the overall quality and operation of the face shield and eye port. This compares to an "Outstanding" given to the Qwest.
The RPS-10 rear exhaust vent system works well to help pull air through the helmet.
Ventilation and Air Flow
The ventilation on both the Qwest and the RPS-10 isn't perfect, but it could be, if only the Qwest had the top vents of the RPS-10 and the RPS-10 had the chin vent of the Qwest.
HJC invented yet another new top venting system for the RPS-10. This one uses a click roller wheel to open and close the vent covers. The wheel has 5 detents, which honestly is 4 too many. All you really need is "Open" and "Close" and you'd be all set. To have two independently operating top vents, each with a roller wheel with 5 clicks, is overkill.
Fortunately, the top vents on the RPS-10 work rather well, and I think a lot of the credit goes to the always-open rear exhaust diffuser, which seems to pull air through the helmet.
The large scoops on either side of the top of the helmet direct a good amount of air through the vents (when they are opened to level 5). The air is directed down through two vent holes above the brow, both of which are open directly on to the rider's head and located in channels molded into the EPS. Strangely, the vent holes are canted forward, instead of back towards the rider's head, but the system still works.
The exhaust vent holes at the other end of the molded channels are canted at the correct angle and the holes are larger than the intake holes. So air is forced down into the helmet through a pair of holes in the front and runs unimpeded in channels along the top of the head and out the back. This provides what I think is better than average top ventilation.
The chin vent is a different story. Looking at the design, it should provide excellent air flow, in theory. The chin bar has large horizontal vents cut through, located towards the top of the inside. But this is packed with some type of thick heavy mesh, which effectively blocks most of the air that might come through.
The chin vent opening itself is rather small, especially considering the fussy design of the assembly tacked on to the front of the chin bar. The air must go over the top of the vertical vent to enter the hole. Designers, here's a tip: when you make a vent, point the opening towards the direction of air flow. Makes sense, right?
The helmet has a large chin curtain installed, so any air coming in through the chin vent should be felt. But the chin venting system on the RPS-10 is very weak, and it gets hot in there, especially at low speeds.
Before I forget, the EPS used in the RPS-10 is also treated with some type of coating or paint on the inside, just like the Qwest. So this is a plus.
Bottom line here is that despite HJC's claims of many hours of work on the venting system, I believe the styling of the chin vent got in the way of what could be an effective system. The irony is that this exactly swaps my scoring compared to the Qwest.
webBikeWorld Opinionator - HJC RPS-10 VentilationScore: I'll split the difference here, giving the RPS-10 an "Outstanding" rating for upper ventilation but "Poor" for the chin vent. I suppose that averages out to a "Neutral".
The face shield release mechanism is easy to use.
The RPS-10 liner doesn't feel as plush as the Shoei Qwest.
New lift tab is spring loaded and must be grabbed with two fingers to open and pushed on top to close.
HJC RPS-10 Sound Levels
Both helmets are fairly equal when it comes to noise control. The top vents of the RPS-10 coincidentally produce the same type of lower-level "tearing paper" noise I noticed in the Qwest. Actually, considering the rather large dual scoops on the RPS-10, which by all rights should produce a loud volume of noise, the results aren't bad.
Noise through the chin vent on the RPS-10 is subdued and the helmet design also seems to control noise around the bottom, except for that too-common problem of noise that seeps in from the split at the rear of the cheek pads where they meet the helmet liner. I can place a thumb in the slot and the noise levels drop dramatically.
But overall, my feeling is that the RPS-10 is about equal with the Qwest, which is good. I'll give it the benefit of the doubt with a "Quiet" rating, even though it's probably closer to what I consider average, so I'll use the shaded indicators in the chart below.
Note that our helmet evaluations are normally a combined effort of several riders over time, on different types of motorcycles with and without windscreens. Evaluators wear correctly fitted, high quality earplugs (even when evaluating motorcycle intercom systems) and (usually) a helmet liner. It is strongly recommended that hearing protection is used when riding a motorcycle. See the wBW Earplugs and Hearing Protection page for more information on choosing and wearing earplugs. Note also that perceived noise levels will vary, depending on the individual. Noise can be caused by many factors, including helmet fit; the type of motorcycle and windscreen; wind speed and direction and even the type of clothing that is being worn. For more information on helmet noise, visit the wBW Motorcycle Helmet Noise page.Score: I'll give the HJC RPS-10 a "Very Good" overall rating for noise control.
Helmet WeightThe RPS-10 is one of the lightest helmets available that meets both DOT and Snell 2010 safety standards; in fact, it may very well be the lightest non-carbon-fiber helmet meeting the standards.HJC's own FS-15 Carbon (review) at 1514 grams and the now-discontinued AC-12 Carbon (1489 grams), both in size XL, are lighter -- but only by a few grams. All of these weights are recorded on the webBikeWorld Motorcycle Helmet Weights page.The RPS-10 in size large shown here weighs 1525 grams (3 lbs., 5-3/4 oz.), an excellent showing that currently places it at number 25 out of 150 helmets weighed. Other helmets in this neighborhood include the AGV Stealth at 1536 grams and the AGV K3 at 1543 grams, both in size XL but neither meeting Snell 2010.This compares to the Shoei Qwest weight (size large) of 1648 grams, which is 123 grams (4.3 oz.) heavier.The RPS-10 helmet shell is made from a type of composite fiberglass; HJC calls it their "Advanced Premium Integrated Matrix". It consists of "aerospace grade aramid combined with pre-impregnated (!) fiberglass twill and layers of strong organic fabric", according to the company.The RPS-10 feels relatively light, although I was surprised when I looked at the scale, thinking it might be heavier. Other than the slightly peculiar fit for my very round head mentioned above, the helmet feels well balanced and I haven't noticed any undue buffeting or lift.As far as I can tell, HJC hasn't reported on the shell size range for the RPS-10, so it's not clear how the shell sizes are distributed across the head size range.All of these weights are available on the wBW Motorcycle Helmet Weights page, along with a chart that lists the helmets by weight and shape on the wBW Motorcycle Helmet Shapes page.Score: I'll give the HJC RPS-10 an "Outstanding" rating for relatively low weight compared to other helmets.Miscellaneous
The RPS-10 meets both DOT and Snell 2010 standards when sold in the U.S. The helmet is sold as the HJC R-PHA10 in Europe, where it meets ECE safety standards of course.The RPS-10 has a five-year warranty, and it's interesting to note that HJC doesn't promote this fact very loudly; it's buried on the last page of the owner's manual, in small print.The wBW Overall Opinionator - HJC RPS-10Excellent overall quality.Light weight.Solid shell feel and Snell 2010 approved.Five-year warranty.Excellent upper ventilation.Lower ventilation could be improved.New face shield lift system is fussy.Slightly thin padding.Chin bar blocks some lower vision.Doesn't compare well with the Shoei Qwest.
ConclusionThe RPS-10 moves HJC upmarket slightly, although my feeling is that the helmet isn't that much of an improvement over the FS-15, which I actually prefer -- and which lists for $219.99, some $129 less than the RPS-10. 129 bucks is a lot of money in my book -- enough for a nice pair of gloves or boots. I'm not sure the RPS-10 offers that much of an advantage over the FS-15 to spend the extra money.The RPS-10 is an excellent helmet, no doubt about it, especially for those with slightly narrower heads that might not fit correctly in the rounder shaped Shoei Qwest. But I also feel that the overall quality, fit, finish and especially the liner and padding in the Qwest is superior to the RPS-10, and well worth the $20.00 extra cost (solid colors).webBikeWorld Review: HJC RPS-10 (HJC R-PHA10) HelmetSizes: XS to XXL Shell Sizes: Unknown.Note: The product featured in this review was provided by RevZilla (more).
Ratings Scale: For reference, our ratings scale is subjective and ranges from Unacceptable to Poor, Neutral, Very Good, Excellent and Outstanding. Note: the middle "Good" rating was changed to "Neutral" in November of 2009.
Note: For informational use only. All material and photographs are Copyright ? webWorld International, LLC - 2000-2010. All rights reserved. See the webBikeWorld? Site Info page. NOTE: Product specifications, features and details may change or differ from our descriptions. Always check before purchasing. Read the Terms and Conditions!?Reader Comments and Owner FeedbackPlease send comments to Comments are ordered from most recent to oldest.
Not all comments will be published (details). Comments may be edited for clarity prior to publication.
From "D.M.B." (10/10): "I was looking at the Drudi page and noticed that even Ben Spies' visor doesn't have the locking mechanism on the visor so maybe it even bothers him. I wonder(ed) if you will be able to get after-market visors without the lock on it. I checked one of the replica helmets out over here in the UK and it does have the 'normal' shield.
My bike was stolen recently (along with my helmet that was in the rear box) so I think the Spies replica will be my next lid. The review was extremely timely, thanks!"
From "B.M." (10/10): "I just read your review of the new HJC RPS-10 (where do they come up with these names?) and have a question.
If I'm on a faired bike, or even a non-faired bike at slow speeds, I frequently ride with the face shield slightly raised for a bit more air flow. It looks like that big plastic latch on the bottom of the face shield could interfere with the view straight ahead in that situation. Did you notice this at all? I wish manufacturers would remember the old adage KISS."
Rick's Reply: Good point, yes, it does interfere with vision slightly.
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