I'm shopping for Helmet & Gloves

[gammer]

My birthday is coming up soon...real soon. Whenever anyone asks me what I would like, I tell them "Gift Certificates to the Honda dealer please!". So I have a feeling I am going to get a few of those.

My Plan:
- Buy a new helmet to replace my 3 season old HJC CL-15
- Buy newer, longer gloves to replace my 3 season old gloves.

So on lunch I was browsing the Honda dealer and I liked the look of this HJC CL-16


The price seemed to be reasonable (I wont be able to afford a top of the line). Does anyone have one of these helmets? Any comments? Any suggestions?

For gloves, I was thinking of these Joe Rocket Sonic gloves:


I like the cuff on those gloves, which my current pair dont have. I think I'd like something to cover my cuffs on my jacket to prevent air, bugs, rocks from going up my sleeves.

Thoughts?

[gammer]

Found this review from webbikeworld.com

[Laminar]

Ooo!! New Enough has the CL-16 for $90 right now! I was just looking for helmets today, it will probably be my next one.

[ariwhiteboy]

Gammer, most joe rocket gear is really good but, I bought those exact same gloves.  Before I had gone 100mi with them on the seams had begun to seperate at the stitching.  I may have just got a bad pair but make sure you examine them closely before you buy.    on the helmet though, that matte is really cool even if it is sorta hard to keep clean.

[Laminar]

I've been happy with my First Gear Mesh Tex gloves. They do run a bit small though, so order a size big.

[gammer]

  on the helmet though, that matte is really cool even if it is sorta hard to keep clean.

I know...I know.
That rubber matte will be hard to keep clean...and I know its not a color that will help cagers see me better...but damn, I think it looks cool.

[gammer]

Ooo!! New Enough has the CL-16 for $90 right now!

Damn! The one at my Honda dealer is $139. I'm kinda stuck going there because of the gift certificate thing.

[Bumblebee]

Gift Certificates to the Honda dealer please!

IMHO, ask for gift certificates to newenough.

[hppants]

IMHO, ask for gift certificates to newenough.

Thanks for posting this Mr. Bee - I see that they do in fact offer a G/C.  I know what I'm asking for on my B'day!!!

Gammer, my cold weather gloves are these:

http://www.joerocket.com/catalog/index.cfm/238/141/Gloves/Nitrogen_Glove

No problems thus far - can't wear them in this heat though.  For Summer, I wear last year's version of these:

http://www.joerocket.com/catalog/index.cfm/238/138/Gloves/Stage_1_Glove

[Bumblebee]

I see that they do in fact offer a G/C.

Well, of course they do. It's the injury to insult part of their plan to make all the other gear suppliers look bad.

[gammer]

So I bought the HJC CL-16 helmet that is pictured in my first post. Rode with it to work today and it felt very good. Even though its the same size as my old HJC, it felt snugger, as the padding was new and not worn out.
As described in the review video, there is a good bit of air that gets in through the bottom by your chin. Which is nice in the warm months, but I think I will rig up a chin curtain for it when it gets cold. Apparently there are some aftermarket chin curtains available.

I also ordered the Joe Rocket Sonic gloves. Should be here in a couple days. The dealer only had size Med in stock and they were a bit too tight. So I ordered the large.

On side note: When I went to pay for my helmet, they wouldn't let me buy it until I tried it on in front of them and they tested how it fit on my head...they checked to make sure it wasn't too big. I could see how some folks would be offended by this, but I thought it was a great safety measure to make sure someone doesn't buy a helmet that was the wrong size. I think their motive is to make sure they don't see it coming back because its the wrong size, but a spin off of from it is safety.
They actually had someone insist on buying an (open faced) helmet that was too big. 5 mins later he came back and said it was the wrong size...they did not return it or exchange it.

[Laminar]

They actually had someone insist on buying an (open faced) helmet that was too big. 5 mins later he came back and said it was the wrong size...they did not return it or exchange it.

Good on them.   They probably lost a customer over it, but who needs a customer like that?

My CL-16 is coming via Fed Ex today. I got the silver mirrored shield too, I'm pretty excited.

How about some pics?

[Hondo]

My next helmet will be a HJC IS Max -

[ariwhiteboy]

Very good to know that they checked for proper fit gammer! 

[gammer]

My next helmet will be a HJC IS Max -

They had one of those. I picked it up by accident as it was the same style as mine...matte black. Then I realized the front lifted up and that was not mine.

[Laminar]

Woo hoo! Unboxing photos:

Helmet and shield removed from box:


Helmet out of bag:


Looks great:


Nice and comfy:


New shield installed, de-badged (HJC sticker on the tool cabinet now):


Inside the helmet, shield up vs. shield down:



Myspace self-shot:

[Laminar]

The stock shield can stay in my tank bag if I really need it, I've been using a tinted shield for a few months now day and night, though, so we'll see.

Comfort is way up and road noise is way down compared to the JCWhitney special I've been wearing since I started riding. Love it.

[JB1290]

Nice looking helmet. I had tried on the CL-15 by HJC and found it to be uncomfortable for me which is why I went with the AFX.

I've read that HJC made some improvements with the CL-16's and are much more comfortable now.

[gammer]

Yeah, I find this CL16 to be much better in terms of comfort and air cooling compared to my previous CL14

[gammer]

I know its not a clear shot of the helmet, but gives you an idea of how it goes with the outfit.

[fishmeister]

Very sexy Ghammer....

You look good with that helmet on.  

Even better if that sticker wasn't plastered to it's forehead. I hate when they do that.

[gammer]

Even better if that sticker wasn't plastered to it's forehead. I hate when they do that.

Yeah...I should remove it...maybe I'll remove it...I will remove it.

[fishmeister]

What kinda black jacket is that? It looks stealthy.

[gammer]

Joe Rocket Ballistic.
Bought it of my bro-in-law about 3 or 4 years ago. He had it for a few years and barely wore it. He was a shorts, t-shirt, flip flops kind of rider. I'm kind of glad he sold his bike.

[fishmeister]

Hmmm...