Shoei X-Tec Ukawa: Accept No Substitutes
Written: Jun 22 '02 (Updated Apr 15 '03)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Awesome color schemes, DOT and Snell approved, sturdy, durable.
Cons: Some people may complain about the price.
The Bottom Line: Shoei has become the front-runner in helmet design. With a nice assortment of patterns and colors this series is the perfect choice for any motorcycle enthusiast.
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| Freak369's Full Review: Shoei Shoei X-Tec Ukawa |
I have always purchased Shoei helmets; in fact, they are the only brand that I recommend to people just starting out with street bikes. When I purchased my Suzuki GSX-R750 I decided to treat myself to a new helmet as well. I was getting a custom paint job on the tank and fairings of the bike and was given a good price [$75.00] to add the same colors and design to the helmet. After making sure that this wouldn’t compromise the safety levels of the helmet I gladly signed the release form to have the colors altered.
The X-Tec was released by Shoei in 2000 and came in eight original outer shell designs. Ranging from burnt orange to canary yellow, the color mixtures were a welcome change from drab and dull color schemes. If the extended graphics aren’t for you there are seven solid colors to choose from as well. I purchased the The Shoei X-Tec Ukawa TC-2 design [dark blue, gray, black and white] and have never regretted it for a single second. The helmet has been dropped a few times, dragged through gravel [accidentally] and been the messenger of death for more than a few bugs and the only noticeable wear to the shell are two small scratches on the left hand side.
The Cost
I won’t lie, these helmets are not cheap. If you are going to sit and complain about the price of a helmet, think about the hundreds of thousands of hospital bills you’ll be avoiding by purchasing an approved helmet. You can look at dropping between $350.00 - $700.00 on a good helmet and the Shoei X-Tec Ukawa falls in the upper end of that price range. I picked up mine for $475.00 plus paid an additional $75.00 for the custom color to be added to it while the tank was being air brushed. $475.00 is on the lower end of the pricing scale and depending on where you live – you could be looking at an additional $100.00 - $200.00. People who do not ride won’t understand the cost involved in owning a bike – not just the gas, upkeep and maintenance but the accessories [necessary and frivolous]. In my opinion Shoei is the number one name in helmets and they have always stood behind their products. Yes, the price tag is high but can you really put a price on your own safety or that of a secondary rider? Shoei lists the suggested retail price of helmets from this series at $685.99 so don’t fall over if this is the price quote you receive from a dealer. You can haggle them down a bit if you are purchasing a bike at the same time or are a regular customer but if you walk in off the street – you might be in for a little sticker shock.
If you shop around I am sure you will be able to find a deal somewhere but for Gods sake don’t buy a used helmet. You never know where the thing has been, the stress it has been through or how well it has been maintained. The only exception would be if you know the person and can have it looked at by a qualified expert in the field of helmet safety.
Snell M2000 & DOT Approval
Snell M2000: There are nine levels of certification in the Snell tier of examinations. The M2000 deals with motorcycle helmets [non racing gear] and involves a rigorous series of tests that examine the impact, spidering, crush levels and other tests to determine if a helmet is indeed safe. This helmet is Snell approved and passed all tests. In case you are wondering about the name “Snell” – here is some fodder for you. William Snell was an auto enthusiast and avid racer. He was involved with an in race accident and died of blunt trauma to the skull due to improper protection. The helmet he was wearing literally crushed his skull in the accident. Friends and family of Mr. Snell decided that the best thing they could do to keep his name alive would be to start a non-profit organization to prevent such incidence from occurring to other people.
FMVSS 218: [Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 218] The Shoei X-Tec passed all DOT [Department of Transportation] tests with flying colors. The tests run by the DOT are about half as strict at the Snell criteria so it’s best to look for both stickers on the helmet. Again, this is where buying from an authorized dealer is the best policy. DOT and Snell stickers are very popular items to try and forge, if only these counterfeiters would realize they are playing with people’s lives – maybe that would be the wake up call needed for them to stop trying to make a buck illegally.
Sizes
Most people don’t really pay attention to the sizes of helmets because there is such a huge difference from manufacture to manufacturer. The series comes in four sizes: small, medium, large and extra large. These sizes deal with the internal size and if you are thinking about purchasing this please get resized since this has a thicker padding / liner. It’s better to spend ten minutes getting fitted or trying on the different sizes than to sink a huge chunk of change into a helmet that doesn’t fit properly. The inner liner is there for a reason – protection first, comfort second. Please do not attempt to modify the lining since this may have a drastic effect on the overall protection of your head in the event of a crash.
Warranty
The people that balk at the hefty price tag of the helmet rarely mention the outstanding warranty attached to this series. You are covered for five years from the date of purchase – providing that you fill out the necessary paperwork and send it in. This protects you as well as Shoei from fraudulent claims from people looking to get a free helmet. In addition to the five year warranty you are also covered under the dated warranty – meaning that you have seven years protection from the date it was made. These warranties are only for the original purchaser of the helmet and it becomes void when sold or given to another party. So you are covered for five years – or – seven years from the manufacture date – which ever comes first. That softens the initial blow of the price doesn’t it?
When I spoke to a Shoei representative I was given the detail of how one goes about getting a replacement helmet. You take your receipt and helmet to the place where it was purchased and provide a written detailed account of why you feel the helmet should be replaced. It is then sent to Shoei [at no expense to you] for examination. If it is found that it is defective or unsafe you will be contacted to pick up another helmet at the dealership or officially licensed Shoei dealer.
There are several determining factors that may result in you not receiving a new helmet – those include misuse, external modifications, accidents, neglect, failure to maintain the shell or lining and – of course – giving it to someone else.
Features
As I said, I have been a fan of Shoei for a long time. The X-Tec Ukawa is the third helmet I have purchased and unless something catastrophic happens it looks like Shoei and I will have a long and prosperous relationship. The other two helmets were still in mint condition but they were not longer what I needed from a helmet. The X-Tec series offers you the best features, most comfortable design and a ‘new’ air intake system. Yeah! No more fogged up visor! One of my past helmets did not have the chin guard molding so when I started looking for a new helmet this was high on the list of things that I has on the “must have” list. The full-face design makes me feel a little safer when riding and provides me with a little more protection in case of an accident. Sure most of this may just be the psychological factor of feeling more enclosed but each person has their own reason for choosing their helmet.
Helmet Liner: The liner is removable for repositioning, cleaning, replacement or comfort. It is highly recommended that it not be modified or changed since they will effect the overall protection to your heat. Since this is a little thicker than my last helmet liner it took a little while to get used to but after a few hours it felt completely comfortable. Rather than try to clean it I suggest that you purchase a new liner at the beginning of a riding season.
Ventilation System: The X-Tec Ukawa features three separate vents – the brow vent helps to keep your visor or guard from becoming fogged, the chin vent helps for a more comfortable ride since you are getting a steady stream of air and the rear vents help to pull out old air as well as aiding in keeping moisture to a minimum.
Face Shield: This is one of the only things that I don’t care for. The shield claims to be ‘easily removed’ with a patented quick release feature but it takes me a while to get it off. I am in the process of looking for a new shield and hope to find one within the next few weeks. Overall the shield is very nice and much to my surprise doesn’t scratch easily. Cleaning it is a breeze but I would stay away from household cleaners or abrasives – they may leave a haze to it or leave small scratches on the surface. To remove dirt or bugs I use a soft sponge with a small drop of dish soap but there are specially designed products to remove insects and bugs from the shield / visor.
The shield does stay in place when you crack it open or lift it completely up – that’s one major plus. Most side fixtures lose their holding power after extensive usage and will get sloppy. While it isn’t easy to remove from the housing – for me at least – it does what its supposed to do – protect your face when riding.
Contact Information
http://www.shoei-helmets.com
sshc@shoei.com sshc@shoei.com
SHOEI Safety Helmet Corporation
3002 Dow, Suite 128
Tustin, CA 92780
[714] 730-0941 - telephone
[714] 730-0942 – fax
From the website you can locate officially licensed retailers of Shoei products. Please check to make sure that an establishment is working hand in hand with Shoei before you invest in a helmet otherwise you may not be getting the top quality product that Shoei has become famous for.
The Bottom Line
I’ve had this helmet for a while and am extremely impressed with how it has held up. The Shoei company is one that takes pride in its products and stands behind each and every helmet that they make and sell. But what it really comes down to is the issue of safety. A helmet is useless if you don’t properly fasten it, maintain it and wear it correctly. If you are going to take to the open road please take the extra 30 seconds to make sure your helmet is adjusted and fits properly. It’s better to take 30 seconds out of your day than months in recovery after an accident.
The Shoei X-Tec line is visually stunning and offers you the highest levels of protection. The comfort of the helmet is unsurpassed after you get used to the new lining system. I didn’t pay the full retail price for this but if I were looking at purchasing another helmet and was told that I’d have to pay full price – I’d have no second thoughts about it.
As always, thanks for the read!
^V^ Freak ^V^
© 2003 Freak369
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Suzuki GSX-R750
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Recommended:
Yes
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