clothing and helmet » Helmet Padding Refresh

I've been riding with a Shoei GT Air for about 2 1/2 years now. I've really liked the helmet, but after 40k miles use with my shaved gourd in it, the interior was pretty funky. Not necessarily smelly funky, I've removed the padding and washed it numerous times, but padding surfaces worn out from the sand paper-like texture of my noggin. So this spring I was thinking I wanted a new helmet, perhaps a Neotec II, maybe another GT Air, whatever. After thinking about dropping another $600-700 so soon, I priced replacing all the interior padding. The center pad, both cheek pads, and the chin curtain were $109, so I took that route. Smartest thing I've done in a while. The helmet is once again like new, and it's surprising how much tighter and quieter it is. After a while I suppose the padding gets compressed and loses its memory.

Something to think about if your helmet shell and associated vent and mechanical parts are still in good shape and you don't want to drop big coin for a new helmet.

To help keep in inside of the helmet clean I use a BMW Hat Ride part # 76 23 8 549 349
It's a thin silk feeling material.


Debbie uses a BMW Silk Balaclava part # 76 23 8 520 894

I've used them before Lee, but find them uncomfortable and hot. Maybe I didn't give one enough of a chance, but I'd rather just wash the padding every so often.

Zitat von Bub im Beitrag #3

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but I'd rather just wash the padding every so often.

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The balaclava looks like something you wear in cold weather but it's a very thin silk material.
Most of the time the face opening goes from the forehead to under the chin.

In hot weather we wear silks (long-johns) under our riding pants.
It helps to prevent that clammy feeling, especially under leathers.

I've done the same thing with my Shoei. The helmet was in good shape and worked well (i.e., quiet). The pads just needed refreshed.


Someday, it will need replaced, the silly fins on the current X14 look like "soon to be damaged" items to me. I'm waiting for the X15

Just before Christmas I found a source in Japan that would supply a OEM full interior kit with various parts in whatever thickness I wanted for my Arai RX7-GP (aka RR5 Corsair in some places). It cost me AUS$203 with free postage (US$149). The funny thing was that in Australia our Arais, certainly the three I have owned, come standard with 30mm thick cheek pads. But apparently in Japan where they are made you can only buy a maximum 25mm thickness replacement pads. Or so the story goes - maybe he just didn't stock that size. Suited me better anyway. Glad I bought the kit when I did because our govt is slapping the 10% GST on minor internet sales from 1st of next month. Up to now have been exempt.

Also use spray helmet shampoo now and then. Smells nice and apparently it teleports the dirt and sweat to a parallel universe where it becomes someone else's problem. 🤔Mmm, well it does smell nice.

I wear silk balaclava in winter and silk glove liners too. Amazing how warm a thin layer is. But need to roll it below my nose because condensation makes it wet and very cold. Couldn't stand it in summer but that cap looks interesting, Lee.

Price of new helmet = AUS$1200 and really must be bought in Australia to get the legal safety sticker on it. The cops check sometimes.

Zitat von Mr. 36654 im Beitrag #8

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Someday, it will need replaced, the silly fins on the current X14 look like "soon to be damaged" items to me. I'm waiting for the X15

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If I were older, I would know what that means...…….:) I was born 2-months after the first unit was delivered.

Seriously, talking about a past that was more advanced than our present, depresses me.