Having ridden Shoei for many years I was looking for alternatives to bring the cost down.  The HJC RPHA were nice but even the XXL seemed small to me. I even drove to Revzilla in Phili and tried on a number of helmets.  The Shoei's will alway fit my BIG head but give me a break, $450.00 for the Qwest with NO removable crown liner and no pinlock shield included!  The new FG-17 was available in a XXXL and includes a pinlock clear shield with insert for $180.00.  Fiberglass and Kevlar mix so very light.  Best thing is it fits and is very comfy.  No tinted shield are available yet though--mid July due date.  Great airflow. I should have waited for the yellow graphic ACE but I bought my standard Silver. DOT and Snell.

I'll throw in what I know...because I keep searching for the perfect Florida-heat helmet.  I have had HJC, Joe Rocket Carbon, other brands I can't remember...trying to stay in the $225 and under category.

I keep coming back to Scorpion.  Call me crazy, but I like them MORE than the Shoei's.  Love the interior, love the looks.

I have an Exo 700 and several exo 400's.  They use the same shield which is great - and they are the best no-fog shields I've come across so far.  The difference between these two are the materials used to make the helmet, but other than that the same shape, specs, and liners. (Removable, and a $25 replacement!).  The 700's are lighter and have better venting. 

The newer models are the 750 and the 500, which have the internal sun-shield, and I don't care for those at all.  In a wreck, they will cut your nose off, and they're just not dark enough.

Hope that helps!

I wear Scorpions, too. Love them. They are available in hi-vis yellow, which is the ONLY color helmet I wear.

I had to send my Scorpion EXO 900 Hi-Viz back under warranty....the top of the helmet faded.  When I talked to them I said they should use some UVA/UVB coating of some sort so that would not happen.  They said they do that and were very surprised to hear that it faded.  .....Patiently waiting....I'm assuming they will send me a new one.  Stay tuned....
Gregg

  Having ridden Shoei for many years I was looking for alternatives to bring the cost down.  The HJC RPHA were nice but even the XXL seemed small to me.

Odd.  My HJC was a medium.  When I went to a Scorpion (EXO-1000),  I had to jump all the way up to a XL!  But keep in mind that some sizing issues have to do with the shape of the helmet and your head... not just the size.  I like the features, construction, comfort, safety, and customer support, but airflow is mediocre at best and the shields tend to scratch easily.

DOT and Snell.

Everything sold (legally) is "DOT", that means not much of anything....

I had to send my Scorpion EXO 900 Hi-Viz back under warranty....the top of the helmet faded.  When I talked to them I said they should use some UVA/UVB coating of some sort so that would not happen.  They said they do that and were very surprised to hear that it faded.  .....Patiently waiting....I'm assuming they will send me a new one.  Stay tuned....

I have to say I have been extremely impressed with Scorpion customer service.  I bet you will be pleased.

I have never found a Scorpion that fits.  Revzilla bears this out saying that they are more elongated than round.  Most HJC are considered rounder but this new FG-17 is a little more oval being alot like a Shoei.  By the way this is the first HJC that I found that fits me so I am not a HJC guy just saying that this helmet works for my BIG round oval head.  I do not doubt the Scopions quality but they do not fit me.   I posted this for us riders who seem to only fit Shoei's in the past.  I do not think any Korean helmet is of the same quality as Arai or Shoei but this new helmet is the only helmet in the HJC lineup that works for me as far as fit and weight.

In most regards, I like my Scorpion EXO-700--it never fogs, pretty good airflow, etc, but I'm ready to try something else due to the amount of wind noise that I have to suffer with.  I usually wear earplugs, but on the occasions where I forget to put them in, or don't have them with me, it's unbearably loud.  This was the case on my C10 as well.  I think I'm right at the point where I need to investigate a taller shield even than my CB Euro Tour (I'm 6').  But even in clean air (shield down, or on other bikes), it's noisy.

 I think I'll go with a Modular this time around.  Thinking a Nolan might fit my budget, but I'll look at the HJC and others.

I heard that modular helmets were louder than regular FF...let me know what you end up with. 

I heard that modular helmets were louder than regular FF...let me know what you end up with. 

Modulars are generally (but not necessarily) louder, heavier, and less safe.

Modulars are louder. I've tried a few of the modest priced ones (HJC IS-max-BT, Vega Summitt, Sparx Helios), yes which are not among the best helmets, but representative of the modulars in the under$200 range. They'll all louder than a FF, some very loud and I returned them. From reading reviews of a variety of brands, it sounds like to get a quiet modular you have to go to a Shoei or Schuberth in the above $500 range. So if you're looking for quiet I'd go with a FF, which is what I'm sticking with. If you decide to get a high priced modular, find a dealer that will let you try a quick test ride. That's a lot of money to get stuck with something you don't like

Modulars are generally (but not necessarily) louder, heavier, and less safe.

But unless I missed something, not a single helmet mentioned in this thread is a modular...

Shoei Qwest
HJC FG-17
Joe Rocket RKT-201 Carbon
Scorpion EXO-400
Scorpion EXO-500
Scorpion EXO-700
Scorpion EXO-700
Scorpion EXO-900
Scorpion EXO-1000

The EXO-900 is modular. I was wearing one when I high sided at 75 mph on the interstate. It did its job wonderfully, and I am riding again.

The EXO-900 is modular. I was wearing one when I high sided at 75 mph on the interstate. It did its job wonderfully, and I am riding again.

Thanks for the correction- I have updated my post.

my shoei RF-1100 is such crap I'll never purchase anything from that brand again.

my shoei RF-1100 is such crap I'll never purchase anything from that brand again.

I have to second the opinion on the Shoei RF-1100. It is much louder than my old Shoei and the build of it is not very good. The pads come loose quite a lot and the shield isn't a good fit. I won't go as far as saying I'll never buy Shoei again but, I am very disappointed.

Got an email from Scorpion...I'll have my helmet back on Monday........hopefully a NEW helmet since I doubt they repainted mine.....

Got an email from Scorpion...I'll have my helmet back on Monday........hopefully a NEW helmet since I doubt they repainted mine.....

Good to hear. It's nice to know they have good customer service.

Good to hear. It's nice to know they have good customer service.

They really do- I was blown away by their support.  First I needed a larger helmet and they explained I could just buy a larger (actually smaller) pad kit- they gave me all the part numbers.  And it was cheap and worked.  Then I had some questions about swapping the inside shield and they were very helpful and walked me through it.  Finally, months later I had an issue with the main shield delaminating.  I send them a photo and they sent me a new one at new charge.

NO product is perfect, so the way a company handles issues is one of the best defining properties of overall quality.  And some good will goes a long way, especially when it motivates people to post about it (like I just did).

my shoei RF-1100 is such crap I'll never purchase anything from that brand again.

I've always been a happy Arai Corsair customer, but wanted to get a modular last fall so pulled the trigger on a Neotec, it's a great lid and I've been very happy with it, my only grip is it doesn't cool as much as my prior Arai's did in warm temps.

I've never tried the RF1100 but I wouldn't rule out the Neotec just because they are both Shoei Steve... 

Just got my brand new Scorpion EXO 900 in.........they replaced it instead of painting the old one.  Very happy with their customer service and I still like the helmet very much!   
Gregg