Of course, impact resistance is only one half of the equation when it comes to an effective crash helmet (with energy absorption being the other half) and if you look at the SHARP safety tests covering HJCs you can see they’ve a mixed bag of results.

A poorly fitting helmet may not only be uncomfortable, more noisy and may move around when riding if too big or give headaches etc if it is too small, it is also dangerous. A helmet simply will not protect or perform as designed if the head inside it is not snuggly fitted against the impact absorbing material inside the shell. We were initially pretty cynical about the venting arrangement – thinking could well be a cost-saving exercise (easier and cheaper to manufacture/fit intake and exhaust vents at the same time). The visor change is excellent – one press of a lever and it’s off, with subsequent replacement just as easy. The sun visor is also anti-fog coated. Again, that’s good (lots of sun visors aren’t) though we’ll have to wait and see if it actually works! Comfort and sizingIf you do plump for a RPHA 70 – and there is plenty to commend the helmet for – then practise operating the little slide switch so you remember it’s there and know what to do if the occasion ever arises that you need to release it. They’ve also designed it so the switch is further forwards and easier to reach (much better than on the top/rear of the helmet) and made the slider nice and ridged so it’s easy to operate in gloves. The RPHA 70 is not perfect, with some issues that I’ll get to later, but the riding experience is mostly very reassuring. HJC have been designing and manufacturing high quality protective helmets since the early 1950s. In 1971 the factory turned all of its attention to motorcycle helmets and set itself the simple goal of providing high quality, comfortable, and reasonably priced HJC helmets to motorcyclists throughout the world. This goal came a step nearer during the 1990s when HJC became America's top selling motorcycle helmet - a position it's held ever since. Today HJC helmets are available in every corner of the globe and are, quite simply, the world's biggest helmet brand, producing more motorcycle helmets than any other marque. The range of HJC helmets now encompasses the full spectrum of styles, with the widest selection of graphics, materials, and price points. Departments In addition there are front-facing vents either side of the crown, though I can’t tell the difference between having them open and closed. This is not an issue as the other vents do an impressive job of drawing in enough airflow to regulate temperature on the inside.

All in all, the RPHA 70 ST is a great all-rounder that owners seem to be very well pleased with. Alternatives to the RPHA 70? If you want a great brand, you could try the Shoei Ryd (only available after Spring 17) – or for something more tried and tested, how about the Shoei GT Air– it’s a great helmet with some excellent features, only let down by a SHARP 3 star test result. It delivers put-on-and-forget levels of comfort with plush padding and a soft anti-bacterial liner that cossets the head. There’s room inside for spectacle arms without faffing around removing slices of foam, as you need to on some helmets. With its chunky mouldings and and aero-influenced spoilers, the HJC RPHA 70 looks about as modern and purposeful as any helmet on the market today. The internal sun visor is excellent with good coverage, a strong tint and an easy operation via a chunky slide switch under the rim on the left-hand side of the shell. It’s also anti-mist treated, which sadly isn’t all that common on bike helmets.It scored just above average when the European version of the RPHA 70 ST was tested by the UK SHARP testing labs (see here for 4 & 5 star rated helmets) but it is universally praised for its comfort and quietness. It’s also light weight too – though if you want an even lighter weight version, there’s a full carbon RPHA 70 ST available. And a carbon ECE version of the RPHA 70 was a UK Ride Magazine recommended helmet when they covered high end sports touring helmets in 2021. The HJC RPHA 70 ST is a well thought-out and carefully designed helmet. And it looks pretty cool too! Road Legal Road Legal These visors are road legal allowing at least 75 percent of light to pass through them. Road legal visors are available in clear, smoked and iridium tint. (24) Some Brands have specific Medium sizes, for example Roof, which can give a very accurate fit if you are that size, for example :