Anyone have a Nolan N-102 or N-103 modular helmet?

Does anyone have a Nolan N-102 or N-103 modular helmet? If so how do you like it? I'm thinking of getting a N-103 and wonder how good of quality they are. I'm also wondering how much facial impact protection you give up compared to a conventional full face helmet? I want the protection of a full face helmet but the convenience of a modular is appealing. Some of the cheaper modular helmets from other manufacturers look fairly wimpy and look to me that the chin bar would shatter on any impact. Any thoughts on this?

 

I have an N102 Nolan and wear it every day with complete confidence. Obviously, I can't comment on the protection it offers, as I've never been in a position to test it.
All I can say is I find it very comfortable and convenient. The lower face piece closes with a reassuring "clunk" and has never come undone unless I opened it deliberately. The ventilation system is very good (a big point in the Australian summer). If you push the chin piece up, it will stay there by itself, which some others won't.
All in all, I'm very happy with it.

 

Make sure you check the helmet carefully. I have a modular made by KBC, and it is stamped right on the chin piece of the helmet that it offers no facial protection.

 

I had the same feeling about modulars, the convenience would be nice, but I just wasn't willing to risk it. So I bought a full face, an Icon Alliance SSR, and it's great. Ventilation is great, and if I get stuck in traffic in the sun, opening the visor lets enough air in that my face quits trying to melt until I get moving again. My only complaints are that it is a bit loud (wind noise wise) compared to my last helmet (an HJC that I got second hand on the cheap), and I wish I hadn't gotten a black helmet. heh.

 

I think people are naturally a bit cautious about modular helmets, just as there was initial reluctance to use full face helmets, but let's remember that modulars have to meet the national standards, just like a full face.
The first bike makers to put a modular in their equipment range were BMW, and I think we all know their attitude to safety.
Our high speed pursuit police of the highway patrol wear them.
That's enough for me.

Switch, if your visor lets in enough air to cool you off, I can only assume that Lafayette has a much milder climate than Adelaide!

 

About 2 months ago I had the opportunity to be the responding EMT to a motorcycle accident.
The man who crashed his Buell had possible c-spine injuries due to what we call "mechanisim of injury" and signs and symptoms.

Because of the nature of the injury my 1st consideration was to (and I cringe as I say this) cut the mans helmet off so as to not cause any further c-spine injury. (the wrong move could make him a quad or parapalegic)

I realized the man had a Nolan helmet on and was able to open the face piece, which gave me all the access I needed to get his head out and not hurt him or the helmet.
Should he ever want to, he can still use his helmet.

I'm going to get me one!!!

 

Hvnbnd, that's good to know!

Just to contrast... I was told that modular helmets are safetied like a 3/4 helmet. That is, the front piece that flips up isn't designed to protect your face, but to break off on impact.

This was from one dealer, but it was enough for me to not buy one.

If anyone has a link to something official (i.e. not just our opinions - although the above opinion is pretty convincing), then please post it up for us skeptics.

 

Interesting - however I don't think I would reuse any helmet that had been down. It's not worth he risk of it failing the next time. Helmets are designed to "break" so to speak and absorb the impact.

I wear glasses and have considered a modular there are many nice ones coming on the market lately.

Just my 2 cents....

 

His helmet didn't have any apparent damage!? But like you said who knows.

One other thing I like about those helmets is you can take a drink as youre riding..... should you be so inclined.

 

To be DOT approved, in both the US and Canada, NOTHING can be designed to "break off" in an impact.

Modulars have to follow the same safety regulations and testing procedures that are used for full-face helmets. Testing is performed in the identical manner, including impacts on the chin piece. This is why you'll notice that all modulars, AFAIK, have steel-on-steel connectors to ensure they're integrity.
Now, it's always a weaker point as there is a junction there and so can always be made to fail with enough force, but you get the idea.

Oh - and you should NEVER use a helmet again if it's been in an impact while you were wearing it. The EPS liner (the foam stuff inside) gets compressed and doesn't come back. Get a new helmet - that one's done it's job.

On a similar note, dropping your helmet (ie - falls off your seat), even on pavement, does NOT destroy the liner/helmet - just damages the finish. Unless it was a hard enough crash to crack the shell of course, then it's done.

 

For anyone looking to get a modular helmet, Check this link out!

7 Modular Helmets Tested for safety, comfort, and cost (prices from $90 to almost $500).

I just read through and as of now I wouldn't be as worried about picking up a modular helmet.

The Nolan N100 did quite well, I assume this would reflect on the N102 and N103 as well.


The rest of this post is not really important if you've read the above article, just states that DOT doesn't test modular chin bars and why Snell doesn't test Modular helmets at all...

I just did a quick search...

First I found this quote from wikipedia ( I KNOW WIKI ISN'T ALL FACTS, but it lead me to the next article from Snell )

Apparently Snell is yet to certify (as of 2008) any flip-up helmets...

There's also an article titled "I dropped my helmet! Do I have to go buy a new one? " that will help out with some of the above qestions...


BTW it took way more time setting this post up than finding and reading the information, haha, so hopefully it'll help somebody out.


Sorry for seeming like a smartass. Just wanted this info for myself and decided to post it. :wink:

 

Hey Ease - not at all. Info is always good.

I will read the stuff when I get a bit of time. I skimmed the article and it looked great.

 

I have a Nolan full face helmet I bought for riding a four wheeler years ago. I liked it for it comfort and weight (very light weight) I guess they are goo dhelmets, but for some reason, they don't make the replacement face sheilds anymore (atleast I unable to find one)
I don't wear a helmet when riding my bikes, so I can't really comment on wind noise persay. I only had to wear a helmet while riding when the state I was riding in required it and then it was an open face style.

 

Oh, I'm sure it's quite a bit cooler here than down there. I can say though, my HJC was horrible in the heat. If I was doing less than 45, there was basically no airflow with the visor down, and with it up, it didn't help at all until about 20 mph. This Icon honestly lets enough air out that the slightest breeze keeps me from feeling like I'm gonna have a heat stroke when stuck in traffic, with the visor up. And as soon as I get rolling fast enough that I can take my hand off the clutch long enough to throw the visor down, the vents do their job.

The whole "DOT standards don't require a chin-bar test" thing is why I personally don't like modulars, although Hvnbnd's experience will definitely have me looking at them again when it comes time for me to get a new helmet.

 

The reason I was asking if anyone had first-hand experience with Nolan helmets is that around here, none of the local shops carry them. Most shops just sell the cheap HJC and KBC lines or Shoei as their top of the line. The HJC and KBC seem a little too cheap and their chin bars look so flimsy that I fear they would shatter on first impact. I've had Shoei's in the past and know they are a good helmet, but the ablilty to retrofit Nolan's N-Com system makes me want to look into this option more.