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Honestly, when Akuma contacted me to look at their helmets, I was a little hesitant. I had brought Akuma into our store a few years ago, and the light system had some minor issues. I was assured that these issues had been fixed, so I decided to give it another go.
It wasn't long after the first demo helmets arrived that I could tell the product was greatly improved.
LINER- The liner is made of Coolmax, which is a widely used throughout the motorcycle industry. It does a outstanding job of pulling the moisture away from the riders face. The material is also soft to the touch, and the foam has firm feel.
SHELL- Akuma has done a good job of making a very nuetral shell shape. While I have read online about how the Akuma line runs slightly small (wear a medium, buy a large), I haven't had the same experience. I wear a medium in 95% of the helmet out there (58cm), and the medium Akuma fit well in this size. Now I demand a snug fit. I also tried on a large, and can see how some would prefer this feel. If you demand a snug fit, stick with your current size.
FINISH- All of the Akuma models appear to be very well made. While the light switches do change between models, all are easy to work once you get a handle on how they operate. The shell finish is excellent, and we could not notice any issues. The visor system is easy to operate, and th seal is tight.
NOISE- We do not consider the Akuma line to be quiet, and even in town we used ear plugs.
VENTING- While the venting won't knock your socks off, it does an above average job. When you compare it to other helmets in this price range, it holds its own. The rear of the helmet is well designed, and did an above average job of pulling air out of the helmet. Overall, we walked away happy with the vent system.
WEIGHT- Here the Akuma products are very average. Because of the electrical system (mainly the battery) the helmet comes in at 3lbs-12oz. The helmet does a good job of carrying the weight low, so it didn't become overbearing.
OVERALL: We think that this helmet will shine when the additional features become available. Soon there will be a Tint On Demand (TOD) visor (hit a switch and the visor tints), and a communication system made by Collet that plugs into the helmet. While the lights are nice to have, these other features will truly make this helmet a great investment.
If you're looking for a solid, good looking helmet, then you will be happy with the Akuma products. They do stand out in a crowd, and the light system is useful.
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