Shark SST3 Helmet ... Or how I spent my bowling $$$

[FuzzyWuzHe]

I have had a Shark SST2 for about 5 or 6 years which in Alan Years turns out to be 3 Harley's (two Tri's and a Ultra Limited) and 4 Gold Wing 1800's (1 Champion Conversion and 3 two wheelers).

I fell in love with this helmet because it can be a warm full face and with a flip of the chin bar becomes a full function open face that allows air to my face. It also, has a built in sun shield that is handy.

The SST2 listed for around $400-500 when I bought it. It's been a great helmet, with two issues. It is a round oval which means if your head is longer than rounder, it will "feel" tight. It took about 6 months to a year for it to feel just snug. Also, because of the roundness, the sun visor hit my nose if I lowered it fully. I could pull it down to just before it touched the nose, and it would stay, so doable. The quality was very nice and after 6 or so years, it still looked good. Never dropped it and it was bag kept when not on my head.

About 6 months after I bought the 2, the 3 came out with up grades ... go figure. It is called an intermediate oval, slightly longer. Comes in solid colors and the mechanism no longer needs the face shield to be raised to convert it to open face, so riding down the road you have your paws on the bars more than the helmet. I was not into spending another $400-500 for the 3, so, I passed.

I got an email like 5 days ago from RevZilla that the SST two one (I can't figure out their numbering system, but, they are French so ), just came out. Sunday I went to the RevZilla website looking to see if the SST3's were on sale, yep, $199.99 with free 2 day shipping. So, with tax, $210.53. I pulled the trigger Sunday and it was here Wednesday evening. Okay, my bowling money was only $136, so I augmented a bit.

Since today is pouring rain, I tried it on, determined it fit and installed the HD wired headset. Like the SST2, I needed to shave the styrofoam in the ear pockets a tad to get the HD headset in. Not hard, just need to be patient ... so challenging for Alan.

Okay, some pics:

Full face frontal.



Full face side:



Open front Shield down:



Open Front Shield up:



Open Front, Sun Shield:



Open Side:



The black thing with the red button is the chin bar. On the SST 2 you barely knew it was there, well balanced when open. I wasn't fond of riding with my Nolan Modular in the up position (N4, I think), but, liked the modular to get it on with the glasses.

Okay, so the fit is perfect, just a tad snug. The sun shield comes all the way down and has about 3.8" clearance to my nose. The new mechanism is slick. just push the red button and slide the chin bar over your head. Voila, open face helmet. To make it full face you do need to raise the face shield about a 1/2" to get the chin bar shut, but pretty easy, couple of seconds. There are good detents for the face shield, so you can crack it open it to help keep the shield clear when cool and damp or raining. The sun shield is a slide mechanism with friction holding it in place, just like the SST2, but I can use it all the way down.

According to the Revzilla web site, they also shaved 200 grams off the weight on the SST3. I can't tell that now, but maybe on and all day ride. The quality is every bit as nice as the SST2. And, I always prefer white because it reflects the sun off my noggin.

All in all, I'm thrilled. Now if we could do some traveling ... I could really test it out

[vwbug72501]

Alan, I thought I'd beat Bob to saying that it sure was nice of you to spend your bowling money on a helmet for your bowling ball!

[rhino 2]

Alan, I thought I'd beat Bob to saying that it sure was nice of you to spend your bowling money on a helmet for your bowling ball!

...................

[rhino 2]

When my helmets get old i put a 1/2 pound of Tanneitie inside of it and with one well placed shot............ Microbes.........

[FuzzyWuzHe]

Alan, I thought I'd beat Bob to saying that it sure was nice of you to spend your bowling money on a helmet for your bowling ball!

How did you know what I did with the old one . I must be getting predictable.