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FALL 2019 ISSUE 02 / VOL . 04
graded on a curve
PRODUCT REVIEWS
PHOTO BY KEVIN WING
HJC RPHA 70 ST Helmet
HJC MAKES A LOT OF HELMETS — more than one million per year in four factories in South Korea and Vietnam , according to the company website . At the upper end of its product range is the RPHA lineup ( Revolutionary Performance Helmet Advanced , pronounced “ are-fah ”), which includes two sport-touring helmets and two street / racing helmets . The RPHA 70 ST is the newer of the two sport-touring models , and there ’ s much to like about this sharp-looking lid .
The shell is made from HJC ’ s P . I . M . Plus , which comprises several layers of aramid , fiberglass and carbon material . A large central vent up top is easy to adjust into one of its three positions with gloves on , and two rear exhaust vents are small but also fairly easy to use . The scratch-resistant , tool-free , Pinlock-ready shield has a central open / close latch that trades sleekness for functionality — fine for a sport-touring lid — but I wish it had a slightly larger initial “ vent ” opening . The integrated drop-down sun shield is also easy to use via the slider at the bottom of the chinbar . I installed a Sena 10C Pro Bluetooth communicator / action camera on my RPHA 70 ST , and the speakers were a snap to position thanks to the helmet ’ s large recesses that came with soft “ loop ” fabric ready for the “ hooks ” on the backs of the Sena ’ s speakers . I ’ m usually a size small , and my RPHA 70 ST ’ s fit around the cheeks is on the snug side , but I prefer it that way ; multiple sizes of the removable / washable cheekpads and top liner are available to dial-in fit . The neckroll fit is tight as well , making for a fairly quiet ride , and I appreciate the large reflective sections at the back for nighttime