I've been riding across three continents with modular helmets for the past ten years, and I can say the market has seriously evolved. Between the first noisy, heavy generations and current models, the gap is enormous. For serious touring, the modular remains my number one choice: the ability to open the chin bar at a toll booth, communicate clearly with a passenger, or take a drink without removing everything changes the game over 800 km per day.
I spent six months testing five models that dominate the €350-800 segment, on trips ranging from Paris-Barcelona to daily rides of 200-300 km. Full report.
P/J certification and what it really changes
All modular helmets have J certification (jet, chin bar open), but only certain models obtain P certification (protection, chin bar closed). Of my five models, four have this dual P/J certification: Schuberth C5, Shoei Neotec II, HJC RPHA 91 and AGV Tourmodular. The Nolan N100-6 remains J certification only.
Concretely, what does it change? Legally, nothing as long as you ride with the chin bar closed. In practice, a P-certified helmet has passed specific impact tests on the chin bar. I've seen low-end modular helmets where the opening mechanism fails at 40 km/h following a moderate crash. On a P helmet, standards require minimum resistance of 275 joules on the chin bar area.
The Nolan N100-6 compensates for this absence of P certification with a reinforced Flip & Lock system with double safety notch. I tested it over 4,500 km in Spain: zero unwanted movement, even on broken cobblestones. Price: €469 in standard version, which is still €150-200 below high-end P models.
Weight and balance: the numbers that matter
The weight announced in the catalogue and the weight felt after 6 hours on the road are two different universes. The center of gravity and distribution make all the difference.
Weight comparison size M:
- Schuberth C5: 1,680 g
- Shoei Neotec II: 1,750 g
- HJC RPHA 91: 1,550 g
- Nolan N100-6: 1,680 g
- AGV Tourmodular: 1,610 g
The HJC RPHA 91 wins on the scale at 1,550 g, thanks to a tri-composite shell (fiberglass, carbon, aramid). But be careful, I found its balance less good than the Schuberth. The HJC chin bar weighs heavier, which creates a forward tipping effect when the chin bar is open.
The Schuberth C5 places its weight differently: thicker high-modulus polycarbonate shell, dual-density EPS foam that adds 80 g, but the whole thing stays glued to the head. After 850 km Paris-Nuremberg in one go, zero neck pain. The Shoei Neotec II gives the same feeling, but an extra 70 g is felt at the end of the day.
"On a 3,000 km tour in two weeks, 100 g difference represents about 2-3 hours of cumulative neck fatigue. But a poorly balanced 1,600 g helmet tires more than a well-centered 1,700 g one."
The AGV Tourmodular offers the best weight/balance compromise according to my tests. 1,610 g, low center of gravity, carbon chin bar that doesn't unbalance when opened. Price: €599, €130 less than the Schuberth.
Noise insulation: real decibels at 130 km/h
I measured the sound level on a BMW R1250RT (high windscreen) at stabilized speed 130 km/h, sound meter placed at right ear level. Identical conditions for all five helmets.
Measurements in dB(A) at 130 km/h:
- Schuberth C5: 88 dB
- Shoei Neotec II: 91 dB
- HJC RPHA 91: 93 dB
- Nolan N100-6: 94 dB
- AGV Tourmodular: 90 dB
The Schuberth C5 crushes the competition at 88 dB. For reference, 3 dB difference = sound level doubled for the human ear. Between the Schuberth and the Nolan, we're looking at a factor of x4. After 5 hours at 130 km/h with the C5, my ears are still fresh. Same duration with the Nolan, I have the characteristic ringing for two hours after removing the helmet.
The Schuberth's secret: oversized neck roll seal (8 mm versus 5 mm on the others), high-density acoustic foam 45 kg/m³ in the cheeks, and especially an aerodynamic profile calculated in a wind tunnel. The airflow detaches cleanly at the rear without creating turbulence. You can feel it: at 110-120 km/h, the C5 becomes quieter while the others start to howl.
Shoei and AGV do the job for 90% of riders. The Neotec II at 91 dB remains comfortable over 600-700 km per day. The AGV Tourmodular (90 dB) surprises for its €599 price, only 2 dB more than the Schuberth sold at €749.
The HJC at 93 dB and the Nolan at 94 dB require mandatory earplugs above 110 km/h. But given their prices (€379 for the HJC, €469 for the Nolan), hard to blame them.
Ventilation and anti-fog: reality tests
Marketing diagrams always show beautiful blue and red arrows. Reality is 8°C on a November morning on the A7 with light rain.
The Shoei Neotec II offers the best ventilation of the five. Two front intakes of 14 cm² each, one rear extractor of 18 cm². The flow crosses the shell via four channels molded into the EPS. At 30°C in the city, helmet closed, I breathe normally. The others require opening the chin bar slightly below 20 km/h.
Schuberth C5: effective but noisy ventilation. Opening the two front vents adds 4-5 dB at 130 km/h. I ended up riding with vents closed in winter and half-open in summer, managing with the chin bar.
The anti-fog system varies radically:
- Schuberth C5: Pinlock 120 XLT as standard, treated internal anti-fog, no fogging down to -5°C
- Shoei Neotec II: standard Pinlock 70, limit at 2-3°C depending on humidity
- HJC RPHA 91: Pinlock 120 optional (€45), otherwise guaranteed hassle below 10°C
- Nolan N100-6: VPS system (sun visor) that creates fog between the two screens at -2°C
- AGV Tourmodular: Pinlock 120 as standard, performs down to 0°C
I rode for a week in the Alps in late October with the HJC without Pinlock: had to leave the visor slightly open permanently below 5°C. With the Schuberth, visor closed at -3°C without any fog. The €370 difference is justified here.
