The best helmets from the manufacturer HJC are listed under the abbreviation RPHA. The RPHA 91 flip-up helmet will appeal to touring riders who like to ride faster with their helmet open.
RPHA stands for ‘Revolutionary Performance Helmet Architecture’ and characterises the high-end helmets from the Korean company HJC. One representative of the broad RPHA line is the RPHA 91 flip-up helmet, which is designed to appeal to comfort-loving touring riders and is now available from 24Helmets.de.
Open flip-up helmets are wind catchers
In order to be allowed to ride a flip-up helmet in Europe as both a full-face helmet (P) and an Open Face Helmet (J), the so-called P/J homologation is required. This means that the helmet can be legally ridden with the chin section closed and with the chin section open. The problem in practice is that open flip-up helmets inevitably become windscreens, which are torn by the wind. From 80 km/h upwards, it is therefore usually a case of ‘shut up!’.
In contrast, HJC has developed a very clever two-way chin section for the RPHA 91, which does not just open upwards. In the last few millimetres before the end position, the chin section is lowered even further with the help of sophisticated kinematics. In this way, the ‘barn door’ effect is significantly reduced and the open helmet can also be ridden comfortably at higher speeds.
Significant differences between the brands
We compared the popular flip-up helmets HJC RPHA 91, SCHUBERTH C5 and SHOEI Neotec 3 in size M with each other (take a look on fotos). While the difference in height is still quite small when the helmet is closed, there are considerable differences when it is open, as the profile views in the photos clearly show. According to our measurements, the SHOEI chin section rises the highest at 33.5 cm. The HJC actually measured the lowest at 29.0 cm. The SCHUBERTH is somewhere in between.
Conclusion: With the RPHA 91, HJC has found a clever solution to limit the air resistance when the flip-up helmet is open. All in all, the HJC RPHA 91 is an interesting alternative among flip-up helmets (including good noise damping, good ventilation, easy to retrofit with HJC communication systems).
HJC - The company
HJC is a major supplier on the world market for two-wheel helmets and, according to its own information, produces over one million helmets per year. The Korean company's high-end helmets are labelled RPHA (Revolutionary Performance Helmet Architecture) and aim to make a name for themselves with high-quality materials, innovative technology and high safety standards. The helmets are manufactured in HJC's own three production facilities in South Korea and Vietnam.
Buy HJC at 24Helmets.de
We stock a wide range of HJC helmets. Among others:
- HJC V10
- HJC V31
- HJC RPHA 91
