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Picture: The Nolan N104 with chin piece open. Note the Vision Protection System (VPS) sun visor in position
IF you created a wish-list for the features you would like to see incorporated in a crash helmet, I’m pretty confident the Nolan N104 would tick every box.
As I wear glasses, one of the key factors for me was finding a helmet with a flip front design as trying to fish the legs of your spectacles through a narrow visor opening is annoying and almost impossible.
But aside from the practical aspect of getting my glasses to fit beneath my helmet, the number one factors in all helmet purchases has to be comfort and safety.
The N104 helmet is constructed from injected polycarbonate GE Lexan — keeping the helmet’s weight to a minimum . Yet while the weight is kept to a minimum, the materials used in the construction are immensely strong to withstand impact and therefore this helmet far exceeds the requirements imposed on protective headgear.
Thick, comfortable ‘Clima’ padding make this a helmet suitable for prolonged periods of riding. A sign of a quality helmet is removable padding and the comfort lining of the Nolan N104 comprises of removable cheek pads, neck roll and liner for ease of washing keeping your helmet clean, fresh and hygienic.
The shaping of the inner padding is also very clever as it is designed to flow around the area where spectacles tend to snag. The padding also comes pre-formed to accept the additional N-Com B4 intercom system which can be fitted as an extra.
Fastening the helmet couldn’t be easier thanks to the new Microlock system. This device features a ribbed-plastic tongue which slots through a metal clasp. All you have to do to fasten the helmet is feed the tongue into the clasp until you achieve a comfortable fit.
Removal is then easy by flicking a plastic lever.
Operating the many functions of the helmet once on the bike is easy, and this is what really puts Nolan on its pedestal.
Whether it’s the switches for the intercom system, the flip-up chin piece, the visor, the vents or the built-in sun shade, every function is easy to operate one-handed.
Picture: The Nolan N104 with chin piece closed. Note the Vision Protection System (VPS) sun visor in position
The helmet can be worn in its traditional full face style or with the chin section flipped upwards to create an open face design — both are perfectly legal.
Switching from one to the other is a simple one-handed operation by simply squeezing two plastic buttons together.
This twin button design is easy to operate single-handed, yet at the same time prevents any accidental opening.
Picture: Nolan N104 with visor closed
If you decide you like the freedom of the open face style, the chin section can likewise be locked in its upright position to prevent accidental closure.
Picture: Nolan N104 with chin piece opened
Nolan spent a lot of time and research developing this flip-front design and this shows as the ‘sail effect’ often caused by having chin sections in the raised position has been drastically reduced.
With the chin piece in its downward position, the visor is easy to open and close with one hand and features various pre-set holding points so that you can ride with the visor slightly open to further aid the already excellent ventilation system.
Picture: Nolan N104 with visor open
The visor on the N104 is much larger than on some models I have tried — creating much greater vision.
Pinlock is one of the must-have features you should be seeking out with a new helmet and as you might guess, the N104 has it as standard.
The Pinlock system is a range of filters that are fitted to the inside face of your visor. These filters feature their own silicone seal so that your visor suddenly becomes double-glazed — and with doubleglazing comes an assurance of no fogging and no misting something
absolutely vital if you wear spectacles as glasses wearers will already be familiar with the misting caused by temperature changes.
The Pinlock system prevents this on not only your visor but also on your glasses lenses.
One of my favourite features on the N104 is the unique Vision Protection System (VPS) sun visor.
A lever on the left-hand side of the helmet simply slides a moulded sun visor in line with your eyes to offer you perfect vision in an instant.
Nolan has tested this sun visor at speeds in excess of 200km/h to make sure that the bumps and potholes in the road surface do not send this sun visor flying back into its hiding place.
As an added bonus, this sun visor is also coated with anti-scratch and anti-fog coatings.
Air circulation throughout the helmet is very good with adjustable front and top vent systems and a rear exhaust system to help expel warm and stale air. My only gripe is that I wish the front vent had a slightly larger easier to grip opening system as the small plastic slider located directly beneath the thumb lip on the visor is very difficult to locate and use especially if you are wearing thick winter riding gloves.
Finally, my favourite aspect of the N104 comes in the form of a system that doesn’t come installed as standard — it’s a £250 extra.
The helmet has been designed so that it can incorporate the ncom B4 communication system.
The helmet was safety tested with the system installed so unlike ‘add on’ units which may compromise your helmet’s overall safety, the N104 has been tried and tested with the unit installed.
In brief, the n-com system depending on the kit installed allows the rider to listen to music, follow instructions from a sat nav device, listen to the radio, talk hands-free on their mobile, communicate with their pillion passenger or even communicate with up to four other bikers 800 metres away.
If you buy the N104 as a bare helmet, the only hint to the n-com capability is a rear port at the back of the helmet and a removable plug at the left of the helmet which is where the control panel buttons would sit. It would certainly be a shame to own such a great helmet and not enhance the ride with some hot tunes and friendly biker chat.
Picture: A diagram showing how the N-Com B4 system would fit within the N104 helmet
The B4 communication system costs £249.99 and can be installed by the rider after purchase.
For more information on the Nolan N104, the N-Com B4 system or the rest of the Nolan range, contact 01782 569800 or visit www.phoenixnw.co.uk to find your nearest dealer.
Article reproduced from the Burton Mail with kind permission of the author Stephen Sinfield.
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