motorcycle gear reviews: HJC CL-15 Helmet

The HJC CL15 is an excellent value oriented helmet. This helmet covers all of the bases quite well at a reasonable price.

style

The CL-SP comes in several designs which I refer to as 'arm band' designs - as they resemble the typical arm band tattoos of 'spikey waves' that you see so often it tattoo parlors nowadays. The paint jobs do look decent although there is not a whole lot of detail put into the designs. Several solid color choices are available, the staple red, blue, white, black, and sliver, along with candy red, wine berry, and rubbertone.

features

The helmet does feel very secure and comfortable. It is snug, but not too tight. The helmet provides a decent level of buffeting but nothing spectacular.

The visor is easy to remove and re-install and has several preset positions. However, we did find it hard to open the shield from a closed position with gloves on. Unless the visor is open slightly it will fog up quite quickly.

Venting is adequate on the CL-15. A venturi vent in the back of the helmet exhausts hot air while the two vents in the front feed cool air through the helmet. The two front vents can be shut, half opened, or fully opened. The vent above the chin should help reduce fogging if opened. Two always-open side vents create a vacuum effect to exhaust stale hot air from the inside of the helmet.

safety

Perhaps the biggest applauding factor the CL-15 provides is the fact that it is both DOT and Snell approved. This is nothing special for higher end helmets, but for value helmets such as the CL-15 it is a rare find.

quality

The shell is made of an advanced polycarbonate composite material, making it lightweight and able to pass both DOT and Snell certifcations. The visor is made from HJC's trademarked AccuSight™ Anti-fog Faceshield.

show me the money

The CL-15 is very reasonably priced, starting at USD $129 for solid colors and ranging to USD $139 for design versions.

overall

This is a great helmet for those who want the added safety of a Snell certified helmet, but are on a tight budget especially during this trying economic times. The helmet is not the most stylish and solid color choices are limited. The visor fogs up rather quickly and is tough to adjust while wearing gloves. The padding, however, is very comfortable and aids in the overall fit of the helmet. If you are on a budget and are looking for a safe helmet with not too many features or slick looks then the HJC CL-15 may be just the helmet you are looking to find.

rating

• Style: 5/10
• Features: 5/10
• Safety: 7/10
• Quality: 7/10
• Price: 9/10
• Overall Value: 7/10