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Product Evaluation: Troy Lee's SE2 Helmet
Jun. 16, 2009
By Justin
Long-Term Product Evaluation: Troy Lee Designs’ SE2 Helmet
Text by Justin Stannard
The Vitals
Make: Troy Lee Designs
Model: 2009 SE2 helmet
Colorway: History, White
Price: $495
Length of test: ~7 months
Get it at: http://www.troyleedesigns.com
If you are a regular reader of Personal Watercraft Illustrated,
then you’ve likely noticed the abundance of Troy Lee gear featured in
our GEAR department and on pages of several feature articles, adorning
editor Kevin Shaw and myself. Why is that? Did we at PWI whore ourselves out for cool free gear? Did we exchange mounds of press coverage for free product or advertising? Nope, not really.
Actually,
we just really believe in Troy Lee Designs’ gear. Not only has Troy Lee
been in the motocross and BMX/mountain biking scene for a long time,
but they are making a solid effort to provide quality, stylish
protective gear for personal watercraft riders, as well. The stuff you
see in the magazine’s features (and my GEAR page, too) is constantly
being used-and-abused and left out wet, so to say. As a result, we are
able to report to you, the loyal subscriber/reader, what we really
think of the product. And, in Troy Lee’s case, we are all very
impressed.
Now that I’ve logged a substantial amount of hours
with my Troy Lee Designs SE2 helmet, I thought it’d be a great time to
give a long-term report on its pros and cons, and give you all a quick
glance at what it has to offer:
First off, the basics. The SE2
helmet is Troy Lee’s successor to their popular, highly trusted SE
(Speed Equipment) helmet. Constructed with lightweight, resilient
materials, the SE2 is one of the coolest, most technologically advanced
helmets I’ve seen this year and is Troy Lee’s coup de grace to the
competition. The titanium mouthpiece, visor hardware, chin strap
D-rings, and top scoop keep weight to a minimum (and add to its “Cool
Factor”), while 15 intake and 4 large exhaust vents cram in the fresh,
cool air and extricate the heat-soaked, swampy air. The DOT- and
SNELL-approved helmet is offered in several eye-catching paint schemes,
and every unit is shipped with a very nice protective bag and two color-matched visors. Definitely a high-end helmet.
When
I first donned the SE2, I immediately felt comfortable in it. The
moisture-wicking liner was soft and comfortable, and there were no
uncomfortable pressure points. Many times, helmets tend to push in way
too much on my cheeks – resulting in an inability to speak properly in
the helmet and causing several accidental cheek bites while riding. The
SE2 was just snug enough to keep the helmet from wobbling on my dome,
without being too tight – like the third bowl of porridge. The
mouthpiece wasn’t too close to my face (which was a complaint of mine
with their original SE helmet), and the goggle port was very wide and
accommodating of my Utopia goggles. The helmet wasn’t as light as some
other helmets I’ve tested (like the HJC Carbon and Fly Racing Platinum
LX helmets), but it didn’t feel heavy once I was strapped in – a
characteristic very similar to an Arai VX-Pro. After looking in the
mirror, I realized I had indeed fallen in love with my new SE2 helmet;
it looked as good as it felt...
This is an exerpt from Justin Stannard's Product Evaluation. Simply click here to check out the full story and photos in PWI's Online Editorial section...
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