Motorcycle Gear Archives

Are you looking for a motorcycle helmet that offers style and protection? Look no further than the Voss 989 Motorcycle Helmet. In this comprehensive review, we'll explore the features and benefits of this premium helmet, including its various features and safety certifications. Voss Helmets was founded in 2008 in Delta, British Columbia, Canada, and is a part of Roadhouse Distribution Inc. The Voss 989 Moto-V is a Full Face Street Helmet that meets DOT FMVSS No. 218 and ECE R22.05 safety requirements. It is available in various colors, graphics, and tinted visor options. In addition, the Voss 989 Moto-V offers many features that make it an excellent value at less than $300. As a rider, I understand the importance of a quality helmet, and I believe that the Voss 989 delivers on all fronts. Join me as I dive into the world of this innovative helmet and discover the power of protection for your next ride. Table of Contents Table of ContentsVoss 989 Moto-V Safety RatingsDOT FMVSS 218 CertifiedECE 22.05 CertifiedVoss 989 Moto-V ConstructionWhere are Voss Helmets MadeColor OptionsFace Shield OptionsSize ChartVoss 989 Moto-V BenefitsToolless Face SheildPinlock Insert ReadyDropdown Sun ShieldVentilationComs ReadyMicrometric Ratchet Quick ReleaseVoss 989 Moto-V ShortcomingsComs LocationDifficult Operate Top VentsDropdown ShieldNoiseVoss 989 Moto-V for MotovloggingChinMount AvailableWind Noise and Voice CommandsVisor TabVoss 989 Moto-V Helmet Overview Voss 989 Moto-V Safety Ratings As a rider, your safety on the road should be a top priority. The Voss Helmets 989 Moto-V helmet provides exceptional protection, meeting and exceeding the current DOT FMVSS No. 218 and ECE R22.05 safety requirements. This means that the helmet is compliant with road safety regulations in many countries, including the USA, Canada, Europe, South America, Australia, and beyond. DOT FMVSS 218 Certified The DOT FMVSS 218 certification is a safety standard established by the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) for motorcycle helmets sold in the United States. This standard sets minimum requirements for helmets to be legally sold in the US, and it is mandatory for all motorcycle helmets sold in the country. The DOT FMVSS 218 certification tests a helmet's performance in various impact scenarios, including penetration resistance, retention system strength, and impact attenuation. Helmets that meet the DOT FMVSS 218 standard are designed to provide a high level of protection for motorcyclists in the event of a crash or accident. Choosing a helmet that is DOT FMVSS 218 certified can provide riders with the assurance that they are wearing a helmet that has been thoroughly tested and meets the US government's safety standards. It's important to note that while the DOT certification is mandatory in the US, it is less stringent than other certifications, such as the ECE 22.05, and riders may want to consider helmets with additional safety certifications for optimal protection. ECE 22.05 Certified The ECE 22.05 safety rating is a certification standard for motorcycle helmets established by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (ECE). This standard sets minimum safety requirements for helmets to be sold in countries that recognize ECE regulations, which include most European countries, as well as some countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. The ECE 22.05 certification tests a helmet's performance in various impact scenarios, including linear and oblique impacts, penetration resistance, retention system strength, and field of vision. Helmets that meet the ECE 22.05 standard are considered to provide a high level of protection for motorcyclists, which is especially important in a crash or accident. Choosing a helmet that is ECE 22.05 certified can provide peace of mind for riders, knowing that they are wearing a helmet that has been thoroughly tested and meets a recognized safety standard. Voss 989 Moto-V Construction If you're looking for a high-quality full-face motorcycle helmet, the Full Face Moto series from Voss Helmets is worth considering. In particular, the 989 Moto-V stands out for its exceptional comfort, lightweight construction, and precise fit, which make it an ideal choice for riders who prioritize comfort and safety. The Voss Helmets 989 Moto-V boasts various features that add to its overall value, including an internal sun lens that provides convenience and improved visibility and removable and washable padded liners that help ensure hygiene and comfort. The multiple air intake vents and ports also help to regulate temperature. Finally, the sleek Italian design of the 989 Moto-V is both stylish and aerodynamic, adding an extra element of appeal to this helmet. Made from a non-recycled thermoplastic injection molded ABS alloy, the 989 Moto-V is built to last and offers superior protection in the event of an accident. Where are Voss Helmets Made Inside my Voss Helmet is a label with some pertinent information. It includes an advertisement for the DOT FMVSS 218 safety standard and the month and year the helmet was manufactured. Lastly, It also states that the helmet is made in China. Color Options At the time of writing, Voss offers 11 Color and Graphics variations on the 989 Moto-V Helmet. They range from classics such as Solid Black or Solid White to subdued Graphics such as Digital Camo and even have rich and colorful options such as the Overlord. If you enjoy an expressive helmet with graphics, Voss releases several new colorways and designs each year. If you prefer more subdued solid color helmets, you'll have to make do with only two options. Face Shield Options One feature of Voss Helmets that I find quite appealing is the ability to upgrade your face shield. Several options are available such as Clear, Amber, Smoke, Dark Smoke, Chrome, and Iridium. With these various options available, it makes it easy to tweak your Voss 989 Moto-V in a little way to make it your own. In the case of the White Voss 989 Moto-V shown below, it comes with a Clear Shield, and you can request a Smoke Shield as a free upgrade. The free Smoke Shield can be upgraded to one of the other options for $25 (as of this writing). Size Chart When shopping for a Motorcycle Helmet, it is important to find one that fits properly to ensure optimal protection and comfort. One of the factors to consider is head shape. The Voss 989 Moto-V Helmet is designed to fit an intermediate oval head shape. This means that it is longer front-to-back than it is side-to-side, with a slightly narrower forehead and wider cheekbones. The Voss 989 Moto-V Helmet is available in six sizes ranging from small (20-7/8" or 53cm) to 2XL (25-1/4" or 64cm) SizeMin InchesMax InchesMin CMMax CMSM20-7/821-1/25354.5S21-1/222-1/454.556.5M22-1/42356.558.5L2323-7/858.560.5XL23-7/824-5/860.562.52XL24-5/825-1/462.564 Voss 989 Moto-V Benefits When I think of Full Face Motorcycle Helmets in the $200 to $300 range, I don't typically think "feature-rich." They tend to be helmets built on a budget with the necessary safety ratings to get the job done. Take, for example, the extremely popular Builtwell Lane Splitter Helmet. It sells for roughly $249 and is a solid but bare-bones helmet. Voss Helmets, on the other hand, takes a helmet in a very similar price range and packs it full of features. It includes excellent safety ratings, a drop-down sun shield, a quick-release helmet buckle, and more. Toolless Face Sheild Since the Voss 989 Moto-V Helmet is available with several shield options (and typically comes with two), it stands to reason that riders should be able to quickly and easily change out the shield. This is achieved with a toolless system that uses retainer clips on either side of the visor. To remove the shield, raise the visor into its fully open position. Doing so will expose a red lever. Pull the lever up toward the top of the helmet, and the visor can then be pulled away from the helmet. Repeat this process on the opposite side to completely remove the shield. To reinstall the shield, lift the red lever and press the visor into the mechanism. Repeat the process on the opposite side, and your new shield should be locked in. I recommend opening and closing the visor a few times to ensure the mechanism is fully engaged and the shield will not slip out of place. Pinlock Insert Ready Have you ever gone out for a ride in the cold and had your visor fog up? Even worse, have you ever ridden in the rain and had difficulty seeing because of condensation inside your visor? These situations can be dangerous but are easy to remedy with a Pinlock Insert. A Pinlock Insert is a secondary visor that is placed on the inside of your main face shield. Once in place, it creates an air gap between the two visors and prevents your shield from fogging. The Vos 989 Moto-V is Pinlock Ready which means the shield comes standard with two retaining pins. The Pinlock Insert engages with these pins and is held securely in place. As someone who has been using Pinlock Inserts for several years, I can't imagine going without one. Fortunately, the Voss 898 Moto-V comes with a free Pinlock Insert, which means it is one less thing to purchase to keep you safe on the road. Dropdown Sun Shield Another cool feature of the Voss 989 Moto-V Helmet is that it comes standard with a dropdown sun shield. Think of this as a retractable pair of sunglasses that can be used as needed throughout the course of a ride. The sun shield is operated with a switch along the jawline of the helmet (operated with your left hand). Sliding the switch back (towards the rear of the helmet) causes the sun shield to drop. Sliding it forward will cause the sun shield to retract into the helmet. Locating the switch with a gloved hand can be a little tricky, but I find the operation to be smooth. Ventilation The Voss 989 Moto-V Helmet is equipped with three vents. All vents are operated with a low-profile switch which blends into the overall shape of the shell. The first vent is located on the chin of the helmet. It operates by sliding up (closed) and down (open), which allows air to flow into the helmet. The air is directed towards the visor and can be felt on your face. The second vent is located at the top of your head (one on either side) and is opened and closed with a toggle. Tipping the vent toward the visor will close it, and tipping it toward the rear of the helmet will open it. These vents allow air to enter the helmet and move across the top of your head. These vents are best used in conjunction with the venturi located at the rear of the helmet. The venturi vent creates a vacuum inside the helmet and draws warm moist air out, keeping you cool in the warmer months. Coms Ready For several years I have done a considerable amount of riding with friends. The days of exaggerated hand signals and shouting at traffic lights are long behind me, as I love my Bluetooth Communicator (I use a Sena 50S). One potential drawback to these units is that they require installing speakers inside your helmet. Not all helmets accommodate these speakers. The Voss 989 Moto-V takes Bluetooth Communicators into account and provides pockets to accept speakers. The pockets are universal and will accept most helmet speakers on the market. This makes installing a Bluetooth Communicator simple. Micrometric Ratchet Quick Release Have you ever gone down the road and suddenly heard the telltale slap of your chin strap bouncing off your helmet? I've been there on more occasions than I care to admit, and it is always a pain. I have to pull over, remove my gloves, and fish the strap through the D-Loop on the side of the road. I never realized how nice it could be to attach my chin strap without removing my gloves until I discovered the Voss 989 Moto-V. The Micrometric Ratchet Quick Release lets you buckle and unbuckle your helmet with gloved hands. I find the male component to be a little bulky, and it sometimes gets caught on the collar of my riding jacket when looking over my shoulder. It is a small price to pay for such a convenient feature. Voss 989 Moto-V Shortcomings Now that we've gone over all of the features and benefits the Voss 989 Moto-V Helmet has to offer, it is time to look at some of the areas where I think this helmet falls short. Your mileage may vary as some of these issues are minor annoyances. Coms Location Due to the location of the switch that operates the drop-down sun shield, the mounting location for a Bluetooth Communicator feels far back on the side of the helmet. My Sena 50S requires that you press two buttons simultaneously to power it on. With my previous helmet, an HJC F70, I could reach up and turn it on. With my Voss 989 Moto-V, I must reach over the communicator and contort my hand to press the buttons. Once the unit is powered on, I can reach all of the controls easily. It is just that initial power cycle that is difficult since I need to reach the front and back of the communicator at the same time. If the Sena were farther forward, it wouldn't be an issue. Difficult Operate Top Vents One of the things I like most about my Voss 989 Moto-V is that it looks very sharp. The lines are clean, and the buttons and controls blend into the overall flow of the design. My problem is that the top vents are so well blended that I find it very difficult to find them with a gloved hand. I tend to ride down the road stabbing at various points on the helmet listening for the click of the vent popping open. Once the vent is open, finding it again to close is easy since it protrudes. It is the initial opening that I have trouble with. The Chin Vent and Venturi vent are easily located, and I never have trouble finding them while riding. Dropdown Shield I can't stress enough how much I like having a dropdown sun shield. It comes in handy on a bright day or when riding into the sun, and I can't imagine returning to a helmet without one. There are two minor issues I have with the Sun Shield on my Voss 989 Moto-V. The first is that it tends to smack me in the nose every time I engage it. It doesn't hurt and is only mildly annoying, but it is annoying nonetheless. My second issue is that I don't think it is dark enough. When riding with a clear visor, the sun shield makes a difference, but a run-of-the-mill pair of sunglasses blocks more light. An oddity of the sun shield is that when you pair it with a tinted visor (Chrome, in my case), it alters the coloring similarly if you've ever worn yellow safety glasses. Noise My biggest gripe with the Voss 989 Moto-V is that it is not a quiet helmet. Even with all of the vents closed, I still find it to be noisy. Opening the vents makes it considerably louder - especially when you exceed 50mph and turn your head to check your blind spots. The air rushes past the vents to create a whistle/whine. I always wear earplugs while riding. I don't think I could wear this helmet without them for fear of getting a headache after an hour or two. Voss 989 Moto-V for Motovlogging If you have done any poking around here on WaltInPA.com, you have probably discovered that I enjoy Motovlogging. I do this by filming my rides and adding commentary as I explore Pennsylvania. When I purchased my Voss 989 Moto-V Helmet, I didn't intend to set it up for recording. The more I used the helmet, the more I liked it, and I ultimately decided to mount my GoPro Hero 10 and Microphone. I've shared a number of videos on the WaltInPA YouTube Channel and thought I'd share my experience with those of you who wish to do the same. ChinMount Available One challenging aspect of Motovlogging is proper camera placement. A profile, or side-mounted, camera is easiest, but the helmet can obstruct the view. A view from the chin bar is my preferred camera placement, but it isn't always as simple as sticking a GoPro Mount to the chin. Regarding the Voss 989 Moto-V Helmet, this isn't a problem because it is compatible with a Chin Mount. This mount is profiled to follow the helmet's shape and bond tightly to the thermoplastic shell. I've used my Chin Mount through the Fall and Winter months, and my GoPro has stayed firmly in place. Wind Noise and Voice Commands One of my favorite Tips and Tricks for Motovlogging is to use the GoPro Voice Commands to start and stop my camera. In addition to being a hands-free option for controlling my camera, it also checks that the camera's mic input inside my helmet is working properly. As I stated earlier, I don't find the Voss 989 Moto-V to be a particularly quiet helmet. At speeds exceeding 35mph, the wind noise is loud enough that I have trouble using the GoPro Voice Commands. I can sometimes trigger the camera if I shout, but even then, I have trouble hearing the audio command beeps of the Gopro taking action. For best results, use the GoPro Voice Commands when you are stopped or moving at slow speeds. Visor Tab I may have been spoiled by a seemingly insignificant feature of my HJC F70 Helmet - its ambidextrous visor tabs. These tabs allowed me to open and close my visor with either my left or right hand. On the Voss 989 Moto-V, there is only a single tab for operation, and it is centered in the visor. The centered visor tab is wide and provides plenty of purchase for your gloved hand. My only complaint is that it feels a bit cramped due to the camera directly below it. This, coupled with the strong detent keeping the visor in place, can make the shield cumbersome. Voss 989 Moto-V Helmet Overview Despite some drawbacks, I'm very happy with my Voss 989 Moto-V Helmet. I purchased mine in September of 2022 in Matte Black with a Chrome Face Shield and Pinlock Visor. At less than $300, it was an excellent value due to its abundance of features and ECE Safety Rating. If you are in the market for a Full Face Motorcycle Helmet, I strongly suggest considering the Voss 989 Moto-V! 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