Looking at getting a new lid and from what I've looked at and read up on so far, the range topping RS ultra carbon from X Lite is really good value for money for between £400-£500. Some tip over £500 depending on what websites you're looking and what paint job you go for. You even get a Dark visor included and that would cost £60-£80 maybe more, to add in one of them for other helmet brands. So my question is........does anyone have one and how good is it...... and how does it compare in 'size' to a Shoei X Spirit 3 which I'm an XL in?? Thanks
If you are a Shoei head, I don’t think the X-Lite will fit as it is more like the Arai. I’m an XL in the X-Spirit 3 and the X-Lite was too short for me, the jaw piece was level with my bottom lip. Andy
Fantastic lid. I have even road tested one at Snetterton and bought myself another immediately to replace it.
It all comes down to fit. Shoei used to be good for me, either they have changed, or my baldy top means they no longer fit!. Now using a high end HJC, which I love. Lightweight too.
Lovely and light and lovely finish. But as mentioned above: doesn’t fit every head shape and couldn’t get the fit right for me. Ended up with a carbon shark jobbie
Haven't they elongated the Mouth/chin section on the RS model though........so a lot less like the stubbier Arais? I'm more concerned about what it fits like around the forehead. Normally XL in most brands but I found HJC Rpha 11 I needed XXL. That was coming from an XL Rpha 10 plus!!! Some lids have a really narrow opening and a snugger fit so just wondering if I'd need to size up
I have an X803 ultra carbon and it fit’s me better than any other helmet I have ever had. Great visibility when in a crouching position. Well made, light and very good value. Aside from head shape I have found that a deciding factor on fit and comfort depends very much on where you sit in a particular manufacturer's shell size chart. If you are at the lower end of a particular shell size then the padding will be thicker to bring the size down. This can make getting the helmet on and off easier because you are simply compressing the padding rather than trying to squeeze your ears into the shell. But over time thicker padding has more scope to compress and leave you with a loose fit. Below is the Xlite Ultra Carbon RS chart - if you know your head measurement then is might help to see where you sit in the range. Ultimately the best thing to do is go try one one!
I bought one this year to replace an Arai RX7V. The Xlite is lighter and much more comfortable. I think its ,marginally noisier but I always wear earplugs so not really an issue. Good visibility and also good venting.
I wore a Shoei and the Carlos Checa x308 fits me great. Nolan did spoil me with their ridiculously low price as that model was discontinued. I think I paid around $200 pre tax and shipping...had to buy a tinted shield as it only came with a clear one. Still was one hell of a bargain.
My head measurement is 61cm so I reckon that puts me in an XL which is my normal size. @LiveFast...... can you tell me what size you are and did the RS fit you in your normal size? Even if its a pinch to tight id rather size up. Going to see if Ducati Manchester has any in stock to try on as I know they do XLite Ducati specials.
please dont buy a helmet without trying lots on at the same time. you only have one head and one chance to protect it. fit is the only thing that matters. i dont care that my arai is old tech by comparison to some of the new stuff. i fell off during a low speed low side 3 months ago and grazed the side of the lid and immediately bought another one. it did its job so i paid up.
Yeah I hear you, I buy helmets all the time online and rarely try them on. More often than not they're are a good fit. I have X spirit 3, Rpha 10, Rpha 11, and a few others. I collect them and some times sell the odd one on......especially if it doesn't fit! I'm going to Ducati Manchester today as they are the only local stockist but they're Ducati branded ones.
I moved from a Shoei GT Air to an Xlite Carbon 903 so while not identical they are similar. First off don`t believe the weight quoted, check it yourself. My Xlite is heavier than quoted on the internet. Presumably the quoted weight is for a small or x small without any extras so a large or xl will be heavier of course. That aside I`m delighted with it as it is comfy, maybe a little less noisy but a lot better at dealing with buffering than the Shoei based on rides on my old monster with a small screen and my Moto Guzzi Stelvio with a large screen. The visor removal magnetic system is brilliant and quality seems equal to Shoei in every way apart from the popper that stops the strap flapping about, that is quite fiddly by comparison. Much better value too.
My head measurement is 59cm and I have a L size helmet - the shell size for me is pretty much perfect - any tighter and I probably wouldn’t be able to get it on. I have an HJC helmet for the road - it’s a cheaper helmet and is only made in 2 shell sizes - even though it’s an L size as well it doesn’t fit as snugly as the Xlite - I’m pretty certain that’s because the shell covers all the way up to 2XL so in that particular shell I sit near the smaller end of the sizes it’s used for. In the Xlite your head size would sit near the bottom of the range covered by the largest shell so you are going to find it easy to get the helmet on and off but at the possible expense that the fit won’t be quite as snug and could get looser over time as the padding compresses.
Sounds like the XL should be ok but going to try one on hopefully at Ducati Manchester. No where else stocks them locally.
Excellent lids, I had the 802 for many years and then bought the 803. Arai and shoei don’t fit me but X-Lite are lovely and comfy.
I'm onto my second X803 RS ultra carbon now (crashed the first one ) , I love it and will/would happily replace the current one with another when it needs replacing
