GS-Riders International

Just been wearing the new helmet for a week now and returning it to BMW for a full refund, worst helmet ever! Seal is no good, constant stream of air into the eyes unless the sun screen is down, which i admit works well but seems not strong enough? Water enters via the top of the visor and wets the cloth inside. Let me get this clear, its not a faulty seal, there is visable gaps around the visor one can see into the helmet. this morning i rode to work in thick fog and the cloth in the front of the helmet became soaked through. apart from these points its a good helmet but quite large! the interior is exceptionaly soft and cozy. so over all, avoid at all costs

Holy Shit! that is not a good thing...one would think it would have been better executed than that...I had planned checking them out at the dealer next time, guess not now, thanks for the heads up

You say it is the "worst helmet ever" - that sounds to me like you are just posting a knee jerk "let's rant about how crap this helmet is because I've had a problem" type of review. With every BMW product you get a warranty. Did you actually ask the dealer where you purchased the helmet to look at the problem before you posted this incedibly negative review? I can understand you were disappointed if you had a problem but if the visor on your helmet isn't sealing then either you're not shutting it properly or the helmet is faulty. The visor should form a seal, if it isn't sealing your particular helmet has a fault that no doubt would be covered under warranty. To dismiss the helmet as the worst helmet ever seems somewhat extreme. Schuberth make the lids for BMW and they don't produce rubbish lids. BMW wouldn't have commissioned Schuberth to make it if it was actually worse than the System 5. I understand there is incredible demand for the System 6 so it will be interesting to see some more balanced reviews

OK yes perhaps is was a knee jerk reaction, and you are quite right, i took the helmet back after one week of wearing it and BMW gave me a full refund. The problem is not with that particular helmet. the chap in the BMW store looked at the rest of the helmets on display and all the system 6 helmets had the same issue. go and see for youself. look at the helmet from above and just behind the ear and with you finger inside the helmet and you can quite clearly see the finger and that there is no complete seal. please, dont take my word for it. i know it was a very negative entry but for so much money, yes i was disappointed. i've spoken to a Schuberth technician about this helmet. The problem with the System 6 helmet is that BMW insisted that it be made to BMWs specifications and apparently overruled Shuberth on several design issues. seems strange to me especially as Shuberth are the helmet makers. The system 5 is a great helmet but does it not seem strange that BMW gave a full refund no questions asked? No one gives a refund on a helmet unless there is a problem. I will be interested also to see other reviews.

I purchased this helmet in July, 2009 for $850(Can). I was looking for comfort and the integrated flip-down sun visor as major criteria for the purchase. I had tried on several other helmets (Shoei, Arai, Nolan, HJC, Shuberth, and BMW System 5) before deciding on the System 6. It was the lightest, most comfortable and had the integrated sun visor. I have been on 5 rides with the helmet, over a total distance of about 1000 kms, mostly on back roads (60-90 km/h), some highway riding (110-130 km/h). Temperatures ranged from 15C to 35C.

Positive points: Very light and very comfortable (was initially tight on my forehead, but not an issue after the first two rides, about 5 hours total wear time). Very effective and easy to use flip-down sun visor. Noticeably quieter than my HJC CL-Max. Noticeably less head-buffet at the higher speeds versus my HJC CL-Max. Easy to use locking mechanism for the chin-bar. Easy to use and comfortable chin-strap. Easily accomodates my prescription glasses which do not interfere at all with the sun visor. Excellent ventillation over the top of the head even at slower speeds and with the visor down.

Negative points: 1) The clear visor kept falling down at speeds over 50 km/h. On examining the helmet, I found that a "friction bar" (my description, as the piece is not shown or described in the owner's manual) although present on the right side of the helmet, was missing on the left side of the helmet. I was given a replacement piece (this was taken off of a "defective" System 6 helmet that another rider had returned for refund/replacement. HMMNN!!). I found it quite simple to install the piece, even though there are no instructions in the owner's manual on how to go about this. Bad news: the visor still kept falling down at speeds over 50 km/h. One may argue, and I would agree, that for full facial protection, you should always have the visor down, anyway. But, even I will concede that city driving in 35C temperature makes it almost necessary to raise the visor. I also found the falling-down visor quite distracting. The "fix" also now made the visor stiff to "click" into the fully closed position. I thought that this was a good thing, as it ensured a good, tight seal. Second problem: The clear visor has now formed cracks through the two holes where the anti-fog insert attaches to the inside of the visor. The BMW dealer from which I had bought the helmet has been very helpful and is giving me a new visor.

Bottom-line: Except for the problem with the visor, this is a great helmet. The support from the BMW dealership has been very good. However, if the new visor has similar issues, I will be insisting on a refund and will be out helmet-shopping again.