Zeus ZS-811 helmet
It has been six months since we first got hold of the Zeus ZS-811 helmet, and it has been a mixed bag. I have been using it for commuting, touring as well as the occasional track day. Here are the things we liked about the helmet and ones we wish could have been better -
Good Things
Despite being a budget helmet, the Zeus ZS-811 complies with all the safety regulations required by FMSCI for track racing in India. I also used it for my races in the TVS Young Media Racer Program this year. The light weight of the helmet meant that it didn’t put any stress on my neck. Also, as it has just five vents, it offers good noise insulation, which can be handy around loud racing motorcycles
The noise isolation also comes handy while commuting in the noisy city traffic. Even with just five vents, I never had a problem with the ventilation of the ZS-811. It is easy to open and close the vents with your gloves on.
The cheekpads and the head liner of the ZS-811 are removable, which makes it easy to clean the helmet and to dry them off in case they get wet. The Zeus ZS-811 has foam pieces around the ear, which can be removed according to the rider’s convenience. This space can also be used to install the head piece of a Bluetooth communication system like a Sena 3S or a Sena 20S.
Things we didn’t like
The Zeus ZS-811 had a brilliant snug fit when I first started using it. However, after the first few days of use, the cushion contracted slightly making it a bit loose and it became necessary to use a balaclava to get the same snug fit. The S size seemed perfect for me when I first started using it, but now I wish I had opted for an XS instead.
The ZS-811 does get a breath deflector, although, it is too small to prevent your breath from fogging up the visor. This was a major problem I experienced while touring during the monsoon. Besides, it is impossible to keep the visor slightly open to avoid fogging, as the visor shuts off immediately due to the airflow.
On the race track, you need a helmet with a wide field of vision and the ZS-811 falls short in this aspect. While it leaves enough room for peripheral vision in city traffic and highways, I constantly had to stretch my neck vertically and horizontally to look further through corners and while I was crouched on straights.
It might feel silent while doing city speeds, but once you hit triple digit speeds on the highway, there is a lot of wind noise. A tighter fit around the base of the helmet could probably help improve this. After being exposed to rain, the metal D-rings started showing signs of rusting. I also wish it had an easier mechanism to change the visor, one which didn’t leave me with sore fingers.
Verdict
I have been happy with the way the Zeus ZS-811 performs during daily commutes and touring. For city use, it is silent, comfortable and offers good ventilation. It might be noisy on highways, but this is something that a pair of ear plugs like NoNoise can easily take care of. For the track although, I would recommend going for a helmet with a wider field of vision.
Besides, the price has to be the biggest draw of this helmet. There aren’t many ECE 22.05 rated helmets that you can buy for this kind of budget. The ZS-811 retails at Rs 4,400 for solid and Rs 4,600 for the graphic helmets. Unfortunately (or rather, fortunately), I haven’t had a taste of how safe the ZS-811 is in the event of a crash. Nevertheless, the safety rating should buy you some peace of mind.
Click here to buy the Zeus ZS-811 online.
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