Modular convenience, two visors (clear and tinted), and a price point (mid-80 bucks's) that beats most name-brand modulars by a wide margin. Buyers give the MXJ Gear JR-815 a rating of 4.3 stars. If you're looking for a flip-up chin bar, don't have to buy a second visor, and aren't willing to spend money that would cause you to question your purchase decision, then the JR-815 has landed in a similar space to other helmets that cannot match it.
GoMotorbikes offers more information about the JR-815 and other helmets within our motorcycle helmet comparison chart or within the GoMotorbikes blog.
Build Quality and Safety
The shell is made of ABS plastic and includes an EPS foam liner. This is the same type of construction found in helmets across multiple price ranges for decades. Carbon Fiber or Multi-Density EPS are not present in the JR-815. A thermoplastics shell provides strength against impacts while the Single Density EPS liner absorbs energy as you travel downwards. Check the current pricing and available colors on Amazon here.
For nearly 90, bucks you may be let down by the materials selected. The build quality works fine, however, there are no Premium Finishes. The buckle, pivot points, vents, sliders, cheek pads, paint edges near the visor rails and everything else seems like they came from a production line with speed as their focus and functionality before packaging.
Safety-wise, the JR-815 has a DOT rating. Additionally, it refers to FMVSS-218 compliant. This is the U.S. federal motor vehicle safety standard for motorcycle helmets. This requires a helmet to demonstrate adequate impact absorption at specified drop heights. A chinbar that withstands a particular level of force. A retention system that remains secure during loading. And a shell that will not disassemble during sliding. In most states in the U.S., DOT certification is required. However, it is NOT an independent test or grading standard such as ECE 22.06 or Snell. Therefore, if that distinction means anything to you, please take notice and include it in your calculation. Many commuters find a DOT-rated helmet that features flip-up style convenience along with two visors acceptable.
There are five sizes for the helmet: Small through XXL. The Amazon listing strongly suggests measuring the diameter of your head and selecting the larger size if you have fuller cheeks. This recommendation matches that of virtually every manufacturer producing modular-style helmets. The flip-up design adds to the overall interior volume relative to a conventional full-face design. Therefore plan on using slightly larger head girth than your street-bike helmet.
Additionally, this model helmet has been labeled as "glasses-friendly." If you use eyeglass frames, the cheek pad cut and the visor rail edge should accommodate your frames. As with all things, no promise but the design clearly attempts to support riders wearing glasses frames.
The Visor System and Flip-Up Mechanism
This is how the JR-815 accomplishes its objective. The JR-815 comes equipped with a clear outer visor, a black outer visor, and an inner retractable sun visor. Your choice of two complete-tint and clear visors may be swapped by simply removing the outer shell cover and inserting another one in its place. The inner lens is a separate element pulled up/down via a track located internally. Thus the JR-815 features a total of three visors combined into one helmet and is not merely a novelty.
Swapping visors requires either a screw driver or a coin. Remove the two pivot covers on each side of the visor arms. Remove the existing visor. Insert a new visor. Replace the two pivot covers. All-in-all this should take approximately five minutes. You could potentially leave the clear visor mounted and store the dark visor in your glove box for those times when you encounter either a sunrise/sunset or an overcast sky on your travels.
One-button flip-up design represents the primary feature of the JR-815. Press a button located at the bottom of the chin-bar or flip upwards with one hand to raise/lower the entire chin-bar. Ride in full-face protection mode. Travel through traffic lights/converse with individuals standing next to you at stoplights/breathe easily due to reduced air resistance in warm temperatures. Both modes lock securely in position when functioning properly.
In contrast to traditional full-face designs, cutting the chin-bar into a pivoting hinge reduces the structural integrity of the shell somewhat. Therefore, while the risk is low for casual riding and/or commuting, aggressive cornering on a racing circuit renders this helmet an incorrect selection. The structural trade-offs associated with flip-up styles are very much real and worthy of consideration as they represent what allows this category to exist at all.
Those wearing eyewear receive an advantage regarding this feature. When the chin-bar is raised/lowered, the lower portion of the jaw area expands greatly allowing you to easily remove your helmet without causing drag on your eyewear frames. Due to increased thickness of cheek pads found on modular designs, glasses-wearers often experience less usable space above their cheek pads when wearing their eyewear. By virtue of being able to open/remove the helmet completely from your head, flip-up designs help offset some of these issues by eliminating drag created by cheek pads.
A good-quality carrying case included with the helmet is an added value to owners who lack their own helmet storage solutions. While not premium-padded, it serves as a protector for scratches on your helmet when storing in a trunk/trailer/etc... where sharp objects may damage your finish. The carrying case provided is an additional savings that indicates exactly where this helmet falls in terms of pricing.
What Amazon Reviewers Are Saying
At 206 reviews and a 4.3-star rating, the JR-815 is among the better reviewed in the entry-level modular budget helmet segment. Based on the number of reviews provided, there is sufficient feedback to recognize trends. However, each reviewer’s review represents their experience, not universally accepted truths.
Fit is the most frequently noted trend. Sizing charts are generally accurate based on average-sized heads and cheek pads are snug. Many reviewers (who initially purchased their JR-815 in an initial order) recommended using a larger size for wider or fuller faces to reduce cheek pad pressure while riding. For those who have thinner facial structures, their chart size may be adequate. Larger facial dimensions will likely require the next size up to eliminate cheek pad pressure while riding.
Heat from summer driving is common in the feedback. The JR-815 has a multi-slider ventilation system located on the upper front, upper rear, and lower rear of the helmet. Although reviewers acknowledged the vents allow airflow into the helmet when opened, a modular helmet design allows for some leakage due to the inherent nature of modularity. Additionally, since the flip-up chin bar creates additional volume inside the helmet shell than a non-modular full-face helmet, many reviewers stated that even when all vents were fully opened in extreme summer temperatures, the JR-815 would still become warm. While this issue exists in the modular class, and not specifically related to the JR-815, several reviewers from warmer climate regions suggested opening the visor slightly or lifting the chin bar at slower speeds until entering the highway.
Reviewers repeatedly praised the included spare dark visor. Having both a clear and a tinted visor included in the box gives the purchaser an advantage over competitors. Most budget full-face helmets include a single visor. Aftermarket tinted inserts typically cost approximately 15.00 bucks. The JR-815 includes both at no additional cost. The addition of two visors contributes to the overall value of the JR-815.
A few reviewers commented on weight. They reported that the JR-815 was significantly lighter than other high-end modular helmets. Regardless of whether this difference is due to less expensive internal components or simply a lighter shell, many riders did comment that they did not experience neck fatigue after extended commutes wearing the JR-815.
Additional praise for customer service response times was expressed by several reviewers. Seller advertising states that they respond to inquiries regarding parts availability and/or fit issues within 24 hours. Several reviewers confirmed these claims stating that they received timely responses to their inquiries.
Negative comments were made by a handful of reviewers relative to fit. Some mentioned that the rear adjustment nut was difficult to turn, and others complained about needing to apply significant force to lock the slider controls for adjusting ventilation.
These comments are minor, but valid. The helmet performs as expected. However, tolerancing requirements could be tighter.
Who Is This Helmet For?
The JR-815 is designed for commuters and casual riders. If you ride a motorcycle for your daily commute and desire the ability to lift the chin bar at intersections, etc., then the JR-815 meets many of your needs. Modular flip-up helmets provide many conveniences including ease of communication with passengers, ability to easily access food/drink items, and allowing for air exchange with cooler ambient air in heavy traffic conditions.
Additionally, tourers who wish to take advantage of a budget-friendly option will find the JR-815 offers similar advantages. Using a flip-up style helmet provides an opportunity to communicate with fellow travelers and/or receive fresh air during prolonged periods of slow-moving traffic.
Glasses-wearing riders will also benefit from purchasing a flip-up helmet. As previously discussed, removing eyewear can be challenging while donning a full-face helmet. With a flip-up helmet such as the JR-815, the mechanism to open/close the chin-bar allows for easier removal of eyeglasses as opposed to attempting to remove eyeglasses while wearing a full-face helmet.
Finally, budget-conscious shoppers seeking affordable modular options that provide convenient function without excessive costs will appreciate many aspects of this helmet. Included with this helmet are a dark-tinted visor, clear visor, storage bag, removable/washable liners, and functional flip-up chin-bar mechanism, all at an affordable price-point that should meet most budgets.
If you are looking for an ECE 22.06 certified helmet or premium shell materials (e.g. carbon fiber), or prioritize quiet operation at highway speeds (i.e. competitive with premium full-face designs), then this is not your best choice. This is a budget modular helmet for every-day riding. Although not perfect, many of the 206+ customers appear to concur with my assessment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the MXJ Gear JR-815 quiet on highways?
Although modular helmets exhibit greater wind noise than full-face helmets due to structural vulnerabilities associated with modularity and increased volumes created by hinging chin bars at highway speeds, riders who own high-end modulars state that the JR-815 is quieter than some very-high-end modules costing twice as much as this budget model. Although you will never achieve quiet levels comparable to a traditional full-face helmet, the amount of noise generated by the JR-815 is within what most riders expect from a budget modular.
Does it come with both clear and dark visors?
Yes. The JR-815 ships with a clear outer visor pre-installed in addition to a spare dark outer visor and a retractable inner sun visor. Therefore, you will have three different visors when you receive your JR-815.
How do I determine my proper JR-815 size?
Take your head measurement exactly above your eyes using a flexible tape measure. Check your head measurement against the sizing chart on the Amazon product page. Fit can be somewhat snug in the cheek pads due to modular construction. If you have more substantial facial structure or fuller cheeks than average, follow Amazon's recommendation and consider ordering a size larger than indicated by your measurements. A snug fit is acceptable for helmets. However, discomfort indicates improper sizing.
Can I wash the liners in my JR-815?
Yes. The JR-815 features washable liners that can be removed from the helmet and washed either by machine or hand wash. Since replacement liners are relatively inexpensive compared to replacing the helmet itself, maintaining cleanliness is important. Cleaning the liners regularly maintains padding durability and minimizes odors caused by sweat accumulation during extremely hot weather.
How does the chin bar locking mechanism work?
The JR-815 uses a single click-release mechanism for securing/unsecuring the chin bar. To open the chin bar: simply push upward with your fingers on either side of the chin bar (approximately 2 inches below). When you push upward firmly enough, you will hear an audible "click" indicating that you have released and unlocked the chin bar allowing you to raise it completely off of your face. Once raised completely off of your face, there is no danger of it flopping back down onto your face while you continue riding (therefore providing safe operating conditions). Conversely, closing/relocking the chin bar requires simply pushing downward on either side of the chin bar until you once again hear an audible "click," indicating that it has secured and locked into place.