RPHA stands for Revolution Performance Helmet Advanced, and the RPHA series are HJC’s best-selling models. The most recent addition to the line is the RPHA 91 modular helmet with a premium integrated Matrix EVO shell made from a blend of materials including carbon-aramid, carbon fiber, fiberglass, and non-woven fabric. organic textiles and flax fibers, all of which contribute to enhanced shock resistance and light weight. A Medium size weighs 3.8 lb.
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The RPHA 91 includes some thoughtful features, such as large, paddle-like air vents. They are not hidden like the vents on other helmets; however, since operating the vents requires only sliding or shaking a large paddle, they are much easier to use than the smaller mechanisms found on many helmets.
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Reaching up and sliding the vents on the top of the head or shaking the chin intake is easy even with gloved hands, and it takes no searching or feeling to find them. The temple vents are operated by a slide and are much smaller, but I almost always leave them open.
Another cool feature on the RPHA 91 is the drop-down sunshade. Many modular helmets have sun visors, but some of them don’t go far enough. The RPHA 91 solves that problem with an adjustable sunshade. Removing the plate on the left side of the helmet reveals a three-setting switch. This switch allows you to set the sunshade’s drop distance, and if it’s set to the lowest setting, the sunshade will also slide off your face so you don’t have to worry about it hitting your nose when going down. . Lowering the sunshade to the center position works best for me.
HJC also makes the chin bar flip up more convenient on the RPHA 91. Although the chin bar doesn’t flip completely toward the back of the helmet as it does on the HJC i100 (see Review HJC i100 here), it can still be worn upside down while riding, although doing so will certainly sacrifice some safety as it leaves your face vulnerable. HJC accomplished this with two design elements. Firstly, with the chin bar turned up, there will be a minimal gap between the chin bar and the top of the helmet, meaning the wind won’t get in between and pull the helmet up. The chin bar also locks in the opened position so that it doesn’t move or fall while moving. The locking mechanism is a bit complicated to operate with gloved hands but not impossible. I wouldn’t try to lock or unlock the crossbar while driving, but that’s easy enough to do if I have a few seconds before the stop light.
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Other useful features include neck coils to reduce wind noise, speaker pockets and channels to run wires for the intercom, and Pinlock-ready face shields (including a Pinlock anti-fog insert). The RPHA 91 comes in XS-2XL colors Black, White, Matte Black, Gray, Semi-Flat Titanium, Semi-Flat Anthracite, Semi-Flat Metallic Blue and three graphic colors starting at $549.99.
