“HJC brand helmet is the number 1 selling helmet in the America. It is known for the affordable pricing and superior quality” — Amazon.com: HJC CL-15 CL15 Motorcycle Helmets Product Page

Now that the Ural is almost here, Jodie and I are doing a bit more shopping. We both have jackets (here’s a review of my Taylor’s Leatherwear Jacket, and soon I’ll be putting one up for Jodie’s TourMaster Jacket), so now it’s time for the helmet. After a trip to Eugene’s Discount Motorcycle Parts, we both were liking the fit, feel and look of the popular HJC CL-15. But how does it stack up?

In this review

• HJC CL-15 product features and specifications
• Colors
• Reviews
• Best deals online

HJC CL-15 product features and specifications

Links below do a much better and more comprehensive job of outlining the features and specs of the CL-15 helmet, but here are a few highlights:

• Flow-Through “ACS” Advanced Channeling Ventilation System
• Anti-fog System
• Extra-large eye port for greater visibility
• Tool-less shield change-out
• Padded chin strap with strap retention snap
• Easy to remove Nylex liner and cheek pads for cleaning and air drying
• DOT-218, Snell-M2005

Color: Make Mine Wine, Silver or Royal Blue

The HJC CL-15 helmets are available in a vast array of solid colors and graphical patterns, including…

Solids
The HJC CL-15 comes in a good selection of solid base colors. I especially like the Silver, Wine and Royal Blue (all pictured in this post) — one of those is going to wind up on my head, I do believe.

• Wine
• Silver
• Red
• Royal Blue
• White
• Black
• Candy Red

Graphics
Personally, I’m not much for graphics, so I’ve nothing to offer here. Some of the patterns might be neat.

• Crypt
• Draco
• Dragon
• Orbit
• Pegasus
• Session

The only thing I would add is that it would be cool if HJC came out with a model similar in color and shade to the Crypt (above), but with a Celtic knot pattern.

HJC CL-15 Reviews

• Amazon.com - HJC CL-15 Motorcycle Helmets Product Info & Reviews
• Real HJC CL-15 Metallic Helmet reviews in Motorcycle/ATV Full Face Helmets - Buzzillions.com
• Epinions.com - Compare Prices and Read Reviews on HJC CL-15 Full-Face Helmet at Epinions.com

Best deals online

Just to be clear, Jodie and I do our best to always go with the local guy. Steve and Annette at Discount Motorcycle Parts carry HJC-15 helmets for about $125 (as of this writing), and as long as we can get the colors we want, we’ll be getting them from there. If we can’t — or if you have to do some shopping around for your HJC CL-15 helmet — here are some of the better options I was finding for online stores:

• RockheadBikes.com - HJC CL-15 Helmets
• Extreme Supply - HJC CL-15 Motorcycle Helmets
• HJC CL-15 Motorcycle Helmets: Helmet City Solids and Graphics
• HJC CL-15 Helmets - Read Reviews and Buy at KneeDraggers.com
• Good product info too - Tonker - HJC Motorcycle Helmets (jump straight to the CL-15 helmets)
• HJC CL-15 Helmets - MotoDepot
• HJC CL Series Helmets - RidersDiscount.com

Update: I talked with Discount Motorcycle Parts in Eugene, and they can get any size and color HJC CL-15 inside of a couple of days. Jodie and I will be getting our lids from them. We’re really glad for this; we love the internet, but we love shopping locally too.

Conclusion

HJC is known for manufacturing high-quality yet affordable helmets. I don’t know if this is an accurate analogy, but whenever I think about the features and quality you get for the money with an HJC helmet, I think of Jodie’s Hyundai Elantra. It’s a pretty solid car, nothing much in the bells and whistles department, but it’s reliable yet stylish and comfy given the low price tag.

Moving on beyond the questionable analogy however, the HJC CL-15 is one of the most popular helmets on the market, due precisely to that mix of price tag, protection and features. Of all the lids we’ve tried so far, and given our budgets, HJC CL-15’s will be covering our hard heads in the not-too-distant future.