The HJC CL-Y is a motorcycle helmet specially designed for people with smaller heads. Do you know what that means? It means, it is suitable for children, ladies, and men with smaller heads. It is a reasonably basic full-face helmet, which is highly popular among ladies. Now that the market is fully focused on premium motorcycle helmets for motocross, Moto GP, and other racing reasons, it is difficult to find a helmet that will fit on a smaller head. There are only a few options available on the market that fit a smaller size head. So, when someone is trying to outfit a daughter or son with decent motorcycle gear, a compromise had to be made.
But, not anymore! Because if you are looking for a helmet that will fit a small head size, then you should check out the HJC CL-Y motorcycle helmet that is made specifically for riders with a small head size. Not only does it come at an affordable price but it also has many alternatives to select from. So, let’s find out what this helmet has to offer.
HJC CL-Y Youth Motorcycle Helmet Review
Safety Level & Shell Design
If you’re worried about the safety of your child, or your girl then you shouldn’t. It is because this helmet not only has a superior fit but also provides protection to your head with a true youth polycarbonate shell that is lightweight and protects your head from impacts that cause severe injuries. In order to absorb impacts during accidents and collisions, it has a dual-density EPS (expanded polystyrene) liner. A dual-density liner is very rare to see in this price range of helmets.
Consider yourself lucky to have such a fine feature in this price range.
CL-Y is made for small heads, right?
Plus, it’s nicely-designed into a smaller, lighter, and more compact motorcycle helmet, which will make you feel lighter while wearing it. That’s great for safety too, because the lighter the helmet, the lesser the inertial forces will be acting on the head and neck area.
The good news is, the HJC CL-Y wind-tunnel tested helmet has also passed the DOT safety standards. So, in our opinion, you can relax about safety because the helmet has been rigorously tested for aerodynamics. But, that’s still no reason to be careless!
Face Shield & Visor
If we exclude the Pinlock-ready anti-fog system, then the CL-Y is a complete package and does everything you could possibly want. For starters, it has an extra-large eye-port design for maximum visibility. The extra-large eye-port allows you to cover more areas while riding on the road. The more you can see, the more you will be aware of the dangers on the road.
So, the visibility is outstanding and one can comfortably ride during the night. The CL-Y is equipped with a flush-mounted shield ratchet system, which is simple and easy to use. This 4-position positive-lock ratchet HJ-05 face shield comes with scratch-resistant coating and provides 100 percent protection from harmful UV rays.
And lastly, if you wear eyeglasses, then its compact size will interfere with you. On the contrary, it has an eyeglass-friendly design, which makes it easy to wear glasses while wearing the helmet.
Ventilation System
The HJC CL-Y has an integrated flow-through ventilation system with forehead and front/side vortex vents and one chin vent. The helmet has two rear Venturi exhaust vents as well.
First, let’s talk about the forehead vents. The forehead vents have sliders to channel the airflow inside the helmet. These two forehead vents allow air to pass through the shell in the shock-absorbing liner area to provide cooling airflow for the forehead area. This will allow cool air to pass through your helmet and stale air will be exhausted by the two rear Venturi exhaust vents, which are always open. So, when it comes to riding in the summer, you can always count on the CL-Y helmet to provide cool air even on hotter days.
Now let’s talk about the chin vent. The chin vent, we think, is the weakest link of the helmet because this vent helps to pass the cool air into the back of the visor for de-misting reasons. It is a good thing but you need to know that CL-Y is not a Pinlock-ready helmet so too much air can make it foggy.
Nevertheless, the helmet’s chin vent is closeable and comes with a central switch to direct air. So, our suggestion, the CL-Y is good for non-sweaty riding during the summer but when it comes to winter riding, the CL-Y will not be a smart choice.
Interior Liner & Comfort Level
The Nylex Interior liner is what HJC offers in the CL-Y motorcycle helmet. Although it is not the same liner that we see in other top-of-the-line HJC helmets, the Nylex interior is what you will be happy to have rather than some ordinary sticky foam.
The Nylex liner is a plush, moisture-wicking fabric that will dissipate excess sweat and moisture from the cheek areas and make you feel cool and dry for longer periods. The cheek and crown pads are fully removable and washable. So, feel free to wash them whenever you need to.
Overall, the plush fabric against the skin and soft-cushiony feel will make you feel more comfortable while wearing the helmet. Plus, the cheek pads will help to ensure the helmet fits you well.
HJC CL-Y Video Review
Final Thoughts:
| Safety | |
| Airflow | |
| Comfort | |
| Noise | |
| Value |
In a nutshell, we can say that the CL-Y is a relatively low-priced helmet, so you should consider this when assessing its build-quality and features. So, don’t compare the material, fit, and finish with premium helmets. However, the helmet has proved that it can provide a great level of comfort, protection, and visibility for such a low-priced helmet. It is a very basic helmet with no Pinlock-ready anti-fog system or drop-down sun visor, for example. But, it is still a helmet with excellent value for the money. Plus, it meets DOT standards, which should clear any doubts you have about using the HJC CL-Y helmet.
In our opinion, if you have a very low budget and are looking for a helmet to fit a smaller size head, then you can opt for the HJC CL-Y helmet. The CL-Y is available in a range of designs and colors, which are absolutely child- and lady-friendly.
Overall, it is a helmet worth checking out.
HJC CL-Y Youth Helmet
Pros: Advanced Polycarbonate Shell, Nylex Interior Liner, 100% Protection from UV Rays
Cons: No Pinlock-Ready Anti-fog System
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