ILM HS711 modular helmet

The product label carries DOT and ECE 22.06. Both are common motorcycle helmet standards, with 22.06 the newer European revision. The shield carries its own marking, E11 060988-000877, meaning the visor holds a separate approval number.

The part that needs saying plainly: the helmet's approval covers the 3/4 configuration. A detachable chin guard does not provide protection equivalent to a moulded full-face chin bar. If chin and face protection in a crash is your priority, choose a one-piece full face. The HS711 suits riders who want the closed look and wind protection and accept that trade-off for flexibility.

One thing worth remembering with any approved helmet: it reduces the severity of injury, it does not protect absolutely. Riding at a sane speed and fastening the strap properly still matter most. The helmet is only the last line.

The HS711 runs a single wide goggle-style shield spanning most of the face opening, dark tinted with a mirror finish. It flips up and tucks under the peak. The wide format gives better lateral vision than a narrow shield, useful when checking mirrors and changing lanes.

The shield carries a circled spectacles pictogram, the standard mark indicating the helmet is designed to accommodate prescription glasses. Riders who wear glasses should be able to fit them without frame pressure, though it is still worth trying in person since frames vary. Note that no clear visor is included, so night riding behind a dark tint will cut visibility. Plan for that if you often ride after dark.

Bigbike weighed the helmet in stock at 1,403g. That figure shifts with size and with whether the chin guard is fitted, so treat it as a reference point rather than a fixed spec across every size.

Bigbike staff note that the HS711 runs small for its labelled size. That cuts both ways. For women and riders with narrower heads who usually need extra padding to get a snug fit, it is a real advantage. For riders with larger heads or those used to European shells, consider going up a size and try it on before committing. Trying it on is the only reliable check; head circumference is a first filter, not an answer.

Pick the HS711 if you want a helmet that switches between a closed look and 3/4 depending on the ride, like a wide goggle shield, have a narrower head, or want an aggressive-looking helmet that actually fits a woman. At 1,403g it is also lighter than most detachable-chin helmets.

Skip it if chin protection is your first priority, in which case a moulded full face is the right answer. If you want more configurations and prefer a roomier shell, the ILM Z302 in the same category offers four configurations and a more relaxed fit. And if you ride at night often and would rather not buy a second visor, choose a helmet with a built-in clear or drop-down night shield.

Riders touring in groups usually add a helmet intercom to talk between bikes. The HS711 has exhaust slots at the ears, so bring the helmet to the shop and let BigBike test-fit the speakers before you buy a set, since ear pockets differ helmet to helmet. If you want to record the route, look at a helmet camera as well; BigBike stocks the SCS Cam-S.