Cool Gear: Harley’s Laxity Low-Profile J01 Half Helmet
Screaming skull artwork really makes this FMVSS half helmet rock!
Being that May is National Motorcycle Safety Month, we started thinking a bit deeper about our safety equipment and decided that it’s due time for a new helmet. It’s been a little over five years since we purchased our current helmet, and except for a few scrapes and scratches, it’s not looking too bad. But, we’ve always heard that replacing a well-used motorcycle helmet every five years is a good idea for optimal safety, and with Sturgis coming up and spring offering more chances to ride, we figured now is the perfect time to invest in a decent new motorcycle helmet. And after spending about five seconds on Harley-Davidson’s site, we immediately spotted our top choice for new headgear: the Laxity Low-Profile J01 Half Helmet, which was manufactured by Harley-Davidson and not only looks great but also meets the DOT’s FMVSS.
Aside from looking badass, the matte black fiberglass helmet has a low-profile that makes it less bulky and more comfortable. The double D-ring chin strap is a lightweight, practical system that helps keep the Laxity Low-Profile J01 helmet at just over 2 lbs.
The screaming skull artwork is reminiscent of Metallica’s logo, and that, of course, is an added bonus that we weren’t expecting but definitely appreciate.
Now, even though our current helmet isn’t looking too shabby, its smell is a whole other story. A funky stench from the accumulation of sweat from over five years of long-distance riding is embedded in the foam interior, and there is little we could do about it because the interior lining is not removeable. And a few spritzes of Fabreze just won’t cut it.
Fortunately for us, the Laxity Low Profile J01 is funky smell-proofed courtesy of an antibacterial “SilverCool ” liner that helps wick moisture and is removeable so you can give it a good wash every now and again between trips.
All of Harley-Davidson’s Laxity Low-Profile J01 helmet’s safety standards and comfortable fit are key selling points for us. But there is another aspect that plays a huge role in our decision to pick up this cool headgear: its attention-grabbing patriotic graphic of a screaming skull set against stars and stripes. Set alongside the Harley-Davidson shield that is front and center on the helmet, the pronounced screaming skull artwork is reminiscent of the logo of our all-time favorite rock band, Metallica, and that, of course, is an added bonus that we weren’t expecting but definitely appreciate.
