Schad and Adam talk 170-mph helmets and modular lids
The Short Answer: Speed Addicts Podcast #2 finds Schad and Adam Waheed recapping the fourth Speed Addicts track-day helmet shootout at Circuit of the Americas, the first Speed Addicts Bike Night, the Superstore’s new seven-day schedule, Simpson’s Mod Bandit Glory graphic, Born Free, the Dunlop vs. Michelin sport-touring tire test and Klim’s new GT1 Expedition modular helmet.
Episode two of the still-unnamed Speed Addicts Podcast picks up where the first left off: Speed Addicts founder Schad (“helmet video guy”) and Adam Waheed, introduced as the “Speed Addicts stig” and newly minted “jacket video guy,” sit down at the Superstore to talk track days, bike nights, new helmets and the eternal struggle of naming a podcast. Mysterious noises from the ceiling are included at no extra charge.
Sponsored by Speed Addicts
The Speed Addicts Podcast is brought to you by Speed Addicts, your online source for helmets, jackets, tires, riding gear and accessories. Or visit the Speed Addicts Superstore in Orange, California, now open seven days a week (11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends), and try on helmets from its massive wall before you buy.
The COTA Track-Day Helmet Shootout
After attending MotoGP at Circuit of the Americas, the crew shot the fourth installment of its track-day helmet shootout, a series it has run since 2023. The reigning champ is the Shoei X-15, which previously held off challengers including the AGV Pista and the Alpinestars Supertech R10. At Willow Springs, Waheed recalls the R10 and X-15 being neck and neck aerodynamically. This time, the challenger is the KYT KX-1 Race GP. “That KX-1 GP is one heck of a helmet,” Waheed says. Who won? They’re not telling (yet), but there’s a clear aero winner, and an on-track celebrity cameo.
What It’s Like to Ride Circuit of the Americas
Waheed calls COTA “probably one of my favorite tracks in the world.” It’s fast (he saw roughly 170 to 175 mph), with multiple heavy braking zones, so you feel exactly what a bike is doing on the gas and the brakes. That makes it ideal for separating “fact from fiction” when testing gear and motorcycles.
What about MotoGP riders complaining about bumps? Street superbikes like an RSV4 or Panigale V4 have relatively soft suspension that soaks up bumps, Waheed explains, while purpose-built race bikes are rigid and make the tires skittish over every ripple. He also praises COTA’s modern infrastructure: garages, corner workers and LED flag lights at many corners. “It’s as safe as safe can be” for a three-plus-mile road course where you go 180 mph.
Speed Addicts Bike Night and the Seven-Day Superstore
The first Speed Addicts Bike Night drew an estimated 100 to 150 bikes, which was a relief for a crew that half-expected to be flipping burgers for nobody. Bike Nights run the first Thursday of each month through October 1, each with a different featured vendor. The May 7 event was billed as a KYT Bike Night, which got the guys talking up the KYT TT-Revo: good price, good fit, looks racy. Schad also reports that the Superstore is now open seven days a week, and that “the Speed Addicts big Adam Waheed himself might sell you a motorcycle helmet.”
New Simpson Helmets and Born Free
Simpson rolled out new colorways across its lineup and has more models on the way. The guys show off the Mod Bandit modular in the Glory graphic, a red-hot seller whose factory paint looks custom enough that “if you showed up at Born Free with this helmet, you would be a rockstar.” It even has the fighter-pilot face shield, so you can be Tom Cruise if you want.
They also revisit Simpson’s 2025 adventure entries, the Excursion and the Journey Bandit (a modular with a peak), from an earlier versus video. Then it’s on to Born Free, the big V-twin show in Irvine, California, that Waheed calls “West Coast Sturgis,” where riders roll in from as far as Massachusetts.
Tire Talk: Dunlop Roadsmart 4 vs. Michelin Road 6 GT
With riding season underway, it’s time to check for cracked or worn tires. The crew revisits last year’s three-part SpeedAddictsTV sport-touring tire shootout, Dunlop Roadsmart 4 vs. Michelin Road 6 GT, tested on a dry racetrack, on a wet track at Huntsville, Alabama’s proving grounds and in the canyons. Both tires excel in different areas. Waheed’s takeaway: sport-touring rubber suits naked bikes and sport bikes on the street, trading a little outright grip for versatility and durability. Sport tires can wear out in as little as 1,000 miles; sport-touring tires can go 3,000 to 5,000.
Klim GT1 Expedition and the Modular Boom
Klim (“not Klem, people”) has a new modular touring helmet, the GT1 Expedition. The hosts call Klim’s previous modular “just okay,” but this one is getting a lot of attention, part of a broader surge of interest in modular helmets. Why? Flip it up in traffic, chat with your passenger, grab a coffee, or try to talk your way out of a ticket. That sparks a tangent about overzealous motorcycle cops, including a tale of being run off an off-ramp on an R6 near Santa Barbara for looking like a guy who’d escaped the week before. Moral of the story: don’t run from the police.
Help Name the Podcast
The guys are still looking for a name. Waheed likes “Speed and Shout.” Schad is less sure the audience wants to be shouted at. Leave your ideas, and topics you’d like covered, in the YouTube comments.
Topics Covered
| Topic | What Was Discussed |
|---|---|
| COTA Helmet Shootout | Fourth installment (series since 2023): reigning champ Shoei X-15 vs. KYT KX-1 Race GP; past rivals included AGV Pista and Alpinestars Supertech R10 |
| Riding Circuit of the Americas | Top speeds around 170–175 mph, heavy braking zones, street vs. race-bike suspension over bumps, modern safety infrastructure |
| Speed Addicts Bike Night | First event drew roughly 100–150 bikes; first Thursdays through October 1; May 7 KYT Bike Night |
| Speed Addicts Superstore | Now open seven days a week; weekends 11 a.m.–5 p.m.; massive helmet wall |
| KYT TT-Revo | Praised for price, fit and racy looks |
| Simpson Helmets | New colorways; Mod Bandit modular in Glory graphic; Excursion and Journey Bandit adventure helmets |
| Born Free | Large V-twin show in Irvine, California, dubbed “West Coast Sturgis” |
| Sport-Touring Tire Shootout | Dunlop Roadsmart 4 vs. Michelin Road 6 GT: dry track, wet test at Huntsville, Alabama, canyon riding |
| Klim GT1 Expedition | New Klim modular touring helmet; modular segment growth |
| Podcast Name | Still undecided; “Speed and Shout” floated |
Related Moto-1 Reading
- Speed Addicts Podcast: MotoGP Fever, Alpinestars SR7, and Continental’s SA5: Catch up on Episode 1
- Shoei X-Fifteen vs. KYT KX-1 Race GP Shootout: The COTA helmet shootout discussed in this episode
- Speed Addicts Bike Night 2026: More on the Bike Night series
- Racing Around COTA with the 2026 Aprilia RSV4 Factory: More from Circuit of the Americas
- Insta360 Ace Pro 2 Camera Review: The camera the guys joke would have helped during a traffic stop
FAQ
Who hosts the Speed Addicts Podcast?
Speed Addicts founder Schad and motorcycle journalist Adam Waheed.
Which helmets were in the COTA shootout?
The fourth installment pits the reigning champion Shoei X-15 against the KYT KX-1 Race GP. Previous rounds included the AGV Pista and Alpinestars Supertech R10.
When is Speed Addicts Bike Night?
Per this episode, the first Thursday of each month through October 1, at the Speed Addicts Superstore in Orange, California.
What is Born Free?
A large V-twin motorcycle show in Irvine, California, that Waheed calls “West Coast Sturgis.”
Which tires were compared in the sport-touring shootout?
The Dunlop Roadsmart 4 and Michelin Road 6 GT.
