I have a 7 year-old Shoei X-11 (X-Spirit, I think). It's a great helmet with superior ventilation and only due to age, I think I should replace it. Based on a helmet test report in Motorcyclist magazine, I'd rather have the ECE standard X-Spirit rather than another Snell rated X-11 (less G-load to the brain in the ECE helmet).
The X-Spirit-II/X-12 has poorer ventilation, so I'd rather have the X-Spirit. Can I mail order a Shoei from the UK? Where? Is it too late to get an X-Spirit?
I have used eMotoUK successfully, but they seem to be shuttered. I've ordered several other things from the UK and Europe when I had a Triumph; why not a helmet?
I could see the x-spirit-II on sale here, but not the X-spirit. However, search on eBay UK reveals some helmets available from Japan.
http://shop.ebay.co.uk/?_from=R40&_trksid=p3907.m570.l1313&_nkw=shoei+x-eleven&_sacat=See-All-Categories
If those are the original x-spirit then there's a good chance they'll ship to the USA as well.
Try www.Lidsdirect.co.uk ..... I have had an Aria from them before and their service was top drawer. Worth taking a look.
I usually change my helmet every 3-4 years as a matter of course. It gets used most days to and from work and although I look after them I just think along the lines of " You've only got one head " !! I like tinted visors too and even when I recently bought a new clear standard visor its easy to see how even small scratches that you hardly notice come to light.
Good luck with your search.