Just wondering if there is a certain brand of helmet 599er's prefer.

I considered the Shoei 1000 and the Aria Profile. Best fit for me came with a Scorpion EXO-700-DOT/Snell approved.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c358/Instruktor/exo700_solid.jpg

i've got a couple. An M2R modular and a Bell. Decent lids, not
too expensive. Prolly should upgrade but the "good" ones are just
so ridiculously priced. I know i know it's the most important piece
of equipment but damn!!! 6-700 for a shoei or suomy with graphics??
GTFOutta heere!!! 8)

but the "good" ones are just
so ridiculously priced.

I agree, completely.
My Scorpion cost $180. It's made of Kevlar and fiberglass, is relatively light, is very quiet, has removable/washable lining and is DOT and Snell approved.
Best thing is it fits my melon just right. I'll concede the more expensive helmets have features and quality mine doesn't, but I don't believe they are safer. I really don't know how they justify the prices they charge.

My thoughts exactly. I currently wear a cheap Vega helmet. I already know what helmet I want next, but $450???? Right now I have many other uses for that type of cash, not including the mods for the bike that kind of money could buy....It's tempting though. I want that Shoei BAAAAD!

As far as safety, I'm confident that my $120 helmet will protect my melon just as well as a $500 helmet. Most of the extra investment just seems to go towards comfort, style, and of course the fancy name brand applied to the side of the helmet.

For my round Charlie Brown head, Shoei is the only way to go! :lol:

The Arai Quantum II and Corsair fit my head the best. I figured I'd just blow a little extra a get the Corsair for the Pedrosa Replica.

I tried everything. HJC and Scorpion were horrible fitting. Tried all the Shoei's and I felt like my forehead was in a vicegrip and being slowly obliterated. Slid on an Arai Profile and then an Astral X and they were ok but still not overly comfortable. Then I put on an Arai Quantum II and I thoght I'd died and gone to heaven. The Quantum and Corsair fit me exactly the same so I went with the Corsair for the replica...and a little for the *bling* factor. It did feel the best on my head though. It's got a drywick liner in it. You sweat and the liner wicks it away and dries incredibly fast. Arai got it right in my opinion. It is noisy...but aren't we all wearing earplugs???? Here's my helmet...

http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q10/motogpfan26/rx7_pedrosa_p_america_396.jpg

I've had two HJC's Don't remember the model of the first, but it was only about $120 and kept the juice inside my grape just fine when I highsided at 65mph.

The second one was is an AC10, still have it for a backup. Thought it fit my head great until one day I tried on an ARAI and realized it didn't fit that well. It was too much $ for my budget though at $400, then the sales girl showed me a new ARAI VECTOR model that felt exactly like the other one for $280...SOLD.

It doesn't have some of the features of the more expensive models and isn't as quiet as my AC10, but I always wear earplugs anyway. The venting is fabulous though, and it's a lot lighter than the HJC.

I tried on a lot of helmets that day, including some in the $600+ range and only the two models of ARAI fit just right.

Go helmet shopping. Try on ALL the helmets. Don't look at the brands or the prices or look/style (unless you just can't stomach it) until you find the two or three that fit just right. Then buy a helmet from the bike shop. Don't go home and order it online, or the next time you need to helmet shop the store will only have three of the cheapest, ugliest lids in stock and you'll be pissing and moaning about how you can't find anywhere to go try on the lids before you go home and order it from the internet.

They don't make the AC10 anymore and the "replacement" models the AC11 and AC12....well they must not be out of the same mold, because they just don't fit my head like the AC10. Some makes and models I need a large, but the one I just got took a medium to fit my head.

Nice lid MOTO, I went silver frost to help keep the price down.

I grabbed a KBC just because it was what fit my giant head in the dealership. I do have a question though. I saw an ad in a Competition Accessories catalog from a while back where they were selling "repsol" racing helmets in a limited number, and that they were smaller in outer size than normal street helmets. I didtnt see any branding at all on the helmet except for repsol, and to my noob eyes it did look different than other replica helmets i had seen.

This peaked my interest because, like i said, i have a huge noggin and wear a XXL for my KBC. Is there any truth to the smaller outer size thing, or is there a certain helmet that has a smaller outer size than another brand?

Sometimes i feel like "Darth Helmet" from spaceballs in my giant black plastic hat :D . Anyway, anyone have any opinions on this?

Arai RX7RR4 Ui rep (mirror tint on shield) by day.
Arai astral (clear shield) by night.

... then the sales girl showed me a new ARAI VECTOR model that felt exactly like the other one for $280...SOLD.

Nice lid MOTO, I went silver frost to help keep the price down.

Thanks ;-)

The new Arai Vector is getting some really good reviews. I've been planning on going and trying one on. I like to ride with my Corsair when I'm out riding in a pack (for the bling factor somewhat) or if it's really hot outside because the Corsair flows LOTS of air...at least mine does.

But I'd like to pick up something for the the average day when it's 70-85 degrees and I'm just out enjoying a leisurely ride. I'm sold on Arai helmets...no doubt about that. So, I'm going to get up to CycleGear in the next couple of weeks and try on a Vector. Most of the Arai guys are really liking the Vector. I'd love to get a blue one to match my jacket. If not a vector, I very well may get a solid blue Quantum II.

It all boils down to what fits the best. People can say Arai is just a marked up money making scheme. But when I put one on my head, I was completely sold.

I dont know what's up with people not liking the shield locking mechanism. I absolutely love it! I don't get what people find so hard about changing shields...once you see how the shield fits and locks, you can change out a shield in 7-10 seconds flat.

Arai RX7RR4 Ui rep (mirror tint on shield) by day.
Arai astral (clear shield) by night.

Have you tried on the the new Vector? It's supposed to fit like an Astral but have a removable liner and supposdely vents even better than the Astral. Everyone I know that wears an Astral says they vent really well, but Arai claims the Vector vents better.

Didn't know if you have had a chance to try on the Vector.

Arai all the way !!!!!!! HJC NOOOOOO WAAAAAYYYYYY!!!!! :D


Quantun II here is my favorite helmet all the HJC's ive tried all SUKK A$$ and are now just laying around in my garage collecting dust

I hadn't thought about it , but now that you mention it, I am going to a bike shop in the morning...hmm...
I like to wear the RX7 when it's blazin' hot, or when I'm being bad... The ventilation is better, but it is a little louder than the Astral. The fit is also a little "close".
The Astral, on the other hand, has a more "generous" fit (more of a sport touring lid than a race rep.). Ventilation is good (but not as good).It's more quiet than the RX7RR4, and is better for cool weather riding. If the Vector is the replacement for the Astral, it may be exactly what you're looking for.

I wear an HJC CL-SP that is very comfortable on me but I think it's getting replaced with an Arai Vector in a few months. I tried one on the other day and it fit pretty good around the top of my head, but the cheekpads were tight so I'm going to see if I can get a Large helmet, but one size smaller cheekpads.

I wear an HJC CL-SP that is very comfortable on me but I think it's getting replaced with an Arai Vector in a few months. I tried one on the other day and it fit pretty good around the top of my head, but the cheekpads were tight so I'm going to see if I can get a Large helmet, but one size smaller cheekpads.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. Better talk to an Arai rep or read a bit. Arai strongly recommends sizing the helmet based on the fit of the HEAD. They say do NOT buy based on cheek tightness or looseness. They go so far as to say remove the cheekpads completely and try the helmet on with NO cheekpads to find the proper fit for your HEAD.

Once you've found the appropriate fit for your head, then Arai will change out the cheek pads to the appropriate thickness. If the pads are too tight, they will downsize them for you. The other thing is you should expect them to be ***a little*** tight until they've been broken in. They should not be so tight that you feel like you're jaws are being crushed.

WHatever you do, do NOT buy a helmet based on how the cheekpads feel. CHeekpads can usually be replaced in most helmets. All Arai helmets have replaceable cheekpads.

The last time I had a motorcycle (25 years ago) I didn't have a helmet. Now I have my first helmet, a Shoei TZ-R.

I tried on differnt models from Shoei, Arai, HJC, Scorpion, and one or two other brands, at least a dozen different helmets. I got the Shoei TZ-R because it fits me the best. It doesn't have the most features, but it cost less than $300. I get a lot of compliments on the matte black color.

http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/5364/tzrzh7.jpg

I just got a Shark RSI Hologram black. Haven't taken it out for a ride yet (weather's been crappy...should clear up here in a couple of days), but so far i'm very impressed with everything i've seen. Fit is great, it's light, vents are easy to open and close with gloves on, works with glasses (no KBC i tried ever did and i didn't want the weight and noise of a modular helmet), and i like the distinctive look. Usually i don't go for the 'bling' but i think the hologram is pretty cool.

http://img264.imageshack.us/img264/4294/picture029cw1.jpg

http://img185.imageshack.us/img185/4646/picture028pc9.jpg

I also recently bought a HJC CL-SP and it is also a very fine helmet with superior visibility, very good fit and finish at a very reasonable price. Was going to get another one (i sold mine to a friend who liked it - i needed a smaller size anyways) when i bought the Shark. Would highly recommend the CL-SP.

Oh, and i like the matte black, too, Dave. It was a toss-up between something like that or the hologram. I figured since all my other gear is solid black i needed something to spice it up a bit. 8)

Diabolic.....


http://www.cyclegear.com/images/StreetHelmets/shoei_diabolic1_410x410.jpg

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.
I think you mis-read my post. I said that the large helmet fit the top of my head, but the cheekpads were too tight. So, now that I know that the helmet fits the top of my head great, I can insert different size cheekpads until the front of the helmet fits too. That's exactly what the Aria web site recommends. :wink:

+1 on the fitting of Arai helmets, and both of mine were a little tight around the cheeks. After a few rides, the fit was perfect. They "broke in" nicely.

+1 on the fitting of Arai helmets, and both of mine were a little tight around the cheeks. After a few rides, the fit was perfect.
On the one that fit my head, the cheekpads were tight enough that they were closing my eyes! :o

Hopefully replacements don't cost a fortune when I get one!

I have a HJC FG-14 at the moment, basically because it seemed like excellent value for money. In the UK there is an (very well respected) annual survey done by Ride magazine where they ask bikers to rate their gear.... the HJC was up there with arai's and shoei's that cost 3 times the price.

I'm thinking about buying a KBC Force RR now, the HJC has had a hard life, so I was wondering if anyone has any experience with this lid? in europe KBC is a pretty new brand but I understand its more established over in the US, are they any good?

cheers,
james

I've got an HJC CL14. $125 and it fits great. The shield fogs badly and leaks when I turn my head. The Shoei helmets don't fit my head.

RMD: I have decided that the Shark RSI Hologram Blue will be my next one. I'm very interested to hear your impressions when you get it on the road.

Interesting that Bell is not even listed. A few years ago Bell was the name to beat.

I have an HJC-SP. Great helmet, no complaints.... well OK, it's a bit heavy and hot at times. Sometimes fogs. Not sure what my next helmet will be. Friend has a Shoei which is a very nice helmet.

HJC AC-12 Carbon. Bought it in Jan. but used it for the first time today. A little noisy but great venting and fit my head the best (tried on tons of brands)
http://www.motoxoutlet.com/ProductImages/helmets/street/hjc/ac-12/carbon.jpg

[/img]

My wife and I both have silver HJC CL14's. No complaints yet! We both liked the fit, and the price was within our budget. The dealership near us, and the independant bike shop, both have limited selections, so I've only tried on various HJC's and some huge $$$ Shoei's. The CL14 was the only HJC that I liked, and most of the Shoei's didn't seem to fit my squash very well (I have a little head). I have heard good things about Arai, so I'm going to look for a shop out near my work (an hour away from home), and see what they carry that I can try. I didn't work out there when I bought the HJC's 3 years ago.

Two helmets:
- Shoei RF-1000 in blue and white graphics
- M2R 3/4 with full face shield (don't know the model)

Originally got the M2R because it was cheap ($40) and I didn't want to wear the gross helmets kept for the MSF training. Moved waaaaay up to the Shoei ($400) because it fit by far the best of any helmet I tried. It also has terrific ventilation and doesn't fog much unless I breathe heavily. :wink:

Here's another question, though. Anybody out there had a helmet long enough to NEED to replace it? That is, I'm told the energy absorbing foam eventually breaks down (3 - 5 years), so you can't wear the same helmet forever. I had to think twice about that $400 for the Shoei.

I don't put my noggin in anything less than an Arai.

I'm thinking about buying a KBC Force RR now, the HJC has had a hard life, so I was wondering if anyone has any experience with this lid? in europe KBC is a pretty new brand but I understand its more established over in the US, are they any good?


hey, James.

i've got a VR-1, which is a couple of years old. i'm really happy with it. word on the street here seems to be something along the lines of 'some KBC's are really great, some aren't so great'. i've never heard anyone say anything bad about the VR-1, but i have heard a lot of criticisms of the VR-2 (the subsequent generation).

all in all, KBC seems mostly like an attempt to make a Shoei for less money. my helmet has held up just fine for around 10k miles or so. removeable insides, not particularly loud, comfortable.

the force, on the other hand, is (i believe) a 'racing' helmet. i'm not sure what that means, although racing helmets are purported to be louder. i paid around 120 USD for mine, and it's definitely worth that.

cheers!
.cyb
________
red head Webcams (http://www.girlcamfriend.com/webcam/redhead-girls/)

Interesting that Bell is not even listed. A few years ago Bell was the name to beat.

That was my mistake. I tried to edit the list to include more brands, but didn't see that option in the "edit" screen.

I agree with you, though, yet I think it was more than a few years ago. When I began riding, Bell was the name-certainly in the bicycle market. I understand they fell off through the '90's but are making a comeback. I looked at some of their helmets before I purchased.
They are priced well below the premium brands, i.e. Aria, etc. Reviews were not great, though. Hope they make it back all the way, but competition is much harder now than it was when they were king.

I've found HJC's CL-14 fits my head just fine. Tough to beat the price and it tests just as safely as the most expensive Arai or Shoei. I'm probably going to change out my helmet to something a bit pricier for the lighter weight this season, though.

In general, I have a different view on helmets than most. Since the protective foam breaks down over time, or if you hang your helmet on your mirrors, or if you set it on the gas tank (fumes break down everything in your lid) or drop it at all, you've lost crash protection. With this in mind, I replace my helmets every two or three years, so the inexpensive HJCs worked for my student budget.

I actually didn't even know Bell made motorcycle helmets. I know they've made bicycle and automotive helmets and are very prominent in those fields...but since i started riding in 2002 i've never really seen them around for motorcycles. But that's ok...neither their bike or automotive helmets fit my head very well. They hurt the top of my head. For autocrossing and track events i have a Simpson that is very comfortable.

I don't put my noggin in anything less than an Arai.

+1 :thumbsup

Best fit for me came with a Scorpion EXO-700-DOT/Snell approved.

+1... I have an Icon Mainframe that the guy gave me when he sold me the bike, but once I found out how the helmet's supposed to fit, I see now that it's a little too big. The Scorpion fit the best out of all the other brands. I've been thinking about selling the Icon, all it does is collect dust.

goWVU wrote:"....I see now that it's a little too big...."

I'm not an expert on helmets and what I know comes from reading reviews, checking with more experienced riders and listening to what remain consistent in all sales pitches. Because of the physics of head injury due to impact, a *snug fitting helmet is vital for the helmets protective qualities to work effectively. Most people say fit is the number one issue, not only for safety but also for comfort. I tried on at least 5 different brands and felt fortunate that the Scorpion fit me like a glove-because it was the least expensive helmet I tried on. I wouldn’t have tried it on if it were not only DOT approved but Snell approved as well. The Snell Foundation (http://www.smf.org/) is a non-profit helmet evaluation organization.
Their standards are higher than DOTs, or so I’m lead to believe. If a helmet is Snell approved and fits, I believe it’s a safe helmet. It may be safe if its only DOT approved too, but I like that extra insurance. After all we are talking about protecting one's head.

*How snug? When a helmet is on your head and pulled left and right, it should not slide on your head.
If your ears fold up when you put the helmet on-that’s probably a good sign. However, you shouldn’t feel any pressure points, except in cheek cushions. They can be changed but will also crush down in time.

DOT and Snell approved...

And if you get an Arai Corsair, they're ACU approved too! :twisted:

ICON Mainframe... fit well and the matte black matched my tank. Not many people with ICON helmets... do you guys know something I don't?!?

http://www.shopgpbikes.com/productimages/Icon-mainruba-blk.jpg

Icon has some very decent products out there, and while i would definately buy an Icon jacket or gloves, i don't think i'd buy one of their helmets. I've just seen too many guys with 1-3yr old Icon helmets that look like they're falling apart. Their finish isn't very good, in general, and their construction design is just sort of ok. I did consider them because i do like the looks of some of them...but after reading reviews and seeing a few that were in pretty bad shape after a short amount of time, i decided to spend my $$$ elsewhere. Not to say every helmet they make is bad or that they're unsafe...they're probably fine in that regard. I just hope you enjoy yours for many years to come...but a lot of people haven't.

ICON Mainframe... fit well and the matte black matched my tank. Not many people with ICON helmets... do you guys know something I don't?!?

http://www.shopgpbikes.com/productimages/Icon-mainruba-blk.jpg

Yep, the Mainframes were bottom of the barrel in both of the big, controversial helmet comparisons (Blowing the Lid off and another one that escapes me at the moment). Basically, your noggin is exposed to much more acceleration in a Mainframe than... well, any helmet they tested.

Edit: scratch that. They weren't the worse lid. (http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/gearbox/motorcycle_helmet_review/)

Yep, the Mainframes were bottom of the barrel in both of the big, controversial helmet comparisons (Blowing the Lid off and another one that escapes me at the moment). Basically, your noggin is exposed to much more acceleration in a Mainframe than... well, any helmet they tested.

Edit: scratch that. They weren't the worse lid. (http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/gearbox/motorcycle_helmet_review/)

Very interesting article. But even though I didn't read it line for line, I didn't see anything negative about Icon helmets, or any helmets, really. It seemed that they were surprised at how well all the helmets performed.

Since it's such a long article. Here's a couple of tasty quotes:

"In six months of researching this article, I spoke to many helmet company representatives. Some in civil tones. Some not so much. One, in particular, summed up the Snell-or-not quandary best. It was Phil Davy, brand manager for the very popular Icon helmets and riding gear. "When you build a helmet for this market, meeting the Snell standard is your first, second, third, fourth and fifth concern. You can then start designing a helmet that's safe," he said."

"Ed Becker, executive director of the Snell Foundation, is on record as saying that a low-priced—that is, plastic-shelled—Snell-certified helmet is just as good at protecting your head as a high-priced—that is, fiberglass—Snell-certified helmet. So at the high end of impact energy, we have the Snell Foundation vouching for their performance. And our testing, without the extreme two-hit hemi test, says they're actually superior."

Well, to be straight up... this is my second ICON Mainframe. I was on a trip last June and a gas attendant knocked my helmet off the handlebars. It literally busted everywhere... the shield mechanisms, the chin air intake and the rubber guard along the bottom. All this from a 3 foot fall. The guy then couldn't speak English all of a sudden. Prick. Anyway, I was close to the place I bought it and they replaced it at a discounted price. Now my new one, after one season, it kinda coming apart. Didn't think much about it but now...

Obviously there are much better quality helmets out there! I'm a sucker because I went for a Snell approved helmet that looked good... Oh I am so shamefully vane!

Edit: scratch that. They weren't the worse lid. (http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/gearbox/motorcycle_helmet_review/)

That was a fascinating article. I'll admit I plugged Snell out of tradition, and with out much current knowledge. I have no reason to doubt the findings of Hurt and others. Understanding that avoidance of brain trauma in an accident is more about energy absorption than anything else (oh, yea, the helmet shell had to stay together as well) its an easy calculus to understand.
Thanks for the link.
BTW, I'm not tossing my Snell approved helmet just yet.

Read this: http://www.webbikeworld.com/r2/motorcycle-helmet/icon-helmets/icon-mainframe/ ...it's where i got a lot of my research info about the Mainframe. Seeing the helmet first hand that was about two years old only confirmed what i read here...that the build quality is kind of crappy (which is probably why your chin intake and stuff all fell off after only a short drop. :roll:

They also have a bunch of really good reviews on different helmets here: http://www.webbikeworld.com/Reviewed-motorcycle-products/Products.htm

jmd... thanks for the links. Very helpful. I'm going to deal with the helmet this season and then do some shopping at the shows next winter.

Those Shark helmets are off the hizzle...

I'm thinking about buying a KBC Force RR now, the HJC has had a hard life, so I was wondering if anyone has any experience with this lid? in europe KBC is a pretty new brand but I understand its more established over in the US, are they any good?


I have got A KBC VR2...

http://www.ridersdiscount.com/street-gear/full-face-helmets/16239.php

...its the Assasin model...matt blue and black with a Clint Eastwood type character on the side. I really like it...very rare over here in the UK...small outer lid (good)...quiet and comfortable with a top finish. I used to have an OGK which was actually quieter but I much prefer my KBC. I have since found out it is also worn by Brad Pitt (!) so if its good enough for his million dollar skull its good enough for mine!

http://justjared.buzznet.com/images/2006/08/brad-pitt-off-motorcycle.jpg

I went for a ride yesterday with the new Shark, and it is amazing. I could tell it was a bit lighter than most helmets when i bought it, but between the way it fits and the way it feels in the wind...i've never felt a helmet be so...not there. It's just amazing. After about 20 minutes i realized that i wasn't getting any buffeting when i turned my head, it had good ventilation (but in a very diffused sort of way...not blowing on my face), the sound level was lower than any other helmet i've tried on, and there's no drag or noticeable weight when i move my head around. The only thing i did notice that was slightly negative is that after a while my jaw muscles started to get a little sore...but i think the padding should crush down a little after i wear it around a bit. Not a big deal, really.

I'll try to get a pic of me wearing the helmet with the rest of my gear. It looks good by itself, but looks even better with my jacket and on the bike!

The Shark i have is the RSI, the middle of the road model.

http://www.kneedraggers.com/image_storage/4/4c/44c52c1f103289be1c2d568479468832_rough.jpg

They also have a more economical line that goes for around $180-$200. If you can find a local dealer that carries them, i would highly recommend trying one on.

Cheers!

The shark lids are good stuff :thumbsup my girlfriend has the S800 butterfly and I'm really impressed with the quality. I've also heard from a few different places how well they stand up in a crash.


I have got A KBC VR2...

http://www.ridersdiscount.com/street-gear/full-face-helmets/16239.php

...its the Assasin model...matt blue and black with a Clint Eastwood type character on the side. I really like it...very rare over here in the UK...small outer lid (good)...quiet and comfortable with a top finish. I used to have an OGK which was actually quieter but I much prefer my KBC. I have since found out it is also worn by Brad Pitt (!) so if its good enough for his million dollar skull its good enough for mine!


cheers, yeah they are rare in the UK aren't they and they have some very different paint schemes, thats one of the reasons I'm interested in them :) I'm considering the force RR model, in the californian paint scheme:

kbc force RR (http://www.ridersdiscount.com/street-gear/helmets-full-face/29008.php#)

Nice write-up. Definitely a sharp helmet.

Thanks for the review indeed. I LOVE the look of the Shark helmets. If I'm ever on the market for a new lid, I'll be looking at them for sure.

Agreed about the Shark helmets. I've read great things about them. The guys that wear them swear by them. I read they flow huge amounts of air, and are built like tanks.

I tried on an RSR2 and an RSX, but they did NOT fit my head at all. I was really hoping they would. I liked them alot, and they felt really comfortable inside...the head shape just didn't work. They felt very similar to AGV as far as shape goes.

Anyway...definitely a nice lid you got there JMD.

http://www.funtoosh.com/f_images/w_drive_1.jpg

WTF???????????? :shock: She better have a damn good reason for wearing her helmet like that! And if she's wearing like that because she doesn't know any better, she has no business being on two wheels (or two feet and breathing for that matter...)

And if she's wearing like that because she doesn't know any better, she has no business being on two wheels (or two feet and breathing for that matter...)

Unless she's a hottie... and from what I can see... she ain't.

I just got a new shark rsi helmet too. If fits really well and was very light. After riding it for an hour I was very impressed. It does really cut the wind and there is hardly any turbulance at all. Used it on my trip to death valley. On the first day it was pushing too much on my cheeks and a little on the top portion of the side of my head, by the second day I only felt a little pressure, by the third day the helmet felt great..nice and broken in

My scorpion ex700 is just not aerodynamic..it has toooo many vent holes and places for the wind to catch. With this helmet it felt like someone is pushing on my forehead with their palm but with the shark I now fell more wind pressure on my upper chest/shoulder area

I've got an Arai Edwards 9 star RX7 corsair (black).I'll probably never wear anything else. The airflow and comfort are awesome, plus it looks bad ass. 50 dollar helmet for a 50 dollar head. :wink:

Just replaced my KBC VR-2 with a Shoei RF1000, man what a difference, the helmet is lighter more comfortable, quiter and beter in every way :disco

i have a silver HJC cl-max (modular flip up) and its great. its a huge comfort to flip it up at a stop light when its warm. $140 shipped off ebay

i plan on getting an HJC cl-sp soon.

I'm using a Shark RSI and love it. When shopping for gear, I budgeted about $300 for a helmet - not something too cheap but not over the top, either. It fits great, sounds great, and it looks great, too. Couldn't be happier.

KBC VR-1 in black chrome here. Next lid I get will definitely have to be something a bit lighter and quieter.

I've got an HJC, but the padding is starting to wear out. The boss is thinking about bringing in Scorpion's to the shop and asking if anyone wants to buy one, so I'll probably pick up one of those next.

I've been mildly obsessing over the EXO-1000 since I saw the first press release... here's hoping it fits my head.

Allright,I've tried a few helmets yesterday but did not yet decide on any particular one.
Help me out,any recommendation would be appreciated:

KBC VR2(L) the best fit of all three, fit on forefront,side and back.It felt like the padding was thicker and present all around than the other ones.

SHOEI TZ-R (L) : decent padding,but the M is too small( I can hardly remove it without letting a tear go) and the L is moving about 1/2" when I move the helmet from back to front.
It also feels like there is some space between my forehead and the helmet padding.

SHOEI RF1000 (L) : very comfortable,so much that I felt it would not protect me as well. It felt like my neck was too uncovered.Otherwise,felt good all around,except may be on the top of the forehead.

Based on this, can you recommend any other helmets that might fit better ?
Houston's selection is quite limited,amazingly enough.

I tried on an array of Shoeis, Arais, HJCs, and KBCs. I found only one Arai that fit as well as the VR2 that I ended up getting. Get the one that fits best. So far, I'm happy with the VR2. It does seem like it's louder at speed, now, but I've got nothing to compare to.

One thing to consider, though. I later read in a review that the VR2 uses the same size shell for all sizes, where many will use a smaller shell for medium and smaller helmets than the larger ones, meaning mine (a large) probably has less protection than the smaller helmets.

SHOEI RF1000 (L) : very comfortable,so much that I felt it would not protect me as well. It felt like my neck was too uncovered.Otherwise,felt good all around,except may be on the top of the forehead.

Based on this, can you recommend any other helmets that might fit better ?
Houston's selection is quite limited,amazingly enough.
I bought an RF-1000 at Honda of Houston (HOH) a few months ago. They had to order the particular design that I wanted (yellow Camber) but their prices were as good as any of the online stores after factoring in sales tax but no shipping. It didn't hurt that I had a "10% off any one item" coupon from Awesome Cycles where I had the BRC and ERC.

My first helmet was an HJC CL-SP that fit very well, but this Shoei is easily worth the extra money and regarding the neck, the RF-1000 fits lower on my neck than the HJC. This seems to be part of what makes the Shoei so much quieter than my HJC too.

Try an Arai Vector. HOH has them and their prices are comparable to the Shoei.

I just got a Scorpion EXO-700. I love it. It fits SO much better than my Z1R, and doesn't fog as badly.

Now I want the photochromic shield....

Who makes those? I saw a bit in Motorcyclist or Sport Rider a few months ago, but I haven't seen any anywhere, and I can hardly find KBC visors period... I've got a silver and black helmet, anyways, so I'm going to get a mirror...

Who makes those? ...

I'm not sure who manufactures them, but Scorpion offers them on their web site. Sounds like an opportunity for more research.... :?

Check with the parts/gear dept at your local bike shop or dealership. They should be able to get one in stock for you (plus, this way you save on shipping - that is, if they don't jack the price up on you).

Switched to a Scorpion and I'm in love!

Couldn't find a photochromic, but I did get a mirror for $30 as opposed to the $40-45 I've seen most websites charging. Odd that a shop was selling it for cheaper than online vendors...

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e46/JHenley17/helmet2.jpg

Blurry, but I hate flash...

Blurry, but I hate flash...
Get a mini tripod...or fold over a couple of pieces of White paper to mute/difuse the flash...

http://www.clamperpod.com/MainOscar450.jpg

Neat tripod! (Where'dya find that?) That'd be all sorts of handy for taking pics on Honda trips.

Hadn't unpacked my tripod after moving, yet... but I'm thinking of changing helmets, anyways.

Exo-400 wearers, how are you guys liking them after break-in? How do they compare to other helmets you own? I tried on one today and fell in love with the way it felt and I'm thinking about getting one with the Tsunami graphics.

No helmet laws in Arizona(!), kind of nice since it's burning up, but still not smart. I rode my cousin's R6S around a subdivision... interesting feeling...

Neat tripod! (Where'dya find that?) That'd be all sorts of handy for taking pics on Honda trips.
http://www.clamperpod.com/
No endorsement, they just had a decent pic...
Goggle "mini tripod" there are literally hundreds...

HJC CL-15
http://www.mawonline.com/photos/hjc_cl15_hlmt_met_wine.gif

I took the HJC sticker off - I hate stickers. Don't have any on the bike either. I like it - and the front vent gets quite a bit of air circulation.

Exo-400 wearers, how are you guys liking them after break-in? How do they compare to other helmets you own? I tried on one today and fell in love with the way it felt and I'm thinking about getting one with the Tsunami graphics.


I love mine! It is comfortable, not too heavy, and quiet. I haven't owned another helmet, but I have no problems with mine.

Exo-400 wearers, how are you guys liking them after break-in? How do they compare to other helmets you own? I tried on one today and fell in love with the way it felt and I'm thinking about getting one with the Tsunami graphics.



My EXO-400 seemed really tight on my face when I got it, but has since broken in quite nicely and feels snug and safe, yet very comfy. It's light-weight, has lots of vent ports with easy access and workability, and doesn't fog easily. On a cold morning, if I breathe heavily into it, it'll fog, but it clears up quickly. For the price, I think it's one of the best out there. I only wish the 599 was available in asphalt on the '06, cuz my matte black EXO-400 is vicious.

Exo-400 wearers, how are you guys liking them after break-in? How do they compare to other helmets you own? I tried on one today and fell in love with the way it felt and I'm thinking about getting one with the Tsunami graphics.

I love mine! It is comfortable, not too heavy, and quiet. I haven't owned another helmet, but I have no problems with mine.
I really like mine as well. Looks neat, fits great. As others mentioned, it does break in quiet nicely. I wouldn't necessarily call it "quiet" though. With ear plugs (which you should be wearing anyway) the noise is unnoticeable.

What? :roll:

damn,.... i thought ICON's were more popular as well..... i don't recall what model i have... but it's not the mainframe. AllianceSS or something? i didn't know enough when i bought either, so it is a little large. i probably should think about getting another one... i'm likin that sharrk, i'll have to see if anywhere around me has em to try on. i need to try MORE helmets on this time too find the right fit.

edit: any of you so. cal. locals know of a shark dealer around us? i'm tryin to look on the interweb and not finding much. i want to try on numerous helmets this time, make sure i get a proper fit.

double edit: i think cycle gear (fullerton - the only store i know of, probably more)) carries them.... i will confirm sometime this week most likely, for others interested.

I have had an HJC for about 8 years and it is falling apart. I guessing the more expensive lids hold together better, you get what you pay for.

That helmet should have been retired three years ago. HJC helmets have made big gains in quality lately (or so I've read in many places) so don't dismiss them too readily.

so,... cycle gear had three shark helmets (the rsi), unfortunately they don't seem to fit my head right (i wonder if the RSR fits different? - i need to find a place where i can try on the rsr...). i did try on the shoei Rf1000 and it seemed to fit pretty incredibly, i just am not a big fan of their graphics,.... but i guess head safety beats out graphics... heh. i also tried on the Arai's and they seemed to be too wide for my head, i'm not sure,... but shoei seemed right.

it was tough putting my icon on after trying on all those nice helmets................

Something else to remember is that with these new helmets you can get diff. size padding.. Even if the helmet doesnt fit real well at first, you can buy stuff to make it fit.. Chin padding is the big thing for me..

When I bought my HJC AC13 about a year ago, I was told the outer shell is made in two sizes... small and large. To get the other sizes (XS, Medium- XL and XXL), the internal padding is changed.
So far the helmet has served me well, and I hear HJC are now the biggest (note, I'm not saying best :) ), manufacturer.

I have an HCI "Rodia" (http://www.helmetcityinternational.com/DOT-Full-Face-Gloss-Black-Motorcycle-Helmet_75_prd.htm)

http://www.helmetsgonewild.com/sms/site/products/images/d0baca029dbe1e3ac2741670098e2bf7.jpg

I tried on a bunch of helmets - the HJC's were all bad for me. Every one of them had protrusions or hard spots that made my head hurt within a few seconds. Since I commute an hour each way (that's on the bike), I couldn't bear that at all..

The Arai helmets I tried mostly fit pretty well - but I didn't have $500 at the time. Then I found a little hole-in-the-wall biker shop with these HCI helmets, and for $80 got one that was almost as comfortable as any of the Arai's I had tried.

The finish is a bit scratched up now - probably from gravel - and I'm getting a new one soon. But it's lasted me over 20k miles of freeway riding, so I can't complain.

--

And that article really makes you think - Snell may not be just 'marketing hype', but the article certainly underscores how much people put their trust in people & organizations that don't really have the backing of anything but their own opinions. Bad enough when it's just politicians arguing about light bulbs - but when your life is at stake?

I don't think Snell is bad, but it's not the best standard and needs to be rethought given the latest research. It is, regrettably, resisting that reconsideration.

I personally use a Snell helmet (an Arai) but that is because Arais fit me better than anything else I've tried. If I could find a BSI-rated helmet, or even a DOT (only) rated helmet, that fit me as well as an Arai I'd be happy to wear it.

I have been wearing an arai quantum/f for about 8 years or so. I absolutely love this helmet, it fits very well, and the air flow is great. Besides the fit, I was sold on arai's because of the face shield lock (where is locks open a fraction of an inch to allow for more air flow) have yet to come across another helmet that does this. Anyone know of any other models that do this? My lid is getting pretty old and has had some minor damage, I was hit in the face with a 1.5 inch rock and it broke out the front vent. Luckily I always wear a lid or I wouldn’t have any front teeth!

here is my lid:

http://www.andynoble.com/images/Helmets/Arai/196-197.jpg

If I could find a BSI-rated helmet, or even a DOT (only) rated helmet, that fit me as well as an Arai I'd be happy to wear it.
That was my general mentality when I grabbed a Shark. I have a phenomenal shop down here that actually carries a wide variety of helmets and I was able to try out several. The Shark RSIs fit me great, but you might find another model does the trick.

Realize I never chimed in...

Shoei RF-1000

It's nice, good fit, not the heaviest (nor lightest), not all that quiet but I wear plugs, has the visor lock thing so you can have a gap, crack or locked.

many of the guys on here are right. im a beginner rider too, but when i went to the local shops, i specifically talked to many sales guys to get their opinion. they all said, it doesn't really matter what brand it is. buy one you can afford, buy one you would like to wear, and most importantly, buy one that fits you right. everybody's got different shaped heads, so buy one that fits you; my buddies bought different brands because those ones feel better. we all got Snell approved and spent anywhere between $200 and $350 for ours. i ended up buying a KBC VR2 for $250.

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/photos/300/g21462.jpg

i tried the Scorpions and i wouldve bought one of those, but the shape of my head wasn't comfortable in the scorpion helmets. the arai and shoei were the best fits, but they were out of my price range. the Icons didn't feel padded enough to justify the price. and so i bought the KBC. if i had the cash, it wouldve been a shoei. it was lighter, more padded, more comfortable and most importantly fit nearly perfect (for my head at least, maybe not yours.)

You really didn't feel comfortable in an exo 400? I wear a VR2 right now and I love the fit of the exo 400, so much that I'm going to buy one soon.

I went with a Shoei RF-1000. Fits my fat head great and has tons o' vents. The guy at the bike shop said "this is the helmet I'd buy if I was a millionaire." I replied, "I'm no millionaire, sir, but I do like my head." :)

I hear that, I have a round head and went with a shoei rf-1000 voyager tc-5 model. Black and white graphics, looks awesome, fits great. I considered the HJC's because they also fit round heads well but I figured since it was my head and I wanted nice and not race or flame style graphics the shoei was the way to go.

Guy, it's funny to hear you say that about round heads. I went with Shoei precisely because I DON'T have a round head. It's pretty much an egg shape and the Shoei fit perfectly. HJC was a close second. What convinced me to spend the money, though, was all the test results that showed the Shoei helmets doing better on nearly every measure than other helmets in the tests. You want the best, you gotta pay for it! 8)

Odd... I've seen that some of the best helmets are the budget helmets. I personally believe that you're paying for a name and slightly better fit and finish with Shoei, Arai, and Suomy... but that's not to say I still don't pine for them...

HJC-CL-SP

Fits on the top of my head, cheek pads could be bigger, but I got the biggest they got.

I figure the extra couple of hundred I spend buying top of the line gear is well worth it. Sometimes just a name, other times real performance differences. I picked up my shoei for $341 with shipping so it's not like you are shelling out a fortune for something like mirrors when you can spend $60 and get some extenders. I bought motoport stretch kevlar for protection as well. When all is said and done I got a zipped together 3/4 length jacket and pants with the whole shebang armor wise and I'm done buying gear for years. Without the liners and with a custom fit I figured I couldn't go wrong for the price and it looks pretty sporty as well, even in hi-viz. I'm at the age when I have to do it once, right, to get any bang for the buck!! :D :D :D

Also, for those who care, you can also get great deals on ebay for Alpinestars SMX-R vented boots. They run a bit large but not as large as some say. The ebay stores have some decent size charts, I use the buy it now option from the larger vendors and get great prices as long as you know your size. Returns will cost ya. The boots are just right and not too stiff, there is a review here on them but they are the cheapest "hi-tech" boots around. You could walk around a store wearing them, I just wouldn't want to jump out on a miles long type of hike or something like that.

Odd... I've seen that some of the best helmets are the budget helmets. I personally believe that you're paying for a name and slightly better fit and finish with Shoei, Arai, and Suomy... but that's not to say I still don't pine for them...

FWIW, the tests I've seen didn't have the Shoei miles ahead of every other helmet. On some parts, other helmets did better. But on the whole, the lab results put Shoei in at least the top ten percent consistently, which wasn't the case for other makers. I could also mention the law of diminishing returns, which might well lead to buying less expensive helmets. Heck, I could pick up a full face helmet for $40 or $50 bucks (lowest I've seen), but I consider my head to be worth more than that. Feel free to disagree on that point. :wink:

Try it on first! If you order through a catalog, you might get a perfect fit & feel like I did with my Nolan. :D
Or you might get a "not really my head or something" fit & feel like I did with my Z1R. :evil:
The Z1R looks great, though! :P

ARAI !!

The X-eleven is quite, light and comfortable plus safe. I've had two accidents with an X-eleven and both times I had no head or neck trama. I just got my third.

you just got your third accident?? :wtf

you must really like the helmet to buy three in a row. i remember at my msf course the instructor said that even dropping a helmet from four or five feet in the air will compress some of the protective foam and make it unsafe for use. that sounds like a bit of a stretch. anyone else know anything about that?

I don't know how much damage it would actually do with no weight inside to compress it, but if I dropped my helmet from that height, I'd probably immediately start setting money aside for a new one. It might compress just a little, but that could be the difference between a concussion and a coma or death...

That's probably an overly-paranoid way of looking at it, but better safe than sorry in cases such as this.

I've got 3 helmets. My favorite is my white Nolan. I never wear it, though. I usually wear my metallic red HJC with a dark shield. Sometimes, I wear my new black/blue/red Z1R Strike Blade with a clear shield.
The reason I don't wear the Nolan is because the replacement shield I ordered from Dennis Kirk came scratched all the hell up. I never got to enjoy it like I wanted to. The dark shield for the HJC came crystal clear (but it's not an air-tight fit). Anyway, that was a year ago.
Tomorrow, I'm taking my Nolan with me to Memphis, and I'm going to let my cousin, Bryan, borrow it (I guess for however as long as he likes). He wants to take the MSF course in Nashville this summer. He just needs a helmet.
I tried to teach him how to ride once...
www.honda599.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=30554#30554

I love my rf1000, with the exception of the non-removeable liner. My rx7 stays home as a spare until the shoei is out of date.

Tried on a ton of lids today while waiting for my bike inspection to wrap up. Absolutely nothing has the internal feel of Arai. Surprisingly, Scorpion feels quite similar to Shoei, which says either a lot for the former or a little for the latter.