Helmets

Looking for a helmet for my girlfriend. Aside from all of the obvious, widely-published, information about how to fit/pick/decide on helmets, is there anything else I should consider?

Does anyone have a particularly good website to purchase helmets from?

 

Find a helmet that you like at a local store, and size it there. Then buy it off ebay. I've found that they are 50-60% cheaper that way for a new, in the box, helmet.

 

I do the same thing, size it in the store but then buy it on-line; I've gotten my last two (mine, my son's) from http://helmetoutletusa.com/
Free shipping on anything over $99, great service, they had them in stock both times.

 

I usually fit in a store and buy online as well. I got my last helmet on e-bay. newenough.com is pretty cheap and if they have what you want on close out you can get it really cheap.

 

Playing devil's advocate here for a second.

Remember that the more you do this (size in a local store, then buy online), the more you're helping putting your local retailer out of business. Eventually, you won't be able to size in the local store anymore, because they had to close -- then we're back to the old days of mail-order size guessing. The extra cash they charge covers them having the stock there for you to try on in the first place folks.

Now - having said that, obviously many local retailers have their prices inflated as much as possible to make that whole "profit" thing. As such, many are willing to deal on that profit margin.

So if you find the helmet & size you like locally, by all means do some shopping around online to see what the prices are (don't forget to include shipping & taxes). Then go back to your local guy and see if he can get anywhere close to that.

Sometimes, paying the little bit extra is worth it
- to support your local business
- to have the stock there to try on
- to not pay shipping and wait
- to have people to talk to about stuff

Okay - end of my schpiel now...

 

i'll second that, sometimes you got to cut the local guy some slack, although
i usually only do on small stuff
last helmet i got was at ama vintage days last year, vendors at shows and races have pretty good prices

 

I agree, generally. In the case of helmets though, the place I have to go to try them on ISN'T GETTING my business anyway no matter what. When a COOL local guy has what I need I have NO problem supporting him. I could give a you-know-what's behind for the giant Powersports franchise that has all the helmets in stock, and their attitude.

 

I have to back up Altus on this and recommend you at least give your local vendors the first chance to earn your business. If they don't have what you want, then go elsewhere.

In this case, I would say to go spend some time trying on various helmets to find a few that fit properly and comfortably. Then narrow them down by colors/patterns and budget. If your local store won't have what you want (color/pattern/price/service wise), then look to ordering on-line.

I ended up ordering a new helmet on-line after sizing at a local store for exactly this reason. Though the store does carry that model helmet, they do not carry the specific pattern I wanted and wouldn't special order it. The downside is I now have to wait up to a week to get my helmet while the weather gets better and better for riding every day... :?

If you're wondering, I ordered a new HJC IS-16 in the Yellow Scratch design (MC-3) from newenough.com.

 

Let me tell you all a little story.... I am one of those full face helmet guys. I am at my buddies at 5:30 PM... go to get on my XJ750 and the helmet slips out of the hand.... BANG.... (helmet hits the sidewalk) Crack... (Faceplate on helmet cracks). Now in my case the helmet was pushing 5+years old... and since my XJ750 doesn't have a windshield the helmet is my windshield. Crap... So I hop on my bike with no face shield.... it's getting dark and the mosquitos and bugs are whacking me in the face.... and head off to the BIG Chain motorcycle megastore to get a faceshield. I get there at 6:30... they close at 6.... I am half a hour late.... the guy is walkin out... I explain my situation.... He opens the store and turns the lights on and we proceed to get a helmet (the old helmet they no longer stock the shield for since it was to old). I did have to pay with the credit card since the cash had all been counted, he said the credit would just get added to tommorrow receipts.... did he have to do that.... No, he was just another motorcyclist even if he works for a mega store. Keep in mind when you support the local store that you are supporting your community and the bikers in it (even if they work for the megastore) besides it is a real good thing if you can get a helmet and be back riding in a hour.


Ron

 

I picked up a Sparx on ebay pretty cheap. It does the trick.

 

Metmop,

nice story. I agree that if I'm not being hosed locally, I'll buy there first. You have to support the places that let you try on, ask questions and just browse. They have more overhead so I don't mind paying a bit more and getting instant gratification Also, it's so much easier if there's a problem going back and talking to someone one-on-one. They'll usually try and come up with a solution. If they don't, I never go there again.

And in the case of motorcycle equipment, it's the situation you just described. If we don't support them locally, who are we to blame when we now have to drive half an hour just to get to a place that can do maintenance and service?

 

Buy local

here it is guys . I price the stuff online and print up the ads take them to the local dealer tell them I found it cheaper on the internet, and they will match that price and add the cost of shipping from that website.

you buy local and you get the price you would have paid online

you can do this with just about anything.