What is favorite helmet and why?

I am looking at purchasing a helmet and the options seem endless, styles, shapes, colors, and most important, prices.

There is a cycle gear store down the street and I saw inexpensive BILT helmets. Are they any good?

Please let me know what helmet do you have and why you like it.

It seems like there are way to many options when it comes down to picking a helmet. Shields, shapes, bluetooth, oh my..

 

I currently wear an HJC CL-SP, but I believe that particular model is now out of production.

Inexpensive helmets are better than no helmet at all. That being said, cheap helmets tend to be noisy and/or uncomfortable compared to even modestly priced quality helmets.

From personal experience, I have had three HJC helmets over the last few years and have been very happy with them. I can confidently recommend HJC for a quality helmet at a reasonable price.

 

I have an HJC IS-MAX. I got that one because it was the most comfortable one for me after trying a whole bunch of others.

As far as protection, I figure all helmets that pass the same cert are about equivalent.

 

HJC has always had the features I need and fit my budget. I prefer a full face, it keeps the bugs out of my eyes and will protect better if I have a accident.

 

IMO, and of course any reply will be an opinion,

You pay for 3 things, Weight, Noise, and Styling.

That being said, there are other things too like maybe quality of connectors, rivets,straps and removability of liners making them washable.

I would say any helmet is better than none, and look for a DOT sticker.

Try it on, and make sure it doesnt wobble when its tightend.

Do you want full face? Half helmet?

 

I like the Scorpion EXO series. I currently have a EXO 400, and it's both comfortable and quiet. It has reasonable (but not perfect) airflow for the summer, and isn't too breezy in the winter. They do run a size smaller than what their sizing chart shows. They show me as a L, but I had to get an XL for it to fit correctly. I wear glasses, so most of the newer helmets are a no-go since the cheek pads don't usually have a channel for the temples to slide into.

 

I have a Vega Altura.... I tried some of the more expensive ones (Speed + Strength, Icon, and HJC), but they didn't feel quite as comfortable on my head. And I agree with JPaganel I figure anything dot certified is good. Stay away from anything tagged or advertised as "novelty"

 

HJC CR-S2, relativly inexpensive, has nice vents and is very comfy, i moved up from the CS-R1

 

My previous helmet was an FX-100 full face I bought from JC Whitney for 60 bucks. I found it quite comfortable and it did it's job when I slid face first down the road.

I replaced it with an HJC IS-16 full face. While the venting is better I think the FX-100 actually fit me better. I really do like the flip down sun shade the IS-16 has, and won't buy another helmet without one.

We went through hell trying to get an HJC helmet to fit my wife. We swapped pads in an IS-15 from XS all the way to medium and she still hurt in it. She ended up replacing it with an inexpensive Speed and Strength.

The moral of the story is all our heads are shaped different. The one I like may not fit you in any size. You have to either try them on or roll the dice.

 

I went to every shop in town and tried on all the different helmets. I ended up getting a gmax as it fit my head best.

 

Scorpion EXO 400 and soon 500. Light, comfy, flows good air and you can get the 'fog free' shields and they are FOG FREE. I was stopped at a train in a hot, humid heavy rain... *no* airflow at all and I had only the slightest hint of fog near the end (10 bloody minutes!). I also got the lower chin air-foil thingy and it made a huge difference in wind noise at speed. Best bang for the buck by far... and it fit true to size for me. That being said, helmet fit is a very *very* individual thing... what may fit well for someone may fit horrible for another... you just gotta try them out.
www.webbikeworld.com has excellent product reviews on dozens of helmets, I'd read up on some of them.

 

+1 on the "one head fits SOME". I tried several helmets before I found my Typhoon. But after reading a lot about it on the e-net, seemed like DOT approved is alright, but SNELL approved is even better. Supposedly, the testing on the Snell approved helmets are a lot more extensive than the DOT testing making the Snell approval harder to achieve. These more experienced riders may have their own opinions and a lot more knowledge on such things. I'd just say go safe and reputable.

 

The SNELL standard is a multi-impact based standard, where the DOT is a single impact standard. They each measure impacts differently. The DOT standard sets a lower one-time G-force transmittal value than the Snell standard does (how much force is passed through the helmet and into your skull). Both are good standards, but it is erroneous to think of them as DOT good, Snell better.......they aren't. They are essentially co-equal standards.

If you are looking for a helmet with a Snell rating, be sure that it's a Snell 2010 rating. Prior to the 2010 standard Snell helmets could allow much more initial impact force to be transmitted to the skull than is allowed by the 2010 standard.

 

Thanks y'all for the input about helmets and what you like.

Today I made my way to cycle gear and looked at a couple of helmets and picked this:

Inexpensive helmet from Cycle Gear



Nothing fancy, inexpensive and like you guys said it will be a lot better than no helmet. It is DOT approved so I figured I could give it my own seal of approval. I have always known about my big ideas nut never knew that they would need an XL helmet.

Anyways, I also picked a pair of gloves since I was already there. Now a little more wrenching around to make sure that the 750 is as safe as I look.

 

It is interesting thing, this helmet sizes business. When I bought my first street helmet in '93 I wore a medium.

Now I wear a L or XL. I must be getting smarter

 

I must ve been smart since the day I was born.

 

Ahhh the ubiquitous black helmet. Always on sale, and goes with everything (even formalwear).

I prefer visible. But I'm frugal, and can't pass up a sale. The last sale of the model year leaves few color choices...so......black helmet it is.

I do this.

1. DOT reflective tape (comes in many colors)


2. Scrapbooking Paper Punch (comes in a variety of shapes)


3. An evening or two of cutting, and putting on stickers while watching a favorite movie (I still need to finish modifying this helmet).



Better.

It's very noticeable at night.

 

We didn't talk colors.

Other than visibility, dark ones will also be warmer in the sun. I go with silver or white.

 

K-moe - That's friggin awesome!

 

My helmet is black, but I got it that color especially so I can add stickers to it. I have a nice reflective Yamaha tuning fork sticker and a few reflective radiation badges (inside joke).

This craft punch idea is awesome.