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.

 

I wear a Bell Revolver in Hi-Vis yellow. It's a modular and it's been awesome.

 

I have a scorpion now, but after my MSF class, the guy kept slamming home that you need to spend 600 on a helmet. Arai to be exact. Almost like the dude worked for Arai. Anyways, with that said, I'm gonna stick with my scorpion for the rest of the season, (bike is always down for 'new owner' maintenance. This upcoming season, maybe in the winter actually when stuff is on sale, I think I'm gonna grab a Shoei Qwest. Great review and the guy at the yamaha shop said they have similar protection as the Arai... Those arai's are nice, but the cheapest I could find is 599!!

 

I wear a gmax gm67s. The 3/4 visor style is nice when your face gets hot, has sunglasses that pop down behind the visor. Fairly lightweight and good at high speeds with wind noise. Also has a couple cool features like a beak you can switch for the visor, as well as a wireless kit you can get which syncs a red light on the back with your brakes. It was 100$ with tax.

 

After receiving two catalogs from cycle gear telling me about the new store open in Harrisburg, I rode up there today with a buddy.
Nice store...smaller than I imagined, but packed with merchandise! Very friendly and helpful staff and it was nice being able to sample all the gear.

Anyway...I was in the market for a helmet since mine was 4 yrs old and flat black. Being that my bike is black, both my mesh jacket and my leather jacket are black (both have reflective piping), and my riding pants are black...I realized I wasn't doing myself any favors to being visible.

Anyway... I got this Bilt Apollo modular helmet in Day-glo yellow

I like it so far...has all the options I wanted at a price I can afford. Plus it has a five year warranty on it so if something breaks I can take it to any cycle gear and get it replaced!!
If it gets me noticed by just one more idiot driver...it could save my life!

 

Almost everyone in my area I ride with got a Gmax GM54 modular Helmet.

They are $179 at the shop. They go in and try them on and order them from Competition Accessories on the internet. There $128 shipped.

It's a full face that flips into a open face. When you stop and talk, you just flip up the front. Get a drink, just flip up the front. You can even ride with it up.

The cool thing is it has a sun visor that you push a lever on top and it comes down. It goes back inside the helmet.

I was surprised at how cool it was. After more and more got these, I realized how awesome a Helmet it is.
Here is a link with a video.

Gmax Modluar Helmet

 

I have one with the flip down sunshade. I forget the brand. It fits nice, is quiet and looks good. Flat black of course.

I have very limited selection in helmets as I wear a size 8 hat. Most manufacturers don't go that big.

 

I was in there saturday. nice place HUGE selection for a fairly small store. I tried on the Bilt Kevlar Jeans.... I think i might pick a pair up sometime. I have been looking at others, and I definitely can't swing the price on the others. Some of the reviews are kinda harsh, but IMO some extra padding is better than none...

http://www.cyclegear.com/c/brand/BILT-I ... 00503_1728

 

Scorpion EXO 400 here, skull bucket. Had to have it.

 

This is my helmet. There are many like it, but this one is mine. My helmet is my best friend. It is my life. I must master it as I must master my life. My helmet, without me, it's useless. Without my helmet, I am useless. Thus, I will learn it as a brother. I will learn its weaknesses, its strength, its parts, its accessories, I will keep my helmet clean and ready, even as I am clean and ready. We will become part of each other. We will... Before God, I swear this creed. My helmet and I are the defenders of my head. We are the masters of our enemy. We are the saviors of my life.

 

HooRa.