What are your helmets? How do you like them?

This is a much better topic for the answers that I'm looking for. Are Shoei TZ-R's any good? What helmets do you use and how comfortable are they in the summer (if full face)? Sorry to be such a pain but I want my brains to be protected in the most comfortable fashion.

 

I bought my first helmet, a KBC, last summer. It wasn't their cheapest; but it was close. Now I wish I had paid more and got a better helmet. I have been plagued with breaking visor hinges. The design is not that clean; it has several plastic fittings that cover vent holes. These tend to come loose and then rattle while I ride. But it fits my head just fine and is comfy. Next time though I would spend a bit more (or wait for a sale) and get a cleaner / quieter design.

 

i also bought my first helmet a kbc and it wasnt the most expensive but well up there. i have multiple vents but they dont raddle like "BAP"s helmet but they do provide alot of breathing and they are very comfortable.

 

I'm currently pondering a MOMO essenziale, they look ****KILLER**** but are a bit pricey.

 

by sheer luck I found an Arai RX-7 for cheap and bought it. Wow! most comfortable, well ventilated helmet I've ever known. After the clunker I replaced, when you finish riding with this one it makes you wanna roll over and smoke a cigarette!

 

I like the vent idea too. I would just avoid ones that have plastic fairings stuck on. Just get a helmet where the vents are moulded into the shell.

 

And for just over $100 you can get AGV's Dragon that looks identical to this helmet.

 

My Shoei Helmet saved my life when I low-sided after hitting a rodent.
The little bugger went right under my front wheel and I lost contact withthe surface and put the bike right down with me following along, rolling on the pavement and listening to my helmet hit the blacktop several times before everything came to a halt.

Case guards and handlebar sliders saved the bike from major damage.
Some road rash on a silencer.

I wrote to Shoei but never heard from them.

 

im sure ill hear about it but my helmet is a Nolan N-35...

bought it new in 1993...

i dont see them being made anymore and thats a drag because it was only $80 or so. all the new helmets that i see (whose name i recognize Shoei, Arai, Nolan) all seem to be closer to $200 or better...

 

Similar, yes... Identical? Hardly. They look like what they are... A much cheaper version of an original design...

 

you've definitely sold me on a Shoei TZ-R. Thanks Rick.

 

I use half-helmets in the summer, and full face in the colder weather. The brands I own/have owned are Shoei, KBC, Bell, Shark, and HJC. I like them all (except I sold the KBC), but the Shoei is head and shoulders above the others in quality.

 

I use half-helmets in the summer, and full face in the colder weather. The brands I own/have owned are Shoei, KBC, Bell, Shark, and HJC. I like them all (except I sold the KBC), but the Shoei is head and shoulders above the others in quality.

 

I use half-helmets in the summer, and full face in the colder weather. The brands I own/have owned are Shoei, KBC, Bell, Shark, and HJC. I like them all (except I sold the KBC), but the Shoei is head and shoulders above the others in quality.

 

I had an ancient HJC that I'd had since high school. I originally bought it before I even rode street bikes, but I needed a cheap helmet for autocross. When I first started riding it was good enough, but I got a good deal on an Arai Astral-X and haven't looked back since. The quality is amazing and it vents so well it is fine even in hot weather.

 

I went with a Shark RS helmet this spring. I was looking at the suomy line - BUT - the shark helmet was: lighter, cheaper, had a higher crash rating, and fit better... (by cheaper I mean $400 cheaper... and it STILL cost $300)

The Shark helmet has great ventilation... seriously go try one on.

Before that I had a few HJC helmets that were good (snell)... and my first helmet was crap... DOT only. Heavy. Bad ventilation. Noisy.

A good helmet is worth it... they are more quiet, safer, and lighter.

 

Shoei
Soumy
Arai
Shark...

Look for BSI or EC22-05 (the new motoGP standard - it is a UN standard from what I can tell)

DOT - something on your head
SNELL - something better on your head, but the standard was meant for cars
BSI - Racing standard
EC 22-05 - the NEW racing standard.

 

Years ago I had a Hondaline full face helmet that was made by Shoei that was wonderful! It saved my life once. Unfortunately it was so wonderful that a former friend stole it.

I now run a G-Force GF 750 open face helmet that is a light, good quality helmet that's fairly inexpensive. When I replace it this year (it's four and a half years old and has timed out for SCCA) I will replace it with a G-
Force Pro Force full face helmet.