Helmet Question

Well, they will probably ban me from this site for over posting.....lol. Since I haven't had a bike since about 84 and my XJ Maxim is my new baby I have a question about helmets. Back in 84 didnt have to have a helmet in Nebraska but now ya do. But you had to have one to go right across the river to Iowa so I had a full face monster helmet at the time. Today it's just the opposite, you have to have one in Nebraska and not in Iowa. I found the full face helmet suffocating to wear and hot too. Was wondering what everybody else recommends or has (I know it's pretty much an individuals preference). Since I have been away so long from the riding thing can't seem to make up my mind about a skid lid or 3/4. Which brands are the most comfortable and such. I went to the local bike shop where they was advertising helmets starting at $29.99. Well there was about 4 or 5 at that price but they had pink flowers on them....lol. I have a huge melon and require at the very least XXL - 7 5/8"- 8". They only had a couple in that size. Awhile back on eBay they had a very nice looking black Harley 100th anniversary 3/4 with a visor in XXL and I emailed the guy about it. He said that the Harley Helmets fit really small and that he had a big melon also and it was to small for him. Now I got my eye on a Bell 3/4 with leather covering it for $89.00. Any advise? Thanks HB :roll:

 

I have a full like the old bell magnams with vents and I like it. Course where I live you get sandblasted with an open face the closer you get to the Ocean. So I also have a skid and a 3/4 harley. Thingis ...I have a medium dome so medium aways fit pretty close. If you got a big ole head then it might be better to only buy what you try so save on a little shipping grief. Go to other shops and keep up with what brands and sizes that fit then order to save if you need to.

 

ill still wear a full face helmet no matter how hot or uncomfortable it gets, my head is too f*cking important to play around with. that said, MAKE SURE you get a helmet that is both DOT and SNELL approved. you're required by law to have one thats DOT approved, SNELL approval is just a little extra security. those $30 flower helmets at the local shop most likely aren't even DOT approved and if you got in a crash you might as well be wearing a wool knit cap. i have a huge head too and i manage to stuff it inside an XXL, it cost a lot but like i said, i don't play games when it comes to my head.

 

Whereas I'm the opposite side of the coin, for motorcycle use I avoid SNELL certification like the plague. I also use a full-face helmet always -- always have, always will. Should I ever go down, I want SOMETHING between my face and pavement, but that's just me.
Now, if you're going to race, fine - they make the SNELL cert mandatory.
For day-to-day riding I'm on the the side of the debate that SNELL certified lids are MORE dangerous than a plain DOT lid - they're too stiff and transmit too much force to your skull.
Even better is to find a helmet that's both DOT and ECE22.05 certified -- they're actually tested in crashes that motorcyclists are actually likely to see, should it come to that.

 

I just bought a HJC full face helmet. About $250AUD. Yes, it's Chinese, but they have copied the Shoei TZ helmet at well under half the price.

I actually prefer a full face helmet in the heat because I can close the visor when the hot wind blast gets too hot. And the HJC venting is very good - flows nicely over the skull and around the face.

 

Agv full face for spring and fall since its colder but beanie helmet for summer ........

 

Somewhere I read an article where there was independent testing done on helmets. The best performance came from the cheaper helmets. In particular one from AutoZone for about $70 beat the big $$ helmets on initial impact, secondary impact and puncture.

Last May a car pulled out on me, I hit it at 40mph and went down. The chin bar on my inexpensive full face helmet did the slide rather than my face. I walked away with a sore foot and 2 very lightly skinned knuckles.

I'll never ride without the full face helmet and armor.

 

I'll never ride without a full face helmet either, from past experience... it's why I'm still a good lookin' bloke

 

Well, you all raise a very valid point with the full face helmet. Now ya got me thinkin that the heat isnt the worst thing that could happen to my noggin. Oh and MiCarl, I googled AutoZone and typed in their search "Helmets" and "Motorcycle Helmets". It said "No parts found for Helmets. Are you sure it was AutoZone?

 

I must have tried on 35 before I found one that fit my odd shaped knoggin comfortably.
Then I looked at the price tag...DAMN...the only one that fit was nearly the most expensive. Darn helmet cost 1/3 what the bike cost. (full face Shoei)

But I wear every time I turn the key.
It's quiet, well vented, and comfy. Three years and the foam isn't crushed and fits better than the day I bought it.

Even though it was serious $ it's still less than missing a couple days of work.

Just get one that fits and you'll wear.

 

I have priced those Shoei Helmets and they are very expensive. Well, they are probably made very well also. I had looked at a helmet that actually fit at "The Tractor Supply" store in Omaha and it was only $36.00. I went back and took a better look at it and the liner was paper thin over white styrofoam that wasn't very thick at all and the ear pads were pretty cheap looking. That was a Helmet made by Raider. They are mostly snowmobile and ATV helmets. So, I passed on that almost purchase there. Mike, awesome job on your bike..........that's what I would love to do to mine but am worried I would never get it put back together the way it came apart.

 

Here's a link to the Motorcyclist Magazine article with the study that I'm pretty sure MiCarl was referring too, and that I read with great interest. Please note - this is a MAJOR article, not a summary - you're going to be reading for a while.

Motorcyclist Helmet Review

It comes down to this: having a helmet on is good should you come into contact with the ground. Any helmet. Full-face is better because it covers more. ALL helmets currently available performed well. SNELL certified helmets transmit more G forces to the skull than plastic and composite shells do.

Find a helmet that fits you right, is comfortable, and you'll actually use. THAT will be the best helmet to have.

 

Full face is good for most of the riding season. Might buy a 3/4 for the summer. Not sure yet.

Rob

 

HB, the Bell helmet is not a bad purchase. Anything is better than nothing. I will sing the praises of a full face as well (seen too many pictures of folks with beanies getting their faces rebuilt after a wreck, yeesh it's nasty).
The KEY point in getting a helmet is get one that fits correctly. This means you should feel it snug around the crown of your head and against your cheeks. Remember, the foam will settle a bit as you wear it in but it should NEVER be loose. Another point, the chin strap should touch your chin, not pass under it. If you can't feel the strap, the helmet is too big or poorly designed for your nut, don't buy it.
Good points MiCarl, Altus.
I will echo Altus, very good article.

 

A very smart man told me how much is your head worth to you I ride with a full face ICON and love it it vents well does not whistle or rattle at highway speeds. Some things in life are not worth skimping on and your head and face is one of them. And you can get a quality helmet such as an ICON of ebay for as cheep as 70 dollars they are just used or older models. I know what my heads worth do you?

 

I have an HJC CL-SP full face that is without a doubt the most comfortable helmet I've owned yet.

 

hb2553, try Pep Boys for the helmet. It's been a while since I read that study, but I think that's actually the store brand that did so well against the "better" helmets. Not sure that helmet was a full-face version, though.

~claude.

 

That was the article I read. I misremembered though, it was the full face one sold at Pep Boys, although the authors recommended popping an extra $10 for the Z1R ZRP-1 at $79.95 because of better chin bar construction.

 

That's right. I'd forgotten the make/model that ranked first. Thanks for posting that. I still need to buy a helmet.

Anyone use that Z1R helmet here?

 

Hey bigfitz52, Does your helmet look anything like this one I found on craigslist here in Omaha? This one is an XXL the size I need. I went to a couple of bike shops today and not to many XXL helmets in stock, some didnt even have any XXL's. Check this one out, it's used http://omaha.craigslist.org/mcy/1568599944.html

 

hb2553
I would never buy a used helmet. You never know what it has been through. If you only drop your helmet once, it is toast. Time to get a new one.

 

Yeah.....ya got a point. Plus just the thought of havin my face up against a chin guard that somebody else has been droolin on kinda makes me a little sick. I tryed to Google that Pep Boys site and nothing comes up. Did they go outta business or what? I didnt know they sold Helmets!!!!! I really like the recommendation bigfitz52 gave me with the HJC CL-SP full face. He said it's really comfortable and I checked it out on eBay......I like it. I like this one. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/HJC-CL-S ... 230482fac2

 

Everybody's noggin is different. You need to try them on to know for sure. Even then, you won't really know until you wear it for awhile.

The one I was wearing when I went down was an FX-100. I got it from J.C. Whitney for $70. I'm not even sure who makes it. It was quite comfortable.

When I replaced it I spent $100 more for an HJC IS-16. It has never got as comfortable as that cheap FX. It does have better ventilation though.

One nice thing about the HJC CL-SP is the cheek pads are replaceable. So if you've got a small head but a fat face you can get the right size helmet then switch pads so it doesn't squeeze your kisser.

 

Love my HJCs' I actually have 4 of them. 2 for racing and 2 for street. Really like the integral sun sheild on the street helmet.
I'm kind of surprised no one has popped up the normal helmet sayings........... Have $10 head, get a $10 helmet.......Price a neurosurgeon for a consultation.........price a helmet.
Not trying to insult anyone mind you. But the only reason I'm typing this today is because of a helmet. On 4 different occasions.


FWIW Helmets are only designed to last 5 years. The manufacture date ,most of the time, is on the inside left,under the padding.
Also, don't put your helmet on top of your gas tank. For 2 reasons,one the obvious, it'll fall off and two gas fumes venting from the cap can degrade the impact absorbing foam inside the helmet.
Most of all, WEAR 'EM !

 

I am thinking about getting one of those hell-mats that have the flip-up front. I forgot what they are called. Right now I have an old HJC but it is far better than the $69.95 special I got from Farm and Fleet

 

It's only funny til someone gets hurt. Then it's freakin hilarious.

(sorry... had a double post for some reason. Figured I'd write something different over one of them)

 

You might take a look at Fulmer. ( http://www.fulmerhelmets.com/Default.aspx ) Made in the USA and reasonably priced. I bought one over a year ago and have had satisfactory results. The padding system can be tailored to your face (they have sizing kits) and a knowledgeable sales person can set you up pronto. They DO NOT sell via internet or over the phone as they want their customers to be fitted to their helmet (BIG kudos to them).
I must confess that they seem very light weight to me and have a fair amount of wind noise (ear plugs are mandatory for me). Inexpensive visors snap in and out much easier than my Shoei's ever did (about $25 a shot for a new visor). I purchased and used their anti-fog visor and it worked REALLY well. A summer-weight helmet in my opinion.

9475 Fulmer Road
Olive Branch, MS 38654
800-489-2300
Fax: 888-503-7200
Email: info@fulmerhelmets.com

 

The point of the article linked earlier is that for the most part the inexpensive helmets perform as well or better than the big $$ gear.

There may well be advantages to a higher priced helmet (ventilation, noise, wieght, integral sun shades etc.) but it won't do any better protecting the gray matter.

 

What I do when shopping for a helmet is to visit many different retail outlest and try on as many different makes/models as I can, until I find the one most comfortable for me.

Then I buy one on-line.

 

The point of the article linked earlier is that for the most part the inexpensive helmets perform as well or better than the big $$ gear.

There may well be advantages to a higher priced helmet (ventilation, noise, wieght, integral sun shades etc.) but it won't do any better protecting the gray matter.[/quote]



HJC helmets are not big $$$ gear. The one with the shade,removable liner and vent system was only $125. The rest were in the $90 to $100 w/gradiant shields.
I agree you don't need a $700 Aria to be safe but where do you draw the line for inexpensive helmets? What does Tractor Supply know that the largest helmet manufacturer in the world,HJC, doesn't?

 

I used to wear a M2R, I liked it. After a wreck I loved it. Because my road bikes are down, I'm primarily on dirt these days. Shelled out the $350 (marked down) on a Shoei full face cause I had never felt anything better. It just fit perfectly and my skull is worth it.
Been shopping around for a new road helmet....+1 on BigFitz, try them all on, pick the best fit. I'm still looking.

If its to hot for a full face helmet, its to hot to ride. Same can be said for all the other gear as well.
Does anybody remember a study about helmet impact zones during crashes??? As I recall the most common location was on the lower jaw, left side......I maybe wrong about the location but the study did advocate full face based on their results.

 

I think you mean this one:

It's right side, not that it really matters.

Between the chin bar and face shield it adds up to 44.5%

 

44.5% that says it all

 

I recently picked up a Shark Evoline. It's modular. It's rated by the DOT and EWC for both full face and open. It also has the internal sunscreen. I love it! I do notice a big difference in how quiet the Shark is over my old modular. As what's been said before, as long as it's DOT that's what matters. Here's the web site for more info.

http://www.shark-helmets.com/product.ph ... me=EVOLINE

 

New invention- -
A 3/4 helmet with a wire chin guard just like a football helmet.
It would protect like a full face, but not be so - - constrictive and hot.

And yes heat is an issue. Maybe not where you live.

 

You have a good idea there. Yes heat is the issue here also. It gets up to 108 degrees with 85% humidity......desertrat had the right idea.....if it's to hot for a helmet it's probably to hot to ride. Although from my past experience back when I didnt have to wear a helmet. After a hot softball game it sure felt nice to get on the ole bike and ride home. Cooled right down. I'm older and wiser from the info I have read. I never used to even think I would ever get in any accident when I used to ride. I had some close calls where people just didnt see me and pulled out, but I got lucky and never got hit. With a bike accident I dont imagine there are just fender benders.....I mean if ya get into an accident....you're gonna be the one that gets hurt and most likely pretty bad. I never hear on the news about a motorcycle rider who was involved in an accident and just walked away without a scratch. The news is usually almost always either fatal or they are in critical condition in the hospital.......Full Face for me and pads would be nice.

 

Well, the ones that do walk away don't make the news. I doubt there are many, but I am one.

I plowed at 40mph into the side of a car that pulled out on me. I walked away with a sore foot and two very lightly skinned knuckles because:

1 - I was riding a big touring bike
2 - It was a small car
3 - I had a full face helmet
4 - I was wearing armor
5 - I was wearing strong mid calf leather riding boots
6 - I was wearing gloves
7 - I was lucky there wasn't another vehicle behind me

For you guys that are concerned about a full faced helmet and heat - you could even remove the shield and get the protection of the chin bar. I just open it at low speeds.

On a really hot day I wear a wet do-rag under my helmet. At 70 MPH it's actually cold.

 

Metal cage on a helmet is a pretty bad idea if it comes loose and stabs you in the face 8O

 

"Chin bar and face shield.. 44.5%"....that was one point of contact after I went flying over a car in a similar manner to MiCarl ....... full face helmets...why wouldn't you?

 

Its the difference between having crashed and not.

Once you've crashed, you learn that it CAN happen to you and that you're NOT invincible after all.

My altercation with a car was 28 years ago, and although I was able to "limp away" it cost me two weeks in the hospital. I was wearing my leather and helmet so my injuries were pretty much confined to broken and shattered bones. I cannot even BEGIN to imagine what would have happened if I'd been in a t-shirt, vest and half-helmet.

ATGATT, ever since.

 

My Helm is a Scorpion EXO 400, can be found at good prices on sale, and is a great budget helmet. Even the 700's can be found pretty cheap(last years models etc) Good sites for helms online are

http://stores.sportbiketrackgear.com
&
http://www.newenough.com

I've dealt with both, great service and now hassles even north of the border.

 

Last year i picked up a GMax GM68 Crusader. Link below to exact color of mine!
http://www.revzilla.com/product/gmax-gm ... er-helmet#
This helmet ran me 140 with shipping. It actually almost hugs the back of your head but its very comfortable. Took a bit of getting used to but now it feels awesome.

The really cool thing about this helmet though is that its got flashing leds built in to the top back sectino of the helmet that can be turned on by pushing a small button in the middle of the lens cover on the leds. It has three modes: Solid light, slow flashing, and fast flashing. I have asked people how its looks and they say that you cant miss the flashing. Even from a half mile away.

 

Well I had some free time today and went shopping for a helmet. Man, what a variety. Had a bid in on an Arai Quantum II Spike XXL. Found a dealer who sells them and tryed the XXL on......dang my head must be getting bigger. I thought my eyes were gonna pop outta my head! Luckily when I got home somebody had out bid me (definitely not a good idea to buy a helmet off ebay without trying the same helmet on first). I wear a 7 3/4-8" hat and that helmet aint no where near that size. They had the Shoei helmets there and tryed on their XXL, even tighter fit than the Arai. Next I tryed on the HJC which had a price tag of $129.00 and that fit great.........There was no comparison at all. The other two had price tags of $500.00+. Of course I realize that the fit aint got nothing to do with the price and is just a personal thing, but man I got a little claustrophobic trying on those other two helmets. I didnt think I would be able to get the Shoei off my head and almost went into a panic.....lol. I appreciate all the feedback and thank you all!