Please educate me on helmet quality.

[mercedesrules]

.....Hi, I am a new Hayabusa owner. I have only had one full-face helmet in my life and don't particularly like them. I realize that I will need one now. Prices seem to range from pretty low to quite high: $60-$999. At what price point does one get good protection without spending too much on decoration, popularity and graphics? Thanks for any responses!

[m_ridgeway]

helmets are one thing that are pretty standardized on what meets safety. most helmets meet dot and snell requirements, those are what you want to see. after that your paying for what you like. the more you pay the nicer the quality gets, i.e. finish/looks, helmets pads, visor clarity, vents, and such.

[kromdom]

find a local cycle store and try some on. Many decent helmets are priced under $200 but you can snag some of the big name brands like SHOEI on sale under $250.

Good site to read up on helmet reviews: http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycle-helmets/motorcycle-helmets.htm

[black diamond busa]

helmets are one thing that are pretty standardized on what meets safety. most helmets meet dot and snell requirements, those are what you want to see. after that your paying for what you like. the more you pay the nicer the quality gets, i.e. finish/looks, helmets pads, visor clarity, vents, and such.

Yup just make sure it has both dot and snell. Make sure on a full face you get on that is tight and almost too tight. The pads brake in as you have it. Thought the guy selling me the helmet was nuts. Now I have a helmet that's a perfect fit, my buddy's helmet got lose and now at high speeds it shakes. Good luck

[Renegaderrjr]

Def buy new, not used. As mentioned above make sure it is DOT and Snell approved. Which I dont think you'll find one thats not at your local bike shop. Dont be cheap when it comes to your brain bucket. We dont have much in the way of protecting us from the pavement in the moment that we need it.

[Trout]

As mentioned, after you get past a certain point (snell rating at a minimum), you are paying for features, but don't discount the value of features, especially if you are going to wear the helmet for 8 hours a day. If you are a bar hopper, then it doesn't matter so much.

I tried on every helmet in the 3 city area when I first shopped. For me and my head, the Arai was the one I kept coming back to. Unfortunately, it was one of the most expensive. After trying a few others off and on over the years, I realized that compared to the others... the Arai fit my head better, it was quieter, it was lighter, the visor was clearer, didn't fog up, and after logging nearly 70000 miles in my 2 Arai helmets, the extra money I spent on them seems really insignificant.

[dadofthree]

I agree with all comments, especially the trying on, helmets are different and depending on your noggin you might find your nose and / or jaw close to the visor / chin. You might also find that some limit your peripheral vision more than others. Vision is important as well as comfort and fit. DOT and SNELL


to the oRg

[card16969]

make sure you go to a good shop with a helmet specialist you would be amazed at the different shapes helmets come in to fit different shape heads. Just because a helmet has the design that you want its more important to make sure it fits right. I love the looks of shoei helmets but they dont fit me and arai fits me perfect but i dont have the money so i found an icon line that fits me till i can save up for an arai. My bell that i have was tight to begin with and broke in and is now too big... do it right the first time

[Warchild]

If cashflow is a big obstacle, there are some killer deals on some very decent full-face helmets at motorcyclegear.com. In their closeout section right now are some very good HJC helmets (and Joe Rocket helmets, which are made by HJC). For example, the HJC Hellion CL-16 is on sale for $78, that's quite a bargain.

No, these are not at the Shoei or Aria level, but they are still a quality lid. Check 'em: HJC CL-16 Hellion Helmet :: MotorcycleGear.com

[GsxrBots]

Find the helmet you like. Go somewhere and try it on.. PM Justin at Honda East. Buy it. Ride.....





I know, its not that easy. Unfortunately like most of us, you'll go through 3 or 4 helmets in the first few years before you "settle" on a favorite. For me, I was a KBC, HJC guy. Then I bought an Arai.
Now I'm an Arai snob. There is a difference. You DO get what you pay for. I always thought you were just paying for a name. You aren't..

[Chemmy]

Any good salesman will know how to properly fit your lid to your head. I paid around 400 for a shark about 7 years ago and its still going strong. I changed the pads once but mostly to do with wearing out the leather from so many on and offs lol. I am not a huge fan of the scorpion helmets only because the one they gave me with my bike does not have the little piece of leather that blocks wind from coming up through the chin area. This is not only annoying on the freeway but here in michigan that little piece does wonders keeping the cold out of the mask during winter months. others are right as to the higher the price the more frills your getting but you can find last years new models for a coupld hundred bucks off and they are just as good. I say go try some on get the numbers you need for size and measurements and shop around at like cycleworld.com or any other store that specializes in overstock for bikes. I am sure there are a few venders on the org that have some leftovers.

[GSXcite]

I agree with the others that a DOT and Snell approved helmet is a must have. You don't have to pay big bucks to get a helmet that will protect you. This HJC saved my life a few years ago when a deer ran out in front of me while in a corner. I hit a pole with my head at about 60 mph. Other than a broken collar bone, I didn't have a scratch on me. I also own three other more expensive helmets, but the HJC did it's job very well, and priced around $100, it is a great value.

[mercedesrules]

.....Thanks, everybody! My only full-face helmet was a Shoei. It seemed fine but after I got rid of that bike (Yamaha) , the helmet innards deteriorated such that a store told me it was no good anymore. On bikes with windshields I use an old "Buco" half helmet like police used to use. But on the Suzuki, the wind and dust makes riding no fun at all. I will look at some of the sites mentioned and keep DOT and Snell in mind. I guess I would prefer the color to go with the bike (red) but otherwise I can't pull off "hooligan" graphics anymore. It is mostly hot here in TX so really cold riding is not in the cards for me.

[Hayabusawannabe]

Here's my .02 on the subject. Just go to cyclegear or your favorite motorcycle parts site get the house brand. It's all goes by names like everything else. Cycle gear's house brand is Bilt, looks nice, does what it's intended and is reasonably priced. Want name brand? Well open up your wallet or in some cases take out a loan. Doesn't matter anyway because in 5 years it's junk! Yes, according to the manufacturers crash or no crash you only get 5 years. Use it for a seat... buy another one. Accidently drop it.... buy another one. etc...

[BlueHaya]

make sure you get a new one....M2010. You may find good delas on older helmets (M2005), but if they are old stock you will be buying another too soon....if age matters to you

These guys are in TX, so you will have fast ship and they are great to deal with
Helmets and Eyewear > Closed Face :: MotorcycleGear.com

[dadofthree]

make sure you go to a good shop with a helmet specialist you would be amazed at the different shapes helmets come in to fit different shape heads. Just because a helmet has the design that you want its more important to make sure it fits right. I love the looks of shoei helmets but they dont fit me and arai fits me perfect but i dont have the money so i found an icon line that fits me till i can save up for an arai. My bell that i have was tight to begin with and broke in and is now too big... do it right the first time

You can get replacement pads for most helmets. You might be able to tighten that helmet up with new ones.

[dadofthree]

Any good salesman will know how to properly fit your lid to your head. I paid around 400 for a shark about 7 years ago and its still going strong. I changed the pads once but mostly to do with wearing out the leather from so many on and offs lol. I am not a huge fan of the scorpion helmets only because the one they gave me with my bike does not have the little piece of leather that blocks wind from coming up through the chin area. This is not only annoying on the freeway but here in michigan that little piece does wonders keeping the cold out of the mask during winter months. others are right as to the higher the price the more frills your getting but you can find last years new models for a coupld hundred bucks off and they are just as good. I say go try some on get the numbers you need for size and measurements and shop around at like cycleworld.com or any other store that specializes in overstock for bikes. I am sure there are a few venders on the org that have some leftovers.

My scorpion has material across the chin I bought mine two years ago. Might just depend on the one you buy. Paid 300 from memory and there's not much it doesn't have. Very nice helmet.

[dadofthree]

And a cute story

When I got serious about riding the streets in 1978 I bought a new bike and a new helmet. It was a Bell. I believe it was a star, full face and only came in solid white. Paid $200. All my riding friends were older than me and most of them wore $5 helmets from Sky City. They made fun of me often and one night while having fun with me a well respected biker in his 50's at the time spoke up and made the following statement that ended the harassment once and for all. He said " $5 head $5 helmet "

[piratediverjefff]

I know, its not that easy. Unfortunately like most of us, you'll go through 3 or 4 helmets in the first few years before you "settle" on a favorite. For me, I was a KBC, HJC guy. Then I bought an Arai.
Now I'm an Arai snob. There is a difference. You DO get what you pay for. I always thought you were just paying for a name. You aren't..
[/QUOTE]

Bought an Arai Corsair-V last year,best helmet i've ever had.

[ky busa]

i like my shoei very well