Helmets

Hawk Joined: Jan 10, 2012 Posts: 439 Location: Chicago

My guess is this will be a interesting topic but I'm curious as to what helmet you own and why you like it....

I rarely ride with a helmet but as I grow older I cherish each day more and more....and am going to force myself to wear a helmet...Oh yea, no helmet law in Illinois & Wisconsin where I typically ride....

I do own several inexpensive HJC helmets that are several years old and that have served me well but typically only use them when on the highways....

I'm looking now to invest in a newer helmet and as I look at all the brands I'm wondering...what's best for me....?

Sure, I know, you need to try them on for fit...but function is important to me to....Venting, visor opening size, padding, chin strap....and so on...

So, I guess I'm looking for input from anyone that wants to share.....

Thanks, Eric

Posted: Thu May 12, 2016 4:44 pm

I went the cheap HJC route for years. They were ok.

Then, out of curiosity, I went to an Arai fitting booth at Road America during the races. They measured, changed pads, and fit it to my head. As soon as I did that i could instantly feel the difference.

Since then I've owned Arai, all custom fit. Not cheap, but very darn nice for riding.

I'm sure there's others that do the custom fitting now, but that made a big difference.

Brett

Posted: Thu May 12, 2016 4:48 pm

Arai RX-Q or Corsair. You gotta have a helmet man to go with all those pretty bikes.

for city commute, I have a bell bullitt RSD viva. I like it for street cause the visibility is wide, don't need to turn my head as much to see behind me.

Posted: Thu May 12, 2016 4:55 pm

Without getting too preachy, I'll put my plug in for wearing a helmet whenever you are on a bike. I know a lot of people get emotional both ways, and I'm not mandating helmet laws, just giving my past history.

My father would likely be dead if it weren't for a helmet. Back in '83 he dumped his 900f on the highway (his friend hit his back tire). He cracked a shoei helmet, wore through his leathers, and had to have several pins put in his shoulder to put it back together. However, no head injuries. A big crack and grind marks on the helmet where it hit the concrete, but no permanent brain damage.

My uncle, is now a ward of the state, and has the brain capacity of about a 5 year old. He was the old style Harley rider/outlaw/gypsy/etc (not the typical businessman Harley rider like now a days....). He dumped his bike at about 10 miles an hour pulling into his friends driveway. Head hit the ground with no helmet. Airlift, millions of dollars of brain surgery, and now 30 years of permanent brain damage with no knowledge of his previous life and no memory capacity beyond about 10 minutes. This likely would not have happened with a helmet.

Cherish each ride and day, but be sure to protect yourself.
There's the end of my preaching.
Brett

Posted: Thu May 12, 2016 5:05 pm

I gear up all the time, even for 2 min rides to the store. I'm confident in my riding ability, but I can't control other people's actions and people in LA drive dumb. Everytime I get on my bike I have the mind set that everything on the road is out to kill me. My eyes never stop scanning. What helped was just buying cool looking gear, it made me wanna use it cause it looks good. Also I've been in crashes off the track once, and many times on the track and the helmet has saved me many times.

Helmet - Bell, Arai are my favorite 2 helmet brands.
Jacket - Pagnol Moto, Roland sands. They make jackets that look good even off the bike. You can't tell that it's a moto jacket (-the armor). Looks like a nice leather jacket.
Gloves - Roland sands, pagnol moto, alpinestars.
Pants - Uglybros, https://www.railcarfinegoods.com/ Uglybros has kevlar, and CE padding in hips and knees. Looks like nice jeans off the bike. Railcar has thick selvedge jeans, stronger than your normal levi's. They are also working on kevlar lining.
Leather Boots - anything leather and heel coverage.

Posted: Thu May 12, 2016 5:06 pm

For me it was fit. Everybody's head is different and the Shoei fits me better than the Arai....We don't have a helmet law here either but I wouldn't dream of getting on s bike without one....

CB1100F Joined: Jun 18, 2006 Posts: 2526 Location: UK

I bought a new AGV last year, one nice feature is it has a flip down sun visor that comes down behind the main visor

Saves the need for sunglasses

Kieht

Hawk Joined: Jan 10, 2012 Posts: 439 Location: Chicago

brett_s wrote:

I went the cheap HJC route for years. They were ok.

Then, out of curiosity, I went to an Arai fitting booth at Road America during the races. They measured, changed pads, and fit it to my head. As soon as I did that i could instantly feel the difference.

Since then I've owned Arai, all custom fit. Not cheap, but very darn nice for riding.

I'm sure there's others that do the custom fitting now, but that made a big difference.

Brett

Brett, Thanks for your input...
I'm actually headed up to RA in a few weeks for the super bike races..Then again for the vintage....I will give the Arai helmet a try...

E

Posted: Thu May 12, 2016 5:40 pm

Back in the day we used to tell customers:
"If you have a 2 dollar head then get a 2 dollar helmet."

or if life as a vegetable is OK, or just plain dead, then go without.
most motorcycle deaths around here (no helmet law) are attributed to just that.

OK, off the soap box.
Arai is my brand of choice. When it come to riding gear. Price is not a concern for me.

But there are a lot of good choices out there for reasonable money. Just remember you get what you pay for. so stay away from the bottom end stuff.

Hawk Joined: Jan 10, 2012 Posts: 439 Location: Chicago

Z3RO wrote:

Arai RX-Q or Corsair. You gotta have a helmet man to go with all those pretty bikes.

for city commute, I have a bell bullitt RSD viva. I like it for street cause the visibility is wide, don't need to turn my head as much to see behind me.

Chris, Thanks for the input....yea...knowing me I'll buy a helmet to go with each bike.... Shocked

E

Hawk Joined: Jan 10, 2012 Posts: 439 Location: Chicago

brett_s wrote:

Without getting too preachy, I'll put my plug in for wearing a helmet whenever you are on a bike. I know a lot of people get emotional both ways, and I'm not mandating helmet laws, just giving my past history.

My father would likely be dead if it weren't for a helmet. Back in '83 he dumped his 900f on the highway (his friend hit his back tire). He cracked a shoei helmet, wore through his leathers, and had to have several pins put in his shoulder to put it back together. However, no head injuries. A big crack and grind marks on the helmet where it hit the concrete, but no permanent brain damage.

My uncle, is now a ward of the state, and has the brain capacity of about a 5 year old. He was the old style Harley rider/outlaw/gypsy/etc (not the typical businessman Harley rider like now a days....). He dumped his bike at about 10 miles an hour pulling into his friends driveway. Head hit the ground with no helmet. Airlift, millions of dollars of brain surgery, and now 30 years of permanent brain damage with no knowledge of his previous life and no memory capacity beyond about 10 minutes. This likely would not have happened with a helmet.

Cherish each ride and day, but be sure to protect yourself.
There's the end of my preaching.
Brett

Brett, Oh I hear you brother....

When I was 21 I was riding stupid...took a turn way to fast and dumped my 73' CB750 going about 60....Had a helmet...walked away from it...
About 5 years ago, was riding my 05' VTX1300...with my girlfriend....going about 55....and was broad-sided by a deer....Yep, you heard me right...Broad-Sided...Didn't go down but my girlfriends leg was messed up for a while....

E

Hawk Joined: Jan 10, 2012 Posts: 439 Location: Chicago

krgood0 wrote:

I bought a new AGV last year, one nice feature is it has a flip down sun visor that comes down behind the main visor

Saves the need for sunglasses

Kieht

Very cool...I'll have to check that one out too...

E

Hawk Joined: Jan 10, 2012 Posts: 439 Location: Chicago

Wayne750F wrote:

For me it was fit. Everybody's head is different and the Shoei fits me better than the Arai....We don't have a helmet law here either but I wouldn't dream of getting on s bike without one....

Hey Wayne...Now that helmet has some color..!!!
I'm sure the old folks down there will see you... Very Happy

E

Hawk Joined: Jan 10, 2012 Posts: 439 Location: Chicago

Z3RO wrote:

I gear up all the time, even for 2 min rides to the store. I'm confident in my riding ability, but I can't control other people's actions and people in LA drive dumb. Everytime I get on my bike I have the mind set that everything on the road is out to kill me. My eyes never stop scanning. What helped was just buying cool looking gear, it made me wanna use it cause it looks good. Also I've been in crashes off the track once, and many times on the track and the helmet has saved me many times.

Helmet - Bell, Arai are my favorite 2 helmet brands.
Jacket - Pagnol Moto, Roland sands. They make jackets that look good even off the bike. You can't tell that it's a moto jacket (-the armor). Looks like a nice leather jacket.
Gloves - Roland sands, pagnol moto, alpinestars.
Pants - Uglybros, https://www.railcarfinegoods.com/ Uglybros has kevlar, and CE padding in hips and knees. Looks like nice jeans off the bike. Railcar has thick selvedge jeans, stronger than your normal levi's. They are also working on kevlar lining.
Leather Boots - anything leather and heel coverage.

Chris, yea I totally get where you're coming from...
I do consider myself an extremely defensive and ultra cautious rider...looking all ways more than twice and anticipating everything....
Like you say...scanning everywhere, always.....

E

Hawk Joined: Jan 10, 2012 Posts: 439 Location: Chicago

bee-jay wrote:

Back in the day we used to tell customers:
"If you have a 2 dollar head then get a 2 dollar helmet."

or if life as a vegetable is OK, or just plain dead, then go without.
most motorcycle deaths around here (no helmet law) are attributed to just that.

OK, off the soap box.
Arai is my brand of choice. When it come to riding gear. Price is not a concern for me.

But there are a lot of good choices out there for reasonable money. Just remember you get what you pay for. so stay away from the bottom end stuff.

Great advice...Yea, I'm to the point in my life..55...when I don't skimp on the important stuff....Thanks!!!

E

Posted: Thu May 12, 2016 6:05 pm

Bell Rally Star.
• Great venting with two inlets: one over the top of the head and the other in the chin guard.
• Streamlined shape reduces buffeting.
• Removable breath/vapor guard to prevent fogging the face shield.
• Can lock the face shield fully closed or with 2 (small/large) cracked open detents.
• Removable chin guard to reduce wind noise and inner helmet turbulence, also keeps you warmer in cool weather

Not only all that, but IMHO looks cool too.

BTW, this helmet was been totally redesigned in spring 2016 and could be ever better yet.

Hawk Joined: Jan 10, 2012 Posts: 439 Location: Chicago

MyCBF wrote:

Bell Rally Star.
• Great venting with two inlets: one over the top of the head and the other in the chin guard.
• Streamlined shape reduces buffeting.
• Removable breath/vapor guard to prevent fogging the face shield.
• Can lock the face shield fully closed or with 2 (small/large) cracked open detents.
• Removable chin guard to reduce wind noise and inner helmet turbulence, also keeps you warmer in cool weather

Not only all that, but IMHO looks cool too.

BTW, this helmet was been totally redesigned in spring 2016 and could be ever better yet.

Thanks for the input....I do like the styling....Retro type stripe but modern styling...

E

Posted: Thu May 12, 2016 7:37 pm

HJC RPHA 10, if you accept a snell 2010 pretty good closeouts, snell 2015 is going to be in $500 range. Really light, great ventilation, fits my head(Arai does not).They are like all well vented helmets they are have a fair amount of wind roar. I wear ear plugs.(Even in my car when I roll down the windows) They have replaceable cheek pad, you can tune them to your head.

Toddk

Posted: Thu May 12, 2016 7:58 pm

Im not sure how motivated or interested you will be in reading up on the subject, but if i recall, a year or so ago a writer for one of the motorcycle journals quit (according to him he was fired for not fluffing up his research on the helmet ratings) and wrote an in depth take down article of the motorcycle magazines, the helmet manufactures, and the Snell rating system. I honestly am pretty fuzzy on it but I think one of the issues was with sizing and the fact that all testing was done on adult large helmets which had dramatically different characteristics under impact than other sizes. The point being, if you are in the market for a helmet, that is where I would start...give you a lay of the land and may influence how you approach snell helmets (on a related note I dont think snell ever really did anything about it other than change testing for the redesigned products....I think they just figured they would let the previously manufactured faulty helmets sell and retire themselves naturally in the marketplace.....so you would want to confirm date of manufacture when you purchase).

As for wearing a helmet...obviously you dont need me to tell you but ... it doesn't take much to leave you a vegetable. you may think its about freedom and personal choice...but on the other hand if you go all vegetable, who has to take care of you and was it their choice to do so? Just look at cbxdog...no motorcycle involved...now im not advocating wearing a helmet doing your chores but at least while riding. Who knows...tech has come a long way and you may find you enjoy wearing a helmet now...certainly beats duct taping the gopro to your forehead.

Posted: Thu May 12, 2016 8:44 pm

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/27/automobiles/27SNELL.html?_r=0

NY Times from .....2009. Time flies when you are having fun...the article may be slightly less relevant now.

Posted: Thu May 12, 2016 9:32 pm

I have a Shoei RF-1200! I have a round head, and they tend to fit better that Arai helmets for my large dome. If you like your head in the condition it is currently in, its a good idea to have a decent helmet. If you ride on the street often, it is extremely likely that you will get in an accident eventually.

Matt

Posted: Thu May 12, 2016 10:28 pm

Keep in mind that Larry died from a 3 foot fall off of a ladder.

What makes anyone think that going 70 mph without a helmet is a good idea? Unless your state needs more organ donors.

Almost lost our brother when he was 18 riding a Honda S90 doing 25 when an unlicensed driver ran a stop sign and our bro t-boned the car and over the hood. His Bell Magnum didn't do him any good sitting on the dresser. He survived but, I swore that I wouldn't put our family through that kind of drama again.

Icon Airmada in High Vis greenish/yellow so I have a better chance of the cagers seeing me.

Posted: Thu May 12, 2016 10:45 pm

I have always had Arai

Posted: Thu May 12, 2016 11:27 pm

I would hate so see what my son's face would have looked like were he not wearing this one last summer:

The ballistic jacket took a beating too (and the gloves but the work pants didn't help much):

The other good news was that the insurance company (Hagerty) covered the replacements -
beerchug

for Hagerty!

Posted: Fri May 13, 2016 12:10 am

I have a shoei neo tech and arai rxq (spencer replica).
Both are great helmets, quiet and comfortable.

The shoei I have worn on two cross Australia rides and even after 8 days it is still as comfortable as day one. If a bit smellier but that's what shampoo and the laundry sink are for.

As for whether to wear a helmet or not; it's a must do legally throughout Australia. I have had two accidents where I would be dead or brain damaged without the helmet.

My take on it is that you give your brain the protection it deserves.

Posted: Fri May 13, 2016 12:16 am

sillygoose wrote:

I would hate so see what my son's face would have looked like were he not wearing this one last summer:

It probably would have looked like this. I crashed my Harley and I was wearing a helmet, an HJC half helmet. I believe the helmet saved me from major head trauma.

I absolutely can not imagine riding with out a helmet.

MB-5 Joined: Feb 21, 2015 Posts: 3 Location: iowa

Bell Qualifier DLX for me, best thing I like about it is the transition shield, automatically darkens in bright sunlight and then returns to normal when its not so bright.

Posted: Fri May 13, 2016 11:44 am

I wear an Icon Alliance that Ill be replacing soon with most likely another Icon.

Posted: Fri May 13, 2016 12:20 pm

I'm actually quite relieved that all the responses so far have all been pro-helmet. I guess it's the nature of the question, and the type of bikes we ride, but I'm heartened by knowing that even given the choice, so many of you choose to wear a helmet. Common senses prevails over fashion or projected lifestyle Wink

Now for some on-topic content-I have a Bell Star that I love. Nice and quiet, good fit, not too heavy.

Stay safe compadres.

Posted: Fri May 13, 2016 12:50 pm

I recently bought a Schuberth C3 Pro "flip up" helmet and it is whole level above the Arai RX-7 and Quantum S I used before it.

It's really quiet on the highway, and the flip up front makes life with four eyes (glasses) so much easier while riding.

It's worth the extra money in my book .