Helmets

Posted: Fri May 13, 2016 1:18 pm

I've been wearing HJC helmets for years with satisfaction. I will say that wind noise with them is quite noticeable and I'll look for a quieter one in the near future. I'd also like to have a transition visor or an inner flip-down tinted visor so I can eliminate the need for sunglasses. Bluetooth capability will also be a requirement. The choices and options continue to grow, which is a good thing.

I've seen guys riding their cruisers on the highway in shorts, tank top, flip flops, and no helmet and can only shake my head in disbelief. Sad

Posted: Fri May 13, 2016 1:40 pm

the best helmet is the one that fits you, but if you don't have the experience to be able to make this judgement in the shop, not as easy as it sounds
loose is no use
but - too tight with pressure spots is worse because its all the excuse you need to not wear it - usually you'll sense this along the forehead ridge, sometimes you'll sense a squeezing in at the temples - do not listen to the salesman bollocks "it will ease off with wearing" rubbish

the one area you can't test ( and hence best if you can borrow) = noise, you can find a great fitting helmet around yir crown but if there's gaps, especially side to back along the bottom = major wind noise

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

f4fast wrote:

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 .

Thanks for the great input...
I too have glasses and it IS a pain in the ass to press my glass in the helmet....

What did you pay for the Schuberth and from where...?

Thanks, E

Hawk Joined: Aug 17, 2013 Posts: 302 Location: Devon. UK

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

I have a couple of Shoei GT Air's, they're really comfy and secure and have the same flip down sun visor as your AGV. It's really useful on the odd days we get sunshine here!
They also have second inner screen clipped on to the main visor which works brilliantly preventing the visor fogging up.
The only thing I don't like is the strap fastening which is the double metal loop arrangement, I uld have thought they'd have come up with something easier and quicker by now.

Posted: Fri May 13, 2016 7:46 pm

I also have a GT-Air and love it. I changed the cheek pads to a different size to fit my face as I don't like the super tight fit new helmets have. Nice parts are available for it. It is a super quiet helmet so I can hear my bike not wind noise!

Posted: Fri May 13, 2016 7:53 pm

HJC makes helmets for Icon.

Toddk

Posted: Fri May 13, 2016 8:21 pm

Erock wrote:

f4fast wrote:

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 .

Thanks for the great input...
I too have glasses and it IS a pain in the ass to press my glass in the helmet....

What did you pay for the Schuberth and from where...?

Thanks, E

Bought the Schuberth while I was at a California SuperBike Riding class in New Jersey..They offered a discount and I think they had a deal with Revzilla (I think) ,and the helmet came a month later (backorder) through Revzilla. I was thinking about getting the safety orange color, but went with the goofy dayglo Hi Viz safety yellow instead. I think I paid around $650, but I'm not sure. (Don't remember). When I got it, I Immediately noticed more eye contact with motorists in cars, because the color is so obnoxious (matches my personality..Yuk Yuk..) and draws the eye to it. That's always a good thing in populated areas.

The convertible aspect is much more convenient with glasses, because they can stay on when you put it on.....I find the convenience of pulling the front up while maneuvering in the garage and parking lots a huge benefit as Fullface helmets always seem to distort my vision and sense of balance when standing and not riding. I don't actually ride without the front snapped down. I also love the internal sliding tinted visor and find it convenient even though I have Transitions lenses in my eyeglasses.

My wife bought the Schuberth C3 Pro woman's model before I got mine. She was always bragging about how quiet her helmet was, and I decided to get one after she was so happy with hers.

I saw that Fitter had one (Schuberth C3 pro) on the last NE ride I went to, and he was also very happy with it, so that also contributed to my decision.

Link

Posted: Fri May 13, 2016 8:32 pm

I was eyeing that Schuberth for my next helmet. Looks pretty nice. Too bad it to doesn't come in the old Spencer Arai paint scheme!

Posted: Fri May 13, 2016 9:07 pm

brett_s wrote:

I was eyeing that Schuberth for my next helmet. Looks pretty nice. Too bad it to doesn't come in the old Spencer Arai paint scheme!

I put my Spencer Arai on the shelf for that goofy Hi Viz Schuberth....

Posted: Fri May 13, 2016 9:48 pm

I've also got a Schuberth but I've had it a long time, so I can't remember what it's called, it could be a C1 or C2. I had a BMW System helm 3 (made by Schuberth) before this one and my daughter had a Mk2. All flip front, great for putting yer glasses on or off. In UK and the rest of Europe helmets are compulsory, although some countries have some provision for no helmet in certain limited circumstances. I've never had the opportunity to feel the wind in my hair on an open highway, now I ain't got much hair Sad

Photo's to follow in a minute or 10. My new ish Schuberth, in black, with the front flipped up and the inner sun visor up and down. My sun strip is in black but you can change it for mirrored if you want. My visor is excellent. When down it can be sealed or clicked forwards a few millimetres, then there are 4 positions to fully open. It has a vent in the chin bar for keeping your visor mist free (in theory at least) and one on top for head cooling. I've found the clips for removing the visor make a lot of noise on my newer helm. You can't see it because it's black on black, but all the lettering and logo stickers on my helmet are retro-reflective.

You can also change out the basic neck pad for one with built in bluetooth etc, costs around £300 extra. Schuberth have them for all their helmets now, or you can buy the helmet with it fitted for about £250 more than a basic one.
My old silver Mk3 needs two hands to open the flip front, the newer one is one handed.

Posted: Fri May 13, 2016 10:08 pm

My brain bucket Smile

And 4 shots of it, chin open, sun strip in position etc and one of it's predecessor Very Happy

Posted: Sat May 14, 2016 12:18 am

HJC CL-17 $129 + or- Snell approved. Personally I use a shark Gen 4 or is it a Gen 3 modular and a shoi RF-1200 when I'm serious.

Posted: Sat May 14, 2016 2:34 am

I've had a hjc helmet with the sun visor for a few years. it wasn't one of the better more expensive models. since i have glasses i wanted the inner sun visor. this year i got a nolan n86. has inner sun visor, pin lock anti fog insert for visor, a buckle or whatever for the chin strap not the double ring style, its set up for blue tooth but i won't use that, eye glass adaptive. its a much better helmet in aerodynamics, sound, a bit on weight i think. its cut a bit higher so it moves well when i turn my head and the wind doesn't whip it around like my other helmet. i'm very happy with it so far. fit is good and comfortable.

i do really like that shoe gt air. maybe next time.

Posted: Sat May 14, 2016 12:07 pm

BTW, every four years or so you should replace your helmet due to the inner construction degrading over time, whether you've worn it a lot or a little.

Additionally, it should be replaced if you've been in an accident with it, period. The one that saved my life just sits on a shelf as a reminder. (Bell Star racing helmet, custom made for me in the '70s).

Posted: Sun May 15, 2016 10:07 pm

Arai for fit and finish.

Currently an RX 7 Corsair.

Maybe an Arai Signet Q for the next round.

Repairs, replacement parts, and refurbishment is right over in Fogelsville, Pa.

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

70rsss wrote:

I also have a GT-Air and love it. I changed the cheek pads to a different size to fit my face as I don't like the super tight fit new helmets have. Nice parts are available for it. It is a super quiet helmet so I can hear my bike not wind noise!

Tried one on today...had to go with the XL.....Great fitting helmet....Might be the front runner....

E

Posted: Mon May 16, 2016 12:16 am

Erock wrote:

70rsss wrote:

I also have a GT-Air and love it. I changed the cheek pads to a different size to fit my face as I don't like the super tight fit new helmets have. Nice parts are available for it. It is a super quiet helmet so I can hear my bike not wind noise!

Tried one on today...had to go with the XL.....Great fitting helmet....Might be the front runner....

E

I'm upgrading this year E to the GT-Air Journey.....I'm due and if you read what JR said that's exactly right. Every 4 years I trade up.....

Posted: Mon May 16, 2016 12:57 am

My Riding instructor said this to me and it stuck: "You can wear any helmet you want to make it 'legal' but do this: put that tiny skull cap on and stand next to a wall... every part of your face that touches the wall, touches the concrete when you go down."

Not that I wasn't always going to wear a helmet anyways, but that definitely sealed it for me Very Happy

Posted: Mon May 16, 2016 1:06 am

Here's a new one for you.

NO CHIN STRAP.

I saw this in person at Easterncreek in Sydney AUS this year and really liked all of its innovations. It works like a trailer hitch and fits your head much better then any helmet I have tried in the past and I'm up to 30 some odd helmets of various makers to date.

I also will NEVER get on a bike without a FULL FACE bucket on. Last summer I was going 40mph and hit gravel in a corner. This high sided me and knocked me out. My two month old Shoei is now just a wall hanger. It did its $450.00 worth.
I plan to get one of these Vozz buckets soon.

http://www.vozzhelmets.com/the-helmet.html

MB-5 Joined: May 30, 2012 Posts: 11 Location: Utah

Billrocks48 wrote:

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.

I've worn a Shoei RF-700 for years and really like it. I recently purchased a Bell Qualifier DLX to replace it, and while I loved the fit, paint job, and Transition shield, it was LOUD. I ultimately decided to return it and keep using the Shoei until I find something I like.

Posted: Thu Jun 09, 2016 6:01 pm

I'd never buy a helmet online without trying it on. I have had good success within a line, that is, I bought the same helmet I had been wearing again (online this time) and it fit the same.

I always try to get one that is DOT and SNELL Approved

my $0.02

-Sebastian

Posted: Sun Jun 12, 2016 3:22 am

RF700 is going on20 years old, time for something new! The interior no matter how nice has aged. I just always assume I'm going to fall someday and I want to look pretty when it happens. Wink

Toddk

Posted: Sun Jun 12, 2016 3:43 am

Todd you're always pretty. You decide pretty......

Chico

MB-5 Joined: Sep 05, 2012 Posts: 17 Location: Norman, OK

I wear a Bell RS1 and a Bell Vortex. I have a transitions photochromatic shield that goes dark in the day and light at night. It's come in really handy when I'm out later than expected or travelling somewhere else and don't have room to carry 2 shields. The RS1 is very light and breezy. Good air flow, even with vents closed. So thats my summer helmet. The Vortex is heavier and hotter so I wear that one mostly in the winter
On a side note. I've witnessed 2 people have minor accidents that took a major whack to the helmet and walk away. I had a minor 'off' and while I don't think the helmet saved my life, it did positively save me some rash to the face