Buying a helmet

[iandunn]

I'm going to buy a helmet soon, and I've got a few picked out. What do you guys think? Is one of them much better than the other? Are there better ones for less than $150?

KBC Vision
KBC Wolf
KBC TK8
HJC CL14


Thanks,
Ian

[pixelmonkey]

nice selection and good brands.

i would say it's a toss up between the KBC TK8 and the HJC

i dont like the Vision because it doesnt have any ventalation for the nose area. as for the Wolf, it reminds me too much of Simpson Helmets used in Sprint car and Drag car racing.

I have a HJC CL12 i believe, and love it! Low wind noise at speed when the shield is down, and good flow to keep your head cool when the vents are open.

ALSO, check ebay on these!!!
chris<pixelmonkey>

[jiggersplat]

i have the cl14 and have no complaints.  i don't have much to compare it to though as i haven't really worn to many other helmets.

[dyran]

Make sure you go to a store that carries the helmet you are looking at on line, and try it on for size there and then you'll know the exact size you need.
The helmet is to save your head so DO not worry about price, a $400 helmet is worth the weeks worth of work instead of a squished head on the road. I personally have a Shoei TZ-1 and it is comfortable, doesn't fog up easily and has great crash ratings...money doesn't mean much if you're dead...

[dollar95]

I wear glasses so the first helmet I ordered was a Vega Summit in Illusion Blue (which is another word for purple) for $149.00 USD

The Vega was almost the same in design as the HJC Symax.  HJC had a little better quality but not nearly enough to cover the extra $100 in cost.

I liked the Vega so I kept if for about two months while I looked for a graphic modular helmet because I hated the purple color.  I wound up with Zeus 508S for $119.00 USD.

The Zeus looked pretty cool but the quality was definitely poorer.  I currently have a Fulmer JackKnife modular helmet which was $124.99 USD.

Now that I'm done blabbing, I'd go with the CL14 out of the ones you listed.  My friend has one and he loves it.  I've tried it out and like it but until I get lasik I'm sticking to modular.

[iandunn]

dryan, I've gotten the impression that the difference between a $150 helmet and a $500 helmet really isn't any extra protection, but lighter materials, more comfort and more features. The KBCs and HJCs are both Snell, so I would think they're pretty good. Right?

[Gofer]

Vemar makes a helmet, the VSS. You can find it for $150(helmetharbor.com), but i don't know of any other place that carries it. From what i can tell, they're a European brand trying to break into the American market, so it may be a good deal.

But i don't know anything about Vemar helmets, so if someone has any experience with them, feel free to post.

[TheGoodGuy]

newenough has the HJC CL14 model for 85..

one of the cl14 thinge is not continued for 2005, so its being sold cheap.

[dyran]

The cheaper helmets met the safety standards, the more expensive ones exceed them, a buddy of mine had a 'top of the line' HJC helmet and it split in half when he was thrown of the back of his bike...I had never heard of a helmet doing that before and if I had not have seen the helmet after wards I don't think I'd believe it... lucky for him his head hit and then he went sliding on his back with his head up, some bad road rash and  a bruised head and face...that's all I have to say about that.

[sams96gs]

i love my hjc i crassed and it saved me, i have friends with suomy and and other high end that have cracked them but i swear buy hjc

[manofthefield]

I'm not a helmet designer, but i would guess that helmets are designed to break or do whatever necessary to absorb a BIG impact and protect your head.  Just like a crumple zone in a car.  One time use only, this is why you have to replace your helmet after a crash, even if the damgage isn't visible.

That being said, I have a CL-14, it's a great helmet for the price ($85 in the closeout section at newenough ).  I do have a couple of gripes if I were to be nitpicky: IMO kinda noisy at speed, I wear earplugs for longer trips, and sometimes I don't feel like the vents are venting, but other people rave about the vents so :dunno:

[the_ted]

i love my hjc i crassed and it saved me, i have friends with suomy and and other high end that have cracked them but i swear buy hjc

they're supposed to do that... like it was said earlier in this thd, the helmet is designed to protect you in the event of a SINGLE crash.  as soon as your helmet hits the ground or whatever, it's basically no good after that.  of course, you could be like my R6-crashing friend, and still use his old helmet because he's too cheap to buy another.  No helmet laws in HI, so I guess it really doesn't matter to him, at least the helmet matches his new bike too  

AFAIK, any helmet that is DOT/Snell is safe for road use, and the higher end ones are just 'better' (comfy, light, bells n'whistles, etc.)... when I tried on the HJCs, I couldn't get my glasses in, so that pretty much ruled it out for me.  I'm quite happy w/my arai  

[JetSwing]

check out KBC VR-1...they are better than the ones that you've listed.

the cheapest i've seen for a solid is helmetshop.com

$138 shipped

[iandunn]

You're right, the VR-1 does look good. I can't remember why I passed it up before.

What do you guys think for colors? I'm debating between the red and light silver. The red'll be easier to see during the day, but the silver at night. I can put reflective stickers on to impove the night visibility, so would it be safer to go with the red?

[Gofer]

http://www.helmetharbor.com/streethelmets/helmets/vemar/opening.htm#Vemar%20VSS

Just thought i'd put that link on here since nobody seems to have followed up on it.

[the_ted]

You're right, the VR-1 does look good. I can't remember why I passed it up before.

What do you guys think for colors? I'm debating between the red and light silver. The red'll be easier to see during the day, but the silver at night. I can put reflective stickers on to impove the night visibility, so would it be safer to go with the red?

i think either one should be ok, esp. if you're going to add the stickies.  they're both more visible than, say, a  black helmet ^_^

[bcutrufelli]

i just got a scorpian helmet that great  around the same price as hjc

[Dorianfes]

anyone know how come the Vega helmets are so cheap?  are they any good or is this just a good deal?

http://www.helmetshop.com/items.asp?CartId=1547-EVEREST-7273SVYYA88&cc=VEGA&tpc=

[Traveler]

I have the KBC VR1 and like the fit and finish. The wind noise is tolerable,  but I wore earplugs today on the return part of a 180 mile ride and it was much better.
The venting is OK and the side vision is good.
The silver works for me, but I am a "Ride Bright and Be SEEN" freak.

[cummuterguy]

I went down in a HJC helmet 10 years ago at 130mph, helmet was scarred, chipped and dented all over, but I had NO head injury, neck injury or brain trauma. I have full respect for the HJC brand.