Holy Crap... Buying a helmet

[Johnny5]

Oh whats the deal with sport bike riders wearing half helmets / nazi helmet's and the cruiser guys wearing full face helmets?   Seems to be a growing trend down here.

I grew up in NY, but I moved to CT about 11 yrs ago.  No helmet law here in CT, which I think is pretty nutty.  It's just weird to see people wheelie up and down Rt 8 doing 100mph with NO HELMET! 

I just don't think I could ever ride without a helmet, EVER.  I like my bike naked, not my head.

[l3uddha]

I got an HJC (I think CL 14/15) and the ventilation sux. I bought it for around $150 a year ago.

I also have a KBC (dunno the #) but it was $150 when I bought it new as well... and the ventilation (anti-fog) is at-par with the HJC.

The size differences between the two are huge as well. I have a small in the HJC and a medium in the KBC. The KBC is still a bit more snug.

The best helmets can run you upwards of $500. If you're on a budjet I'd go with KBC, HJC, or Shark. I dont have any experience w/ shark helmets but they are cheap and look pretty good.

I'd pick KBC over HJC any day of the week. It's probably just me, but the KBC fits my head just right because it is a little narrower than the HJC that looks more round overall.

The KBC "feels" like it has much better protection as well; ESPECIALLY in the chin area, which is a common impact zone on the helmet.

The crush-foam pads in my KBC extend (almost) all the way to my chin and hold my jaw and cheeks snug in place. The crush-foam pads on the HJC stop all the way back to just a little below, and foreward of the ear. There is virtually NO foam padding in the chin and foreward-cheek area of the helmet.

that's not very comforting. anyways, try a few on & see what fits best.

[Admiral Crunch]

My HJC is very nice and fits great.  It does fog up though.

[rangerbrown]

for the love of god stay away from icon.


HJC corbon fiber helment 320$ and less than weight than aria there are other hjc but thats the best imo
Kbc VR-2 or force RR
then theres Nolan helments farly light, half way good price, but a all around good helment.




key things to stay away from is a polycobonat(spell) shell  (the plastic) very heavly,

besure it is a snell rated helment as that has the highest safty standard.

[blue05twin]

besure it is a snell rated helment as that has the highest safty standard.

I don't agree with that, but there's already been enough oppionions about that topic.

My oppionion is that the euro standard is better than snell and has more realistic impact test.

[rangerbrown]

find one in the states that has a euro rating for a cheap price

[Egaeus]

I don't agree with that, but there's already been enough oppionions about that topic.

My oppionion is that the euro standard is better than snell and has more realistic impact test.

It all depends on what kind of wreck you are going to have.  Get a helmet that will protect you best for that wreck.  

As far as money goes, ask yourself, if I am having a wreck, and I could stop and get a different helmet, would I?  If so, you're buying the wrong helmet.

[blue05twin]

Just wondering whats the cheapest snell rated helmet for sale in the US?

I got an Arai Corsair, I bought it used for $400.  brand new for the one that I wanted it cost $650, I could get the Euro one for $500 to $550.  And if the guy I was buying my helmet from didn't finally ship me mine I would have gotten the Euro one.

[Egaeus]

The Icon Mainframe is ~$200 without graphics.  It's Snell rated.

[Johnny5]

All of the New HJC's I've been looking at are both Snell M-2005 and DOT-218 rated.

[NiceGuysFinishLast]

My scorpion was $140 - 10%, and is DOT/Snell..

[scratch]

Thanks for all the responses guys.  I think my head is a rectangle... LOL.  That's a good idea about trying them on for a while for pressure points, even if I do look like a demented Power Ranger.  It's just funny, when I was younger, I literally went into the store and bought the 1st helmet I tried on(it just happened to be a Shoei, before they cost $10,000).  It wasn't uncomfortable that I remember... but now, I'm thinking: How many vents does it have?  Is it DOT or Snell cert? How much does it weigh?  Is the visor scratch proof?

I'll certainly pay what I need for good protection for my noggin... LOL... I guess the question is: Is the protection 5x greater for the helmets that are 5x the price?

If you even CONSIDER buying a helmet that isn't DOT/Snell certified, I think the moderators are going to ride over there and knock some sense into you

He has an office outside of Poughkeepsie: http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=30883.msg344931#msg344931

Solid colors are less expensive.

Shoei Tz-1 solid white: $249
Same helmet with graphics: $300

Shoei TZR solid white: $303 (click dropdown menu in link below)
With graphics: $369 http://www.shoei-helmets.com/road/helmets_road.aspx?h=4

Things that make you go...hmmm.

[Johnny5]

He has an office outside of Poughkeepsie: http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=30883.msg344931#msg344931

Solid colors are less expensive.

Shoei Tz-1 solid white: $249
Same helmet with graphics: $300

Shoei TZR solid white: $303 (click dropdown menu in link below)
With graphics: $369 http://www.shoei-helmets.com/road/helmets_road.aspx?h=4

Things that make you go...hmmm.

Ha, yup I do, it's in Wappingers Falls LOL.  I forgot I even posted that.   

If anybody else is in the area, I found an absolutely MINT '96 red GS500e as well, with under 5000 miles!  I'm going with the '98 because it seems to be a better deal for me, price wise.

I actually like the solid orange Shoei to go with the bike which is a '98 orange, but my wife convinced me that I'd be sorry if I sold the bike.  That made a lot of sense so I've kind of decided on either Matte black, or silver and black... or base black with a small amount of addtl color. 

I tried the HJC CL-SP that I like at a local shop, and the price is nice... but I'll have to put it on longer and see how it feels:

http://www.hjchelmets.com/clsp.htm

[RVertigo]

It comes down to one thing...

Buy the one that fits the best....  Even if it's the $500 one...

When I went to buy my helmet, I thought the same thing you did...  Holy Crap!  Look at all these choices.  So...  I went about trying them on and my decision was made for me.

[gmingst]

I've had a number of helmets over the years.  I currently have a KBC Patriot, and recently picked up a Vega as I wanted a Modular helmet for the commute.  The KBC is snell/dot  The Vega is only DOT just like all the other modulars. 

The only time I ever landed on my head, I was wearing a BELL.  This goes back to 1988.  Got a concussion out of it, but I think that probably would have happened with any helmet.  It hurt, I healed.  I learned from it.

Regards
Graham

[l3uddha]

It all depends on what kind of wreck you are going to have.  Get a helmet that will protect you best for that wreck.  

that line should go down in history 

[FearedGS500]

if no one has said it . check out newenough.com !!! hit up there clearnce section

[OctaneMotorsports]

An HJC CS-12 saved my life: (pictures don't do a justice)


After that I picked up a KBC TK-8 for about the same amount of money if I remember correctly. Way nicer helmet, way more comfortable, everything is ten steps higher in quality. I'd highly recommend it (they go for $125-$150 depending on colours, and they have some nice ones too).

http://www.kbc-helmet.com/kbcbbs/zboard.php?id=street&page=1&sn1=&divpage=1&sn=off&ss=on&sc=on&&select_arrange=headnum&desc=asc&no=22&PHPSESSID=bdec1e69695248aba64077f165a32593

[Cozzy]

I have some problems with buying helment too, becuase my head is quite big, currently riding with an OGK.....really good.

RST is sort of good and not expensive, consider to give it a go!

[Yankee Punker]

He has an office outside of Poughkeepsie: http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=30883.msg344931#msg344931

Solid colors are less expensive.

Shoei Tz-1 solid white: $249
Same helmet with graphics: $300

Shoei TZR solid white: $303 (click dropdown menu in link below)
With graphics: $369 http://www.shoei-helmets.com/road/helmets_road.aspx?h=4

Things that make you go...hmmm.

Ha, yup I do, it's in Wappingers Falls LOL.  I forgot I even posted that.   

If anybody else is in the area, I found an absolutely MINT '96 red GS500e as well, with under 5000 miles!  I'm going with the '98 because it seems to be a better deal for me, price wise.

I actually like the solid orange Shoei to go with the bike which is a '98 orange, but my wife convinced me that I'd be sorry if I sold the bike.  That made a lot of sense so I've kind of decided on either Matte black, or silver and black... or base black with a small amount of addtl color. 

I tried the HJC CL-SP that I like at a local shop, and the price is nice... but I'll have to put it on longer and see how it feels:

http://www.hjchelmets.com/clsp.htm

The HJC  CL-SP is a great helmet for the money, and is DOT/ Snell approved and HJC helmets are used by a lot of pro's, I like the CL-SP it has a quick change visor, washable liner, and the best aerodynamics of any helmet I've ever used.