Buying a Helmet (yes ... an old, but important topic)

[surf.seppo]

Hi GSers!

Ok, so I sold my GS ( ) and am on my way to pick up my new (ok ... old) BMW within the week ( ). I gave away my two HJC helmets with the bike (PS: shoutout to the buyer ... I know you're probably reading this forum. Hope changing the chain went alright). I had a small CL-10 as a passenger helmet, and a CL-15 (small) as my helmet.

I'm looking for a full-face or modular helmet. Something snazzy looking, but I want white. Looking at online pics, white helps heaps with visibility.

So: I searched these forums, and found out a lot of information. Probably too much info. It seems like some people don't like the hard SNELL approved shells, and prefer DOT-only standards. Some people don't like helmets at all. I rode without a helmet once or twice to listen for weird engine noises ... damn scary, and I prefer keeping my noggin safe.

Anyway: what do people recommend? I could see spending up to $200 on a new helmet, but, as always, money is tight. Safety is top priority. I'm wondering what the difference between DOT-only no names (http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/Product/Pr-p_Product.CATENTRY_ID:2010079/c-10111/Nty-1/p-2010079/Ntx-mode+matchallpartial/N-10111/tf-Browse/s-10101/Ntk-AllTextSearchGroup?Ntt=helmet) and SHOEI or Nolan helmets is.

Thanks guys! 

[aaronjosephward]

Shoei RF1000 is awesome.
As for the no names, here is a review type thing I posted on another forum. The hawk can be found for $45 online.
http://www.chicagolandsportbikes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=75075

[cstilt]

I would read this. I think it sums things up rather nicely : http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/gearbox/motorcycle_helmet_review/index.html

The helmet I wore when I was tossed over my handle bars was only DOT certified. That was good enough to save my life.  It was just a cheap Vega brand given too me for buying my GS. Heck, I hit the ground hard enough to split the shell on it.

[shiznizbiz]

That article was great.  +1 for that cstilt

[SteveM]

The old adage that if you have a $10 head then buy a $10 helmet applies. I have always preferred Shoei because they fit me the best but recently I have found a nice M2R helmet as well as an HJC Raven fit well and was reasonably priced.

[bikejunkie223]

Scorpion EXO-700, in closeout colors, from sportbiketrackgear.com, with smoked visor, shipped to your door for $185. That's what I would do- it's what I did...

http://stores.sportbiketrackgear.com/Detail.bok?no=535
http://stores.sportbiketrackgear.com/Detail.bok?no=527
Either of these or similar would be killer

[DoD#i]

I'm looking for a full-face or modular helmet. Something snazzy looking, but I want white. Looking at online pics, white helps heaps with visibility.

So: I searched these forums, and found out a lot of information. Probably too much info. It seems like some people don't like the hard SNELL approved shells, and prefer DOT-only standards. Some people don't like helmets at all.

If you want vis, the color you want is fire-truck yellow - slime-lime - revolting but effective. Not sure who stocks that, but I see a few out there.

"Some people" are not very clever. My min spec is the latest Snell rating and DOT. Snell is specifically tailored to actual motorcycle crash performance and modified as new research comes in. It's also quality tested on random samples, so build quality has to be maintained.

That said, I just bought (since it seems to fit me well and Bieffe is not in the US market anymore) an HJC CL-15 in solid red. They also have solid white. I'm personally thrilled that the HJC label peels right off, leaving it more of a solid red. If newenough has your size on hand, they were the low, low price leader to the point that you had to email them for a price link - a good $20 under any other online source. I bought from elsewhere since my XL head was not to be in stock for a couple of months, and my Bieffe is old enough to vote, but not quite old enough to drink. Let's not talk about how long the Yamaha has been in pieces...

IMHO Shoei and Arai have priced themselves into the stratosphere, but people will think that they think - and heads are different shapes, too. I'm quite happy with the CL-15, but perhaps you are not, since you gave yours away. At the time I bought my Bieffe, you could buy a Shoei or Arai for about the same price, and the CL-15 is as good as and sometimes better in terms of the comfort/convenience features that are supposed to be the difference between lower priced Snell rated lids and higher priced Snell rated lids, unless you buy into the voodoo that taking a $150 helmet and charging $600 for it makes it protect your 4X better, which I don't.

[bikejunkie223]

I agree with the yellow or green for visibility, mine is yellow. Scorpion Exo-700 is both DOT and Snell certified. Quite light also. You can pay more, but I couldn't justify it.

[Paulcet]

That Motorcyclist article is great.  really explains the difference between DOT and Snell.  I really don't like the self-certification scheme of DOT.  But I think some of the  Snell criteria may be out of touch.

I have heard that the helmet you wear is the one that protects your head.  So if it is so uncomfortable that you consider riding without it, you should spend more on one  that is comfortable or has more vents etc.

Personally, I have the cheapest Snell that I could find  and fit my head:  HJC CL-12.

Considering so many helmets are made in China, do you trust them to properly certify their performance?

[bikejunkie223]

Considering so many helmets are made in China, do you trust them to properly certify their performance?

Sure I do, I wouldn't eat the paint off one though....

[The Buddha]

A $10 helmet does not imply you have $10 head. It does imply you dont have a lot of sensory issues, dont care about head hygene, dont care that its loud as heck, drafty when it should be tight, and not flow enough when it is needed to and is over sized for your head making you look like a space alien and weighs enough to give you the neck muscles of mike tyson.

Good helmets are light, quiet, let in air when you need, keep it out when you dont, have removable and washable liners, and are appropriate sized for your head.

Its about refinements, you can buy a yugo or a rolls. They both get you point a to b. Just how frazzled you will be when you get to B ... maybe you never frazzle ... then get a yugo.
Cool.
Buddha.

[DoD#i]

A $10 helmet does not imply you have $10 head. It does imply you dont have a lot of sensory issues, dont care about head hygene, dont care that its loud as heck, drafty when it should be tight, and not flow enough when it is needed to and is over sized for your head making you look like a space alien and weighs enough to give you the neck muscles of mike tyson.

...and the HJC CL-15 does all of this, and more, for cheap. Under $100 from newenough, over from others. The removable, washable liner was a requirement, looking at the years of head-glop stuck in the Bieffe's liner that was not removable. Noise - similar or quieter. Weight - slightly less. Size - similar, slightly wider, don't notice any additional drag, may have better overall aerodynamics. Vent setup seems good. Shield has built-in antifog, though I'll slap a Fog City on there if it doesn't do the job come cold weather.

[The Buddha]

I wasn't saying about any particular brand. I am just saying, dont just compare $$ and snell/dot ratings and conclude that one is over $$ for no reason. Fit of course trumps everything. heck fit may compensate for noise and for venting or aggravate it depending ...

BTW I never used to like shoei and they never fit me right. ~3-4 years ago I bought an RF900 on a gamble and it fit me well. Maybe they changed shape, or I changed heads ... dunno.

Then on, I have become a shoei nut. See the fit was the only problem for me, it was well suited otherwise. low noise, quiet, washable etc etc.

BTW the Bieffe I used to wear, firmly slotted into second place very very very close behind shoei, The drawback is weight which I dont give much importance to, its only a shade more really, and the fact they dont make the damn bieffe now.

Cool.
Buddha.

[Juan1]

I like my HJC CL-SP.  You can get one for about $140 if you shop around and check ebay.  I'm a new rider so I have no point of reference, but the reviews are very positive on the helmet.  When it's hot, the vents do their job, especially the mouth vent.  When it's cold, closing the vents definitely makes a difference with respect to warmth.  

[fred]

It took me forever to find a helmet I liked. I wanted something with plenty of vents and a Snell rating. In the end I just went to the biggest motorcycle store around and tried on every helmet they had. I settled on a solid white Icon Airframe. I think is is a pretty good helmet, it fits me really well, has lots of vents, but isn't too loud. I was going to get a Shoei or an Arai and was willing to shell out extra for them, but neither brand made a helmet that really fit me. I suggest just going somewhere where you can try on a dozen or so different kinds of helmets to find the perfect one. I don't see how ordering one online could ever work unless you went and tried them on somewhere else and were just ordering online to get a better deal...

[Jackstand Johnny]

I just got my GMAX GM68 in the mail, and I love it. You should check them out. $120 shipped, and came with a tinted visor, halmet and visor bag, led's in the back, and sony batteries for them. It's got 19 vents that you can open and close yourself, and it looks pretty sick too. I got mine in matte black, but they also have some ones with dragon or medievil graphics.

[bikejunkie223]

I have a friend with a Scorpion I tried on to confirm fit, plus every helmet I tried regardless of brand I was a medium so I went online to not get raped by a stealership. If my wallet was more well hung I would likely have a Shoei, Arai, or Suomy but it isn't so the Scorpion was my best bet, or the Bell Apex

[bombadillo]

Go to www.newenough.com or www.ironpony.com and they'll have some great closeout prices.  This isn't too bad for what it is: http://www.newenough.com/closeouts/helmets/joe_rocket/rkt_101_solid_edge_motorcycle_helmet.html

I have an ac-12 el diablo from HJC and its been awesome.  Closure is great, wind noise is a bit much anywhere above 60, but I guess thats kinda the norm and why many people wear plugs.  I have nothing bad to say about HJC and would recommend them to anyone.

[surf.seppo]

Sweet! Thanks for all the help, guys.

To be frank, my HJC CL-15 was awesome. I liked the removable liner, it was comfortable, and it fit my head well. However, the venting was a bit on the shy side. There's only the shield vents and then four face vents. It didn't manage fogging as well as I'd like, so I often wore it shield-up with oakleys on (in the city) or shield slightly cracked (highway).

[nascarkeith]

I like my CL-15.  I just wish it had more positions to put the shield in besides open, half, a small crack, and closed.  My dad and bro paid double what I did but got Scorpions.  They have a lot of vents and are well liked.