anyone got an opinion on the gmax gm68s?

KasbeKZ · July 20, 2009, 04:57:38 PM

in my little bit of research, this is what i've found to like. i haven't found anything bad about it yet. i'm pretty much worried about safety. can a helmet that cheap be competitively safe? by that i mean, as safe as other brands? i'm sure after i've had my bike for a year or so, i'll get a nice shoei or something, but for right now, $110 on a helmet looks pretty good. dumb decision?

http://www.gmaxhelmet.com/

Dr.Sparkie · July 20, 2009, 05:04:46 PM

the snell rated helmets will at least protect you, as snell tests the brain buckets. some people say snell is too stiff and can lead to injury, but it's a motorsport standard. dot is a standard, but its volantary compliance (like a take home test with no cheaters allowed....right).

there's an EU spec thats tested, but not as stiff as snell... good stuff, that will be my next helmet for sure. right now I own a similar 100$ helmet, so yeah, go for it.

cboling · July 20, 2009, 06:21:06 PM

I gotta say, I had the same thoughts and concerns as you do about helmets especially. I went out and tried a few name brand helmets and they all seemed really nice. I was surprised that what I thought would fit (XL) didn't. It really put pressure on my cheeks and top of my head.

I had been looking on Ebay at the different helmets and noticed the really cheap ones. They look good and seemed to have very similar features. As I have looked at the overall design between the helmets you listed and one that I bought (Yes, Ebay special,) it really looks like the same design in helmet. I am wondering if there is one company that makes the cheapo helmets and companies contract a graphic and call it whatever brand?

What I am noticing a big difference in is the fit and the padding in my cheapo helmet compared to a good quality helmet. It feels like the padding in the el-cheapo helmet is pretty thin. I would assume too that the plastic shell is moderately protective compared to a much higher quality helmet. (i.e. fiberglass or carbon fiber or other.) I also noticed that the graphics on the helmet I bought appears to be the graphic shrink wrap sticker film stuff. (not painted.) That may be the standard but it seemed a bit cheap.

I will probably go try some more helmets on to see if I can tell a big difference in the padding which might make me go for a better helmet quickly.

As for what I got, it's not bad but I do question the real safety of it. It seems like even in a low impact, your head would get rocked a bit. However, comparing it to the Wal-Mart Grant that I had many years ago, I would rate it about the same.

Just my two bits.

KasbeKZ · July 20, 2009, 06:30:34 PM

thanks guys.

btw, i forgot to mention. i just got my M classification yesterday! bitchin' yeah!

Toogoofy317 · July 20, 2009, 06:45:38 PM

Well, sometimes you do get what you pay for. I mean if you are not worried about a "hayabusa" helmet by Shoei I believe ScottPA can get you one for $100! I don't think I'd trust ebay with a helmet. 1. Unless you have tried the exact helmet on at a store you don't know how it's going to fit. 2. It could be a "knockoff" of a good brand but may fall apart when falling off your bike. 3. If it is used you don't know if it has been in an accident.

For me the helmet that fit me best was the Shoei RF-1000 I have another helmet from PEP Boys that I got before I started riding. Although, it is 3/4 helmet it is twice as heavy as the Shoei and gives me neck pain. If a helmet doesn't fit perfectly then no matter how much it cost it's not gonna help because you ain't gonna wear it!

My .02 cents!

Mary

Skeets · July 20, 2009, 06:55:52 PM

Well all helmets provide the same protection (full face). For example an Gmax will protect your head as well as a Arai. Actually in most tests the cheaper helmets did better than the more expensive ones!
I've had 2 Gmax's and love both of them. Only thing I don't like is that they are a little loud (wind noise) that's it. (When you buy an expensive helmet you are buying the features of it.)

My brother has one also and he loves it too! It also comes with a free tinted visor!

We got ours from motorcyclesuperstore.com

Toogoofy317 · July 20, 2009, 07:09:51 PM

hmmm, where are the facts that back that up Skeets? I know any FF is better than none at all. But, not all helmets are the same! If they were they'd all cost the same. Just by holding my GPX and Shoei I can tell the difference in craftmanship. There is much better padding inside. Also, another plus for the Shoei esp if you have a small head like me is this: The Shoei has four different size shells. Which means for my small head I get a smaller shell and the propper amount of padding. Most of the cheaper helmets use the XL size Shell and just stuff it full of padding! Kinda like making a helmet for a basketball and shoving filler in to fit a cantaloupe! I don't see that as being safe for a higher impact collision. BTW make sure you do get full face according to the Hurt Report about 17% of incidents hit the right chin and 19% the left (or vice versa can't remember) really don't know why we hit more on one side of our chin vs the other but it's in black and white!

Mary

ineedanap · July 20, 2009, 07:14:41 PM

Quote from: Toogoofy317 on July 20, 2009, 07:09:51 PM
hmmm, where are the facts that back that up Skeets?

here's some independant helmet ratings and like skeets said, it's surprising who scored well.

http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycle-helmets/sharp-helmet-rating-system.htm

Skeets · July 20, 2009, 07:21:09 PM

Quote from: Toogoofy317 on July 20, 2009, 07:09:51 PM
hmmm, where are the facts that back that up Skeets? I know any FF is better than none at all. But, not all helmets are the same! If they were they'd all cost the same. Just by holding my GPX and Shoei I can tell the difference in craftmanship. There is much better padding inside. Also, another plus for the Shoei esp if you have a small head like me is this: The Shoei has four different size shells. Which means for my small head I get a smaller shell and the propper amount of padding. Most of the cheaper helmets use the XL size Shell and just stuff it full of padding! Kinda like making a helmet for a basketball and shoving filler in to fit a cantaloupe! I don't see that as being safe for a higher impact collision. BTW make sure you do get full face according to the Hurt Report about 17% of incidents hit the right chin and 19% the left (or vice versa can't remember) really don't know why we hit more on one side of our chin vs the other but it's in black and white!

Mary

Like I said before, when you buy an expensive helmet you are buying the extra features like no noise, light weight, and good paint. Cheaper ones perform the same way as the others but don't have the features but they protect just as well or even better in some cases. Many people believe that the more they pay, the better protection..This is not true at all.
http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/gearbox/motorcycle_helmet_review/index.html

Check it out!

In fact, our results show that modern helmets are all made with an amazing degree of precision, with their shell construction, liner density and liner thickness all controlled very well in the production process. In other words, almost everybody designing serious helmets seems to know exactly how to get what they want—the only variable is deciding what they want. And for the most part, the standards make that decision for them, not flashes of genius on the parts of the helmet designers themselves.

All the helmets we tested performed exactly as the standards they were designed to meet predicted. And they seemed to exceed those standards—that is, the DOT-only helmets were better at high-energy impacts than they had to be just to pass the DOT standard, and the Snell helmets were better at absorbing low-energy impacts than they had to be to pass DOT or Snell.So choosing a helmet, at least in terms of safety, is not a question of choosing high or low quality, it's one of choosing what degree of stiffness you prefer, finding a helmet in that range by choosing a particular standard, and then worrying about fine points like fit, comfort, ventilation, graphics, racer endorsements or computer-generated spokesmodels.

Toogoofy317 · July 20, 2009, 07:22:42 PM

cool thanks Ineedanap! Will read up on it. I think motorcycle world had a good long write-up and a follow up with snell some years back. But, I don't think we've had anything serious in a few years now have we?

Oh my I saw the Carbon Fiber Blue Helmet from HJC it matched Flick too well! But it was $125 more than my SHOEI!

Mary

KasbeKZ · July 20, 2009, 07:27:13 PM

wow bell helmets rated really well.

ineedanap · July 20, 2009, 07:29:24 PM

It's crazy...SHARP testing kind of flipped the helmet world upside down. Everyone who is buying a helmet should at least check out their information. I'm pretty sure it's what inspired Arai to redesign their flagship RX7, since it scored so bad for a $600 helmet.

Skeets · July 20, 2009, 07:31:31 PM

Summary of this: Expensive helmet doesn't mean better protection

Toogoofy317 · July 20, 2009, 07:37:04 PM

If it causes to much noise, is uncomfortable, or has other things that bother you even if it cost a $1 it's not going to do you danged bit of good if you don't wear it! And yeah I consider those safety! If a helmet causes me pain in my neck then it could be $7000 and the best out there I'm not gonna wear it. I'm not saying that it is the best based on price alone.

What I am saying is that you will want a helmet that you are going to wear everyday and in my case some days up to five or six hours a day depending on how many errands I gotta run! From my experience that type of helmet doesn't cost $50! But, I tell you what if I found a Shoei for that price I'm scooping it up! Like I said ScottPa has some Shoeis for $99 if you don't mind the hyabusa logo!

Also, try NewEnough.com ! Great Deals on Great gear! Also, have you gotten other gear such as a jacket, gloves, pants, and boots! I just got a sweet pair of gloves off of there for $13 shipped and the guys here got me a bitchin suzuki Jacket that was $89!

Mary

Skeets · July 20, 2009, 07:52:25 PM

Quote from: Toogoofy317 on July 20, 2009, 07:37:04 PM
If it causes to much noise, is uncomfortable, or has other things that bother you even if it cost a $1 it's not going to do you danged bit of good if you don't wear it! And yeah I consider those safety! If a helmet causes me pain in my neck then it could be $7000 and the best out there I'm not gonna wear it. I'm not saying that it is the best based on price alone.

What I am saying is that you will want a helmet that you are going to wear everyday and in my case some days up to five or six hours a day depending on how many errands I gotta run! From my experience that type of helmet doesn't cost $50! But, I tell you what if I found a Shoei for that price I'm scooping it up! Like I said ScottPa has some Shoeis for $99 if you don't mind the hyabusa logo!

Also, try NewEnough.com ! Great Deals on Great gear! Also, have you gotten other gear such as a jacket, gloves, pants, and boots! I just got a sweet pair of gloves off of there for $13 shipped and the guys here got me a Buddha Loves Youin suzuki Jacket that was $89!

Mary

Of course if the wind noise bothers you enough to distract you, but in my case it doesn't. I wear mine everyday and it's comfy. You can say the same though for your "non noise" helmet. It's so quiet you couldn't hear the car next to you about to knock you off your bike. Cons and pros'

ineedanap · July 20, 2009, 07:58:38 PM

Quote from: Skeets on July 20, 2009, 07:52:25 PM
Of course if the wind noise bothers you enough to distract you, but in my case it doesn't. I wear mine everyday and it's comfy. You can say the same though for your "non noise" helmet. It's so quiet you couldn't hear the car next to you about to knock you off your bike. Cons and pros'

I don't mean to sound like a turd or a Mr know it all...but that's just crazy. I've owned several helmets and the "quieter" ones allow you to hear more. By cutting down on the wind noise you can hear what's going on around you much better. In fact I wear a Shoei AND earplugs every day because it allows me to hear things like tire noise to my side, sirens in the distance, and other things that the wind would be blocking out.

Try someone elses helmet if you can, you might be surprised.

Skeets · July 20, 2009, 08:01:51 PM

Quote from: ineedanap on July 20, 2009, 07:58:38 PM
Quote from: Skeets on July 20, 2009, 07:52:25 PM
Of course if the wind noise bothers you enough to distract you, but in my case it doesn't. I wear mine everyday and it's comfy. You can say the same though for your "non noise" helmet. It's so quiet you couldn't hear the car next to you about to knock you off your bike. Cons and pros'

I don't mean to sound like a turd or a Mr know it all...but that's just crazy. I've owned several helmets and the "quieter" ones allow you to hear more. By filtering out the roar or the whistle you can hear what's going on around you much better. In fact I wear a Shoei AND earplugs every day because it allows me to hear things like tire noise to my side, sirens in the distance, and other things that the wind would be blocking out.

Try someone elses helmet if you can, you might be surprised.

I don't see how that's possible. The quietness will block out wind and it will also block out other noises won't it?

ineedanap · July 20, 2009, 08:04:44 PM

No, doesn't work like you (or I) would expect, at least according to my experiences and what I've read. You get alot of wind noise from air rushing by at the bottom of your helmet. You also get some from the air moving up and past your face. Some helmets take care of this problem better than others.

Skeets · July 20, 2009, 08:10:18 PM

Ahh I see. I was just thinking that if it blocks out one noise it blocks out all but I guess not.

KasbeKZ · July 20, 2009, 08:26:53 PM

i live in virginia, so it doesn't matter how loud the helmet is, i have to wear it.

well how about this. i'm going to get the gmax, and report back to you all on it. i'll also keep watching for a rating on that site someone posted up. i hope i won't be able to report on the safety factor, but i'll tell you about the comfort and features, and apparently, as a $110 helmet, it should be safe as goodness.

News:

anyone got an opinion on the gmax gm68s?