Help pick a helmet!

[shonole]

Let's meet the contenders!


Speed and Strength SS1100



http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=eG8TyCvYlxI

SparX Tracker



http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=EfiXM_e_ugE

Both helmets are DOT/ece certified. Both weight 3lbs 4oz (mandatory that they be superlight!). Both have removable/washable liners, etc. Both have breath guards. Here are the key differences:

SS has cool core interior. SS has quick release chin strap.

SparX comes with chin curtain. SparX has drop down interior visor. SparX has super awesome 5 year replacement plan (if you wreck in it, send them the helmet and a police report and they'll send you a new one).

I will sometimes be riding into town during the day, and returning at night. If I get the SS, it will have a mirrored shield. If I go with the SparX, it will probably stay clear, since it has the drop down visor.

Cosmetically, probably leaning a bit towards the SS, as I don't know how I feel about silver vents with a matte black finish..

Let me know what you think! And thanks in advance!

[wayne242]

" SparX has super awesome 5 year replacement plan (if you wreck in it, send them the helmet and a police report and they'll send you a new one)."

No brainier, i would go with sparx between those 2.

[motoarch]

Pick the helmet that fits properly, period.  It'll be a safer helmet and provide better use over a longer period of time.  Try them on.  If it doesn't fit right your stuck with a fancy door stop.

[shonole]

Pick the helmet that fits properly, period.  It'll be a safer helmet and provide better use over a longer period of time.  Try them on.  If it doesn't fit right your stuck with a fancy door stop.

Assume they both fit great.  Feature/cosmetic wise, pick a favorite.

[jacob92icu]

I think the speed and strength one looks sleeker, but Wayne mentioned that replacement deal with SparX and that sounds pretty enticing.

[IAmSpartacus]

What's the weather like where you live? I live in a hot climate, so I wouldn't survive with a helmet that didn't have plenty of air vents. A tinted shield (interior or exterior) is definitely handy when the sun is in your face as well.

[wayne242]

Drop down interior visors is a great thing to have. I have clear shield and wear sunglasses. Its a bit of a pain if i forget and go to jerk helmet off (get your minds out of the gutter, u know who you are  ) but its better then switching shields to drive at night like a lot of those with tinted shields do.

[mustangGT90210]

Am I the only one that runs a dark smoke shield no matter what the lighting condition?

[shonole]

I have before.  Currently running a mirrored shield all the time.  Gotta say, it blows at night.  Though, I live out in the country, so no street lights to guide me home.  I'm sure if I lived in town it wouldn't be a big deal.

[mustangGT90210]

I have before.  Currently running a mirrored shield all the time.  Gotta say, it blows at night.  Though, I live out in the country, so no street lights to guide me home.  I'm sure if I lived in town it wouldn't be a big deal.

Thankfully my night riding is through town. I live on the outskirts of town and now that I'm a free man I don't need to be making midnight runs 20 miles into the cow pastures of Florida

[wayne242]

I live out side the city (country with the cows and horse's). So my drive is around 10 miles of no street lights. So i try to stay away from dark visors, however I'm about to buy a helmet with a mirror shield I'll use for day and my clear at night (maybe). we will see how it works out anyhow.

[slipperymongoose]

Arai vector 2! FTW

[Twism86]

I dont see an Arai in your choices, so your going in the wrong direction 

[piresito]

Either a Nexx XR1R or a Shoei XR1100!

[Twism86]

I have a theory about helmets when it comes to choosing a brand, stick with the big name ones that you see the pros wearing. Watch an AMA or MotoGP race and what names will you see flying by on their helmets.....? Arai arai shoei arai shoei agv bell arai..... Get it? IMO Arai and Shoei dominate in terms of the best helmets for your head, and the best in the sport wear them.

Look for a SNELL certification!

[cbrfxr67]

I like the SS,...mirrored shield for sure,....

[MarkB]

Pick the helmet that fits properly, period.  It'll be a safer helmet and provide better use over a longer period of time.  Try them on.  If it doesn't fit right your stuck with a fancy door stop.

Assume they both fit great.  Feature/cosmetic wise, pick a favorite.

I don't know either of these two brands.  From your description the SparX seems to have more useful features.

That said, I agree with the previous poster.  If you're going to be wearing a helmet for any sustained period of time, fit trumps anything else.  Don't buy a helmet you haven't tried on for fit and don't buy a helmet until you've tried on as many as you can get your hands on.  Small annoyances become large annoyances on longer rides.  Pressure points and excessive wind noise will wear you down.  Next is the implementation quality of features, if controls don't operate easily and reliably then they're more distraction than feature.

[shonole]

I have a theory about helmets when it comes to choosing a brand, stick with the big name ones that you see the pros wearing. Watch an AMA or MotoGP race and what names will you see flying by on their helmets.....? Arai arai shoei arai shoei agv bell arai..... Get it? IMO Arai and Shoei dominate in terms of the best helmets for your head, and the best in the sport wear them.

Look for a SNELL certification!

I can't afford one, and even if I did, there's no way I'd buy anything SNELL.  2010 is a bit better, but they're still antiquated.  It took them almost twenty years to even certify a helmet with it being hit in more than one spot!  Garbage.

If there is anywhere SNELL has an advantage, it's at super high speeds (hence why racers/race tracks often require them).  The super stiffness of the helmet is terrible for you at (relatively) low speeds (where street accidents occur), but a bit bitter at ultra high speeds.

That said, SOME SNELL helmets do really well in the SHARP impact tests, others not as well.  I prefer ece for the reasons above, and mostly because of the light weight.  These helmets listed weight a HALF A POUND less than the average SNELL lid.  That's a ton. 

So no, no SNELL for me. 

[shonole]

Pick the helmet that fits properly, period.  It'll be a safer helmet and provide better use over a longer period of time.  Try them on.  If it doesn't fit right your stuck with a fancy door stop.

Assume they both fit great.  Feature/cosmetic wise, pick a favorite.

I don't know either of these two brands.  From your description the SparX seems to have more useful features.

That said, I agree with the previous poster.  If you're going to be wearing a helmet for any sustained period of time, fit trumps anything else.  Don't buy a helmet you haven't tried on for fit and don't buy a helmet until you've tried on as many as you can get your hands on.  Small annoyances become large annoyances on longer rides.  Pressure points and excessive wind noise will wear you down.  Next is the implementation quality of features, if controls don't operate easily and reliably then they're more distraction than feature.

I've worn helmets from both brands, and they fit similarly.  Fit won't be an issue, down to features/design now.

That said, I'd REALLY like to have an AGV K3, but even with the best deal I've found, by the time I add a tinted shield, it's $170, which is, unfortunately, out of my price range..

[Twism86]

Any helmet is better than no helmet. $170 aint bad, its only your head. The helmet im currently looking at comes in at over $600!