Buying a new helmet ... what do you use?

[Trwhouse]

Hi all,
I've been riding for 38 years and have always owned really nice full face helmets.
Owned Bell Star helmets originally, then moved to Shoei helmets and wasn't impressed.
For years after, I always bought Arai Signet helmets.
Now they are $500 or more, and that's just ridiculous.
A friend who has also been riding for 4 decades suggested I try one of the Nolan full face helmets where the front opens up like a clamshell.
I'm looking for other ideas.
Am I crazy not to spend so much on an Arai?
I want a Snell helmet, that's light, low wind noise and is safe and well built.
It will be white for visibility by others.
I'd love to hear what others use, particularly adidas, gsJack and the other moderators.
Thanks!
Trwhouse

[Banzai]

If you know the Bell fits well, try an RS-1 which is the current model down from the Star. It fulfils all of your requirements. I recently moved from Arai to Bell and am very happy, especially after fitting the photochromatic visor.
http://www.bellhelmets.com/en_eu/powersports/helmets/street/rs-1

[GI JOE]

I don't know what brand my helmet is, I got it at Harley Davidson on clearance so its glossy black with the namesake. It's like a modular without the jaw piece and has a tinted visor built in so when sunny I can slide it out. Putting sunglasses on in a helmet just got annoying. I love the design and lightness but you do hear the wind a lot. For under $150 it was a deal to me. I think I've seen a shoei or hjc (whatever that 3 letter brand is) on craigslist exactly the same just not HD up. Just throwing it out there.

[slipperymongoose]

Arai helmets are definetly worth it. I have a Vector 2 and looooove it. Also check out Shark helmets, AGV, Nolan like you said and Icon. I threw this up in a thread but I'll put it here and this will show you why Arai is pretty good and how customizable they can be to protect you the best.

[nab]

I just finished shopping for helmets. I really liked the look of the new hjc helmets rpha and fg-17. I ended up getting a bell star and am happy i did.

[weedahoe]

I ride with a Shoei X- eleven. I got a good deal on it. No way I could pay the normal price of $600-$800 for one

[gsJack]

I started with Bell RT open and Bell Star full face helmets back in the 80s.  Had a HJC symax flip face 10-15 years ago that I replaced with a Shoei RF-1000 that I used for 7 years and was/is probably the best I've had. 

Bought a HJC IS-33 a couple years ago an open face with built in shield plus internal sun shade that I use most all the time now, sounds like GI JOE's hog helmet description above.  Think it's a good trade off for me now since my head only turns half as far as it used to and the wide panoramic view of the open face type takes advantage of my still excellent peripheral vision.

[gsJack]

Big helmet thread from 2 years ago:

http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=55531

[Twism86]

Buy the Arai. Its only your head

They are light, comfortable, quiet, safe and very very well made. You already know that though... 

I ask this and only this question: What helmets to do you see pro motorcycle racers wear? Not some cheap brand, or something that folds in half. And they dont have to worry about being hit by cars....... Think about it.

[CrownSeven]

How about going back to the Bell Star?  I just picked up a Bell Star for this season and love the helmet so far.  Light, great visibility, noise is about average for a full face helmet I would say.  And those 'transitions' lenses are fantastic!  Every manufacturer should offer them as an option.

[weedahoe]

Buy the Arai. Its only your head

They are light, comfortable, quiet, safe and very very well made. You already know that though... 

I ask this and only this question: What helmets to do you see pro motorcycle racers wear? Not some cheap brand, or something that folds in half. And they dont have to worry about being hit by cars....... Think about it.

True. But how many of them buy their own lids versus them being given to them for sponsorship?

[Gorilla]

i used this buying guide to give me an idea of what i wanted. I am a noob compared to you though so you might know what you want more out of a helmet. This was my starting place and I bought the best helmet i could afford. Shoei GT air Journey.

http://www.revzilla.com/best-motorcycle-helmet-guide-2013

the helmet i bought

[nutmunk]

You guys are out of my league...i've got 3...an kwv, a shoei and a 'budget' vega ultra...I find the shoei pinches my cheeks far too much. My favourite is actually the cheapie vega ultura...nice and light, dot4, snug but not pinchy...plus if it gets a bit scratched due to handling, I don't mind so much as the shoei. Lids in south africa are insanely priced though...so that probably influences my choice more than anything else...

[jdoorn14]

This was my starting place and I bought the best helmet i could afford. Shoei GT air Journey.

the helmet i bought

I'm guessing unmarried & no dependents....

My wife would make me sleep in a $600 helmet...outside...in the rain...without a blanket...

In other words, it wouldn't be fiscally responsible of me to spend that kind of dough on a lid. I did, however, recently justify spending 1/3 of that amount on a clearance Shoei Qwest....but only b/c I needed to replace a poorly fitting helmet.

[BockinBboy]

I just wrote up a review on my current helmet... some folks have brought them up on the forum in the past, but to my knowledge its a first for this forum... Reevu Rear-View helmet.



Here is my write-up.  http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=64696.0

- Bboy

[Twism86]

I guess I just dont see $500 being a lot for a helmet. Yes the pro riders dont pay for theirs but I dont see how that makes a difference. We all here have a bike (or bikes) as a secondary vehicle which means we all have some extra money to throw around, or at least save a little extra over time for quality protection.

[jdoorn14]

I guess I just dont see $500 being a lot for a helmet. Yes the pro riders dont pay for theirs but I dont see how that makes a difference. We all here have a bike (or bikes) as a secondary vehicle which means we all have some extra money to throw around, or at least save a little extra over time for quality protection.

And frankly, that's exactly why there are many manufacturers who each produce items at different price points.

I would also note that quality protection can be obtained at some of the lower price points. Bell makes Snell 2010 approved helmets at a sub-$200 price point. Are you going to argue that a properly fitting $180 Bell helmet (DOT and Snell approved) will not protect as well as a $500+ Arai? It may not have all the same bells and whistles, but safety standards are safety standards for a reason.


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[Gorilla]

i defeintely bought mine for the bells and whistles! and yes unmarried no kids

[Trwhouse]

Hi folks,
Thanks for all the ideas.
I have more to ponder.
Best wishes,
Trwhouse

[The Antibody]

Probably the best inexpensive helmet out there is the Scorpion EXO series of helmets. That is if you are on a budget. If not. Arai as usual.

  -Anthony