Hi GSers!
Ok, so I sold my GS ( :cry: ) and am on my way to pick up my new (ok ... old) BMW within the week ( 8) ). 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! :cheers:
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
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.
That article was great. +1 for that cstilt :thumb:
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.
(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a193/SteveMster/GS500/th_HJC_Raven.jpg) (http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a193/SteveMster/GS500/HJC_Raven.jpg)
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
Quote from: surf.seppo on August 24, 2008, 08:48:17 PM
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.
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.
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?
Quote from: Paulcet on August 25, 2008, 08:43:50 AM
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....
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.
Quote from: The Buddha on August 25, 2008, 08:52:43 AM
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.
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.
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.
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...
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. :thumb:
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
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.
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).
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.
I have a Shoei RF-1000 and love it. It is light and works well for my small head. The vents keep me cool in the Florida heat. I also like the bottom insert it has to help with wind noise, what a difference I don't get the lift on I-4 when riding without it. I have had it for a year and hope to keep it longer. I also have a gpx that is an open face and I don't like it much it was $40 at Pep Boys and bought it for riding on my friend's Shadow. After about twenty minutes I have severe neck fatigue because it bounces my head around like a bobble head. So, I guess you get what you pay for.
just my 2 cents.
Mary S.
Oh mary ... I'd blame the shadow and go from there for being a pain in the neck. I have had one, and even without a helmet I would rate it as a PITA.
Cool.
Buddha.
I ride with a CKX Tranz helmet. Modular, which is bloody awesome, and has a secondary tinted visor that flips down inside acting as sunglasses :bowdown:
It's pretty comfortable and not crazy noisy unless at rather high speeds. Inexpensive too.
I ride with a KBC Stealth VR-2. I love it. Its the most comfortable large i could find. Its light, the vents work great, it fits wonderfully, and the visor removal is sooo easy. And to top it off, i love the looks.
http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycle-helmets/motorcycle-helmets.htm
Good website for detailed reviews of helmets. Some reviews even have a video explaining their opinions and how the moving parts of the helmets function. Found it very helpful. Gmax gm68 won helmet of the year last year and can be had for 120$(as someone has already posted). I dig mine. No complaints.
I have a helluva time finding helmets that fit.
I had a XXL Icon but it was tight. As in my chin would stick down below the front of the helmet.
Now I have a XXXL CL-15, and it fits better but my chin is almost aginst the front of the helmet.
I'd prefer a full face, but I think i'm going to try thr Vega NT200 open face.
If you want another HJC look no further...
http://www.motorcyclecloseouts.com/sport/motorcycle+helmets/hjc_cl-sp+osiris+helmet+-+snell+approved (http://www.motorcyclecloseouts.com/sport/motorcycle+helmets/hjc_cl-sp+osiris+helmet+-+snell+approved)
Although I just wore mine for the 1st time and have a slight whistling sound - haven't figured out why yet.
edit: found the defect working on having it resolved now - just wanted to make sure no1 avoided it just because of me.
Fit is absolutely critical. Different manufacturers fit different heads better or worse, and trying various brands on is the only way to make sure you have the right helmet for you.
I had a Scorpion for a while - then I looked at the label. I'm off of Made in China. Their manufacturing processes have craptastic quality control, and I don't want to support that gummint anyway. I now have a Shoei. I found the RF-1000 to be better-featured than the TZ, so went for that one. The XXS Shoei also fits me far better than any XS I've tried on.
I'm not down with modulars. The flipup is just another potential failure point, and I don't find them to have convenience to make the tradeoff worth it.
i bought a full face helmet off ebay new buy it now for 30 bucks and paid 15 to ship it. its the one i use now and its great, as comfy as my bros shoi, and anything dot aproved is safe. look around ebay there are all sorts of off brands and stuff. people often times dont trust cheap helmets but if it passes the same dot tests that the high dollar ones do it must be fine. :dunno_white:
Quote from: Roadstergal on August 26, 2008, 12:59:11 PM
I'm not down with modulars. The flipup is just another potential failure point, and I don't find them to have convenience to make the tradeoff worth it.
Yeah - one more place to break, and just not needed - I don't know how many people have claimed they needed one or an open face "because they wear glasses." I wear glasses, and for the longest time wore glasses with cable-ends that have to be hooked around the ear. The only "problem" with using those on a full face is the mental problem of figuring out that the way to hook them on is to put your finger in beside your neck and come up, not in through the eyehole and back. Easy-peasy.
Quote from: Roadstergal on August 26, 2008, 12:59:11 PM
I'm not down with modulars. The flipup is just another potential failure point, and I don't find them to have convenience to make the tradeoff worth it.
During my ambulance ride last Thursday the EMS guy in the back was telling me about another guy they transported who was in a motorcycle accident. The EMS guy said he was wearing a modular helmet and the flip-up portion was ripped right off and the guy's face ended up not too pretty because of it.
Quote from: Roadstergal on August 26, 2008, 12:59:11 PM
Fit is absolutely critical. Different manufacturers fit different heads better or worse, and trying various brands on is the only way to make sure you have the right helmet for you.
+1000 on the fit. Buy one that fits YOUR head.
As a rider over 50, I don't
want a Snell certified helmet. A recent review proved that Snell spec helmets, while more impact resistant, actually transmit more shock to the brain than some DOT helmets. A person over 50 has less tolerance for shock -- the helmet may survive that impact but my brain would be jumbled. I wear the DOT helmet that transmitted the least shock in Motorcycle mag's test a couple of years ago -- the Z1R. Earplugs keep the wind noise down, it fits my head shape, and it's under $100.