Let's meet the contenders!
Speed and Strength SS1100
(http://images3.revzilla.com/product_images/0048/9543/speedand_strength_ss1100_solid_speed_helmet_zoom.jpg)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=eG8TyCvYlxI
SparX Tracker
(http://images.motorcycle-superstore.com/ProductImages/OG/2012-SparX-Tracker-Helmet.jpg)
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!
" 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.
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.
Quote from: motoarch on April 01, 2013, 08:39:49 PM
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 think the speed and strength one looks sleeker, but Wayne mentioned that replacement deal with SparX and that sounds pretty enticing.
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.
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 :sad: (get your minds out of the gutter, u know who you are :flipoff: ) but its better then switching shields to drive at night like a lot of those with tinted shields do.
Am I the only one that runs a dark smoke shield no matter what the lighting condition?
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.
Quote from: shonole on April 02, 2013, 08:41:53 PM
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
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.
Arai vector 2! FTW
I dont see an Arai in your choices, so your going in the wrong direction :icon_lol:
Either a Nexx XR1R or a Shoei XR1100!
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 like the SS,...mirrored shield for sure,....
Quote from: shonole on April 01, 2013, 08:47:03 PM
Quote from: motoarch on April 01, 2013, 08:39:49 PM
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.
Quote from: Twism86 on April 03, 2013, 06:32:33 AM
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. :cheers:
Quote from: MarkB on April 03, 2013, 08:13:15 AM
Quote from: shonole on April 01, 2013, 08:47:03 PM
Quote from: motoarch on April 01, 2013, 08:39:49 PM
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..
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!
Quote from: Twism86 on April 03, 2013, 08:48:45 AM
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!
True. Studies have shown that DOT certs are good enough in 90% of all crashes, so anything is WAY better than nothing.
And you're right, it's just a matter of actually getting the funds for the purchase in the first place! :thumb:
Good luck with whatever you choose and ride safe! Hopefully we never need the helmets!
My HJC CL16 cost $130 out the door and it's DOT and Snell M2010 compliant.
Quote from: jestercinti on April 03, 2013, 10:55:03 AM
My HJC CL16 cost $130 out the door and it's DOT and Snell M2010 compliant.
I like my CL16 too. It is a bit on the heavy side though, so I can see shonole's point there. Makes my neck muscles a little sore after a long while.
One thing that I love on the CL16 that I will look for on all future helmets is the pinlock system. Absolutely zero trouble with fogging.
I have the Icon Airmada (in flat black) paid 149 at my local bike shop (http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=b4ChzNUrep0) Zero complaints so far, excellent fit for my mellon and its suprisingly quiet and light.
Ratings and fancy designs aside, make sure whatever you get is the right fit for your head. I tried on a few HJC and they fit like crap and I had gaps above/beside my eyes..the Icon fit much better. Same for Shoei, it didn't fit my head right, but the Arai did...and thats the one I really wanted but I didnt have 400 bucks :o The guy at the shop told me I have an "Arai head" and the icons fit much like the Arai. This is my exact helmet;
(http://i47.tinypic.com/29apelk.jpg)
I like my Bell RS1 for the supersoft inside and also the auto tinting visor :D
Quote from: wayne242 on April 02, 2013, 07:24:20 PM
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 :sad: (get your minds out of the gutter, u know who you are :flipoff: ) but its better then switching shields to drive at night like a lot of those with tinted shields do.
..... hahahahaahahahaahhahahahha.... oh .... what?!?!?!?! :dunno_white: :icon_rolleyes: :flipoff:
Also check out shuberth or schuberth, I can never get the spelling right. Very comfy apparently and well made, on of if not the quietest, also come with the Bluetooth stuff you need mounted in the helmet.
The brands I would trust in no particular order: arai, shoei, agv, schuberth, Nolan, shark. Find the best fit. A good question to ask is what price do you put on your head?
Shonole,
between the two I'd go with the Sparx, but hey, that's just me.
If you are still looking for helmets, relatively affordable, you may want to look at Scorpion's EXO-750 series. It's light enough for my wife to wear for extended periods of time and not complain of neck pain, it comes with an air-pump that more securely tightens the helmet for a custom fit, the designs are really nice, and it is DOT/ECE certified. You could easily find one for under $150 shipped if you look around some websites.
I have the EXO-700, which is really light, less than 4 pounds, as quiet as a helmet should be on the highways, DOT/ECE certified, and I got my helmet for less than $100.
Whatever helmet you decide to go with remember that it should fit you snugly, and almost make your cheeks bunch up like a chipmunk, and it shouldn't give you a headache if you were to wear it for 30 minutes or longer.
Before you buy any of these helmets please try on a Shark brand helmet. Shoei/Arai quality without the price tag.
+1 on the cl-16 at the price you just cant beat it
just dont choose any of the following!!!
(http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lgradwSx4m1qgyrado1_500.jpg)
(http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Crazy_Dave_3088.png)
(http://makezineblog.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/egyptianhelmet_31.jpg?w=600&h=403)
(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XHx--ETqRVY/SWNRWv2iU_I/AAAAAAAACFA/MfzD9BEAFHU/s320/blackadder.jpg)
None are DOT or Snell rated!!! :D
Quote from: Twism86 on April 03, 2013, 06:32:33 AM
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!
The best way to make it appear to have the best helmet?....BUY ALL THE ADVERTISING.
Thats how they get you man..dont let them get you.
I prefer the flip-up helmet.Not quite as strong as the regular full face but MUCH more convenient.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/HJC-IS-MAX-BT-MODULAR-FLIP-UP-MOTORCYCLE-HELMET-SILVER-SM-MED-LG-2X-3X-/151046626669?pt=US_Men_s_Athletic_Apparel&var&hash=item232b149d6d&_uhb=1