I second the Scorpion helmet choice.  DOT and Snell approved.  Very comfortable and quiet with removable, washable, replacable liners.  My scorpion is just as quiet and comfortable as my old Shoei and has better ventilation.

Chris

+1 on getting a helmet that fits best.  Goto different dealers and try on various helmets.  You want it to be good and snug, boarderline uncomfortable.  Wear each one you try on for at least a few minutes and make sure it doesn't give you a head ache or anything.  Remember the padding will take the shape of your head and compress, so if you get one that fits even just a little loose, in a week it will be too loose and will flap in the wind whenever you go to change lanes and look over your shoulder.

There is deffinately a quality difference between cheaper helmets and more expensive helmets.  Just look at the fit and finish of the padding in a Shoei compared to an HJC.  Does this really matter?  That's up to you.   Personally, I am super happy with my Shoei and think it was worth it and would buy one again even though they are farking expensive.

I think the flip-up helmets are cool, but the dealer wouldn't sell me one 

Yea Hybrid ... yes Get a Honda Insight ... yea ... or you want a pure electric ...  ... Hey this dude makes a good helmet head ...
Cool.
Srinath.

Like what most everybody has been sayin get the one that fits you best.  The best helmet in the world is not going to do your head a damn bit of good if it does not fit right.  

On the Modular helmets ( flip up face ) try the Nolan one that is made very nicely my wife has one great construction good quality materials and comes with a few extras not on other helmets at the same price.  And you can order you helmet from alot of places online like www.helmetharbor.com good prices free shipping.  

Tested my KBC modular doing a highside was not fun helmet did it's job tho and did not break.  Impacted the right side of my face.

The reason why Arai and shoie cost so much is because they use lighter ,stronger materials, however that does not mean it's better.  And racers where them not because they buy the best but because the racers are sponsored by them.

Quote from: Wrecent_Wryder on June 15, 2006, 11:10:10 PM

Quote from: AlphaFire X5 on June 15, 2006, 10:58:46 PM

Snell does testing on all the helmets submitted to it. DOT doesn't. A manufacturer simply has to say their helmets conform to DOT standards and DOT gives them to go-ahead to put their sticker on, wether or not the helmet does in fact conform to DOT standards.

Ah, just like the Food and Drug Administration does with the drugs your doctor precribes. Amazing how many government agencies work that way.

The manufacturer has to bear the burden of proof for a claim like that.  In the case of the FDA all testing records must be retained and available for inspection for a number of years after the lot was produced.  The problem is that no government agency has the resources to monitor every batch that rolls off of every line at every private company.  All they can do is inspect at intervals and look for inaccuracies and inadequecies in the manufacturing or QC testing of the products.  I doubt anyone smart enough to run a successful company would be stupid enough to put an undeserved 'Pass" sticker on a helmet, a drug, or anything that has a legal need to be ensured safe and effective.  That would be corporate suicide.

The shields on the shoei's are easy to change and only take a few seconds if you plan on getting a tinted face shield. I bought a cheapy (AFX) helmet on ebay for 65 bucks shipped right to me a year ago or so for autocross, then I used it on my motorcycle and I felt quite a bit of head wobble, after I got the shoei I didn't feel any.

Scorpion EXO-400 here.  I love the helmet.  Vents well, doesn't fog, DOT and SNELL, super easy visor change and they are coming out with a visor that changes to match the weather.  Sunny=Dark Visor, Night=clear visor.

Like everyone else said, look for DOT and SNell and make sure it fits well.  That will be the best helmet for you.

Another happy Scorpion EXO-400 wearer here.

Regarding helmet materials, the most important material is the energy absorber, which in all helmets is EPS (expanded polystyrene).  The second most important is the shell (which keeps sharp things out of your head).  There are a number of different shell compounds which is where helmets start to differ.  If you have an opinion about that (like plastic vs. fiberglass for example) then that helps you decide what helmet to buy.

None of that will help if it doesn't fit, which is why fit is #1.

Then it's all ammenities.  Vents, pads, how easy to detach the face sheild, looks.  These do not affect safety (except maybe secondarily through their effect on comfort).  This is what you pay for.  And you can pay what you choose to pay for these things.

Generally, more money will not make you safer.  So buy what fits and what fits in your budget.

<-- Scorpion EXO-400 here too.  IMO it's the best value in helmets today.  It has all of the features of the high-end helmets at half the price.  Mine was $140.  They're cheap because they're made in China, where labor costs are a fraction of any other industrial nation.  The quality of materials and finish is top notch.

-M

Hi there
Ive been lurking on this site for awhile and finally got my 2006 GSF500 on May 31.  Thought I would post this interesting read on helmets.  Worth the time it takes to read.
Wendy
http://motorcyclistonline.com/gearbox/motorcycle_helmet_review/

I ride with a brain bucket helmet..... NOT


YOu know that what fits you best idea is good, but god damn I have to wear the XLs cuz my head is huge ... AMONG Other things....
So its more for me of finding anything that fits rather than price. But either way they still are gonna cost you a minimium of 100 slices of chedda'

BTW, if say a certain model from a certain brand has several different sizes but all the same prices, such as

S=100
m=100
L=100
XL=100

Would that be one of the few cases where, buying a large size actually gives the company more money, because arent the shells pretty much all the same size, so it would actually cost more putting padding into the smaller helmets making them small, than it would putting less foam in larger helmets to make them large...... ODD


P.S. This is my helmet exactly http://www.beaconridertraining.co.uk/helmets/hjc_helmet_black_t.jpg

Quote from: bikermom on June 16, 2006, 09:48:59 AM
Hi there
Ive been lurking on this site for awhile and finally got my 2006 GSF500 on May 31.  Thought I would post this interesting read on helmets.  Worth the time it takes to read.
Wendy
http://motorcyclistonline.com/gearbox/motorcyclehelmetreview/
cant get link to work I will keep trying

That's been around a lot. Here, especially. Posted many many times.

Remember, don't believe everything you read.

Quote from: TadMC on June 16, 2006, 09:55:09 AM

Would that be one of the few cases where, buying a large size actually gives the company more money, because arent the shells pretty much all the same size, so it would actually cost more putting padding into the smaller helmets making them small, than it would putting less foam in larger helmets to make them large...... ODD

the shells aren't all the same size.  In my Icon Mainframe, there are at least 2 different sizes of shells.  I know that the XL/XXL are the same, but not the smaller ones.  It might be L/XL/XXL M/S/XS or XL/XXL M/L XS/S. 

Quote from: bikermom on June 16, 2006, 09:48:59 AM
Hi there
Ive been lurking on this site for awhile and finally got my 2006 GSF500 on May 31.  Thought I would post this interesting read on helmets.  Worth the time it takes to read.
Wendy
http://motorcyclistonline.com/gearbox/motorcycle_helmet_review/

Oh God.. BOHICA!!!!!!!

Quote from: NiceGuysFinishLast on June 16, 2006, 11:55:55 AM
Oh God.. BOHICA!!!!!!!

I had to look it up.  For the others naive like me:

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=B.O.H.I.C.A

Ok, I narrowed it down to either KBC or HJC helmets.. The reason for these is they both have the hybrid type helmets.. and they are under $200 and seem to be good.

What do you'll think, big quality difference?

I would rather go HJC since I can pick one up locally.. but if KBC is better, I will just get that one off ebay..

thanks!

As far as helmets go I have an Arai, HJC, and a Scorpion.  The Scorpion is the best IMO and it def fits my head the best and is lightest.  But as everyone has said before get the one that fits your head the best and you are most comfortable with.  I would strongly recommend going and trying a bunch of different helmets on though so you can make the best choice.

I've had two of these... Love 'em...  They've stopped making them but you can find them on close out deals pretty easy... It looks best in black... http://www.webbikeworld.com/r2/motorcycle-helmet/vega/summit-xpv.htm

There's a new version out this year but I haven't checked it out yet... They changed the vents a little and the vents are color matched.