Just wondering what you all out there are wearing for a brain bucket?  I am only a year into riding and I wear a HJC CL14.  I have one friend who has been badgering me to get a more expensive helmet.  He says that just because a helmet is snell/dot approved doesn't mean they are all equal in a crash (i.e. a geo metro and a volvo).  He stands by shoei.  My girlfriend is in need of a helmet for spring so I want to get the best for her and if any cash is left, a new one for myself.  I can't swing $400.00 though!  Any input would help!

I've heard people say "Get the best you can afford." Arais and Shoeis are pricy. I have the HJC AC-10 and so does/did my husband. He was in a nasty crash and his head was fine. He did upgrade to a Shoei after that incident, but not because the HJC was inferior.

kbc vr1    my second one wrecked in my first one and am still here good comfy helmets dont have to be expensive

I have a Nolan that was my dad's. I'm thinkin of upgrading depending on what kind of job I get this summer. Right now it would be between a Roof or Shoei.

I've got a Shoei Z-II.  Kinda pricey for what you are looking for though.  But... it does have a nice feature, the removable and washable liner  Some other helmets have it too.

Shoei. Usually the least expensive one. This year (or decade) is a TZ-1, that I got for $218. I usually spend $200 on the average. I just can't bring myself to buy anything else. I've tried, but nothing else fits. And, I definitely can't justify spending more than $300 on a helmet, not even a solid color Arai or anything multicolored, no matter how much I like the paintjob. It's just a paintjob.

From what I have seen, , once you are past the Snell/DOT ratings, more $ = more features like venting, lighter weight, removable liners, etc.  I have a Shoei X-11 that I like alot, but its not cheap.  When I got it my wife was still working, so we had some spare (is there such a thing?) money, but now I would probably get something cheaper.  When I did the MSF course, I used an old Bell M2 with almost no venting-very hot until I gave in and rode with the visor up.  What I remember from various articles about helmets is the fact that they need to be replaced even if they are not crashed due to the padding degrading over time, so my old Bell, I wouldn't use on the street much if at all.

KBC Wolf. It was $100 on Ebay brand new, but reviews said it was worth it. I believe the VR-1 Replaced it on the lineup. It's a solid all-around helmet from a reputable name brand which is all I could ask for.

Like someone else said,  Just because its expensive doesn't mean its better.  

If you buy a shoei or something of the likes, they have tons of engineering into them,  Tunnel testing, etc... which make them perfect for racers.  But if it is DOT, and Snell approved it means that it will save your life as well as the more expensive ones, but it wont have all the nice through helmet venting or a "quick shield release"  but in the end they are all the same thing.  a hard outer shell with a styrafoam inside.

Dont be afraid to buy a cheaper helmet because it doesn't cost as much $$ as the top of the line widget.  Its the same as buying a Hyabusa instead of a GS500,  they are both sport bikes but one costs alot more but still get you from A to B.

Yep. Helmets should be discarded every 5 years (I've heard they make really neat targets at the shooting range).

Note I said, 'should', as many of us don't and/or can't afford a new helmet every 5 years.

Shoei TZ1 - a good combo of quality and price - removable liner.  

Of course, if you get tired of looking at the same old plain white helmet (that's yellowing), it gives you a good excuse to buy a new one.

Quote from: cozyShoei TZ1 - a good combo of quality and price - removable liner.  

IT'S GOT A REMOVABLE LINER!?? I didn't know that! (I have a TZ1, too)

wavehound, if you're satisfied with the fit and comfort of the HJC helmet, feel free to ignore your buddy.

I personally crash-tested an HJC CL-12 (~$150) back in 2000.  (Audience groans.  "Here comes that old cow story again!")

To keep it short, I broadsided a cow on the road at about 45 mph.  (Don't ask!)  I was launched over poor Bessie (torquing the right handlebar forward somehow in the process) and flew ... 15 to 20 feet? ... doing a slow somersault.  As near as I can tell, I hit some rocks on the side of the road crown-first.  With most of my momentum gone, I completed the somersault and landed flat on my back a few feet later.

The "only" damage to me was a pair of reshaped vertebrae - compression fractures caused by an impact force right along my spine.  (Whew!)  I can feel good ol' T6 and T7 complaining if I pay attention, but I have taken all 3 of my 3000+ mile trips since then, and I still play racquetball.

What about the helmet?  It shows a few scrapes at the point of contact - that's it!  I'm no dummy; I don't still ride with it.  But I do keep it around for "emergency" 2-up riding.  Needless to say, I replaced it with another HJC CL-12.

PS - The cow ran off and got lost in the open-range herd she was hanging with.  She probably appreciated being hit in the ribs with a nice "soft" headlight rather than something more pointy.

I have a HJC xx-12 (don't remember the letters) and a pale gold NOLAN N100. I bought the Nolan because of the flip-up feature and the colour, but the shield doesn't seal very well so it's kind of noisy. The HJC seals better so it's quiet and seems to have more padding. Both cost less than $200.

great topic!

I have an HJC CL-12.  It seems a little noisy to me but I have nothing to compare to.

Here's a link to a website on safety with a comparison between DOT and SNELL.  SNELL seems to be a little more up to date and possibly more stringent.

http://www.mmsp.org/helmets/snell.htm

I'm sure a more comprehensive search might show a comparison between helmet brands.  All I could find was a DOT pass/fail list.

Rob

wow, a lot of people have HJC helmets....i got a AGV spectra or something like that

I also have an HJC and a Bieffe....I like the Bieffe better because of it's "venting" system. But both are DOT & SNELL apporved and that's all that matters.  Just don't be one of those "stupid" Harley guys that ride around in the Jewish helmets  

Does anyone here have one of the chin buckles similar to what u see on a hiker's backpack? [the kind that clip together in one *snap*]

The thing I found when Helmet shopping was I must have a rather strange shaped head      In the end the cheapest Shoei was the one that fitted my noggin the best.  Other Shoei models an other brands like HJC, Arai etc. didn't fit right so I had to form out a few extra $$$.  At least its made in Japan so I know the manufacturing quality control is the best around.

Conrad

I have an Arai Quantum F....it just seemed to fit my head the best.  I was lucky because the dealer was selling it out and I got it for under $350.  Very comfortable and good venting.

Wayne