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aerodynamic helmets

Started by manoj, June 27, 2010, 07:57:51 AM

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manoj

I wear HJC V2 full face helmet and ride almost 150 miles everyday,the neck gets pretty strained due to crosswind
was wondering whether SHOEI or other expensive helmets are more aerodynamic and if  cafe sport windshield would make a lot of difference,I dont like the other big windshields.

has anyone been using helmet wind-skirt/blocker or economical superior aerodynamic helmets

Manoj

tt_four

Have you tried one of these??



I really doubt any helmet is going to help your neck after 150 miles. Over time your neck will get stronger and not be sore, but even an aerodynamic helmet is still rather broad and large. I'd look into some kind of windshield. Just about any will help you out somewhat, that bigger the better. I'm not sure how big is too big for you. I don't do much highway time, but someday I'll probably try to find a windshield that I can just easily clamp on and off my handlebars for when I'm going on the highway for a couple hours. In your situation that would be all the time though, so that doesn't help you much.

Homer

Ignore ttfour.  He's having one of his @sshole days.  He said himself, he doesn't do much highway time.

Those trucks suck, don't they?
The $9 add-on wind skirts made from neoprene supposedly help.  I can never get them to stay on.  
Supposed to keep the wind from catching underneath and tossing your noggin around.  
"Rent" one from CycleGear and see if it helps.  

Lighter helmets don't get tossed as much.  Most of the cheaper ones use polycarbonate casings, which are heavier than the expensive fiberglass.  Some have fiber and kevlar mixtures, and of course you've seen the CF ones. 
SOME of the spoilers work, but not most.  The idea is to create a low-pressure zone behind the helmet.  I've heard the Bell Star works extremely well in that regard.  They have a carbon version, also (if you can stomach the styling).  Cross-winds are still a problem, as well as dirty-air turbulence around traffic. 
The cafe shield - not so much.  Especially not for the miles you're putting on.  
Kinda weird - the cooler you look, the more pain you experience.  

007brendan

#3
Yeah, regardless of wind, I've found that neck discomfort has been largely a factor of helmet weight.  As in, the lighter the helmet, the more comfortable it is.  If you've spent any amount of time riding in a 3/4 helmet, or without a helmet, you'll know what I mean.
"Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgement."

tt_four

Quote from: Homer on June 27, 2010, 09:18:06 AM
Ignore ttfour.  He's having one of his @sshole days.  He said himself, he doesn't do much highway time.
 

yikes, no more jokes on the GS forum.

Homer

Newton says momentum is related to mass.
In theory, a heavier helmet resists lighter buffeting, but is harder to counteract with puny bone muscle once it gets moving.  

All I know is -- I have to go to Ikea with my wife soon.
So, I'm gonna daydream about a carbon fiber Bell Star while she's yapping about couch cushions for the next 6 hours.  
And Elena (aka KiddofSpeed)'s resemblance to the girl in Resident Evil, wearing said helmet.  

Ingersoll

Neck pain is all about the wight of the helmet.  For wind noise the $10 or $15 wind skirts help me out a lot.  The scorpion one for my 700 helmet is awesome.  I also have one on my 1000 shoei helmet but its works just not as well as the scorpion one. The fit of the helmet help a lot on the stress and noise of the helmet. I have more of a round head so i do get a better fit on scorpion helmets. 

manoj

my helmet I wear came with the bike and is one size big and is made of thermoplastic alloy shell and weighs a ton
need to change it soon to lighter carbon fiber one

Manoj

hambonee

I ride with an AGV K3 Evil.

It's barely over 3 pounds and cames with the chin shield part build in to keep wind noinse down.

It dopes pretty well with the wind buffeting. I also love the weight compaired to hte heavier helmets.

manoj

helmet weight comparison chart

http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycle-helmets/motorcycle-helmet-weights.htm
my current helmet weighs about 3 pounds ,not too heavy when compared some high end helmets...
like the articles suggests center of gravity makes lot of difference

Manoj

Emergency56

i think i got the lower end 500 pound helmet... 150$  "BELL Helmets"

being the first i thought not going for the 400$ ones was the better choice and well it was.. it may be a more basic helmet but i found on long rides if i tilt my head just on the right angle i can feel the wight lift off my head as it flys like a wing on a plain!   

i have gone 4hours non stop and no pain at all, at least in my neck.. i guess i just got lucky and this helmet fit my head and neck muscles just right.


PS: not really sure what the rating is on BELL helmets.. they good or bad? :P

hambonee

wo hoo! AGV is 24th on the waeight end(pretty good) and rates all excellents and one outstanding.  :cheers:

It really is a good helmet for the price!

Think shape makes a big difference too.


Paulcet

Quote from: manoj on June 27, 2010, 11:13:24 AM
my helmet I wear came with the bike and is one size big

That's the bulk of your problem, I think.  Mine's a low-end HJC, and heavy, but it fits.  No neck strain after a 400 mile trip.

'97 GS500E Custom by dgyver: GSXR rear shock | SV gauges | Yoshi exh. | K & N Lunchbox | Kat forks | Custom rearsets | And More!

DoD#i

Quote from: manoj on June 27, 2010, 11:13:24 AM
my helmet I wear came with the bike and is one size big and is made of thermoplastic alloy shell and weighs a ton
need to change it soon to lighter carbon fiber one

No, you need to change it ASAP for one that fits!  :nono:

A helmet that's too big is about useless if you actually need a helmet. They tend to part company from the head.
1990 GS500EL - with moderately-ugly paintjob.
1982 XJ650LJ -  off the road for slow repairs
AGATT - All Gear All The Time
"Ride a motorcycle.  Save Gas, Oil, Rubber, Steel, Aluminum, Parking Spaces, The Environment, and Money.  Plus, you get to wear all the leather you want!"
(from DoD#296)

Toogoofy317

Yeah, first off get rid of the big helmet. Can cause more harm than good because if it rotates during an accident it is more likely to cause a shearing injury to your brain. Very bad on the brain a direct impact is not as bad.

I have a Shoei RF-1000 I luv it! I rarely get neck fatigue from it. Rode from Kissimmee to St. Augustine in one sitting with no discomfort whatsover. The chin skirt that came with it really does work. I wore it for about a month before putting it on and every so often my chin would get caught at just the right angle and jerk my head up and to the left. It was so hard one day I heard my neck pop YIKES! So, I put the chin skirt on and never again!

I tried out a lot of helmets and they all felt heavy to me. I wear a size medium and most helmet manufacturers keep the same size shell and just add more stuffing to the helmet. Kinda like putting a grapefruit in a helmet the size of a basketball doesn't make much since.

Shoei on the other hand makes the shells according to helmet size less material to do the same job = less weight!


Mary
2004 F, Fenderectomy, barends, gsxr-pegs, pro grip gel covers, 15th JT sprocket, stock decals gone,custom chain guard,GSXR integrated mirrors, flush mount signals, 150 rear tire,white rims, rebuilt top end, V&H Exhaust, Custom heel and chain guard (Adidasguy)

Eduardo

Quote from: manoj on June 27, 2010, 07:57:51 AM
I wear HJC V2 full face helmet and ride almost 150 miles everyday,the neck gets pretty strained due to crosswind
was wondering whether SHOEI or other expensive helmets are more aerodynamic and if  cafe sport windshield would make a lot of difference,I dont like the other big windshields.

has anyone been using helmet wind-skirt/blocker or economical superior aerodynamic helmets

Manoj

I wear a Shoei XR-1000, seriously light weight, very comfortable and pretty quiet. I've never had a sore neck at the end of the day, and that includes a couple of intense 1000km days :thumb:

Twism86

Are the flip front full face hemets generally heavier then a solid one?
First bike - 2002 GS500E - Sold
Current - 2012 Triumph Street Triple R
"Its more fun to ride a slow bike fast than a fast bike slow"

Tom

JEREMY JOCK

Quote from: Twism86 on June 29, 2010, 05:03:50 AM
Are the flip front full face hemets generally heavier then a solid one?
I would guess yes, seeing as there are way more mechanical pieces involved.

fraze11

#19
I have to agree with tt_Four...I have a Zox Full face and an Arai Full face...and frankly after three ~400km trips one with my Zox and the others with my Arai, yes my Arai is lighter but when it comes to wind, which I faced brutally on my one ride while wearing my Arai...wind blows ;) ... Getting a bigger windsheild will help, but that aint goona stop side gusts which I hate the most...I'm finding my GS can really get knocked around when those side gusts come along...tucking helps.  When its really bad I rest my chest on my tank bag and put my feet on the back pegs :)
2009 GS500F, 2003 CBR F4i

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