| Author | Message | ||
     Adrenaline0210 |
getting a new helmet soon. Want something thats alot more comfterable than my HJC cs-12, and thats better for high speed and such... Looking at the KBC vr-2 either dragon or daytona check it out here http://motorhelmets.com/htm1/helmets-street-kbc-vr2-2006.htm I have personaly seen the daytona and its gorgeous, verry light and the local shop i go to recommends the KBC;s,,, says there just as good as shoei or arai yet hundreds cheaper. Would like to have you guys input, especially if u ride a KBC already... | ||
| M1combat |
I've had a VR-1 and VR-2. I like both. If you're riding on the street though you might look at something with larger vents. The ones on the VR-1/2 certainly work, but they're designed for higher speed. They are good helmets though. I use a VR-2 right now and I love it. | ||
| Snowhownd |
I have a cheap KBC (TK-8) and like it - although that probably doesn't help you much. | ||
| Kdan |
The Scorpions rock. http://www.scorpionusa.com/ | ||
| Adrenaline0210 |
the vr-2 should have more ventilation than my cheapy 130$ hjc though wouldnt u think. I was also looking at the SHARK helmets as well. | ||
| Diablobrian |
I used to have a vr1. It was a good lid. I've been looking at the forceRR helmet. It fits great, and it's decent quality. | ||
| M1combat |
No... It's made for racing and has smaller vents. The designers expect that you'll be using the helmet at a race pace. It flows great about 45MPH. Not so much below that. If you're riding on the street, the street based helmets will have larger vents and will flow just fine at lower speeds. They'll also be noisier at higher speeds... The engineers really do know what they are doing. Everything is a trade off, even airflow in a helmet  . | ||
| Buellisti |
The Sharks are nice. I just didn't quite find the fit I was looking for though. The VR2 is a race helmet and the fit is very tight. There is not a whole lot of space between your chin and the chin bar. If you are looking for more space between your chin and the chin bar in the helmet, the VR1, VR3, and forceRR have more space. | ||
| Buckinfuell |
I used to have a VR-1 and I have nothing bad to say about it. I recently got an Arai, but honestly, I cannot see or feel a difference. If anything, I thought the VR-1 had better quality vents. | ||
| Buellblastrider |
I just got an airborne 2 and i'm really liking it so far. | ||
| Sped214 |
I have a KBC Force RR, and I love it. Very good fit, and vents really well. | ||
| Brineusaf |
I second the Force RR | ||
| Brineusaf |
HAHA... how many people have this helmet? http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e108/kylen1985/FinishedHelmet.jpg Thats mine... | ||
| Cdn_bueller |
I ride with a Shark S800. I really like it. The only complaint would be that the chin bar is close to my face (i don't mind it though). The comfort and quality are excellent! | ||
| Xb9er |
I've got the airborne 2, its awesome. | ||
| Pupu |
i also like the airborne 2, that is what i use now, i also have a VR2, it is lighter than my airborne, but the airborne is more comfortable. | ||
| Txfatcat |
Buy the Shoe......so worth the money even if you have to wait. KBC makes great helmets but like the Icons the are very noisey(spelling). I hated to spend the money but a huge difference when you get up at higher speeds and the noise level is alot lower. They also seem to be lighter depending on what model. | ||
| Pupu |
my forceRR is quiet, but the vr2 does seem to whistle pretty bad with the visor open, i dont hardley ride like that, but you have i have to tilt my head just a little to keep the whistle away. but it is only with it open so no biggie. | ||
| Speedfreaks101 |
I say go for the one that fits correctly. It can look great but if it does not fit right then it will not do its job properly. If you have not done it then have someone that knows how to properly size you in a helmet. I was only able to find two helmets that actually fit me. I was lucky that one is the X-11 and looks nice, but I would wear a milk bucket if it fit and protected me best. | ||
| Buellisti |
Case in point about sizing. KBC VR1- I wear a medium and I can't touch the chin bar with my lips and the fit is just snug. This is the Hyundi of helmets. Lots of good features and safety at a reasonable price. This is the helmet sold under the Buell name at the dealer. KBC VR2- I wear a large and I can kiss the chin bar. It is a snugger fit than the VR1. This is the helmet Mladin is racing in this year. Shoei- I usually wear a medium, but my GRV and X1 were smalls. Arai- Arai sells helmets in two head forms, round and oval. Medium (oval) is too small, I can't even get the medium (round) on, large (round) presses horribly on my forehead, and I can roll the large (oval) off when strapped. I simply fall between sizes. Arai are the Rolls-Royce of helmets. Status, craftsmanship, bling,comfort, and expensive. From an engineering standpoint, it is no safer than a $200 dollar helmet that meets the same construction standards and passes the same tests. Shark- Large, but the helmet felt too tight at the point where my head and neck meet. HJC- A medium, but there was not enough comfort padding around the ears which is a sure sign the helmet will be noisy. Icon- large, it suffers the same sin as the HJC. My mainframe is noisy and at free way speeds it whistles. | ||
| Molly_hatchet |
i like my vr-2 dont get the flat black though it scratched like hell in the first week looks like its been through a war now....works fine just needs some decent paint..... | ||
| Col_klink |
Sorry Buellisti, but I gotta come after ya for suggesting that all helmets that pass the same tests are equal in terms of safety. Firstly, the weight of the helmet will be part of what stretches/kinks your neck in a whiplash situation. The lighter the better. I don't think tests take weight into account. Secondly, it's possible to scrape through a test with a C, or ace it with an A+. Just as students who pass a test are not equally smart, so some helmets are better than others. I fit Arai's Corsair, so that's what I use. (If I didn't, I'd go for a top-end Shoei.) I keep my costs down by buying plain colours, not race reps. I try to buy in sales, too. The Corsair is a very flawed helmet: it's very noisy, the visor mechanism sucks as it does on all Arais, and the paint is very soft, so it scratches easily. A hundred reasons not to own one, and one why I do - I believe it's the safest helmet available. Klink | ||
| Vanvideo |
I have 3 VR-2s (Assassin, blue chrome and flare chrome, autographed by Erik Buell himself!), one VR-1 (green & blue Euro) and a Wolf (dark chrome). Obviously, I like KBC helmets. I definitely recommend them. | ||
| Pupu |
there was an article on helmets, and they said that the more expensive helmets, ie. the one that would take a larger impact ( the higher snell rating), could actually hurt you more in a smaller impact because of the "crushing" characteristics. but they said that all the helmets they tested-excluding the ones they got from the auto parts stores scored well. | ||
| Littleone |
I have the KBC Force RR Dark And i love it. KBC made XXS Pads Special for me ( no extra cost)... Great being a girl some days. I have had KBC Helmets for about 10 years now. Race, Snow and bike i love the brand. | ||
| Wazza |
I had a VR1 - was comfy and quiet. I now have a VR2 - best looking but ultimately the worst helmet I have ever owned. Wind noise at highway speed is the highest I have experienced in a helmet in 20 years. The blue iridium visor has (had) the coating on outside (other brands inside) was scratched beyond use within 2 weeks. Develops pressure points across front of helmet that can become uncomfortable. Pity as venting seems ok and their iridium visor was good shade of tint while it lasted dark enough to protect from sun but not too dark that you cannot see damp spots in shadows etc. | ||
| Nasty73z |
Shoei X-11. The best helmet ever made. Period. It is the only helmet I will wear, nothign fits my head better. I am naturally hot and this helmets flows more air than any other helmet on the market. My friend had a AGV Ti-tech and he just made the switch and couldn't believe how much lighter it was and he noticed reduced buffeting at speed. The peripheral vision the helmet allows is outstanding. They are expensive, but I won't wear my helmet if it is uncomfortable, so I spend my money to protect the most important thing I have. | ||
| Don668 |
Love my VR-1, wife has a VR-2, as Buellisti states sizes between the two are different. Interesting point... had visor issues with the VR-1 (air pouring in the top) one email to KBC and they sent me new ratchets (much better!) new clear visor, blue iridium visor, AND a red iridium visor for my wife! Amazing customer service!! For my next helmet... not sure about the VR-2. Looked at a Shoei RF-1000, fit nice but more $, also the AGV TiTech or Stealth fit well. But will I get the same service as KBC??? | ||
| Buellisti |
Col-klink, You can't make an A or a C in helmet testing. It is merely pass/fail. Here's another bad analogy, what is a perfect score on the Professional Engineer's or Geologist's exam for obtaining one's license to practice the profession? (Hint, it is not 100) On the weight issue, an Arai Signet falls between my VR1 and Mainframe in terms of weight. The VR2 is slightly lighter. The Shoei X1 I retired weighs far more than any of these newer more modern helmets. I have yet to see in the literature and data a neck injury resulting from helmet use. | ||
| Col_klink |
Buellisti. Your first statement is true. So is this one: "Two helmets can pass the same test and one can be stronger, lighter and safer than the other". You're right about your second statement. It is a really bad analogy. Finally, the fact that you haven't "yet seen in the literature", won't make any difference at all to how much more easily your neck snaps with more weight strapped to it, rather than less. Klink (Message edited by col_klink on July 30, 2006) | ||
| Garp |
"Two helmets can pass the same test and one can be stronger, lighter and safer than the other". You seem to be assuming that stronger = safer, and that is questionable at best. You need a helmet to absorb the impact so that your head/brain doesn't have to. A cheap helmet may come out of a test looking ruined, but it did it's job and gave it's live to safe yours. Personally I wear either an Arai Corsair or a Shoei RF1000 depending on how far I am riding. The Arai is just too loud for long rides. I have tried HJC, KBC, Shark and several other brands, but they just do not fit as well. Also I like that both Shoei and Arai have different size pads available so you can truly customize the fit. | ||
| Col_klink |
Garp. Yes, I think helmet strength is a factor in safety. You think it's "questionable at best"? OK. I guess we buy the same model helmet for different reasons. Klink | ||
| Wazza |
Yes your exactly right Garp - its your brain getting mashed by sudden de-acceleration that is important not shell strength. You can have the strongest best brand helmet in the world and it wont make a lick of difference when your head goes from moving forward fast to zero in miliseconds as it hits a tree/rock/car etc. Your brain will get mashed into the front of your skull from extreme de-acceleration and you will die. Simple. This isnt some secret, plenty of medical reports on motorcycle deaths. At low speeds you might survive but unlikely you will ever lead a normal life again due to brain damage. In this case its the inner foam padding that slows the impact and may save your life. A stronger shell will not deform so will not slow you or absorb any impact. As for sliding down the road or glancing off things - well those are the crashes that riders generally survive regardless of helmet brand. | ||
| Buellisti |
No one bit. The perfect score is a 70, or passing. A higher score doesn't indicate that you are a better professional. If you were really concerned about helmet induced neck injuries, instead of dumping a huge sum of money into a few grams lighter helmet you would invest into a HANS setup. Research is starting to show that compliance in the shell material may be critical in reducing the dwell time of g-loading during an impact. The two part Motorcyclist article published this year identified this. From the research done for the article, meeting Snell may not be all it is cut out to be. Snell does have some key things such as the chin bar requirements, the retention requirement, and the eye port requirements which I would argue are key additional items that DOT doesn't examine that are critical to a safer helmet. Snell dwell allowances are pretty scary though when one looks at the medical literature as did the Motorcyclist article. Also of some concern is the fact that the actual test results are kept secret. Snell merely publicly issues a pass or fail. All of my helmets meet Snell, but that was merely chance. Fit, comfort, weight, and price were the actual reasons for purchase. I try to replace helmets every two to three years which is what I suspect the lifespan of the EPS foam really is. I have kept a couple that I didn't wear very often for up to ten. |
