| Author | Message | ||
     Grianp |
I am in the market for a new helmet, most likely an Arai or Shoei, and I am looking for some good online vendors to purchase from. What sites do you guys frequent or suggest? Thanks, Brian | ||
| Buellinachinashop |
helmetcity.com is good. | ||
| Badlionsfan |
Helmetharbor.com is good, great video reviews. I'd try to test fit locally if you're switching brands to make sure it's gonna fit your melon properly before you order. (Message edited by Badlionsfan on January 11, 2010) | ||
| Grianp |
@Badlionsfan- I went over the weekend and tried them on, now I am trying to find some good deals. | ||
| Davefl |
I have always liked the Helmet Shop. www.helmetshop.com | ||
| 14d |
I've gotten most of my apparel from motorcyclesuperstore.com Their prices are hard to beat, and a big order usually qualifies for free shipping. Plus I got my helmet for almost $100 off MSRP and returns are no hassle. | ||
| Etennuly |
Just about every Buell dealership that went out is having firesales on that stuff now. I just bought a Buell full face at 50% off. An excellent helmet by the way. You really must try them on though. The three Buell helmets I have all are small compared to other brands. I have a couple of cheaper M2R helmets for dirt biking that are way big per size. The discounted ones cannot be returned if it doesn't fit though. | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
After I tried out Arai's at the Motorcycle show, I bought a leftover on eBay, was like new, around half price if I recall. The Buell helmets are KBC's. Good helmet, but not as good as a Shoei or Arai. Try before you buy is critical. Arai makes several shapes. I have a Profile, which fits my long oval head. The fit, finish and longevity of the Arai's is excellent. | ||
| Nobuell |
I had huge problems from "www.thehelmetsource.com". Very difficult to work with and it ended up costing me $$$ due to their ineptness and lack of communication. | ||
| Etennuly |
My older Buell helmet (Asphalt) was KBC. The new one (Turbulent) is from AGV. | ||
| Reg_kittrelle |
After wearing just about every helmet available, I've settled on 3 different ones for my wardrobe: 1) Hot weather finds me in a Bell Star. This helmet offers me the most effective ventilation system I've yet found. 2) Cold weather has me wearing an Arai Corsair V. It fits snugly and is very comfortable. It is loud , however, as this is more of a track helmet. 3) I like my HJC IS16 because of the internal sunshield. It's great Southwest helmet. That is, zapping across AZ into the sun. | ||
| Reg_kittrelle |
I know this won't be all that popular a thought, but... I'd hate to see local motorcycle shops disappear as they offer much more to a rider than product. You can usually find the best prices on-line, but this is killing the small brick-and-mortar places. | ||
| Froggy |
I have used Newenough.com, easy to exchange or get a refund if it dosen't fit. Reg, problem with B&M stores is selection. I am yet to find a shop that had more than a dozen helmets, including dirtbike and and other non full face helmets. More specifically, I am yet to find a place within a 2 hour drive that stocked the Scorpion EXO1000. Sure, they will order it, but if it doesn't fit or I just don't end up liking it, I am stuck with it. At least with ordering online most places will let you return it. | ||
| F_skinner |
I am in the market for a new helmet as well. I am looking at the Shoei RF 1100 but would like to try the Shark RSR2 and Bell Star. I need to test fit to my head to make the ultimate choice. I have always bought from a local shop (big helmet selection and helpful people working there) but if I ever got sub standard service I would go on-line. I have been reading reviews on helmet harbor all morning. Reg, is the Bell Star a quiet helmet? I have never worn ear plugs so I will be looking into those as well. Frank | ||
| Reg_kittrelle |
Froggy,, 'tis true, I just lament the fact that the small shop is at death's door. 'Skinner, Despite the press releases, I've never come across a quiet helmet. The Bell, I believe is in the upper half of the quiet helmet list... but not really quiet. I've spoken with three helmet companies re this issue... none of which see to want to pursue this goal. The technology is there, but they don't hear any demand for it. I am aware of two companies which are working on "white noise" techno for helmets, but methinks it will be a while before we see it on the street. | ||
| F_skinner |
Thanks and I agree, I have never had a quiet helmet either. When I first heard about some are more quiet than others I always wondered what their definition of "quiet" was. I am working a comm system so Lynn can nag me when we are riding so I will see how it goes. | ||
| Jeepinbueller |
Just chiming in about the local store comment. I used to be an "online only" shopper simply because it was so easy to pay and usually their prices were lower than an in-store purchase because they don't have the expenses that a physical store has. I was shopping for a new helmet before this past X-mas and found two I really liked: the Scorpion EXO-1000 (Sublim black) and the HJC IS-16 (matte black). Even though I really liked the IS-16 b/c the price was about $100 lower than the EXO ... I just thought the EXO had a better fit and finish ... the pump up cheek pads are nice because if I'm just cruising around town, I'll only pump them slightly to fit. If I'm doing some high-speed cruising, I'll pump them up a bit more for stability. These are things I wouldn't have known if I bought online ... I even told the guy than runs the equipment department the prices I've seen online (including shipping). He sold it to me for $280 which is darn close and I had a great time talking to him. Plus, when you get buddy-buddy with people that work at stores, you get all the juicy info, all the good deals, and a cool person to talk to whilst you shop! He even special ordered me the 2010 version of the helmet (a mix btw matte and gloss finish and graphics) which has the updated chin vent that opens straight down instead of out which eliminates the air flow problem of earlier models. Scorpion listens to their reviewers! Local business FTW  | ||
| Crackhead |
I shop local when i can, but the tiny B&M stores suck. The gear section needs to be the size of a WAWA before I even want to think about going in there. | ||
| Grianp |
I totally agree with you guys on the selection of B&M stores. The ones around me arent the greatest. I went the other day just to try all the different brands/models and made a note of each one I liked and the sizes so that I could look online for a better selection. If you want a lower end helmet ($200 & less) you have a great selection at shops around me. Once you go to the higher end helmets such as Arai and Shoei, the selection diminishes significantly. In addition they are asking full retail which no one in their right mind should have to pay. Those are the reasons that have forced me into looking online. Trust me, I would much rather go to the store and walk out with the helmet that day. But when we are talking about savings of over $200 for certain helmets, I will stick with online. | ||
| Eboos |
If local shops would also have WAWA's deli, I would do all my shopping there. | ||
| Ulynut |
Sportbiketrackgear.com always has good deals going on. http://stores.sportbiketrackgear.com/StoreFront.bo k | ||
| Ratbuell |
Brian - hit the DC IMS show later this month if you can. Best of all worlds - great selection from lots of (local!) vendors, a chance to try stuff on, and (at least last year when I bought my Shoei from one place and my Fieldsheers from another) great "show" pricing. Reg, et al - I agree on the "brick and mortar" support, and not just because I work in one. I'm the same way for about every industry - home office, electronics, automotive, local fuel versus "chain" fuel stores - I'd rather spend local and support MY economy, where *I* live. | ||
| Hughlysses |
Wherever you buy, read this article before you start shopping: http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycle-helmets/mot orcycle-helmet-shapes.htm It'll help you pick a helmet that fits well. | ||
| Pammy |
I agree with Reg. But if you are going to shop online, you should do just that. Don't use the local stores to test what you like and then order online. Here's the rub, a catch 22, if you will. If you don't buy the product at the local level, there will be less product to buy. Why should the local shop stock everything, pay taxes on everything, have their money tied up in these items easily purchased online? For your convenience? Loyalty is two way street, my friends. By the way. I am as passionately opposed to the shops that are willing to take your money and then treat you poorly. I used to stock all the popular helmets, jackets, suits, etc....I attended all the seminars. I was attentive to the trends and wants and needs of my customers....Then the internet shopping (well first it was magazine, mail order) made the scene. Not only is it not profitable to continue to stock everything, it became a cost we could/would no longer bear. I could go on and on about the view from my side of the street, but it won't change anything, so why bother. But I do have a story. It happens over and over, but it happened Friday(again) so I will share it. A young man on brand X motorcycle called about the price of tires for his bike. Charlie gave him a price. Call completed. He later called back to get the labor price to install the tires if he brought his own tires. He was quoted a price albeit a bit higher than the price you would get if you purchased the tires here (you will understand why later on). Call completed. He showed up with tires in hand. He saved about $26, (including tax on the entire purchase) than what he was quoted here. Now keep in mind he is paying extra to have them mounted ($10.for two) and he had to wait an extra day for shipping. Now his savings is down to $16. The tech is mounting his tires and has the bike lifted, wheels off, rim on machine and guess what? The guy was sold the wrong tire for his motorcyle. It won't fit. He has two options. He can pay us to put it all back together and work it out with the company from which he made his purchase or he can run down to a store they have further South (probably 90 miles round trip) and we will leave the bike apart until his return. He chose the latter. It worked out for him, but he had sub-zero savings. It was inconvenient for us, which made him feel bad. I felt bad for him but what should I have done for him? Anyway, I have been on both sides of the counter....Just sayin' | ||
| Eboos |
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| Hughlysses |
The last time I bought a helmet, I did my best to support the local guys. After reading the article I linked above, I determined I needed an Arai Profile to fit my "long oval" head. Only one local shop was an Arai dealer and they had only one Arai helmet (NOT a Profile) in stock. I was traveling for work to Jacksonville, FL a week later and figured since Jacksonville is a big city, I'd have better luck there. I actually went to 3 different dealers that were listed on-line as Arai dealers and NONE of them had any Arai helmets in stock. I tried, I really did. Further research revealed that a Shark RSI helmet also fits a "long oval" head, and I found one on sale at a discount dealer that sends me ~weekly e-mail flyers. It was half price, and about 1/3 of the price of the Arai I had wanted. Buying a helmet can be a PITA. | ||
| Skntpig |
+1 Pam I try my local shop first but found a closeout deal he couldn't meet. My local guy doesn't stock alot for the same reason as you. I bought a helmet from competitionaccessories and they had a policy that you could return a helmet if you paid the shipping as long as it was only tried on. They also included a guide to help you make sure when you tried it on it fit correctly. I already knew my size from the previous helmet but thought this was pretty cool. | ||
| Skntpig |
Now I shop online to decide what aftermarket part I want (if I can't get it from Al) and bring the local guy the part number. | ||
| Pammy |
"'tis true, I just lament the fact that the small shop is at death's door. " I don't agree with this, though. We are surely classified as small. Can't even see the door from here. I am pretty sure we are not the exception. I have seen many small enterprises come and go over my tenure in the biz. Seems same difference to me. The motorcycle business is easy to get into and damn hard work for damn little money...it's that second and third part that gets people.  | ||
| Pammy |
Hey are there any other threads on here that need a jackin'? I am on a roll here. Ha Ha |
