| Author | Message | ||
     Whistler |
I realize that the topic of helmets has been discussed many times in this forum. Nevertheless, I'm going to ask your opinion once again. Without regard to price, color scheme, or even fit (too subjective), what company and which model do you consider the best quality helmet available in today's marketplace? Why? Thanks very much. | ||
| Jumbo_petite |
I'm happy with Aria and Suomy both have top quality fit, finnish and materials. Just a note Suomy are sized on the small side (Message edited by jumbo petite on January 30, 2012) | ||
| Xl1200r |
Very top quality I'd put at Arai or, my preference, Suomy (though not their modular). The Sumoy I have feels the nicest, lightest and fits the best of anything I've put on my head. | ||
| Xl1200r |
Jumbo is correct re: sizing - I usually wear a small but went with a medium on my Suomy. | ||
| Badlionsfan |
Shark. | ||
| Slaughter |
I can't compare helmets since I've only crashed hard in Arai Corsair. Two helmets, two different occasions. First crash was as bad as it gets without a fatality. I came off at the start of a race high-side, landed on my head on the pavement. Next I got hit by a following racer on a 748 who hit me and ran into my helmet (rubber marks on helmet) and THEN as the bike and I tumbled off into the dirt, the side case landed on my head and cracked the shell. 3 hard hits on the Arai in a second's time. I kept it as a souvenir. TBI put me in intensive care for a week but I survived. If you're looking at spending less than $500, and if protection is important - start from a proper fit (as snug as practical without discomfort) Helmet designs change too much to claim one is better than another. You can google-educate yourself on helmet testing. All you're going to get here are personal testimonials but the ONE THING in common is a good fit. | ||
| Jaimec |
Very timely. This article came up on Motorcycle Daily just last week: http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2012/01/rating-helm ets-beyond-passfail/ I was delighted to see my favorite helmet, the Nolan N103, got four out of five stars. In comparison, the Schuberth C3, which matches the Nolan feature for feature, and offers nothing new that I can see (except costing TWICE as much) only got THREE out of five stars. Sometimes you DON'T get what you pay for. | ||
| Drkside79 |
I like my Shoie | ||
| Guell |
Shark | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Check the helmet you like here: http://sharp.direct.gov.uk/ My Scorpion EXO400 was rated the same as the comparable Arai at about 1/4 the price. I'm so glad to have the new SHARP rating and prefer the ECE rating to SNELL for various reasons. Sometimes you don't always get what you pay for. The best rated Suomy isn't the most expensive. Same for Arai. Same for Shark. Forever people have argued that "cheap" helmets suck and expensive helmets were the best protection. I prefer to buy based upon value. If there isn't any additional safety or protection gained by spending extra money, then it's just style and fluff. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
As a follow up, here are a list of all the 5 star SHARP rated helmets: http://sharp.direct.gov.uk/testhelmetlist?sharp-ma ke=All&sharp-type=All&sharp-rating=5&sharp-price-f rom=0&sharp-price-to=9999&discontinued=1 They range in price from $70 to $495. | ||
| Buellathebuzzer |
Just FYI: I think the prices on that sight are in British Pounds not American dollars so don't be surprised to see them a little more expensive. | ||
| Jaimec |
Also, as stated in the Motorcycle Daily article, identical models of helmets will have different names depending on which side of "the pond" they're sold... | ||
| Guell |
Buy the helmet that fits your head, different helmets have different shapes. A 5 star helmet that doesn't fit could do more damage than a lower rated one that does fit | ||
| Drkside79 |
>>>>Forever people have argued that "cheap" helmets suck and expensive helmets were the best protection. I prefer to buy based upon value. If there isn't any additional safety or protection gained by spending extra money, then it's just style and fluff. Agreed but some of the more expensive helmets are quieter and weigh less. | ||
| Buellathebuzzer |
I like that SHARP rating tool. It's pretty cool to see 90 BPS rated the same or better than 300 BPS. And I totally get that fit is as important as other characteristics. I noticed that none of the flip front helmets are listed on in the 4 and 5 star ratings. Am I wearing a death trap? HJC CL-MAX II? | ||
| Jaimec |
Look again. The Nolan N103 is definitely a four-star helmet, and it is a "flip-front." http://sharp.direct.gov.uk/testhelmetlist?sharp-ma ke=122&sharp-model=N103&sharp-type=All&sharp-ratin g=1&discontinued=1 | ||
| Strokizator |
Am I wearing a death trap? HJC CL-MAX II? I hit the pavement face-first at 70 mph wearing a Sy-max II and the helmet performed beautifully. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Agreed but some of the more expensive helmets are quieter and weigh less. I have a neck like a tree trunk and wear ear plugs, so quieter is fluff to me. | ||
| Xb1125r |
i have had, agv, bkc and hjc becuase of spies. i gave it a try and I jave to say the HJC are veryr good. thay are ligth, specially the ones with smoke shiels in the inside. tha e shields are afordable compared to agv and other pricier brands. I say id spies wears hjc is good enough for me, oh its got the under cheen which keeps cold air out in cold weather. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Am I wearing a death trap? Don't know. Your latch look like this one?  HJC Sy-Max II Helmet Latch Failure Generally not a fan of flip ups. | ||
| Gearhead |
I'm a fan of Shark Helmets. Visors are much thicker than other brands which bacially eliminates fogging. The visors are expensive but are very durable, bought my current Shark through SportBikeTrackGear who are great people to work with. I also like the top line Scorpions and I now wear a Bell as my race helmet. I have an Arai Haga replica but will never own another one. Changing visors on it is very clumbersome compared to other brands, it sounds like you're breaking something. I've raced with a top line HJC and it was a nice helmet also. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
I won't buy another Arai. Great customer service, but POOR product and bad design. I agree, the visor change on Arais is a PITA. I'll have to take a look at the new Scorpion 500 a look. I hear it's a little more oval than the 1000. | ||
| Aesquire |
The one that fits best. For me that's a Suomy Spec-1R. It's loud though. Light, Cool, good airflow, but non adjustable vents. The HJC flip up fits me pretty good too. Different companies make different shapes. The best helmet ever for your buddy may not be for you. I don't care how glowing the review is, try it on and walk around the store. If it slips, it won't save you, so it has to fit. A little chipmunk cheeks is fine, but hot spots on forehead or temple, or slides at ALL, try a different brand. It takes time to reveal the issues, so take the time. If it fits so good you forget it's there.... buy it. I know you want a quality review, but the basics are so simple. After fit, how much of a pain is the visor? Can you open it a crack? Will it stay there? AFTER you find what fits you, then go look for reviews, places like webbikeworld.com | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
Shoei Raid, saved my head when I wrote off the M2. Replaced it with a Shoei Raid II, not nearly as good as the orig, much noisier, but Shoei fits my head. Apparently the new models have addressed the noise & quality issues so I'll probably get another. | ||
| Whistler |
Thanks everybody. I currently have a couple of good fitting helmets which I have liked for more upright riding but they do not do well for me with a more sportbike riding position. While in that position neither helmet allows me to see well in the forward and up direction and they squeeze my eye glasses out and up on my nose. So agreed, fit is critical but in my mind not quite as important as quality of materials and workmanship in protecting my noggin in a get off (of course the helmet has to stay on your head). I figured start with a quality helmet line and then find the proper fit and function within that line. Maybe I have that backwards. Many of your comments have been very interesting and informative. Some of the more interesting things have been the Sharp rating, cost vs. ratings (is the design of a particular helmet the real benchmark?), and the personal experiences with crash test results (the proof of pudding is in the eating, yes?). I appreciate you folks and would very much like to hear more. (Message edited by whistler on January 31, 2012) | ||
| Theshue |
http://www.webbikeworld.com/r2/motorcycle-helmet/n exx-xr1r-carbon/ i have the non carbon fiber version, my only complaint is the non quick change visor. |
