Well, I've decided it's time to replace my old worn HJC. Actually the helmet is still in OK shape, but last summer I decided to remove the face shield (to get a little more ventilation during the heat last August) and now I can't find the round (plugs, screws, not sure what you call em - one on each side that hold on the face shield). Anyhow, I can't find these things and therefore can't re-attach the shield so I figured I'd just go ahead and buy a new helmet. tongue.gif
I'll probably end up buying one from my local bike superstore (Iron Pony) and they carry the following brands... Arai, HJC, Nitro, Icon, KBC, Shoei, Vega, Z1R...
Does anyone have advice on what to buy? Brand, style, etc?? I'm leaning towards a modular unit. Also, I really do like the Shoei products but WHOA, I can't see spending over $400 for a lid.
Does anyone have advice on what to buy? Brand, style, etc?? I'm leaning towards a modular unit. Also, I really do like the Shoei products but WHOA, I can't see spending over $400 for a lid.
All those brands are decent helmets as far as protection goes. Some are a lot more comfortable than others, and some have much better ventilation. Buy the one that fits the best and still comes in at your budget.
I have always stayed away from the really high priced helmets, even though, everyone says you get what you pay for. I have owned an HJC and have had no problems with sound or it being uncomfortable. The best part it was 125 bucks.
Now, I am not going to crash test it, but i would have to assume that it would stand up to the most expensive helmets.
I just ordered a Shoei RF-1000 from HelmetHarbor.com. Their best online price was $331.95, but when I called they could sell it for $283.95, with free shipping. They can't advertise the lower price, have to call for it.
Do not forget about Scorpion helmets. I like mine, but some user complain they are loud. Most importantly, make sure you try the helmet on before you buy it. idea3.gif The most expensive helmet could be worthless if does not fit right!
steveefer, Mar 8 2006, 01:26 AMI'll probably end up buying one from my local bike superstore (Iron Pony) and they carry the following brands... Arai, HJC, Nitro, Icon, KBC, Shoei, Vega, Z1R...
steveefer, Mar 7 2006, 08:26 PMWell, I've decided it's time to replace my old worn HJC. Actually the helmet is still in OK shape, but last summer I decided to remove the face shield (to get a little more ventilation during the heat last August) and now I can't find the round (plugs, screws, not sure what you call em - one on each side that hold on the face shield). Anyhow, I can't find these things and therefore can't re-attach the shield so I figured I'd just go ahead and buy a new helmet. tongue.gif
I'll probably end up buying one from my local bike superstore (Iron Pony) and they carry the following brands... Arai, HJC, Nitro, Icon, KBC, Shoei, Vega, Z1R...
Does anyone have advice on what to buy? Brand, style, etc?? I'm leaning towards a modular unit. Also, I really do like the Shoei products but WHOA, I can't see spending over $400 for a lid.
Most important thing is fit, that is 95% of the helmet. Things like noise are greatly affected by fit so don't necessarily go by what other say. The most important thing is to make sure it is very tight, wear it around for 30 minutes or so, take a test ride if possible.
As a few others have said, try out Scorpion. I have an EXO700 and like it very much, would be worth the price if it is double.
I've had a couple of HJCs, and they fit well and didn't fog up that much. That being said, as soon as I got enough money I bought an Arai. I started to prioritize my bike spending, and the extra 200 bucks seemed more deserving of my brain than a 520 chain conversion and double bubble screen.
I also had to buy a helmet for my wife, so I got another Arai. She is a scientist, so once she looked at the test data from all of the manufacturers, it was impossible to buy according to price. She was getting the best one and that was that.
I will jump in with the Arai. I have one, and I don't think that I would ever get another kind. I can wear it all day long, and get no neck fatigue, or other problems. Its quiet, is completely cleanable, and you can get replacement parts for it with relative ease. It also has a great warranty.
As much as I want to stay with the Japanese premier brands like Shoei and Arai, the exorbitant pricing of the last few years (5 to 600+ bucks!??) have made them totally unaffordable to me. Since my last Shoei, a Rainey X8 model, I have instead bought high line Italian brands that were sold as last year's models (Dainese, X-lite) during end of season sales. Saved over half the cost and ended up with beautiful helmets that are not dime a dozen at bike stops. JMO
I think if you haven't had any trouble with an HJC to get another. Some people can really notice the differance in weight and wind noise. My dad has worn Shoei modulars, and occasionally when the wind is blowing from the side, he complains about neck fatigue. My brother has a brand new Arai, and he swears it is the greatest thing he's ever spent $600 on; saying it's snug, comfy, light and quiet, though the Shoei full face I have has served me well, and I have no complaints.
I got my hands on a Vermeulen X-11 for about half price. Great aerodynamics, tad noisy, great ventilation, good lense optics (no wiggles). Nose hits the breath guard at about where I think the helmet should sit on my head, nose can come off I suppose.
Everyone is going to have their own opinion about what helmet is best, and my only suggestion is to get the best protection and fit that your budget can afford. Over the past 5 years I've acquired several helmets...a HJC CL-14 that is a good choice, a Arai Quantum/F that I used for many years, and now an Arai RX-7. A few months ago when I bought my latest Arai I tried on almost every brand available, and for my head an Arai just seems to fit the best. I don't think the two Arai's I have are all that quiet though and they do fog up pretty easily, and my only complaint is their visor attachment system...sometimes it can be a real pain to swap out visors. Quality, construction, and safety are top notch though...
thereisnospoon, Mar 8 2006, 11:40 AMI got my hands on a Vermeulen X-11 for about half price. Great aerodynamics, tad noisy, great ventilation, good lense optics (no wiggles). Nose hits the breath guard at about where I think the helmet should sit on my head, nose can come off I suppose.
I paid $468 shipped for my Vermeulen X-11 from a great dealer on Ebay, the MSRP is $699. It weigh 1250 grams and has the best ventilation. In the summer heat here weight and ventilation are huge issues for all day riding so the money was worth it. It is my second X-11 see my avatar for what happened to the first one.
steveefer, Mar 7 2006, 09:26 PMDoes anyone have advice on what to buy? Brand, style, etc?? I'm leaning towards a modular unit.
I wear an Arai & have crash tested helmets. The Arai passes. laugh.gif
Read the Motorcyclist Online article: Motorcyclist Hatz If you buy into this approach, it should remove the idea that cost is proportional to protection.
I second (third?) the idea that fit is everything. Arai has always worked for me in the sense that they have been comfortable and well vented. {I sweat like a Dutch Cartoonist on the bus to Mecca.} Arai, are known for being noisy - but I wear ear plugs as a matter of course. And, I have had no issues getting parts for them. But, they don't work for everyone.
It is nice to have the local selection that you have. Good luck.
Anyone know where I could get a new MOMO Devil for a good price? I missed on two that just went out for bid on eBay, brand new one at 80+ and one at 100+ dollars! Arrgh! pissed.gif Don't know how well they perform, but they're very intresting looking helmets just to have.
JBY28, Mar 9 2006, 06:11 AMimo shoei rf 1000 or the x-11 the most comfortable and vent great just my 2 cents, also avoid AGV
I'm on my third AGV, an XVent that I bought from a friend for NZ$150 ($800 retail). I like the features, but I doubt whether I'll ever buy another one. Compared to my wife's "budget" Shoei Raid, that we got for $399, the quality of finish is crap. But the two worst things are fit and padding. My head is 59 cm, and this helmet is 58. Previous AGVs were 60 (too loose) and 58 (initially tight, then good). The polystyrene used in the helmet is too hard, and the foam plastic liner is too thin, with the nett result that it's uncomfortable on a long trip, and in an accident it provides insufficient cushioning. When I landed on my head wearing my last AGV, virtually at standstill, I had mild concussion for 3 days, when I should have felt nothing. Against that, the AGV is quiet, has an excellent ventilation system and easy-to-use visor (quick to change, easy to operate) and replacement parts are much cheaper than Shoei or Arai (60% of the price).
I dunno what I'll get next, but my wife saying "I LOVE my helmet!!" every time she wears it is good advertising.
enzed_viffer, Mar 8 2006, 07:56 PMI'm on my third AGV, an XVent that I bought from a friend for NZ$150 ($800 retail). I like the features, but I doubt whether I'll ever buy another one. Compared to my wife's "budget" Shoei Raid, that we got for $399, the quality of finish is crap. But the two worst things are fit and padding. My head is 59 cm, and this helmet is 58. Previous AGVs were 60 (too loose) and 58 (initially tight, then good). The polystyrene used in the helmet is too hard, and the foam plastic liner is too thin, with the nett result that it's uncomfortable on a long trip, and in an accident it provides insufficient cushioning. When I landed on my head wearing my last AGV, virtually at standstill, I had mild concussion for 3 days, when I should have felt nothing. Against that, the AGV is quiet, has an excellent ventilation system and easy-to-use visor (quick to change, easy to operate) and replacement parts are much cheaper than Shoei or Arai (60% of the price).
I dunno what I'll get next, but my wife saying "I LOVE my helmet!!" every time she wears it is good advertising.
What? AGVs no good??!! But isn't it what the "Doctor" himself prescribes for motoGPs????? blink.gif goofy.gif
someone stated..that what ever fits you the best is what you should purchase. considering it has the comfort good ventilation. THe best and most expensive helmet can buy can be disapointing. I purchase both Rx-7 top of the line by arai and shoei X-11 top of the line. TO me, Arai stink!, lens fog up too much, and the fitting is awful. More noisy then SHoei. to me Arai is worthless because its not much use to me! im not going to wear it so there fore it doesnt worth anything.
I have a shoei XR 1000 it is nice but noisy created by the padding, suspect I might buy some whisper strips as I do not like wearing earplugs for normal 100km/hr should not have to IMO. Also front vents horrible squeal sometime..
Anyway this is my opinion and consider that I use a lovely 3/4 Nolan for most my riding consider my 2 cents how you like...
Although I agree with everyone else comfort is the biggest factor
I've had 3 helmets in the past couple of years. I haven't been willing to mail order a helmet that I haven't tried on and none of the local shops carry the top $ brands, so I have been limited to less expensive brands.
I started with an HJC CL-14. Paid list price minus 10% (about $140 with tax). Really liked it after wearing it for a while and getting it broken in. Got bonked on the head by a parking garage gate due to an inattentive attendant. pissed.gif Somewhat concerned as to integrity and performance if I need it after that incident, so I started looking for a replacement.
I bought a Fulmer D4 last summer after reading the Motorcyclist magazine article. It was one of their top performers and less expensive than the HJC (I think I paid about $125 with tax), but the ventilation was very poor and comfort was not as nice as the HJC. In the cooler months I had to keep the visor cracked until I was up to about 50mph to keep the visor from fogging up.
My wife bought me a Scorpion EXO400 for my b-day because I was complaining so much about the Fulmer (I think it was about $140 before tax). After about 1.5 to 2 hours in it my head starts to hurt around the upper forehead/hairline (for those of us who still have our hair) tongue.gif . I can't ride the next day because the helmet causes discomfort almost immediately after I put it on. It's been about 3 months and it still hasn't "loosened up". I like all the other aspects of this helmet. The lining is nice material and easily removeable, the shield is easy to remove/replace, and the fit and finish of the parts is very nice. The anti-fog treatment on the visors works pretty well, but it is not available on the mirrored visors (only the clear or smoke ones have it). I would be really happy with this helmet if I could get my forehead to conform to the helmet because I don't think the helmet is going to conform to my head at this point! I actually dug out my HJC for my recent MSF class because I knew I'd have it on for about 8 hours or more that day.
So to sum it up, I'll probably go back to an HJC soon, but the Scorpion is a nicer helmet if I could get my head to fit it.
I really love my Icon Mainframe, it fits me like a glove. I had an AGV Demon Top Vent before, and I agree with enzed viffer's statements about the liners being hard and thin. It fit me very well for most of the first season I had it, but after around 10,000miles, it was getting very loose, and the visor wouldn't stay up anymore. It even flew up on occasion, when turning for a look over the shoulder. The venting was horrible(except when the visor flew up), and it was noisy.
The Mainframe has a MUCH nicer interior, and while it's a tad heavier, it's a compromise I'm willing to make. The field of vision is much better, and the visor itself is of higher quality, it's clearer, if that makes sense. While the top vents on the Icon seem to have about as much(or little) of an effect as the AGV's, the front vents are awesome. I can ride in just about anything except heavy fog, with the visor down, and be fog-free inside. These vents also have a flow control inside similar to the twist-type vent on the top of some barbeque grills.
Also, never pay retail prices on the Icons. There are stores that will tell you about their "minimum advertised price policy", where they will email you the discounted prices. It's worth the extra 2min!
If you are buying a new one because you can't find those screws and etc, most dealerships stock them or order them for you....if you just want a new helmet I recommend the new HJC carbon fiber helmet .
The Motorcyclist aritcle mentioned above is a MUST READ. It's the most current data on current model helmets I've seen, and it is an eye-opener.
As a result of reading it, I purchased a Z1R, which turns out to be a very nice piece at a very affordable price. According to the article, it may even provide better protection than the top-of-the-line Arais, Shoeis, etc. Keep in mind that a lot of what makes expensive helmets cost more has to do with features not related to crash-worthiness (more elaborate venting, nicer liners, etc.). A Z1R is at least worth considering, but like any helmet, it's gotta fit to be worth a dime.
IMO AGV is garbage. I used to really like their stuff. I bought one before my x-11 and returned it a couple of weeks later. It was about a $300 helmet and was noisy and very, very uncomfortable. My friend's $150 HJC was much nicer. So I returned it and got an X-11 on closeout for $299. I love my Shoei, I have zero complaints. I also have a pair of AGV RS-3 Gloves that the seams are coming apart in only three months of riding. I am disappointed with them to say the least. So IMHO stay clear of AGV!
End of thread · 28 posts recoveredWayback Machine snapshot 24 Oct 2006