Helmets

[hot_shoe_cv]

www.streetglow.net I have their tape on my helmet. bags, vest, & jacket. It still sticks tight after a year. The tape is blue in daylight to match with the helmet & reflects bright white in the dark. I care less about what it looks like and more about how vivible I am.
<img src="http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1...v/MVC-006F.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">

[Mercury]

i agree about the prioity on visibility to looks... but if i can get both then why not right?

Kenny

[sourdough]

I don't think anyone has mentioned flip-up helmets. I have become interested in the Zeus flip-up but haven't found one to try on or even look at. Anyone have one, or experience, good or bad, with them?
Thanks, Jim

[Mercury]

Originally Posted by sourdough

I don't think anyone has mentioned flip-up helmets. I have become interested in the Zeus flip-up but haven't found one to try on or even look at. Anyone have one, or experience, good or bad, with them?
Thanks, Jim

welp i got an hjc CL-max flip up.. and i love it!

DOT approved, all black. I think it may be too hot in the summer but thats to be determined... in the cold weather it stops all the wind from getting my neck

kenny

[travo]

I have KBC on my head, i live in Australia so we have different safety standards and what not but its law in our country to have a helmet on and its recomended that every 5-10 yrs you get a new one or after a crash or heavy knock.

My only bit of advice would be, safety and comfort the helmet has to do what its designed for no point finding out afterwards that it wasnt good enough and secondly you will have it on your head for possibly hours on end so get something that feels right.

[ervins]

I currently have an red, black, and silver ICON Mainframe Hooligan...I am though getting another helmet the SUOMY Spec 1R Roberts 06...THat Red, white, and blue helmet just does it for me. Key is comfort...My ICON is medium but the Suomy is Large...So definitely try them on. I wore my ICON in the store for 30 minutes before I pulled the trigger on it...THe SUOMY for at least 45 minutes. $10 helmet for a $10 head as my friend would say.

[LUKAITIS9]

I've worked in bike shops since I was 16 and there are a few important things to remember when it comes to helmets. Fit is the absolute most important thing. It has been my experience that most people wear a helmet that it the wrong size. Most of the time it is too large. I don't want to bag on any sponsors but a helmet is really not something you can buy online to save a couple of bucks. Go to your local dealer and get some help from the parts guys to size up properly. If they won't spend the time find a shop that does. The guys that work for me have been through several hours of training from both Suomy and Arai reps. Don't worry what the helmet looks like.....fit first then style.
As far as snell goes. They are seriously short on the follow-up testing of a helmet that is snell approved. Possibly look into BSI "Certified" helmets instead. http://www.suomy-usa.com/sfaqa.htm this is a good link for some questions about BSI

Sorry about the rant here from a newbie but with 20+ years in the business I thought you may be interested in some of my views. Take them for what they are worth.

[ervins]

Originally Posted by LUKAITIS9

I've worked in bike shops since I was 16 and there are a few important things to remember when it comes to helmets. Fit is the absolute most important thing. It has been my experience that most people wear a helmet that it the wrong size. Most of the time it is too large. I don't want to bag on any sponsors but a helmet is really not something you can buy online to save a couple of bucks. Go to your local dealer and get some help from the parts guys to size up properly. If they won't spend the time find a shop that does. The guys that work for me have been through several hours of training from both Suomy and Arai reps. Don't worry what the helmet looks like.....fit first then style.
As far as snell goes. They are seriously short on the follow-up testing of a helmet that is snell approved. Possibly look into BSI "Certified" helmets instead. http://www.suomy-usa.com/sfaqa.htm this is a good link for some questions about BSI

Sorry about the rant here from a newbie but with 20+ years in the business I thought you may be interested in some of my views. Take them for what they are worth.

Yep. I heard a lot of good things about Suomy and most of the peeps I know have Suomy and swear by it. Fitting is the best way and wearing it in the store until you feel like it is a go or not. Not just trying and taking it off, but walking around the store for a while. Ask questions...Most shops have a wide variety of helmets so they will tell you the straight and narrow. However, shopping online makes it hard to determine fit and secondly looks.

[LiL_Ninja]

Is it better to buy helmets in person or online?

[neebelung]

Originally Posted by LiL_Ninja

Is it better to buy helmets in person or online?

In person, absolutely. Each helmet manufacturer varies from the next in shape and fit -- it's not unusual to wear a different size from one brand to the next. Also, some brands will have different shaped helmets (such as Arai and Shoei) for different types of riding... one might fit you perfectly, while the next pinches at your temples, or has pressure points.

Your helmet is the single most important element of your protective gear - take the time to learn the differences between different models, and have a trained professional teach you how to determine the proper fit of your helmet.

Now, once you've tried on a bunch, and figured out what you want and what your size is, you can certainly save a ton of money buying online. But make sure you've tried on the EXACT model (not just brand) before you buy.

[LiL_Ninja]

Originally Posted by neebelung

In person, absolutely. Each helmet manufacturer varies from the next in shape and fit -- it's not unusual to wear a different size from one brand to the next. Also, some brands will have different shaped helmets (such as Arai and Shoei) for different types of riding... one might fit you perfectly, while the next pinches at your temples, or has pressure points.

Your helmet is the single most important element of your protective gear - take the time to learn the differences between different models, and have a trained professional teach you how to determine the proper fit of your helmet.

Now, once you've tried on a bunch, and figured out what you want and what your size is, you can certainly save a ton of money buying online. But make sure you've tried on the EXACT model (not just brand) before you buy.

Thanks, that's exactly what I needed to know.

[ervins]

You can go to a store try it on then buy on line if it is cheaper to do so.

[jukief]

I just bought a new helmet. I tried on the one I wanted in my size and wore it around the store for about 20 minutes. I really like it, but I wanted it in a different color. The sales guy brought out the identical helmet--same size, same model--and I tried it on and it didn't feel right. There was one spot that felt tight. I could feel it after just a couple of minutes. It was really weird, but there it is. I was glad I was in the store and didn't have to return something to an online store.

Moral of the story: You should always try on a helmet and wear it for a while to make sure it fits. You can't do that online.

[LiL_Ninja]

Right on right on, thanks for the great advice. I guess it's gonna be time for me to do some helmet shopping soon..hehehe

[jukief]

Originally Posted by LiL_Ninja

Right on right on, thanks for the great advice. I guess it's gonna be time for me to do some helmet shopping soon..hehehe

It's a time-consuming business, that's for sure. But, like Nee said, it's the single most important piece of gear you'll buy, so it's well worth the trouble.

I bought my first full-face helmet right after I took the MSF course and before I bought my bike. I wish that I had known then what I know now! The helmet fit me great and it's comfortable. And I told the salesman I wanted something with ventilation. But I was too much of a novice to know what that really meant. I soon found. The helmet is fine in the winter, but during the summer it simply doesn't have enough ventilation to move enough air through the helmet so that I don't suffocate. I ended up replacing it a few weeks ago. The replacement helmet I bought cost only about $50 more than the first one, so the money you spend isn't really that much of an issue. Just make sure it has plenty of vents.

[Mercury]

I say try it at a store... and if you like the store and need to make a relationship with a store then buy it there... if youre price hunting.. then get it online.

I tried on a jacket, gloves and a helemt at a store.. i bought the gloves and helemt online and bought the jaket at the store

kenny

[ervins]

That i swhat I do, but I buy from my shop because I know the since I started riding and because they are still an online store with a shop...They also give me great prices. I got burned going to Cycle Gear in the begining.

[imnotbob]

my biggest problem with helmets is I have a huge head. I went to three different bike shops and I could not find a helmet that fit. I was shown the "if this dont fit nothing will" helmet at all three shops. I was lucky enough to read the motorcyclist article on helmets last year and remembered that Z1R helmets were quoted as be slightly over sized so I ordered a xxl Z1R hat and I believe the model is called duke. but it fits, it fits snug but it is comfortable enough for slightly more than a commute. I also was able to purchase a vega helmet in xxxxl yes thats is 4 x's and it fits great the vega is only dot and the Z1R is dot and snell. but if you can read the motorcyclist article you can learn about the difference and can feel confident that in most cases in normal sane street riding the dot is not a bad choice

[zedx11]

sorry man but, WOW I thought I had a big head. mine is only XL and can't always find helmets to try on.

[Ninja06]

Here is some data from NHTSA on helmets tested in 2000-2005. I had my eye on a couple when I was looking for a new helmet, but this site curved my choice away from what I was going to get. Glad I looked first.

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/testing/comply/fmvss218/