The helmet debate:

[Rayden]

Hey guys,

I'm a fairly new rider, been riding since last December. I wear all Bilt gear, and my current helmet is a Bilt Fusion. I've start to go on longer and longer rides, and am looking to now upgrade my helmet to a nicer one. Yes, the bilt has served me well thus far, and I still plan on using it for small commutes, but I'd like some protective head-ware that costs more than 50 bucks. So, now for the question.

I've been looking at the Shoei GT-Air, Arai RX-Q, AVG Grid, and Bell RS-1. Out of these, which seems like the best buy for someone who does several hour drives in both hot, cold, and rainy weather, and at some point is looking to go to track days. Of course, if you know of a better option than those 4, feel free to list it. And based on cycle gear's pricing, my budget is around 540 or so, but I am flexible right now.

Thanks in advance!

[Panda]

I bought a RX-Q because it fit my head the best and it came in a color I like. You try them all on and see what fits best.

[dave42]

I have an RX-Q too. My fiancee grabbed a Shoei RF1100 because that fits her head better.

Like Panda said, try everything on and get one that fits. Pressure points on your head gets pretty distracting (not to mention headache inducing) very quickly.

[Rayden]

Thanks for your answer. Of course trying them will be a huge determining factor, but in terms of safety, comfort (noise, fogging, temperature), and wind resistance (such as a quick turn of the head on the highway, or how steady your head is in a tucked position) I am curious of other peoples experiences with said helmets. It's an important decision for me, so I'd like to take the time to hear what others have to say.

[NevadaWolf]

This probably won't help in your poll - but when I shop for a helmet, my head dictates what one I get. Brand X may be the most awesome ever and perfect for every need I have, but if it doesn't fit my head shape then I'm sunk.

Of those four, have you had a chance to try any of them on?

edit - drat, ninja'd twice.

[alex.s]

whichever fits your head correctly. the helmets you picked have different head shapes. i like my shoei rf1100

[dave42]

Since you brought up tucking down: I've used both Shoei RF1100 and Arai RX-Q, and in a full tuck I seem to have an easier time with keeping my eyes up with the Shoei compared to the Arai probably due to the back of the neck being a little higher.

Again it's "seems" since it's been a while ago. Fogging up-wise both are about the same; the Shoei has a separate breath deflector that you need to insert and it has a fun little mechanism on the visor lock where you can set it to be slightly open to allow air to pass through. At a stop light in winter it's still gonna fog up the same way as the Arai though.

Personally I'd get an Arai again as my next lid but that's because the back of the head feels more comfortable for some reason. Like it's being hugged by a bunch of pleasant things that makes me happy.

[Rayden]

Thanks for all the replies.

I have not tried on all these specific helmets yet, and of course I plan on buying in a store. I also understand that the ultimate deciding factor is how it feels on my head, I'm just trying to get a scope of what people tend to like, as I know little about helmets, and they all boast this and that feature.

[backinthesaddleagain]

Wanted an RF1100 but it just didn't fit my head. Got the Qwest. Not a removable liner but good helmet.

[Snake]

Go for the Bell. Very comfortable helmets.

[Rayden]

Thanks for all the replies. Seems like the story right now is

1) RX-Q is popular and good
2) Try it on yourself d###it (kidding, but I will)

I'll keep watch on what others say throughout the day.

[rasta]

+1 on the Shoei RF1000

[Aggrotech]

i have an rf1100 already, all the arai's ive ever tried do not fit. never tried agv and ive always wanted a rs1 so thats what i voted for

[ninjamunky85]

I've got an RX-Q, it's a really nice helmet.

[Rayden]

Thanks for your opinions guys.

I'll see if I can get some time out to stop by a store and try some on!

[Aggrotech]

Originally Posted by Rayden

Thanks for your opinions guys.

I'll see if I can get some time out to stop by a store and try some on!

which part of ca are you in? Only place around my area with helmets would be the dealerships and cyclegear. my Cyclegear only carries shoe, arai, speed & strength, Scorpion and bilt. good luck finding a place that carries Bell.

[Rayden]

Originally Posted by Aggrotech

which part of ca are you in? Only place around my area with helmets would be the dealerships and cyclegear. my Cyclegear only carries shoe, arai, speed & strength, Scorpion and bilt. good luck finding a place that carries Bell.

I'm in SC, so I can go to Cycle gear in Gillroy or San Jose, and there are two places the sell Bell close, so I am lucky there.

The problem will be getting the time; Highway 17 sucks if there is beach traffic, and I've been working 6 days a week and dead tired all the time, it has been killing me.

[CC Cowboy]

I've had a few Bell's, and lot of Arai's, and a ton of Shoei's. I'd get the AGV. I've never had one before.

[ChaoSS]

Originally Posted by Aggrotech

which part of ca are you in? Only place around my area with helmets would be the dealerships and cyclegear. my Cyclegear only carries shoe, arai, speed & strength, Scorpion and bilt. good luck finding a place that carries Bell.

I think Visalia Cycle Gear sells Bell. I seem to remember them in there, I'll have to check next time I'm in there.

Good to know Fresno carries Scorpion, I was thinking of trying one on sometime soon.

[allanoue]

none of the above

[Driddle]

I (as you should) bought my helmet based on how it fits.
The RF-1100 fit, and so did the Bell RS-1, but I was able to get a deal on a RS-1 for like $200 less than a RF, and I love it.
The RS-1 is really quiet (from what I've heard.. I've only had one helmet), and I like that Bell makes the transitions face shield. That comes in real handy.

[adouglas]

I did not answer the poll because the response would be meaningless. All are good helmets. Buy what fits. What fits me is not what will fit you.

End of story.

Order of importance:

1. Fit
2. Fit
3. Quality
4. Fit
5. Safety rating
6. Fit
7. Features
8. Fit
9. Appearance (graphics, design)
10. Fit

[jhap2009]

The scorpion helmets are very comfortable to me, very affordable, and the ever clear anti fog shields work great.

[Driddle]

Originally Posted by adouglas

Order of importance:

1. Fit
2. Fit
3. Quality
4. Fit
5. Safety rating
6. Fit
7. Features
8. Fit
9. Appearance (graphics, design)
10. Fit

This. If I could upvote this post I would.

[ADoMinGu3z]

imho agv makes crappy helmets. best bang for ur buck is gna b the rs-1. a little biased because i ride with that but if you could afford the arai....get the arai. not gna annoy you with the redundant fit lecture. helmet wise this is where i stand

[JohnnyBravo]

I have a scorpion exo400... Fits great, flows air like a brick wall :/
HJC cl16... A little loose, folks say, flows air like a champ. Feels good and doesn't bother me at all. The exo is def quieter. Neither has fogged badly yet

[Kokosun]

Why waste money on a helmet. For the price of even a cheap Chinese helmet, you could buy loads of bandanas.




They'd probably provide only slightly less protection too.

[7oxSin]

aww there is no "none of the above" option

i love my gmax gm68s it was 100$ and won 07 helmet of the year @ webbikeworld and a few other big sites. they come in like 6 dif designs with 5 or so color schemes per design. they also have alot of owner posted reviews where this helmet saved their lives including a guy that wrecked doing 120 on a yamaha 1200 head first. yall should check it out.

here is the helmet, did i mention it comes with 2 face shields tinted and clear (or a clear and a modular half tinted flip down visor thing. it has 8 vents 4 of them are close-able. a bag, a shield bag, LEDs in the back and 2 diff color LED faces red and tinted.

[Rayden]

Originally Posted by allanoue

none of the above

Well, that was helpful!

Originally Posted by adouglas

I did not answer the poll because the response would be meaningless. All are good helmets. Buy what fits. What fits me is not what will fit you.

End of story.

Order of importance:

1. Fit
2. Fit
3. Quality
4. Fit
5. Safety rating
6. Fit
7. Features
8. Fit
9. Appearance (graphics, design)
10. Fit

As stated by many people, and as I said I understand this. Since this has come up a billion times now, time for <rant> Helmets are expensive. I don't have the money to buy a bunch of nice ones that FIT and then find out which one is really the best. Of course the fact that they FIT is most important, but they can be very different, and my point of the thread was to highlight the pros and cons of some of those differences. For example, Arai helmets are shaped more to a human head. They claim this has benefits, but how will I know until AFTER I buy it, and ride with it for awhile. Shoei's are popular in my area, but I don't personally know why when some of the other companies seem to outshine them. Thus, I came here looking for people who own these helmets, which of course fit them, and what their experiences, pros, cons, gripes etc. I realize before I even make this thread that it has to fit me, or it is no good. </rant>

Originally Posted by ADoMinGu3z

imho agv makes crappy helmets. best bang for ur buck is gna b the rs-1. a little biased because i ride with that but if you could afford the arai....get the arai. not gna annoy you with the redundant fit lecture. helmet wise this is where i stand

Thank you for not going over fit again...and thanks for the advise. Atm I am want to go out and try the Bell and Arai.

Originally Posted by 7oxSin

aww there is no "none of the above" option

i love my gmax gm68s it was 100$ and won 07 helmet of the year @ webbikeworld and a few other big sites. they come in like 6 dif designs with 5 or so color schemes per design. they also have alot of owner posted reviews where this helmet saved their lives including a guy that wrecked doing 120 on a yamaha 1200 head first. yall should check it out.

here is the helmet, did i mention it comes with 2 face shields tinted and clear (or a clear and a modular half tinted flip down visor thing. it has 8 vents 4 of them are close-able. a bag, a shield bag, LEDs in the back and 2 diff color LED faces red and tinted.

Sorry for no all of the above, but I will check out your recommendation! Thanks for the info.

[Byakkotai]

Too bad none of the stores let you take a spin in a "demo" helmet just out in the parking lot - or at least a wind tunnel

I like the GT-Air b/c it feels like the RF-1100 that I have. The sun visor is nice and I can fit my glasses underneath it as well. Quality product, quality finish, overall very nice. The price though whew ~$500 solids, ~$600 graphics. Track experts: do trackdays require snell cert helmets?

[Rayden]

Originally Posted by Byakkotai

Too bad none of the stores let you take a spin in a "demo" helmet just out in the parking lot - or at least a wind tunnel

I like the GT-Air b/c it feels like the RF-1100 that I have. The sun visor is nice and I can fit my glasses underneath it as well. Quality product, quality finish, overall very nice. The price though whew ~$500 solids, ~$600 graphics. Track experts: do trackdays require snell cert helmets?

Seriously, a bike (or at least something shaped exactly like one) in a wind tunnel will tell you a lot about a helmet, such as the noise, head movement, airflow...FUND IT! :P

Looks Like I'll have to put the GT-Air back on the list of helmets to try...and I know what you mean about the price, but as I heard from someone else; "How much is your head worth?" :P

[LNasty]

http://motorcycleinfo.calsci.com/Art...stHelmets.html


this was interesting to read. The lower the G's that the helmet recorded the less chance of suffering severe brain injury. Just wish they could have tested Bell and Shoei. But it was good to see that my Fulmer $179.00 helmet tested way better than the scorpion, which I was about to get. Some others that are supposedly Snell approved tested way worse than the cheap ass pep boys helmet. Just goes to show that more expensive it is, doesn't mean better quality. I think I will stick with my Fulmer then.

[LNasty]

Originally Posted by 7oxSin

aww there is no "none of the above" option

i love my gmax gm68s it was 100$ and won 07 helmet of the year @ webbikeworld and a few other big sites. they come in like 6 dif designs with 5 or so color schemes per design. they also have alot of owner posted reviews where this helmet saved their lives including a guy that wrecked doing 120 on a yamaha 1200 head first. yall should check it out.

here is the helmet, did i mention it comes with 2 face shields tinted and clear (or a clear and a modular half tinted flip down visor thing. it has 8 vents 4 of them are close-able. a bag, a shield bag, LEDs in the back and 2 diff color LED faces red and tinted.

I have been reading up on these and like everything I have read about them, including the LED's on the back, which can be wirelessly connected to your brake lights. The 8 vents is key too, here in Texas the 2 vents on my Fulmer just isn't cutting it. Plus the price is right. I believe I will be giving a Gmax a try.

[Alex]

Originally Posted by LNasty

http://motorcycleinfo.calsci.com/Art...stHelmets.html

Good info at the time, but it's dated. The Snell helmets in that article were aimed at the Snell 2005 standard. Some of the recommendations from that study and similar followup ones helped shape the new Snell M2010 standard,bringing it in much closer alignment with ECE and other global standards. It's no longer as relevant to extrapolate info from this study to helmets sold in 2013.

[LNasty]

Originally Posted by Alex

Good info at the time, but it's dated. The Snell helmets in that article were aimed at the Snell 2005 standard. Some of the recommendations from that study and similar followup ones helped shape the new Snell M2010 standard,bringing it in much closer alignment with ECE and other global standards. It's no longer as relevant to extrapolate info from this study to helmets sold in 2013.

Do you happen to know where to find now day results of helmets?

[Alex]

I thought gfloyd's blog had some links, but it looks like the entry I was thinking of was more focused on other gear. Snell's site has a page where you can view all helmets that have been certified to the latest standard:

http://www.smf.org/cert

The UK has a system of helmet safety rating called SHARP; here's a link to a page where you can see how a variety of helmets were rated:

http://sharp.direct.gov.uk/

There was a followup to that Dexter Ford article a few years later, I will try and find a link to it as well.

[Rayden]

Nice info guys, and LNasty thanks again for your recommendation. I hope I can find a place that sells them near by, give em a try

[Alex]

Here's a link to "Blowing the Lid Off; Part 2"; which was a followup to that initial article.

[Boom King]

If you want to eventually do track with the helmet, cross off the Shoei GT-Air from the list. Right now, the SNELL cert does not like helmets with internal sun visors.

[Rayden]

Originally Posted by Boom King

If you want to eventually do track with the helmet, cross off the Shoei GT-Air from the list. Right now, the SNELL cert does not like helmets with internal sun visors.

I will keep this in mind for sure now, thank you good sir.