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Old August 28th, 2016, 09:05 PM   #1
waynemc
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Someone help suggest me a helmet

I don't know what makes a good helmet... I saw a hjc is max 2, which looked really nice but the reviews said that the sound suppression on it is very poor and that's not something I want... I want something that'll be fairly quiet.

What helmets do you guys use?

Also I plan on buying this jacket tomorrow, I know it's cheap but it's better than nothing right? https://www.castlesales.com/_product...k#.V8OtZ_krJhF
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Old August 28th, 2016, 09:09 PM   #2
JohnnyBravo
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I have a HJC I dont really put on anymore, and a scorpion Exo 400 that in totally in love with (fits on my head proper and feels like wearing a cloud or pillow!!!)
I almost always wear earplugs, so sound really isn't a problem, I can hear everything I need to, with none of the hearing damage
Make sure it fits properly and have as many safety certs as possible!
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Old August 28th, 2016, 09:36 PM   #3
Triple Jim
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I use HJC helmets that I get on clearance from motorcyclegear.com They fit me very well, and I use ear plugs for noise reduction. The last one I bought was $69, free shipping.
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Old August 28th, 2016, 09:43 PM   #4
JohnnyBravo
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I really like my HJC, but I didn't buy the right size, nor does it fit like my properly sized scorpion. Figured you'd like the reasoning behind my first post
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Old August 28th, 2016, 09:43 PM   #5
Burphel
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Get one that fits good. This is a safety issue as well as comfort. Go into a local shop, hell, go into all the local shops and try on as many as you can. Figure out what brands/models fit, and move on from there. Once you've found one that fits comfortably, try on the next size smaller. Most new motorcyclists buy their helmets too loose. Again, safety issue. A helmet that wobbles will not protect you as well. A tight fit will also make it a little quieter. If a full face doesn't hurt your ears putting it on and mush up your cheeks when it's new, it's probably too big. The comfort foam will pack down over the first month or so and loosen up. Helmets break in like old fashioned leather boots.

As for quiet, wear earplugs. Everybody claims their helmet is quieter. The only helmets I've owned that were noticeably quieter were Schuberths. And those start around $700 (mind you, they're great helmets).

Second thing, I would strongly advise getting one that's either ECE or Snell certified in addition to DOT. The DOT standard is actually pretty good, but our government doesn't require actual destructive testing. ECE and Snell do (this is why race orgs require them). For my brain, I don't want the first test to be when I crash. Fortunately, most reputable companies are building to ECE standard now and then just slapping the DOT next to it.

After that, it's all about features you like. I'm a heavy fogger and live in a wet climate, so I have to have pinlock-ready visors. This lets you add a sealed inner shield that makes it very hard to fog up. Inner sun visors are very handy for street riding. Venting schemes, lighter materials, fancy graphics, all that stuff...
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Old August 28th, 2016, 09:47 PM   #6
CaliGrrl
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I second that- try on every kind, see what fits. A full-face will protect you better than other variants.

I've got Shoei helmets, in my personal history, but it depends what fits you. Everybody's got a differently-shaped head.
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Old August 28th, 2016, 10:39 PM   #7
tfkrocks
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Get the helmet that fits. Pressure points suck and kill the enjoyment of riding. It's well worth it to have a proper fitting helmet, even if it costs a bit more.

And +2 on wearing earplugs. Unless you're blasting music way too loud over the sounds of the road, you shouldn't have any issues hearing important things while riding.
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Old August 29th, 2016, 05:58 AM   #8
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I got a $556 Shoei helmet. Super comfortable, still kinda loud. Get one that's comfortable and earplugs. Don't be the guy in his 20s/30s w/ tinnitus.

The jacket is alright. Try to get a back protector and joint pads for it though.
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Old August 29th, 2016, 06:44 AM   #9
Triple Jim
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Don't be the guy in his 20s/30s w/ tinnitus.
Ha, I'll trade some tinnitus to be in my 30s again.
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Old August 29th, 2016, 06:52 AM   #10
csmith12
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I tried on 22 helmets before my last purchase.

Oh!, I am partial to the Aria, Scorpion and Speed & Strength helmets. HJC's are just too heavy and loud for me. Fitment trumps all other features!

Good luck!
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Old August 29th, 2016, 07:12 AM   #11
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The top five things to look for in a helmet:

1) Fit
2) Fit
3) Fit
4) Fit
5) Fit

Watch this:

Link to original page on YouTube.

Any of the recognized brands (i.e. the brands that the major online retailers carry) will be fine. Off-brand stuff off of ebay is to be avoided.

Re noise: A few years back I got a very generous gift from my wife that I used to buy what is supposed to be one of the quietest helmets out there, the Schuberth S2.

Guess what: I still wear earplugs.

Nice to have: An internal sun visor.

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Old August 29th, 2016, 08:42 AM   #12
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One that fits properly and squishes your cheeks. You should be able to shake your head side to side and the helmet not move. If it moves, it's too big. If it doesn't squish your cheeks, it's too big.

That said, I race with a Bell Star Carbon and have a Scorpio for the street.
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Old August 29th, 2016, 08:47 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by waynemc View Post
I don't know what makes a good helmet...........
One that protects your eyes, face, shin and skull from insects, gravel, rain wind, noise and mechanical impacts.

The inner surface should perfectly fit the size and shape of your skull.

It should be rated by DOT or/and SNELL and it should be comfortable and quiet enough for you to want to wear it for all rides, short or long.

Please read these:
https://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?p=913880

https://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=207260
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Old August 29th, 2016, 08:54 AM   #14
RacinNinja
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Motofool View Post
One that protects your eyes, face, shin and skull from insects, gravel, rain wind, noise and mechanical impacts.

The inner surface should perfectly fit the size and shape of your skull.

It should be rated by DOT or/and SNELL and it should be comfortable and quiet enough for you to want to wear it for all rides, short or long.

Please read these:
https://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?p=913880

https://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=207260
Don't forget ECE ratings too......
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Old August 29th, 2016, 09:24 AM   #15
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SHARP is what I used to assess potential helmets.

http://sharp.direct.gov.uk/
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Old August 29th, 2016, 09:25 AM   #16
jkv45
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We have a bunch of different helmets - 5 Scorpions, 2 HJCs, and a 2 Shoeis.

I've worn Scorpion helmets for about 10 years, and can't complain. Both of my boys are wearing Scorpions right now. I will be replacing mine next season, and may go with a Shoei next time.

I would stick with some of the top brands though, and pass on some of the less well-known ones.

Shoei, Schuberth, and Arai are usually a notch above the others, including Scorpion, and are priced to reflect that.

You really need to try helmets on to know what is best for you. Each brand has a certain head shape that it's biased towards.
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Old August 29th, 2016, 09:35 AM   #17
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Don't forget ECE ratings too......
Yes, ECE 22.05P as well.

More about the different ratings in USA:
https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/201...e-22-05-snell/
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Old August 29th, 2016, 10:46 AM   #18
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As everyone has said, try on as many helmets as you can get your hands on to find the brands that fit. You want it just snug enough to give you the oh so stylish chipmunk cheek look.

I went to the local dealer with the largest selection and just tried everything on. When I narrowed it down to two models, I wore them around for about a half hour each as some hot spots only make themselves known after awhile. Even then, an annoying hot spot showed up right on my forehead. A friend with a stronger hand than me used his thumb to compress the foam right there and cleared it up! A spoon, baseball, or bar end accomplishes the same thing for a custom fit.

I like my LS2 FF386 modular, which is DOT/ECE approved and does have 4* rating on the SHARP testing page (http://sharp.direct.gov.uk/testsratings/ls2-ff386). I really like the ability to open up the helmet for interacting with people at stops or when walking into stores or when pulled over to grab a drink/snack. Plus it has a drop down visor, yay!
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Old September 1st, 2016, 10:25 AM   #19
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I just picked up this AGV k3 with the custom Valentino Rossi livery. Fits nice on my head and doesn't break the bank
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Old September 1st, 2016, 11:33 AM   #20
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I just picked up this AGV k3 with the custom Valentino Rossi livery. Fits nice on my head and doesn't break the bank
You got a good 1
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Old September 9th, 2016, 04:47 PM   #21
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Arai. I always go with Arai.
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