..... ouch my head hurts >:(
thought I left an ear in a Fulmer helmet... it was light, fit nice, good price... not an arm and a leg... it just wanted my ears when I went to take it off!!
not much selection around here so I only got to try a few different kinds
maybe thats a good thing because my temples are raw....
I did learn that you should not buy a helmet without trying it on (which is why I'm looking for a new one)
The "little" (5'2") dealer I sometimes go to is going to be getting Scorpion helmets in next week. They are supposed to be a pretty decent helmet from what I've read.
I have a KBC 3/4 helmet that I love.... but you guys make me feel so dirty for not wearing a full face... still haven't found a full face that fits like my 3/4 KBC...
Maybe I need to look for some kind of Iron Curtain / Euro helmet to fit my full face U-kranium :D
Glad the 'ouch' was for fit issues and not price. I got a Shoei RF1000 about a year and a half ago and really like it. I had an older RF model that I also liked so I got the same size. It was an internet deal and I paid $335 for it.
Haven't gotten a quote on a new head.
not sure if I'm going to spring for a $300+ helmet....
... but if I was......
http://www.webbikeworld.com/r2/motorcycle-helmet/scorpion/exo-1000/
new enough has them 4 sale (oops... not yet.... end of May?)
air pump for cheek pads....
flip up speedview visor inside the main visor
so you wouldn't need to wear sunglasses.....
for whatever it's worth: according to JD Powers.. Scorpion helmets rank second
http://www.jdpower.com/press-releases/pressrelease.aspx?id=2006093
Neat features. i'd like to see what happens to that inner visor & those bladders in a crash though... i'll wait a little bit 'till those features become accepted & more common.
where are the crash test ratings? probably Consumer Reports has 'em... my HJC didn't do well in that survey, but remember thats a SATISFACTION survey, not crash test... i'm satisfied with my CL-14, but i have a weird shaped head i guess & it was either that one or the $50 hardware store one (not Ace).
--Lucky
of course NV, looking at your pic there on the left, i'd say you have a weird shaped head too. ;D
HEY ARNOLD!!!!
"hey football head"...
I wasn't surprised to find out the technical term for my noggin is....
"Earth Shaped" :D :D
I like that scorpion. That inner visor is a cool idea especially for me on days when my contacts are bubbing me and I'd rather wear glasses instead. I don't have a pair of tint changing glasses, so its a pain.
David
I joined the RF-1000 crowd last fall. I liked my HJC CL-14 but the chin strap was beginning to fray & the foam had packed out a bit so it was a little loose. Didn't really notice it until I went to try on new helmets. The Shoei has tons less wind rumble & buffeting than the HJC. Found it at a local dealer for $340. Could have bought it cheaper on the web but I like to support local business when the price difference isn't too great.
A friend has a "bowling ball" shaped head. He has a Scorpion & it was the only helmet he could find that fit. He's been happy with it for two years.
H2O
i am happy with my fulmer modular, size xsmall but i am buying the new shield set for it soon, time to replace this one.
there is nothing wrong with a 3/4 ,it is still better than a beanie or going with out. as far as what is a good price, to me, that depends on how much you value your own head. but you can spend a lot and get very little, or spend less and get three times the helmet. keep shopping until you find what works best for you.
Quote from: DaveTN on March 10, 2007, 10:21:51 PM
I like that scorpion. That inner visor is a cool idea especially for me on days when my contacts are bubbing me and I'd rather wear glasses instead. I don't have a pair of tint changing glasses, so its a pain.
David
Scorpion also offers a photocromatic no-fog face shield for $70
all of their replacement parts are reasonably priced...
I'm getting psyched... hope they fit the the ole "Brunswick"
How much better is a $300.00 dollar helmet than the $100.00 I spent at Walmart? Looks good,full gray tinted visor, dot approved,manufactured by Bell.
It doesn't really matter how much you spend for a helmet. The main consideration is the fit. You don't want it to be a distraction while riding. More expensive helmets generally have more features like removable liners or cheekpads to facilitate cleaning. The main thing I've found about more expensive helmets is that the ventilation systems seem to work much better. My Shoei is also much better when riding in windy conditions. The HJC would get buffetted around a bunch & the wind rumble was really loud. The Shoei doesn't get pushed around & is much quieter - even without ear plugs. The HJC is much more comfortable in hot weather than my old non-vented Bell TourStar II because of the ventilation. However, I can actually feel the air movement inside the Shoei - something I never felt in the HJC. Things like wind tunnel testing & lighter construction materials will also increase the cost of a helmet. Fancy cosmetics & brand names carry 'snob' appeal which raises the cost even more. I bought a white helmet because it matches my leathers, has good visibility & was about $100 less than the same helmet with fancy graphics. I chose a Shoei primarily because it fit right.
If you plan to do any racing, most sanctioning bodies & tracks require a SNELL (or European EN) rating. Normally SNELL 2000 or newer. Those tests are expensive so many of the less expensive helmets are not SNELL tested. They may or may not pass those tests. There is some disagreement on whether the SNELL rated helmets are actually safer or not. No matter what helmet you buy - if it is at least DOT approved, it should give you decent protection should it ever be necessary. Just hope you never need to find that out.
H2O
the main difference between a $300 helmet and a $100 helmet is..........
........$200 ;D
I'd wear a $10 helmet as long as it was: Snell/DOT approved, well ventillated, quiet, didn't buffet and mostly- fit
dam i knew i should of waited to buy a new helmet. i bought a new scorpion exo400 Sting last fall. i do love the helmet though. but that inner visor would be sweet. the everclear visor works great i rode through thick fog just a few nights after getting it and it stayed clear.
i had to have a new lid though. after landing on my head at about 40mph or so my HJC CL-MAX held up really well but once you go down your supposed to get a new one. now the hjc is my new sleding helmet, after i get a new visor.
just looked at scorpions web site and they got a light sensitive visior $69.95 looks like this is going on my wish list.
http://www.scorpionusa.com/equipment/helmets/faceshields_shade.html (http://www.scorpionusa.com/equipment/helmets/faceshields_shade.html)
Thanks for the lowdown H2O. Brewski....
Not so much of a lowdown - just a digest of numerous articles read & helmets tried. Buy for fit first, then look for the additional features you find important. The inexpensive helmets I tried on just didn't fit right or I may have bought one of them. HJC fit me fairly well so I bought one 3 or 4 years ago. When it started showing signs of wear, I went on a research mission. Considered another HJC but read reviews talking about the same complaints I had - liner materials packed out, wind noise & poor ventilation qualities.
Tried on Arai, Suomi, KBC, Fullmer, HJC & Shoei. The Shoei fit me best by far. The others had pressure points in different spots. The Shoei was nice & uniformly snug everywhere the liner contacted my head. No excessively tight spots. My only real complaint about it is the smaller eye opening than the HJC has. It is more difficult to get my glasses on after I don the helmet. 8) I also wish the entire liner could be removed for cleaning but at least the cheek pads are removable. You will probably have some complaints no matter which helmet you buy. Just make sure fit isn't one of them.
H2O
Night Vision is right, any helmet with a Dot or Snell sticker is a good helmet.A quick story. A lady turned left in front of me a year ago. I wear a KBC full face helmet, I flew over the car and landed on my back in the street. I was knocked out,the helmet did it's job. I went out and bought another one. atgatt, all the gear all the time.
I found that my scorpion exo-400 is getting pretty windy
really haunter. i havent noticed mine getting louder. of course im used to my hjc cl-max modular.
Quote from: ps2 on March 13, 2007, 03:25:16 PM
really haunter. i havent noticed mine getting louder. of course im used to my hjc cl-max modular.
when it was cold out I could feel wind from getting in the edges of the visor, made me really freakin cold!
got a new helmet today. a Shoei RF-1000, white, fits good too.
I thought I got a good deal, but it came with some unexpected crap...
wifey: "What'da buy now?"
me: uh.. a new helmet ...
wifey: "Ya got helmets, why you need another one?"
me: "umm.. this one fits so I'll wear it"...
wifey: "You mean to tell me all this time you been wearing a helmet that doesn't fit?"
me: "uh.. yeah"...
wifey: "THEN WHY DIDN'T YOU COMPLAIN?"
me: "umm.. because I'm not a woman"?...
me cooking own dinner tonight... >:(
night vision thats funny, my ex-girlfriend and i had a similar talk when i got my new scorpion. when i got home she was out in the yard.
her: what the he*l you need a new helmet for?
me: cause my other one got scratched
her: a little scratch and you get a new helmet.
me: it was a bad scratch, i had to get a new one.
i show her the old lid
her: how'd you do that
me: i fell on my head
her: you stupid f**ker, i told you this would happen. now your gonna get rid of the bike.
me: um, i dont think so.
her: im not cleaning your wounds when you go down like your brother, its me or the bike.
me: id rather have the bike, dont let the door hit you on the way out.
and that is why i am single once again. ;D ;D
:D :D :D
I have bought 3 new helmets in the last 3 years, 2 off-road and one street. Not one negative comment from my wife. Yes, I'd marry her again in a heartbeat!