I don't get why some people are stingy when it comes to something so important...

 

I don't get why some people are stingy when it comes to something so important...

:iamwithst

But I have to admit... I was very stingy on helmets.
"They are all certified Snell/DOT right"<-- what i thought.

As long as its comfortable who cares, it's all the same....

WRONG WRONG WRONG:no :no :no

I purchase the Icon Mainframe<-- good helmet BUT.... vents worked OK, and it was bulky and heavy...

Upgraded to the Shoei RX-1000<---:boobies :rock
Ridiculous venting to the point if it's even slightly cool I have to close them all cause my head gets cold, and it is like wearing a baseball hat it's so light. It's a little short in the chin but I have a big chin/nose so it's all good. :fact

Helmet and Suit are probably the best things one can buy for the expesive part of it.... other than LED red lights to show off the bling!!

 

Damn! I don't skimp on the helmets either. Besides being able to tell the difference in quality and comfort just by holding a helmet, my noodle is worth a few $100 more to me!

 

Old biker saying

"A ten bob lid for a ten bob head"

:yesnod

And for my american cousins..

bob: pre decimalisation UK currency = 1 shilling = 5 new pence ~ 8 cents

 

Does anyone remember that "blowing the lid off" article that was in a major motorcycle magazine a while back. They tested all these different sportbike helmets using an accelerometer and at the end of the day a $70 Pep Boys helmet had the best results. Strange huh?

Ian
www.redlinestands.com

 

I think it is all about how comfortable you want to be. DOT / SNELL are the same for all helmets. Shoei way more comfortable than a KBC.

As long as they have the DOT/ SNELL stamped on it you should be good.

 

True, I totally go for comfortability BUT... some helmets are made out of new materials.

For instance the shoei I picked up is "solid crack resistant"
They told me that if when impacted it will not concentrate the impact on where it was made; it spreads the impact throughout the helmet thus making it less harsh on your noggin and on the helmet.

I've seen pictures of the KBC/HJC helmets after a crash and they are cracked like an eggshell or totally split in two. Now granted 100mph into a tree head first, i dont' think it matters what helmet but hitting a car windshield @ 50 I think it would be the difference between a day in the hostpital or a bodybag.

http://www.shoei-helmets.com/road/helmets_road.aspx?h=3

 

Why stinge on buying a helmet, ur just gonna regret it when ur brains are leaking out. May as well spend the money

 

You get what you pay for.:fact
IMO my head is worth the Arai Corsair I put on it.

 

Tex, that is the helmet i am looking to get...Have you seen it for less that $427? That's the best deal I have seen

 

When I wrecked I had on my KBC Gunslinger dirt bike helmet. Don't ask why, just bear with me. I hit straight back on my head at around 85 and it took everything the road through at it and I didn't feel anything short of the initial jolt. Helmet saved my life, and actually only recieved a few scratches. It is a Snell rated Super Moto helmet so I do wonder if its built to take bigger falls/hits? As for KBC being cheap, when I bought the Gunslinger new it was over $300 dollars. If you call that cheap your silly or rich. As for KBC being the best, I personally don't think it is. The Arai helmets are my favorite in comfort anf weight on the street. As for dirt I going to stick with KBC seeing as how it has always kept my egg safe in the past, and I doubt I ever hit dirt at 85 either.

 

Cause the $100.00 versions, just plain suck...

http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=25781

:scared I rock an HJC! yikes, I guess this could give me a reason to upgrade to that SUOMY I have always wanted!:thumbup

 

...I've seen pictures of the KBC/HJC helmets after a crash and they are cracked like an eggshell or totally split in two...

I thought this "eggshell" technique is what they were aiming for.. you know, like when you crack and eggshell, the yoke falls out fine. I have always been under the impression that this is what they were going for. :dunno

 

I don't get why some people are stingy when it comes to something so important...

:dunno ......I buy quality lids....but on sale ! :dollar

 

I think it is all about how comfortable you want to be. DOT / SNELL are the same for all helmets. Shoei way more comfortable than a KBC.

As long as they have the DOT/ SNELL stamped on it you should be good.

I TOTALLY disagree and i will explain:

I saw this show once on TV (kinda line 60 minutes) and it was motorcycle related. The subject was no helmet laws (but that is a different subject) part of the program they explain DOT/SNELL certification and showed the test that they do for impact, comfort, air, ect.

These certs. are the MINIMUM requirements at (I forget the speed but it was not fast, maybe 40mph). These certs were made and passed by political ass holes. Not engineers. They passed these laws with the min. certs to keep everyone happy, the helmet companies and the motorcycle community that likely would always wear a helmet, but had the "I don't want you to tell me what I HAVE to do" attitued.

With that said, cheeper helmets to barely pass these certs are, like I stated, cheaper with less expensive material and less engineering standards than the high end models.

manfactures love engineering, it helps to move them to new technology, hence racing. but racing reg.s are also set for safe testing to protect the riders. Hence the new technology helmets with the all out material and engineering. You see your favorite racer wearing this helmet, you want to be like him, so there is the market for the high end helmet.

You will always have squids or less fortunate non-career riders in our field that will purchase the bare min. But for me and my LIFE, I want the best when pushing the limit.

Think about it, look at those 1/2 dome chrome lids all the squids wear. they would not help or protect you if you tripped of a curb walking better less got into an accident. Yet they are DOT/SNELL approved. Would you actually trust them while racing and going down doing 100mph+/ I seriosuly doubt it.

Voodoo

 

Arai all the way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You get what you pay for.

 

Tex, that is the helmet i am looking to get...Have you seen it for less that $427? That's the best deal I have seen

I paid 508.75 for it out the door @ Cycle Gear. I Shoped around and they were all about the same. But I needed it soon so I got it. The guy also threw in a Chrome visor for me $65 so it came out not too bad. I love the helmet though.

 

I thought this "eggshell" technique is what they were aiming for.. you know, like when you crack and eggshell, the yoke falls out fine. I have always been under the impression that this is what they were going for. :dunno

By cracking I mean "like the way california is falling off of the US" ONE BIG CRACK!<---- bad

The new technology they have in some helmets; ie: MINE
It basicly spider cracks throughout the helmet. "like the way charlotte spins her web"<--- good

Therefore having a "universal" distribution of impact. :fork

 

"like the way charlotte spins her web"

:lol :lol :lol

 

Arai all the way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You get what you pay for.

I always disagree with the "you get what you pay for" argument. If that were all there was to it, you should just get the most expensive and be done with it. I know women like that.

As a geeky enginerd, I like to look at specs, testing, and certs.

DOT is not useful. A good sized tupperware bowl with some foam and a chinstrap could pass that (ok, that's a bit of an exaggeration but not much).

SNELL is much harder to pass and you should always look for Snell approval. Then, if you're still considering a cheaper helmet, go to the snell website and see what they said about it. Some cheap helmets claim Snell approval when they aren't listed there. Some claim to pass when they passed with significant negative comments on the test results.

Finally, try the helmet on and see how it fits. I've noticed that a lot of the cheaper helmets fit well around the cranium (where they are tested) and poorly around the jaw area so they can move on your head and don't protect you well in all kinds of accidents. I suspect that these helmets are designed with the test in mind. The designers/staff engineer (perhaps and engineering summer student???) know where the test impacts the helmet and make sure that it is beefy in that area. So what if other areas have weaknesses.

In Shoei and Arai I have seen no indication of such inconsistent design and I will stick to those two brands.

Finally, I will not wear a flip up style helmet. I have heard rumors of eye-socket damage because of poor crushability of the padding in the eye-socket/hinge area. I don't have any real data to back this up (usually a reason for me to be very skeptical) but it makes sense to my engineering viewpoint so unless I find a test that tested these areas I'll avoid the flip ups.

So I'm currently using a SHOEI TZ1 and I'm idly shopping for a new helmet. I'll probably buy the RX7 Corsair or the X11 in solid blue to match my bike.

--Jerry

 

I always disagree with the "you get what you pay for" argument. If that were all there was to it, you should just get the most expensive and be done with it. I know women like that.

As a geeky enginerd, I like to look at specs, testing, and certs.

DOT is not useful. A good sized tupperware bowl with some foam and a chinstrap could pass that (ok, that's a bit of an exaggeration but not much).

SNELL is much harder to pass and you should always look for Snell approval. Then, if you're still considering a cheaper helmet, go to the snell website and see what they said about it. Some cheap helmets claim Snell approval when they aren't listed there. Some claim to pass when they passed with significant negative comments on the test results.

Finally, try the helmet on and see how it fits. I've noticed that a lot of the cheaper helmets fit well around the cranium (where they are tested) and poorly around the jaw area so they can move on your head and don't protect you well in all kinds of accidents. I suspect that these helmets are designed with the test in mind. The designers/staff engineer (perhaps and engineering summer student???) know where the test impacts the helmet and make sure that it is beefy in that area. So what if other areas have weaknesses.

In Shoei and Arai I have seen no indication of such inconsistent design and I will stick to those two brands.

Finally, I will not wear a flip up style helmet. I have heard rumors of eye-socket damage because of poor crushability of the padding in the eye-socket/hinge area. I don't have any real data to back this up (usually a reason for me to be very skeptical) but it makes sense to my engineering viewpoint so unless I find a test that tested these areas I'll avoid the flip ups.

So I'm currently using a SHOEI TZ1 and I'm idly shopping for a new helmet. I'll probably buy the RX7 Corsair or the X11 in solid blue to match my bike.

--Jerry

So end result, you're going to buy one of the most expensive helmets.:thumbup

 

:iamwithst

But I have to admit... I was very stingy on helmets.
"They are all certified Snell/DOT right"<-- what i thought.

As long as its comfortable who cares, it's all the same....

WRONG WRONG WRONG:no :no :no

I purchase the Icon Mainframe<-- good helmet BUT.... vents worked OK, and it was bulky and heavy...

Upgraded to the Shoei RX-1000<---:boobies :rock
Ridiculous venting to the point if it's even slightly cool I have to close them all cause my head gets cold, and it is like wearing a baseball hat it's so light. It's a little short in the chin but I have a big chin/nose so it's all good. :fact

Helmet and Suit are probably the best things one can buy for the expesive part of it.... other than LED red lights to show off the bling!!

so your main concern is ventilation..oook

 

I've had a cheap helmet ($89 from the local dealer), to a cheap HJC $300 at another local dealer with a chatterbox FRSx2, then I got my Shark RSF2 Race (Great helmet!).

I went down in my shark and it held up very well. But i've always wanted an Arai and went with the RX7 Corsair this season. I couldn't be happier

 

If that were all there was to it, you should just get the most expensive and be done with it. I know women like that.

--Jerry

So Jerry, are you calling me a woman??? :bash

j/k man...

I disagree 100% and believe 100% you get what you pay for...

 

so your main concern is ventilation..oook

So.. you can't read an entire post? :finger