What brand of helmet should I buy?

[2QL4SKL]

There are so many brands of helmet listed on Trade Me, as I am getting my first bike, I was wondering if there is any recommendation? Please give me the range of the price as well. Thanks heaps.

[Phreak]

One that fits your head shape... Go to your local bike shop, and start trying on different brands. Seriously, took me ages to find a brand that fits me properly... (only just found one today, in fact! Thanks again, Cycletreads!)

[mikemike104]

How much money do you have to spend on this one?

[Gremlin]

The one that fits you well. Brand new, so it hasn't formed to someone elses head, been dropped etc.

[porky]

One that fits your head shape... Go to your local bike shop, and start trying on different brands. Seriously, took me ages to find a brand that fits me properly... (only just found one today, in fact! Thanks again, Cycletreads!)

+1 Awesome piece of advice.

[Phreak]

+1 Awesome piece of advice.

Why, thank you! :innocent:

[TOTO]

go see the guys at Cycletreads, and they can tell you what to look for in a helmet and do you an awesome deal too. If you say you are a new rider , you might even score a freebie... :msn-wink:

[Cycletreads]

One that fits your head shape... Go to your local bike shop, and start trying on different brands. Seriously, took me ages to find a brand that fits me properly... (only just found one today, in fact! Thanks again, Cycletreads!)

Hi Phreak, cheers for the good feedback, we always do our best to find the best fit for your head, your needs and your budget and of course make sure it looks great on too!
Cheers from Craig.

[Scouse]

There are so many brands of helmet listed on Trade Me, as I am getting my first bike, I was wondering if there is any recommendation? Please give me the range of the price as well. Thanks heaps.how much is your head worth?

[EJK]

how much is your head worth?

That's a million dollar question right there.

[2wheeldrifter]

how much is your head worth?

Post a pic... we'll tell you what it's worth :yes:

Yeah don't buy of Trade Me until you have tried on that brand of helmet/size and know for sure it fits etc. Like everyone else is saying get down to good bike shop and start trying them on.

[p.dath]

Check out my BLOG on motorcycle helmets:
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/entry.php/1562-Choosing-a-Motorcycle-Helmet

[Owl]

There are so many brands of helmet listed on Trade Me

Bike shops sell cheap helmets too if that's what you're after, but at least you'll have the benefit of their knowledge and be able to try them on.

[BuzzardNZ]

a stack hat is what you're after....

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=stackhat

[Botany Honda]

The one that fits you well. Brand new, so it hasn't formed to someone elses head, been dropped etc.
As this 'bloke' mentioned, it's all about fit and a decent bike shop employee will be able to help you with this plus also fit you in the helmet within your budget too. :yes:

[Banditbandit]

What they all said - one that fits ... I like Shoei because they're lite ...

DON'T buy one from trademe .. you don't know how it's been treated and you don't know if it will syand up under crash stress ...

[avgas]

I used to always buy Shoei.......I tried a few others but nothing seems a quiet on the road. Sharks sounded like you were being attacked by a village of hairdryers.

However my current helmet is a KBC........and its actually quite good for the money I paid.
In fact its on a par with Shoei.......

[BMWST?]

I was trying on Shoeis but the XR1000 didnt fit.Well they did but the raid was actually a better fit then the XR1000...who da thunk it?So try on every helmet you can afford and one that has the relevant safety standards and pick the one you like the best AND fits(your head and budget).There aint no single BEST cos we all have different heads

[pearlygirl]

Quasi is now selling Caberg helmets around the same price as shoei helmets but have they have the advantage of an easy quick release buckle , inner sun visor, and also a 5 star SHARP helmet rating. Shoei also a great brand, but make sure it a tight fit as my first helmet was sold to me by a dealer but every time a truck went past me my helmet moved around quite a lot! :yes: Good luck

[xr-rider]

get a shoei, great fit very comfortable and they offer great protection in crashes. i know from experience that they will protect you.

[Phreak]

Well, after a fairly decent ride today in my brand new Shark RSi, I can vouch for it to be a great fitting helmet, pretty quiet too (compared to my old Oxford lid) and feels like it'd do a better job if I ever met the pavement, too! It's noticably lighter, and has much better ventilation. Oh, and 4 stars on the Sharp scale. :rockon:

I can't wait to take it to Taupo this weekend! It still feels a little strange, being so much different to the old lid, but hopefully a nice long trip will cure this...

[Little Miss Trouble]

I've just recently bought a LS2 from the guys at Cycletreads. It's a bit noisier than my old Shoei XR-1000 but seeing as I wear earplugs for any decent ride anyway and at less than half the price I'm happy :woohoo:

A big thanks to Chris and Todd who were very patient with me and my stupid 'Shoei shaped head' - virtually all other brands either don't go small enough or put headache enducing preassure on my forehead - they managed to fit me with a very decent helmet that also fits my current student budget.

Oh and it has one of them cool internal sun visor thingys too. :sunny:

[hellokitty]

Make sure you try it on and keep it on for a little while - I have been known to walk around the shop with one on! I have a helmet that gives me the worst headache after 5 minutes and I didn't want to repeat that mistake.
Also buying off trademe - apart from the fact you can't try it on - you won't know if it is up to NZ safety standards whereas a reputable shop will only have good helmets.

[Maha]

The one that fits you well. Brand new, so it hasn't formed to someone elses head, been dropped etc.

Four very good points and, on that note, I have a KBC head....:yes:

[Hailwood]

Go to your local shop and try on every helmet in the store, dont look at brand, price etc, find the one that fits and is comfortable, then look at price. Talk to the shop person and look at getting all your gear there and I am sure they will do you a deal on it.

Dont ever buy a second hand helmet or one you cant try on because you dont know who has worn it, what they have or havent done in or to it or if it fits.

Dont get caught up on a brand either...find the one that fits. Some people have Shoei heads, some Arai heads, some HJC heads. You will find that some helmets dont fit at all no matter what the brand.

[Banditbandit]

I was trying on Shoeis but the XR1000 didnt fit.Well they did but the raid was actually a better fit then the XR1000...who da thunk it?So try on every helmet you can afford and one that has the relevant safety standards and pick the one you like the best AND fits(your head and budget).There aint no single BEST cos we all have different heads

I have a Raid ... there's only one problem ... at certain speeds and air conditions it has a slight higher pitch note in it - almost excactly like a distant siren ... makes me feel a little paranoid at times ...

[Botany Honda]

I have a Raid ... there's only one problem ... at certain speeds and air conditions it has a slight higher pitch note in it - almost excactly like a distant siren ... makes me feel a little paranoid at times ...

lol....O for owesom!

[Gremlin]

- almost excactly like a distant siren ... makes me feel a little paranoid at times ...
Had the same thing with music with sirens in it... Talk about heartattacks. I think I've finally tracked down all the music that had it, and deleted them :shit:

[Jonno.]

Shark is highly underrated.

[Botany Honda]

Shark is highly underrated.

Shark helmets are very good...if they fit you correctly :yes:

[Gremlin]

A top notch helmet fitting you badly is just as useful as a crap helmet fitting you well.

[dogsnbikes]

There are so many brands of helmet listed on Trade Me, as I am getting my first bike, I was wondering if there is any recommendation? Please give me the range of the price as well. Thanks heaps.

As mentioned already Go and try helmets on and talk too the guys that know...your budget is a factor but hey if you dont yet have a bike,why not layby one over a couple of pays options are many ...

..if you want cheap thats all you will get.... dont go secondhand as you don't know the history and what too really look for,if you want I can rip you off and sell you one that's a piece of shit and been dropped many times and charge you the same price as a new one:facepalm:(but I wouldn't)but there are people out there that will

[Hitcher]

There are so many brands of helmet listed on Trade Me, as I am getting my first bike, I was wondering if there is any recommendation? Please give me the range of the price as well. Thanks heaps.

Buy a full face helmet. I put the wearers of open-face helmets in the same category as whack jobs who wear plastic buckets, collanders or nothing at all. Unless, of course, you want your face ground off in a slide across god's countryside.

[robo555]

I've never put on an expensive helmet before, but have tried a few different cheaper helmets, and ended up with FFM M9.

The coolmax lining in the FFM feels considerably less stuffy than other brands.

[Hitcher]

Trying helmets on in shops reveals scant details, other than price and "fashion".


You'll know if they fit, but have no idea of where pressure points arise.
You'll know how the various accoutrements like buckles, clips, visors and vents work, but may not think of trying these whilst wearing gloves, particularly wet gloves.
You'll have little idea of how well the ventilation works, particularly demisting.
You'll have no idea of wind noise, particularly from those fangled models that have knobs over the visor hinges.
You'll be unlikely to try it over a set of ear plugs.
You'll be unlikely to remove interior elements to see how easy they are to clean or wash.
You'll be unlikely to try cheek pads of different dimensions, not that retailers stock these separately anyway.


The best way of testing a helmet is to take it for a ride for at least half an hour at your normal highway speed. Most retailers aren't going to let you do this, so buy the one you like the best.

[Matey]

Its worth checking out the SHARP website too, there are some surprises there regarding the safety ratings - you dont always get what you pay for,

[SPP]

All these post saying "get one that fits" "try them on" ... they're right you know. You'd think all helmets fit more or less the same eh, nope.

So try a whole heap on and pick one that works for ya... and pray to god you don't have an Arai head if you're on a tight budget. :pinch:

Oh, and apparently it’s a common first time mistake to buy a helmet one size too big thinking it's the right fit. They have to be firm dude. When I first got mine I couldn't talk wearing it because I'd bite the inside of my cheeks. Within a month of breaking in it was PERFECT.

You don't need to spend mega bucks to get a good one either. Happy hunting.

[Phreak]

^^^ Yep, helmet should feel a touch too tight when new, the foam takes a little while to 'break in', like a new pair of shoes...

(Can't wait for my new lid to loosen a little bit...!)

[Gremlin]

Generally, if you can rotate the front of the helmet towards your cheek, its too loose. The same applies up and down. Again, a shop should make sure the sizing is suitable

[hellokitty]

Generally, if you can rotate the front of the helmet towards your cheek, its too loose. The same applies up and down. Again, a shop should make sure the sizing is suitable
yes, when I bought my first helmet the guy in the shop fitted it for me (haha ended up going out with him :facepalm:). If you are inexperienced you need help for sure, as I would have probably bought one that was too loose.

[Hitcher]

A Shoei XR1100 arrived in Hitcher's cupboard today. A good outcome from an extremely limited local market choice. Great service from TSS Red Baron too.

[steve_t]

A Shoei XR1100 arrived in Hitcher's cupboard today. A good outcome from an extremely limited local market choice. Great service from TSS Red Baron too.

Did they source you a bigger one?

[Hitcher]

Did they source you a bigger one?

Long gone are my days of modifying XXL helmet fitments with an icecream scoop. Today it's XXXL all the way. Shoei is the best fit, although HJC isn't too bad. If I had very deep pockets I may be tempted to try an Airoh. But that's it in terms of acceptable size choice. The colours, if procured through the NZ retailer system, are restricted to gloss black.

[pritch]

So try a whole heap on and pick one that works for ya... and pray to god you don't have an Arai head if you're on a tight budget. :pinch:



Arai make different models in different headshapes so trying is a must. Expensive they may be, but nothing else I've tried comes close for comfort. Shame about the clunky visor.

[2QL4SKL]

I just know red baron in Auckland, is there any other places that selling helmets? Cheers.

[steve_t]

I just know red baron in Auckland, is there any other places that selling helmets? Cheers.

Sale at Mr Motorcycles in Pukekohe 2moro :yes:

[Gremlin]

I just know red baron in Auckland, is there any other places that selling helmets? Cheers.
:blink: I think you'd be hard pressed to find a bike shop that DOESN'T sell helmets...

[RidingHard]

Also use this site: http://sharp.direct.gov.uk/to check the safety rating & crash test performance of your potential lid. I noted, for example, my '07 Arai Chaser got 3 stars & average front + crown protection.

[Cicass]

How much money do you have to spend on this one?

whats your head worth

[superman]

I got me the Caberg V2R lid, cheapest 5 star rated (on sharp website) helmet I could find around at the time ($495). Expensive, but I didn't feel comfortable learning on a motorbike without good gear. Only problem is that it likes to be quite noisy at 100km/h, though ear plugs definitely help a lot :yes:

It's the one they sell on www.qmoto.co.nz (http://www.qmoto.co.nz) managed to even get a green and black one to match my ninja :2thumbsup

[p.dath]

whats your head worth

There is no comparison between the value of your head and the amount spent on protecting it.

Don't be mistaken by thinking that because a helmet costs more it offers better protection. There are many cases when the opposite is true.

[9rider]

Try them all to find one that suits your head shape. And remember you get what you pay for