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PINKGIRL
19th January 2006, 13:04
I am sure this has been asked lots before but couldn't find it....

My partner and I are just getting into motorcycles and are looking at helmets, we only have about $300 each to spend and I was wondering what people would recommend, we also don't really like using ear plugs so if anyone know of one that is quieter than the rest?

Thanks

skelstar
19th January 2006, 13:13
Hey PG. I know they are a bit below your budget, but the HJC CL-14 helmets are great. I dont use ear-plugs...but then helmets are of different noise levels on different heads. What was that? I hear you say? They are about $199 (solid colours) and $249 patterned I think.

Beemer
19th January 2006, 13:14
If you want quiet, you will have to spend more than $300, so I'd try and get used to wearing ear plugs. In the long run, they will save your hearing - what don't you like about them? If it is the fit, it could be the type you tried, so buy different ones and see if you find them more comfortable.

Shoei helmets are the ones I like best - I got a Shoei Raid on special for $399 a few months ago but I think most of their helmets start at about $500. Arai are also great, but dearer than Shoei.

I haven't tried them myself, but I've heard good things about the HJC range. Basically don't just go on price, go in and try different brands and styles. It's worth spending a little more on a good quality helmet because if you buy one solely based on price, you may regret it if it isn't very comfortable.

yungatart
19th January 2006, 13:19
Get the best and most comfortable one you can afford. It depends what price/value you put on your noggin. As for ear plugs, hXc was at the ear specialist this am. Ear specialist says that wind/road noise on a motorcycle is 90+db, high enough to sustain hearing loss. You can get custom made ear plugs at your audiologist for $40 ea ($80 per pr) They take about 4 wks. Just ordered some for hXc

Cibby
19th January 2006, 13:46
Come into Colemans on Saturday and I'll sort you out!!

We have quite a few for under your price range....

:) Cibby

riffer
19th January 2006, 13:48
Good advice.

I'm paying the price now at (nearly) 39 for many years of motorcycling, many years of playing in VERY loud rock bands, and a genetic pre-disposition to deafness.

At least 40db loss in most frequencies, but especially at the range in which women and children speak (apparently its a disability :bleh: )

So noise reduction is important ...

But so is comfort.

I have a Nitro N-500V.

It's not that expensive, about $300-ish.

The wind noise on my FZR750R was almost nothing, but on my RF900R it's more noticeable.

I'd recommend the Nitros - they seem to be a good helmet, but others will insist nothing less than a Shoei or Arai will do.

Try a few out ...

but please don't buy a second hand one of Trademe to save money - you may live to regret it (literally).

madmal64
19th January 2006, 14:10
Theres the old saying... "Got a $10 head, buy a $10 helmet"
Buy what fits the best and feels the best. Im currently using an HJC FL14 its a fibreglass/kevlar lid thats a bit lighter in weight than the CL14 and I like it. Its a bit noisier that my old one but plugs do make a difference. I only tend to wear plugs on longer rides and not while commuting, I know I should wear them all the time, but....<_<

sAsLEX
19th January 2006, 14:17
You can get custom made ear plugs at your audiologist for $40 ea ($80 per pr) They take about 4 wks. Just ordered some for hXc

nup sure you can get them cheaper from kiwi http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/member.php?u=36 i think.


Custom made earplugs
Appointment necessary

Standard

Colour: rose-transparent
permanently elastic silicone, addition curing, final hardness 60 Shore A

Order No. : 06.02.01.01 Price : NZ$ 60.00

from http://www.desmodromics.co.nz/index.htm, which is his site i think

Riff Raff
19th January 2006, 14:19
The HJC helmets are good and affordable. However you may have the same problem many of us women have, which is they don't make them small enough for our heads. That being the case you might want to look at kid sizes.

No matter what type of helmet you get, you should still be using ear plugs. Don't let your hearing suffer. I recommend Yungatarts advice to get some specially made.

PINKGIRL
19th January 2006, 14:46
Ok so it looks like ear plugs are a must, thanks for that I think I will look into them so I can keep my hearing a bit long! Thanks for the advice and DEFINATELY planning on buy a new helmet and not one off trade me, never know what they have done to it over the years!

madmal64
19th January 2006, 15:37
Just another thought after Riff Raff's comment on size for women. Try a VCan my lady had the same issue and she found these in XS were a good fit

Beemer
19th January 2006, 15:37
Pleased to hear you will reconsider earplugs. I never used them and when I met my (now) husband he said I should. I couldn't believe the difference they made - no longer do I return from a ride feeling like I've spent hours at a rock concert! My only problem is that I use the cheap foam ones and I find if I have to wear them all day, my ears feel a little tender after a while. But you will certainly be better off wearing them - and no matter what people say, you can still hear what's going on around you.

As for second-hand helmets, I wouldn't want one, even if I knew its history. If they've bought a new one, then the old one obviously wasn't doing its job any more! I'd never buy one off Trade Me or Cash Converters - you'd have no idea if it had been in a crash and resprayed, or if it had been dropped. You can get away with cheap gloves, cheap pants, etc, but no matter how much you spend, ensure you buy a NEW and well made helmet.

Motu
19th January 2006, 16:27
Bought my helmet from CashConverters 5 years ago for $75 - I try hard,but haven't been able to kill myself yet....

Phurrball
19th January 2006, 17:01
There are some pretty good lids in your pricerange PINKGIRL - HJC as mentioned, Nitro and possibly others. I've got a Nitro - and it suits me perfectly.

Most important is to try heaps on, and when you find one you like, keep it on for an extended period. Have a seat in the bike shop and read a mag or something for half an hour or so. You may feel like a bit of a dork - but remember you'll be wearing it for hours on end. Go for slightly tighter, rather than a looser fit - the helmet will adapt to the shape of your head. You'll get plenty of advice whichever shop you choose.

Have fun helmet shopping. I hope your head shape suits some helmets in your price range. Unfortunately Mrs Phurrball's head only fitted into Shoeis. Expensive...but she's happy :yes:

sunhuntin
19th January 2006, 19:21
....

I haven't tried them myself, but I've heard good things about the HJC range. Basically don't just go on price, go in and try different brands and styles. It's worth spending a little more on a good quality helmet because if you buy one solely based on price, you may regret it if it isn't very comfortable.

ive got an HJC currently....convinced the dealer i bought scuffy off to throw in the lid [other one i didnt want to wear after the crash, for obvious reasons] it is open faced [my perferance] so has a lot of wind noise. the only thing i dont like is there seems to be no way to remove the visor entirely, which means it whistles bad around town and is unbearable on the open road. and when its down, it forces the wind right into my eyes, not good at night.

cant recall what it cost....$130 or so i think. i like that the padding is shaped to leave a nice "hole" for your ears to fit into, which means they dont get crushed up.

also, the helmet i no longer wear was from cash converters, $99. i dropped it several times on to concrete [accidental!] but it didnt crumble when i was hit. just had a look at it....big scrape right across the top. did its job, and can be safely retired. on a side note, what should i do with that lid now? dont want to keep it, for space reasons....would the trash can be the best bet? and maybe a good whack so scavengers dont salvage something that could kill them?

Ixion
19th January 2006, 19:43
Open face helmets are actually often quieter than full face, in my experience. The full face channels the win into the helmet .

Patch
19th January 2006, 19:51
Open face helmets are actually often quieter than full face, in my experience. The full face channels the win into the helmet .

hmmmmmm open face, why was it named that . . . . . . cause thats what it'll do when ya land face first. :stoogie:


:stupid:

98tls
19th January 2006, 19:54
have a look at kbc as well,ive had a vr1 for a couple of years and am well pleased although there up around $500.they have a model in your price range.:2thumbsup

LXS
19th January 2006, 20:16
welcome pinkgirl

I've found the more vents the helmet has, the more noiser it can be.

Something to think about...

SuperDave
19th January 2006, 20:24
I am using a Shark S500 and can only say good things about it so far. I've never crash tested it yet but its noticably light at only 1400grams and also has very good ventilation. The visor is very easy to get off with a push of a button which makes for easy cleaning. I find it to be a very comfortable helmet too.

If I recall correctly, the ones with graphics cost $315 whilst the solid black is $230 from Cycletreads in Takapuna.

Motu
19th January 2006, 20:52
hmmmmmm open face, why was it named that . . . . . . cause thats what it'll do when ya land face first.


I always wondered why I look so damn ugly,all those years of wearing an open face can do that to you.

Moxy
19th January 2006, 23:21
Hey Beemer, or anybody who knows - where did you get the $400 Shoei raid helmet from? I'm thinking of getting the Shoei Raid II 'cos it fits my weird shaped head perfectly, but everywhere I've been is selling them for ~$499

boomer
20th January 2006, 00:24
my arai rx7 fits my strange shaped head but its noisey as hell.. 1400 bucks for a few red, blue and white stripes and a comfy head is a heavey price to pay for no hearing!!

Mooch
20th January 2006, 02:06
Agree with superdave on the shark's, they suit the shape of my head , They are good for cutting out a heap of noise as well.

I think some people get a bit hung up on price and think it's more important to get a helmet that fits your head properly / has low noise and the visor stays clears on cold wet days. Look for a model that has a removalable breath guard as well, Great to be able to remove it on a really hot day.

Some helmets are better than others with less wind lift. My last helmet would nearly rip my head off if I sat up at speed. Important if you’re getting sports bikes.

Also something to note is that some of the race-rep helmets have a smaller visor area giving you less vision. The upside is normally reduced weight and a thicker visor so less chance of it breaking on an "off"

Rosie
20th January 2006, 07:45
Can't remember how much it was, I'm pretty sure it was less than $300. Mr Rosie has one as well, so they can't be too bad (I made sure I got a different colour to him, that would be way waaay to cute). I'm yet to go fast enough to tell if it is noisy or not though... :o
The main thing is to try lots of helmets on and see what you like. Especially if you wear glasses. Some helmets seem to have specially designed cheek pads to align my glasses with the tops of my eyebrows.
Angelina Jolie has a KBC helmet too. (don't ask how I know).
Rosie
Not-quite-L-Plate Rider.

Lou Girardin
20th January 2006, 11:13
HJC CL14's are great value, but the sizing is on the big side. I've found Shoei fit more women more of the time, it'll blow your budget a bit though. Shop around, check us out at AMPS.

Fireproof
22nd January 2006, 08:38
Motomail in Aucks have recently been selling HJC helmets (cs12) for $129, which is a hundred bucks off. I recently purchased one and have been pleased so far, admittedly you will need earplugs. For comparison i tried on the more expensive cl14 but found it didn't fit half as good, so i would recommend trying on a range of lids before you buy.

Beemer
22nd January 2006, 10:54
Hey Beemer, or anybody who knows - where did you get the $400 Shoei raid helmet from? I'm thinking of getting the Shoei Raid II 'cos it fits my weird shaped head perfectly, but everywhere I've been is selling them for ~$499

I got mine on special from Wellington Motorcycles about six months ago so it's likely you won't get one at the same price. Mine was obviously the end of a line of that particular grahic (you can see it in the 'coolest helmet' thread) so they were selling the last couple off cheap to get rid of them. The plain coloured ones were about $450 from memory. Of course I then made it a VERY expensive helmet by ordering a mirror tint visor which was $170!

Scouse
22nd January 2006, 18:39
what should i do with that lid now? dont want to keep it, for space reasons....would the trash can be the best bet? and maybe a good whack so scavengers dont salvage something that could kill them?

Cut the straps off of it then chuck it where ever you like the most important point is to make it unuseable

Scouse
22nd January 2006, 18:47
Come into Colemans on Saturday and I'll sort you out!!

We have quite a few for under your price range....

:) Cibby

I have to agree with Cibby check Colmans out avoid amps

sunhuntin
22nd January 2006, 21:07
Cut the straps off of it then chuck it where ever you like the most important point is to make it unuseable

cheers...didnt even think of cutting the straps! seems wasteful to throw away something thats useless for its intended purpose, but still in usable condition for other things! LOL. maybe a key and gear holder....hmmmmm....LOL.

Bonez
23rd January 2006, 06:50
Go with Cibby Chics offer. You don't need to go overboard, especially if in future you decide motorcycling doesn't float your boat. I've been using cheapies for years. They've saved my bacon just fine. Find something that is comfortable though. good luck.

quickbuck
23rd January 2006, 13:32
But I know you have a pretty tough nut there bonez :wavey:
Not even a Macchi canopy could knock you out for long.

dawnrazor
23rd January 2006, 15:52
Michio 'Mitch' Arai, the president of Arai helmets says the following about the quality of their helmets
"Arai has only one standard, all our helmets are made the same, whether for a world racing champion or a street or a dirt rider. How can you say one person's head is worth more than another's?"

And in a nut shell (pardon the pun), that is way I have an Arai and always will.

Bonez
23rd January 2006, 19:41
But I know you have a pretty tough nut there bonez :wavey:
Not even a Macchi canopy could knock you out for long.Shhhhhhhhhhh!:pinch: Funny thing is I wasn't knocked unconscious. A tinsey winsey bit fizzy I was and walking wobbly :blink: . Doc Hurley could'nt figure that one out-not being knock cold. I was thankfull my skull wasn't implaled by the locating spigots. He wouldn't let me ride the GSX home, something about delayed concussion :brick: Probably would have cleared the headache :killingme

Bonez
23rd January 2006, 19:43
Michio 'Mitch' Arai, the president of Arai helmets says the following about the quality of their helmets
"Arai has only one standard, all our helmets are made the same, whether for a world racing champion or a street or a dirt rider. How can you say one person's head is worth more than another's?"

And in a nut shell (pardon the pun), that is way I have an Arai and always will.
Ever heard of marketing pitches?

PINKGIRL
1st February 2006, 08:36
Just wanted to say thanks heaps for your help. My partner and I have both brought Shark s800 and have to say so far are very happy with them! Will keep you informed on how we go!

Thanks again.

SARGE
1st February 2006, 09:00
Ok so it looks like ear plugs are a must, thanks for that I think I will look into them so I can keep my hearing a bit long! Thanks for the advice and DEFINATELY planning on buy a new helmet and not one off trade me, never know what they have done to it over the years!


you can get a decent MP3 player for about $100 at DSE:scooter: nothing protects hearing like Motorhed at full volume

Bonez
11th February 2006, 09:13
Just wanted to say thanks heaps for your help. My partner and I have both brought Shark s800 and have to say so far are very happy with them! Will keep you informed on how we go!

Thanks again.
All the best and welcome to motorcycling.

Insanity_rules
13th February 2006, 06:16
HJC CL14 is the bomb, cheap comfortable and reasonably quiet. Totally recommend it

Hornet
18th February 2006, 13:00
How about the ventilation in the helmet, is an enorm issue for me, arriving at work and having to go into meeting like I just come out of the swimming pool.... Any remedies? What is a good helmet re ventilation, does a ski-mask help or heat my brains up even more?
Cheers
Johan

knuckles
18th February 2006, 20:47
How about the ventilation in the helmet, is an enorm issue for me, arriving at work and having to go into meeting like I just come out of the swimming pool.... Any remedies? What is a good helmet re ventilation, does a ski-mask help or heat my brains up even more?
Cheers
Johan

ski masks or my favorite the ballaclava are both good choices,handy too for
"meetings" at banks etc

Hornet
18th February 2006, 22:53
ski masks or my favorite the ballaclava are both good choices,handy too for
"meetings" at banks etc

Cheers mate, helpful answer.
But I fear that emptying the vault of the bank, I might even start to sweat more.............

classic zed
19th February 2006, 18:27
Good advice.

I'm paying the price now at (nearly) 39 for many years of motorcycling, many years of playing in VERY loud rock bands, and a genetic pre-disposition to deafness.

At least 40db loss in most frequencies, but especially at the range in which women and children speak (apparently its a disability :bleh: )

So noise reduction is important ...

But so is comfort.

I have a Nitro N-500V.

It's not that expensive, about $300-ish.

The wind noise on my FZR750R was almost nothing, but on my RF900R it's more noticeable.

I'd recommend the Nitros - they seem to be a good helmet, but others will insist nothing less than a Shoei or Arai will do.

Try a few out ...

but please don't buy a second hand one of Trademe to save money - you may live to regret it (literally).


I bought a brand new Nitro from a dealer on Trade Me, I wanted a fibreglass helmet so that I could spray it to match the new paintwork on the bike, its comfortable to wear and not noisy.

I have previously always used Shoei but have no problem with the Nitro.:ride:

chanceyy
5th February 2007, 18:43
just brought this one .. first time out on road .. was pretty quiet ..
TK8 model love it ... tried on plenty of helmets, this one fits like a glove


http://www.kbc-helmet.com/helmet/7tk8_slick_blue.html

Grub
5th February 2007, 19:25
on a side note, what should i do with that lid now? dont want to keep it, for space reasons....would the trash can be the best bet? and maybe a good whack so scavengers dont salvage something that could kill them?

Yup, good call. I decided to take one to the tip and decided it needed to be crushed for the same reasons you state. Didn't want someone thinking they'd got a bargain .... BEWARE! This is simpler than it sounds:dodge: I hit it with a hammer, the hammer hit back. I whacked the helmet on the concrete, the helmet whacked back. I took to it with the 9lb sledge hammer, it shrugged it off. I *finally* dealt to it with the grubber and managed to put a split in it. Damn that was hard and dangerous work.