Helmet shopping - suggestions?

[Version_II]

O.K now that i've got the license and ordered the bike, im in helmet shopping mode.
I have NO idea what the differences between the helmets are.
Is it worth spending extra coin in this area, or are they all pretty much the same?
I was thinking of spending around 200-300$ which should cover most things.
Can anyone point me in the direction of a good site to look at helmet reviews or recommend any good helmets.
Note: My first bike will be just a 250 and I'll be using it around town mostly. Maybee the odd once a month 2-3 hour blat.

[TerminalAddict]

quick before anyone else says it.

comfort and a secure fit is paramount

[jrandom]

I have a purple helmet. I like it a lot.

You can try it to see whether it fits.

It is very shiny, because I polish it often.

[Drum]

Hey Version II, welcome to the site.

What ever helmet you get, make sure it fits well and is brand new (i.e. no hand me downs!).

A lot of the cost of the more expensive helmets seems to come from the brand name and graphics, but if you try on a cheap helmet and an expensive helmet in the shop you can normally feel a big difference.

I have always been happy with HJC, but tried on a Shoei (raidII??) the other day and it felt real nice. Might have to chat to santa.

[Karma]

Different helmet fits for different heads it seems, so you'll usually fit a shoei or hjc or whatever and end up buying them from then on.

My personal recommendations;

- Get something with a nose guard thingy to reduce fogging on the visor
- Something with plenty of air intakes is good for town riding so you don't get too hot
- Don't bother spending more than 300-400 dollars, as it's best to replace them after a bin... so buying a helmet for like 1000 dollars can be a bit of waste.

Best thing to do is just rock up to the shop and see what feels good, Motomail have a good selection, as does the parts department in Red Baron... shopping is the best part eh!

[TerminalAddict]

My HJC cl14 did me well for a year . .then along came Mr Shuberth, dressed in a cute little red santa outfit :)

"and what would you like for Christmas young man?"

[Jazzed]

Bought my new (1st) helmet a few weeks ago. Cant remember all the sites I went to when researching my purchase, and they are on my home PC, but definatley have a look at the HJC-SP. In that price bracket it seems to be one of, if not the best - judging from reviews.

So once you have a few likely candidates you just have to go in and try on your short list to test the fit. I was dreading that it wouldnt fit properley and I would have one of those expensive "shoei" heads ;) heheh Instead I was pleasantly surprised to find it fit well, didnt shift around when shaking my head and felt like it was in contact all the way around. Also it was still comfortable after walking around the shop for about 10mins - so not too tight to cause headaches.

Hope this helps some, and good luck with the shopping :)

J.

[davereid]

Don't overspend on a helmet, the important things are good fit and comfort, as well as affordable visors. Many people prefer full-face helmets, as they provide gravel rash protection to the chin. But they weigh more, which may count against you in a neck-wrenching injury. They also tend to fog up in winter, and heavily gloved hands make hard work of getting the visor up at the lights.

For entry level helmets look at FFM Viper open face. Has $16 visors and a sun peak built in. About $110. Also about this price is the FFM Tourpro. Good budget fullface helmet, same visors as FFM Viper. About $125.

Buying a lower priced helmet leaves you withy a bit of cash for some other stuff. Get yourself a decent pair of gloves and a decent jacket. Entry level jackets like the "Neo Mugello" are fine for commuting and only about $220. Gloves start at about $50 and get better as you spend more money. But even leaky $50 gloves are better than skinned hands. Motorcycle Trou start at about $170.

So, instead of buying a $600 helmet, you can buy all the above if you shop around.

[Unforgiven]

Ive got a V-Can V100, cost me $175, meets all the international and NZ standards and its a light weight fiberglass model which helps on the long trips.

[Fatjim]

So, instead of buying a $600 helmet, you can buy all the above if you shop around.

Yeah, but you'd look a right tit.

[dawnrazor]

FIVE DOLLAR HELMET = FIVE DOLLAR HEAD get it......

not really an area you want to scrimp and save in....that said after a certain price you're just paying for excellence and craftmanship!!!

try on as many different makes as you can lay your hands on, always buy new. some makes will not fit you or be comfortable others will...don't worry about colours and graphics....lighter is better, but lighter is more expensive

a helmet should be SNUG not uncomfortably tight and not loose, should certainly not move independently of you!!!!!

get your head into a bunch of lids and see what fits the shop will advise you, shop around also....think of the best and most expensive helmet you can afford and then steal money out of your mums purse and buy a better one :yes: up!!!! :yes:

[davereid]

Dont listen to the Helmet Nazis... or the fashion experts....

You need protective gear for your head.. but also your hands, legs etc.

Helmets protect by absorbing energy and reducing the de-acceleration of the head & its contents.
The reality is, that budget helmets give you 99% of the protection of expensive helmets.

- Thats because when an expensive helmet gets dropped, everyone pretends it didn't happen and keeps wearing it anyway.

- And its also because most head injuries are closed - caused by the brain rattling around the skull. ie better helmet = no improvement.

By all means buy a $1000 helmet when you can afford it.

But if your choice is $1000 helmet and ride in jeans and a windbreaker then forget the flash helmet.

You will be much better off with a budget helmet AND gloves AND protective jacket AND protective Trou than just a great Helmet.

[dawnrazor]

Dont listen to the Helmet Nazis... or the fashion experts....

Directed at my post I assume....absolutley nothing to do with fashion, but lord knows what other preconceved notions you have already decided about me from that little climpse



You will be much better off with a budget helmet AND gloves AND protective jacket AND protective Trou than just a great Helmet.

yep all the gear is necessary, cheap gear is generally just that - especially the real cheap shit, but all thats beside the point as he didn't ask about gear, so for all you know he has perfectly good gear...ask the question don't assume

The next time I see rossi or pedrosa pop on a $200NZ FFM for a GP grid, i'll bin my ARAI and convert, until then I'll put my head into one of the best helmets ever made and take that extra 1% of security and ride with 100%, 'cus that might make the difference between walking away from a crash or becoming a dribbling wreck

I'd rather have scabby hands and knees, then a broken head....but thats just me

[xwhatsit]

...The next time I see rossi or pedrosa pop on a $200NZ FFM for a GP grid...

Sponsorship/advertising?

[dawnrazor]

Sponsorship/advertising?

what about it

[bell]

Unsure how deep you want to dive into the technical side of helmet design and certification....but, here's the link anyway:

http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/gearbox/motorcycle_helmet_review/index.html

I've just been through the helmet buying process with my wife. Lessons learned:
1. be fussy, be very fussy.
2. Make sure that you jot down some notes to compare various helmets if you're going to do the rounds of a few stores.
3. Buy what fits you best and falls within your budget eg. 199$ HJC was a better fit for my wife's head shape than the 799$ Shoei.

And think VERY hard about whether you really do want to add one of those mohawk/bunny ears/tails, etc to your lid!

[davereid]

I wasn't attacking you dawnrazor, I'm sorry if you thought I was, I was just trying to help a new rider, who I assumed had a budget for safety gear.

I freely admit that I'm not a helmet freak, I stand by my statement that budget helmets do 99% of the job of the expensive ones.

And I think the excellent page referenced by Bell helps my case !

I also think you may be being a little harsh on budget safety gear. Lots of the modern synthetic jackets are great, and very good value for money.

I'm the last to suggest you buy everything based simply on price... but reids a scottish name, so we are pretty good at finding value for money at the low end of the market.

[xwhatsit]

what about it

Well, it's quite possible that the only reason they are using those lovely expensive helmets is because they're given them for free, or paid to wear them and the associated logos. I'm not saying that's the real reason, but it's possible. I know when my father was being sponsored in offroad racing the only reason they used those particular tyres was because they were being given them for free, in exchange for putting a bloody big logo on the side of the vehicle.

[Lou Girardin]

The reality is, that budget helmets give you 99% of the protection of expensive helmets.

- Thats because when an expensive helmet gets dropped, everyone pretends it didn't happen and keeps wearing it anyway.


But if your choice is $1000 helmet and ride in jeans and a windbreaker then forget the flash helmet.



Cheap helmets meet minimum standards, dearer helmets exceed them.

Merely dropping a helmet doesn't not usually harm it, impacts with your head in it does. THAT'S when it should be replaced.
Broken bones and gravel rash heal, brain injuries don't.

[Hillbilly]

One difference between budget helmets and the more expensive brands is weight. There are also thing such as the fastening system - clips or d-ring? And some of the cheap helmets do not have removable/washable linings. Consider ventilation as well.

[dawnrazor]

I wasn't attacking you dawnrazor, I'm sorry if you thought I was, I was just trying to help a new rider, who I assumed had a budget for safety gear.

I freely admit that I'm not a helmet freak, I stand by my statement that budget helmets do 99% of the job of the expensive ones.

And I think the excellent page referenced by Bell helps my case !

I also think you may be being a little harsh on budget safety gear. Lots of the modern synthetic jackets are great, and very good value for money.

I'm the last to suggest you buy everything based simply on price... but reids a scottish name, so we are pretty good at finding value for money at the low end of the market.

fair enough mate, I still reckon there is no single more important piece of motorbike gear then a helmet, and to that end I have always endevoured to stick me head into the best gear I can lay my hands on.....no one said motorbikes where are cheap form of transport


I will agree with you however about folks getting a good cross section of gear, the amount of scooter rides I with a helmet as the ONLY piece of protective clothing is incredible...but hey

[davereid]

Yeah cheers buddy, I certainly won't bitch about your decision to wear the best helmet you can afford. The internet is awash with data on helmets, and how good they are, and its often contradictory and confusing.

[tbird]

I am a new rider - just got my learners - bike - and starting to get the gear and helmets are one thing that I will not skimp on - the helmet that I bought reatils in NZ for almost twice what I paid for my bike!!!!

Fit is the most important thing. There are mant different shell shapes as I am sure you have learnt and I have an expensive shaped head!!! I know from personal experiance that an illfitting helmet is both unsafe and uncomfortable (fortulately my only experiance is with the latter)

As has been said before try on as many as you can and keep the one you think you may buy on for a while in the shop to makes sure there are not any spots you can feel "hard pressure" that said you do want a firm fit.

[megarich]

The mega part of megarich (writing under my hubbies name)

I have my first road bike.. and have no helmet! This is a good thread for me who is looking desperately to find one that I can afford, and that fits... I have tried on most in the shops here, but can't find one that fits my head, and lets me put my glasses back on... Is there anyone that has an idea of what fits best? Or shall I just go get some contacts....

[davereid]

OK .. decide if you need a $1000 helmet, or if you just want a legal helmet. If you want a good quality legal helmet check out the FFM K3 flip. Its a full face an you can lift up the chin to make it an open face to help you put on the glasses, have a beer or a smoke while you ride. RRP $215 incl gst.. yes for the helmet freaks.. I wear one , and I sell em..

[The_Dover]

just don't get a shoei.

mine's comfy and fits well but is noisy as fuck.

or is that just my pipe?

[TonyB]

I recently got an HJC CL-SP Not a bad helmet- not sure what full retail is, probably over what you are wanting to spend. One thing that is worth noting though is the antifog (cause it may be available on all HJC models). Its simply unbelieveable! You can actually breath out a full lungfull of air directly at the visor, while the visor is locked down and you are sitting still, and it doesn't fog AT ALL. It doesn't get 'wet' either like the Fog City thing I had on my last helmet. Buggered if I know how it works.... must read the owners manual...

[Drum]

I recently got an HJC CL-SP Not a bad helmet- not sure what full retail is, probably over what you are wanting to spend. ....

$299 on Tardme. A good price if the antifog is as good as you say....

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Helmets-clothing-footwear/Helmets/auction-82857896.htm

[Swoop]

I have my first road bike.. and have no helmet! This is a good thread for me who is looking desperately to find one that I can afford, and that fits... I have tried on most in the shops here, but can't find one that fits my head, and lets me put my glasses back on... Is there anyone that has an idea of what fits best? Or shall I just go get some contacts....

My HJC CL-14 has served me well. I have been wearing sunglasses under a clear visor all winter without any hassle from "pressure points" of the glasses. No complaints here.

[rwh]

just don't get a shoei.

mine's comfy and fits well but is noisy as fuck.

or is that just my pipe?

Yes, you probably want to stop smoking and put your visor down.

Richard

[Jantar]

Unsure how deep you want to dive into the technical side of helmet design and certification....but, here's the link anyway:

http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/gearbox/motorcycle_helmet_review/index.html


I remember when this article first came out. It sure blew away the theory that the more expensive helmets are better. If anything it actually shows that for most riders a middle-of-the-road helmet is a better choice than the top-of-the-line brands.

What it comes down to is to ensure that your helmet meets or exceeds the standards, but most importantly is to get one that is a tight, but comfortable fit.

[TonyB]

$299 on Tardme. A good price if the antifog is as good as you say....


It is, I'm just not sure how long it lasts. As fogging is a major problem on cold rainy days I think it's an excellent selling point. It also has removeable washable linings.

Good point about the D-rings vs snap fasteners- MNZ don't allow snap fasteners to be used for racing, D-rings only

[Coyote]

My cheap HJC CS-10 is a kinda loose fit and only cost me $160, but it's surivived 5 hard knocks (one leading to a mild concussion) and I'm still smarter than your average bear

A for-free visor is worth the extra money. Not that I've ever used one before but my visor fogs up like a bitch