Helmets - Oxford or Shark?

[gummibear]

hey guys i'm just helmet shopping, and i've come to the choice between an oxford at $120 or a shark at $180. Is the shark better and worth paying more, or will the oxford do fine?

[Nasty]

Pick the one that works best for you. Every helmet fits differently ... so only you can decide if the difference is worth it. Personally I have a nolan and its cost is $600 ... I also have a HJC which cost around $140 ... both work extremely well but the nolan fits my needs better. Don't let cost dictate what you head is worth.

[James Deuce]

Buy what fits best.

All helmets sold have to meet the same safety standards. It doesn't matter what they cost. Price is usually about finish and extras. The old myth about buying the most expensive helmet you can afford is just that - a myth.

Price and "features" are secondary to design, construction, and fit when it comes to helmet performance.

Read this, then make your mind up.

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

[MGST]

I just bought the $120 Oxford helmet in blue/silver/black. I also got a tinted visor ( $30 ). I got it for commuting back and forward to work. I have also just purchased a Shoei XR1000 ( $799 ) for weekend riding.

The Oxford good points: it fits me nicely, is comfortable, looks ok, quiet as far as engine noise is concerned, cheap, has fully removable liner for washing ( I think ).

The bad points: Visor is hard to open from fully closed to the first click open ( maybe I haven't got the visor sitting quite right? ), noisy as far as wind noise is concerned.

Like Jim2 said, every helmet has to meet a certain standard otherwise it cannot be legally sold in New Zealand by a shop. If you are getting the helmet for commuting, either will be fine, get the one which fits better. They're both cheap so you won't be too worried if it gets scratched etc. But if you want it for longer weekend rides etc, I would look at something dearer. I can feel the difference Oxford compared to Shoei, the Shoei just feels so much more comfortable and refined. The visor fits better, everything about it is just nicer and more "quality". That's what you pay the extra for, but it's worth it if you're going to have it on your head for hours at a time.

Having said that, the Oxford is perfect for what I bought it for.

[NOMIS]

I just bought the $120 Oxford helmet in blue/silver/black. I also got a tinted visor ( $30 ). I got it for commuting back and forward to work. I have also just purchased a Shoei XR1000 ( $799 ) for weekend riding.

The Oxford good points: it fits me nicely, is comfortable, looks ok, quiet as far as engine noise is concerned, cheap, has fully removable liner for washing ( I think ).

The bad points: Visor is hard to open from fully closed to the first click open ( maybe I haven't got the visor sitting quite right? ), noisy as far as wind noise is concerned.

Like Jim2 said, every helmet has to meet a certain standard otherwise it cannot be legally sold in New Zealand by a shop. If you are getting the helmet for commuting, either will be fine, get the one which fits better. They're both cheap so you won't be too worried if it gets scratched etc. But if you want it for longer weekend rides etc, I would look at something dearer. I can feel the difference Oxford compared to Shoei, the Shoei just feels so much more comfortable and refined. The visor fits better, everything about it is just nicer and more "quality". That's what you pay the extra for, but it's worth it if you're going to have it on your head for hours at a time.

Having said that, the Oxford is perfect for what I bought it for.


Ive got an HJC helmet, one day was at a friend s who has a shoie helmet jumped on his bike with his helmet and shot up to the liqor store to get a few beer and i could notice the difference in weight, noise, comfort, and the wind circulated nicely but there wasnt as much noise wearing my hjc helmet ( wich cost $320 ) the wind noise is insane, good ventilation when everythings open but with everything closed its still loud as hell, when i got the $800 to afford the shoie ill get one, no price on what your heads worth

[crazybigal]

why would you buy a helmet for commuting only???


I just bought the $120 Oxford helmet in blue/silver/black. I also got a tinted visor ( $30 ). I got it for commuting back and forward to work. I have also just purchased a Shoei XR1000 ( $799 ) for weekend riding.

[Blue Velvet]

I'm with Jim2. It's all about the fit. Which one feels better when it's on your head?

[Pwalo]

Buy what fits best.

All helmets sold have to meet the same safety standards. It doesn't matter what they cost. Price is usually about finish and extras. The old myth about buying the most expensive helmet you can afford is just that - a myth.

Price and "features" are secondary to design, construction, and fit when it comes to helmet performance.

Read this, then make your mind up.

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

What Jim said. Fit is the thing.

[MGST]

why would you buy a helmet for commuting only???

Same reason as other have a shitter for commuting and a nice bike ( or car )for the weekend.

It meets the same standard, and while it is not as comfortable as the Shoei, I only wear it for 10 minutes at a time to work and home again. I'm not paranoid about scratching it either.

[gummibear]

The fit on these helmets are nearly the same on me, the shark is a bit tighter, but not painfully or anything. Is it better to have to tighter and do helmets loosen up lots or not much at all?

[James Deuce]

Better to be tight when you buy it because they do mould to the shape of your head over time.

[JimO]

i just bought a oxford for 1 of my boys for $100

[Blue Velvet]

Yes, better to be tight. The padding compresses over time etc.

[ital916]

I find that the shark helmets, for me had the better fit. Also even though they all meet the same safety standard my shark helmet went a little further on that with some added safety features. As for not scratching a helmet, it's pretty difficult lol I protect it with my life and commonly get "shut up I didn't scratch your stupid helmet" from my friends and family when they almost do. Anybody who scratches my helmet better have one haha but still it has a few.

[FruitLooPs]

Yeah my XR1000 was nearly tight enough to cause discomfort or headaches when I first got it. Tight but not painfully, now 2 years on it slips onto the noggin like a glove - snug as a bug and comfortable :Punk:

[Pex Adams]

I've owned 2 Shark helmets now - both fairly good.

Things to note: I paid $350 for the 1st, and it weighted in at fairly hefty 1650g. It lasted about 2 years (used almost everyday) before the polystyrene turned to concrete, versus the 2nd which I paid $799 for weights 1300g.

The noticeable difference between the 2, is that the 2nd one has lasted much longer, little bits and pieces have broken off it (button to hold the scrap under the chin, and a guide for the visor). So the build quality isn't as good as let say an Arai. Which is what I'm going back to for my next helmet, when I'm ready to buy my next lip.

As Jim2 said, purchase what fits best. However never compromise spending money on safety equipment, especially your head. Remember you only have one of them...

[pritch]

However never compromise spending money on safety equipment, especially your head. Remember you only have one of them...


This has all been discussed here before but...

Some of the Euro helmets which don't meet the Snell foundation tests are said by some to be safer than their more expensive Snell approved counterparts. This because the Snell testing requires a very stiff helmet shell and a more flexible helmet is better for the contents. (It's all about the deceleration rate of the contents of the skull in the event of an impact.)

Once they meet the safety standard any extra you are paying is for comfort, finish, or a fancy paint job. None of which contribute over much to safety.

The top of the line "racing" helmets are often noisier than their touring counterparts. Racers work hard physically and require a lot of ventilation. That ventilation all contributes to the noise level. If you aren't racing, a touring hat may suit you better.

[Pex Adams]

This has all been discussed here before but...



Fortunately I am still here to discuss it.. I suppose that says something about where I choose to place my values and priorities.

[Naki Rat]

Comfort is imperative, especially on long trips!

My toss-up was between a Shoei Raid 2 and a Nolan Xlite. Both great helmets that after online research seemed to be the quietest, but still way noisier than my Shoei S20 of many years ago. Nolan won in the end and my guess that its original tightness would ease to just right has been proved correct.

Another helmet of interest was a Uvex but a bit too Darth Vader I decided. Worst fit of the helmets I tried was a Shark which was obviously designed for a different shaped head as my whole lower jaw hung out the bottom of it.

[Ripperjon]

Buy what fits best.

Read this, then make your mind up.

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

Wow, that article is a real eye-opener for me and ur right, anyone (with an hour to kill) should read it and find out what really goes into all the different safety standards you can get on lids.

I think i'm gonna go try on that nice lookin hjc helmet i turned my nose up at earlier, rather than spend twice as much on a plain arai that'll save me when the asteroids hit!

[All]

I just stumbled upon that article myself. It resulted in me buying an Oxford helmet at $99 instead of a Shoei Raid II for $500. Nice.

The Oxford is good value, light, and comfortable. The only bad points are that it's very cheaply finished, and it's reasonably noisy (but that's what earplugs are for, right?).

If I accidentally drop it, or (touch wood) crash, it's only $100 down the drain as opposed to $500.

[gummibear]

That article, the hurt report or whatever its called was great! In the end i decided the shark felt more comfy, and bought it. Thanks for all the help guys, much appreciated!

[HACHET]

i have owned a shark which i found really noisy and the padding was quite hard. a few years later i got my first arai in the mick doohan colours what a helmet soft padding light and quiet and fitted my nut perfectly. i have been an arai convert now for the last 11 years. if it fits your head then spend the cash on something that will possibly stop your head splitting in two in the event of a crash.