Blog Comments

I am very pleased with my new helmet.

I have to point out, being a habitual product researcher and tester that it's just that you dont find that THAT $500 helmet is going to be much of a perceived benefit to you. Helmets designs are so varied even within one manufacturer. Using Shoei as an example (since I have the most experience with them) the Raid line doesn't even fit me properly, by I love my trusty old XR1000 to bits. It's likely that if I were to upgrade that helmet i'd head for the XR1100 which does fit.
The new GT Air does have one of those internal sun visors (which i'm personally not interested in), and the fit seems very snug and muffling, but again doesn't feel like an Xspirit, or Xspirit II.

You really need to try as many as you can get your grubby hands on.

Originally Posted by Dreama

Have you considered the possibility that the more expensive helmet may be constructed to do it's job a tad better .. ie absorb impact. Cheap helmets don't do that.
Poor quality helmets may have some user friendly thingys to make them sell but those features wont save your melon. You may need to spend more than $500 to get a helmet that has the ability to save you from brain injury plus has the trick/better features you described. I suspect the $500 unit is a 'budget' higher quality helmet

All helmets must absorb impact to a minimum level, period. Some cheap helmets perform substantially better than more expensive branded ones. I had a very cheap LS2 that had good protective qualities but no real comfort and usability features. I now have a more expensive LS2 that is much nicer to wear, but has the same safety rating as the cheap one.

Try looking here for a safety test comparison

Have you considered the possibility that the more expensive helmet may be constructed to do it's job a tad better .. ie absorb impact. Cheap helmets don't do that.
Poor quality helmets may have some user friendly thingys to make them sell but those features wont save your melon. You may need to spend more than $500 to get a helmet that has the ability to save you from brain injury plus has the trick/better features you described. I suspect the $500 unit is a 'budget' higher quality helmet

Sure it's a Raid II? 'Cos the lining in mine definitely wasn't removable, which is why I retired it after a couple of years of sweating into it's plush lining (got quite stinky). I tried 'spongeing' it clean once, I think Shoei suggest immersing the whole thing in soapy water (their definition of 'washable'?)

Still felt much more 'solid' than either of the cheaper helmets I've had since (Givi and Caberg.)