I need a new helmet

[SMOKEU]

I'm shopping for a new full face helmet as my current helmet is too big and I doubt it will stay put in a crash, and I have a budget of $200. I'm thinking about going to Budget Motorcycle Spares in Christchurch. Has anyone here bought a helmet from there before? The helmet I have at the moment is an HJC which I've had for around 4 years. It shakes around a fair bit at 200kmh (on a race track, of course) even with the chin strap tightened up nice and tight.

Also, how long should I wear the helmet for in the shop before deciding if it's the right size for me? How tight should a new helmet feel before I can decide if it's the right size?

[Maha]

It should fit like a condom, it is protection after all...

[onearmedbandit]

Budget are fine to deal with. Your helmet should be tight enough not to move independently of your head, but not that tight that it causes discomfort. Typically the padding with 'give' a little after wearing it for a few weeks, so tighter is better when trying one on. $200 doesn't give you a wide range of choice, hit your mum up, I know she doesn't like bikes so convince her to loan you some coin to get a better quality helmet. Another $200 should help.

[steve_t]

I find that when you try it in the shop, it needs to be tight, nearly to the point of discomfort. It'll ease off a bit over a short space of time. I guess the trouble is that everyone's head is a different shape and finding one that fits your head perfectly is a hard road.

Edit: OAB beat me to it

[FJRider]

I'm shopping for a new full face helmet as my current helmet is too big and I doubt it will stay put in a crash, and I have a budget of $200. I'm thinking about going to Budget Motorcycle Spares in Christchurch. Has anyone here bought a helmet from there before? The helmet I have at the moment is an HJC which I've had for around 4 years. It shakes around a fair bit at 200kmh (on a race track, of course) even with the chin strap tightened up nice and tight.

Also, how long should I wear the helmet for in the shop before deciding if it's the right size for me? How tight should a new helmet feel before I can decide if it's the right size?

Try a sports balaclava (or similar) under your existing helmet first. It will take some of the "shake" up ...

[Jerry74]

I got my AGV K3 from Emoto via their trade me store got a wicked bargain at only $180.
These helmets usually retail for $300 very comfy a a bbig step up from my old HGC and FFM.

[SMOKEU]

I got my AGV K3 from Emoto via their trade me store got a wicked bargain at only $180.
These helmets usually retail for $300 very comfy a a bbig step up from my old HGC and FFM.

The problem is that I want to try a helmet on before I buy it.

[Jerry74]

Emoto is on Moorehouse Ave beside Morrison Cars.
Go see them but if you buy off their trademe store it's cheaper than off the shelf in store.

[Zedder]

The problem is that I want to try a helmet on before I buy it.

There shouldn't be a problem, I've never had any issues when buying one. Try it on after asking the salesperson if you can wear for a while and will only buy if it fits well etc.

It's an important bit of gear so they should understand and be able to steer you right anyway.

[SMOKEU]

I got my AGV K3 from Emoto via their trade me store got a wicked bargain at only $180.
These helmets usually retail for $300 very comfy a a bbig step up from my old HGC and FFM.

Emoto is on Moorehouse Ave beside Morrison Cars.
Go see them but if you buy off their trademe store it's cheaper than off the shelf in store.

Cheers, I'll go round there and check them out.

[Madness]

Also, how long should I wear the helmet for in the shop before deciding if it's the right size for me?

A bare minimum of three to four hours.

[tigertim20]

Budget are fine to deal with. Your helmet should be tight enough not to move independently of your head, but not that tight that it causes discomfort. Typically the padding with 'give' a little after wearing it for a few weeks, so tighter is better when trying one on. $200 doesn't give you a wide range of choice, hit your mum up, I know she doesn't like bikes so convince her to loan you some coin to get a better quality helmet. Another $200 should help.

this is good advice.

Smoke, I might suggest you revise your budget just a tad - if you went up to say, $250, you would have a few more options. My flatmate bought an HJC FG-15 for $249 on a runout sale as a new model came in - their recommended retail was around $499, so you should look into that.
I know that a month or two back, MCR in Dunedin still had a bunch of old-model FG-15's in various colours/graphics for around $249 - You could either contact them (Rick and the guys there are great to deal with) or you mgiht find a shop able to offer you the same in chch - but for my money, id up the budget a tad, and look into runout models, a better helmet at a good price.

I have the FG 15 and its great at 250+km

[Deano]

I bought a shoei that fit well in the shop. Nice n tight. Snug.

Did a road trip with it riding 4 hours at a time and my left ear hurt like feck. It came right though.

[quickbuck]

Smokeu, have you got your helmet yet? Check this out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8v4q...&feature=share

[sleemanj]

If you are doing 200 km/h in it, I'd probably be spending more than $200.

A sub $200 helmet is very much likely to be designed primarily to withstand typical road accidents at typical road speeds... track != road.