Different helmet shapes for different markets?

[Bassmatt]

I have read and had people tell me, several times, that you shouldn't buy a helmet from overseas as the manufacturers supply helmets to fit different head shapes depending on the particular market, they say a NZ sold Shoei GT Air (for example) will have a different fit to a US sold Shoei GT Air.
At first this sounded feasible as I can imagine Asians may have a slightly different head shape than African Americans (for example).
But as I have put more thought into it I am calling bullshit for these reasons
a) there are different headshapes among an otherwise seemingly homogonous population anyway eg my wife and I are both Kiwis of european heritage but have different shaped heads.
b) Most countries have a mixture of ethnicities (and therefore headshapes).
c) If I shifted to the US (for example) I would need to order a helmet from New Zealand?, do shops here turn away "foriegners" when they want to buy a helmet? - "sorry mate you'll have to order it from your home country NZ helmets wont fit"
d) It doesn't fit with the "I have an Arai (shoei,hjc, whatever) head" meme. Do I only have an Arai(NZ) head?

So is it a load of crap or am i having a major logic fail here?

***yes I know you shouldn't buy a helmet without trying it on first, thats not what I am getting at here.

[Gremlin]

There are different shapes for different regions. What you get in store will actually vary depending on where it was sourced from.

From memory, the variation is US, European and Asian markets - obviously brands will vary in amongst in that.

[Mike.Gayner]

I tried to get to the bottom of this when I was buying my Shoei but never could get a straight answer. As best I can tell it's just another lie told by local dealers to try and prevent you from getting a better deal online.

In the end when buying my NXR I would only have saved around $100 buying online (after horrific shipping charges) so decided to stick with the dealer, even though they were unable to get my preferred graphics/size combo.

[Bassmatt]

There are different shapes for different regions. What you get in store will actually vary depending on where it was sourced from.

From memory, the variation is US, European and Asian markets - obviously brands will vary in amongst in that.

You say that as if you know it for a fact.
please explain this with regard to my points b, and c.

[Bassmatt]

I tried to get to the bottom of this when I was buying my Shoei but never could get a straight answer. As best I can tell it's just another lie told by local dealers to try and prevent you from getting a better deal online.

Yeah thats my feeling too. Asians in the US need to import helmets from Japan? yeah right.

[Gremlin]

You say that as if you know it for a fact.
please explain this with regard to my points b, and c.

It's simple, coz you're over-thinking it.

You try a helmet on, it's not comfortable. You try another helmet on, it's comfortable. You buy it.

Even NZ shops will have different sources of supply (well, import). I've had two N104s from Europe, and I'm sure the supply varied between purchases, as the first was more comfortable than the 2nd, but the 2nd is finally wearing in...

[nzspokes]

I tried to get to the bottom of this when I was buying my Shoei but never could get a straight answer. As best I can tell it's just another lie told by local dealers to try and prevent you from getting a better deal online.

In the end when buying my NXR I would only have saved around $100 buying online (after horrific shipping charges) so decided to stick with the dealer, even though they were unable to get my preferred graphics/size combo.

It is true. I have been involved in the design of helmets for another use in the past. Different markets will run a different head shape to suit the local demographic.

[Tazz]

I've bought two from overseas, no problemo, but I believe there will be some truth to it for some brands as I know clothing sizes (SML, MED, LRG) are different for different markets too, let alone difference between brands.
Best bet is to just ask who your buying off direct for the measurements vs sizing chart to be sure.

For both of mine I went off my own measurements and the sellers rather than trying in a store as morally I'd feel like a bit of a cunt doing that.

[Tazz]

It is true. I have been involved in the design of helmets for another use in the past. Different markets will run a different head shape to suit the local demographic.

Wasn't there someone on here that tried to buy the same helmet they had at home somewhere random like Kathmandu, and found all the sizes were up the piss by comparison? Was a Shoei or Arai too.

[Bassmatt]

It is true. I have been involved in the design of helmets for another use in the past. Different markets will run a different head shape to suit the local demographic.

So whats the difference between a European head in France and an ethnically European head in the US?

[Bassmatt]

Wasn't there someone on here that tried to buy the same helmet they had at home somewhere random like Kathmandu, and found all the sizes were up the piss by comparison? Was a Shoei or Arai too.

Size is not shape.

[nzspokes]

Wasn't there someone on here that tried to buy the same helmet they had at home somewhere random like Kathmandu, and found all the sizes were up the piss by comparison? Was a Shoei or Arai too.

Don't remember that but I always wanted a bell helmet. Tried one at Motomail and it hurt like hell. That was a few years back. Went there a few months ago and they said they now get the American head shape not the euro. Fitted me well.

[nzspokes]

So whats the difference between a European head in France and an ethnically European head in the US?

Euro head from memory(was 20 years ago) is narrow oval and US Std is wide oval.

[nzspokes]

Oh and Asian again from memory is round.

[Tazz]

So whats the difference between a European head in France and an ethnically European head in the US?

Can you tell me the difference in density and weight of a subway 9 grain wheat foot long and an Italian herbs and cheese?

Man, head shapes can be different between siblings let alone ethnicity.