Helmets and all

[Paul in NZ]

I tried out my new helmet in the weekend.

I usually don't have a champagne budget for helmets and make do with safe but serviceable brands.... BUT when Motorad Wellington were selling Arai's for an unbelievable $300 well - it would be rude not to give it a go....

Its not quite the top of the range but not quite entry level (its a Chaser I think) but - its $300 with a pinlock...

Verdict is - its OUTSTANDING and - its the by far and away the best freakin helmet I have ever used... The Sprint chucks a lot of air over the screen and this things quiet and stable... The vents are amazing - I can ride visor closed and not feel stifled. Thrilled to bits with it...

I do have now a used (barely) Box BX1 with clear and tinted visor in XL that could be made very cheaply available to the best sob story or to some impoverished rider.

[onearmedbandit]

It's a personal thing of course, but I agree fully, Arai's have always served me well. And at $300 you simply couldn't go wrong.

[jellywrestler]

It's a personal thing of course, but I agree fully, Arai's have always served me well. And at $300 you simply couldn't go wrong.

dead right, i just happened to be there on the day and was thinking of going back to arai, the emptied my wallet for me and i was pumped

[Akzle]

five buck and a bag of chips au

[vifferman]

There's only one Arai shell that fits my cranium, so I've got a Shoei, but I agree about the pleasure of having a well-fitting and well-made helmet. For YEARS I had Stars, then AGVs, until I discovered I didn't actually fit them that well and sprung the extra $$$ for the Shoei. One of the best things is being able to readily replace parts.

[Laava]

There's only one Arai shell that fits my cranium, so I've got a Shoei, but I agree about the pleasure of having a well-fitting and well-made helmet. For YEARS I had Stars, then AGVs, until I discovered I didn't actually fit them that well and sprung the extra $$$ for the Shoei. One of the best things is being able to readily replace parts.

Yep.
I sprung the extra for a Shoei about 7 yrs ago and after a few years you realise that you haven't had to replace your helmet for a while! I am now on my second Shoei having said that, but won't make the mistake of buying a cheap one again that is for sure.

[pritch]

I do have now a used (barely) Box BX1 with clear and tinted visor in XL that could be made very cheaply available to the best sob story or to some impoverished rider.

Keep it. Another helmet can be handy especially if it has a different coloured visor.

[Paul in NZ]

Keep it. Another helmet can be handy especially if it has a different coloured visor.

Storage is a major issue... I have others...

[Jezxa]

I wish Arais would fit my head. And Shoeis for that matter.

The only helmet I've tried that's comfortable for me is my Shark S900 but the field of vision is too narrow and its not good for track days and sport riding because it seems to be designed for a more upright position riding.

I still need to try some AGVs though

[Banditbandit]

five buck and a bag of chips au

You don't need a helmet - you haven't got a bike ..

[Frodo]

Yep.
I sprung the extra for a Shoei about 7 yrs ago and after a few years you realise that you haven't had to replace your helmet for a while! I am now on my second Shoei having said that, but won't make the mistake of buying a cheap one again that is for sure.

Just bought a Shoei Neotec. I have a "Shoei-head" (I bought my first Shoei 40 years ago) and its reasonably comfortable (cheek pads tight but should compress with time), but a step down from my Mutitec which was a step down from my Raid II.
- Very noisy, even with vents closed: worse than the Multitec
- Top vent leaks air even when closed and was noticeably cold on cold days (this is apparently a widespread problem (and aparently they leak in rain), so I filled the vent with blutac
- More room in behind the chin guard (the Multitec was a bit cramped) but a lot of air circulates across my face unless I have the chin curtain installed which makes it more difficult to carry the helment
- Chin guard only locks closed when worn if slammed shut - Multitec simply clicked shut
- I prefer the double D ring to the rachet clip.
- Expensive

Internal visor is good (but touches my nose at the bottom of the travel), but I'm surprised how little I use it (perhaps more in summer)

This will be my last Shoei flip front helmet.

[Gremlin]

Ah... helmets. I've just bought and collected my 9th helmet in 10 years today...

Went through a couple of HJC when learning and commuting. Shoei XR1000 as a country helmet with the HJCs. Then 3 Shoei Multitecs (I think) of which I'm using 2 (one thrown after a bin), one country and wired with Baehr, one commuter (third commuting helmet). 2x Nolan N104, first thrown due to bin, which pissed me off as it damaged the Sena comms and was no more than 6 months old Second still using, with Sena comms.

Was doing some research and thinking about replacing the 2nd Multitec as it's circa early 2011, pads are a bit worn, done a few km etc. Obviously the last few helmets have all been flip front, and while the Nolan is OK, it doesn't have the solid feeling of a Shoei, creaks a bit, visor/pinlock seal around the top isn't perfect... just little niggles but they're annoying. Which new flip? As above, Neotec isn't perfect but does have the internal visor which I'm growing to love.

Given that I was planning to use for country and likely wiring with Baehr (no battery hassles and better sound) it had to have speaker pockets, a sun visor to negate the need for second visor and so on... AGV doesn't fit, Arai hasn't either... not many options unless I step up to BMW or Schuberth helmets which aren't cheap... so I started thinking about adventure helmets because the peak could be useful for low sun conditions (but could I live with a solid helmet again). Hornet X2 is one of the heaviest, briefly looked at the Touratech offering but it's around $1300.

Touratech is made by Nexx.... who? Exactly, a company in Portugal that has some offerings in the mid to high end and their original version of the Touratech was the Nexx XD1 Voyager. No distributors in Oceania, no way to try on, oooh, a tried-on didn't fit import on TradeMe... if it was under $300 it could be a cost effective experiment (they're US$450-500 in USA) and not a big loss if it didn't work out, but should be good quality if it did work out...

It's comfortable, really comfortable and light, except I've damaged one lock taking it apart to see how it worked... Gonna have to import the part

[pritch]

I've damaged one lock taking it apart to see how it worked...

That reminds me...

You come across an item that's guaranteed to eliminate war and poverty. Would you
A) Use it to benefit mankind?
B) Use it accumulate great personal wealth? Or
C) Pull it apart to see how it worked?

I guess we can see which option you'd take?

[Gremlin]

I guess we can see which option you'd take?

D) Take it apart, break it, now no-one can have it... Can you order another / spare parts?

[Big Dog]

The IT answer: E) get a redundant pair going, take one out of production, test on that while hoping it doesn't break because there is no budget for another and you'll be up shit creek if the primary fails while the secondary is out.

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