Helmets... So many choices, so little money.

[Ghost Lemur]

Well I started researching helmets a few weeks ago.

And fuck me if I ain't suffering from overload. Not through lack of choice (although it could be argued that there is such a thing in NZ), but rather from too much choice.

Planned purchase is a wee while away yet, still got to finish saving.

Looking for some advice though on a few points.

1. Does NZ recognize international standards (ie DOT Snell) or do helmets have to pass some poxy NZ standard in order to be brought into the country? It's just with the NZ$ being what it is and money tight it looks like it'll be much cheaper to buy from overseas. Also allows increased range of choice?

2. Advice on analizing helmets when trying them on isn't an option?

3. What's your favourite helmet and why?

4. Any resources on the web (or else where) which could help me with my research (comparisions details of manufacture, different materials, etc)?

5. Anyone had experience with any of the following (or opinions based on what you can read on their site).

OGK
ICON
Scorpion

The obvious big 4..
Shoei
Arai
AGV
Suomy

Lesser quality?/cheapies?...
HJC
KBC
Nolan

Others I'm missing?

[andy1]

hey Ghost lemur.
i have imported many helmets to many country`s from Japan.
OGK doesnt meet the NZ safety Standards. sorry.
but im not sorry about the others.

Arai top helmet for sure!
i can send one to you for much cheaper price than any shop in NZ!
i am at the moment sending helmets to NZ but they are offroad.
But i do send road helmets too!

Let me know!

Cheers.
:spudwave:

[James Deuce]

Well I started researching helmets a few weeks ago.

And fuck me if I ain't suffering from overload. Not through lack of choice (although it could be argued that there is such a thing in NZ), but rather from too much choice.

Planned purchase is a wee while away yet, still got to finish saving.

Looking for some advice though on a few points.

1. Does NZ recognize international standards (ie DOT Snell) or do helmets have to pass some poxy NZ standard in order to be brought into the country? It's just with the NZ$ being what it is and money tight it looks like it'll be much cheaper to buy from overseas. Also allows increased range of choice?

2. Advice on analizing helmets when trying them on isn't an option?

3. What's your favourite helmet and why?

4. Any resources on the web (or else where) which could help me with my research (comparisions details of manufacture, different materials, etc)?

5. Anyone had experience with any of the following (or opinions based on what you can read on their site).

OGK
ICON
Scorpion

The obvious big 4..
Shoei
Arai
AGV
Suomy

Lesser quality?/cheapies?...
HJC
KBC
Nolan

Others I'm missing?

OI, Nolan ain't cheap or lesser quality. Their top end race helmets are branded Xlite, and their whole range usual finishes on top or somewhere near the top of Snell and DOT impact tests. The N100 flip front beat everything in a Europe based competition (so it may have been a LITTLE biased) for top of shell impact strength. That is every other brand and type of helmet, not just flip fronts.

Ummm - I guess you know my favourite now, but that is mostly because it is the most comfortable helmet I've tried and owned. I've owned mid and top range Shoei's and top end Arai's.

I have an oval head shape with klingon ridges, so you'd need to be at least half-klingon for it work well.

Nolan CHEAP... mutter grumble.....

[dhunt]

Well when I was looking for helmets, here in Palmy I was told that not many Shoei's are sold anymore at Phil Turnbulls due to the quality of the HCJ-CL14 helmets. Which are good value for money, so that's what I bought. It's a very comfortable helmet and fairly quiet but I notice on my fully flaired bike it is much quieter if I stick my head right up so the wind goes under it as well as over.

My $0.02 worth
David

[k14]

Had 2 shoei's for 15 or so months now. Both brillant, low amount of wind noise compared to others I have worn. Probably going to replace my long trip helmet with a Shoei RF1000 at the end of the year, won't go for anything else, they fit well and are really comfortable.

Anyone imported a helmet from the states? Was thinking about doing that and was wondering if the saftey standards from there will be sweet over here?

[FROSTY:Me]

i've gotta tell ya dude there ain't nothing wrong with HJC helmets.
The story I was told was that they used to be the shell manufacturer fior shoei helmets and shoei decided to make their own shells.
I've now owned two Hjc lids --a cl12 and a Cl14 both were as good as anything else ive worn in the real world.
They aren't quite as quiet as the latest shoei or arai but only at speed.
I've recently stopped wearing mine on the track but only because the back isn't high enough in a full crouch on the bike.

[Badcat]

i have a CRAFT helmet that is basically a rebadged KBC Vx7 i think,
it's a brilliant helmet - and i've owned a few arais...
http://www.speedpro.de/craft/index_eng.html
the good KBCs start at about $399!!!
it's light - quiet and visors are CHEAP!
i just bought a very dark green tint from holeshot for $45!
honestly - take a look at KBC, they have a wicked black chrome one on the way too...
i have a ROOF too - looks the ab. shizzle - but lousy in wind, rain and noisy as buggery (apparantly buggery is quite noisy...)
roof looks like this:
http://www.kenkong.com/album/album.p...=36&personId=3

[Bob]

As the lucky owner of a few helmets (I got some to test ages back), I also put together a review or two...

Personally, I love my Arai RV. I'd recommend it to anybody for everyday use.

For the track? Well the HJC CL-14 is a good one.

Reviews for Arai RV and HJC CL-14 are here.

Hope these help.

One interesting point made in a UK magazine - if you are thinking of importing a lid from overseas, think very carefully about where it comes from. It seems that European/US/Asian helmets are made with different head sizes and shapes.

[Lou Girardin]

How much do you have to spend?
Up to $300, HJC CL14 is hard to beat. Around $500, Shoei Raid is top value. Then you have your high end Nolan's Shoei's and Arai's which are all good, get the one that fits best.
As for importing a helmet, do you want to import visors and other parts every time you need them as well?

[Motu]

Good point Lou - Years ago I bought a Nolan in OZ,thinking I'd be about 6mths ahead of the game,but that helmet was never available in NZ.I wasn't that stupid though,and the lining crapped out with one visor to go.

[rodgerd]

Suomy

One of the few I get a comfortable fit out of, but expensive as all get-out and *not* Snell rated for the cheaper helmets.

HJC

My wife has the CJ14. Seems to be a really good helmet, Snell rated, only ~$300.

Note that some models of the dirt cheap, locally made FFM range are Snell 2000 rated - perhaps they're you're best bet, given you can get them for <$200.

[jrandom]

I like my Shoei Raid a lot. For $500 I reckon it's as much as a road rider needs, unless you happen to have an Arai head.

But they're all good. HJC, Shoei, Nolan, Arai, Suomy. Buy what fits and what you can afford.

The word is that AGV are shite, though. Overpriced and built to do anything but last. Some may disagree; primarily those who don't want to admit that they've been ripped off, I suspect.

[Hitcher]

No, there is no choice. There is only one helmet -- it's a Shoei XXXL and it's black.

Not that I'm in any way envious of you poor pinheaded bastards who have a choice or manufacturer, functionality and colour...

[vifferman]

The word is that AGV are shite, though. Overpriced and built to do anything but last. Some may disagree; primarily those who don't want to admit that they've been ripped off, I suspect.

OK, I disagree. (Reel me in).
Not because I've been ripped off (because I wasn't).
I got my first AGV when I bought my VF500, and the dealer gave me a discount on it. Kept it for over 5 years, then (when I was overpaid my travel allowance) I went looking for another helmet, no particular brand. I saw an AGV which happened to match my bike of the time (black, gold and silver) and the dealer said "take it for a test ride if you like". So I went for a ride for a couple of hours and it got more and more comfy, so I thought I might buy it.
"So would you like to buy it?"
"Yup."
"D'ya want to trade your old helmet in on it?"
"Say wha...? I've just shown you all the dings, and the crack in the chin guard, and the worn-out strap....?"
"I didn't see those. I'll give you $100 as a trade-in; someone will buy it. And knock $45 off. Say $200 to you."
"Done!"

I dunno about being "shite" - mine is comfy, fits well, is fairly quiet, has 5 vents, and has one of the best visor systems: no tools required, simple, effective.
The mistake I made was not in buying it, but in not claiming it on insurance when I wrote my bike off. Now I want a new helmet and can't justify it.
What I don't like about it is that I intended to get one with removable lining, and didn't, and the vinyl AGV use on the neck strap cover and bottom of the back of the padding is crap, and doesn't last more than a couple of years before cracking up. Oh yeah - and it's now the wrong colour, like my glubs. I'll have to buy either another bike or another helmet/gloves or both.

[Cajun]

My first helmet was an agv was great lasted me 8 years, until it was just ratty looking outside, next was a cheap cms, and now i have a hjc cl12 i have had it about 4 years now, its done about 80,000kms still great, chewed lots of visors, my wife has a shoie xr100(i think she has done maybe 20,000 km in the 3 years she has had it, still on her orginal mirror visor)