Helmets - what brand is the best?

[cs363]

Here's a good recommendation for Arai helmets:

http://www.araiamericas.com/News_Fro...5-damaged.html

I've actually seen this helmet first hand, it was on display on the Arai stand at a trade show I went to in the US. When you consider the guy hit a signpost and a guard rail at an estimated 140mph and lived to tell the tale that speaks volumes in my book. Add to that the large amount of professional racers that stake their lives on Arai every day (and 'test' the helmets in high speed crashes) real life experiences beat static lab tests any day.
I've no doubt the same can be said for certain other brands, and to each his own - I just prefer to put my life in Arai's hands.

[Imbray]

The most important thing is the FIT, if that's not right the rest don't matter, I work as a nurse in a buzy ED & often in the Resus room, have seen 2 helments cracked down the middle, 1 was just last week, seen alot of face/ neck damage (inculding broken vertabrae) from the wrong fit as well as brusing to the brain as helmet to big .

Had a guy not long ago 200Miles/hr came off with only broken calavicle, right gear, right fit, makes a HUGE diff

[NZsarge]

The most important thing is the FIT

Indeed.
Just so happens Arai seem to fit me perfectly.

[Patch]

Just look what MotoGP and WSBK lads are wearing.

Arai
Shark and if you can afford one a Suomy (sp?)

Probably a couple other brands as well but I can't remember everything.
Arai's are hand made, most of the others are made in bulk by a machine.

Buy a top brand that fits you well. Remember that a helmet is only recommended too last 5 years from manufacture.


Its your head, your choice.

[AllanB]

Just look what MotoGP and WSBK lads are wearing.

Hey if Arai are happy to GIVE me a new helmet that I can design my own graphics on I'll happily promote their product as well.

Its advertising - Rossi and co get paid a shit load to wear them.

This does not mean they are not superb helmets, but it is called sponsorship at that level. No different to the All Blacks wearing their poncy Adidas gear.

[cs363]

The most important thing is the FIT, if that's not right the rest don't matter, I work as a nurse in a buzy ED & often in the Resus room, have seen 2 helments cracked down the middle, 1 was just last week, seen alot of face/ neck damage (inculding broken vertabrae) from the wrong fit as well as brusing to the brain as helmet to big .

Had a guy not long ago 200Miles/hr came off with only broken calavicle, right gear, right fit, makes a HUGE diff

Yes, couldn't agree more - there's no point having an Arai/Shoei etc if it doesn't fit likewise having Alpinestars/Dainese gear etc as all these quality products only work if the fit is correct.

[cs363]

Hey if Arai are happy to GIVE me a new helmet that I can design my own graphics on I'll happily promote their product as well.

Its advertising - Rossi and co get paid a shit load to wear them.

This does not mean they are not superb helmets, but it is called sponsorship at that level. No different to the All Blacks wearing their poncy Adidas gear.

Yes that's true to an extent, though you don't see many MotoGP/WSB riders wearing HJC or KBC helmets, yet both are huge volume sellers (HJC is best seller in the US). And while many of these riders do indeed get free helmets, they still have the choice of what to wear. I couldn't imagine Rossi taking say $5 million to wear a THH for instance....
Same with MX riders particularly - I know that a lot of top level riders use Alpinestars boots not because they get paid to, but because they are the acknowledged best.

You could argue the subtleties of helmets for ages though - at the end of the day get something that fits you well, is well ventilated and has great vision/good visor system and has passed one or more of the required standards. Along with that I personally would say get the best you can afford as with any safety gear and/or the best within the budget you have set yourself.

[dwnundabkr]

interesting Rossi wears a Arai helmet for racing yet when watching super bikes rossi was wearing a agv helmet in saying that it was a scooter helmet

[cs363]

Unless he has changed very recently Rossi was/is wearing an AGV. Lorenzo wears an XLite.

Pedrosa, Nakano, Edwards, Hopkins and Hayden are some the front runners that use Arai in MotoGP. Haga, Smrz and Nakatomi are a few of the WSB riders that use Arai.
Most of the 'big' brands are well represented in these premier classes such as AGV, Suomy, Shoei etc. Which just shows how far some of the other brands have come as Arai & Shoei used to be 'the' helmets to have at this level.

[Swoop]

Had a guy not long ago 200Miles/hr came off with only broken calavicle, right gear, right fit, makes a HUGE diff

200 miles per hour???
322kmh.

Did he say what type of bike he was riding?

[alanzs]

200 miles per hour???
322kmh.

An unrestricted Busa will do it without breathing heavy...

[Swoop]

An unrestricted Busa will do it without breathing heavy...

Yes, a few bikes can happily do that speed. I was wondering what bike the Hamiltonian was on...

[J_P]

I am stoked with my current Helmet, but it is hard to get hold of... unless you have a contact in the states that can help you out. Haven't checked recently, so may be available in NZ now.
http://www.scorpionusa.com/home.html
Apollo EXO-1000
The Comfort / Fit / Practicallity is awesome.
My previous helmet was a Shoei Diabolic, and I have found the Scorpion to be significantly better.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Af9pISZ0X8

[vifferman]

Fit is it. I tried on quite a few helmets before buying my current on (Shoei XR1000) and of those only an Arai Corsair fit well, and it was about twice the price of the Shoei.
Some of the helmets I tried on I wanted to buy, as I liked the features, but they were horribly uncomfortable, including one (Nolan? HJC? can't remember...) the padding of which mysteriously managed to press on a nerve behind my right ear that was unbearable after a few seconds.

Till I bought my the XR1000, I'd owned a series of AGVs, but I don't think I'd buy another one now. The Shoei's more comfy, has less wind noise (but strangely lets more ambient noise through), better ventilation and has better vision (visor opening is larger).
My AGV X-Vent had better visors (and they were cheaper).

You've got to try them on! Doesn't matter what other people think - as long as it's a reputable brand, and fits well, that's all that really matters.

[NOMIS]

I Just got a brand new SHARK RS2R and its the best fitting helmet out of any brand I have ever tried got it for $250 off the retail prive 9 its the new model one aswell ) had to get tit shiped over as they didnt have the new model in the country.

But definatly the BEST helmet for me. bloody looks the biz as well. and has a very got rating