Helmet Recommendation?

[redhawk47]

This past spring I decided that it was time to replace my Arai XD3 because it was six years old. I really liked having the visor/peak which kept the sun out of my eyes when it was low in the sky. I was thinking that I would like a modular (flip-up chinbar) with a visor - there are several on the market now.
I decided to go to Performance Cycles in Denver even though it was a 60 mile drive and on the other side of Denver, because I thought they would have a good selection. I was right; they had about a dozen manufacturers, many models, and a good selection of sizes and colors. But the real bonus was that the salespeople had training from the manufacturers and they knew their stuff.
So I tried on more than a dozen helmets; modular with and w/o visors, XD4 and other dual-sport helmets. Note: I have a big, long oval head -- my XD3 was a 2XL. No being in love with any of them the salesman suggested I try on an Aria Signet-X, a "standard" full face helmet designed for long oval heads. YES, this was it! And a XL fit best. It was more money than I was planning to spend but -- what is my head worth? and my comfort? It didn't have a visor or a flip-up chinbar - so what, comfort was more important to me.
Moral of the story: shop where they have a wide selection and knowledgeable salespersons, and buy the one that fits.
PS: Some advise I read when I had just started motorcycling seriously: Don't start out on a long trip with new equipment - helmet, boots, bike, etc. Get a couple months of break-in to make sure that it's right.

[Steph]

I now have a Nolan N87 and would recommend it.

Useful helmet info here:
https://sharp.dft.gov.uk

[Mr Pootle]

Safety first, comfort second, style third. You’re not a Harley rider.

[twowheeladdict]

Safety first, comfort second, style third. You�re not a Harley rider.

Harley riders don't own the monopoly on choosing the other way around. 

Many riders choose to accept risk for enjoyment.  This IS why we ride isn't it?

Personally, I don't know how anyone who isn't sitting behind a very large windscreen can wear anything but a FF or Modular helmet.  When I visit Florida there are way more riders without helmets on all kinds of bikes.  All the states near me all require helmets and eye protection.

[Cory]

For inquiring minds - the new Bell Star with MIPS wins.

[twowheeladdict]

For inquiring minds - the new Bell Star with MIPS wins.

Awesome choice.  I have a Bell Star Carbon.  They didn't have MIPS when I bought mine.  I will be watching that technology closely to see how it performs in the real world.

[Cory]

Awesome choice.  I have a Bell Star Carbon.  They didn't have MIPS when I bought mine.  I will be watching that technology closely to see how it performs in the real world.

From trying both I wouldn't necessarily replace a current Star with a MIPS, but did seem to make sense.  I think they're both totally fine though.

[Cam Lay]

I've crashed 3 times and never touched a chin or bar on the ground.

You may notice that a chin bar protrudes much more than a chin, might be a factor too.

 







Certainly not intending to be argumentative, but here you go. My Shoei and the boy's Icon. The x-ray is mine, from about 4 months later. There was a substantial bit of deformation to the styrofoam on the inside of my helmet, and the shell was cracked badly enough to be flexible. All of that likely saved me from a more serious head injury. The boy walked away. I'm almost mostly recovered.

The bighorn sheep, I'm told, had some sort of 3/4 keratin-based headgear, too. It didn't save him.

As we say, your mileage may vary, and a little bit of random chance here or there makes all the difference. Buy the good stuff.

Regards,
C

[Kev m]

 







Certainly not intending to be argumentative, but here you go. My Shoei and the boy's Icon. The x-ray is mine, from about 4 months later. There was a substantial bit of deformation to the styrofoam on the inside of my helmet, and the shell was cracked badly enough to be flexible. All of that likely saved me from a more serious head injury. The boy walked away. I'm almost mostly recovered.

The bighorn sheep, I'm told, had some sort of 3/4 keratin-based headgear, too. It didn't save him.

As we say, your mileage may vary, and a little bit of random chance here or there makes all the difference. Buy the good stuff.

Regards,
C

And some people die skiing...

Point? We all have our own risk v reward judgments to make. Over the hundreds of thousands of miles I've ridden I've predominantly worn high quality 3/4 helmets, though I've also usually owned an Arai FF at the same time.

The difference in enjoyment is so extreme I avoid the Arai like a plague till temps are in the 40°s or lower, or rain is predetermined to be torrential.

I will occasionally pick it if I think the ride will be particularly aggressive, but honestly most of my rides are pretty laid back.

But at the end of the day you or I could be killed in a crosswalk or auto accident or _______ tomorrow.

I read the Hurt report too and studied the percentages from the various impact zones. I've also been a martial artist since I was 13 and my body has as some very specific reactions to falling which I suspect helped me to not contact my face in my two high sides.

At the end of the day we pay our money and takes our chances.

[Socalrob]

I don't think you avoided it.

I'll add that our family doctors (two close friends, one a former coroner as well, and both of whom have spent a decade working in ERs), took up motorcycling after they were empty nesters. They spent some time studying the Hurt report and a number of other related statistical reports, BOTH wear open face 3/4 helmets.

And I will raise you a facial reconstruction plastic surgeon avid rider who won't even wear a flip up, much less open face, as he says he has seen & worked on the results of two of them flipping up in an accident.

[Kev m]

And I will raise you a facial reconstruction plastic surgeon avid rider who won't even wear a flip up, much less open face, as he says he has seen & worked on the results of two of them flipping up in an accident.

I'm sure like most surgeons he really gets to know his motorcyclist patients, their tendencies to drink, speed, race, stunt, etc.

And you get why a facial reconstruction surgeon would have a occupationally narrow view of the big picture (self-selecting bias) since he ONLY see the ones that land on their faces right?

[Socalrob]

I'm sure like most surgeons he really gets to know his motorcyclist patients, their tendencies to drink, speed, race, stunt, etc.

And you get why a facial reconstruction surgeon would have a occupationally narrow view of the big picture (self-selecting bias) since he ONLY see the ones that land on their faces right?

 

[davedel44]

Just bought a Shoie Neotec and added Sienna Com System designed to integrate with the Neotec.
 Best and most expensive hemet I have ever owned.  Highly satisfied.

Dave
Galveston

[Socalrob]

Where is my 21st century helmet with auto darkening visor (adjustable, of course), noise cancelling technology, and heads up display with rear view?

[AZRider]

Helmet fit is super personal and super variable due to the differences in human anatomy.

I have been helping new riders select helmets long before I got a job that requires me to do so. I usually tell them to imagine being a jungle tribesperson getting shoes for the first time. The sensations will be so numerous and so odd that they will not be able to figure out what really matters and what's just different. Therefore I advise against an expensive helmet unless they have the time to really spend 15 minutes apiece in several very differently shaped helmets before making a decision.

Get measured for head size, then try on some very differently shaped helmets in the correct size, noting that not all brands agree on what measurements fall within each letter size. Arai offers different models that are either round or oval helmets, while most brands offer only one head shape across all models. For example, HJC offer very round helmets that are all very uncomfortable to my personal head shape, while Nolan offer medium oval helmets that fit reasonably well on my long oval head, and Icon's long oval helmets fit my skull nicely, but somehow almost all seem to conflict with my big Jewish nose. RevZilla's website is actually a great resource for knowing which helmets are which head shape.

Finally, wherever you go to get fitted, give your money to the shop that takes the time and invests in the inventory that allowed you to figure out what works for you. A few dozen helmets represent the shop owner tying up thousands of dollars in inventory for your benefit, and time spent helping you get fitted is a payroll cost. If you appreciate not having to order a helmet to try it on, show your appreciation with your purchase. Most retail stores are pretty close to internet pricing on the good brands, and the best brands all require the internet sellers to charge the same as retail stores.

[Kev m]

Where is my 21st century helmet with auto darkening visor (adjustable, of course), noise cancelling technology, and heads up display with rear view?

Well first it was crowd funded, then crashed and burned, and now someone is trying to revive it:

https://www.revzilla.com/common-tread/company-that-revived-gas-gas-tries-to-bring-back-skully-helmets

[twowheeladdict]

From trying both I wouldn't necessarily replace a current Star with a MIPS, but did seem to make sense.  I think they're both totally fine though.

Did you get a transitions visor?  I love mine.  Darkens in the sun and lightens in the rain or at night.  I had to wait a little while before buying mine.  I seemed to always scuff my visor so I had to learn to protect it at all costs but have had this transitions visor for about 70,000 miles now and no scuffs.

[mjptexas]

Although modern and not �befitting� of a guzzi, I use a shoei gt air. Pricey but worth it and you feel the difference compared to others. Also the RF-1200 is a nice one. I like that the GT air has a drop down internal visor, and they come in solid colors so you�re not stuck picking some funky or loud graphic.

 :1: on the Shoei GT Air.  I bought one because they are rated as one of the quietest helmets on the market - didn't disappoint. 

One of my riding buddies as a Shoei Neotech, which is almost the same helmet but in a modular format.  This guy is a bit on the 'thrifty' side so I was surprised when I saw him wearing a high-end Shoei.  He told me he wished he had bought one years ago.

I also have a Shoei JCruise that I wear a lot.  It's an open face helmet that I really like.

[Cory]

A short video of my renewed confusion over full-face vs. open -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKCBWRU59zk

[twowheeladdict]

A short video of my renewed confusion over full-face vs. open -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKCBWRU59zk

Funny.  There should be no confusion.  A full faCE with the visor closed provides the best protection period.  Everything else comes down to level of risk one is willing to take on.  Where you ride, how you ride, how skilled a rider, your keen sense of situational awareness, and your reflexes all play into your risk calculation.

[Testarossa]

Free-form semi-rant here.

Head shapes vary, as do skill sets, tastes, risk tolerance etc. I survived my youth riding bicycles, skiing, playing softball and flag football without helmets, but I did suffer a number of superficial head injuries as a result. Under that luxuriant 69-year-old hair are some ragged scars; a helmet and face mask would certainly have saved my front teeth during that brief love affair with hockey at age 13. I don't know how I avoided concussion -- perhaps I didn't.

I am alive because I was wearing a first-gen Shoei when I high-sided a Ducati 750SS in July of 1974, and because I was wearing a bike helmet when I went over the bars of my mountain bike descending a switchback singletrack at Winter Park in 1995. My kid was born in 1990 so you could say she owes her life to that Shoei.

In a direct impact (vector more or less normal to the helmet surface), lightweight ski and bike helmets are pretty much worthless over about 15 mph. But I've seen no statistics about how many impacts are of that nature. Average speed-over-ground for intermediate skiers and cyclists is no more than 15 mph, so my informed guess (expert speculation?) is that helmets do a lot of good. I know for a fact that the incidence of head lacerations has dropped 90% since most skiers started wearing helmets.

I've always worn helmets for rock climbing and kayaking, because bouncing your head off rocks is an unavoidable part of those sports.

When I started riding motorbikes the best helmet available was the Bell 500, and I found a nice used one, which I wore for most of a decade before acquiring the full face Shoei. Then a Bell Star. I've tried on a lot of helmets and keep coming back to Snell Bells as the best fit for me at reasonable cost.

So the issue is the light weight and hot-weather comfort of a 3/4 vs the quiet security of a good full-face helmet. The decision was final when I saw a photo (posted on this forum) of a biker who had lost his entire lower jaw -- nothing but raw red meat from the upper front teeth back to the larynx. That photo was taken down after a few days. I'm sure it's findable with a google search but who has the stomach to look for it?

As for fit, I spent years to get my ski boots to fit with the same comfort and precision as my prescription spectacles; both are $500 items. The helmet deserves a few hours of fitting time in a proper retail location.

[bad Chad]

The absolute best best $10 I have spent was at www.lidpicker.com    Makes finding truly great fitting helmets easy, buy where you want.

[charlie b]

I am kinda surprised that mfgs like Shoei, Arai, Schuberth do not have a fitting 'system' like there is for good ski boots. 

I suspect it is due in part to helmet weight.  It would take a slightly oversize shell to allow for all the different shapes, which means a few oz extra weight.  At the same time, why not good noise control, like helicopter helmet ear cups?  Probably same issue, weight.

I just wonder if people would buy a slightly oversize/weight helmet if it was quiet and fit perfectly.

[Chuck in Indiana]

:1: on the Shoei GT Air.  I bought one because they are rated as one of the quietest helmets on the market - didn't disappoint. 

One of my riding buddies as a Shoei Neotech, which is almost the same helmet but in a modular format.  This guy is a bit on the 'thrifty' side so I was surprised when I saw him wearing a high-end Shoei.  He told me he wished he had bought one years ago.

I also have a Shoei JCruise that I wear a lot.  It's an open face helmet that I really like.

Let the flames begin. After much searching and trying on helmets, I settled on a Shoei GT Air, too. Had to get custom cheek pads to get the fit right. Nice helmet.
But.
I was needing to replace my helmet out in SoCal, so went in to Cycle Gear..about the only place available near me. Had a high dollar helmet picked out, but saw a $100 Bilt sitting on the shelf in my size. XL. It takes a big head to put all those brains in there.. Thought, "What the hey, let's see what the low priced spread is all about just for grins." It just fit. Hmmm. Asked the sales girl if I could bring it back if I hated it. "Sure."
Put it on and immediately was impressed with the eyeport size.. I could see out of it better than the Shoei. It was *quieter* (!) too. The drop down eye shade is not as elegant as the Shoei, but works ok. The shield mechanism is better. (!) There is a lever that keeps the shield from closing completely which is perfect for a little ventilation. The Shoei doesn't have that, and at the first notch open blows air at my eyes. Replacement shields are almost free compared to the Shoei.
I'm sold. I'd rather wear it even though it's an ugly booger. I think they call it the Raptor.

[kirby1923]

I have several HJCs' 'cause I have machines in multiple locations!

I have both full face IR 16s (internal sun shield) and a half with a retractable shield.
They are cheap compared to the high end stuff.

I have never had a real good HJC but then I have never had real a bad one either.

Spare parts are cheap as well.

[Testarossa]

I am kinda surprised that mfgs like Shoei, Arai, Schuberth do not have a fitting 'system' like there is for good ski boots. 

I've thought about this a lot. The issue is, I think, that once the foam and/or liner is modified, how can the manufacturer be assured that the helmet still meets Snell or DOT or ECE or ??? impact standards?  Can't. Even bike-helmet style mechanisms would degrade Snellability.

Ski boot standards are different. You can change the fit without changing the sole dimensions -- meaning no change in ski binding interface. The only other relevant standard is forward flex limit, which protects the achilles tendon. That standard is also unaffected by custom fitting.

[Kiwi Dave]

Added a Nolan NCOM B5 bluetooth intercom thing which connects to my android phone and will read me turn-by-turn directions running on google maps in nav mode.

Not trying to hijack the thread, but I have a Nolan N104 helmet with NCOM B5 bluetooth, and I've never been able to get it to work with google maps.  Music from the card in the phone comes through just fine, and I can run my Sygic navigation app to provide instructions.

But I have a soft spot for google maps as I can drag the route on the screen to try another route direction.  What I don't know is how to operate it in "nav" mode.  Please explain.

[wheaties]

  19.4% + 15.2% =  34.6%   Better than 1/3 of all helmet related impacts involve the chin area.   So.....

Just sayin'
Matt

[Kev m]

  19.4% + 15.2% =  34.6%   Better than 1/3 of all helmet related impacts involve the chin area.   So.....

Just sayin'
Matt

It's not that simple.

First that's one OLD study that IIRC simply noted if there was any sign of impact on a FF helmet in the accidents in the study yes?

But the chin bar on a FF helmet by design must necessarily protrude farther from the center mass of the head than a chin. So wouldn't that alone increase the chance of a chin bar contacting something that a chin might not?

As a matter of fact many 3/4 helmets protrude in such a way that if you hit the forehead part of the helmet on a flat surface it keeps your face away.

And 3/4 helmets vary in design but depending on the size and shape they may cover some of the areas included in those percentages.

I'm not saying it's any guarantee, but I am not sure those are necessarily accurate percentages of the "risks".

But then again my anecdotal evidence is three get offs without ever hitting my helmet on anything, so much for percentages.

[wheaties]

So you'd argue that not having a chin bar will result in less impacts to the helmet, by roughly 1/3?