helmets

[Jeff in Dallas]

I have 3 that I rotate between - a Shoei Multitec, a Harley carbon fiber 3/4 and a Harley 1/2. I wear the 3/4 most of the time because it is the most comfortable - it's very light.

I have several others that rarely get used.

Take your time and try many options. You'll be surprised at how different they are. Find the one that's the most comfortable. And, you can protect your noggin and look cool! :2thumbs:

 

[dltang]

I love my HJC Carbon Fiber Vador. It is so light. My first helmet I bought because I loved the "look" of it and I didn't try on that many and I was worried about spending too much. I was getting a horrible pain in the neck, literally. So I started looking at helmet weight as well as fit. I went to the local cycle shop and tried on various helmets and the HJC Carbon Fiber was a nice fit and so much lighter than my old Gmax28. But it was almost $500 and I just know I couldn't go there. So I went in search on line. I found my helmet for around $300 which was a steal. You can't find that anymore for the same helmet. Anyway, no more pain in the neck.

 

[ataDude]

... Anyway, no more pain in the neck.

What about bjt? :thumbup:

.

 

[bjt]

What about bjt? :thumbup:

.

 

[dltang]

What about bjt? :thumbup:

.

:yikes:

And that is all I am gonna say....

 

[Director]

Actually if a helmet meets the dot standards than it should protect you adequately in an accident. I read an article on a test that was done on helmets in one of the cycle magazines I subscribe to a year or so ago and their testing showed that $85 Z1R helmets survived impacts just as well as the higher end name brands.

With that being said there are other factors I consider as well such as, fit, comfort, and noise.

:agree: I read the article as well. It confirmed what we have been teaching in Canada Safety Council motorcycle instruction courses. Higher price does not necessarily equate with greater protection. The best protection will certainly come from a full-face helmet, but the critical factors as sleepman says, are DOT certification, fit, and comfort. With higher end helmets, a great deal of what you are paying for is cosmetic enhancements (fancy graphics, etc.)

Bruce

 

[captainryder]

HJC 3/4 Carbon Fiber. We have the light tinted visor and I see fine at night as well with it down. Plus if you move it up out of the way, dorky but can be done, it doesn't feel like it's wanting to yank your head off, and the visor won't blow off.

Funny Story, we never had a bike or wore helmets before Spyder owning. Eent to a discount store trying on helmets, the guy comes over as I am slamming down a discounted 3/4 DOT helmet on. Talks about sizing and proper fit. I'm ready to go with what I find, but the wife want's one to match. He goes to the stockroom to search but brings out this carbon fiber HJC.... my wife tries it on, and likes the feel, and makes this comment " This one is so light in weight? I take it from her and instantly can compare what I'm holding in my hand with what she had on....she's right" We make up our minds quickly, and the salesman goes back to the stockroom for one my size.

 

[GeminiJane]

Actually if a helmet meets the dot standards than it should protect you adequately in an accident. I read an article on a test that was done on helmets in one of the cycle magazines I subscribe to a year or so ago and their testing showed that $85 Z1R helmets survived impacts just as well as the higher end name brands.

With that being said there are other factors I consider as well such as, fit, comfort, and noise.

I read that article, too, and at the time had a couple of Shoei, a couple Arai, a Nolan and a Scorpion. I went out looking for a Z1R to add to the collection and like it too, - but I'm lucky that I can get a good fit and feel for a lot of different helmets. My husband can only wear Arai's comfortably. The article maintained that for a a smaller person, the denser/stiffer helmets (both DOT/SNELL approved) may be too stiff to do much good for such a person - that a DOT only approved might be a better choice for light weight people and they found the Z1R to be the best buy as such for the $$. BUT - they all advocated a full face. You wear a helmet for protection against an accident and by definition you don't plan an accident. If you're going to protect yourself, why not protect against any/all possible accidents? Just last summer we met a group of Triumph riders in West Virginia - all experienced riders with lots of miles under their belts. All rode with full gear. One morning one group went out to ride some of the great roads and while doing 60 mph, a deer came straight up the side of the road, over the guard rail and dropped straight down onto the front of the bike of one of the riders - speared itself on his front crash bars, twisted up under the front tire (rider still up but covered in deer blood - as well as the group of riders behind him) and then the deer curled up under the bike and the back tire went over it. The bike went down and the State Police measured that the rider slid 125 feet down the road at 60 mph. He was face down and unconscious and his head rolled from side to side. When he came to, helmet was demolished, one forearm had a "burn" from the heat inside his jacket and one finger was cut from where the glove separated from rubbing the road. He ate dinner with us that night. He would have been dead without that full face helmet - and he certainly didn't know his day was going to turn out that way. IMO helmets are always cool - because stupid isn't!

 

[jetskier]

Full face Shark S800 Special Edition KWR. Very comfortable and excellent wind noise suppression. With the speed the Spyder can travel at I think you really need a full face proper racing helmet with little or no openings apart from vents.

 

[tnfleming]

I wonder what kind of evidence exists to suggest that quality differences don't matter as long as a helmet is DOT approved. The video on Leno's site of a professional racer's accident is very impressive; the Arai helmet took a beating and wasn't even cracked. I know of people in accidents whose helmets were busted apart which can't be good. No? I'm asking not telling. I hope people are not at risk over an extra $200.

 

[tnfleming]

I did a bit more reading; check out Snell certification of helmets.

 

[8LEGS]

HJC Sy-Max 2 for me.

 

[tatt2r]

brp full face ...

love it but i might get flip up this spring ... half helmet feels like its pulling my head off on highway ..

 

[Director]

I wonder what kind of evidence exists to suggest that quality differences don't matter as long as a helmet is DOT approved. The video on Leno's site of a professional racer's accident is very impressive; the Arai helmet took a beating and wasn't even cracked. I know of people in accidents whose helmets were busted apart which can't be good. No? I'm asking not telling. I hope people are not at risk over an extra $200.

Here you go:

http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/gearbox/motorcycle_helmet_review/index.html

If a helmet is "busted apart" following a serious impact, that means it has done its job. A helmet that is intact after a similar impact has NOT done its job, as the G forces that should be absorbed by the helmet have been transferred instead to the rider's head. The task of a helmet is to sacrifice itself to save the rider, simple as that. Less expensive, "softer" helmets actually have a better capacity to do exactly that. Stiffer, Snell approved helmets may actually provide diminished protective capabilities.
Of course, as Dr. Harry Hurt said, when asked what is the best helmet for use by a motorcyclist, "Tell me what kind of accident you are going to have." A softer, more shock absorbing helmet is generally better for the typical motorcycle collision, which usually involves one catastrophic blow, while a harder helmet may be better for automotive racing, where a series of blows to the head may result from the driver's head being bounced around inside a roll cage.
There are many, many variables involved of course, but the Motorcyclist study is very interesting, and would appear to put to rest the belief that more money always equals better protection.

Cheers,

Bruce

 

[NancysToy]

Here you go:

http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/gearbox/motorcycle_helmet_review/index.html

This was by far the best article I have ever read on helmets. It is still a ready reference on my bookshelf. I agree with the stand taken by Motorcyclist. A helmet needs to absorb the impact to work effectively. Unfortunately, both the DOT and Snell standards are aimed at penetration, not the forces transmitted to the head. The European standard seems much better, IMO. As long as we live here, though, we are going to have to survive with the helmets available, and that means DOT and Snell.

I will disagree on one small point, Bruce, you do not want the helmet shell to break apart. It needs to stay intact to protect you from sharp edges and objects, and to provide abrasion resistance until your movement stops. The inside of the helmet should collapse and show significant damage if it does its job. They used to, but that is more uncommon these days. Without a standard or test results for a helmet's force absorption qualities, I'm afraid we must take pot luck, and hope for the best. There is a lot of variation between brands and even between helmet models. The Snell standard does seem to result in the stiffest helmets on average, but after many years of racing, and some beneficial use of my helmets, I still prefer them. I have always worn a Snell helmet, and I have always survived.

One thing is certain, make sure it fits! Too loose allows your head to move quite a way, until it contacts the liner firmly, and stops suddenly. Unfortunately, you brain keeps moving. I had a friend that was killed in a race car that way. I was knocked unconscious from a helmet that I later found was too loose. It is like having loose seat belts, they aren't as effective because they can then cause injury by themselves. Having a helmet that fits snugly and properly, contacting your head evenly all around, helps the helmet to do its job.
-Scotty

 

[Director]

I will disagree on one small point, Bruce, you do not want the helmet shell to break apart. It needs to stay intact to protect you from sharp edges and objects, and to provide abrasion resistance until your movement stops. The inside of the helmet should collapse and show significant damage if it does its job.
-Scotty

Good point Scotty. You are correct. :2thumbs:

Bruce

 

[smokster]

i wear a shoei RF 1000 full face light and comfortable
but a little pricey.

DITTO...Love it though

 

[retread]

I have a Nolan N42, and an aged Arai full face that the lining is disintegrating, am planning on probably two more this year, the the Nolan N103 looks interesting, depends how it fits, and probably one with a deflector so the shield doesn't fog.

john

 

[BRPjunkie]

I'm not sure that the responses to this thread constitutes a big enough sample to draw a conclusion on Spyder riders, but there appears to be a strong "full face" contingent. Sport bike riders seem to tend towards full face and there are many tour riders who a full facers. Cruisers on the other hand tend to shy away from full face and 3/4 and 1/2 are probably in the majority.

 

[tnfleming]

Thanks to Director and Nancystoy for their input/knowledge. I'm confused at this point. I have a full face harley $200 helmet saw Leno video and bought $560 Arai full face. Maybe Arai better for racing? We need neurosurgeon database with info on real world crashes and MRI info.