Helmet Advice.

[Djkirk3000]

Hello,

Before you tell me i need to go to the doctors for any problems with my helmet, i'm talking motorcycle helmets here :P

I had a 125 about 8 years ago and sold it intending to do my DAS and get a bigger bike, never did.

Now ive done my theory did my CBT at weekend and have my DAS booked, but while doing my CBT everyone else turning up for DAS courses and cbt had their own gear and helmets, while i suffered with the sweaty seconds helmets that were left on offer by the course providers.

So for my DAS course i want to get myself a decent helmet, i dont want to break the bank and also dont want to skimp on stuff (i did that last time i had the 125 and it was all cheap rubbish) for example i have bought my own gloves and gone for some Alpinestars GP plus not the most expensive but not the cheapest etc.

So im looking for any ideas, i understand everyone's head is different and i have to try them on to see what suits best but im trying to get a list of ones that are in my price range that i can aim for when i get in the shop to try on so far i have:

AGV K5 (is the K5 any better than the K3?)
Arai Axces
Shoei Raid
Shoei Qwest

Are there any others around £200-£250 mark that are good to look out for, i have seen a few HJC ones around that price but last time i rode these were on par with Caberg so im inclined to avoid.

Any advice or experiences would be much appreciated

Thanks

[bgunn]

It's hard to prescribe what's best when the most important criterion is that it fits your head, tightly and comfortably. Any helmet that meets regulations will be fine, the most expensive one fitting badly will offer much less protection than a 'cheap' one fitting really well.

Find a good superstore type place that's prepared to let you try them on, walk around the shop for 30 mins with them on (or take them away, wear indoors, and bring back if not happy - Helmet City in Tatsfield I find let me do that) and then buy from an online place once you know what you want in terms of size and manufacturer.

[gregs656]

You just need to go somewhere with a good range and try a few on.

[Djkirk3000]

Thanks i know the fit is the most important thing, and i do intend to go somewhere to try as many as possible on.

But is there a reason why the Arai's only start at 250 and sit around the £400 mark is it some kind of voodoo wizardry that they have that makes them so much better than AGV's and HJC ? or are you just paying for a name?

[Jazoli]

You must try them on first, as the fit is very different between brands, I was helmet shopping last weekend and the ones I really liked the look of didn't fit me at all, once you have found one that fits you can always buy it online but for the sake of £20 I'd rather buy from a shop, I was eyeing up the HJC Carbon RPHA 10 on ebay at £225 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/152179457387?_trksid=p20... but after trying one on in the shop (at £399!) it doesn't fit me whilst my other HJC's fit me perfectly.

I used to always buy Arai but I don't like how you change the visor on them and they are very expensive, having had a couple of HJC's for a year now I think they are very well made and good quality, plus I love the drop down internal visor, any new helmet I bought would have to have one, it saves pissing around with pinlock inserts or changing visors all the time.

Edited by Jazoli on Monday 22 August 12:59

[black-k1]

bgunn said:

It's hard to prescribe what's best when the most important criterion is that it fits your head, tightly and comfortably. Any helmet that meets regulations will be fine, the most expensive one fitting badly will offer much less protection than a 'cheap' one fitting really well.

Find a good superstore type place that's prepared to let you try them on, walk around the shop for 30 mins with them on (or take them away, wear indoors, and bring back if not happy - Helmet City in Tatsfield I find let me do that) and then buy from an online place once you know what you want in terms of size and manufacturer.

As said, fit is the most important so the only way to know what will work for you is to try them on.

Note that there is no direct correlation between price and levels of safety. Just because a helmet is more expensive does not make it safer. Check out here for the results of the only independent testing of helmet safety. http://sharp.direct.gov.uk/

The other thing to consider is noise. At 60mph the noise levels in every helmet on the market is greater than Health & Safety would allow in a working environment without ear protection. Your hearing WILL be damaged by this noise although it'll be a slow process, but once your hearing is damaged, you won't get that hearing back! Noisier helmets will damage your hearing quicker!

[Biker 1]

Fit, fit, & fit again.....
I've previously bought online & wish I hadn't. I tried on a Bell that looked ace & had the self-dimming visor, but just couldn't get the right fit. AGV was also a non-starter. I have a Shark & an HJC, both of which very comfortable.
Whatever you get, use earplugs!!!!! Even my HJC is like being next to a jet at takeoff...

[308mate]

black-k1 said:

bgunn said:

It's hard to prescribe what's best when the most important criterion is that it fits your head, tightly and comfortably. Any helmet that meets regulations will be fine, the most expensive one fitting badly will offer much less protection than a 'cheap' one fitting really well.

Find a good superstore type place that's prepared to let you try them on, walk around the shop for 30 mins with them on (or take them away, wear indoors, and bring back if not happy - Helmet City in Tatsfield I find let me do that) and then buy from an online place once you know what you want in terms of size and manufacturer.

As said, fit is the most important so the only way to know what will work for you is to try them on.

Note that there is no direct correlation between price and levels of safety. Just because a helmet is more expensive does not make it safer. Check out here for the results of the only independent testing of helmet safety. http://sharp.direct.gov.uk/

The other thing to consider is noise. At 60mph the noise levels in every helmet on the market is greater than Health & Safety would allow in a working environment without ear protection. Your hearing WILL be damaged by this noise although it'll be a slow process, but once your hearing is damaged, you won't get that hearing back! Noisier helmets will damage your hearing quicker!

I agree noise will definitely be a bigger factor in my next helmet purchase. My current Shoei XR1100 is noisy as hell and that's even sat behind a touring screen.

[Djkirk3000]

Thanks Guys, its good to hear that some that have had the Arai and not got along with it and found others as good if not better, from my limited knowledge it seems like these are helmet nirvana and once you have one nothing else will do, but good to hear its not.

i cant seem to find anywhere online that does helmet comparisons for price ranges, things like noise levels, how easily they steam up, ease of changing visor etc, surely there is an audience for something like that?

Im fully aware of the noise and will be searching for some very good ear plugs, im already half deaf in one ear from being very young and i don't fancy losing any more hearing.

[Dakkon]

You must try a few on, Shark helmets have a pressure point on the top of my head and after about 20 mins really starts to hurt, Shoei helmets, the medium is too small, the large too big, so I have an Arai as it fits the best.

[Biker 1]

Dakkon said:

You must try a few on, Shark helmets have a pressure point on the top of my head and after about 20 mins really starts to hurt.

Sums it up really: I found exactly the opposite with Shark! Mine is super comfortable, but noisy as hell

[airsafari87]

I'm currently riding in an AGV K5 helmet, and have done approx 3000 miles in it so far.

As plenty of others have said previously. FIT FIT FIT .... But a few things I do find with the K5 is that it does seem to be a fairly noisy helmet. Mine has a particularly annoying whistle coming from somewhere, and I just can't seem to track where it's coming from? I've tried adjusting everything I can adjust, but it is still there. Maybe it's an intrinsic design fault?

Also, the visor has a tendency to lift a little as I look over my shoulder. Not a major problem by any means, but it is a little annoying.

Things I do like about it are _
The the internal drop down visor, I ride mostly with a dark visor, but it's to have that there for those times when I do have to ride with a clear visor and get caught in a low sun situation.
The visor is also nice and easy to change, very easy infact.
The fit for me is just about right, and I can wear it comfortably all day without any issue.
It's also fairly cool, despite being black.

[bogie]

As above - go somewhere with a large range and try them on. Even within the same brand they will have different fit helmets to accommodate different people, just being the same brand does not guarantee fit. Or just because one model from a brand does not fit, does not mean they are all the same.

plenty of reviews on www.webbikeworld.com

[OverSteery]

when you have found the one you think you like, then wear it in the shop for 15 mins. you may feel a bit of a ****, but this stopped me from buying one helmet as over time I noticed the pressure on my forehead.

[rat840771]

After years of Arai, HJC, i am now a shoei convert.

The Shoei NXR is a perfect fit on me, pinlocks are brilliant, solid feel to it ( especially the visor) even have different size padding for the inside of the helmet, so if it is a bit loose/tight you can buy different sized padding.

I believe the Shaky Byrne version ( what i have ) is discounted at the moment.

[tom_e]

Any helmet that does not have pinlock visors available is instantly off my list no matter how great it's other features are.

[Djkirk3000]

That http://www.webbikeworld.com/ has loads of information on, ill be having a good read on there.

Yes i have been told to wear a helmet in the shop for about 20 mins to ensure it is comfortable.

Another new biker question, What exactly is pinlock? from looking it essentially looks like a second lens/visor that locks into place on the inside of the main visor to stop it misting up is that correct?

[feef]

I find HJC and Shark are good value for money and quite a bit cheaper than their Arai and Shoei counterparts, but as everyone always says, it's the fit that matters

[tom_e]

Djkirk3000 said:

Another new biker question, What exactly is pinlock? from looking it essentially looks like a second lens/visor that locks into place on the inside of the main visor to stop it misting up is that correct?

Yep that's exactly what it is and it's the best thing you'll ever fit if you ride in anything other than just glorious warm dry conditions.

[Djkirk3000]

tom_e said:

Yep that's exactly what it is and it's the best thing you'll ever fit if you ride in anything other than just glorious warm dry conditions.

From previous experience with my old helmet i think that will be high up on the list, always had to ride with it slightly open to clear the steam and mist.