Buying lids online

[CaptainSlow]

Does anyone do it? I know my size so no problems there. Just worried about how it will be looked after in the back of a courier's van.

[MrGman]

CaptainSlow said:

Does anyone do it? I know my size so no problems there. Just worried about how it will be looked after in the back of a courier's van.

What makes you think it has a better journey to the shop in the delivery van?

To be fair they're pretty well protected in the boxes they come in. If i was replacing a helmet like for like so i didn't have any size or fit worries i'd buy online.

[Tiggsy]

Bought 4 lids (for two of us) and thousands in gear, over the last 2 years since getting back into bikes.

Not been in a bike shop since 2004!

Even bought both bikes online after seeing them at the NEC show to check they were ok.

[Vanordinaire]

I must have a funny shaped head. I had to try on about 20 before I could find one that fitted well. Don't fancy doing that by mail .

[SAS Tom]

MrGman said:

CaptainSlow said:

Does anyone do it? I know my size so no problems there. Just worried about how it will be looked after in the back of a courier's van.

What makes you think it has a better journey to the shop in the delivery van?

To be fair they're pretty well protected in the boxes they come in. If i was replacing a helmet like for like so i didn't have any size or fit worries i'd buy online.

All helmets are delivered to the shops by courier so either way it’s been mistreated by a courier whichever way you get it. Realistically though they are packaged well enough to protect them and they are a lot stronger than people give them credit for.

[podman]

Tiggsy said:

Bought 4 lids (for two of us) and thousands in gear, over the last 2 years since getting back into bikes.

Not been in a bike shop since 2004!

Even bought both bikes online after seeing them at the NEC show to check they were ok.

...not a criticism at all but more an observation, with this mirroring the high street I guess.

Two shops I valued and used for parts and advice(and the occasional loan of a tool ) shut of recent, one in part due to a poor start to the year after that long Winter but predominantly both down to the loss of clothing/accessory sales to online retailers.

They did sell new bikes but apparently the margins on those are very small and with the rents rising, it was enough for the owners to call it a day.

I did compare the online price when buying a lid or what have you but always gave them the opportunity to either match it or get close to it, if it was close enough, I bought from them, the relationship I built with them worked well, they got a sale but they looked after me as a customer, once they whipped a part of a bike in the (Suzuki) showroom so I could get home on my Yamaha, they also took a part of a helmet for my daughter which she had lost in use. Try that with your online retailer..

Anyway, give a thought to a local-ish dealer and at least try them is my plea.

[bogie]

Yeah, bought the last 3 online, for bargain prices. I knew my size and shape in a particular model, was just getting a new version.

If you are considering a number of brands/models then Id go to a store that stocks them. Its surprising how the shape differs, even between models of the same brand.

[Krikkit]

When I bought mine I had to try loads before finding one that fit properly. That'd either be a very slow or expensive process to do via the web and returning the ones that don't fit.

[Tiggsy]

podman said:

Tiggsy said:

Bought 4 lids (for two of us) and thousands in gear, over the last 2 years since getting back into bikes.

Not been in a bike shop since 2004!

Even bought both bikes online after seeing them at the NEC show to check they were ok.

...not a criticism at all but more an observation, with this mirroring the high street I guess.

Two shops I valued and used for parts and advice(and the occasional loan of a tool ) shut of recent, one in part due to a poor start to the year after that long Winter but predominantly both down to the loss of clothing/accessory sales to online retailers.

They did sell new bikes but apparently the margins on those are very small and with the rents rising, it was enough for the owners to call it a day.

I did compare the online price when buying a lid or what have you but always gave them the opportunity to either match it or get close to it, if it was close enough, I bought from them, the relationship I built with them worked well, they got a sale but they looked after me as a customer, once they whipped a part of a bike in the (Suzuki) showroom so I could get home on my Yamaha, they also took a part of a helmet for my daughter which she had lost in use. Try that with your online retailer..

Anyway, give a thought to a local-ish dealer and at least try them is my plea.

Since getting back into bikes I've found even LESS reason to go to a "real" place. For example, I recently had to swap out the clutch on my other halfs bike - in the past that would be a workshop job for someone. But in 2018 - despite not having a clue where the clutch even was on the bike, and not much better idea what it does (aside from help change gear!) I used you tube for instructions and ebay for the bits and got the job done in an hour myself. Since then I've done all sorts to our bikes and had advice from people all over the world - while sat in my garage.

Its a pity about local stores, but (for me) they simply cant compare to the "service" i get online.

[chris4652009]

podman said:

...not a criticism at all but more an observation, with this mirroring the high street I guess.

Two shops I valued and used for parts and advice(and the occasional loan of a tool ) shut of recent, one in part due to a poor start to the year after that long Winter but predominantly both down to the loss of clothing/accessory sales to online retailers.

They did sell new bikes but apparently the margins on those are very small and with the rents rising, it was enough for the owners to call it a day.

I did compare the online price when buying a lid or what have you but always gave them the opportunity to either match it or get close to it, if it was close enough, I bought from them, the relationship I built with them worked well, they got a sale but they looked after me as a customer, once they whipped a part of a bike in the (Suzuki) showroom so I could get home on my Yamaha, they also took a part of a helmet for my daughter which she had lost in use. Try that with your online retailer..

Anyway, give a thought to a local-ish dealer and at least try them is my plea.

Well said Podman

[Dakkon]

If you are sure of your head size then I think it is fairly straight forward, I bought my last helmet online with no issues at all.

I would just check the small print about returns, should for whatever reason it does not fir or is damaged etc

[catso]

Dakkon said:

If you are sure of your head size then I think it is fairly straight forward, I bought my last helmet online with no issues at all.

You would think so - after having had 3 Arai RX7s in the same size that were a perfect fit, the last 2 being bought online for a better deal, I ordered the latest model RX7 in the same size as before and couldn't even get my head into it.

Luckily the seller had a no-quibble return policy and I then went to a shop to try on other brands, ending up with an Xlite Carbon which I prefer and saved a few hundred over the Arai in the process.

[garypotter]

Both, my last Arai tour x4 I bought from fleabay, (Used for week touring France) brand new with box stickers etc, tried one on in shop but no movement in price, found one a year ago with £180 saving, went to sellers house to try on and paid for it, my main lid RX7 was bought from shop as wanted the peace of mind to make sure it fitted as used alot more.

[ash reynolds]

Sportsbikeshop have a free returns service. When I bought gloves I had over £1000 worth delivered to find two pairs that were a perfect fit. If you ring them and tell them you'd like to order more than one at a time they will most likely allow it by arrangement.