Hi I'm getting a motorcycle and i had a few questions for you guys. First how do they size the helmets or is it something i have to try on? Second what are the better brands and what can i expect to pay for a good helmet? I'm getting a reg street bike not a crotch rocket.
Motorcycle Helmet
- Thread starter Hreafn
- Start date
When it comes to helmets, trying on is vital. One company's large may fit different from another. Some helmets are designed for round heads, while others are designed for long ovals. The key is finding out which head you have, and then getting a helmet that corresponds to that shape, and really, the only way to find that out is to try on the different brands and seeing which brands work for your head shape and which ones don't.
There are a lot of good brands out. You can't go wrong with Arai or Shoei. They are the cream of the crop. You will pay more for them, but the quality and safety are excellent. Remember, you're putting your head into this thing and literally trusting it with your life, so a little extra cash on it might be worth it.
Lower down the price scale, but still excellent in quality is Scorpion, Shark, and Suomy (a lot of S companies it seems). HJC's quality has drastically improved, but every now and then one of their models will feel a bit on the cheap side.
Hope that helps.
There are a lot of good brands out. You can't go wrong with Arai or Shoei. They are the cream of the crop. You will pay more for them, but the quality and safety are excellent. Remember, you're putting your head into this thing and literally trusting it with your life, so a little extra cash on it might be worth it.
Lower down the price scale, but still excellent in quality is Scorpion, Shark, and Suomy (a lot of S companies it seems). HJC's quality has drastically improved, but every now and then one of their models will feel a bit on the cheap side.
Hope that helps.
+1 Good advice. I've been working in motorcycle gear sales for a long time and Scorpion is by far the helmet I sell the most. I own two of them! What ever you ride, crotch rocket or not, I recommend a full-face helmet. Check out Scorpion's EXO-700 model. Very affordable and a lot of helmet for the price.
Shark does make some lower priced helmets, but Shark also makes some really high end helmets as well. The best helmet I own is a Shark RSR2. It is lighter than any Arai I've ever owned and amazingly comfortable. Suomy also makes some really high end models, like their Spec-1R extremes. Every company is gonna have their bottom of the lines and top of the lines.
Remember that for any helmet you put on, you want a tight and secure fit. It shouldn't necessarily be super comfortable when it's brand new. Helmets break in big time and will quickly feel like the next size up. Your cheeks should be firmly pressed together and you should feel secure contact throughout the crown of your head. A test I do sometimes, and doesn't work for everyone as everyone's head is shaped differently, is to grab the chin of the helmet, and pull it downward. If the crown of the helmet is able to move down below your eye brows, it's probably too loose. Ideally, it shouldn't be able to move at all. Go as tight as you can stand it without it giving you a headache.
Shark does make some lower priced helmets, but Shark also makes some really high end helmets as well. The best helmet I own is a Shark RSR2. It is lighter than any Arai I've ever owned and amazingly comfortable. Suomy also makes some really high end models, like their Spec-1R extremes. Every company is gonna have their bottom of the lines and top of the lines.
Remember that for any helmet you put on, you want a tight and secure fit. It shouldn't necessarily be super comfortable when it's brand new. Helmets break in big time and will quickly feel like the next size up. Your cheeks should be firmly pressed together and you should feel secure contact throughout the crown of your head. A test I do sometimes, and doesn't work for everyone as everyone's head is shaped differently, is to grab the chin of the helmet, and pull it downward. If the crown of the helmet is able to move down below your eye brows, it's probably too loose. Ideally, it shouldn't be able to move at all. Go as tight as you can stand it without it giving you a headache.
As long as a helmet has the DOT sticker, it's not all bad. Snell certified is better, but generally way more expensive. A quality store will have plenty of helmets to try on AND take for a test ride. You want to make sure you'll like the fit, feel, and sound level of a helmet where you will be using it, on the road!
Very good advise!
Thanks there MrGuy!
And I wanted to add, a helmet isn't going to do it's job if it doesn't fit properly. One of my friends use to wear his helmet sort of loose. He had a minor accident and he somehow got two black-eyes under his helmet. I wear my helmets pretty tight, and I've had my share of track crashes. So be sure to purchase a quality helmet and always ride safe. Motorcycles are great but never underestimate the dangers of riding.
Also, MrGuy mentioned before about DOT and Snell. I've actually heard before that DOT is better for lower speed impacts whereas Snell+DOT is better for high speed crashes and strong impacts. But I've also heard that Snell+DOT is just better overall. I don't really know, but I always buy Snell or ECE (European Standard) on my helmets. I've had helmets before in my store that are "DOT" but they are barely "DOT" haha. They are actually DOT some years and not other years because they are getting recalled all the time. They are for the customers who are not willing to buy a real helmet. A really sad thing, IMHO, is guys who buy great helmets for themselves, and they buy the cheapest crap possible for their girlfriend or passengers.
Also, sizing a helmet to fit more than one person is very difficult because everyone's head is unique. Reminds me of a story once while working, when I was helping a guy size a helmet for his girlfriend. It was a pretty good helmet, Shoei RF1000. In the middle of it while she was looking away, he leaned in close to me and whispered, "size it so it fits other girls too...". Haha.
Good advice already. I'll echo the point that you just have to try them all on, as each manufacturer fits a differently-shaped head. And definitely wear a full-face helmet!
Is this your first motorcycle? If so, also be sure to take the MSF class.
And don't forget the rest of your gear, of which the helmet is only one part. You'll also need a riding jacket, riding pants, gloves, and boots.
Is this your first motorcycle? If so, also be sure to take the MSF class.
And don't forget the rest of your gear, of which the helmet is only one part. You'll also need a riding jacket, riding pants, gloves, and boots.
gf: "why is there a blonde hair in my helmet?!
Bf:
haha!
This is NOT the place to skimp. And really that goes for all motorcycle gear. I love my old Hein Gericke leather jacket... it just doesn't fit me anymore, now it's my son's. So it was replaced by a nice Joe Rocket which I can wear even on the hottest of days in Texas (if wearing a jacket is too hot for you, you need to drive the air conditioned cage.) Good gloves and then last a good pair of riding pants.
Fit is very important on that helmet. I have a very long oval so I have to try on all head gear I purchase.
One of the benefits of being in the Army (Navy and Air Force do the same) is that the MSF Beginner Rider Course is mandatory and free of charge. The Experienced Rider Course is mandatory six months later and free of charge. (A lot of Army posts used to make you retake the ERC every three years.) The course can be a little over the top depending on who's running it but I'll guarantee, you'll learn something no matter how long you've been riding.
Fit is very important on that helmet. I have a very long oval so I have to try on all head gear I purchase.
One of the benefits of being in the Army (Navy and Air Force do the same) is that the MSF Beginner Rider Course is mandatory and free of charge. The Experienced Rider Course is mandatory six months later and free of charge. (A lot of Army posts used to make you retake the ERC every three years.) The course can be a little over the top depending on who's running it but I'll guarantee, you'll learn something no matter how long you've been riding.
Bell makes some good ones. Illinois is one of the few states where their use is optional - I appreciate this choice even though I always wear one when I'm on a bike.
Agreed on choice! SD doesn't have mandatory helmet laws (riders over 18 yrs. that is) either, but we pay more in motorcycle registration fees to somehow "offset" money the state has to pay to hospitals who care for head injuries. (Don't ask, I have no clue how that works either
) I always use a helmet, but I don't think anyone else should be forced to.
All the advice is good. You definitely need to try on the helmet. I ended up with a full face Shoei because it was the only one that fit the shape of my head well.
My other helmet is from the Harley dealer. It is a half helmet and the one I wear most of the time. I know i should wear a full face helmet but the windshield on my bike blocks a lot of air flow and it can get pretty warm.
I'm an old geezer (61) and although I have been riding since I was 18 I really like the windshield now.
Above all be safe and watch out for idiots.
My other helmet is from the Harley dealer. It is a half helmet and the one I wear most of the time. I know i should wear a full face helmet but the windshield on my bike blocks a lot of air flow and it can get pretty warm.
I'm an old geezer (61) and although I have been riding since I was 18 I really like the windshield now.
Above all be safe and watch out for idiots.
Save yourself some money. Move to NH. No taxes, No seatbelt law, No helmet law. Live free or die.
Doc.
Doc.
I have no idea what the latest and greatest is at this point, but I used to hear that if you're not using an Arai, you're kidding yourself.
Oh, and the suggestion that you ride without a helmet is probably the dumbest advice ever offered on this site or any other site.
Oh, and the suggestion that you ride without a helmet is probably the dumbest advice ever offered on this site or any other site.
As much as I love Arais, I don't agree with that statement. Most companies produce at least one excellent model helmet. And for some people, Arai just does not fit properly. You can buy a 600 dollar helmet, but if it fits you like crap, you're kidding yourself.
True- I've used some terrific helmets from Shoei, Bell, and Simpson, but the Arai was by far the best.
Arai does make great helmets! The only other helmet I've owned that I felt matched the Arai's quality and comfort (for my head shape at least) is a Shark RSR2. It's unbelievably light and offers a tremendous amount of ventilation. I have a friend that says Arais give him a headache and pretty much only wears Shoei X-11s. There is something about Arai though...when I have one on my head, I just know it's an Arai. Hard to pick between Rooneys, Shavemacs, and other high end brushes ya know 
Agreed! Brand name means squat if A) it's not DOT or Snell safety rated and B) isn't well fitting.
Don't look at prices, try on several that are DOT/Snell certified and buy the one that offers the best fit and level of comfort.
Also great advice regarding the rest of the safety gear and the MSF course. I respect everyone's choice to refrain from wearing a helmet and gear, but I certainly can't recommend it.
One last thing that caught my eye was the comparison between sportbikes and cruisers. Don't kid yourself by thinking that one type of bike is safer than the other. In the wrong hands, a Schwinn can be deadly. You're buying a helmet to protect your head from impact. Speed and image don't factor into that equation.
Most importantly, though, enjoy the new bike! I recently got back on two wheels and couldn't be happier.
It wasn't a suggestion. It was humor. I guess you have to live here in the Live Free or Die state to understand it. I don't appreciate the inference that I would give dumb advice.
Doc.
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