Lightest DOT/SNELL approved helmets - compared to my Arai

[mperetz]

I have an Arai Signet GT helmet (2004 model) and I'd love to get a lighter, better ventilated helmet if there is one that is just as safe and comfortable?

Anybody have any experiences with so many helmets that they know which is great compared to the one I have. I've been looking at the Shark and Roof and so forth.

[Red01]

Just looking at the venting ratings over at Helmet Harbor. The rank the Shoei X-11 as the best venting lid and give props to the Suomy Extreme and in the under $250 category, the Scorpion takes top honors (and 5th overall- not bad for a $150 helmet). They rank the Shark RSR at #4, but say it's a noisey helmet. They don't carry Roof though.

Personally, I think there are a lot of really nice helmets these days in the <$250 range these days and can't justify the prices of Arai, Shoei, etc...

[mperetz]

I'd like to get something lighter and cooler than my Arai Signet GT - but it's only a year old... I didn't know how hot it gets!

[ray nielsen]

With pain in the center of my upper back the result of heavy helmets I was looking for a lighter version.

I've been using an M2R M-1000 for a couple of years now.  At 2 lb., 13 Oz. it's the lightest helmet I could find that passes DOT and Snell.  While not a very expensive helmet at just over $150, it has a removable liner for clean up and the faceshields are available in clear or smoke and seem quite scratch resistant.  The M-1000 has been replaced by the M-1500, but I don't know if it is as light.  Maybe check their web site -- I found it with a search for "M2R helmets" a while back, but don't remember it.

The M2R line is Taiwanese I think, but maybe Chinese, I'm not sure.  While it's not very quiet the ventilation is fair with two top entry vents and two rear exit vents along with a chin bar vent that seems to minimize fogging.

Their M-600 line has NO shield covers which should make it quieter than the M-1500 and Dennis Kirk still offers them in their outlet catalog along with a rew sizes of M-1000s.  Check them out at <www.denniskirk.com> then click on outlet store and then helmets.  You can go directly to M2R by selecting "choose by brand" in the correct box.  I understand the single color M-600s are lighter than the multi-colored helmets, and both DOT and Snell alpproved too.

Good hunting.

[Russtang]

Here's a good link comparing helmet weights:

http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycle-helmets/motorcycle-helmet-weights.htm

Here's a good link to a helmet faq:

http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycle-helmets/motorcycle-helmet-weights.htm

My Arai Rx7 RR4 is cooler and a bit lighter than my Quantum 2 and my Signet GT.  The Rx7 and Quantum both fit my head way better than the Signet though (I've got a round head apparently), so you should probably rule them out (unless you didn't know you had a round head like me).  

I hear good things about the shark RSR.  Looks like plenty of ventilation (with that freakin turbine on the top of your head!).  Pricey tho...

http://www.webbikeworld.com/r2/motorcycle-helmet/shark-helmet/

Russ

[mperetz]

Just curious - I hate re-inventing the wheel if tons of people have done the legwork. Who has the best prices on helmets?

I'm usually an eBay guy - I've sold and bought almost 1000 items including cars... but I"m not sure if helmets are a good thing to buy on eBay.

[Russtang]

Bought all 3 of mine on ebay.  You can get a screaming deal on used ones.

$105 for Rx7rr4
$80 for Quantum II
$30 for Signet GT

Of course, all 3 were used/scratched.  Some more than others (and the signet smelled like an ashtray...1/4 bottle of febreeze later, smelled fine )

[mperetz]

that I should never, ever, ever buy a used helmet, let alone on eBay. You never know if it's been dropped. And a dropped helmet is allegedly as good as useless depending on the drop.

[Russtang]

Oh no, here we go deviating from the subject…

It’s usually very obvious if the helmet has suffered structural damage.  The paint will chip/blister/bubble if it has suffered an impact severe enough to damage the fiberglass.  If the foam is EPS, it will also show some serious compression damage from an impact of that magnitude.

My opinion on the subject is that if they don’t exhibit any of the above, just cosmetic scratches, I have bigger things to worry about while riding.  

Besides, I feel much safer in my lightweight, comfortable, ventilated, quiet (scratched-up, $100 used) $700 retail Arai than I would in a heavier, uncomfortable, hot, noisy, no-name…but pretty, $100 new China brand that I might decide not to wear.  Phew.    But that’s just my opinion.

Russ

[mperetz]

but I wasn't looking at an absolute dollar value - more of a relative cost savings versus buying locally - which come to think of it since I have a local shop myself I should slap myself for!

And on another note - what was I thinking anyway - I don't think I should even bother buying without knowing exact size and determining proper fit for my head shape (which appears to be empty so what exactly am I saving)?

I guess I'll just go to my excellent shop near my house where I have the bike worked on anyway. I'll spend a bit more but I really do believe in shopping locally now that I realize what can happen to all of our main streets if we don't.

(just my $.02 since I have a gourmet cheese shop)

Thanks for the advice anyway though.

[Russtang]

Sorry, you lost me at "cheese".

Mmmmmm, CHEESE.

Hehe.