Author Topic: Are Pricey Helmets Really Worth It? (Read 24285 times)

GooseMan · « **Reply #60 on:** May 19, 2007, 09:34:34 PM »

Like I said before, I was REALLY impressed with the ZOX...especially for the price! Very comfortable, the inner liner was really nice, and the visor/latch mechanism seemed to be top-notch!

I only got my ARAI because I found a good deal on a *slightly* used one, and I just find it UBER comfy...otherwise I woulda gone for an HJC or something.

drewpy_dawg · « **Reply #61 on:** May 25, 2007, 10:55:06 PM »

I bought a Scorpion. I wanted a DOT and SNELL approved lid and really didn't care too much about price. My local cyclegear didn't have much in my size, regardless of price, and what they did have just didn't fit right. The person I worked with really knew how to explain how it should fit and I knew what I had owned before really didn't fit right (HJC open face and a Venom modular). I went down the road to a local used bike shop/ducatti dealer on a whim and put the scorpion on and KNEW it was the right lid. It felt right. I didn't care if it was noisy because it fit.
It is a bit whistely at certain speeds but tucking under my windscreen takes care of that.

banditone1250s · « **Reply #62 on:** May 26, 2007, 02:58:27 PM »

I just purchased an HJC CL-SP and it has worked really well for me. I rode 600 miles on Thursday and it didn't give me any problems. I also use XM Radio and the helmet goes on easier with the ear bud/ear plugs in my ears. However, I haven't put new cans on my 1250s bandit yet so it is still pretty quiet.

orionburn · « **Reply #63 on:** May 28, 2007, 11:19:11 AM »

Quote

Brockton Cycle Center says:
The inner foam lining of the helmet compresses, and that is what provides the majority of the protection. The inner foam lining is also what causes a helmet to 'age'. The foam itself dries out over time, and a good rule of thumb is to replace your motorcycle helmet every 5 to 7 years. Storing a helmet in an area free of significant temperature changes, excess humidity, and petrochemical fumes will help extend the life of the helmet.

Another thing to remember is to keep it out of the sunlight as well. Any polycarbonate type plastics (and plastics for the most part) deteriorate quicker in UV light. The foam is usually what goes "bad" first, but the shell itself can age and lower the proctection over time. I'd bet a helmet properly taken care of can last longer than recommended 3 year rule, but I've always accepted that as a rule of thumb because you can't tell what's really going on at the molecular level. Even without dropping a lid you can't tell if one area of the helmet has become weaker than another.

We had to do a little report for one of my engineering classes last year and I did it on helmets. There's two compaines out there that are coming up with some interesting designs. One is a spin-off company that used to do a lot of work for Nike. They're using a double semi-hemisphere air pocket design, similar to the innards of a running shoe, as a helmet liner. Supposedly from their tests (which I take with a grain of salt) there is a huge reduction in the G-forces taken to the noggin in an impact.

I'm in the camp that more expensive=better comfort, but not better safety. I've had a HJC CL-14 that I've been wearing for the past 2 1/2 years. Noisy as hell at high speeds, but comfortable. No idea what I'm going to buy next until I hit the local stealers and try some on. Hard finding a good fit with my massive head.

I'm happy to hear that Snell is rethinking their position. I remember reading that article and their immature response to the mag. Petty bickering like that pisses me off. This is about keeping people safe out there on the road, so suck up your egos and change your policies if you need to.

PitterB4 · « **Reply #64 on:** June 07, 2007, 09:23:39 AM »

Quote from: "drewpy_dawg"

I bought a Scorpion. I wanted a DOT and SNELL approved lid and really didn't care too much about price. My local cyclegear didn't have much in my size, regardless of price, and what they did have just didn't fit right. The person I worked with really knew how to explain how it should fit and I knew what I had owned before really didn't fit right (HJC open face and a Venom modular). I went down the road to a local used bike shop/ducatti dealer on a whim and put the scorpion on and KNEW it was the right lid. It felt right. I didn't care if it was noisy because it fit.
It is a bit whistely at certain speeds but tucking under my windscreen takes care of that.

I've finally had a chance to use my new Scorp (EXO-700) for extended rides now that I have a street bike again. On the track it doesn't bother me but on the road, the thing is really noisy. By covering parts of it with my hand while moving, I figured out that it is the wind whistling around the back-bottom of the helmet. I have a very long, skinny neck (is that TMI???) which probably contributes to so much wind getting there. Otherwise, I love the helmet. Like DD said, It just feels right. It feels very well made for such a cheap lid. The M fits me perfectly, it vents pretty well, there is no lift at speed like my Icon had and the fog free shield (available in the stock clear sheild and non-mirrored smoke) absolutely works. Even though the new bike has and will stay stock exhaust, I'm going back to ear plugs at least for commuting.

chupacabra · « **Reply #65 on:** June 07, 2007, 05:15:04 PM »

I got a Windjammer II and it cuts out the wind from the bottom of the lid. Ez on ez off

http://www.proline-sports.com/

gyrogearcrunch · « **Reply #66 on:** June 09, 2007, 11:47:31 PM »

Quote from: "Doch80"

I have a KBC and an HJC... both relitively cheap compared to some helmets... The HJC I can't wear for more then 30 min b/c it painful on my ears. My parents have some of those "high-end" helmets... in my expierience, and it's only my expierience so others might be different, my parents $450 helmets are much more comfortable then mine... MUCH more comfortable. My dads is lighter, less noisy, forms to my head better, the strap is less irritating even though mine is fine... his just feels better... but I can't afford something like that so my $150 snell and Dot helmets are going to have to do.

Something I think is important is a removalbe liner... don't remove all that often but it's helpful. Drove to Dallas one night to see my girlfriend for the night and it started pouring down rain... I got soaked to the bone including my helmet. I took the liner out and through it in the drier with all my other wet cloths... made the ride home much more comfortable the next day.

Agreed! I have bought nothing but cheap helmets and one day, el cheapo helmet saved my dome on the Long Island Distressway through a triple end-o flip.

I believe what's bothering you is lack of proper helmet sizing. If your ears get pinched, it means your helmet is too small. I've seen this piece of bad advice printed endlessly in the bike mags over and over . . . some fool decided that your helmet should be so tight that it can't possible move on your head. Nonsense! Get one that's just SNUG, not squashing your bean!

Your take on removable helmet liners is dead on. My HJC-12 does not have this feature, and I regret it since I constantly have to suffer through "helmet B.O." (GAK!) My next helmet WILL have a removable liner! Unfortunately, I love my HJC helmet.

Herb

banditone1250s · « **Reply #67 on:** June 18, 2007, 03:09:41 PM »

No..........you do not get what you pay for in the helmet industry. I just read a helmet review from the department of transportation and you wouldn't believe what it said. The three most expensive helmets (no names called here cause I ain't pointing fingures) rated at the very bottom of the top ten rated helmets. The snell rating does not really mean any thing to us because it is a test that subjects the helmet to an "impact" test of a three foot fall onto a 5-6" steel ball. That's it!! That's the snell test. D.O.T. approved is quite enough and from they said the most expensive ones are definitely not the best....Banditone1250s...

orionburn · « **Reply #68 on:** June 19, 2007, 08:44:06 AM »

Quote

The snell rating does not really mean any thing to us because it is a test that subjects the helmet to an "impact" test of a three foot fall onto a 5-6" steel ball. That's it!!

Actually that's not quite "just" it. The problem with Snell is because the shell of the helmet has to withstand that impact you described 3 times. Most people argue about their test because it's not very realisitic. As the mag write-up questioning Snell said, it's not a real-world test. The chances of somebody hitting a hemisphere shaped steel object 3 times in the same exact place are next to never.

In order to meet the Snell standards the mfgs have to make the helmets tougher, but this is leading to higher g-force impacts to the noggin in a crash. It may not make sense at first, but you do want a flexible shell. Reason being is that when the helmet flexes it's actually pushing the EPS liner to your head quicker. And believe it or not, the EPS (yes the same stuff they use to make foam coffee cups!) is what saves your life in a crash - not the shell. The shell's main purpose is to simply keep pointy things from punchuring the lid.