New Helmets

[saboteur]

I hope this isn't a stupid question.

Some of ya'll probably remember I've been advised recently to ditch my 25 yr old girlfriend, er, half helmet, and get something more modern. I'd been thinking of getting a full face anyway, as I'm not as fearless as I once was, and would hate to wake up finding myself less good looking, er, more terrible looking, than I already do. Plus, I kind of like remembering things, like how to brush my teeth and put on shoes.

I'm finding there's a huge disparity in helmets and prices, like anything else. Some lightweight kevlar carbon fibre jobbies at $600, and all the way down to $100 poly carbonate or fiberglass.... and clearly some are designed for better ventilation than others. My question, is there a quantitative way to value these helmets as just what kind of protection they offer? Does anyone smash them like a crash test dummy, ricochet them off asphalt, bounce down the road, into trees, windshields etc? What are some of the faves here, and of course, why?

Thanks for all the terrific responses in advance.

 

[Red Vapor]

www.webbikeworld.com is a great source for reviews on lots of motorcycle products including helmets. You can buy a 600 dollar helmet and a 150 dollar helmet and they both will protect you equally as good it all comes down to fit and finish.

 

[saboteur]

Thanks, Red. Been doing some reading, and surprise, surprise, there is fascinating reading to be done.
Helmet Performance: Blowing the Lid Off - Motorcyclist magazine
is a good primer on impact, snell vs dot, etc.

You're right, of course, about price vs protection:

"The DOT helmets we had were all plastic-shelled, and none cost more than $100. How did they do? They kicked butt. In what must be considered a head-impact Cinderella story, the DOT-only helmets from Z1R delivered less average G force to the headform through all the impacts than any others in the test."

 

[Dedmanwalkn]

I just bought a Nolan N90 not to long ago. Its modular so you can flip the face up if you're feeling claustrophobic
Nolan N90 Review - webBikeworld

 

[TriumPhil]

This is the best full face helmet on the market, IMO (and I'm a dedicated Arai user) and available for a pittance here: 22 in stock at discount prices, including the Bell Star Ace of Clubs Helmet, Star Ace of Hearts Helmet, Star Contra Helmet, Star Gloss Black Helmet - 2009, Star Gloss Silver Helmet - 2009, Star Gobert Replica Helmet, Star Matte Black Helmet - 2009, S

The Bell Star helmet line is Snell and DOT approved, lightweight and feature laden (great ventilation). It may be the quietest full faced lid on the market and, IMO it is a better lid than my Arai. $200 is an outright steal for a helmet of its caliber. As with any helmet, make sure you try one on for size before you buy it. The Bell Star's do run about a full size larger than marked, so in most cases, if you wear a large, a medium will do, etc..

 

[tdragger]

There once was a saying that if you had a $10 head then buy a $10 helmet.

I'm a bit old school in that I like a fiberglass helmet since it will not only handle the first impact but it will also handle the following slide by delaminating. A plastic helmet will handle the first impact just as well but will melt quickly during the slide out.

That being said, my current helmet is the modular Scorpion EXO 900. Affordable yet modular with all the bells and whistles. It's plastic so I had to compromise to get all the features that I wanted at the price point I was willing to go.

Scorpion EXO-900 Transformer Helmet - Street Bike - Motorcycle Superstore

 

[TriumPhil]

Although modulars are great for the comfort options offered, they are not as reliable, protection-wise, as a std. full face helmet in a bad get off/impact. Due to their mechanical design, they lack the structural integrity of the std design, however they certainly afford more protection than a half or three-quarter design.

I have seen several modular helmets firsthand that did not save their users in bad accidents. I'm not saying that they are a bad choice, but that potential users should be aware of the greater risks associated with them. Conversely, I have had the sad experience of being in two accidents where both of my bikes were totaled. In the first one, I certainly would have died instantly if it were not for wearing a full faced lid (an Arai). In the second instance, were it not for my Bell Star, I would have incurred a severe head trauma injury. In both cases I sufffered no head injuries whatsoever, no headaches, bruises or even any soreness!

 

[saboteur]

TriumphPhil, how did you like the Bell? Did you find the fit size what you're accustomed to? I've been a 7 3/8 forever, reliably, so wonder how Bell Star stacks up fitting as you'd expect. How bout sound wise?
(found a terrific deal online, but hate they're made in China)

 

[RocketDaryl]

I have an Icon Airframe that I like really well. I'm not familiar with the Bell, but I'd also say you'd be hard pressed to find a better helmet than the Airframe for $200 (what I paid for mine).

 

[Up-beat]

Although modulars are great for the comfort options offered, they are not as reliable, protection-wise, as a std. full face helmet in a bad get off/impact. Due to their mechanical design, they lack the structural integrity of the std design, however they certainly afford more protection than a half or three-quarter design.

I have seen several modular helmets firsthand that did not save their users in bad accidents. I'm not saying that they are a bad choice, but that potential users should be aware of the greater risks associated with them. Conversely, I have had the sad experience of being in two accidents where both of my bikes were totaled. In the first one, I certainly would have died instantly if it were not for wearing a full faced lid (an Arai). In the second instance, were it not for my Bell Star, I would have incurred a severe head trauma injury. In both cases I sufffered no head injuries whatsoever, no headaches, bruises or even any soreness!

Personally I like the modular. Great for the gas station and the like when you don't want to take off you gear just to speak with someone quickly. I have the shoei modular. It doesn't have the break-down problems I agree happen with other models of modular. It is light, but I find it a bit noisy so I'm wearing plugs all the time. Shoei ventilates well, but is kind of pricey - again like above... Figure you head is worth it.



If you do get full face I recommend you get a pin-lock anti fog shield. Works wonders for when you get caught in the rain. No fog even when cold and wet.