Shopping for a Helmet

[IXILowriderIXI]

Im looking to buy a helmet and was wondering what is the best brand out there? safest? most comfrotable? coolest looking lol? Also where can I get the best deal on a new helmet. Thanks

[Scud]

Arai is arguably the best brand out there and also one of the most expensive. They have an absolutely fanatical following. Shoei is also really good but their helmets fit people with more 'round' heads.. so if you have an oval shaped head, you may not be able to wear Shoei. There are other top end brands available but Arai and Shoei are the most well known in the States.

You can't buy Arai helmets online so you should just go to a local motorcycle dealer or gear shop and try them on. ( Just FYI - 'CycleGear' carries Arai and they beat MSRP by 10 or 15%.. I bought my Arai Signet from them. ) The more money you spend, the lighter the helmet will be and the more ventilation you'll have. All helmets that are DOT and Snell approved are 'supposed' to be just as safe as any other lid, but some people (myself included) question the quality control of the cheaper brands..

Anyway, go try on helmets and see which fits the best. Guys at the shops understand how important it is to get a helmet that fits perfect so they won't get aggravated if you're in there trying on helmet after helmet. Good luck

[Chinga tu Madre]

I own the KBC "Wolf" helmet. KBC is one of those "cheap" brands ya know. Its comfy and its ventilated enough for me. I am yet to crash test it however. I think it looks cool too. I spent a little over $100 for it and put a $40 mirror shield on it. So i've got a pretty cool helmet for only about $140. I'm sure I'll never spend $300+ on a helmet, but then again I can wear t-shirts bought at walmart. It all boils down to how much you want to spend.

[UberGoober]

Remember, real motorcyclists can be easilly identified by their gear. Experienced riders usually buy the best gear they can afford, but price isn't always indictive of quality. Do your research before you buy.

You need to check out the Snell Memorial Foundation www.smf.org for the best info on helmet saftey testing and impact ratings. Study what kind of testing and certifications a good helmet should have before even looking at a specific brand. Other than the $49 "free" helmet I got with the first bike I ever bought every helmet I've ever owned has been snell certified. Most good brands are.

[2_wheeled_slave]

"real motorcyclists can be easilly identified by their gear"

BWAAAHAHAHAHAHAHA!! What the hell is that supposed to mean. I suppose I'm not a "real motorcyclist" because I wear a Scorpion helmet even though I could afford better. I say get a helmet that fits well and is DOT/Snell certified (very important). As far as following what was said above, that makes you a poser by buying the most expensive simply because it's the most expensive.

Note: I don't knock Arai or any other brands, but do support finding good products for less if possible.

[UberGoober]

Originally Posted by 2_wheeled_slave

"real motorcyclists can be easilly identified by their gear"

BWAAAHAHAHAHAHAHA!! What the hell is that supposed to mean. I suppose I'm not a "real motorcyclist" because I wear a Scorpion helmet even though I could afford better. I say get a helmet that fits well and is DOT/Snell certified (very important). As far as following what was said above, that makes you a poser by buying the most expensive simply because it's the most expensive.

Note: I don't knock Arai or any other brands, but do support finding good products for less if possible.

I mean what I said, "Hacks buy shitty gear." You'll notice the very next sentence I wrote talks about cost versus quality.

Maybe your scorpion helmet is a little tight?

[2_wheeled_slave]

If snell certified=shitty gear, then I am most definitely a "hack"

You're officially an idiot now.

[UberGoober]

WTF? You can't read?

[2_wheeled_slave]

BTW- shouldn't you be riding a Harley. I mean they must be the best since they cost the most, right?

[2_wheeled_slave]

I notice that you edited many of your posts, nice cover-up!

Let me guess, you're a Bush supporter....

[UberGoober]

You might also notice the edit times are prior to your response times.

[UberGoober]

Besides, I often edit things for spelling etc. If you used the little "quote" feature in your posts you might have been able to see the diferences between what you responded to and what I changed.

strike that last remark.

[Chinga tu Madre]

lets just ignore the "real motorcyclists can be easilly identified by their gear" That statement is obviously bullshit. But yeah a smart rider will wear gear. Snell and DOT approved helmets will most likely save your skull in an accident. Even if the helmet didn't cost you an arm and a leg (arai, shoei, etc.)

[nig]

What tmkreutzer said isn't stupid, he specified that it wasn't price related.

What is your budget? That will narrow down the answers. The more expensive helmets are better in terms of comfort, aerodynamics, venting (nobody is arguing about this I don't think). In terms of safety I don't think anybody here can prove it either way. Fit is the most important thing.

[Aenygma]

Just make sure it's Snell and DOT rated. After that, you decide how much you wish or can spend and then you can start to narrow down the choices. After that, it's all about fit. It has to fit properly to protect properly.