Triumphrat

bruce19 · 08-01-2007

Have now had 3 days with my Suomy Spec 1R Extreme (Dragon). Very, very good. And the graphics are incomparable.

5bassman · 08-14-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by s3hooligan

I love my Arai.

Me too, Arai Phil Read!

Paul955I · 08-20-2007

I just picked up an Arai Vector Phil Read Replica as a second lid to back up my Arai Signet GT Cathcart Replica.

The Vector is a bit noisier than the Signet and tends to lift a bit more at higher speeds. But a comfortable helmet.

I am pleased with the comfort and quality of both. I had good service from Arai on the Signet when the neck roll ripped...new helmet! They are expensive no doubt ($600 and $900 Canadian respectively), but I chalk that up to the price I had to pay for a difficult to fit head.

I don't think there is necessarily any one brand of helmet better than another. There are simply too many variables...shape of head, amount of hair (for us older guys), skin sensitivity etc. I think you should pick the helmet based on quality of fit first and foremost. I'd make DOT vs Snell the second decision point. Price will need to enter into the equation somewhere. Graphics is the last decision...the paint doesn't absorb impacts any better than any other paint.

I'd love to wear Suomy for their weight, their quality...and yes their look...but they simply don't fit me well enough to be comfortable or safe. Icon has great design and good price...but fit remains the issue.

As Motorcyclist Magazine pointed out a few years ago, the old adage of a $10 lid for a $10 head no longer applies. Expensive helmets don't mean better protection. In fact their study confirmed that less expensive DOT (only) certified helmets provided superior protection to Snell or Snell/DOT certified helmets. So find one that fits, one you can afford...ride like hell and don't worry too much about what brand is on your head.

Paul

rustbucket · 08-20-2007

Paul - I agree with everything you posted, but I'd like to qualify a couple of items. IMHO, the Motorcyclist article established two things definitively: that the testing done by Snell does not translate to real world performance, and that price point does not necessarily translate to safety. They didn't make any definitive conclusions about all inexpensive helmets, and didn't do enough testing to establish a new, definitive standard. They did place serious doubt in my mind as to the efficacy of the old standards (DOT & Snell, for those of us in the US). 'Blowing the Lid Off' was the title of the article, and that's exactly what they did.

A counterpoint to that article (where a thermoplastic shell helmet topped the charts as opposed to the carbon-fiber/kevlar/fiberglass high end shells) would be the problems HJC had with their CL-SP at the race track last year. IIRC there were several serious injuries, and some tracks banned that helmet. Of course that's at a race-track, and the Motorcyclist article is aimed towards street use, but it demonstrates how complicated the question of helmet safety is.

Links to the articles: http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/ge...helmet_review/

MVP44 · 08-21-2007

+1 rustbucket - the article was indeed a good one, but with no definite conclusions about the safety issue of DOT vs DOT and Snell. The physics involved in determining how effectively a helmet dissipates energy involve such a wide variety of uncontrollable variables that this is one of those arguments that even with NASA type funding behind a study still would leave great margins for dispute.

I will put in my 2c on the argument. All things being equal the helmet that fits the rider the most perfect will protect them the best. Perfect fit means very little movement before the head begins the crushing/energy dissipating movement into the helmet. This is so important because of the inertia gained by the head as it travels inside the helmet before beginning the crushing sequence of the protective shell can significantly increase the impact Gs.

This said the more expensive helmet lines tend to have more stock molds for different size heads and often, not always, provide for a much better fit and also more head forming padding in the liners which again aid to the perfect fit.

Shoei is king in the mold department now offering I believe 6 different mold sizes for different size heads. Many helmet companies use only one mold for the outer shell and change the inner to accommodate different size heads. This creates that alien look we see a lot when a small persons appears to have an extremely large melon. Shoei drops down its inner and outer shell to match the proportions of the head shape. Not saying you can't find an HJC or the like that fits you perfectly at all, but you are more likely to have success with the more pricey lines. My personal favorite Suomy Spec1R - Extreme. Never had a helmet fit so perfectly in all my years of riding, had many come very close, but I now understand how perfect a helmet can fit.

Paul955I · 08-23-2007

MVP
Rustbucket

Very thoughtful and informed comments. I re-read the Motorcyclist article yet again as a result. I think the bottom line is that we should all invest a bit more effort in buying our lids than perhaps we give to any other accessory purchase. It clearly is not as simple as buying what your friend or riding buddy has or buying what looks best to your eye.

Paul

upNorth · 09-28-2007

+1 to RustBucket but if I read anything in a publication that accepts advertising, I take it with a grain of salt.

I do think the way a helmet fits you will determine how it protects you, regardless of manufacturer.

That said, I did have occasion to bang my head on the pavement a couple years ago while wearing my Arai. I immediately went to the shop and replaced the helmet with another Arai.
Works for me...

Dirk_Gently · 10-02-2007

I wear an Arai as well and have been happy with the 2 I have owned. I actually only picked them because with the head shape variety Arai offers I can find one that fits. I can wear a Quantum II from Arai or a Shoei X-11. They both fit very nicely, but I could get the quantum 200 bucks cheaper. Can't argue with that, so I stayed with arai.

Tiglath · 10-06-2007

I also thought that spending $539 on a helmet would get me the best. I must say that my Shoei X-Eleven fits great but mine has problems. Over sixty if jitters and blurs vision, and the 3-position side lever that is supposed to crack the visor open slightly to defog when you stop, doesn't work no matter how hard I lean on it.

I email Shoei America and they told me to send the helmet in. But it's a hassle I can do without. About the jitter they said that I need thicker cheek pads. Gee, it fits really snuggly now, if they put thicker cheek pads I'll have to whistle all the way to make room for them...

They said that probably can adjust the visor so the lever works. They didn't comment on my complaint about their manual, written in terrible English, where it gives the impression that the lever must be adjusted but doesn't say how... Can't they afford a native English speaker to write their little manual? It's incredible.

I have a much cheaper Nolan and it's a great helmet, not as light and quiet as the Shoei, but trouble free and it has a great strap system, better than the ubiquitous D-system, for my taste. You can fasten and unfasten it wearing the thickest gloves no problem at all, and in one second. And it has a second -- removable -- sun visor on top of the full face visor, which is very handy.

NorrinRadd · 10-10-2007

Shark RSR2 or Suomy Extreme, both light, and have the safer Euro spec impact ratings (that Snell is switching to next year.)