Just ordered a Scorpion EXO700, my 3 year old Arai Quantum finally just got too loose even after replacing the cheekpads. I'll let you know how i like the Scorpion once i get it, but no one ever talks helmets here, so, i say, what the heck! Go forth - yakking helmets!
Let's Talk Helmets!
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Yeah, no one does ever talk about helmets. Funny, since they're the most important piece of riding gear.
My first was an Arai Signet - was the best I've had. I then had an HJC (can't remember the model). I dropped that from my deck onto the driveway so I replaced it with an HJC CL-14. Decent fit, pretty comfortable, good price. This fall I was heading to NHIS for a track day and was told that the racing program there had banned plastic-shelled helmets. Seems they, and other racing organizations around the country dirt included, have had a lot of incidents of head injury after pretty unremarkable falls that all involved plastic-shelled hats. The feeling was that the fiberglass shells just held up better from their experiences. Here's the link to the statement from the Safety Director http://www.raceloudon.com/safety/a_word_about_helmets.htm
Based on that, I bought a Shoei RF-1000. Much nicer than the HJC. Lighter, much less wind turbulence, and seems like more peripheral vision.
My first was an Arai Signet - was the best I've had. I then had an HJC (can't remember the model). I dropped that from my deck onto the driveway so I replaced it with an HJC CL-14. Decent fit, pretty comfortable, good price. This fall I was heading to NHIS for a track day and was told that the racing program there had banned plastic-shelled helmets. Seems they, and other racing organizations around the country dirt included, have had a lot of incidents of head injury after pretty unremarkable falls that all involved plastic-shelled hats. The feeling was that the fiberglass shells just held up better from their experiences. Here's the link to the statement from the Safety Director http://www.raceloudon.com/safety/a_word_about_helmets.htm
Based on that, I bought a Shoei RF-1000. Much nicer than the HJC. Lighter, much less wind turbulence, and seems like more peripheral vision.
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9,425 Posts
I have had a number of different helmets- get what fits best. Right now, I have a Shoei RF1000. It fits very, very well. Before that, I had an Arai Quantum f, and I was convinced that I would buy another Quantum when the time came. Instead, I bought the Shoei, since it was the first Shoei I ever tried on that even approached Arai comfort. It equalled the Quantum in nearly all ways, but at a $200 discount. Sold!
G
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·Well I ride more than I crash.. (so far)
and I have ridden enough old British bikes on megaphone exhausts to know how stressing noise can get.
So I choose my helmets for quietness first and (*) then comfort & lack of misting and then for manufacturer/quality
* Actually :-D :???: "Looks" sneaks in where the asterisk is.
So I wear a ROOF 010 it is very quiet & comfortable and the visor is good up or down, it doesn't mist & imho looks cool (triumph matching colours). It also feel sgood quality & the price has just dropped as well!
Jon
and I have ridden enough old British bikes on megaphone exhausts to know how stressing noise can get.
So I choose my helmets for quietness first and (*) then comfort & lack of misting and then for manufacturer/quality
* Actually :-D :???: "Looks" sneaks in where the asterisk is.
So I wear a ROOF 010 it is very quiet & comfortable and the visor is good up or down, it doesn't mist & imho looks cool (triumph matching colours). It also feel sgood quality & the price has just dropped as well!
Jon
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394 Posts
I have a Shoei X-11 that matches my S4 perfectly. The Shoei is the solid Axis yellow, and obviously the S4 is Triumph's Racing Yellow.
I liked the feel of the X-11 the best. The padding is more abrasive then on the Arai's and the RF Shoei's, but the fit was much better for me. I had to switch the medium cheek pads to smalls to fit my narrowish face better.
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I liked the feel of the X-11 the best. The padding is more abrasive then on the Arai's and the RF Shoei's, but the fit was much better for me. I had to switch the medium cheek pads to smalls to fit my narrowish face better.
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112 Posts
I now use an arai RV. Its nice and quiet and fits snugly after going down a helmet size due to hair loss. Only niggles with it is the side vision is not as good as my old lazer and it mists up easily.
have thought about a reevu for my next lid but dont know anyonewho has tried one & no dealers near me
have thought about a reevu for my next lid but dont know anyonewho has tried one & no dealers near me
I've had three HJC helmets, a CS-12, a CL-14 and an HQ-1 (I think the latter has been rebadged AC-12 looking at HJC's website).
All have been fine. I dropped the CS-12 onto concrete and thought it better to replace it. I liked the carbon fibre look of the HQ-1 so bought that. It's louder than the CS-12 (which is annoying, considering it's over twice the price) and the visor release mechanism is a bit sticky. The CL-14 is a spare.
All have been comfortable for me, and HJC helmets have been excellent value.
All have been fine. I dropped the CS-12 onto concrete and thought it better to replace it. I liked the carbon fibre look of the HQ-1 so bought that. It's louder than the CS-12 (which is annoying, considering it's over twice the price) and the visor release mechanism is a bit sticky. The CL-14 is a spare.
All have been comfortable for me, and HJC helmets have been excellent value.
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394 Posts
I forgot to mention. I use the Shoei "Pinlock" visor and have a clear and smoked Pinlock insert installed depending on conditions. Those pinlock shields are worth their weight in gold. The Pinlock never fogs and you can switch from smoke to clear without the hastle of carrying around a complete shield. I usually keep the smoke insert in until it gets dark then just take it out when it gets too dark to see. No reason to install the clear one in summer.
Another reason I like the Shoei.
Another reason I like the Shoei.
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55 Posts
I have the Shoei X-Eleven. It's the only helmet I've ever had, so I have nothing to compare it against. I love it though! Little to no movement at high speeds, flows air very well, it is very light, and it doesn't look so bad either with the replica paint. It isn't a quiet helmet by any means though, nothing to complain about too much. I have very bad neck / back problems and I can ride for quite a while before it begins to bother me. I like the iridium visor too.
I forgot to add, in my accident recently, the only part i actually remember hitting the street was my face and it literally felt like laying my face into a pillow with a little force. I was very impressed afterward.
[ This message was edited by: SlimStyleTT600 on 2006-11-04 23:54 ]
I forgot to add, in my accident recently, the only part i actually remember hitting the street was my face and it literally felt like laying my face into a pillow with a little force. I was very impressed afterward.
[ This message was edited by: SlimStyleTT600 on 2006-11-04 23:54 ]
I had a Shoei ZII for about 4 years and thought it was decent. After it skipped across the pavement with my head in it, I replaced it with ah HJC ac12 carbon. LOVE IT. I think it's a better contsructed helmet than my shoei was. Less wind noise and the visors seem to seal better.
I thought about getting a HJC AC12 carbon, just for the cool looks. But it just fit my head so poorly I didn't even bother test riding it. In my opinion the cheaper HJC (forgot the type) fit a lot better.
So far I'm on my 3rd X-lite X801R, and I have placed X801RR (new greatly improved version) on order, I should get it before spring
So far I'm on my 3rd X-lite X801R, and I have placed X801RR (new greatly improved version) on order, I should get it before spring
I've have a HJC CL- 14, and a CL-12.....2 years ago I bought an Arai signet....wow what a difference, weight wise and bulkiness the Arai beats HJC...
I like the HJC, good price and good safety reviews....but has some disadvantages as I stated.
The Arai seems to fit my head like a glove, almost doesn't seem like it's there...
Next helmet, was thinking about Suomy, I have looked at them at shops, seems very light weight.
Anybody have a Shark helmet, what are these like???
I like the HJC, good price and good safety reviews....but has some disadvantages as I stated.
The Arai seems to fit my head like a glove, almost doesn't seem like it's there...
Next helmet, was thinking about Suomy, I have looked at them at shops, seems very light weight.
Anybody have a Shark helmet, what are these like???
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66 Posts
I like Vemar....They're so light and the most comfortable I've tried.
When I started riding, I had a Kiwi 22 as my first helmet but replaced within a year with an Arai.
When I got back into riding, I wore the Arai but it was falling apart and to old. So, I bought a RF900. It was a good fit but not that great. I crashed tested that one and ended buying a HCJ FG-12 and a bike show for cheap. It fit better then the RF900 but within 2 months I went back to an Arai. They fit my head better. However, the HCJ was quiter then the Arai.
I also have another RF900 and HCJ as a spare.
[ This message was edited by: ukilme on 2006-11-07 15:17 ]
When I got back into riding, I wore the Arai but it was falling apart and to old. So, I bought a RF900. It was a good fit but not that great. I crashed tested that one and ended buying a HCJ FG-12 and a bike show for cheap. It fit better then the RF900 but within 2 months I went back to an Arai. They fit my head better. However, the HCJ was quiter then the Arai.
I also have another RF900 and HCJ as a spare.
[ This message was edited by: ukilme on 2006-11-07 15:17 ]
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50 Posts
Currently riding with an Icon Domain and love it - my previous HJC CL-12, not so much
I have an Icon Mainframe Halo and a Shoei TZ-R.
The Icon actually fits my head better and I dont notice a weight difference while riding. The noise level is about the same but the Icon fogs up a little more at stops, even with the visor cracked open. I love em both, different helmets for different jackets :wink:
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The Icon actually fits my head better and I dont notice a weight difference while riding. The noise level is about the same but the Icon fogs up a little more at stops, even with the visor cracked open. I love em both, different helmets for different jackets :wink:
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248 Posts
The Scorpion gets my vote. Not only does it stay fog-free, it crashes well. I was wearing a EX400 Warhawk when I crashed on my Buell last July after hitting a patch of gravel. The faceshield and the left side of the helmet looked pretty bad. It was badly scratched, but I could not find any evidence of cracks either on the visor or the helmet shell. I replaced it with another Warhawk. I added a chin skirt to keep the cold air out for winter.
While the Scorpion is the cheapest of the 4 helmets I currently own, it's my favorite.
While the Scorpion is the cheapest of the 4 helmets I currently own, it's my favorite.
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309 Posts
"Anybody have a Shark helmet, what are these like???"
Quality seems fine, fit very good on skull but a bit of***** when it comes the fit on my cheeks. Pushing them right in-have to keep my gob shut. Or I'll end up biting the inside of my mouth off when I go over a bump. Can't.
Back to my Davida.
Quality seems fine, fit very good on skull but a bit of***** when it comes the fit on my cheeks. Pushing them right in-have to keep my gob shut. Or I'll end up biting the inside of my mouth off when I go over a bump. Can't.
Back to my Davida.
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