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Helmet recommendations

Aspen79seAspen79se Member Posts: 4,707
edited May 2006 in General Discussion
What is a good full face helmet? I'm tired of people gripeing that I don't have one, so I will invest in a good quality one. Price range no more than $200. It's for intown mostly, but needs highway capabilites too, if that helps.
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Comments

  • ZinderblocZinderbloc Member Posts: 925 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Bell makes a good full-face helmet for intown use. There are a dozen or more for sale on eBay right now for much less than $200.
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  • sig232sig232 Member Posts: 8,018
    edited November -1
    HJC, which is the largest selling helmet in the US I just found out. You can pick them up in many price ranges. Under $200 should be no problem. My wife and I have the full face and the 1/2 for warm weather. Taking the 1/2 to Hawaii next week for a ride in Kaui.
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  • sig232sig232 Member Posts: 8,018
    edited November -1
    Take a look at the HJC website at hjchelmets.com. This is not a link.

    There are many, many brands of helmets, most are DOT rated and very safe. You get into the big money with the carbon fibre ones at up to $450. Sportsmans guide has lots in the $50+ range. Stay away from cheap helmets. Buy a good brand. Bell is very good as the other post specified.
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  • FrancFFrancF Member Posts: 35,279 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I like my both AGV R4 and shoei. little pricey, but the crash quality is great.
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  • sig232sig232 Member Posts: 8,018
    edited November -1
    I am looking for one with a blinking beacon on top to insure that I don't get hit from behind in the dark. Lots of drunks and others seem to run into bikers while stopped at stopsigns and stoplights.
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  • jack85jack85 Member Posts: 211 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Aspen79se
    What is a good...helmet...for intown mostly, but needs highway capabilites too, if that helps.


    Move to Illinois and buy a $200 gun instead of helmet! [:D]
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  • A J ChristA J Christ Member Posts: 7,534 ✭
    edited November -1
    Well.........

    On one hand I guess you can save as much as you can and go for economy. What is your life, brain worth? Would you buy the cheapest gun you can find? Generally you get what you pay for, you want cheap, get cheap.

    Motorcycle helmets are designed to protect your head in a slow speed crash, do some research and find out for your self, don't take my word for it. You plan on crashing at a nice safe slow speed?

    Here in NC we gotta wear a lid or officer friendly will try to catch you and want to give you a pink sheet of paper. In SC, don't need one. I live close to the border and ride both states, sometimes I waer one, sometimes I don't. It's my head and that makes it my business, not the state's. Feel that there are way too many laws, rules and regulations out there already. Why do they selectively enforce our laws? Illegals run all over the place, got no license, insurance, cops don't do a thing with them. Run 10 over the speed limit, don't wear your seat belt, let your vehicle safety inspection run out, don't come to a full stop and see if Barney Fife don't turn on the blue lights, operate a police vehicle in a reckless and dangerous manner to fix you up with a citation.
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  • Rebel_JamesRebel_James Member Posts: 4,746
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by sig232
    I am looking for one with a blinking beacon on top to insure that I don't get hit from behind in the dark. Lots of drunks and others seem to run into bikers while stopped at stopsigns and stoplights.


    I don't know if you're serious or not about a blinking beacon on your helmet, but I have one of these hooked up to my brake light and it works great. I even got one and installed it on the 3rd brake light on my wife's car.

    http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BACK-OFF-MC-BRAKE-LIGHT-MODULATOR_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ35571QQitemZ4638860837QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW
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  • Rebel_JamesRebel_James Member Posts: 4,746
    edited November -1
    OH! The helmet thing! I bought an HJC CL-14 off Ebay for about 50 bucks. The helmet was like new, and is both DOT and SNELL approved.

    When buying a helmet, try to get one that's SNELL approved. DOT approved is regular US highway approval.

    SNELL is approved for racing by most racing organizations.
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  • NwcidNwcid Member Posts: 10,674 ✭
    edited November -1
    I dont remeber what brand it was but I had one that was a full face, but it tilted up. It was very easy to take on and off and comfortable. Any full faced helmet buy will be that style.
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  • dbaraledbarale Member Posts: 328 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Shoei, after crashing pretty hard with one I wouldn't trust anything else except maybe Arai...
    Their entry models are not that expensive and are just as safe as the most expensive ones. They just don't have all the bells and whistles.
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  • Aspen79seAspen79se Member Posts: 4,707
    edited November -1
    Thank you all for the informatin. Now I can start shopping and pricing brands. I did not even know what to start before.
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  • 320090T320090T Member Posts: 2,715 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Go to helmetcity.com and save some money. I too like the full face that flips up and may even be removable???? Bad thing about ordering online is sizing, sending it back is a bummer. The nicest helmet I ever had on was in a safety store in Charlotte NC, turned out to be $1000.00. It was made of lots of fancy fibers and worn by most of the NASCAR drivers.
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  • dheffleydheffley Member Posts: 25,000 ✭
    edited November -1
    I have both HJC and Shoei. The Shoei is the best.
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  • He DogHe Dog Member Posts: 51,593 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I will wear nothing by Arai. Shop around the ads in the back of the bike mags, there are some pretty discounted prices out there. But go to a local shop and try some on to figure out which brands fit you best, and just what size you need in that brand.

    Bell used to run an ad that said, "If you have a $50 head, buy a $50 helmet."

    "Buy top quality", is the best advice I can give you.
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  • zr700zr700 Member Posts: 2,430 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I have 3 HJC'S my brother has 2 and two of my buddies have 5 between them. Great helmets, no problems.
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  • mpolansmpolans Member Posts: 1,752 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Helmet fit is kind of a personal choice. Some that I have found to be high quality are Shoei, Arai, HJC and AGV. My current one is HJC, but I really like the superb ventilation and breath-guard feature on the AGV I was loaned during a high performance riding class (and they're priced reasonably too). The Shoeis and Arais I've seen had pretty good ventilation too. The few Bells I've worn have all had crappy ventilation, but I haven't looked at any Bells for several years.
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  • plains scoutplains scout Member Posts: 4,563
    edited November -1
    quote:The Shoei is the best.

    Your skull is your brain bucket. It is the most important piece of safey equipment you can buy. Don't go cheap.
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  • TRAP55TRAP55 Member Posts: 8,292 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Aspen, the evil Wally World has full face Shoei helmets cheap!
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  • wanted manwanted man Member Posts: 3,276
    edited November -1
    I haven't bought a helmet in about 20 years but Shoei are some of the best and most comfortable helmets made. A little more $ than the Bell's, etc. but the Shoei I was wearing stood up to a direct impact with a 4x4 post, mounted in a semi-truck rim at 100+ m.p.h., so I guess it was/is well worth it. Arai's are/were also pretty good (according to the 'sperts), but I've never owned one.
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  • anderskandersk Member Posts: 3,627 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I have always felt a tad safer in a full face helmet. the little brain bucket that some of the studs wear makes me think of the phrase: "If you have a $10 head, wear a $10 helmet!"
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  • He DogHe Dog Member Posts: 51,593 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:I have always felt a tad safer in a full face helmet

    Yeah, and they keep the bugs outta your teeth.
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  • shoff14shoff14 Member Posts: 11,994 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Why is it that all you bikers stick with DOT rated helmets? I mean, you can spend a little more money and get something that is SNELL 2005 or 2000 rated that will protect the head as well and most likely better then a DOT rated helmet. THere have to be reasons why these helmets are only DOT rated. If it was me, I wouldn't put on an only DOT rated helmet.
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  • mrseatlemrseatle Member Posts: 15,467 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I've got a used Shoei for sale. I could e-mail pics? This is not one of the wally world ones. very cool paint, good price too.
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  • egatimraegatimra Member Posts: 469 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I have a Nolan modus. It is one of the modular ones that he front lifts up for easy removal. Also nice when you come to a stop for ventalation.
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