Helmets - Stick With The Same Or Try Something New?
Discussion
I haven't had many helmets, I used to buy cheap ones for track cars and then bought an LS2 Pioneer for green laning
When I started with road bikes I splashed out (for me) £250 for a Scorpion 1400 EXO carbon - it was so much better than the LS2 which whilst fine on green lanes was horrific at high speeds / in cross winds and in hindsight, general comfort
My Scorpion got scuffed and the sun visor broke in an accident so I'm looking again
I don't know whether to stick with the same or whether I should try something else - I have never got on with any screen, suffering wind noise / buffeting and I wonder if other helmets might be better but you can't ride in them before you buy them
Or does everyone just buy what they like the look of and hope for the best
When I started with road bikes I splashed out (for me) £250 for a Scorpion 1400 EXO carbon - it was so much better than the LS2 which whilst fine on green lanes was horrific at high speeds / in cross winds and in hindsight, general comfort
My Scorpion got scuffed and the sun visor broke in an accident so I'm looking again
I don't know whether to stick with the same or whether I should try something else - I have never got on with any screen, suffering wind noise / buffeting and I wonder if other helmets might be better but you can't ride in them before you buy them
Or does everyone just buy what they like the look of and hope for the best
I had a noisy lid so went looking for the best I could find with a budget of up to £1500.
I ended up with a Shoei Neotec II which was about £650 IIRC. It is a flip front - I did not want or need a flip but was educated that the design allows them to close more tightly to your neck which makes sense - this reduces wind noise. It is easy to get on and off and dealers can be approved to change the cheek pieces etc.
Get your head properly measured for shape and size as some head shapes work better with Arai than Shoei etc....
Really happy with it.
I ended up with a Shoei Neotec II which was about £650 IIRC. It is a flip front - I did not want or need a flip but was educated that the design allows them to close more tightly to your neck which makes sense - this reduces wind noise. It is easy to get on and off and dealers can be approved to change the cheek pieces etc.
Get your head properly measured for shape and size as some head shapes work better with Arai than Shoei etc....
Really happy with it.
Bob_Defly said:
I have a carbon Bell Bullitt arriving tomorrow, can't wait!
I have the carbon Eliminator. Looks cool, very light & I particularly like the Provision visor - much nicer than Pinloc!Downside: noisest lid I've ever owned, even with the optional rain guard fitted over the vent holes.
Back to topic: I couldn't give a fig about brand loyalty, but I would suggest buying a lid that you can get spare parts/visors & purchase from a reputable dealer such as Sportsbikeshop. I'm happy to spend a premium to have a little backup/piece of mind.
It's worth spending some time test fitting as many different makes as possible. I discovered my head is very nearly Shoei shaped, and I can wear Shoei helmets in comfort. However, I also discovered my head is exactly Schuberth shaped. The fact that Schuberth have been focussing on helmet noise management for some significant time is also a real bonus.
I'd definitely recommend trying a Schuberth for size.If they are a good fit then they are a great helmet.
I'd definitely recommend trying a Schuberth for size.If they are a good fit then they are a great helmet.
Pretty much all the known brands, at least premium and midrange make decent and safe lids these days, so don't worry about "downgrading".
I generally stick with Shark, they are round so fit my football head well. Arai are often a good fit, but at several times the price of most Sharks, I've never bothered buying one.
As with anything, check the fit in store when switching brands or model. They can be wildly different in shape and feel.
I generally stick with Shark, they are round so fit my football head well. Arai are often a good fit, but at several times the price of most Sharks, I've never bothered buying one.
As with anything, check the fit in store when switching brands or model. They can be wildly different in shape and feel.
Everyone will recommend whatever they wear, which doesn't actually help massively.
Spending more on a helmet will usually give you a plusher interior, extra "gadgets" (Comms, drop down sun visor, emergency release pads etc) and nicer paint and graphics.
The EC safety rating is standardised, and the SHARP rating doesn't always cover the helmets you are looking at, especially if they are new models.
If you are looking at open face helmets, they will be noiser than a full face or a flip. Flip front lids vary in noise levels considerably - the smaller opening helps reduce noise, but the extra shutline causes more turbulence which on some helmets makes them noisier.
I've had a lot of lids over the last 10 years and would say that I've not had a really bad one from any of the well known brands. I've had Shoei, Schuberth, Shark, HJC, SENA, and VHelmets and all have been fine. Noise levels are very dependent on stuff like screen height, the angle you sit at, how tall you are, how fast you ride etc. I'd simply recommend earplugs for every trip.
The latest Shoei is the quietest and most comfortable, but I don't like the position of the visor lever and the Comms buttons... But these are details. The most important thing is fit and comfort (ie. make sure that there aren't any pressure points on your head when you wear it)
Spending more on a helmet will usually give you a plusher interior, extra "gadgets" (Comms, drop down sun visor, emergency release pads etc) and nicer paint and graphics.
The EC safety rating is standardised, and the SHARP rating doesn't always cover the helmets you are looking at, especially if they are new models.
If you are looking at open face helmets, they will be noiser than a full face or a flip. Flip front lids vary in noise levels considerably - the smaller opening helps reduce noise, but the extra shutline causes more turbulence which on some helmets makes them noisier.
I've had a lot of lids over the last 10 years and would say that I've not had a really bad one from any of the well known brands. I've had Shoei, Schuberth, Shark, HJC, SENA, and VHelmets and all have been fine. Noise levels are very dependent on stuff like screen height, the angle you sit at, how tall you are, how fast you ride etc. I'd simply recommend earplugs for every trip.
The latest Shoei is the quietest and most comfortable, but I don't like the position of the visor lever and the Comms buttons... But these are details. The most important thing is fit and comfort (ie. make sure that there aren't any pressure points on your head when you wear it)
I splashed out a couple of months ago, went to sportsbikeshop and tried on loads (and loads) of helmets, spent ages in there, and eventually got myself a Scorpion exo-tech evo carbon.
Lovely looking helmet, had the quick release strap and internal sun visor that I wanted... and is a flip front, which I don't need but recognise the close-fitting aspect is a good thing.
Thing is, it was fine in the shop for ten, fifteen minutes but presses against my forehead slightly, which only becomes noticeable after perhaps 30 minutes and painful after another quarter hour. And it's bloody noisy. Which is 230 quid out on a helmet that isn't good for me, but I can't afford to replace.
So I'd probably say stick with what you know and have proved to yourself, is good for you.
Bit of research on head shape for helmets you know fit well can't go amiss, although when I did that it suggested LS2 would be a good fit, but I found them really uncomfortable.
Lovely looking helmet, had the quick release strap and internal sun visor that I wanted... and is a flip front, which I don't need but recognise the close-fitting aspect is a good thing.
Thing is, it was fine in the shop for ten, fifteen minutes but presses against my forehead slightly, which only becomes noticeable after perhaps 30 minutes and painful after another quarter hour. And it's bloody noisy. Which is 230 quid out on a helmet that isn't good for me, but I can't afford to replace.
So I'd probably say stick with what you know and have proved to yourself, is good for you.
Bit of research on head shape for helmets you know fit well can't go amiss, although when I did that it suggested LS2 would be a good fit, but I found them really uncomfortable.
Thanks guys it seems there isn't really an easy answer
I tried loads of helmets on before going with the Scorpion, it was really comfortable out of the box and still is two years later
Replacing it because I had a minor off after a year is why I'm unwilling to buy an expensive helmet, particularly when there's no data showing they're significantly better
I was hoping to find someone who'd had the Evo 1400 and could then tell me that xxxxx was loads better at speed
Since posting I started googling for reviews to see if anything was significantly better
I stumbled onto Championship Helmets review which is the most comprehensive one I've seen
https://youtu.be/jCzbuJPMNeg
I think I'm buying the same again
I tried loads of helmets on before going with the Scorpion, it was really comfortable out of the box and still is two years later
Replacing it because I had a minor off after a year is why I'm unwilling to buy an expensive helmet, particularly when there's no data showing they're significantly better
I was hoping to find someone who'd had the Evo 1400 and could then tell me that xxxxx was loads better at speed
Since posting I started googling for reviews to see if anything was significantly better
I stumbled onto Championship Helmets review which is the most comprehensive one I've seen
https://youtu.be/jCzbuJPMNeg
I think I'm buying the same again
Edited by KTMsm on Tuesday 25th July 11:09
snagzie said:
[quote=Caddyshackso went looking for the best I could find with a budget of up to £1500.
Excuse me?1) The point I was making was that I only actually paid £600 ish for what I felt was the perfect helmet - it turns out (in my experience) that the higher the price does not reflect the best helmet - I found the replicas of racer helmets looked the coolest with the coolest graphics but they could actually be quite noisy in reviews - I guess a lot of the price is to pay the celeb a royalty and to pay for the fancy graphics.
2) I would not really put a price on the safety with a helmet - it has to probably be the most important safety item.
I was told that the emergency services also prefer flip fronts as they can get to the air way without removing the lid.
boyse7en said:
Everyone will recommend whatever they wear, which doesn't actually help massively.
Spending more on a helmet will usually give you a plusher interior, extra "gadgets" (Comms, drop down sun visor, emergency release pads etc) and nicer paint and graphics.
The EC safety rating is standardised, and the SHARP rating doesn't always cover the helmets you are looking at, especially if they are new models.
If you are looking at open face helmets, they will be noiser than a full face or a flip. Flip front lids vary in noise levels considerably - the smaller opening helps reduce noise, but the extra shutline causes more turbulence which on some helmets makes them noisier.
I've had a lot of lids over the last 10 years and would say that I've not had a really bad one from any of the well known brands. I've had Shoei, Schuberth, Shark, HJC, SENA, and VHelmets and all have been fine. Noise levels are very dependent on stuff like screen height, the angle you sit at, how tall you are, how fast you ride etc. I'd simply recommend earplugs for every trip.
The latest Shoei is the quietest and most comfortable, but I don't like the position of the visor lever and the Comms buttons... But these are details. The most important thing is fit and comfort (ie. make sure that there aren't any pressure points on your head when you wear it)
When I did my CBT I walked in to a shop and bought "everything" one go, this included a mid range HJC - It is sooo noisy and at speed it tries to pull your head off - upwards. I replaced this with a Shoei with the brief that it had to be quiet and not rip my head off. I guess it could just be the one I picked and my bike aero that clashes. I also do not get buffeted like I did. Spending more on a helmet will usually give you a plusher interior, extra "gadgets" (Comms, drop down sun visor, emergency release pads etc) and nicer paint and graphics.
The EC safety rating is standardised, and the SHARP rating doesn't always cover the helmets you are looking at, especially if they are new models.
If you are looking at open face helmets, they will be noiser than a full face or a flip. Flip front lids vary in noise levels considerably - the smaller opening helps reduce noise, but the extra shutline causes more turbulence which on some helmets makes them noisier.
I've had a lot of lids over the last 10 years and would say that I've not had a really bad one from any of the well known brands. I've had Shoei, Schuberth, Shark, HJC, SENA, and VHelmets and all have been fine. Noise levels are very dependent on stuff like screen height, the angle you sit at, how tall you are, how fast you ride etc. I'd simply recommend earplugs for every trip.
The latest Shoei is the quietest and most comfortable, but I don't like the position of the visor lever and the Comms buttons... But these are details. The most important thing is fit and comfort (ie. make sure that there aren't any pressure points on your head when you wear it)
I've been impressed with Shoei comfort, lack of noise and build quality, on my third or fourth now, NXR2, but as mentioned above it depends on your head shape. They are also very light, my NXR2 is just 1400g which helps with the comfort as I add a GoPro to the front.
I tried to destroy my last NXR with a hammer as it was about 6 years old and the straps were frayed. It took some very heavy hits with a hammer and I couldn't put a hole in it, the shell kept deforming just enough to prevent the hammer making much of a dent, which was really good to see as that's what's supposed to happen. I could feel the hammer bouncing back from the helmet. It looked like it had been crashed in with some of the black outer paint coming off revealing the structure with a few small surface cracks, but it remained in one piece. Even the hinges with the visor closed took a huge effort to break as they also seemed to have a little bit of give in them, just enough to absorb sufficient force to keep the visor closed.
The Shoei Photo Chromatic visor is also very good, only used it in the UK so far but it goes clear in the dark and plenty dark enough in sunlight to mimic a dark visor. No, it doesn't lighten fast enough when entering a tunnel, but neither does a dark visor
I tried to destroy my last NXR with a hammer as it was about 6 years old and the straps were frayed. It took some very heavy hits with a hammer and I couldn't put a hole in it, the shell kept deforming just enough to prevent the hammer making much of a dent, which was really good to see as that's what's supposed to happen. I could feel the hammer bouncing back from the helmet. It looked like it had been crashed in with some of the black outer paint coming off revealing the structure with a few small surface cracks, but it remained in one piece. Even the hinges with the visor closed took a huge effort to break as they also seemed to have a little bit of give in them, just enough to absorb sufficient force to keep the visor closed.
The Shoei Photo Chromatic visor is also very good, only used it in the UK so far but it goes clear in the dark and plenty dark enough in sunlight to mimic a dark visor. No, it doesn't lighten fast enough when entering a tunnel, but neither does a dark visor
Related point..... Might be more about me than the helmet manufacturers.
I've always been Shoei shaped. But they just don't fit well anymore and I've stopped buying them,.
I'd consider buying an exact the same model, but I wouldn't trust that continuing with the brand will automatically deliver a good fit.
I've always been Shoei shaped. But they just don't fit well anymore and I've stopped buying them,.
I'd consider buying an exact the same model, but I wouldn't trust that continuing with the brand will automatically deliver a good fit.
I've always had Arai's on the road and a few different brands for everything else.
It's going to be hard to determine the wind noise in store and it would be different on every bike also. Personally it's about fit and quality to me, noise etc can be reduced somewhat with screens/screen adjustment and earplugs, but if my head is going to take a knock I want to ensure it's as protected as well as possible.
I can only really speak for higher end Arai's, I assume it will be the same for other brands, but Arai do have removable pads which can be swapped for thicker/thinner as required, and if I am not mistaken at BSB rounds I think they'll perform a quick health check and fitting assessment?
It's going to be hard to determine the wind noise in store and it would be different on every bike also. Personally it's about fit and quality to me, noise etc can be reduced somewhat with screens/screen adjustment and earplugs, but if my head is going to take a knock I want to ensure it's as protected as well as possible.
I can only really speak for higher end Arai's, I assume it will be the same for other brands, but Arai do have removable pads which can be swapped for thicker/thinner as required, and if I am not mistaken at BSB rounds I think they'll perform a quick health check and fitting assessment?
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