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Helmet advice and experiences...

Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2009 2:38 pm
by Dave
My helmet is looking a bit tired and I am thinking of getting a new one.

Any good or bad reports from anyone?
Magazines do reviews, but some are based on a couple of days trial with a dozen lids in the south of Spain.

I would like to know if they let in our beautiful Scot’s mist, rain and of course the hail, sleet and snow!


A few things that I am looking for are:
An internal pivoting sun visor.
Flip front, I travel with my kids a lot, and forever stopping to talk to them.
It must be able to take Pinlock or FogCity anti misting double glassing sort of stuff.

I travel on a lot of quick A roads (always obeying the laws of the highway!!), so a quiet helmet would be nice.



I know some that has a SCHUBERTH C2, and he recommends it.

But pro’s/con’s of other lids would be good to know before I buy.


There are new ranking given to helmets with some surprising results:
http://sharp.direct.gov.uk/
http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/News/ ... t-results/

Anyone know if the SHARP rating is reliable?

Re: Helmet advice and experiences...

Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2009 6:13 pm
by Sheep24
SCHUBERTH Quietest helmet you will get and good comfy fit so i have been told. Cant beat a Arai but thats just me had 2hits to the head last year whilst having slight off's and both Arai's did the job i think :confused now i mention it i cant remember :confused Na i cant see past a Arai :2up

Re: Helmet advice and experiences...

Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2009 6:55 pm
by Akrapovic
Sheep24 wrote:Na i cant see past a Arai :2up

:stupid

Like he said, Arai for me. Bit of wind noise, but I can live with that for the comfort. :2up

Re: Helmet advice and experiences...

Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2009 7:20 pm
by blueflame
:2up Arai for me as well very good how are you akrapovic say's bit noisy , nothing that earplugs cant sort out

your best bet is go round all the dealers and try out various lids till you find one you like, then but off the internet :2up

Re: Helmet advice and experiences...

Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2009 7:45 pm
by metallninja
Your shortlist describes Schuberths perfectly.

They do come highly reccommended. Good enough for Michael Schumacher :2up

Re: Helmet advice and experiences...

Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2009 7:47 pm
by al
Schuberth Dip ..... It's unbelievable!" :log

Re: Helmet advice and experiences...

Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2009 10:05 pm
by speedaddictedberk
Dave wrote:
Anyone know if the SHARP rating is reliable?
IMHO i think the SHARP tests are badly flawed, the tests performed by Arai seem to be more related to the real world. This may be due to bad press for the SHARP tests but I'm sticking with Arai for the futre. Also I wouldn't get the flip up lid because I don't trust them to stay in one peice during crashes.

But having said that the Shuberth gets good reviews any time I've seen it tested, and they're supposed to be properly quiet.

Re: Helmet advice and experiences...

Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2009 10:10 pm
by BreadMurderer
Arai for me.

Seemed to be the only kind that would fit my head! :log

Re: Helmet advice and experiences...

Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2009 10:31 pm
by Lynners
I do like a big helmet :2up

Re: Helmet advice and experiences...

Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2009 10:35 pm
by Dozer
Oh dear, I was worried when I saw Lynners name as the most recent post here! :log

I have Shoei, but that was the one that fitted me head best! It's nae the quietest right enough.

I half fancy one of the helmets with bluetooth built in, for my phone. Probably nae the greatest idea though!

Re: Helmet advice and experiences...

Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2009 1:37 am
by Gazza
Lynners wrote:I do like a big helmet :2up
Well you've certainly got the mouth for one. :log

Re: Helmet advice and experiences...

Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2009 1:40 am
by Zathos
Gazza wrote:
Lynners wrote:I do like a big helmet :2up
Well you've certainly got the mouth for one. :log
Ow.....and the quaterback is toast!!!! :log

Re: Helmet advice and experiences...

Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2009 1:43 am
by jbrebel
Gazza wrote:
Lynners wrote:I do like a big helmet :2up
Well you've certainly got the mouth for one. :log
:smile_laughing I'm stuck at work on a friday night and that cheered me right up :smile_laughing

Re: Helmet advice and experiences...

Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2009 2:17 am
by Gazza
My policy has always been that if you're going to throw stones........



Make sure you do it from a safe distance. ;)

Re: Helmet advice and experiences...

Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2009 9:30 am
by steve
Arai for me , ive got an Astro-R an a Corsair , both are very comfy , the Astro-R is alot quieter than the Corsair , i know a few folk who have the new Viper GT Arai an apparently its very good , ive tried one on an it would defineately be my choice for my next lid :2up

Re: Helmet advice and experiences...

Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2009 10:38 am
by Lynners
Gazza wrote:My policy has always been that if you're going to throw stones........



Make sure you do it from a safe distance. ;)
Just wait till I come over to see you ;)

:log

Re: Helmet advice and experiences...

Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2009 10:55 am
by The Rossi Kid
Lynners wrote:Just wait till I come over to see you ;)
So Many replies....... :log

Re: Helmet advice and experiences...

Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2009 11:21 am
by Coddy
Arai, Shoei or AGV for me. Been happy with all 3 in the past. Got a Arai Corsair at the moment, and ordered a Arai RX7GP from Shirlaws this week so will be Arai again for another 5 years.

I looked at the Schuberth as they get top ratings, but they all seem to have a stupid clip on the front of the visor that looks like it would be in your line of sight if you had the visor open while riding though town etc.

Re: Helmet advice and experiences...

Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2009 12:11 pm
by Dave
At the moment I have an Arai and a Shoei.

The Shoei fits a bit better, or maybe I am just used to wearing it more.

I tried on the Arai that has the peak , thinking of using it to block out the sun before I realised that a few decent helmets have internal sun visors.
That Arai was not comfortable at all on me.

At one time I would not have though of getting anything other than Arai and Shoei.

But now I am not so sure.

Again, at one time I would never have though about getting a flip lid, but due to the number of time that I speak to my kid when on a run, it seams the sensible thing to do.

As for buying on the net, not for me with something like this.
I will check out the prices, but normally a local shop will have one about the same price, but no p+p hassles and if it fcuk's up, then it is much easier dealing face to face with the shop.

Good to hear that my front runner, the SCHUBERTH C2, is not getting a negative responses.

Now all I need to do is decide on the colour.

Purple is not an option, as I already have one that colour and my wife is happy with it !

Re: Helmet advice and experiences...

Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2009 12:22 pm
by Dave
speedaddictedberk wrote:
Dave wrote:
Anyone know if the SHARP rating is reliable?
IMHO i think the SHARP tests are badly flawed, the tests performed by Arai seem to be more related to the real world. This may be due to bad press for the SHARP tests but I'm sticking with Arai for the futre. Also I wouldn't get the flip up lid because I don't trust them to stay in one peice during crashes.

But having said that the Shuberth gets good reviews any time I've seen it tested, and they're supposed to be properly quiet.

SHARP

When I read up on them months ago when I first knew it existed, my reaction then was that I was not impressed at the way they rated the helmets.

I though that they took info from actual crashes and compiled the rating from that.
But my understanding I might be wrong.

If that is a main influence on the ratings, then there is a good chance that the cheaper lids might be involved in a higher proportion of lower speed crashes then the more expensive lids.
Hence the surprising low score for the likes of Arai.

I based this on the young neds on their restricted bikes with there cheep lids, as opposed to the older twots on their chipped R1's and expensive kit.

Re: Helmet advice and experiences...

Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2009 6:48 pm
by speedaddictedberk
http://sharp.direct.gov.uk/about-sharp/test-protocols/

The tests are done on specific areas of the shell which could lead to some companies reinforcing those areas to pass the tests, there is also confusion about the tests on the side of the shell as they tend to be protected by the riders shoulders. The Arai RX7 failed on the side tests, but that helmet is used a lot by top racers who don't get paid to use them.

Re: Helmet advice and experiences...

Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2009 3:56 pm
by Zax
My current lid is an Arai, and I will be buying another one as they are superb IMHO.
Previously I have owne an AGV which was also very good quality but far far heavier than the ARAI.

Re: Helmet advice and experiences...

Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2009 5:42 pm
by coullstar
Ive go a Shoei and its briliant. Perfect fit for me, I think a nicer shape than the Arais and you can change visors in seconds. Its also has the pinlock insert which it perfect in the rain.

Re: Helmet advice and experiences...

Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2009 7:32 pm
by malphesius
Have lost the nuance and the will to live whilst trying to remember how to post youtube, so here's the link:



Quite fancied this after a bit of research and hunting around, but when I tried it on in the shop it was far too heavy in comparison to my last lid.

Re: Helmet advice and experiences...

Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2009 10:04 pm
by ElectroFunkDaddy
I,ve had a few HJC Helmets, always been comfy and havent really been bothered with wind noise.

Just bought a AGV Stealth STD Andrews, Looks nice but find , the wind noise is terriable. iPoop need on full pelt.