**Top HELMETS........Any Idea's??????**

not to offend anyone but the whole all helmets are about the same... you are just paying for a name BS is getting old. That is like saying all cars are about the same and when you spend 800 grand for a Bugatti you are juat paying for a name. Before people who read this get the wrong idea and make a bad decision based on such misleading info let us all be honest. There is a reason helmets like Shoei and Arai cost more then cheap HJC and KBC type helmets. They are better. Now I dont know if they are 6 times better but they are better. Scorpian is the one helmet I have seen that is comparable to these at a much better price. Given unlimited funds I would still choose the Shoei.

I just ordered a Shoei RF1000 for $300.00 shipped from this place.. check em out Competition Accessories: Automotive, Motorcycles, Atv, Outdoor, Sports, Recreation, Events, Rally, Bike Week

Originally Posted by rokitt51

All of these helmets on the market have passed inspections and tests to be approved for road use.

I have to say that while this is what most people believe, it's not exactly true.

There are helmets out there that are for sale, but don't even have a DOT sticker on them. Some of them will say "only for novelty use", but instead of being prominently displayed on all of them, some of those will have it marked somewhere like on the inside of the shell, some even under the lining. I gotta say, what's the deal with that?

Helmets that have a Snell sticker on them have been tested by the Snell Memorial Foundation and have passed their standards. Helmets that have a DOT sticker on them are being certified as able to meet the DOT standard according to the manufacturer. Read what I just wrote very carefully. The maker of the helmet says that the helmet will meet the DOT standard.
According to the DOT standards, however, the manufacturers don't even have to test their own helmets to say that. Theoretically, they can put together a helmet that they THINK would meet the DOT standard and label it with a DOT sticker.

Now, to prevent this sort of thing, the DOT does randomly purchase helmets from retail locations throughout the country and test those helmets themselves, in order to make sure that manufacturers are playing things straight. But notice what it says there. It says "retail locations" and "randomly purchase" in there. So that brings up two concerns. One, which helmets have actually been tested so far. Two, what of the helmets that are available for sale ONLY through the internet or mail order? You gotta ask yourself, are they really safe at all?

I own 2 shoeis rf100 diabolic and the rf900 picote a haydend replica rx7rr arai, and a bell, the one with the spider web and flames design, in the past i wore the arai quantum f okada and i must say that that was the best helmet i have ever owned the fit, weight and confort has been the best of all, second is the rf900 picote and third is the rf1000 diabolic, the bell helmet is straight up sh*t the front of the helmet were the outside shell and the inside padding meet started to come apart the minute i took it out of the box and the fog repelent smoked wind srceen, it started peeling as soon as my breath hit it.
I cant really complaint to much i paid $130.00 for the bell vs. the $550.00 to $600 for the arais and shoeis, and like -Z- said you get what you pai for. its just a shame the bell has a realy kick ass desighn.

by the way i want to say thanks to Mr. -Z- in my book a realy stand up guy when it comes to making deals.
I owe you a beer man.

Originally Posted by jkobflys

and also i know this should go up in the for sale section but since we are on the topic the Hayden replica rx7rr is for sale i dont wear it and originaly bough it for my wife its a medium and it comes with a light smoked wind screen with the tear off tabs, also have an extra set of replacement parts for it (the side covers ) its the one that is red and bright yellow with the barb wire ill post pictures tomorow im looking for $230.00 shipped anyware in the u.s the helmet has been used 6 to 8 times the wife is not really into riding

New thread with pictures in for sale section.

I think suomy, arai, or shoei is your best bet.

I just got a spec1r suomy for $100 brandy new off ebay. A local stealership freehold honda sells their stuff on there from time to time.Last time I picked one up for $230

Suomy, Shark, Arai, Shoei, Bell, KBC, and Wiki in my opinion are good helmets, some heavier than others, and some more expensive than others but as far as safety and style these are good ones to me.

I am usually one of those buy what you can afford kinda guys, but in this case, I have to say spend the extra money. Most motorcycle fatalities are the result of head injury. Plus, even if you don't die, you could end up worse, like having someone else wipe your butt for the rest of your life and clean the drool off your chin. I have a good friend who was hit by an uninsured drunk driver. He lost his left arm at the shoulder and his left leg at the knee. He was back at work a little over a year later though because he had his helmet on. A good helmet is worth its weight in gold as far as I'm concerned.... of course anything is better than nothing.

to answer your question I prefer my suomy. I got a Bostrom Tattoo and I love it. Not many other companies throw the kinds of graphics on thier lids that suomy does. plus, they are BSI and DOT approved. good lids

Originally Posted by Carolina_954

I am usually one of those buy what you can afford kinda guys, but in this case, I have to say spend the extra money. Most motorcycle fatalities are the result of head injury. Plus, even if you don't die, you could end up worse, like having someone else wipe your butt for the rest of your life and clean the drool off your chin. I have a good friend who was hit by an uninsured drunk driver. He lost his left arm at the shoulder and his left leg at the knee. He was back at work a little over a year later though because he had his helmet on. A good helmet is worth its weight in gold as far as I'm concerned.... of course anything is better than nothing.

to answer your question I prefer my suomy. I got a Bostrom Tattoo and I love it. Not many other companies throw the kinds of graphics on thier lids that suomy does. plus, they are BSI and DOT approved. good lids

Yeah, I think I'd rather be dead than disabled...that's just me though.

As far as the helmets go, Suomy does have some of the wildest graphics out there. I give them mad props for that. I just haven't seen any that appealed to me personally. Then again, I love my Shark helmet, but I wish they had some better graphics too.

Not to be of target here but I saw on two occasions where heads were still in helmets but a distance away from the body.

My point, a good helmet gives a piece of mind but is not a guarantee for survival.

Originally Posted by FB1000inPA

Not to be of target here but I saw on two occasions where heads were still in helmets but a distance away from the body.

My point, a good helmet gives a piece of mind but is not a guarantee for survival.

oh nothing in this life is guaranteed except death, but you always want to give yourself every possible chance. Like I said though a lesser lid may allow you to live, but in vegetative state. I know I wouldn't like that. I'd rather be gone than have to depend on others just to "live".

My theory is the helmet that fits your head is the helmet of your choice.Ive tried on most helmets. If a helmet doesnt fit your head chances are it will not protect you correctly . Make sure before you decide on which one to get that you try on a ARAI RX-7 Corsair. To me this is the best one on the market today. The fit and comfort is phenominal. Once you try one on you will buy one. The quantum isnt the same. Do not buy a used helmet unless you see it in person. There could be only a chip on the outside ,but inside a crack in the shell which would not protect you if needed.Its you head you only have one brain. do the math.Spend the extra. look on ebay I bought (fire n Ice )mine for 540 deliverd with a tinted shield. riders discount. now is a good time to buy.last years stock.

Originally Posted by need4speedrr

My theory is the helmet that fits your head is the helmet of your choice.Ive tried on most helmets. If a helmet doesnt fit your head chances are it will not protect you correctly . Make sure before you decide on which one to get that you try on a ARAI RX-7 Corsair. To me this is the best one on the market today. The fit and comfort is phenominal. Once you try one on you will buy one. The quantum isnt the same. Do not buy a used helmet unless you see it in person. There could be only a chip on the outside ,but inside a crack in the shell which would not protect you if needed.Its you head you only have one brain. do the math.Spend the extra. look on ebay I bought (fire n Ice )mine for 540 deliverd with a tinted shield. riders discount. now is a good time to buy.last years stock.

That makes no sense and is one big paradox. First you say your theory is the best helmet is the one that fits an individual's head. Then you say the Arai RX-7 Corsair is the best and the Quantum 2 is not. The flaw in your "opinion" is the RX-7 Corsair and Quantum 2 have two different head shapes. So yeah, if the RX7 fits you the best, the Quantum will not. But not everybody has the same headshape, like you first stated.

One of the m/c mags did a big piece on helmets of all quality's a couple years ago. What was interesting was that while the cheaper helmets that met DOT and Snell were completely useless and shattered after 1 crash, they transfered A LOT less impact energy to the head than the Shoei/Arai/Suomy types. They all exceed the standards, but that's not necessarily a good thing. I have personally crash tested (not on purpose) a $200 Icon pretty damn hard, adn it diddididn't effact em all at....Really though, I walked away from a hard crash (100+mph) w/ zero head injurys. A buddy of mine died in a 45mph crash on his Harley, wearing a full face Shoei that was less than 2 months old. He died from head trauma. So, I guess, when it's your time,..... However, the lighter the helmet, as long as it's of high quality, the less chance of neck injury you will have also. Think full c/f like the latest from HJC or the one available from Joe Rocket? It's like old school Indy cars that were heavy and crash survivable, built durable, versus latest and greatest F1 and Indy cars that basically explode during a crash, but driver injury/death is 100x less. Just my 2c. Not to detract from all the other well thought out posts in this thread, I certainly don't know it all. Hope this helps
Jim

Originally Posted by need4speedrr

My theory is the helmet that fits your head is the helmet of your choice.Ive tried on most helmets. If a helmet doesnt fit your head chances are it will not protect you correctly . Make sure before you decide on which one to get that you try on a ARAI RX-7 Corsair. To me this is the best one on the market today. The fit and comfort is phenominal. Once you try one on you will buy one. The quantum isnt the same. Do not buy a used helmet unless you see it in person. There could be only a chip on the outside ,but inside a crack in the shell which would not protect you if needed.Its you head you only have one brain. do the math.Spend the extra. look on ebay I bought (fire n Ice )mine for 540 deliverd with a tinted shield. riders discount. now is a good time to buy.last years stock.

Originally Posted by TroubledWine

That makes no sense and is one big paradox. First you say your theory is the best helmet is the one that fits an individual's head. Then you say the Arai RX-7 Corsair is the best and the Quantum 2 is not. The flaw in your "opinion" is the RX-7 Corsair and Quantum 2 have two different head shapes. So yeah, if the RX7 fits you the best, the Quantum will not. But not everybody has the same headshape, like you first stated.

Thanks! I was about to poop all over his statement. Glad you did it for me. He probably doesn't even know they are for different head shapes. Helmets aren't pussies, one size (or shape) does not fit all.

Shoei's are made more for a rounded head shape, while Arai's are more for the longer, narrower head/face shape. Or maybe it's the other way around, not sure. I do know I've always liked the fit of my Icon's...

i love my helmet. it fits me perfect, nice graphics, decent price. alot of people bash say the icon mainframe's are loud but im yet to experience the "loud" they are talking about. i mean all helmet have noise but mine is deffinatly tolerable.

icon mainframe eternal sinner:

Never have heard the complaint about loud. I just picked up the Domain Decay, bad a** graphics, great ventilation. And, right or wrong, I trust my noggin to it.

check out SBN they are always talking about how terrible icon stuff is.