Preferred Helmet

[MrFeldman]

Hey folks, this topic has probably been discussed many times before,
Which helmet are you riding with? I started my motorcycle riding in 1982 and after a handful of bikes & helmets, I bought my R1100s in 2006, I decided to go from Bell to Schuberth. The C-2 modular was the best helmet I ever owned. Very quiet light and comfy. Around 2014 my trusty C-2 was worn out. Replaced it with the then new C-4 pro with integrated Blu tooth system, huge disappointment, same fit , lightweight. But wind noise was horrible, especially at hwy speeds, sold it on Craigslist. Bought the C-3 Pro and added a Cardo PAC talk, same thing . Great fit lightweight, but again too much wind noise. After a 300 mile day my brain is scrabbling. I can’t believe my C-2 was the quietest of the 3. So Schuberth is out in my opinion. Any one have luck on quieter modular helmets?I can’t get comfortable with earplugs and I was very interested in the “ Sena, helmet with built in noise canceling technology, a few years back but reviews show that it’s not effective.

[Ridgetopboy]

I have a HJC RAPHA 91 modular helmet. Modular helmets do tend to be noisier than full-face and the HJC is, but it is quieter than the Schuberth C4 I had before it. The HJC RAPHA 91 is well-made, comfortable, and not obnoxiously noisy. As for Comms: I have trashed my Sena 50S in favor of a RideKingz comm unit. I couldn't hear the Sena at anything above 50mph so I bought a pair of the RideKingz for $90. To my amazement, the RideKingz units are superior to the Sena, louder and connectivity-wise. I actually can't turn the volume all the way up even at alta speed limit speeds.

[njsax]

I have no brand loyalty for helmets. I buy on-line in late Autumn when they go on sale or closeout, and never pay more than $200. It'll be a cold day in hell before I drop $1000 on a brain bucket.

It must meet the current Snell specifications or equivalent. I don't use any kind of electronic devices, so that is not a factor. Just foam ear plugs, which make any helmet acceptably quiet for me. I always wear a wicking helmet liner, which further dampens the noise.

Since helmet guidelines state that they are generally only good for five years, these are not lifetime purchases. Guidelines or not, after 4 or 5 years they're pretty disgusting anyway. Therefore, I don't make a science project out of buying one.

If it doesn't come with a spare face shield, I'll buy one. I change them out about every two years. I prefer a non-hinged helmet - had one or two in the past and I don't care for them.

[ckcarr]

I'm with him.

As a matter of fact I haven't bought enough helmets in my life to be able to determine heavy or light weight, or comfortable or not... I get what's on sale (usually Bell) and call it a day.

Originally Posted by njsax

I have no brand loyalty for helmets. I buy on-line in late Autumn when they go on sale or closeout, and never pay more than $200. It'll be a cold day in hell before I drop $1000 on a brain bucket.

[908/930]

I picked up a Shoei GT air 2 last year, pretty good overall. With the RC8R on longer rides I usually wear ear plugs mostly to cut out the exhaust noise, bike is loud. On a quieter bike the wind/road noise is not that bad but still there. They fit tight around the bottom with a chin cover to keep noise out but side effect is visor will fog up quick when not moving. It is supplied with a pinlock ant fog screen that can be installed, I just open my visor when stopped.

Have you tried different types of earplugs? Most ear plugs try to reduce noise by 30db, I usually don't fit them in tight, still like to hear what is around me.

[mgp steve]

I find good earplugs can handle most noise no matter where it comes from. The orange foamies work really well. Wetting them makes for a good fit though I have had to use needle nose pliers once in a while to get them out. Not sure if spit is t good for skin, I use a water from a water bottle.

Head shape plays a big role in what helmet fits best. I like Arai Corsair for their lightness and airflow for summer. Too cold in winter. A Shoei with a minimum of vents works well in winter. Plugging the vents from inside with the orange foamies and painters tape over the outside keepscold air out most of the time. Below 15°f I wear a Gmax with a heated visor. Keeps visor uncrossed and it heats up my head.

On a sport bike you can get a sore neck from having to hold your head up so high to see. Arai rep at MC show said to get one size smaller to get the viewing window further up the face. Works great (take a look at motogp riders, you can usually see their chins below the bottom of the helmet). Arai and Shoei both offer different size internal pads so it is possible to control fit

[mgp steve]

PS with head tilted back on sport bike, my airbag vest wore out the bottom padding on my helmet. Wish I had figured out how to protect it.

[mosearch]

I agree that Head shape plays a big role in what helmet fits best. While I can kind of use any old helmet, the "long oval" Signet-X from Arai is so much more conmfortable on my head that I always go for the rather eye watering cost...about every 7 years. I'm on my fourth...your head may be different; my wife chooses the pretty much round shaped Shoei line.

[jdazey]

Having crash tested head to pavement in rather emphatic fashion, I'll stick with Arai Signet, this time an X. FWIW my wife says she can't tell the difference between pre-crash me and post-crash me. I'm not exactly sure what she means by that, but thank you Mr. Arai, thank you Andy Goldfine.