Brain Buckets, what do you use?
 

There has been a fair number of motorcycle threads here, so I thought I'd throw this for us to mull over (and since I don't think Obama or McCain have a strong stance on helmets so this shouldn't degrade to a politcal discussion).

My first helmet (when I got back into riding) was a Schuberth like this one:
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1220978833.jpg

It was pretty noisy, and not that comfortable, so I sold it.

After trying on numerous different brands, and types, I came to the conclusion I have an Arai head. My current one is similar to this, while it isn't an RX-7 Corsair, it is a Signet GTR, I couldn't find any pictures online, and my digital camera is dead. It looks very similar to this one:
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1220978961.jpg

I do also have a DOT approved half helemt, a Fuhlmer, but to be honest, it makes my head look like a mushroom cap. Its pretty comfortable though, and unlike those "skull cap" fake dealies, this does offer some protection:
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1220979046.jpg

Lastly, my dirt bike helmet. I have an HJC that is a couple of years old. I really like this helmet, as the lining is removable and washable and wasn't that expensive, since I do have a habbit of needing to replace the offroad helmets. It looks like this:
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1220979167.jpg

I need to get some pictures of my bicycle helmets on here, since there are lots of riders on here. I have a Bell that was a tribute to someone that has an eagle on it (bought back in '98 or so), and the whole Reebok pump thingy, and a Giro that is blue and yellow and has barbed wire graffics. I still wear them, as I have never taken a bad enough dig to warrant replacing them.

Bill

Shoei RF-1000, bright yellow

I like visible

http://nostatic.com/photos/labor1.jpg

I thought you put bags on the GS... What did you get?

I have two Scorpion Exo-700's, one for the wife, which gets almost no use, and one in my size. Though the shells are all the same size, so I can just buy another pad kit if I want to take over my wife's helmet. With the sun in AZ I think I need to go with a white helmet next time. I've seen some stuff on ADVrider.com that suggests the $700 Arais offer no more protection in a crash than the cheapo Scorpions or HJC's. I think I want an HJC concept/flip-up next, depending on noise.

I have read that too Rick. To be honest though, the noise on my flip up Schuberth was horrendous and I couldn't stand it. The Aria just fit my head the best, trust me, I tried on a ton, since I had made a mistake buying the Schuberth, I didn't want to make it twice.

I too have the Arai Signet shaped head. Nothing else fits right. :(

I got a Fox V3 Pilot for dirt biking and it breaths well and is light:)
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1220980722.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1220980738.jpg

Arai.

Picked up the vario side cases last weekend...brilliant expandability design. That shot was before the purchase. To be honest I just run the top case most of the time as I don't like the extra width in the back while lane splitting. I pop the side cases on if I need to haul more stuff or if riding 2-up and we want to be able to lock away our gear on the bike while out and about.

Got the g/f a Scorpion last weekend as she had been using my Bell track helmet. Jury is still out as every head is different and different brands fit different people. Shoei works for me.

I like the look of running with no cases on, but the cases have spared me more damage or pain on a few tipovers. Pretty sure I would have nearly broken my left ankle in a parking lot tipover if not for the left side case. Of course, had i just put my helmet on my head to move the bike across the parking lot rather than try to balance it on my tank bag with my chin while pushing off the center stand, I'd have not dropped it. Yup, my only injury due to no helmet was a twisted left wrist.

I've been in a Schuberth C1 for some time. Noisy and heavy. I'm hoping to get something tasty at the MotoGP in Indy.

HJC full face, but next skid lid will be an Arai full face.

I too use a Shoei RF-1000, because it fits the best for me. Fit is everything in a helmet both for comfort and safety.

BTW, want to know how to reduce your chances of being involved in a accident by 20+%? Wear a white helmet.

I agree Rick, my Jesse bag's saved my GS some damge as well.

Currently a Shoei RF-1000 in gray. I've owned 3 HJC's (one for me, one for the wife, and one for the kids), and never really found any fault in them, and thankfully have avoided real-world testing of there capabilities in a crash... I'm saving my pennies for Arai, although I've always wanted the Shoei Picotte 3 in orange for some reason. I'm not normally that flamboyant...

HJC for the street and my old trusty Bell Moto 4 for offroad (have gone thru several removable/washable liners on that one). I would not turn down a $700 helmet if someone gave me one, but I feel safe enough with any modern DOT/Snell approved full face helmets.

There was a guy from Tucson on ADVrider.com who got into a pretty bad wreck on his Adventure that would have meant a leg amputation if not for his Jesse bags. The stock BMW cases aren't nearly as strong, but they do provide some protection.

Another guy on ADVrider had his wife on the back and hit a donkey at hwy. speed up near the Grand Canyon. They both walked away from it. But then he posted photos of how his riding gear had fared in the wreck, slamming Olympia and swearing he'd never buy their stuff again. What a tool. He was lucky to live and he walked away with minimal injuries and gets all mad at his gear. I don't care how many thousands I have into my gear. If it saves me in a hwy-speed collision with a large animal, I'll cheerfully throw it away, buy more and thank God to be alive.

I don't think enough importance is placed on helmet ratings. From the outside helmets all look about the same, but construction and materials have evolved over the years. That helmet you bought 10 years ago may still look like new, but it's not going to protect you like the most currently rated SNELL approved version. SNELL 2005 or maybe 2010 is out now for motorcycles.

Most drag tracks won't allow you to run a car or bike without a properly dated SNELL approved helmet.

DOT stamped helmets might be okay for paintball, but I wouldn't bet my brains, or my families, on those letters alone. ;)

I agree. I wouldn't wear a helmet that's out of date. But two helmets of the same SNELL or DOT date and rating can still have several hundred dollars in price difference. Is one realyl safer that the other? Or is it more a matter of style and comfort?

I, too, have a Shoei head.

i was using a Davida Jet but switched to an HJC full face. im due for a new helmet next spring

Terry, you really need to read the review done by Motorcyclist Magazine regarding DOT v. Snell helmets. Turns out Snell rated helmets transmitted much more energy to your head in a crash then DOT helmets do.

The review: http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/gearbox/motorcycle_helmet_review/index.html

Shoei full face for the bike

HJC open face for DE and other car related events

Bell for bicycle riding.

That's quite an impressively loooooong article, sorry I couldn't finish it. ;) Seriously, it was interesting and informative. I'm sure there are rebuttals out there too. Instead, I should have stressed it's more important to keep current than rely on the helmet you got handed down from dad or grandpa.

Current DOT is probably fine, of course, I read it on the back of those skullcaps that look like they're pretty useless, but they make good stuff too.

One, alleged, fact that I read a while back is that DOT allows the manufacturers to perform their own testing. This resulted in failure rate of over 20% when audited by random DOT testing. If 1 in 5 helmets are failing DOT specs and still being sold, that puts more risk out there than the allegations against SNELL in that article. This info may be a few years old and has changed by now... . but maybe not.

Damn Terry, can't believe you just dismiss the article because it is long. It came out last year. It doesn't say that all Snell helmets are bad. Here are the test results for their recommended helmets for anyone interested:

AVERAGE Gs
Fewer Gs = Less chance of brain injury

DOT-only helmets:

Z1R ZRP-1 (P)
Average: 152 Gs
LF: 148 gs
RF: 176 gs
LR: 153 gs
RR: 130 gs

Fulmer AFD4 (P)
Average: 157 Gs
LF: 152 gs
RF: 173 gs
LR: 175 gs
RR: 130 gs

Pep Boys Raider (P)
Average: 174 Gs
LF: 163 gs
RF: 199 gs
LR: 185 gs
RR: 152 gs

BSI/DOT Helmets

AGV Ti-Tech (F)
Average: 169 Gs
LF: 156 gs
RF: 199 gs
LR: 195 gs
RR: 129 gs

Suomy Spec 1R (BSI) (F)
Average: 182 Gs
LF: 192 gs
RF: 215 gs
LR: 197 gs
RR: 126 gs

ECE 22-05/DOT Helmets

Schuberth S-1 (F)
Average: 161 Gs
LF: 151 gs
RF: 180 gs
LR: 176 gs
RR: 137 gs

Suomy Spec 1R (ECE) (F)
Average: 171 Gs
LF: 156 gs
RF: 200 gs
LR: 190 gs
RR: 140 gs

Shark RSX (F)
Average: 173 Gs
LF: 166 gs
RF: 187 gs
LR: 201 gs
RR: 141 gs

Vemar VSR
Average: 174 Gs
LF: 171 gs
RF: 198 gs
LR: 166 gs
RR: 162 gs

Snell 2000/DOT Helmets

Icon Mainframe (P)
Average: 181 Gs
LF: 168 gs
RF: 217 gs
LR: 189 gs
RR: 152 gs

Icon Alliance (F)
Average: 183 Gs
LF: 179 gs
RF: 200 gs
LR: 179 gs
RR: 175 gs

Scorpion EXO-400 (P)
Average: 187 Gs
LF: 185 gs
RF: 212 gs
LR: 193 gs
RR: 158 gs

AGV X-R2 (F)
Average: 188 Gs
LF: 192 gs
RF: 226 gs
LR: 166 gs
RR: 167 gs

Arai Tracker GT (F)
Average: 201 Gs
LF: 193 gs
RF: 243 gs
LR: 203 gs
RR: 166 gs

HJC AC-11 (F)
Average: 204 Gs
LF: 195 gs
RF: 230 gs
LR: 231 gs
RR: 163 gs

Scorpion EXO-700 (F)
Average: 211 Gs
LF: 207 gs
RF: 236 gs
LR: 226 gs
RR: 176 gs

Impact Key: LF: Left Front, 7-foot drop, Flat Pavement. RF: Right Front, 10-foot drop, Flat Pavement. LR: Left Rear, 7-foot drop, Flat Pavement. RR: Right Rear, 7-foot drop, Edge Anvil. Shell Key: (P): Polycarbonate (F): Fiberglass

[QUOTE=Kurt V;4170270]Damn Terry, can't believe you just dismiss the article because it is long. It came out last year. It doesn't say that all Snell helmets are bad. Here are the test results for their recommended helmets for anyone interested:

Umm, no I didn't dismiss it. I even said if was informative. I'm not going to debate the issue because I'm not an authority on helmets. I never heard of the website containing the article, so I don't necessarily put credence into every word they wrote. I'm sure there is a lot factual stuff in there.

I do know the NHRA and IHRA require Snell approval with no mention of DOT. Maybe they haven't seen the web article or have their own agenda with regards to safety.

"A full face Snell M2000, M2005, K98, K2005, SA2000, SA2005, SFI 31.2A, 41.2A helmet and shield mandatory; (goggles prohibited).

For all open-bodied front-engine or rear-engine supercharged, turbocharged, or nitrous cars, a full-face Snell SA 2000, SA2005, or SFI 31.2A helmet and shield mandatory; (goggles prohibited). See General Regulations 10:7."


Anyway, don't get your shorts wadded up on my account. :)

Wear a newer approved helmet and enjoy a long life on two wheels.

As long as it's Snell rated, I'd worry more about fit than brand. I've always worn Shoei MC helmets so my first SA rated helmet was Shoei. Then they quit making a SA rated Shoei so I bought a Bell. That was a $700 mistake. It just never felt right and makes the $1000 SA rated Arai not look so expensive.

any DOT/SNELL certified helmet is going to give good protection. i ride every day. and focus on light weight and ventilation, and washability. always found arais the most comfortable. about 600 miles into an 800 mile day you'll be glad you coughed up the extra money.

i have been through a windshield wearing an arai. things like that inspire brand loyalty. but the current one, a carr red signet, is coming apart. the trim is peeling. the side panels are popping off. i'm pissed. am looking at shoei. but only icons seem to come with uglier paint jobs.

Current: Shoei
Next: ZRP1