+1 on Scorpion helmets.

I raced with one yesterday, and wore a Scorpion Freedom helmet when racing my XR1200 a few years back.

Nice video review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMi1gFEg46s

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1485813786.jpg

I got knocked off my 2008 Bonnie a couple of weeks ago. 30 mph in a residential neighborhood and was glad I was wearing my full face as it would have easily busted my jaw. I went over the hood of a car and upon examining my helmet afterwards there was scuffs on the front and side of the chin part of the helmet. As they say, dress for the crash not the ride.

For another departure from Arai/Shoei, you might look at recent offerings from Bell (they've sorta made a comeback).
Their "Star" line is pretty slick. They are one of the few to have photochromic ("Transitions") visors available as well.

I wear both a full face and an open face. Truth is, this is your chance to set your tolerance level. I know younger people who think any car without 10 airbags is a death trap, and when I started driving lap belts were state of the art. I always belt up, but I'll never have their anxiety level about missing safety tech like ABS or airbags because I went for decades without them.

Same with helmets. When I first started riding, my family made fun of me for wearing a helmet - they were for racers, not regular riding. Having ridden for 40 years with an open face, I'm not as nervous about not having full face. That said, the weird thing is nothing has ever hit cme in my open face(not even a bug), but I've had a few "whoa!" moments where something bounced off the shield of my full face (Scorpion).

No one had to talk me into Kevlar jeans and armored jackets, though.

I won't bother with helmet recs, as that totally depends on your head shape.

Very cool to see such a high Porsche / motorcycle correlation here!
And, very sensible advice at that.
Goes to prove the integrity of the PPOT community.

AGV for me, full face.

Remember these original Bell helmets?
Was it back in '78 or so?
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My first helmet was a converted football helmet, no face shield and the ear holes covered with some aluminum logo...sold by a dealer. I must have been 12 or so.
That was a big deal back then...'57.

We've come a long way, baby!
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http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1485893688.jpg
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http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1485893945.jpg

As others have said... it only takes one trip over the handlebars and a face plant and you will never wear anything but full face helmet.

Nice color scheme...would even look good today on a modreen bucket.

I have to agree with the majority here - Full face. I got hit back in 2010 and wore a bucket + goggles. The left side of my face got bruised up nice, goggles saved my left eye but I still have bruising + broken blood vessels. Since then, full face all the time.

Depending on weather where you live, you may want more or less vents. I recently upgraded to a SHOEI RF-1200 with the pinlock visor. Added the SENA Bluetooth unit myself and the helmet was designed for it. Set me back about $610 all-in. The best part, they have 3 or 4 bucket sizes, but all sorts of padding sizes. The pads all snap in/out real easy so if you want to clean or replace them it's very easy. Replace pads as needed to achieve proper comfort and fit.

Here's the thing about Bell (and probably a few other manufacturers). You arent buying a Bell helmet anymore. You are buying a Chinese made helmet where an importer has licensed the Bell trademark and affixed it to the helmet.

Bell is no longer a helmet manufacturer and has not been for a very long time. They license their name to numerous importers (bike helmets are company x, Motorcycle helmets are company(s) y (and z), and SA helmets are company q).

With Bell, you are paying for a brand that has no link to the Bell products of the 1960s - 1980's that we all associate their quality with.

I went through this a few years ago when I bought a new car racing helmet and eventually went with the Pyrotect becasue they were the Bell importer.

^^^ Wow. Did not know that.

So doesn't Vettel wear a Bell? Who makes his helmets?

I bet that if his helmet says 'Bell' on it, Bell has paid to have their name there. Who knows who the actual manufacturer is.

There is Bell Racing, Bell Powersports, Bell Cycling... all different companies.

Scorpion EXO is the quietest helmet I own, a beotch to break in but worth it.

find a helmet you like, try it on, then look for it new or lightly used on all the usual websites.

Not bad advice...however, padding gets soiled, crushed, & stinky if PO was a pig. ;)
I've worn pilot skull caps for years...buckets stay fresh & clean, and a pleasure to wear.
One thing I've noticed in the past...when I need a shave my growth wears out the cheek pads early on.

To quote John Condren, the guy that started Chump Car, "If you have a $100 head, buy a $100 helmet."

I wonder if it's one of those "parts made in China, assembled in the US/EU/UAE" situations. Regardless, the MC models are much better now, as opposed to several years back when the QC/workmanship left much to be desired.

Also, I thought Bell still had a production facility in Illinois...is that now gone?

Yup, I used to sell Bell and if you call the MC guys about s car helmet they just hang up.


If you guys are looking for a deal on an Arai helmet, call Sammy Tanner Distrbuting in Socal. They've got huge inventory and are great to work with.

Not necessarily true. An older article, but one still worth reading: http://coneheadhelmets.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Blowing_the_Lid_Off.pdf

I have a number of helmets Scorpion, Bell and Arai. The Scorpion fits every bit as well as the Bell and Arai and was easily half the price. Scores very high in crashing testing also.

The Bell is my track helmet and is designed as such.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1485962047.JPG

And while that's pithy and folksy and stuff, not all that accurate these days. My Scorpion full-face was $100 at Revzilla because I bought it on clearance when the new season's helmets were coming out. :)

Truth is, tech has advanced to the point where you really can't buy a crappy helmet (outside of the novelty types weekend warriors wear for dress-up); the extra money goes into features that add to comfort and aesthetics, mostly.

The difference between a high end helmet like an arai and something like a bell is apparent after about the tenth hour in the saddle or the middle of summer during your daily commute.

Comfort
Ventilation
Ease of cleaning
Etc

All really matter after a while.

I agree with that, for the most part. My point was the issue of safety re. the "$100 head" quote. I mention it because I've noticed with motorcycle gear that often newbies are inadvertently discouraged from getting any safety gear because they can't swing top of the line. I had frequent heated discussions back when I was on RideApart because one of their writers was of the mindset that without $4000 in gear you were a suicidal idiot.

It get that all the helmets discussed meet snell standards. And in some cases you're paying three times as much for a maybe 5% better safety factor.

My point is that it only works if you wear it. If a helmet is hot, uncomfortable or smelly you're going to leave it home one day.

P.s. I would have been spared a month in a wheelchair if I'd been wearing a cheap $100 spine protector. But it was hot that day.

It is true that John used to say, If you have a $100 head, buy a $100 helmet. I can probably find the posts on the ChumpCar forum.

I am a believer in Snell certification over DOT because Snell Certification involves 3rd party testing whereas DOT testing is done in house.

For my dirt bike, i have a new Fox V2 helmet that I have yet to wear. It is replacing the helmet that I crashed with last spring where i broke a rib and vertebrae.

For car racing and kart racing, I have a Snell SA helmet.

My street bike days are over but I still have my old AGV Snell M90 helmet...

You don't need to drop $4000 on safety gear to be safe, what is important is that the gear you choose to wear fits correctly, is in good condition, and has passed some level of testing that demonstrates that it will provide adequate protection in the event of an accident.

YMMV!

You've been mislead. They've had Snell for years. Even on entry level lids: Scorpion Sports Inc. USA :: Motorcycle Helmets and Apparel EXO-R410 Performance Sport Helmet We Live In Our Protection

Smelly, hot, sweaty helmets are the best to wear on hot days, especially of another guy has already spent five years sweating in it before you ever get in it, yourself.

WooHoo, thanks to an uber driver I'm a 1 %'er. I like Arai long ovals, but liked the look of this shoei enough to endure the break-in time getting my block-shaped head into round hole.




http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1579286423.JPG

Nishiki is the only brand that I could get to fit my head. Had to buy xlg.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1579289618.jpg

oops...thought this was for bike helmets.

Another reason for full face, I had a friend who had a seagull fly into his path while he was at about 200kph (125mph) clipped his windscreen then hit his helmet, he said almost took him off the bike, he came into work with feathers still stick in his visor. On a different note, on hot days I use to open my visor one notch, while on highway 401 at about 120kph (75mph) I had a small pebble bounce in and somehow ended up in my eye, trying to slow down on the shoulder with lots of traffic while eyes watering and one shut, somehow did not hit the guardrail, after that I always had a pair of clear safety glasses I would put on if visor was up.

Your Shoei is pretty hot. Here's my favorite Icon:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1584707817.jpg

I bought it off of eBay from a guy who would roll out of bed and into his lid, daily, for at least seven years. I don't think he ever washed his hair. The inside of the lid stinks from years of sweaty riding in Los Angeles heat. Whenever I get in the lid, I can smell all of those long, hot rides.

Search "balaclava" on ebay. $5 to $20 /ea. Wear a few days and throw in wash. Your helmet will stay clean.

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l1313&_nkw=marines+b alaclava&_sacat=6028&LH_TitleDesc=0&_osacat=6028&_ odkw=balaclava