Motorcycle Helmet

[Yorkie]

Originally Posted by Chocaholic

I wear full face 90% of the time. When it's scorching hot and humid (Georgia) I'll wear a half helmet if going for a short ride on my naked bike (Bonneville) to cool off, with perf gear. I always wear earplugs.

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.

[Eric Coffey]

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.

[epbrown]

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.

[NutmegCarrera]

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.

[Don Ro]

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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[scottmandue]

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.

[Don Ro]

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

[Brando]

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.

[unclebilly]

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.

[Noah930]

^^^ Wow. Did not know that.

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

[unclebilly]

Originally Posted by Noah930

^^^ 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.

[unclebilly]

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

[flatbutt]

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

[pavulon]

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

[Don Ro]

Originally Posted by pavulon

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.

[unclebilly]

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

[Eric Coffey]

Originally Posted by unclebilly

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.

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?

[porsche4life]

Originally Posted by unclebilly

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.

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.

[Rot 911]

Originally Posted by unclebilly

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

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.

[epbrown]

Originally Posted by unclebilly

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

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.