Arai Helmets

[Hotblack]

I recommend that article as well. There's a lot of food for thought in it. One of the main points of the article is that according to Harry Hurt (and many many others in the madical/safety arenas) as a result of a helmet meeting Snell standards it as a side effect transmits an amount of Gs to the noggin that is way above what is considered safe. The standards used in DOT testing, according to Hurt, are more in line with the vast majority of head impacts that occur in accidents, and the DOT helmets are allowed to be softer, and thus absorb more Gs in the majority of impacts. The harder Snell helmets are required to deal with a type of impact that seldom occurs in street riding, and even more seldom in racing. There's a lot more to it than that, but that's kinda sorta the gist of it. I'm sure this will cause outrage in some quarters but I think it's worth a read, there seems to be a lot of weight to what Hurt is saying. He was also featured in a similar article in Motorcycle Consumer News, but the Motorcyclist article seems a little more in depth. In any event a new helmet is a cheap investment considering what it protects, especially if a $90 Z1R will do the trick.

[shortlid]

Bell Zepher

Bell is now selling it's DOT approved Zepher multi color and solid color helmets at Super Wal-Marts! for $77.80 but there is no support for these helmets or parts avaliable. :roll:

[bwringer]

Do those cheap Zephyrs have the rigid EPS foam in the chinbar? For some reason, a lot of cheapo helmets leave this essential piece of protection out. Other than that, they'll protect just as well.

More money buys more comfort, less weight, less noise, better venting, and better graphics and finish. For me and a lot of people, HJC helmets are the sweet spot in value and features -- for less than $150, I can get a top-of-the-line HJC AC-11.

Shoei helmets are hella expensive, but I have to say they are a bit more comfortable, and they seem to feel lighter and smaller on your head somehow. I haven't had the money to actually ride with a Shoei on, but I've heard they are quieter.

Arai helmets are even more expensive, of course, but the few I've tried on have seemed heavenly, with a vault-like quiet.

If you think full-face helmets are uncomfortable, try a new one. They get more and more comfortable every year.

A few other factors to consider:
Black or dark colored helmets absorb A LOT more heat from the sun. If you'll be riding behind a fairing or in traffic, the "skull oven" effect is even worse. Darth Vader stays inside his space ship for this reason. I've seen some flat black helmets from Hardley-Ableson that have to be absolutely brutal in the sun. Good thing Hardley riders only have to make it to the next tavern.

Visibility is worth thinking about too -- my bright solid yellow HJC is easy to see and does not absorb heat. There was a guy at the rally with a bright safety orange Shoei that would be an even better color.

Be aware that you give up that extra bit of visibility with intricate patterns and less visible colors

[Rock]

I just bought a Scorpion full helmet a few weeks ago. I feel these are near the top of the line helmets at a medium price. It's fiberglass/kevlar with a nice removable liner. Very comfortable and light. They are relatively new and I betting the prices will rise in the future.

That said, if the liner is good in a helmet and it has not been left in the sun all the time it should have a life far beyond 5 years. The fiberglass is not going to break down from normal use and force you to toss it after 5 years. The helmet companies would like you to buy a new one though as often as possible.

And shortlid, you can get parts for Bell helmets on their web site.

[bwringer]

The limiting factor for helmet life is the padding and cloth inside (the "comfort liner"), not the hard EPS foam. After enough wear and time, the padding just loses its ability to give a proper snug fit. For me, that's maybe 3 years at the most, but if you ride less, you might get a few more years out of the comfort liner.

At least the liner in my current helmet (HJC AC-10) snaps out for washing . However, this is the third and last season for this helmet.

[Rock]

That's what is nice about the Scorpian, the entire liner comes out and can be washed or replaced if needed.