what brand helmet?

[cruisin]

  My Nolan N102 helmet is nearing time for replacement.  I've been considering a lower cost helmet as the big brand names are getting so expensive.  What's good, bad, and ugly out there? Are the HJC, LS2, Bell, G-Max, etc. worth looking at? They are half the price of the Nolans and others.

[Sport-Touring]

[expatbrit]

I have an RS-1. Very happy with it. Snell 2010 and the photochromic visor is grear

[Flyer]

I'm on my third HJC Symax modular, and Santa has a standing request for a fourth.

[Blue is Best]

I have a Bell, Bilt and KBC. As long as the helmet meets the specs I buy features, design/color and price. I don't wear the KBC, although I like it, due to design. Sort of grew out of the design.

[st2sam]

I've tried just about every brand out there.

My favorite is Shoei, expensive, but bought on sale or a non-current model is not bad.

IMO best bang for the buck, from what I've read and reviews, LS2.

[FJRider]

For around town I wear an Arai RX-Q. For touring it a Schuberth C3 Pro. Terribly expensive choices. One is for safety the other is for silence on the road.

[ToadRide]

Very happy with my Shoei Neotech. Was a replacement for my HJC and shows quite a difference. Was riding with a friend recently who had a Schuberth modular and he doesn't use earplugs because he says the wind reduction is so good.

[Tmds3]

I have worn the HJC and liked them, I have 2 Bilt helmets that are ok, but not a lot of ventilation , I now own 2 Scorpion EXO-700 helmets and really like them a lot.

[PatM]

I had a kbc for a while. It was a notch above the other cheap or medium priced helmet. Comfortable and not too noisy. I retired it after a crash.
I now have higher end helmets, shuberth and a shoei neotec. They are a notch above in comfort and noise cancelling.
Comfort is IMO the premier reason to select an helmet over another. Not price.

[jay547]

I wear what fits my head. Of the ten or so brands that I've tried, HJC does that best.

[GvG]

I have never owned any system helmets, but here's a quick overview of a recent test of 14 of them by German Motorrad. The short conclusion (every helmet also has a larger 'good' and 'bad' section, so if you want to know it for any of them, just ask):

Airoh Phantom inadequate
Heavy at 1.8 kilograms, high HIC (Head Injury Collision) _{[lower is better]} values and also extremely noisy at higher speeds.

BMW 6 Evo very good
comfort, safety and functionality at the highest level

Held CT-1200 good
below 1.5 kilograms, that's almost sensational. Also good when riding

HJC IS-Max II good (Best Buy)
gives its price segment competitors and some much more expensive competitors a hard time

IXS HX325 inadequate
looks well made at first glance, but doesn't live up to that in practice, especially not in the HIC value

LS2 FF325 Strobe adequate
HIC value is really good. Lack of comfort and in fit

Nishua NFX-1 Carbon good
[excellent performance on the weight scale. In many other ways, sadly, the opposite. In this price range more quality is expected

ROCC 680/681 inadequate
The outer shell is exactly the same as the (twice as expensive) Held. The inner side is a different matter. Multiple flaws in fit.

ROOF Desmo inadequate
Noisy

Schuberth C3 Pro very good (Test Winner)
Comfort is top notch

Scorpion Exo-3000 Air good
Stability is good, noise level less so. HIC value somewhat disappointing

Shark Evoline Series 3 adequate
Sensational good HIC value

[Blue is Best]

Yeah, but, where are the brands we over here usually buy?

[GvG]

Yeah, but, where are the brands we over here usually buy?

Some manufacturers refuse to take part in the tests and something like Bell or Simpson is really hard to get over here. And I have no idea what are standard brands in the USA. If these are also 'made in the USA', it's likely they are very rare over here.

[Blue is Best]

Some manufacturers refuse to take part in the tests and something like Bell or Simpson is really hard to get over here. And I have no idea what are standard brands in the USA. If these are also 'made in the USA', it's likely they are very rare over here.

Yeah, the test represented what you usually get and a test over here would probably represent what we usually get. Fair is fair.

[Dan K]

I wear what fits my head.

You need to figure out what shaped head you have and find a helmet that is made to fit that shape. That's more important than brand. Some brands have multiple shapes (like Arai, but they're expensive). Others are more suitable to round heads, others for more oval heads.

Fit over brand. Function over form.

Rant over.


 -Dan

[Volfy]

^ this.

[R Doug]

You need to figure out what shaped head you have and find a helmet that is made to fit that shape. That's more important than brand. Some brands have multiple shapes (like Arai, but they're expensive). Others are more suitable to round heads, others for more oval heads.

Fit over brand. Function over form.

Rant over.


 -Dan

^ this.

+2

[Oxblood]

I am partial to HJC. I have had the SymaxII, the Symax III, the IS MAX BT, FS-15 and I am now using the IS MAX II. All have been excellent helmets at very competitive prices. My only criticism of the IS MAX II, which is my current gear is it is a bit loud.  Other than that it is a very good helmet for less than 3 bills.

[cruisin]

I guess I should have noted I am on my third Nolan since 2000 and about 300K miles in them.  I know what shape I need, I'm just hoping to get some second opinions on the newer brands, as technology does move forward and generally brings prices down on quality products.  That said, I think the 300+$$ helmets are very fine pieces of equipment, but do some of the new brands offer just as good of protection, comfort and overall quality at half the price?  That's the bigger question in my mind.

[NotDeadYet]

The last 3 helmets I have owned have all been Shoei.  I had an RF1000 which I crashed.  I then used an RF1100 which I still have and I found an online deal on a Shoei X12 which was too good to pass up.  I still use the RF1100 occasionally but my X12 has become my go to helmet.  Of all of the helmets I have owned or tried on in the shop the Shoei just seems to fit me best.  As noted earlier get the helmet that fits best.  I think most of the better helmets sold these days will all do a good job of protecting you in the event of a crash.  Having said that I would never ride without a full face helmet.  I do like the idea of a modular for convenience when filling up and at quick stops but I have never found one that made me feel as secure as a full face does.