Jay Leno & The Arai Helmet Guru

[Hondo]

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[fishmeister]

But being advised to replace your helmet every couple of seasons?...From contaminates off ones head...maybe just the padding i can understand.

[Bumblebee]

As long as you don't hurt the helmet in any way and you can wash or replace the liners, there is no reason a helmet can not serve you for a very long time......

I tend to take care of my stuff. Helmets get washed out and waxed regularly.
My old KBC fell off the seat a couple times, inadvertently rolled around in the RV for a couple hundred miles and the liners weren't removeable. It was 11 years old with over 20,000 miles when it died in the line of duty saving me from certain death and a severe maiming. A 20mph nearly head first high g force impact on the left forehead just above my eyebrow left 3/8" compression in the impact foam about 4 inches in diameter.

That was my first helmet when I only had a reasonable idea about proper fitting based on flight helmet fitting. The Shoei that took over the roll is much more secure and tight. There's nothing like a face plant to show you where a helmet didn't quite fit properly dhamkit. The chinbar hit me in the nose like someone backhanded me hard. Better head fit without cheek pads then adding tighter cheek pads were top priority in the helmet hunt. Curiously some helmets had the chin strap attach points too far forward or back to assist in securing the helmet in place.

BTW, if you're ever in a motorcycle shop and I'm trying on helmets, you'll know me on sight. I'll be the one wearing the same helmet for half an hour and occasionally grabbing it and yanking it around like I'm trying to get an octopus off my head. It's rather comical.

[fishmeister]

                First, and foremost the melon has to be properly protected.

     I also had three consultants shaking, twisting and pulling my head in every direction possible. Sticking their fingers inside, replacing numerous size pads, (all in separate plastic bags)..a full inventory of every pad was available. I was so totally impressed i got over the head rattling session just before. They spent over an hour snapping different pads in and out within two size shells until THEY were happy with the fit.

    I think it was the best customer service i ever received. TOTALLY SATISFIED !

I will admit, i thought it was a bit snug......but seeing the frown on their faces when i mentioned that, convinced me they knew much more than i did.

                                     sportbiketrackgear.com

[luckylindy]

  I buy alot of accessories online, but you better have your helmet fitted in a store like BB and fish suggest.  Even a $500 helmet will not do much good unless it fits snugly.  I know my $100 5 year old FF helmet saved my life in my crash.  It was my first FF and like Fish I thought it was too tight at first but I'm thankful that shop employee knew his stuff.  I know I'm probably preaching to the choir as it seems most everyone here wears a helmet but get a good fitting helmet folks.

[Bumblebee]

I buy alot of accessories online, but you better have your helmet fitted in a store like BB and fish suggest.

For the most part I mail order my gear including helmets. It beats the locals by quite a bit sometimes and has better overall service. You bet I try stuff on first or have the ability to return things without hassles if it doesn't fit right. Unethical fingering their wares with my dirty paws? Probably. Practical? Very definitely.

Actually I'm figuring this all out on my own based on what I learn online discussions like here or advrider, the rare discussion with other riders, by kinetic energy transfers and my general overall knowledge of things and rational thought processes.


The real problem is how do you find a store where they actually know what they're doing? Most have worker ants that walk out to their car or bike and mount up without gear or helmets. Some give advice yet most seem to be helpful sales clerk types. It's almost like if you're buying gear, they assume you know what you're doing and you're assuming since they're helping, they know what they're doing. That's a really bad situation for timid beginner riders who don't know and aren't forceful enough to ask the right questions.


Sort of a rant here however it's very valid IMO:
Based on observation, the motorcycle sales front end industry on the whole is based on selling motorcycles, maintenance and selling accessories like limited crash gear in that order. I've seen many times where they'll yack for an hour about the new superbike for $12K and don't even mention crash gear or training. IMO, most new riders with no riding friends/family know squat nothing about how to survive a tumble off other than having a very comfortable loose fitting stylish helmet on their head, preferably open face, yet they're handed the keys to liter bikes. Of course some of that probably has to do with not scaring off potential new customers by saying things such as "now that you picked the bike you want, come look at this stuff over here because you're going to need it when you fall off and bust you face on the giant angry 4-grit belt sander so fork up another $800+." That's not the case everywhere but it's enough to be scary.
Sort of rant off.

[flyingmunkii]

awesome post!

as a complete newbie, ive been a bit unsure as to how to go about buying a helmet that fits rather than a helmet someone at a store is going to tell me fits. any other tips would be helpful.

[fishmeister]

        Finding a supplier that will fit you properly is the hard part.
        I guess it just depends how important that quest is to you.

[Bumblebee]

as a complete newbie, ive been a bit unsure as to how to go about buying a helmet that fits rather than a helmet someone at a store is going to tell me fits. any other tips would be helpful.

If you ever find someone that actually knows how to fit helmets, post'em up so we can all give them our business in the future.


Bumblebee's method based on having been through a proper fitting of a flight helmet way back when and multiple webboard/in-person discussions on the matter with other riders:

First off, pricetags and color - don't even look. $10 or $1500, try them all on. Fit first, color second, price third - IN THAT ORDER. (Yes I put a screaming pink helmet on one day for half an hour that had cute little teddy bears and flowers all over it. I eventually went with screaming yellow and another brand however I'm still wondering if the image of a guy with a cute pink helmet would help cagers spot me better or not. I have no shame because the ground is a brutal thing to have slam into you)

If you've never worn a helmet and get one that fits comfortably and think it's right for you, it's almost certainly the wrong fit for you.
Grab one that is in the general size range you're looking for.
Put it on your noggin.
You're looking for one that contacts your head equally all the way around your skull. There are different head shapes and you'll have to experiment around until you find the brand/model that fits your specific head shape.
Internal shape and fit: You're looking for quite snug that doesn't squish your brains out. There's a difference between snug and pressure, you're looking for symmetric snug all the way around. (If you're having a hard time determining skull fit, pull the cheekpads so you can feel the skull padding better without the distracting pressure of the cheek pads)
Once you find one that's the right shape, try the size up and size down. Which fits best? If it's hard to get on and squishes your ears getting it on/off, you're in the ballpark.
Now things start getting uncomfortable a bit.
Hold your head still and try to turn the helmet side to side. Your head should go with the helmet. Now tilt it up and down. Again, your head should go with it. There is always some helmet movement independent of your head. You're looking for skin movement feelings. (Put your hands securely on your bare head and move your hands, that's what the helmet should do to your skin) IIRC I can turn my helmet side/side about half an inch and up/down less than an inch.
Now secure the chin strap that's been loose up to this point.
Go through the twisting/pitching routine again. It should be a little more secure.
Reach over the top and grab the back bottom and try to roll the helmet off over your head. Pull pretty hard and try to get the helmet off. It'll lift up a bit however you should not be able to get the helmet off.
Push up on the bottom of the chin bar and try to get it off that way. Same procedure as before.
Now put your hand on the chinbar and push hard. You should not be able to touch your nose on the chin bar. (If everything else fits and you can force the chin bar into your nose, try larger cheek pads)
Check for good visibility, not overly large blind spots with the chin bar, etc etc.

Once that's done and it seems like the right one, go window shopping around the store for half an hour. This is to let the helmet form to your head to see if it violates any of the above procedure steps. It'll also show you any pressure points you missed in the initial fitting. (I had one that I was ready to buy however after 15 minutes it felt like someone was trying to push a pool table ball through my forehead with a hydraulic press)

IMNSHO: Full face is mandatory becuse nothing less is adequate protection. Q.E.D. Flip ups, while nice don't have the tight cheek pads keeping the chin bar away from your nose. When the ground jumps up and slams into your face, it'll try to ram the chinbar into your nose. Those pads help keep the chinbar away from your nose and even then you're likely to get nose punched anyway.

I think that's all there is to it. If I missed anything or got anything wrong, feel free to correct me. This is about safety, nothing more, nothing less.

If all is ok, then shop for color and pricing. Pay up and go riding.

As with all crash gear, I sincerely hope you wasted your hard earned money on something you'll never actually need for the intended purpose.

[fishmeister]

My place is a half hour north of me. The link is typed on a prior post. Scorpion reps.

To further enhance your colorful helmet preferences, you must search grasshopper.

[walarusi]

But being advised to replace your helmet every couple of seasons?...From contaminates off ones head...maybe just the padding i can understand.

I believe he meant the helmets that you can't remove and wash the liners.

As long as you don't hurt the helmet in any way and you can wash or replace the liners, there is no reason a helmet can not serve you for a very long time......

After spending over $250 for my helmet, I am glad to hear that..... 

Another good reason to replace your helmet is because of the change in technology.  Sure a helmet from 1994 will save your noggin but a helmet from 2004 will do a much better job, and a helmet from 2009 will do an even better job.  Now obviously, this isn't true in every situation.  I'd rather have a top end SNELL/ECE approved helmet over a plain, just DOT rated skid lid any day, no matter the age.  But I replaced my $700 5-year old helmet with a $200 Scorpion helmet, even though it's better, because I know it's a better impact resistance.  As someone who's been hit by more than 5 cars on the road, I highly recommend doing this.

[rjs5857]

Thanks Hondo for looking out for us.

My helmet feels comfortable but I don't think it is too big.  I tried some on for 30 minutes that made my head throb.  Didn't think that was a good idea, need blood to the head too.  Full face with some stand out color is my style.

[ninskrillz]

i need a new helmet.

[jonnypockets]

i need a new helmet.

Ditto. My $60 Gmax probably isn't cutting it.

[itsjam4u]

I'm looking for a helmet on a tight budget, however I am very concerned with safety I have had a couple of head injury's and have broken both my neck and back and don't wish to do either ever again and recommendations on what to look for that would be both save and somewhat inexpensive?

[Old_Rider_54]

I'm looking for a helmet on a tight budget, however I am very concerned with safety I have had a couple of head injury's and have broken both my neck and back and don't wish to do either ever again and recommendations on what to look for that would be both save and somewhat inexpensive?

When I was shopping for my last helmet, I spent a lot of time in a large store trying on everything - focusing on fit.  Only after I found 2 that fit well (it literally took 45 minutes and about 20 different helmets to get to that point), did I talk about cost.  Also, the same size can fit WAY differently with different helmets, even from the same manufacturer if you try different models.  So there really is no way someone can give you a good recommendation on which helmet to buy - you have to try them on.

Weight might be an important consideration if you have had neck/back problems - In general, I found that the cheaper the helmet, the heavier the helmet. I ended up spending around $225, so I ended up somewhere in the middle of the price range.   More than I wanted to spend for something I never intend to use  , but it fits really well, even a better fit than another one that was about $450.