What's your helmet brand? - Discuss What's your helmet brand? on CBRXX, the ultimate on-line community for Honda motorcyclists. Read it in Riding Gear / Luggage / Electronics. (Helmets, Boots, Gloves, Leathers, Jackets, Pants, Back Protectors, Earplugs, Tank Bags, Tail Bags, Saddlebags, Motorcycle Related GPS, Audio, Video, Radar Detectors, Lap Timers, Communicators, etc.)

ConqSoft · 10-18-2006, 11:49 AM

Vote for any/all that apply!

Warchild · 10-19-2006, 12:14 PM

So far, it looks like most of us have Shoei-shaped heads.... HJC has a similar shape, as well.

Too, HJC's are considerably less expensive. And not quite as refined as the Shoei, obviously. I actually use a HJC CL-10 for everyday commuting, and save my Shoei RF-1000 for serious road trips and Endurance Rallies.

Para045 · 10-21-2006, 2:56 PM

I have an OGK Aeroblade II and like it a lot - I bought it because the reviews said that it had very good ventilation and as summers here in West Aus can get up to 45C I needed something well ventilated. It can get a little noisy at higher speeds but not excessively, also no Arai that I tried fitted my large head

and only a couple of Shoei fit anything like being comfortable and they were AUD $ 600+ helmets whereas the OGK was rec ret $ 420 and I got it for $ 380 and even most of the shops stated that there was not that much difference in safety/quality compared to the Arai/Shoei's

exactamac · 10-23-2006, 8:27 AM

I have a Laser fits well,light, but very noisey.Al

jrexx · 10-23-2006, 10:30 AM

I have an HJC AC-12 Axis. I did like the Shoei alot better(weight, shape), but unfortunately for me, I have a HUGE noggin! The HJC fit alot better. Seems to be pretty comfortable, no complaints after 2000 miles.

Toynut · 10-23-2006, 8:49 PM

I haven't found any helmet to fit my large melon any better than an Arai. I recently tried to buy a Shark with its excellent looking ventilation system, great shield, comfortable lining, but..........Pulling it on and off brought back strange memories of forcing my head through the birth canal all over again! Ouch!!!

Para045 · 10-23-2006, 8:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toynut

I haven't found any helmet to fit my large melon any better than an Arai. I recently tried to buy a Shark with its excellent looking ventilation system, great shield, comfortable lining, but..........Pulling it on and off brought back strange memories of forcing my head through the birth canal all over again! Ouch!!!

Funny that was the problem I had with all Shoei and Arai's

haWHYnXX · 10-23-2006, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toynut

I haven't found any helmet to fit my large melon any better than an Arai. I recently tried to buy a Shark with its excellent looking ventilation system, great shield, comfortable lining, but..........Pulling it on and off brought back strange memories of forcing my head through the birth canal all over again! Ouch!!!

I'm in the process of purchasing a Shark helmet now - all the reviews say good things. I'm looking to buy the RSX but can't find one to try on but I was able to try on a RSF helmet - tight, but doable. See this (from an article from "webBikeWorld"):

Quote:

I have an "earth" shaped head (see the wBW Motorcycle Helmet FAQ page for more information on helmet fit) and the RSR is one of the most comfortable helmets I've tried, with one exception. The cheek pads cause some discomfort at my temporomandibular joint (jaw joint) after about an hour or so. Shark has an extensive list of replacement parts for the RSR (available via download in .pdf format on their website), so I plan on ordering a new set of thinner cheek pads, which I'm sure will fix this problem.

Sandman · 10-24-2006, 6:20 AM

Would love to have a Shoei but...

1/ Couldn't afford it
2/ Couldn't find one that was comfortable
3/ Couldn't afford it

WestOzBird · 10-25-2006, 9:16 AM

Shoei Lawson replica

. Soooooooooooooo comfy, quieter and better ventilation than my last Shoei Scalvini. Only pisser is I can't get the clear visor to seal completely so get wind whistle at speed and the occasional drip in the rain

. Tinted visor is

redline · 10-27-2006, 12:14 AM

smashed the KBC VR1 in the accident and just got home from the stealers and got a KBC VR2 (new generation and cheaper, I love sales)

trkracer · 10-27-2006, 4:06 PM

I've had an AGV, but the chin was soooo far out there. Then I had a Shoei X-9 and that was perfection! But, 10 years later, time to get a new lid, so now I have a TZ-R and it's quieter, better fitting and higher quality than the X-9! Yes, they are considerably more expensive, but they fit us mini-noggers better and the quality can't be beat.

roughcactus · 10-28-2006, 6:56 AM

I started off with a Nitro of all things...what a POS that thing is...put it on the other day and the difference between that and my Shoei TZR- Destiny is HUGE...that being said i had a Shark RSR2 for a little while but it was too tight and hurt my ears after a while so I returned it and got the Shoei instead...but other than the Shark was so much better than the Shoei I have now it wasn't funny, it was quieter, had far beter ventilation and didn't fog up as bad as the Shoei...I just wish the Shark fit my head properly I was gutted that it didn't!

trkracer · 10-28-2006, 2:38 PM

I'll give you that the Shoei does fog up when it gets cooler. Though, the defogger thinggy (pushes up the visor just a bit) works much better on my TZ-R Obelisk than it did on the X-9.

Flaminwarrior · 10-31-2006, 1:51 AM

Work has just decided to buy me a bonus pressie, looks like a new nugget protector is on the way.....

Prolly stick with Shoei, maybe even a corser special!!!!

WestOzBird · 10-31-2006, 8:18 AM

I gotta get me a boss like you. Oh

thats right mine's takin me and wife out to dinner on Fri nite

. Still not a new Shoei lid tho

blkbrdrydr · 10-31-2006, 8:46 PM

Had several Arai helmets (I could wear a Quantum or Signet) but switched to a Shoei ZII a few years back. Really enjoyed the fit and how quiet it was but I got tired of trying to stuff my glasses into the damn thing and bought a Syncrotec last year.

Warchild · 11-01-2006, 11:41 AM

Bill - my experience with the 1st gen Shoei flip-up, as well as with the Schubreth and HJC flip-ups, the convienience of this style of helmet (which is not insignificant from the Iron Butt rider perspective) comes at the price of being a bit more noisier (wind-noise) than the smooth full-face equivalents.

Are you finding this more-or-less true with Shoei's late-generation Synchrotec?

Bob_the_Fish · 11-01-2006, 2:26 PM

I just picked up a slightly used Shoei Synchrotec (Black of course) from a gal on Ebay. I paid $225 for it and I couldn't be happier. I've tried other brands of flip-ups and found them to feel fragile and difficult to manage with one hand. The Synchrotec is brilliant. The hinges and clasps feel secure and sit firmly. The visor moves freely, and uses the standard CX-1 visor used on the other Shoei helmets, so I can use my previously owned visors on the Synchrotec.

All in all I'm very pleased with it.

Yes, it's a bit noisier, but with earphones and music I hardly notice the difference.

Cheers,

blkbrdrydr · 11-01-2006, 5:09 PM

The Syncrotec is much noisier than the ZII but not much more so than an Arai Signet. I just have to remember to always wear earplugs.

flitemdic · 11-01-2006, 8:49 PM

Went to HJC C-15 from Shoei awhile back. Ended up with a sore red spot on the forehead if I wore it longer than about 1/2 an hour. Back to Shoei very soon thereafter. Frankly, I didn't know a helmet had a shelf life until some salesman at the local stealer let me in on it. Otherwise, I'd still be in an RF-700. (Hands down the most comfortable and quietest I've ever owned.)

BrianR · 11-01-2006, 9:27 PM

I use a Synchrotec for IBR stuff but last year I though I'd be cute and try a Jarrow flip. I got about 3,000 miles into a 10,000 mile ride and I was cutting on the foam. By 6,000 I had completely ripped out the ear pieces, by the end of the ride I played basketball with the ****ing thing. The Jarrow was the ball!

Also tried a Schubert flip and that also met a similar demise - felt like a damn cromagnon with the chin sticking out over my windscreen!

Hobicus · 11-01-2006, 10:16 PM

Shoei RF-1000 for me. Sorta feels like an old friend when I put it on.

WILLSXX · 11-02-2006, 3:29 PM

Arai Signet GT custom painted flat black.

chaserkeywest · 11-02-2006, 9:55 PM

I'm the Nolan in the wood pile! N100E...3 of them!

jcrich · 11-04-2006, 8:38 AM

Shoei XSP-11. Looking at some of the new lower cost alternatives though. Shark, Scorpion and some others have gotten very good reviews and are sometimes half the price of a top end Arai or Shoei.

cb400bill · 11-04-2006, 10:19 AM

My current helmet is a Arai Signet GTR in Titanium Gray.

But I still have a few old HJC helmets around. And an old Bell.

Plus an old Arthur Fulmer Captain America helmet from the early 70's.

ironmike · 11-05-2006, 7:54 PM

Arai Quantum... good head fit but it's tight around my jaw - chin fits OK. It can get pretty uncomfortable and I find myself jutting my chin forward to releive the pressure... I took some pads out, but that didn't really help - it's the shape of the base, I think...

My wife has a Scorpion EXO 700 that she really likes, and I'm pretty impressed with it, too. I'll definitely consider one when the time comes.

11/07 Edit: Close examination of the cheek pads compared to a new Arai's pads reveal suspected miss-labled pads. Marked as "12mm", they're identical to 25mm marked pads... now I'm sorry I performed minor surgery on the old pads... Oh well, new 12mm pads ordered on-line (about $30)...

OpusX · 11-06-2006, 11:56 PM

HJC AC-12 Carbon Fiber. Its the only brand I've found that fits well and I love the light weight. Fit and finish as good as anything I've seen.

Tim

wario · 11-07-2006, 12:47 PM

I love the fit and air flow of my Arai Signet GTR.

The long oval design is awesome. Everyone knows that the long oval heads are the fastest too.

The only thing I dont like about them is they are SPENDY!!!

Any Arai owners tried a Scorpion helmet? I hear they fit sort of like a Signet.

View Poll Results: What's your helmet brand?
AGV	40	4.39%
Arai	164	17.98%
Scorpion	53	5.81%
HJC	160	17.54%
ICON	31	3.40%
KBC	45	4.93%
Nolan	40	4.39%
Schuberth	38	4.17%
Shark	41	4.50%
Shoei	294	32.24%
Suomy	20	2.19%
VEGA	12	1.32%
Vemar	2	0.22%
Other	103	11.29%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 912. You may not vote on this poll

10-19-2006, 12:14 PM	#2
Warchild Rapin' Asphalt! Join Date: Sep 29 2006 Location: West Richland, Washington Age: 51 Posts: 877	Re: What's your helmet brand? So far, it looks like most of us have Shoei-shaped heads.... HJC has a similar shape, as well. Too, HJC's are considerably less expensive. And not quite as refined as the Shoei, obviously. I actually use a HJC CL-10 for everyday commuting, and save my Shoei RF-1000 for serious road trips and Endurance Rallies. __________________ - Warchild http://www.superblackbird.com/

10-21-2006, 2:56 PM	#3
Para045 Join Date: Oct 20 2006 Location: Perth Western Australia Age: 44 Posts: 476	Re: What's your helmet brand? I have an OGK Aeroblade II and like it a lot - I bought it because the reviews said that it had very good ventilation and as summers here in West Aus can get up to 45C I needed something well ventilated. It can get a little noisy at higher speeds but not excessively, also no Arai that I tried fitted my large head and only a couple of Shoei fit anything like being comfortable and they were AUD $ 600+ helmets whereas the OGK was rec ret $ 420 and I got it for $ 380 and even most of the shops stated that there was not that much difference in safety/quality compared to the Arai/Shoei's

10-23-2006, 8:27 AM	#4
exactamac Join Date: Oct 22 2006 Location: Melbourne Australia Posts: 11	Re: What's your helmet brand? I have a Laser fits well,light, but very noisey.Al

10-23-2006, 10:30 AM	#5
jrexx Join Date: Oct 23 2006 Location: Manitoba, Canada Posts: 6	Re: What's your helmet brand? I have an HJC AC-12 Axis. I did like the Shoei alot better(weight, shape), but unfortunately for me, I have a HUGE noggin! The HJC fit alot better. Seems to be pretty comfortable, no complaints after 2000 miles. __________________ Jason I always dreamed of meeting Ms. Right, but I never thought her first name would be "always"!

10-23-2006, 8:49 PM	#6
Toynut Join Date: Oct 23 2006 Location: West Bloomfield, Michigan Age: 51 Posts: 570	Re: What's your helmet brand? I haven't found any helmet to fit my large melon any better than an Arai. I recently tried to buy a Shark with its excellent looking ventilation system, great shield, comfortable lining, but..........Pulling it on and off brought back strange memories of forcing my head through the birth canal all over again! Ouch!!!

10-24-2006, 6:20 AM	#9
Sandman Join Date: Oct 21 2006 Location: Downunder Posts: 110	Re: What's your helmet brand? Would love to have a Shoei but... 1/ Couldn't afford it 2/ Couldn't find one that was comfortable 3/ Couldn't afford it

10-25-2006, 9:16 AM	#10
WestOzBird Join Date: Oct 21 2006 Location: Merriwa, Western Australia Posts: 164	Re: What's your helmet brand? Shoei Lawson replica . Soooooooooooooo comfy, quieter and better ventilation than my last Shoei Scalvini. Only pisser is I can't get the clear visor to seal completely so get wind whistle at speed and the occasional drip in the rain . Tinted visor is

10-27-2006, 12:14 AM	#11
redline Join Date: Oct 21 2006 Location: Burpengary, Aus Posts: 51	Re: What's your helmet brand? smashed the KBC VR1 in the accident and just got home from the stealers and got a KBC VR2 (new generation and cheaper, I love sales)

10-27-2006, 4:06 PM	#12
trkracer Blackbirdista Join Date: Oct 25 2006 Location: Italy Age: 37 Posts: 151	Re: What's your helmet brand? I've had an AGV, but the chin was soooo far out there. Then I had a Shoei X-9 and that was perfection! But, 10 years later, time to get a new lid, so now I have a TZ-R and it's quieter, better fitting and higher quality than the X-9! Yes, they are considerably more expensive, but they fit us mini-noggers better and the quality can't be beat.

10-28-2006, 6:56 AM	#13
roughcactus Join Date: Oct 28 2006 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 9	Re: What's your helmet brand? I started off with a Nitro of all things...what a POS that thing is...put it on the other day and the difference between that and my Shoei TZR- Destiny is HUGE...that being said i had a Shark RSR2 for a little while but it was too tight and hurt my ears after a while so I returned it and got the Shoei instead...but other than the Shark was so much better than the Shoei I have now it wasn't funny, it was quieter, had far beter ventilation and didn't fog up as bad as the Shoei...I just wish the Shark fit my head properly I was gutted that it didn't!

10-28-2006, 2:38 PM	#14
trkracer Blackbirdista Join Date: Oct 25 2006 Location: Italy Age: 37 Posts: 151	Re: What's your helmet brand? I'll give you that the Shoei does fog up when it gets cooler. Though, the defogger thinggy (pushes up the visor just a bit) works much better on my TZ-R Obelisk than it did on the X-9.

10-31-2006, 1:51 AM	#15
Flaminwarrior www.ozblackbird.net Join Date: Oct 21 2006 Location: Aussie Posts: 69	Re: What's your helmet brand? Work has just decided to buy me a bonus pressie, looks like a new nugget protector is on the way..... Prolly stick with Shoei, maybe even a corser special!!!!

10-31-2006, 8:18 AM	#16
WestOzBird Join Date: Oct 21 2006 Location: Merriwa, Western Australia Posts: 164	Re: What's your helmet brand? I gotta get me a boss like you. Oh thats right mine's takin me and wife out to dinner on Fri nite . Still not a new Shoei lid tho

10-31-2006, 8:46 PM	#17
blkbrdrydr Join Date: Oct 21 2006 Location: Southeastern, MI Posts: 66	Re: What's your helmet brand? Had several Arai helmets (I could wear a Quantum or Signet) but switched to a Shoei ZII a few years back. Really enjoyed the fit and how quiet it was but I got tired of trying to stuff my glasses into the damn thing and bought a Syncrotec last year. __________________ '01 XX '06 FJR1300 Iron Butt Association #124 Grosse Pointe, MI

11-01-2006, 11:41 AM	#18
Warchild Rapin' Asphalt! Join Date: Sep 29 2006 Location: West Richland, Washington Age: 51 Posts: 877	Re: What's your helmet brand? Bill - my experience with the 1st gen Shoei flip-up, as well as with the Schubreth and HJC flip-ups, the convienience of this style of helmet (which is not insignificant from the Iron Butt rider perspective) comes at the price of being a bit more noisier (wind-noise) than the smooth full-face equivalents. Are you finding this more-or-less true with Shoei's late-generation Synchrotec? __________________ - Warchild http://www.superblackbird.com/

11-01-2006, 2:26 PM	#19
Bob_the_Fish Bob Join Date: Nov 01 2006 Location: New York Posts: 25	Re: What's your helmet brand? I just picked up a slightly used Shoei Synchrotec (Black of course) from a gal on Ebay. I paid $225 for it and I couldn't be happier. I've tried other brands of flip-ups and found them to feel fragile and difficult to manage with one hand. The Synchrotec is brilliant. The hinges and clasps feel secure and sit firmly. The visor moves freely, and uses the standard CX-1 visor used on the other Shoei helmets, so I can use my previously owned visors on the Synchrotec. All in all I'm very pleased with it. Yes, it's a bit noisier, but with earphones and music I hardly notice the difference. Cheers,

11-01-2006, 5:09 PM	#20
blkbrdrydr Join Date: Oct 21 2006 Location: Southeastern, MI Posts: 66	Re: What's your helmet brand? The Syncrotec is much noisier than the ZII but not much more so than an Arai Signet. I just have to remember to always wear earplugs. __________________ '01 XX '06 FJR1300 Iron Butt Association #124 Grosse Pointe, MI

11-01-2006, 8:49 PM	#21
flitemdic Join Date: Nov 01 2006 Location: USA Posts: 361	Re: What's your helmet brand? Went to HJC C-15 from Shoei awhile back. Ended up with a sore red spot on the forehead if I wore it longer than about 1/2 an hour. Back to Shoei very soon thereafter. Frankly, I didn't know a helmet had a shelf life until some salesman at the local stealer let me in on it. Otherwise, I'd still be in an RF-700. (Hands down the most comfortable and quietest I've ever owned.)

11-01-2006, 9:27 PM	#22
BrianR Join Date: Oct 19 2006 Location: Sierra Mtns Age: 51 Posts: 119	Re: What's your helmet brand? I use a Synchrotec for IBR stuff but last year I though I'd be cute and try a Jarrow flip. I got about 3,000 miles into a 10,000 mile ride and I was cutting on the foam. By 6,000 I had completely ripped out the ear pieces, by the end of the ride I played basketball with the **ing thing. The Jarrow was the ball! Also tried a Schubert flip and that also met a similar demise - felt like a damn cromagnon with the chin sticking out over my windscreen! __________________ Brian R.** Do you know EXACTLY how fast you were going? Gee Officer between the speedometer, Cyclometer and the GPS I might have a guess

11-01-2006, 10:16 PM	#23
Hobicus It's a long O.. HObicus Join Date: Nov 01 2006 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 133	Re: What's your helmet brand? Shoei RF-1000 for me. Sorta feels like an old friend when I put it on. __________________ -- Rich I love my country but fear my government CycleFarkle.com - Dave's Peg Lowering Brackets, PAIR blockoff plates, Tire plug kits and more!

11-02-2006, 3:29 PM	#24
WILLSXX I'm Still Smiling... Join Date: Nov 02 2006 Location: San Diego CA Age: 43 Posts: 610	Re: What's your helmet brand? Arai Signet GT custom painted flat black.

11-02-2006, 9:55 PM	#25
chaserkeywest chaserkeywest Join Date: Nov 02 2006 Location: Key West Florida Posts: 133	Re: What's your helmet brand? I'm the Nolan in the wood pile! N100E...3 of them! __________________ Southern Most Bird

11-04-2006, 8:38 AM	#26
jcrich Join Date: Nov 03 2006 Location: JC, TN Posts: 123	Re: What's your helmet brand? Shoei XSP-11. Looking at some of the new lower cost alternatives though. Shark, Scorpion and some others have gotten very good reviews and are sometimes half the price of a top end Arai or Shoei.

11-04-2006, 10:19 AM	#27
cb400bill Join Date: Nov 04 2006 Location: Kalamazoo Posts: 4	Re: What's your helmet brand? My current helmet is a Arai Signet GTR in Titanium Gray. But I still have a few old HJC helmets around. And an old Bell. Plus an old Arthur Fulmer Captain America helmet from the early 70's.

11-05-2006, 7:54 PM	#28
ironmike Join Date: Nov 04 2006 Location: Shreveport, LA Posts: 246	Re: What's your helmet brand? Arai Quantum... good head fit but it's tight around my jaw - chin fits OK. It can get pretty uncomfortable and I find myself jutting my chin forward to releive the pressure... I took some pads out, but that didn't really help - it's the shape of the base, I think... My wife has a Scorpion EXO 700 that she really likes, and I'm pretty impressed with it, too. I'll definitely consider one when the time comes. 11/07 Edit: Close examination of the cheek pads compared to a new Arai's pads reveal suspected miss-labled pads. Marked as "12mm", they're identical to 25mm marked pads... now I'm sorry I performed minor surgery on the old pads... Oh well, new 12mm pads ordered on-line (about $30)... Last edited by ironmike; 11-07-2006 at 7:20 PM. Reason: Update

11-06-2006, 11:56 PM	#29
OpusX Join Date: Nov 03 2006 Location: Tucson Posts: 10	Re: What's your helmet brand? HJC AC-12 Carbon Fiber. Its the only brand I've found that fits well and I love the light weight. Fit and finish as good as anything I've seen. Tim

11-07-2006, 12:47 PM	#30
wario noob Join Date: Nov 07 2006 Location: Great Lakes Age: 51 Posts: 13	Re: What's your helmet brand? I love the fit and air flow of my Arai Signet GTR. The long oval design is awesome. Everyone knows that the long oval heads are the fastest too. The only thing I dont like about them is they are SPENDY!!! Any Arai owners tried a Scorpion helmet? I hear they fit sort of like a Signet.