• Hi everyone,

    As you all know, Coffee (Dean) passed away a couple of years ago. I am Dean's ex-wife's husband and happen to have spent my career in tech. Over the years, I occasionally helped Dean with various tech issues.

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Helmet Recommendations

bigmo said:
I know it sounds "old school" but I went back to Bell helmets. I have been buying the previous year edition "Moto-x" for what I believe is an absolute steal. Right now, the Moto-9 is a bit over $500, but one can find Moto-8's for < $200 - and that is what I did. In two years, I will drill a hole through it, toss it in the trash and grab a Moto-8 for < $200 too.

I am a firm believer in mod-pack helmets replaced frequently. That $700 Arai that is 9 years old and has hit the ground 65x is not doing you any favors... At $200 I write it off as a $100 annual price to play and give zero thought to tossing it in the trash.
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I am Wearing a bell currently, and like it alot
 
I'm an Arai guy.... I like the quality, the fit (including various size cheek pads) and their emphasis on safety over style. I like that they give back to the Sport. Their support for the US ISDE Teams, is a prime example. I like the company and that it's family owned and helmets are built by craftspeople in a First World Country, at a living wage. Bell shows their big USA Design Center and then sends production to China. I give up a few other things to own an Arai, but it's worth it to me and my head. I even splurged and got the first custom paint job, of my life.
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Since the 70's I have crashed in an old Bell Star, a Lawson Replica Star and Magnum, 2 Shoei, 2 Simpsons (1 nomex crashed on the infield cement barrier at Cali Speedway) and currently using an Arai on the street and another Shoei on the dirt. I trust these helmet brands though Simpson had a bad batch in the early 80's.

They get replaced as needed since they are your only real insurance for your head. Between the brands I buy what fits. Bell lost me due to fit, Shoei and Simpson always fit and Arai has an oval model that fits. I don't go by price but fit first and vemtilation with the least noise from the brands I trust and then assess price. I pay more in one month for medical insurance than any of these helmets cost and my annual deductible could cover a fleet of helmets. Just not the issue... Protection and safety is.
 
Johnrg said:
Between the brands I buy what fits. Bell lost me due to fit, Shoei and Simpson always fit and Arai has an oval model that fits. I don't go by price but fit first and vemtilation with the least noise from the brands I trust and then assess price. I pay more in one month for medical insurance than any of these helmets cost and my annual deductible could cover a fleet of helmets. Just not the issue... Protection and safety is.
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That is really tough outside of Cali - noone here stocks helmets, or if they do, there is one or two to pick from that are 2x MSRP.

I have found that both Bell and HJC have a mold that seems to fit my mug really well. My new Moto-8 fits perfectly in all areas without that smushed cheek / chipmunk look. I have to say that the HJCs that I got were quite decent helmets too.

I am not dissing Arai's at all - if money were no object, I would most certainly own one! Alas, money is an object, and I need to look at realistic protection.

This is no different than buying a car. I could spend $100K and get a uber safe Mercedes or $25K and drive my moderately safe Volkswagen so I can, you know, eat and stuff...
 
If you shop carefully and buy closeout models, Arai's can be pretty reasonable price wise. I was fortunate on my last few and even on my last year's custom paint job. Hellion Designs is tied into Arai Rider Support, so I got the base helmet at a very good price. Already putting money in the cookie jar for the next one!

On the car.... You can buy a $25,000 VW or a $35,000 M-B and probably still eat, just maybe eat out less....
MX-V-2.jpg
 
I wish I never owned Arai's because I've been disappointed in every other helmet I've owned since :). It's like going from that MB back to a VW lol. I'll be buying a new helmet mid season. Just waiting to try a 6D on, If it doesn't fit right, Arai will be my choice. As far as the better priced helmets I've really liked HJC. I was planning on trying the EKS this last time around but got a Scorpion. It's another nice helmet. I wonder if we can get Arai or 6D to do a group buy for us :)
 
LandofMotards said:
I wish I never owned Arai's because I've been disappointed in every other helmet I've owned since :). It's like going from that MB back to a VW lol. I'll be buying a new helmet mid season. Just waiting to try a 6D on, If it doesn't fit right, Arai will be my choice. As far as the better priced helmets I've really liked HJC. I was planning on trying the EKS this last time around but got a Scorpion. It's another nice helmet. I wonder if we can get Arai or 6D to do a group buy for us :)
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About 15 years I was getting back on dirt bikes, after just riding street for a few years. I always wore Arai on the street too, but thought it had gotten to be too much money for a dirt helmet. I tried a lot of brands, but nothing fit like an Arai, so there I was. I have been wearing them again since then. Only exception is helmet for trail work. When it's really hot I wear a Giro down hill mountain bike helmet, as it so well ventilated at slower speeds.
 
Quite a thread!

I gotta eat and live also (as stated above by a few) so cost is a factor (as everything else I trade my $ for) for melon protection ... And throwing big money at issues can be a fix, but not always necessary. Seems $$ gives comfort in many ways for sure :) but that's another thread ...

Risk is always factored into all my rides, before, after, and on the fly, as I ride... If the crash zone I'm riding in (track, trail, or hardtop) is not what I perceive as survivable and with a good chance for me to not end in too bad shape if I go down, I'll protect myself in my own way, usually by slowing down or at least coming off the edge of my riding skills ... With all this in mind, I also eat lots of carrots for my weak eyesight ... Better eyesight means I might can pick a better line, a better line should reduce the risk of a crash...But not always :(

We all are the protectors of our melons ... These AGVs, AFX, and Bell helmets I wear are good insurance I feel but I'm gonna have to step up in price to get a lighter helmet ... Not for more or better protection but to save my neck from pain from all the riding ... Me, myself, and I will continue to guard my melon as I ride, today and tomorrow. Most of us are amateur riders... might be a good thing to remember from time to time :) . Ride safe as possible, no fan here of hearing of injuries or riders not riding ...
 
It's sad to see that people still equate price with safety. You'd think we'd all know better by now.

These AGVs, AFX, and Bell helmets I wear are good insurance I feel but I'm gonna have to step up in price to get a lighter helmet ... Not for more or better protection but to save my neck from pain from all the riding
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Try a GMAX. I don't know if there's a lighter helmet available, and their slogan is, "The better fitting helmet" .
 
Zomby woof said:
It's sad to see that people still equate price with safety. You'd think we'd all know better by now.
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I would flip that back to you in the false assumption that expensive helmets protect better. I would much rather have a properly fitting $150 helmet on my head that is brand new and has seen little to no impact vice a $700 helmet someone has been holding onto for 8 years that his hit the ground countless times.

Price does not equal safety. Dr. Hurt clearly blew that assumption out of the water, and to date, is the only real unbiased legitimate researcher. Remember when we all thought Snell approved was the shiznit?

I have found a few brands that fit MY head - and just about every head is different. Getting a Shoei or Arai that doesnt fit your head is going to be FAR less capable at reducing injury compared with a properly fit HJC or Scorpion at $150.



 
bigmo said:
I have found a few brands that fit MY head - and just about every head is different. Getting a Shoei or Arai that doesnt fit your head is going to be FAR less capable at reducing injury compared with a properly fit HJC or Scorpion at $150.
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Agree. Shoei does not fit my head well at all. Arai, not much better. Bell, AFX, Suomy and the new 6D all fit pretty good. I am also not impressed with the Snell approval stamp on a helmet, and have started to steer clear of the one that have that approval. Impact resistance is too high, and impact absorption is too low on those helmets for me. I have had my bell rung at very low speeds in Snell approved helmets, both inexpensive and expensive. I currently wear the Suomy, and would love to be able to afford the 6D.
 
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