Type of helmet you wear...

Checkswrecks

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Have tried a SCHUBERT C5 this afternoon, a modular, super good. I'll probably buy it in few weeks.


it have also an integrated stereo HD kit and 3 antennas, u can buy the intercom SENA SC to put INSIDE the helmet, with the battery at the back of the helmet, very integrated. very expensive as well.
I need to try one of those. I have an ancient NeoTech and looked at new ones the other day. The $750 white or $850 with graphics was insane and it's surprising how much less the Schuberth costs.

 

Checkswrecks

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It's only taken me a year to notice this question.

In my opinion I want them to get rid of the cloth in the low side of the helmet. It gets trapped by the Velcro of a Klim Lattitude jacket (1st gen), and also by the Velcro on my Helite vest. Doesn't take all that long to end up looking like this.



A modern helmet should have cutouts for speakers. XD4 does not.

An internal visor would be nice, but I've been told that will never happen.

When I wrote the original post a year ago I wanted to wait for an update. Finally last month I gave up and bought another XD4. Didn't want to, but I could find only 3 possible helmets that had a useful peak. I use my XD4 peak all the time as a sun blocker in the early morning or riding into the sunset. I checked out the Klim and Schuberth alternatives, but they were not good fits for me. All other "adventure" style helmets appear to think a peak is a decoration.

For some reason this new XD4 is taking me longer to break in than my first two XDs. I'm thinking way too much about the comfort of the helmet after a while. Still have some spoon work to do I guess. Due to this, I'll take that ripped up XD shown above with me on the BDR ride later this month. It's beat to crap, but it doesn't cause me any discomfort.
This looks interesting.
 

Dirt_Dad

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Why don't you not just get new internals for that helmet, doesn't that make sense. They are not expensive.
6 years old is enough i don't really want to put any money in that helmet.

This looks interesting.
That was the helmet I tried at Bob's. After wearing it for only 10 minutes I had a headache that lasted a few hours. I never get headaches. Just not the right shape for me.

DM has the NeoTech and loves it. Due to my habit of riding shield up, it just doesn't work for me. Black tape is fine for shield down riding. But I'd need tape at the bottom for shield up riding. At some point it just gets silly.
 

Vanny

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I’ve got the E1. Overall I like it but unfortunately can’t stop the peak vibrating so have taken it off , shame because I like the style. Could’ve just bought the peakless one , C3/5?

I have also just changed screens so maybe I’ll try it again.
 

Longdog Cymru

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Only asking because after a lot of thought I bought this carbon “sports” helmet instead of modular or a more traditional Adventure helmet.
Never understood the need for a adventure lid, surely it generates more noise than necessary with its cap and makes it heavier, a big disadvantage.
My previous lid was a Caberg Duke flip up but can’t actually remember using it in the up position so having a helmet weighing more than it needed seemed silly hence my choice of this Scorpion carbon exo1400. The weight is so noticeable. Yet to use it on a long ride but hoping it’ll be a very comfortable helmet


View attachment 77885
I am late coming to this particular party, but I wouldn’t wear an adventure style helmet on the road, I have never tried one but that peak must surely have a significant affect regarding wind flow causing lift or pushing down and if you turn your head to shoulder check, then the wind must increase the turning moment putting strain on your neck. For the record, I wear either an Arai Corsair or Shark Carbon with the useful drop-down sun shield
 

Checkswrecks

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It does and is why I took the peak off my dirt bike helmet.

Dirt_Dad is just weird.
:p
 

sheikyerbooty

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shoei all the way. neotec2, nxr, hornet. im using the hornet most. i think shoei dont build in drop down sun visors as it reduces strength. peak is very useful for sun strike and doesnt catch even at lose licence miles an hour. maybe a wee bit noisier tho?
 

StefanOnHisS10

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shoei all the way. neotec2, nxr, hornet. im using the hornet most. i think shoei dont build in drop down sun visors as it reduces strength. peak is very useful for sun strike and doesnt catch even at lose licence miles an hour. maybe a wee bit noisier tho?
Well my Neotec2 has got a dropdown sun visor. Works great
 

Quique

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I think I am going to be controversial here. well, this is for everyone to give their opinions isn't it?
I have two NZI Symbio2 helmets, in different colors. NZI is a spanish brand, you probably don't know it out there. The controversial point is that this helmet costs a bit less than 100 euros and meets the ECE/UN R 22.05 safety regulation. My question is what makes a helmet safer, the price or the standard safety regulation? or are there any other safety regulations that I am unaware of? The weight is acceptable (1550 gr) noise is good and has a solar visor that goes up and down easy and well. I've had Caberg, AGV and HJC and the NZI is equal or even better than them.
Many of my friends tell me that I am crazy. "Hope you'll never have a crash" they say. They consider Arai and Shoei to be the best ones. Those who cannot afford such expensive (abusive?) helmets go to other brands, but never to a cheap NZI. However, all of them meet the same ECE/UN R 22.05 regulation.
To my disgrace, I have checked the NZI web site before writing this and my model is discontinued. The equivalent now is called Euro2 and the price is more than double argh!
 

Sierra1

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. . . . Many of my friends tell me that I am crazy. "Hope you'll never have a crash" they say. They consider Arai and Shoei to be the best ones . . . .
Minimum standards are exactly that, the minimum standards that the government(s) have decided will prevent a certain amount of injury. Our minimum is D.O.T. (Department of Transportation). Do I believe that more expensive helmets are better? Absolutely. That being said, there are plenty of good helmets that only meet minimum standards. I think where the dollars spent make a difference is in the severity of the crash. With "average/regular" crashes, D.O.T. or ECE/UN R 22.05 will do just fine. High speed, and high impact? Helmet construction is going to make a big difference. And with helmets, I do believe in "you get what you pay for".

IIRC, the Hurt Report revealed that polycarbonate helmets transferred less energy to the skull than fiberglass with low-speed crashes like you would have in-town. But, as the impact speed and force to the helmet was increased, the polycarbonate energy transfer was off of the chart, meanwhile the fiberglass transmitted much less than the polycarbonate.

I too would put Arai & Shoei at the top of the helmet quality ladder, but I also understand that we can't always afford the best. (unless you're Elon Musk)

And if you want muddy the waters even further . . . . full face or 3/4? Or even half shell. I always have worn full face, with the exception of the 20 years that I was employed.
 

Bill_C

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I think I am going to be controversial here. well, this is for everyone to give their opinions isn't it?
I have two NZI Symbio2 helmets, in different colors. NZI is a spanish brand, you probably don't know it out there. The controversial point is that this helmet costs a bit less than 100 euros and meets the ECE/UN R 22.05 safety regulation. My question is what makes a helmet safer, the price or the standard safety regulation? or are there any other safety regulations that I am unaware of? The weight is acceptable (1550 gr) noise is good and has a solar visor that goes up and down easy and well. I've had Caberg, AGV and HJC and the NZI is equal or even better than them.
Many of my friends tell me that I am crazy. "Hope you'll never have a crash" they say. They consider Arai and Shoei to be the best ones. Those who cannot afford such expensive (abusive?) helmets go to other brands, but never to a cheap NZI. However, all of them meet the same ECE/UN R 22.05 regulation.
To my disgrace, I have checked the NZI web site before writing this and my model is discontinued. The equivalent now is called Euro2 and the price is more than double argh!
I have owned helmets at all price points from nearly $1k down to $100. When comparing helmets with equal safety ratings, more money rarely equals higher safety (MIPS liner would be the exception).
The higher cost gets you comfort. Lighter helmet, plush interior and liner, less noise, etc. The internals tend to last longer and the fit and finish overall tends to be much higher quality.
I have had $100 helmets last a few seasons of daily use but they have always broken down and gotten loose and sloppy over time. Conversely, my high end helmets have lasted years and years with minimal interior degradation. In fact, the last two helmets were only replaced because they were past the manufacturer recommended life expectancy, otherwise they looked and felt great.
For me, it's about comfort and value. I'd rather pay more and cry once rather than pay less, but buy more frequently for less comfort and longevity.

Sent from my SM-S906U using Tapatalk
 

Sierra1

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I have owned helmets at all price points from nearly $1k down to $100. When comparing helmets with equal safety ratings, more money rarely equals higher safety (MIPS liner would be the exception).
The higher cost gets you comfort. Lighter helmet, plush interior and liner, less noise, etc. The internals tend to last longer and the fit and finish overall tends to be much higher quality.
I have had $100 helmets last a few seasons of daily use but they have always broken down and gotten loose and sloppy over time. Conversely, my high end helmets have lasted years and years with minimal interior degradation. In fact, the last two helmets were only replaced because they were past the manufacturer recommended life expectancy, otherwise they looked and felt great.
For me, it's about comfort and value. I'd rather pay more and cry once rather than pay less, but buy more frequently for less comfort and longevity.
You kinda made my point. You look at the extra money as it pertains to comfort, and to a point, you are correct. Many of the features you consider as comfort pluses, also make it a safer helmet. Improved everyday fit, also helps the helmet stay on your head. And, if it doesn't fit. . . . or it hurts . . . . you won't wear it.

But, you did say "equal safety ratings". In my post, I assumed that we would understand that higher cost helmets will have higher safety ratings. The $100 poly helmets do not have the same materials that a Shoei/Arai fiberglass & carbon fiber lid and therefore will not have the same safety ratings. And that poly lid will not protect your skull like the fancy helmets will.

I've always had the best helmet I could afford. At the very least, I'll be able to have an open casket funeral.
 

Bill_C

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Agreed. I didn't see your post until after I posted mine or I'd probably not have responded. People underestimate just how important the internals are to proper fit and, as such, proper protection.

I saw that Hurt report on the differences in transference between poly and fiberglass. I remember thinking how it really made a great argument for why you want a proper race helmet for track days.

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sheikyerbooty

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i used a 'cheap' ($300) acerbis lid for a few years. it was fine in good conditions. peak was way more catchy at speed. when things got cold and wet it would fog up and leak, thru vents and visor seal. visor hinge started to go after a while. you get what you pay for i suppose
 

Checkswrecks

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The Hurt study was conducted 41 years ago and has been outdated for a long long time. Same with the original DOT helmet standard FMVSS218 which first came out in the 1974, based in an earlier standard. FMVSS218 has been continually updated and had a major revision about 25 years ago, so yes, it's the minimum, but that minimum is nothing like what it was eons ago and the original poly helmets probably would never pass today. Helmets were considered to be 29% effective in reducing rider fatalities in 1989 which increased to 37% by 2002, and the 218 standard has been improved since then.

There are also some aspects to DOT and ECE that Snell doesn't have or do, because Snell was developed to be oriented toward racing and higher speeds imparting higher energy, which can be counterproductive at lower speeds. For example, to deal with the energy it takes to slow your brain decelerating at higher speed impacts means the hard foam is stiffer and will more likely give you a concussion at typical street speeds.

As mentioned by others, what the higher priced helmets bring are the niceties. Shoei and Arai do a lot of very expensive wind tunnel testing which leads to less noise and better venting, use better quality comfort materials that will last longer, and have better visor materials for better optics. Plus they pay a fee on each helmet to get that Snell rating.

I have no qualms about street riding with a MODERN helmet that meets FMVSS218 (DOT) and ECE, but I do tend to buy more expensive helmets because the liners and other niceties will perform better and last longer.
 
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WJBertrand

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My theory on helmets is that on a scale of 0 - 100, with zero being no helmet and 100 being the absolute best helmet money can buy, the cheapest helmet probably comes in around 85-90. The cost going from there mostly buys you features, nicer materials, name brands, and licensed graphics. Protection increase probably falls under the law of diminishing returns.


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Cycledude

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I’ve been wearing Arai XD since they first became available, wearing about my 5th new model, love the peak and speed has never had any noticeable effect for me and according to GPS they have been up to 126 MPH.
Wore a modular helmet on a 2,500 mile trip home from California, didn’t fit very well so was very noisy but the main reason I will never buy one is because I sometimes forgot to close the lid and once actually rode over 200 miles with it flipped up, highly suspect the protection wouldn’t be very good in a crash with the lid not locked down.
 

Gerard

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My first Klim after years of Shoei and very happy with it. maybe not the quietest but no helmet is quiet on my head. Must be the shape.
Love the ease of locking/unlocking of the strap.
 

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