I was discussing a helmet buying issue on the net with @Augustus23- and here was my reply to him-
CHEERS TO CHOOSING HELMETS-
LS2 is at one end of the spectrum while at the other end like SHOEI GT series, and the ARAI RX or the Corsair Series- which would set you back between 65000-80000 depending on model and replicas of particular riders. Having given you the spread financially- here is the user issues-
1. NO one can tell you which helmet fits you- you have to try ten helmets and see which one fits you firmest. The helmet should have no wobble, or ability to lift- which means that it should not lift off your face and make you peer down (imagine here by lifting your head backwards, nose to ceiling)- The cheek pads are a must and should not slide up and down your cheeks when you push up the chin with your fingers- it should want to raise your chins along with it- which means that the fit should be firm, almost a tad on the tight side.
2. Short comings of helmets are that
- if they are not well designed, they will lift upward- and you cannot test this on Bullet or a Pulsar, you have to ride it out in the open on your Harley
- poor fittings, like the Maahindra Scorpio doors, will allow air inside with an irritating whistling sound, which when you will do 10-12 hours on your Harley, will annoy the daylights out of you, and you will land up riding with ear plugs
- poorly made fittings will enable the visor not to sit firmly on the closed postion and causing a very dangerous phenomenon- at speeds between 120-145 the visor snaps open- and the open visor catches the rushing air and almost yanks the helmet backward causing a very very critical moment in your riding career.
- improper ventilation, besides the obvious discomfort also causes fatigue and the more dangerous thing- fogging due to breath in cold weather, and also during the rains which in India last for 3-4 months a year.
3. SNELL and DOT testing- there is just no end to which is good, bad, better, and on and on. Which brings me to a point, that it is rumoured - rather strongly- that HJC makes Harley helmets, of which there are half, modular and full face available. These are the same that H-D sells around th world, and am sure they pass atleast some mandatory testing and meet/exceed some minimum certification standards. So if anyone asks you not to buy the helmets- hmmmm- I would discount such advise.
4. Try the LS2, try Cross, Try the SHOEI RF1100 a hugely popular budget item, try the Arai Vector. Others like NOLAN, SHARK and SCORPION meet the various price points on the system.
5. What I wear- I started riding with a full face and I do not use nor subscribe to half-face or modular helmets.
I ride with the
NOLAN- N 63 in the city, and on extremely hot days
SHOEI GT-AIR which has saved me when I head-butted a wall on an off-road event- replaced and remains my favourite highway runner in groups needing communications, as my Scala sits firmly screwed into the helmet, and finally-
ARAI Corsair V- Isle of Man TT Limited Edition- which I use for long rides alone when I dont need the Scala which stays embedded in my Shoei.
Do feel free to try on a few helmets across the price ranges of 3000-45000 before finding the right fit. Helmets that ride up at speeds are just as bad as ones that will slide around when you fall and impact on the road. Choose wisely and choose tight.
CHEERS TO CHOOSING HELMETS-
LS2 is at one end of the spectrum while at the other end like SHOEI GT series, and the ARAI RX or the Corsair Series- which would set you back between 65000-80000 depending on model and replicas of particular riders. Having given you the spread financially- here is the user issues-
1. NO one can tell you which helmet fits you- you have to try ten helmets and see which one fits you firmest. The helmet should have no wobble, or ability to lift- which means that it should not lift off your face and make you peer down (imagine here by lifting your head backwards, nose to ceiling)- The cheek pads are a must and should not slide up and down your cheeks when you push up the chin with your fingers- it should want to raise your chins along with it- which means that the fit should be firm, almost a tad on the tight side.
2. Short comings of helmets are that
- if they are not well designed, they will lift upward- and you cannot test this on Bullet or a Pulsar, you have to ride it out in the open on your Harley
- poor fittings, like the Maahindra Scorpio doors, will allow air inside with an irritating whistling sound, which when you will do 10-12 hours on your Harley, will annoy the daylights out of you, and you will land up riding with ear plugs
- poorly made fittings will enable the visor not to sit firmly on the closed postion and causing a very dangerous phenomenon- at speeds between 120-145 the visor snaps open- and the open visor catches the rushing air and almost yanks the helmet backward causing a very very critical moment in your riding career.
- improper ventilation, besides the obvious discomfort also causes fatigue and the more dangerous thing- fogging due to breath in cold weather, and also during the rains which in India last for 3-4 months a year.
3. SNELL and DOT testing- there is just no end to which is good, bad, better, and on and on. Which brings me to a point, that it is rumoured - rather strongly- that HJC makes Harley helmets, of which there are half, modular and full face available. These are the same that H-D sells around th world, and am sure they pass atleast some mandatory testing and meet/exceed some minimum certification standards. So if anyone asks you not to buy the helmets- hmmmm- I would discount such advise.
4. Try the LS2, try Cross, Try the SHOEI RF1100 a hugely popular budget item, try the Arai Vector. Others like NOLAN, SHARK and SCORPION meet the various price points on the system.
5. What I wear- I started riding with a full face and I do not use nor subscribe to half-face or modular helmets.
I ride with the
NOLAN- N 63 in the city, and on extremely hot days
SHOEI GT-AIR which has saved me when I head-butted a wall on an off-road event- replaced and remains my favourite highway runner in groups needing communications, as my Scala sits firmly screwed into the helmet, and finally-
ARAI Corsair V- Isle of Man TT Limited Edition- which I use for long rides alone when I dont need the Scala which stays embedded in my Shoei.
Do feel free to try on a few helmets across the price ranges of 3000-45000 before finding the right fit. Helmets that ride up at speeds are just as bad as ones that will slide around when you fall and impact on the road. Choose wisely and choose tight.
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