Full face Helmet recommendations?

[dale58]

Hi everyone,
         I'm in the market for a new full face helmet. I like the one's with the built in sun visor option. Any opinions on manufacture and model would be appreciated. Thanks, Dale

[FJ1100mjk]

I had a Shoei RF1000 for years. Was looking at getting another. I saw good reviews on the helmet below, and picked one up. I've probably got around 4,500 miles on it, and I like it a lot. I think anyone would be hard-pressed to come up with a better helmet for the cost of this one. It's got tbe sun visor built in, and the Pinlock anti-fog insert is included too. $250. Fits my head fine.

http://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/kabuto-kamui-helmet-solid?gclid=CNj_uKfx-cYCFY81aQodH-0OkQ

[ribbert]

Hi everyone,
         I'm in the market for a new full face helmet. I like the one's with the built in sun visor option. Any opinions on manufacture and model would be appreciated. Thanks, Dale

Before you get too hung up on a particular make and model make sure it fits.

In many cases, depending on your head shape, you don't choose the helmet it chooses you. Some brands favour particular head shapes and don't kid yourself that your preferred helmet will wear in over time if its uncomfortable in the shop, other than some minor settling of the lining.
'
A poor fitting helmet is a real ride killer.

Last time I bought a helmet I went shopping armed with a short list of well researched models only to find I couldn't wear any of them. Some people are blessed with a universal head shape, most of us aren't.

Noel

[FJ1100mjk]

I had a Shoei RF1000 for years. Was looking at getting another. I saw good reviews on the helmet below, and picked one up. I've probably got around 4,500 miles on it, and I like it a lot. I think anyone would be hard-pressed to come up with a better helmet for the cost of this one. It's got tbe sun visor built in, and the Pinlock anti-fog insert is included too. $250. Fits my head fine.

http://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/kabuto-kamui-helmet-solid?gclid=CNj_uKfx-cYCFY81aQodH-0OkQ

A review of the above helmet. One that I read before pulling the trigger on my purchase.

http://www.webbikeworld.com/r2/motorcycle-helmet/kabuto-kamui-helmet/review.htm

[aviationfred]

I used Shoei helmets for years and loved every model that I used. About a year after getting my current FJ, I purchased a Bell Vortex. Other members on the forum have the same model along with others that have the 2 higher end Bell models. Everyone has very high opinions of the brand and models. They do not have a flip down tinted visor. The feature that is employed instead is the optional Transitions auto-darkening shield.

I highly recommend the Bell line of helmets.

Cycle gear is where I purchased mine.

Fred

[Pat Conlon]

+1 to Noel's advice.

Buy a helmet that properly fits your head. If you have a long oval skull, like my Irish noggin, you will find Arai helmets fit the best.
Don't worry about internal/external sun shades. Fit is most important. if you have ever had the experience of a pressure sore on your forehead happen in the middle a long ride, you will understand what Noel means. Absolute torture. Distracting. Dangerous.

There are some new trick electric sunshades you can add to your clear face shield. Internal sun shades are not absolutely necessary.
The Bell Helmet line (if they fit) Fred mention's above ^^ has the photo-chromatic SOLFX faceshield. A very nice feature.

[Urban_Legend]

I have the internal flip down sun shade on my helmet (Shark Brand),but can't use it anyway because it hits my nose. So if you are blessed with a fair sized snoz this my be an issue.
I also found that my cheap brand helmet has less wind noise than my $500 helmet (brands - RJay and Shark- not sure if you have these). I wear glasses too, and not all helmets are accommodating of this.

Mark

[fj johnnie]

 I wore Shoei helmets for years. They are an awesome helmet, but they didn't seem to fit me well. I purchased an Arai a couple years ago. It is fantastic, with all day comfort. Arai makes different shapes as well so one can find the one fits their head shape. The problem is that most helmets are sold by people who don't really know the subtle differences.
As others have said before me, " If you have a 50 dollar head buy a 50 dollar helmet". Finding one that fits your head is more important than finding one that fits your budget. My Arai was 500 plus, which is more than I should have spent, however I do not regret it ever.

[ribbert]

I forgot to mention in my Ride/Product review last night the "Pinlock" screen.

I know many of you have them but for those that don't, or those buying a new helmet or even a replacement visor for an old one, these things are just plain brilliant.

With the visor closed and locked, you simply cannot fog them up no matter how cold, how much rain or how hard you huff and puff on them.

Many replacement visors for popular helmets now offer "Pinlock Ready" option for a couple of dollars more - GET IT!

Noel

[movenon]

My advice is try a bunch on first.  Don't go by test reports or advertisements, features etc..  I have had expensive helmets that hurt my head so bad that I got rid of them in short order.  For me Bells are a terrable fit.  I have had a couple of them, even extensively modified a new one.  In the end they just don't fit my head.  For others they are a perfect fit.
Helmets are like shoes.  It is something you will or should wear all the time make sure it fits.  As Pat alluded to having a painful head ache while riding takes all the fun out of it.  
George

[Derek Young]

As already stated, fit is the most important thing.
A few years ago my wife bought me a helmet for Christmas. At the time I was wearing a fairly new Shoei and was quite happy with it. I never wore that Shoei again...
The new helmet was a modular (flip up) design by HJC. My wife wears a Shoei Multitec modular helmet. Neither one of us would buy a helmet that isn't a flip up style again! We rarely take our helmets off unless we are stopping for an extended period. We can even leave them on at most border crossings, just flip them open. It is amazing how convenient they are.
Some would argue that modulars are less safe than a regular full face helmet. I feel that if I'm in a crash that is serious enough to make my helmet fail, I'm probably going home in a bag anyway.

My HJC has the built in sun visor. I almost never use it. Most of the time i wear sunglasses and prefer to ride with the shield up, unless I'm riding at highway speeds or if its cold or raining. I like the wind in my face.


Derek

[Troyskie]

Before you get too hung up on a particular make and model make sure it fits.
Noel[/quote]
+ again with Noel.
I just went shopping with pretty much the same requirements as you Dale.
I went to a shop that had all the main brands, and lots of choices within those brands.
Same again as Noel, once I tried all the lids which had the bits I wanted, I ended up going with the one that fit.
So, I ended up with no sun vision, but do have the pin lock thingy. But the helmet is the best fitting for me yet.
Troyskie

[ribbert]

Finding one that fits your head is more important than finding one that fits your budget. My Arai was 500 plus, which is more than I should have spent, however I do not regret it ever.

Funnily, the only helmet I could find at he time that fitted turned out to be half as much as I had intended spending. I wanted to spend more but couldn't.

What no one has mentioned yet is flip up helmets.

I had never given them much thought as they always remind me of dorky BMW riders, I could see no real advantage to them and there wasn't much of a selection anyway. However, my riding buddy has had one for a couple of years and as daggy as they look when raised, I have had the chance to observe the advantages of them for a long time and will be seriously looking into them for my next helmet. There is also a much wider selection now as they seem to be more popular.

Just another option to consider (particularly if you smoke or take lots of photos or live somewhere, like here, where you have to remove your full face to get petrol)

Noel

[Derek Young]

Finding one that fits your head is more important than finding one that fits your budget. My Arai was 500 plus, which is more than I should have spent, however I do not regret it ever.

Funnily, the only helmet I could find at he time that fitted turned out to be half as much as I had intended spending. I wanted to spend more but couldn't.

What no one has mentioned yet is flip up helmets.

I had never given them much thought as they always remind me of dorky BMW riders, I could see no real advantage to them and there wasn't much of a selection anyway. However, my riding buddy has had one for a couple of years and as daggy as they look when raised, I have had the chance to observe the advantages of them for a long time and will be seriously looking into them for my next helmet. There is also a much wider selection now as they seem to be more popular.

Just another option to consider (particularly if you smoke or take lots of photos or live somewhere, like here, where you have to remove your full face to get petrol)

Noel

I doubt you would go back if you tried one Noel. They are awesome!

[ribbert]

....The new helmet was a modular (flip up) design by HJC.....
..... Most of the time i wear sunglasses and prefer to ride with the shield up, unless I'm riding at highway speeds or if its cold or raining. I like the wind in my face.

Derek

This is indeed encouraging news Derek, my current helmet, the one that fitted so well is an HJC. Given their modest price it would be great if the modular style was the same fit as the full face. I'm in!

I also like to ride with the screen open and sunnies, even at highway speeds sometimes. I like the wind in my face too.

Noel