What Helmet are you wearing and why?

[Patrol]

Nothing but Arai. A Corsair and a XD3. I've investigated umpteen fatal MC wrecks and attended a ton of conferences with helmet manufacturers. Everything I've ever seen suggests Arai is the only way to go. And they look cool.

[ErikY.]

ROOF Boxer V.

http://www.designerhelmets.com/prodd...&info=3&sale=0

Light (ish), noisy, modular, not TC or DOT, bitchin.

[Xeraux]

Originally Posted by ErikY.

ROOF Boxer V.

http://www.designerhelmets.com/prodd...&info=3&sale=0

Light, noisy, modular, not TC or DOT, bitchin.

I've always liked the look of that helmet.

Yes, yes... And before all of you start squawking, we all know it's more of a 3/4 helmet. The chinbar is there primarily primarily there for wind/bugstrike protection and isn't really "load bearing", but it's a really good looking design.

[Butters]

Seems like a legitimate question to me . . . Sniff, sniff? Nope, I don't smell spam.

I currently wear a GMax GM68. Great helmet and the fact that it can be bought for about $100 is just gravy.

I also have an HJC FS10. Very happy with it for the price I paid. I wish ALL helmets had internal sun shades. I took a flyer on the GMax since they're so cheap and well reviewed and it is more comfy. I do miss the sun shade of the FS10 though.

I had an Arai XD3. I will say this about it: It was by far the most comfortable helmet I have ever worn (as long as I wasn't moving). Unfortunately, at speed, it wasn't very comfortable at all.

Although I agree the quality of Arai is better than most helmets. I'm not convinced it is so much better that it always justifies the price. I didn't have a problem buying the XD3 for around $350. But some of these $5-600+ helmets?! For me, they don't appear to be that much better than what you can get with a mid level helmet.

We all value a buck differently in terms of what we decide to buy. But I think you can generally find a helmet just as comfortable as an Arai or Shoei for $200-300 and the quality is only slightly less (say 10%). For some people that extra 10% is worth $300. For many, like me, it isn't.

[AlanCT]

Helmet = Scorpion EXO 700

Why? = mainly because it is screamin' radioactive, hi-viz yellow. It was also an improvement in comfort over the HJC CL-12's I had been using.

[Xeraux]

Originally Posted by Butters

Although I agree the quality of Arai is better than most helmets. I'm not convinced it is so much better that it always justifies the price. I didn't have a problem buying the XD3 for around $350. But some of these $5-600+ helmets?! For me, they don't appear to be that much better than what you can get with a mid level helmet.

I gotta admit, I've never paid even close to full retail for an Arai.

And honestly... I don't know anyone who has.

It's not hard to catch a sale on a discontinued colour or end of season merch or something. Probably over a year ago, I caught a large, "Red Spike" graphic Arai Quantum II for US$289.00 from Competition Accessories. You just have to be a little patient and be ready to purchase when it comes along.

[AlanCT]

Originally Posted by Xeraux

I gotta admit, I've never paid even close to full retail for an Arai.

And honestly... I don't know anyone who has.

It's not hard to catch a sale on a discontinued colour or end of season merch or something. Probably over a year ago, I caught a large, "Red Spike" graphic Arai Quantum II for US$289.00 from Competition Accessories. You just have to be a little patient and be ready to purchase when it comes along.

That is an amazing price for an Arai.

[Boondox]

Arai XD3 and a Nolan N103. Since I travel with a sidecar rig I take both and tuck the unused one in with the dog.

Nolan: noisy as can be, and the ventilation isn't very good, but the optics are great, the sun visor is nice, and it's modular so I can converse with the dog when he's acting squirrelly. I put earplugs in and use the Nolan for long distance, high speed transits.

Arai: OMFG comfortable! Nothing beats that visor when riding into the sun. And unlike the Nolan, there is actually room in front of my mouth for the Scala boom mike.

[Bryn1203]

My current hat is a Shark Evoline Series 2 ................
............ a flip lid with two visors - clear and dark. It flips back without forming a bulge

http://www.shark-evoline.com/English.html

the two visors are useful for day & night riding...

[Snr Moment]

Vemar VRSC carbon fiber. Light weight, quiet, vents very, very well. I ride a Uly at freeway speeds with my head up over the shield, so that stuff is important. It's also comfortable off the tarvy at low speeds.

Also have a Fulmer Modus. Heavy, noisy. Their warranty is good. My first one fell apart and they replaced it immediately. Seldom wear it. One good thing about it is that the shield fits the Vemar, which saves about $50 at replacement time.

[ebbanflood]

Stayed with Bell in my younger days, then went to Shoei for many years. I just bought an HJC, seems ok, time will tell.

[Lost Soul]

HJC Carbon Fiber for the racecar and street. Zox for the dirt.

[LeChatNoir]

shoei RF-1100. always had shoei's... they actually fit best on my melon, the air venting is great and the pads come out well the whole thing comes out and is washable...not that i have washed it yet...

[forrestlaw]

Scorpion EXO-700. Got a great deal on it, looks cool, and it fits really well.

[DanVFR]

I'm a Shoei Man, XR1000, discounted when the XR1100 came out, and by far the best helmet i've worn so far. Got a Scala Rider G4 on mine too, all fits nice!

Arai don't fit me, although they do look good!