Any helmets out there with a long-oval shape like Arai's Profile?

MZ5 · 11-02-2012, 10:09 AM

I wear a Profile because it's the only helmet I've tried on that doesn't give me a headache. I have a big head in the first place, and a very long-oval shape besides. I love my Arai, and will buy another when it's time, so long as they don't do something dumb like drop that shape or drop Snell certification.

This question is more about my young son. He has a very long-oval head shape as well, and while I'm sure Arai makes a Profile that would fit him, I cannot afford to buy an Arai a year for the next ~10 years for him as he grows. So, I'm wondering whether anyone here knows of other helmets that are:

1) Long-oval shape,
2) Snell certified,
3) A little less costly for a growing boy.

Grinnin · 11-02-2012, 10:56 AM

This page:

http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcyc...met-shapes.htm

starts with the 6 helmets, including the Profile, that are long ovals.

DaveStockwell · 11-02-2012, 11:25 AM

I have a similar shaped cranium and have found luck with a number of AGV. In the cheap end I used to have luck with Fulmer but it's been years since I've tried them. Currently I'm wearing a Suomy but they are hard to find here in the states.

As for cost, only the Fulmer could be considered "Affordable".

StuartV · 11-02-2012, 01:20 PM

I have a long oval head. I wore Arai for 20+ years (and still have a perfectly good one). Nothing else ever fit comfortably enough to wear all day.

Last year, I tried a Bell Vortex. I have not worn my Arai since. The Vortex is (I believe) Snell 2010. And they go for about $180, new. A couple of months ago, I tried a Bell RS-1. It is a slightly different shell shape than the Vortex, but equally comfortable to me. I got one on closeout for $200. But, their normal street price is, I think a bit over $300.

The expensive Bell, the Star, is yet a third shell shape and was not comfortable to me.

These Bells are not MORE comfortable than my Arai. Just, AS comfortable (to me). But, the reason I have not worn my Arai since getting the Vortex is that I also got a Bell Transitions shield for each of my Bell helmets. The Transitions shield goes clear in the dark and gets to about a Medium Smoke in full sunlight. THAT is what really kicked my Arai to the curb. No more ever having to carry a spare shield in case I end up getting caught out after dark.

I've been using the Bells now for a year and a half. At $180 for the helmet, you just canNOT go wrong (if it's comfortable on your head).

Oh, and the final $0.02, Bell makes a version of the same helmet with the flip-up chinbar. It is NOT comfortable to me, at all. You'd think they'd make it the same on the inside as one of the other 3, but it's not, as far as I can tell. Just FYI.

MZ5 · 11-02-2012, 04:33 PM

DaveStockwell, thanks! I'll see whether we can find Fulmers here.

StuartV, excellent info! Thanks! I'd heard that at least some Bells are (once again?) using a long-oval internal shape, and the Vortex is indeed Snell 2010 certified (as are the more expensive Bells). A transitions lens seems VERY appealing, too. I ride to work in the dark for half the year, but am riding home mid-afternoon. At certain times of the year when I leave I'd prefer a clear shield, but then I'm looking straight into the rising sun once I'm about 2/3 - 3/4 of the way there. This makes the commute challenging, as I'm sure you can imagine. :)

Thanks for the great feedback!

Anticyclone · 11-02-2012, 10:31 PM

FWIW, I had a Fulmer as my first helmet and it was NOT a long oval shape. I used to leave a noticeable red mark on my forehead after every ride. I switched to an Arai XD and then an Arai RX-Q and they fit much better. I think a Profile is more long oval that either the XD or RX-Q...

10/10ths · 11-03-2012, 07:25 AM

....And now wear the new Signet-Q. It is spectacularly comfortable.

outsidein · 11-03-2012, 05:33 PM

I have the Aria Profile that fits great. The closest I've come to it is the Bell RS-1. The RS-1 is not so much a long oval spec. helmet is it is an intermediate oval helmet that seems be designed for a versatile fit within the intermediate oval range. It fits my LO head well although I had to go from a M in the profile to a L in the RS-1. Recommend test fitting it as it has a lot of nice features and seems well made and designed. The Signet-Q is also another option although more pricey.

empeg9000 · 11-04-2012, 02:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MZ5

I wear a Profile because it's the only helmet I've tried on that doesn't give me a headache. I have a big head in the first place, and a very long-oval shape besides. I love my Arai, and will buy another when it's time, so long as they don't do something dumb like drop that shape or drop Snell certification.

This question is more about my young son. He has a very long-oval head shape as well, and while I'm sure Arai makes a Profile that would fit him, I cannot afford to buy an Arai a year for the next ~10 years for him as he grows. So, I'm wondering whether anyone here knows of other helmets that are:

1) Long-oval shape,
2) Snell certified,
3) A little less costly for a growing boy.

I would love to find a flip-up with the long oval shape. On Webbike they refer to it as narrow. The C2 is supposedly shaped like that. I tried on a C3 in the past and it didn't fit me right.

levain · 11-04-2012, 03:46 AM

Any Profile owners try a Shoei Neotec?

'05Train · 11-04-2012, 05:01 AM

As with anything, make sure you try several of them on before you buy. Webbikeworld calls both the Signet-Q and the X-Eleven "Slightly Narrow". The Shoei hurt my head after 5 minutes, I've worn the Signet-Q for 20 hours at a stretch with no discomfort.

MZ5 · 11-04-2012, 08:03 AM

Yeah, I like the Webbikeworld site a lot, but their helmet shape charts don't square with my try-on experience very well, apart from the Profile being a long oval (which, since Arai makes that plain, I don't really need WBW to tell me...).

Droptarotter · 11-04-2012, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by levain

Any Profile owners try a Shoei Neotec?

I have worn Arai's for years.......and the Profile over the last 5 or so.

I bought a Neotec this year and it fits me very well. The longest time spent in it was one 8 hour day........no problems!
I really wanted a Schuberth C3, but it gave me a horrible mark on my forehead.
The Nolan N104 fit ok, but seemed poorly made and not up to the quality of the Arai/Shoei helmets.

If I bought a new Arai, it would be a Signet-Q........I was fitted by the Arai guy at one of the MC shows last year and he figured that was his best helmet for my pointy head.

Cheers

levain · 11-04-2012, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Droptarotter

I have worn Arai's for years.......and the Profile over the last 5 or so.

I bought a Neotec this year and it fits me very well. The longest time spent in it was one 8 hour day........no problems!

Did you go with the same size Neotec? I'm a med. profile. I was a med. X-11.

fast4d · 11-04-2012, 09:24 AM

I have an egg head too. own 3 profiles but I might try a bell for their shields

11-02-2012, 10:09 AM	#1
MZ5 ^OP Adventurer Joined: Jul 2011 Location: Arizona, USA Oddometer: 85	Any helmets out there with a long-oval shape like Arai's Profile? I wear a Profile because it's the only helmet I've tried on that doesn't give me a headache. I have a big head in the first place, and a very long-oval shape besides. I love my Arai, and will buy another when it's time, so long as they don't do something dumb like drop that shape or drop Snell certification. This question is more about my young son. He has a very long-oval head shape as well, and while I'm sure Arai makes a Profile that would fit him, I cannot afford to buy an Arai a year for the next ~10 years for him as he grows. So, I'm wondering whether anyone here knows of other helmets that are: 1) Long-oval shape, 2) Snell certified, 3) A little less costly for a growing boy.

11-02-2012, 10:56 AM	#2
Grinnin Forever N00b Joined: Dec 2005 Location: Maine Oddometer: 1,609	This page: http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcyc...met-shapes.htm starts with the 6 helmets, including the Profile, that are long ovals. __________________ Motorcycles are magical.

11-02-2012, 11:25 AM	#3
DaveStockwell Rock Fodder Joined: Jul 2011 Location: Betwix the Cascades and Puget Sound Oddometer: 205	I have a similar shaped cranium and have found luck with a number of AGV. In the cheap end I used to have luck with Fulmer but it's been years since I've tried them. Currently I'm wearing a Suomy but they are hard to find here in the states. As for cost, only the Fulmer could be considered "Affordable". __________________ "Yes. It looks insubordinate, but it isn't really." - T.E. Lawrence

11-02-2012, 01:20 PM	#4
StuartV Motorcyclist Joined: Oct 2004 Location: Roseville, CA Oddometer: 577	I have a long oval head. I wore Arai for 20+ years (and still have a perfectly good one). Nothing else ever fit comfortably enough to wear all day. Last year, I tried a Bell Vortex. I have not worn my Arai since. The Vortex is (I believe) Snell 2010. And they go for about $180, new. A couple of months ago, I tried a Bell RS-1. It is a slightly different shell shape than the Vortex, but equally comfortable to me. I got one on closeout for $200. But, their normal street price is, I think a bit over $300. The expensive Bell, the Star, is yet a third shell shape and was not comfortable to me. These Bells are not MORE comfortable than my Arai. Just, AS comfortable (to me). But, the reason I have not worn my Arai since getting the Vortex is that I also got a Bell Transitions shield for each of my Bell helmets. The Transitions shield goes clear in the dark and gets to about a Medium Smoke in full sunlight. THAT is what really kicked my Arai to the curb. No more ever having to carry a spare shield in case I end up getting caught out after dark. I've been using the Bells now for a year and a half. At $180 for the helmet, you just canNOT go wrong (if it's comfortable on your head). Oh, and the final $0.02, Bell makes a version of the same helmet with the flip-up chinbar. It is NOT comfortable to me, at all. You'd think they'd make it the same on the inside as one of the other 3, but it's not, as far as I can tell. Just FYI. __________________ - Stu '09 R12GS, '05 GSX-R1000 (x3), '05 KTM 525EXC (plated) Iron Butt # 4999, WERA/CCS EX # 666 (currently, expired), AMA Life Member Racer, Drummer, Bassist, Software Engineer

11-02-2012, 10:31 PM	#6
Anticyclone Studious Joined: Sep 2007 Location: Columbus, MS Oddometer: 4,394	FWIW, I had a Fulmer as my first helmet and it was NOT a long oval shape. I used to leave a noticeable red mark on my forehead after every ride. I switched to an Arai XD and then an Arai RX-Q and they fit much better. I think a Profile is more long oval that either the XD or RX-Q... __________________ Later, Michael "If I can't pass at a reasonable speed I do it unreasonably." - jdmetzger

11-02-2012, 04:33 PM	#5
MZ5 ^OP Adventurer Joined: Jul 2011 Location: Arizona, USA Oddometer: 85	DaveStockwell, thanks! I'll see whether we can find Fulmers here. StuartV, excellent info! Thanks! I'd heard that at least some Bells are (once again?) using a long-oval internal shape, and the Vortex is indeed Snell 2010 certified (as are the more expensive Bells). A transitions lens seems VERY appealing, too. I ride to work in the dark for half the year, but am riding home mid-afternoon. At certain times of the year when I leave I'd prefer a clear shield, but then I'm looking straight into the rising sun once I'm about 2/3 - 3/4 of the way there. This makes the commute challenging, as I'm sure you can imagine. :) Thanks for the great feedback!

11-03-2012, 07:25 AM	#7
10/10ths Road Trip Fool Joined: Aug 2007 Location: Bayou country Oddometer: 765	I wore a Profile.... ....And now wear the new Signet-Q. It is spectacularly comfortable. __________________ 1997 Ducati Monster 750 2004 Suzuki V-Strom 650 2004 Honda RC51

11-03-2012, 05:33 PM	#8
outsidein Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Dec 2009 Location: Canada Oddometer: 346	I have the Aria Profile that fits great. The closest I've come to it is the Bell RS-1. The RS-1 is not so much a long oval spec. helmet is it is an intermediate oval helmet that seems be designed for a versatile fit within the intermediate oval range. It fits my LO head well although I had to go from a M in the profile to a L in the RS-1. Recommend test fitting it as it has a lot of nice features and seems well made and designed. The Signet-Q is also another option although more pricey.

11-04-2012, 03:46 AM	#10
levain STILL Jim Williams Joined: Oct 2005 Location: Providence, RI Oddometer: 5,985	Any Profile owners try a Shoei Neotec? __________________ Click Here! 2012 Triumph Tiger 800 XC 1971 Lambretta DL

11-04-2012, 05:01 AM	#11
'05Train Mind is not for rent Joined: Jun 2011 Location: Maryland Oddometer: 858	As with anything, make sure you try several of them on before you buy. Webbikeworld calls both the Signet-Q and the X-Eleven "Slightly Narrow". The Shoei hurt my head after 5 minutes, I've worn the Signet-Q for 20 hours at a stretch with no discomfort. __________________ 2005 FXSTB/I 2012 FLHTCUSE7 '05Train screwed with this post 11-04-2012 at 11:00 AM

11-04-2012, 08:03 AM	#12
MZ5 ^OP Adventurer Joined: Jul 2011 Location: Arizona, USA Oddometer: 85	Yeah, I like the Webbikeworld site a lot, but their helmet shape charts don't square with my try-on experience very well, apart from the Profile being a long oval (which, since Arai makes that plain, I don't really need WBW to tell me...).

11-04-2012, 09:24 AM	#15
fast4d Beastly Adventurer Joined: Jul 2007 Location: Los Angeles, CA Oddometer: 1,573	I have an egg head too. own 3 profiles but I might try a bell for their shields __________________ Alan 2011 KTM RC8R 2012 BMW S1000RR 2000 Kawasaki ZRX1100

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: .
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode