The Motorcycle Helmet Thread

[lina]

Not sure how much interest there is on the forum, but I know lots of guys ride. So, show us your helmets. Be interesting to see what people are wearing (those who do wear helmets!), but also maybe hear about fit issues.

Here is my inexpensive Daytona open face.

I got it in matte black, and painted on the stripes myself! Not super straight, but I am happy with it. Also, got the Buco sticker on ebay and slapped it on. Purely decorative of course, not intended to or going to fool anyone. I actually tried out some vintage Buco helmets, but they didn't fit my oval head. This Daytona seems made for the oval headed among us. I can wear a large in it whereas with most other helmets I get front and back pressure and need an XL.

 

[rocketeer]

I tend to wear Power Ranger type on the Hayabusa. A Bell Star Carbon is my favourite, but on an old bike I wear this. A 1960s Kangol.

Looks the part, especially if you DO wear it on a Hayabusa and turn up at the Ace Cafe on Cafe Racer day hahahaha(thats another story)

Across Abberton reservoir Essex(UK) What a stink the next day

 

[TREEMAN]

No helmets needed here in Connecticut.........but when I do have to wear one it's one of those $50 cheap shorty jobs...........

 

[bn1966]

Shoei & Shark full face here

Used to wear an open face as a young scooter riding Mod back in the day.

 

[Fanch]

 

[lina]

@rocketeer That Kangol is a beauty!

 

[ProteinNerd]

With the way people drive (or should I say play with their phones while behind a wheel of a car) here, its just not smart to use anything but a high end helmet with all the protection modern technology can provide. I prefer the look of my Bell 500 custom but I almost never wear it for that reason.

I actually love the Shoei Neotec for its practicality. Its modular so I can open the face when stopped at lights on a hot day to help cool down. It has a built in sun visor so I don't get caught with a tinted visor if I'm out later than expected anymore and I have the custom built in bluetooth system by Sena that fits completely inside the helmet...its great. Navigation, music, podcasts etc while riding with no big ugly boxes stuck to the outside of the helmet.

 

[bn1966]

View attachment 68522

With the way people drive (or should I say play with their phones while behind a wheel of a car) here, its just not smart to use anything but a high end helmet with all the protection modern technology can provide. I prefer the look of my Bell 500 custom but I almost never wear it for that reason.

I actually love the Shoei Neotec for its practicality. Its modular so I can open the face when stopped at lights on a hot day to help cool down. It has a built in sun visor so I don't get caught with a tinted visor if I'm out later than expected anymore and I have the custom built in bluetooth system by Sena that fits completely inside the helmet...its great. Navigation, music, podcasts etc while riding with no big ugly boxes stuck to the outside of the helmet.

Nice, looking to go modular myself with my next helmet purchase...for the reasons you give

 

[Fanch]

Levity aside, one cannot have too much protection when riding. During the years when I did ride, my biggest concern was other people on the road driving 1-3 tons of machinery that could put me in ICU if not the under the ground.

 

[Peter Mackin]

Arai quantum for the Honda & a caberg flip style for the harley..harley being replaced after 25yrs with either ducati 821 stripe or the new triumph scrambler..

 

[Monitor]

My oldass Nolan. It's as far as I'll balance with the hipsterdom. Still a good helmet, tho.

 

[Plumbline]

Shoei Multitec ....Commute
Shoei X-Spirit ( track)

Will be upgrading this year at 3 yrs old to a Neotec or BMW Evo6 and a GT Air ( probably)

 

[ProteinNerd]

Curious how often everyone replaces their helmets and does anyone wear earplugs while riding?

 

[oneterrifichog]

Shoei with face cover that Does Not Fog no matter how hard it's raining

Shoei 3/4 for Hot Southern Days

Harley Half for Damn It's HOT out here in Kansas, et all!!!!!

The Most Comfortable Helmet ever made....

 

[rocketeer]

Curious how often everyone replaces their helmets and does anyone wear earplugs while riding?

Well now, that is what they call a bone of contention.
Some will shout about sun damage and dropping it, yes even once. As far as dropping it, the helmet is supposed to protect you(not save you) in a fairly fast spill so if I drop it or knock it and it lands on the floor I will be more worried about damaging the decals and paintwork. I will not replace my Bell Carbon Star until I see something I like better or is lighter. As far as Sun damage, as a non regular rider I doubt I have worn it 200 times in the year I have had it. So lets say 5 years at the earliest.
I wear industrial earplugs rather than bike shop specific because I believe they are as equal or better, and to me, free. As for specialist moulded, I would probably forget to put them back in and ride off with them waving in the wind or loose them, so it's the free ones I go for.
Hot weather.
A tour to Spain had me wearing a Power Ranger Arii. To counter the heat I removed the visor and used either sunglasses or industrial quality clear wrap arounds. leaving these at fuel stops cost me 4 pairs, again luckily they were free. But it still hurts if you get hit by a bee and can get stung by wasps if they get trapped inside the lid. Yes twice!

 

[ton312]

I love the open face easy riders. I've got a vintage black and gold that I painted and surely ruined and a biltwell root beer float. Now this is a thread that has me really wanting to say goodbye to jacket season!

 

[rocketeer]

My skid lids through the years: Stadium polycarbonate open face(first helmet 1976- 85. Second hand fibreglass Everoak Racemaster(86-90). A break from biking brought me back in 1999 with another Stadium cheap, then the old Kangol in the picture up to 2011.
A new chapter in motorcycling , I bought my Hayabusa so it was Go Go Power Rangers and bought a Shoei Raid(the fly picture) I then fancied a Shoei GT Air with the flip down visor but could not get on with it and my neck was aching from the weight. Only wore that about a dozen times so someone got a bargain., Finally the Bell Starr carbon and I love it. About 1/2 kilo lighter than the GT Air.

 

[rocketeer]

Why do so many cruiser riders wear those plastic German WWIIalike cut downs? In the US some states you must have a hat, others not. Over here they are a plague, worn a lot by the 1%er wannabes (Not legal in the UK) Our police often stop riders wearing them.
Back in the 'Greaser' days of the late 60s and early 1970s real WWI and II German stahlhelme were worn, often chrome plated and looking at old 1960s US biker magazines real ones were sold as were plastic copies for the surf set.

 

[lina]

My skid lids through the years: Stadium polycarbonate open face(first helmet 1976- 85. Second hand fibreglass Everoak Racemaster(86-90). A break from biking brought me back in 1999 with another Stadium cheap, then the old Kangol in the picture up to 2011.
A new chapter in motorcycling , I bought my Hayabusa so it was Go Go Power Rangers and bought a Shoei Raid(the fly picture) I then fancied a Shoei GT Air with the flip down visor but could not get on with it and my neck was aching from the weight. Only wore that about a dozen times so someone got a bargain., Finally the Bell Starr carbon and I love it. About 1/2 kilo lighter than the GT Air.

Had a chance to try on my brother's Bell carbon not long ago -- amazing how light it is. I am tempted to get one, but have never worn a full face. Plus, $$$...

 

[ton312]

Why do so many cruiser riders wear those plastic German WWIIalike cut downs? In the US some states you must have a hat, others not. Over here they are a plague, worn a lot by the 1%er wannabes (Not legal in the UK) Our police often stop riders wearing them.
Back in the 'Greaser' days of the late 60s and early 1970s real WWI and II German stahlhelme were worn, often chrome plated and looking at old 1960s US biker magazines real ones were sold as were plastic copies for the surf set.

I think it's more a " hey look at me I'm a bad ass" but that same dude is probably wearing purple crocs, riding a gold wing. Much of that kind of symbolism in the motorcycle community in the states has been watered down by discovery channel biker build off BS.