Victory Motorcycle Forum banner

Premium Helmets

11K views 83 replies 30 participants last post by  PaiN 
#1 ·
I always wear a helmet but I have an issue with most, my head is a "long oval" shape and I'm limited in what bucket fits me. Even ones that feel okay at first pressure the front or back of my head terrible after awhile. I really prefer a full face helmet for any distance riding, but up to recently I haven't been able to find one that fits. So I'm stuck wearing a Daytona Cruiser 3/4. This one fits great, but it was all of $70 and I've never been confident of its protection. Plus I'd really like face coverage.
Anyway, I've discovered the Arai Signet-Q Pro-Tour. These are specially designed for the long-oval head. I've tried it on several times since finding them last winter and holy crap! its a sweet fit :) The Signet-Q has incredible ventilation and I can loose the sunglasses stuck in the helmet. The problem for me is the price. I've always thought, since I don't race, spending so much on a high-end helmet is just a waste. I've found the solid black Pro-Tour for just north of $500 but have not been able to bring myself to pull the trigger on it yet.....
What do you all think of paying premium $$ for a helmet?
 
#3 ·
I have read some good articles on helmets and learned that price is not a great indicator of how well they protect you. Helmets are subject to rigorous tests. I think mostly that price is more indicative of features and ergonomics, noise, etc. I like a helmet that fits pretty snug and is comfortable. I have a couple HJC's because they seem to fit me well and perform well. I also have a Nolan with the flip, which was my favorite for a few years, but has pretty much worn out. I tried on a couple Bilt helmets and just didn't like them at all. It's more personal preference I think than anything else. But I know a lot of people associate big dollars with better safety and performance.
 
#4 ·
A few years ago wife and I bought a pair of Schuberth C3s. Lots of nice features for sure. The pair cost around $1,150. We then invested about $400 for intercoms. Then we started having to replace the inner padding to make them reasonably comfortable. After about $2,000 total they sit on a shelf as neither of us can stand wearing them. I'll stick with the $30 models.
 
#5 ·
I have no question about how well the Signet-Q will fit, how well it will protect or its great "features".......I'm just having a hard time dropping $500+ on the thing :confused: Even though it does look good on me.....lol and don't ask about the HD shirt....:mad:

 
#11 ·
I have no question about how well the Signet-Q will fit, how well it will protect or its great "features".......I'm just having a hard time dropping $500+ on the thing :confused: Even though it does look good on me.....lol and don't ask about the HD shirt....:mad:





Oh ****! It's the black Power Ranger! [emoji23][emoji23][emoji23]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
  • Like
Reactions: broggyr
#6 ·
If it is the cheapes one you can find that fits, then you don't have much choice. I would continue looking in hopes of finding one that fits at a lower price point. The lower cost full face helmets will offer the same protection as the expensive models just not as many features. Personally, I would never buy a helmet that cost $500 but I guess that I am lucky as I must have a normal shaped head :)
 
#7 ·
I've been looking and trying for years.....There is really nothing in a full-face that's made for a long-oval head shape or that fits like the Signet-Q. The closest I've found is the Icon Dark Alliance, but with that one after a couple hours I'd start getting a bad pressure headache at the forehead.
 
#8 · (Edited)
I had a $50 helmet and it was good for a few years. I tried on the Polaris helmet made for the Slingshot, and it was so light and comfortable, but it's $400. Arai helmets are great but also $$$. I have a big, oval head like PaiN's and I will probably be in the market for a new helmet within a year, so it's something worth looking at.
 
#9 ·
I would have no problem spending $500 on a helmet. I have did it multiple times. I am currently eyeing a Shoei Neotec. Shoei Neotec Flip-Up Helmet - Imminent TC-5 - SHOEI-NEOTEC-IMM-TC5 - Phat Performance Parts I do agree with some of the above posts about cheaper helmets still doing there job. A $100 HJC saved my life almost a year ago...hit a car broadside at around 40mph and flew head first into side window then flipped over the car. So I replaced that helmet with another HJC. I used to race motocross and always wore Shoei or HJC. Also remember if your helmet takes a hard blow its done, put it on the shelf and buy another one. It has done its job. Point being if you can find a great fitting lower priced helmet it will protect you just as good as the Arai. But it sounds like you have already found your perfect fitting helmet. Spend the $$$ and never look back. BTW found your helmet for just under $500....Arai Signet-Q Pro-Tour Helmet - Diamond Black - ARAI-SIGNETQ-HELMETDBLK - Phat Performance Parts
 
#10 ·
@blcoonrod ...Thanks for the link but they are out of stock :( The best price I've found is $535 w/free shipping at Revzilla. I'll keep an eye on the Phat site
@broggyr You might want to try out the Signet-Q, I believe they go up to 2XL
 
  • Like
Reactions: adamnorthup
#12 ·
Damn, you guys with mutant heads have it tough :) As one of the folks with "normal" shaped heads, I can assure you that I didn't know how good I had it until reading this thread. Good luck.
 
#14 ·
back in the day minnesota had a helmet law. The bikers hired a lobbyist to fight the law.
I was at one of his talks and there was ten of the house senate people there. This lobbyist walk out said hi carrying a bell helmet. About waist high he dropped the helmet. It hit the floor he picked it up ripped the filler out of and handed it to the senate people and asked them to read the tag inside.
The tag said any drop of helmet above 3 feet the helmet should be sent back to factor for strength test.
He ask these people if a three foot fall is questionable what will a 60 mph crash be.
That was the end of the helmet law. To this day you see a good 45% of the riders wearing helmets.
 
#16 ·
If the helmet fits the way you need it to, I'd pull the trigger. How many years more of riding do you think you will do? Divide the cost by that and it's probably pretty cheap over the time. I don't think you can put a price on the peace of mind you will eventually have with the proper fit helmet. Or look at the idea that the number of years you have been looking was actually saving for this purchase.

DO IT (rum and Coke)
 
#20 ·
CT ...believe it or not, does not require helmets but its my choice is to wear one.
When I was 18 I took an 75mph shiter off my Honda Nighthawk, last thing I remember was the road coming toward my face, if it not for that Bell full face, I would probably not be here right now....and all of you would never know what you were missing .... :grin
 
#22 · (Edited)
#24 ·
It took me quite awhile to find a helmet that fit comfortably for longer than an hour or two. Unfortunately it was a $600+ Arai. Nice thing was it had a system of replaceable padding that you can get to not only make the helmet more comfortable you can replace it as needed and make the helmet last for many more years.

Buggers don't make that model anymore.

It's never been dropped and I don't buy into the manufacturers suggestions that a helmet only lasts 5 years. Hell, we've got plastic bags blowing around the neighbourhood that seem to be there longer than that without any signs of breaking down and an undisturbed McDonald's cheeseburger lasts 10.

I'm thinking of getting a new one soon however until pieces start falling off I'm not in too much of a hurry. Summer is coming though. It the heat builds up inside and starts to effect the years of built-up sweat enough to make my eyes water I too can take a hint.

But damn, they are expensive. The wife say's to go ahead because it protects my good looks, then laughs like hell.
 
#32 ·
I recently bought Nexx helmets for me and my wife. Their carbon fiber helmets, they weigh less then any helmet on the market...they aren't cheap about $500 to $600 in the states. I ordered them from an accessories shop in Spain...Motardinn for about $150 less to half the cost. See the link below.

https://www.motardinn.com

It takes about a week to receive it after ordering.



Sent from Motorcycle.com Free App[/color
 
#34 ·
I recently bought Nexx helmets for me and my wife. Their carbon fiber helmets, they weigh less then any helmet on the market...they aren't cheap about $500 to $600 in the states. I ordered them from an accessories shop in Spain...Motardinn for about $150 less to half the cost. See the link below.

https://www.motardinn.com
Usually European helmets are very round in shape....The intermediate-oval and oval shape is an American thing.
 
#36 ·
The 3 most important things to look for when buying a lid is fit, fit, and fit. It has to fit right and be comfortable. I guess #4 would be the vanity part, but important as well, you have to like it.
$500 is a lot for a helmet, unfortunately some of us have to get into that to find the first 3 things on the helmet buying list.
A couple of reasons why all of this is important. No head injury per the docs, but I lost a month of memory and spent that month in ICU. So $500 isn't too much to pay if that is where your head is.
 

Attachments

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top