Type of helmet do you use

[cruppelt]

Arai all the way, simply for the superb fit on my noggin. The two best fits for me are Quantum II (which I currently use) and Vector II. The Vector is not quite as loud as the Quantum, plus the Quantum is out of production now, so the choice is clear if I need a new one anytime soon.

I literally tried on every other helmet brand I could get a hold of over the last 6 years or so, went to a lot of different stores for that. The only other brands that had some models that came close in fit were HJC and Shoei. I say close, but no cigar. I'll keep trying on other helmets as new models come out, maybe eventually I'll find an alternative. That said the Arais have served me well over the years, no complaints, and I've always felt reasonably well protected with them as well.

[Flyer66]

Is another helmet going to be lower drag than the Star? I dunno. The visor latch and visor removal is excellent on the Star. The fit is comfy for my rather round head shape, but it is louder than I would like. I also have a Bell RS1 that is quieter; fits one size smaller and narrower than the Star.

[RoboStraub]

Scorpion EXO-400. Fits me just right and isn't too expensive. I've had one through a spill and it held up just fine.

[ApriliaRlder]

the bell star is a great helmet..(loud as f*** tho) but it likes to pull my head off. i can feel the spoiler working pulling my head back. that helmet was meant for a sport bike all tucked in. i like to take the wind head on the Tuono.. like a boss.

lol scorpion those helmets are like bricks in the wind

[RoboStraub]

lol scorpion those helmets are like bricks in the wind

Meh, I use what I like, what fits me well, and if the brand has protected me through a spill, I like it even more. Never said it was the best, but I like them

[Technoz]

I just bought a RF1100 this spring...Head fit was good...but the cheek pads were way to tight....I had the fish syndrome going on.....(dealer said they would break in...never did)...and there are plenty of forums where they complain about that, if you Google it.
the fix is that they sell 3 different size cheek pads....but are around 35.00$, so again more complaints about spending more to fix a new helmet, me included....BUT!...if you look very closely you will see that you can indeed deconstruct the pads and trim out some foam for free like I did.
I like the vent system and and the quick release shield is good...overall good quality....At high speeds there is a lot of aero lift trying to pull it off your head...so make sure to double up on the chin strap.

[Jeff U]

I have tried Shoei & Arai.

I like and wear an Arai.

The Arai models are built to fit different head shapes.

I have what they call an "long oval" head and have found the Arai Profile & the new Arai Signet-Q fit me best.

Arai's are expensive but I just found a brand new (in original box with all tags, etc… still attached) Signet-Q on ebay for $350. One nice touch, the Signet-Q comes with a "pinlock" shield standard.

[SecondGen7]

i like to take the wind head on the Tuono.. like a boss.

Shark RSX for me (my second).

Absolutely love: 3mm shield, friction-based visor (so no pre-set notches), comfort, fit, safety (1st one protected my melon in a highside on my old R1).

Dislike: material on the very bottom of the liner doesn't age well, better suited to tucked riding position

[ChrisE]

I have both Shoei's and Arai's. I was pretty much an Arai guy for about 15 years and only recently decided to try the Shoei's. The switch was mostly brought on by having to have a helmet that's less than 5 years old for track Days.

My Arai Profile, just went past this date, so it's pretty much on the shelf these days.

I guess I'm lucky, I have no issues with fit or comfort wearing either the Arai's or Shoei's.

I bought the RF-1100 as my main sportbike/track day helmet, was pleased with the fit and comfort. I got a pair of matching MultiTec's, for the wife and I, to wear when we ride my Goldwing, although I predominantly ride solo these days, so I sold my Multitec and replaced it with the Qwest a couple of weeks ago. I didn't find the Multitec that comfortable, it was not quiet and did not flow air very well. The convenience of flipping up the front, mostly done when filling my gas tank, didn't outweigh the lack of comfort when riding.

I was on the fence when buying the Qwest, I was trying to decide between that and the Shoei Neotech, but after reading many reviews on each helmet, I went with the Qwest as it will be equipped with a headset and microphone for use when I'm riding my Goldwing, although I will also use it as my main helmet on the Tuono as well.

I bought all 4 Shoei's from RidersDiscount.com and got a significantly better price than advertised on their website by calling their sales manager Tom Jenson.

[Pieman_tm]

I have always liked Shoei and Arai. I smashed my head into a kerb during one of my accidents wearing an Arai, i didn't even feel it... (my leg was a different story )

Anyway, my last lid:


And my current Arai , Nakano RX7 Corsair, still around £500 if u can find one.

[Pieman_tm]

For the record, for £500 the Arai isn't that quiet. Still get a fair bit of road noise. Although unfashionable, my next lid may be a Schuberth. FAR superior in noise reduction.

[Fiine_Liine]

Arai XD. it is a dual sport helmet but it is a superb helmet for the street, light/cool/comfortable. It is a long oval fit.

[Jeff U]

Not to jump the thread, but a couple of additional questions that fit the topic.

• How long do you keep a helmet ?
• What do you do with an old helmet ?

[ChrisE]

Around 5 years and then it finds it's way into a dark closet because I just can toss away what appears to be a good helmet, even though I'll never wear it again.

[brightfutures]

Think they say 5 years... or about that. However, I'm on year 7 for my Suomy Spec 1r extreme. Been looking for something to replace it. Really difficult to find something similar to the awesome Bargy DeSign Hi-Viz craziness paint my current helmet has.

Finally found the Shoei X-twelve Vermuelen5 TC3... pretty sure that is going to be my next helmet.

Very highly recommend something hi-viz! Hard to quantify how many times hi viz has kept me from getting taken out by another motorist... do know for sure that since I started going hi-viz (7 years ago) my near miss incidents have dropped from ~5-10 a year to almost zero.

Not to jump the thread, but a couple of additional questions that fit the topic.

• How long do you keep a helmet ?
• What do you do with an old helmet ?