So, What helmets are y'all wearing?

[chief]

[ot]Reminder, we sell lids, have a look... we don't keep a big inventory, so check if you see one you like. VDR members get a discount as well. [/ot]

[chief]

Bell Pit Boss Checkers Twin

I like this one... if the storm shield is removable anyway... will have to look into it.

[DC]

Bell Pit Boss Checkers Twin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHYUXCr7GD8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8swvVk_zmbs

[Jobi]

LS2 - Lagarto - first helmet. Something like 4 or 5 years ago. Probably should retire it due to age. Sound proofness - medium or worse. Fit - snug. Windshield function - works but the springs to remove the windshield need some 'persuasion'. A good cheap helmet that suffices, nothing more.

Scorpion Exo-210 - fits nice. The longer faceshield does a great job protecting against wind down by the neck area. Sound protection is fairly good. I have a clear visor as the darkened ones seem to be unavailable at the moment in my country (?)

Interesting in getting a 1/2 helmet or 3/4 open or something.

[49Reo]

I too agree with my old friend Ratman. I Firmly support "Buy local" unless they encourage you to go elsewhere, like a lot of businesses here do. The last helmet I bought was in '08, I was so sick of being rained on(we were on a long trip and it had been raining for days) I bought a 3/4 helmet with a flip down shield that came down far enough to set against my jacket. It came with a dark smoke tinted shield, clear shield, and a visor. Very comfortable,(and light) and was $110.00 which wasn't too bad a price considering I was in Whitehorse at the time.

[moosewayne]

Agreed, RatMan!
I was so set with cash in pocket to buy that Nexx x60 Vintage-we ride Drifters, come on!-what would go better???
Nope.  I had never put something so spherical on my head in my life!

BTW-I'm not suggesting anyone is purposely going out to screw a local shop. We are beyond fortunate to have the freedom to just have options!!

I don't like Denver very much at all, but one of the few positives is it is a very motorcycle friendly area.  A lot of what is needed for bikes can be found locally.

[CDNRatMan]

  I agree with moosewayne, I am a real supporter of buy local, but, I too used to have a small home based business and hated it when I would spend hours with a customer going over things and explaining things to them, and they would drive the 3 to 5 hours to buy "BRAND" name items.
I went to the three bike shops in town to buy my helmets, and after trying them on and looking at their limited options I bought one that fit. It was ok and all but not really what I was after. At the bike show in Toronto last spring I was amazed at the huge selection of helmets, so I spent hours trying them on, found one fit like a glove and bang bought it.
My sister also trying them on found one she liked the looks of and the guy talked her into that it will soon fit and form to your head ideas, and at 3 times the cost of the one I bought so she bought it....she is still trying to get it to fit right.
So some times you have to actually try to see if it fits, unless you have a bowling ball type of head perfect round and smooth.......

[gdrudd13]

If there was a place here that sold helmets that would be my choice. When I was looking for a helmet my two choices were a Harley dealer or a place about 40 minutes away since the third place had just closed/sold. I went to the Harley dealer to get my size and ordered online so I didn't have HD plastered all over my helmet that added about $50. The place that's further away is a decent place to go, but not a great selection of helmets. A lot of full face ones and dirt bike helmets, but far fewer of the other types.

[moosewayne]

Yeah, I hear ya.
But I own and operate a small business.  The guy, Chris, at Erico Motorsports in Denver went way out of his way to help me.
While I found the model I wanted on my own, his shop is a Bell dealer, and he flat out earned the sale.
Yes, I could have saved $14 ordering on line. But ya know, it was worth $14 to spend an hour and half in a shop looking at the new Bonnevilles, Ducatis and Moto Guzzis while the guy did his best to fit me with the right lid.

$14 bucks.  I'll make my own pizza tonight instead of ordering in (Denver has shit pizza, anyway).

[gdrudd13]

I tried on several in store to figure out what size I needed then ordered online. Actually revzilla as well. They also have a great return policy. As long as you don't take the stickers off and ride with it, they'll exchange it for a new one. I didn't need to use that, but it is there.

I know a lot of you guys don't like wearing full face on a cruiser, but those chin bars are important man. I just roll with a full face nolan http://www.motorcyclehouse.com/full-face-helmets.htm

If you don't like a true full face (me) try the Nolan N43E trilogy, or the sweet looking N44. Both are can be set up as full face, or 3/4 helmets with the truly removable chin bar. The difference is that it passes DOT testing for a full face helmet with the chinbar. So it isn't just for show. Huge field of view as well. And you can take the faceshield off. That's what I do. The N43e trilogies are also on clearance since the N44 came out. You can get a good deal on them.

[hellboy7]

EWell technically you can order these online, you just have to keep in mind what kind of head shape you have. Personally, I like to visit the store and try em on and then order online. The price savings can be up to 200 sometimes so it makes sense to me. I also read revzillas helmet sizing guide, that was very helpful. www.revzilla.com
I found that you can get the most price savings when you call into order, most of the time they have some prices that can't be really advertised online! Just a heads up guys.
I know a lot of you guys don't like wearing full face on a cruiser, but those chin bars are important man. I just roll with a full face nolan http://www.motorcyclehouse.com/full-face-helmets.htm

[moosewayne]

I put in my order today for a Bell Mag-9.
Just too many features to pass up.
What a lesson learned--you really can't buy these things on line! No telling how these thing fit your noggin.

[49Reo]

I'm still wearing the Shoei half helmet with (real) leather skirt that I bought in the mid-80's; I know a helmet is only good for a few years according to the manufacturer, but that old helmet is SOOOO comfortable I hate to retire, it. Might give it a new paint job one of these days....

[John Hopkins]

Good advice. I wear one because they protect me from the Pluton Gamma rays produced by the Martian Intergalactic Goon Squad (MIGS) who use their ray to identify superior human beings here on earth. Those pesky devils.

It is well known that the MIGs in spite of their fearsome reputation are rather undersized when compared to the Humans, they also have a very soft bone structure and many squadrons have been destroyed in suicide attacks agianst drifter riders full face helmets.

John.

[jmbo]

First thing is that everyone should wear a helmet..

Second is that it should fit..

Why should we all wear a helmet, well with some of us..........

Good advice. I wear one because they protect me from the Pluton Gamma rays produced by the Martian Intergalactic Goon Squad (MIGS) who use their ray to identify superior human beings here on earth. Those pesky devils. 

[chief]

You know we have a whole board of Helmet reviews  - http://www.vulcandrifterriders.com/forum/index.php?board=98.0

[Milky1112]

My lid? Full face (not a fan of 1/2, 3/4 shell helmets, specially after catching a bumble bee to the forehead cruising) Scorpion Exo-500. Love it. Drop down internal sun visor helps on those dusk rides when you have your clear shield on, Price is reasonable, ($219) have had several Scorpion helmets in the past, price/fitment was the big factor.. HJC didn't fit quite right.. Scorpion was about middle of the pack, fits well, great venting. It's all gonna come down to 1) fitment, 2) what you can afford, as was stated.. get something that fits right vice something that doesn't.

[John Hopkins]

First thing is that everyone should wear a helmet..

Second is that it should fit..

Why should we all wear a helmet, well with some of us it's against the law not too and why give the government a chance to fine you and put points on your license, also they keep the rain from running down your neck, Also I don't care where you live or what the weather is there are a lot of big, fat, very juicy bugs that feel that this is a good day to die and it is better to suddenly see that big splodge of gunk on your visor than on your face, ride through a swarm and tell me I'm wrong.

Now the fit, if it's too loose the chinstrap will try to remove your head once the wind gets you, if it's too tight it is just plain uncomfortable. with full face the looseness is not quite so bad.

Apart from that, well many people say if you have a $40 head get a $40 helmet otherwise spend as much as you can afford..Yeah right..In the real world I have had quite a few different helmets and a badly fitting $400 helmet is much worse than a good fitting $40 helmet..I've bounced a few off the ground over the years, some with my head in, and some without, I've never had one crack, they have all been tested to British standards and as far as safety is concerned a $40 helmet is as good as a $400 helmet as long as it has passed the same safety tests, I have ridden motorbikes since 1960 so I must have been doing something right.

So to sum up, choose something that fits, that you like and that you can afford.

Just my opinion..

John.

[greenbarn]

My newest helmet is a HJC FS3 model.  I bought it b/c it seemed like a good helmet for the price and it was one of the few 3/4 helmets that was both Snell and DOT, for a decent price.  However, I'm thinking of going in the spring to get the Missus and I a pair of helmets that the intercom speakers will fit into better.  Not sure yet what I'll be looking at.

I also wear my half-helmet most of the time- for all my short trips which is most of my riding.   It's a Dot Simpson helmet.  I've looked for another half helmet, and tried dozens at the store, and even had 2 I purchased and brought home - but have never found one that I like the way it fits.  They all ride up too high on my noggin, and look like a mushroom.   I know safety is more important than looks, but I gotta get past the UGLY factor.

SO, in the spring I'm looking for a half helmet that sits down low on the head - down around the edges good, and also a nice 3/4 helmet, maybe with a built in shade.

This reminds me- I have trouble finding a good fit for a helmet.  The only place I know close to me (50 miles) is Iron Pony, that has much selection.  How does everyone else handle buying helmets - to find one that fits?

[gdrudd13]

Kind of an odd choice for a cruiser, but I wear a Nolan N43E Trilogy. I keep the chinbar in place, but I never use the faceshield so I have the visor installed instead. I didn't know what kind of helmet I wanted, so it was appealing for that reason.

I may have to get a new one and release my inner nerd (more so than I have already, I am an engineer though...). This one I'm thinking needs a custom paint job to mimic the look of Luke Skywalker's helmet. No clue which helmet I would buy though. The custom paint is as far as I've gotten.

[draconarmy]

I currently wear the Fulmer Drift,  a modular full face helmet with flipdown sun shade.  though I am trying to convince the wifey to let me go half helm

[Washbrook]

I have an M2R 280. Not bad but small ear  cut outs.

[jmbo]

Wisconsin does not have a helmet law but I've alway wear one. For the last ten years I wore a full face flip front G-MAX helmet.  I still wear it on cold days. Last year my son bought me a D.O.T. DAYTONA SKULL CAP.  Love it especially on hot days and with the new taller windshield and lowers I no longer need the face shield.

[Cotton Mouth]

I just bought a Daytona 3/4 like pc has, feels ok. VERY lightweight of all the bunch, looks good, low profile, little tight in the jaw area for me, otherwise great.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007W9NFKE/ref=oh_details_o04_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I also just ordered one of each below, I am going to try 3 helmets, keep the 1 that fits the best.  I need 3xl and oblong gigantic head, so I'm limited on choices.

Z1R Jimmy
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001A6H2U4/ref=oh_details_o02_s00_i01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
AFX Vintage FX-76
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009WVYBT4/ref=oh_details_o02_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

If I had a regular size noodle, I would have also looked at these.  Fulmer V2, Bell Custom 500, and my favorites (for looks) the O'Neal Rockhard American Classic + Biltwell Bonanza

[pcarrell]

Depends on the weather what I wear.  In Indiana you don't have to wear one at all, but I wear a Daytona 3/4 or a Nolan N102.  I'm wanting to get a smaller skid lid this year though.