blazenorange

Ok sorry if this isnt the place for this topic, I wasnt sure where else to put it... Anyway, what makes a $400.00 helmet different than a $40.00 helmet?.. Im looking to get another helmet so the gf can ride with sometimes, so I will give her mine the bike came with. The helmets I like end up being $200+ and the helmets that are in my price range for now would be under $100... what is the difference between the high dollar ones.. and the cheap ones... i refuse to buy crap b/c i believe you get what you pay for.. and the peice around my head is going to need to do as much saving as possible if anything bad happens... Thanks guys.... What would be a good helmet to buy.. ?

kahearn

Ask anyone with a high dollar helmet and he/she will tell you it is worth the money. Weight differences are usually substantial between high and low dollar helmets, and when it's weight your neck is supporting, a little bit of weight makes a lot of difference in comfort and potentially safety. Another major difference is fit. High dollar helmets feel like they have a very good grip on your head (and they do!), and that's a very good thing. Other less crucial but notable reasons a top notch helmet costs so much is lowered wind noise, good venting, general comfort, and improved airflow over the helmet. Don't take those too lightly though, you're a lot more alert after a long day of riding if your head is well vented, comfy, not bombarded with wind noise, etc.

I'd stay away from the really low dollar stuff...like you said, it's your head we're talking about. But you don't have to spend $400 to get a quality lid. Probably the most famous helmet for value is the Scorpion exo series which are DOT and snell approved, and can be had for well under $200. Go try on some of the middle range stuff and see how they feel on your head. Try on a shoei or arai too, just to get an idea of what could be protecting your head. Get what feels best and you can afford. I'd look for a scorpion, hjc, etc...

Hope this helps.

blazenorange

Hey thanks for the info kyle.. I found a helmet that i think is just sweet... I know to each there own... but this helmet has got my name all over it.. i was just wondering what you all thought of it... and what you guys have heard about it and the brand its is the Akuma Stealth!! It is designed off of the F117 Steath Fighter and the B2 Stealth Bomber... Its really cool b/c my sister works on the Stealth Bomber so the helmet has somewhat of a connection with me.. I think the helmet is sick and is something that stands out... I will get a pic of my bike up soon as possible i promise.. What do you guys think that helmet with my bike.. i know its a loud color mixing with a black helmet... but the black wheels, seat, back of the fairing, and the dark carbon fiber pipe.. i think it would look good with the bike... what are your alls thoughts? thanks!!

Akuma Helmets Official Website

Akuma Stealth - webBikeWorld

blazenorange

bump... i need more info on this helmet if you guys have it.. ive only read one bad review.. and it wasnt that bad at all... i went and tryed some helmets on today... Only one i put on and said this feels AWESOME!! was a $460 shoei... The others didnt feel right.. The HJC CL-12 my bike came with felt better than anything other than the shoei i tried on.. I love that Stealth helmet.. i just want to know if its a good quality helmet for the price...and i am going to try the Stealth on before i buy.. no questions lol.. Theres no way to be a orthodontist if i dont have a head b/c the helmet i bought was a pile of $H!T lol...

racerboy88

more bells and whistles like better venting and lighter weight. Lots out there in decent pricing. KBC makes a nice helmet in the VR series.

EvilTwin

My best friend here in Az works at a MC Helmet shop, so I've learned some shit about helmets in the past year. One of the big things with the more expensive helmets is the shell they use. They use crazy composite materials that are designed to take punch out of high speed impacts, and decrease the damage to your head. cheaper helmets use plastic shells that are harder (and heavier) and won't protect you as well when crashing at high speeds.

It looks like those Akumas are made with the composite shells and they are DOT and ECE rated which is good, would be better if they were also SNELL approved but from what I heard ECE is just about as strict as SNELL. It's probably a decent helmet but i wouldnt buy one without trying it on first. I got my eye on a Shoie X12 b/c its the only helmet, next to the Arai Profile, that really fits me perfectly. The RF1100 is alright, and HTC's new CF shell racing helmet fits pretty well too, but none of those options are cheap.

givuhcky22

gmax 68s
its what i wear. 120 bucks. looks sick. super comfy and functional. tons of ventilation, etc.

wiffy

try them all look around go for quilty tho bro. after all its ur head,and they dent prity easely.

ZoomSplat

There was a website that had the scorpion exo in black on sale for $99 recently but I can't remember what site it was...

steverparker

This is a very good article on motorcycle helmets. I know its long but it is well worth the read.

Helmet Performance: Blowing the Lid Off - Motorcyclist magazine

Some of the cheaper helmets have cheap vents that will break easily, and finding replacement visors or parts are hard or impossible.

I always buy a good helmet from clearance, you can always get a good price on good helmets.

09ZX-6R

first of all let me say from a racer stand point and a street rider view,

YOU CANT PUT A PRICE TAG ON YOUR LIFE!!!!!
with that said it dont mean go and spend $1400 for a helmet but it also says stay away from the cheapo sub $150 helmets. things to look for,

aerodynamics: will it keep your head from bobbing around? does it create chin bar wind noise?
ventalation: does it have addicuate venting @ the chin, forhead, and rear? usually 4 intake and 4 exhaust is the norm for any helmet above $150
head to shell fit: are you a round head, medium oval, or long oval headed person. most people are in the medium oval range.
Size does matter! : make sure you try a few on. have the helmet fitted by someone who has the expertise or if not use your best gudgement. keep in mind a helmet may feel to tight at first but how will it feel once its broken in? if you have "hot spots" after 20 min of wearing it then its to small or the shell shape is not for u.
certifications: is it SNELL 2005 or 2010,DOT, or ece 20-22 ? most cheaper helmets are NOT SNELL APPROVED.
weight: is te helmet heavy by holding it? if it feels to heavy just holding it then it will be to heavy on your noggin. if it feels lite try it on. wear it for a few minutes and keep shopping to feel it out. The lighter is better but the lightest isnt always the best chioce either.
construction: whats the shel made of? most are poly carbonat composite plastics. the higher end use a fiberglass and or carbon fiber composite shell. personaly i like the fiberglass composite type.
lens removal: is it hard to remove the lens? is the removal system appear to be flimsy? is the lens readily available and cheap to replace?
ERS : its the Emergency Removal System, does it have it? its new for 09/10. allows EMS to remove the cheek pads befor the helmet keeping your head from being tugged during helmet removal. protects your neck from further damage if there is any. most race helmets above $300 have it now.
ride style: are you a street rider, track day guy, or racer?

these are all things to keep in mind when buying a helmet. yes its alot but it all will make sence after you go thru the process and buy one that you and your body are happy with. as far as price goes, i dont care for it. i have a HJC RPS-10 and a HJC FS-15. both are top of the line HJC's. the FS-15 goes for 200 and is snell and dot certi. great feel and resonably priced. the RPS-10 is my race helmet. LOVE IT!!!

hope this helps.

blazenorange

Thanks for the info guys... I've tried to get ahold of dealers that carry akuma helmets... It seems that all the places I have tried to contact none of the numbers work... WTF is up with that?

riverszzr

You can go to sites like Jake wilson and several others who have closeout deals on Arai's for around $300. Way a top notch helmet and at a couple hundred dollars off for it being "last years" model-it is still new, unused and will be a great investment.

google is your friend

blazenorange

^ lol I've spent many moons on google looking for anything 04 zx6r related.. I should be studying but it's already in my blood ..

TXZX6R

I think the best helmet for your price range will a Scorpion EXO helmet try the 700 SERIES. Very light weight and well vented! Cycle Gear, might still have a sell on them... last week tjey had the 1000 series for about $140 that was nearly half the price of full retail... hope this helps