Rate your LEAST favorite helmet.

[Doc]

Ok so I was hoping we could get some info.

Select the helmet you would not buy. The helmet you think is the LEAST safe and there is no way you would put your head in it.

Bell, KBC, OGK, Shoei, Simpson,Z1R, Fulmer, Pep Boys Raider, AGV, Suomy, Schuberth, Arai, Shark, Icon, Vemar, Scorpion, HJC...

Which ones am I missing?

I am not going to list non dot type (Skid lids).

I will take the ones with the least votes off and redo this poll until we get down to the LEAST favorite helmets on NESR.

[imkindafkedup]

Mint Flavored, fuckers always broke on me.

[butcher bergs]

Bell, KBC, OGK, Shoei, Simpson,Z1R, Fulmer, Pep Boys Raider, AGV, Suomy, Schuberth, Arai, Shark, Icon, Vemar, Scorpion, HJC...

Which ones am I missing?

Nolan......again.

[Doc]

Ok Nolan will be on the next poll.

2 weeks from today.

[ctbandit]

wow, can't believe so many HJC votes. the def don't seem that bad.

[Honclfibr]

What the fuck? Doc, you need a hobby again?

[mzdagrl]

Too bad you can only vote for one at a time....

[KillBill]

I went from an HJC as my first helmet to a Shoei and love it

[Pittenger5]

WOuldnt it be easier to just post a poll, if you needed to buy a helmet today, given your available finances (so people dont just pick arai and shoei) which would you pick? Itd save a helluva lot of polls.

[Honclfibr]

Listen Richie, there are three ways of doing things: The wrong way, the right way, and the Doc way.

[palanon]

I voted KBC. I'm sure there are some good ones. The shops I've stopped at had some pretty cheap looking ones. Bell fell out of favor with me years ago but, I've heard they've gotten better.

Anyone remember Bieffe ? worse helmet I owned.

I'm lucky, HJC fit's my oversized mellon the best. I really like the Axis. It's my track only helmet.

[Pittenger5]

Listen Richie, there are three ways of doing things: The wrong way, the right way, and the Doc way.

Dont forget the Dollar Bill way. Oh wait, thats NOT doing things, so I guess theres still only 3 ways to do things.

[GixerJockey]

...not participating.

[DesmoTull]

I vote Icon because of the bad build quality / stunta marketing.

[Woodsy]

I vote Icon because of the bad build quality / stunta marketing.

I have a mainframe. I like it, aside from the puffy sticker BS that they use as the logos but that at least makes them easier to rip off. if you can get one for less than 200 go for it. i dont think i would go much higher than that though.

[Just_Jeff]

WOuldnt it be easier to just post a poll, if you needed to buy a helmet today, given your available finances (so people dont just pick arai and shoei) which would you pick? Itd save a helluva lot of polls.

IMO
Saying Arai or Shoei are always out of the equation because of a price makes me laugh.
For me and 20 years of riding and I haev always had one of those two brands as my primary helmet. I have had KBC, Bell, GMAX as backup helments/spares as well.
Honestly ask yourself what and why you are buying a helmet for
Protection, comfort, weight, noise, style, bling factor?
You can get a basic Arai (or Shoei) with no fancy look at me graphics for around $400. Might seem expensive but at least for me it simply fits me the best... hands down. And my head is worth $400.

As to the humor I see.. Almost without fail if you mention anything on bike and your desire to upgrade the responses always say spend the little bit extra to get product XX over YY... except for Helmets.


There is a reason beyond Name recognition that Akrapovic exhausts cost more than a Two Brothers. Same reasons that an Arai/Shoei Helmet costs more as well. There are lots of products made for your motorcycle and or personal protective gear that will do what you ask of it, priced from cheap WTF expensive. But for every type of item there are those that go beyond. Its true that you end up paying more for these products... more than just the quality alone deserves but a reputation that has been justifiably earned allows them to add on aa additional premium because of it. Just the way it is, way it has always been. And the way it will always be.

I guess its just my 2 cents but there is a reason I own Held Gloves & an Arai Helmet and was willing to pay for them. (Mind you this is from as cheap a polack as you will ever find).

[wheelburns]

I vote Icon because of the bad build quality / stunta marketing.

can you explain stunta marketing? are you talkin about that they try to appeal to a niche of the streetbike community or what?

[Pittenger5]

IMO
Saying Arai or Shoei are always out of the equation because of a price makes me laugh.

Not saying they should be, but unfortunatly in a lot of cases they are. I switched from an Arai to scorpion mainly because of price. I know people that have bonked their heads hard from scorpion and came away as normal as they were before. I also know people that bonked an arai and got fucked up. I dont believe that one is inherently better than the other.
You can go to stop n shop and get a box of fluffy puffs or something for like 2 bucks, or buy the Cocoa Puffs for 4.50. That shit comes from the same factory, same machines, but one has a pretty bird on the box. Same with American Eagle/Old Navy, etc etc. Not saying this is entirely the case, but guess what, certain names carry a price tag with them.

[Honclfibr]

Perhaps helmets are Veblen goods.

[CBR929RE]

I voted Scorpion simply because I got a concussion from a crash in the soft grass/dirt at Calabogie. HJC woulda come in second. I never crashed one of them but saw a kid in front of me at NHMS go down and get a concussion.

[Honclfibr]

Helmets aren't designed to minimize concussions. They're designed to minimize death and traumatic brain injury. A helmet designed to minimize concussions would actually increase the chances of death and traumatic brain injury.

I sound like a broken record but people just don't get it. Want to avoid concussions? Stop smacking your head on the pavement.

[Just_Jeff]

You can go to stop n shop and get a box of fluffy puffs or something for like 2 bucks, or buy the Cocoa Puffs for 4.50. That shit comes from the same factory, same machines, but one has a pretty bird on the box.

I hear you but while I will buy the "store" brands at times other times I wont. I really cant tell you the difference if you gave me a blind taste test for a box of Mac & Cheese but for Diet Cola or Ketchup I sure as hell would. You pick and choose. I wear Aria not because of the price but because it fit my head the best and was the most comfortable to wear. Protection is my #1 concern followed by comfort second. In this case I was willing to pay for it. Unless you are 5 feet away you would not be able to tell its Arai anyway.

[Pittenger5]

I hear you but while I will buy the "store" brands at times other times I wont.

My point was more that there are cases where the name or pictures make the price. Not saying thats entirely the case with helmets, but I'm willing to bet it has a little to do with it.

[Jim]

seriously, wear what you want. what point does this prove of a known gear nazi asking about low grade helmets, other than to attract more attention

[reiobard]

not sure i would trust my head in anything that Pep boys sells, so that one got my vote, but i also had a Vega as a first helmet, it was heavy, clunky, uncomfortable, cheaply made, and literally fell apart after a year... Never another Vega... I am a fan of my KBC so far, but have also been happy with Suomy. Thought i was happy with HJC until i found that i could get better for the same price.