best helmet...

[firerider]

I know some people shun them but HJC!! I have tried on about every helmet out there and the HJC was the only one that fit just right. And no price is not a reason, if the HJC was 300.00 I would still go that direction. Besides all my strength concerns were laid to rest at Barber when I highsided at high speed and was flung down the track landing on the back side of my head. I walked away with only minor scrapes and bruises. The helmet held up great with no affectd&@@s (*to 09 me :P  What was I talking about ;)

[TZDeSioux]

I don't know about no Arai, Shoei, or Suomy but I will tell you that OGK is really loud and suck's ass.

[chris_chops]

I don't know about no Arai, Shoei, or Suomy but I will tell you that OGK is really loud and suck's ass.

     Super_Dive here.  Back in the beginning, when I was on an FZ750 I had a Vetter helmet.  One year later,  Eddie Vetter and Pearl Jam released "10".  I was pulling wheelies and showing off for chicks and kept 'running out of room'.   I ended up in quite a few front yards and that Vetter helmet just kept on delivering.  
     Another year later I got a Zx-7 and it had some good 'geometry' and it was all tight but I was still learning how to ride so I pitched that thing down the road several times.  Score another one for the Vetter, but by now you could see all the way through to my skull so I opted to get a new Shoei.  I wore it for several years and then started racing on it.  The s-rads where out by now and my ole 91 zx-7 just couldn't hang so I twisted the throttle hard and highsided myself out of the race.  It was the first race and my first totalled motorcycle.  The thing I noticed first was my geometry was all screwed up.  My left leg was all shorter than my right.  From the woods I heard SuperDave saying, "Matt, you should really have your geometry checked out."  I think the ambulance guy agreed and they took me off.  
      "Your heel bone is in seven pieces," they said.
      "But what about my geometry?", I replied.
      "Oh.......well, that is off pretty bad too"
      "What about my bike?"
      They told me SuperDave had confiscated it and was saving it for WERA vintage 7.
      The Shoei still had good geometry albeit a few scratches so I raced it until 1999 when I got an FM.
Second day my girlfriend opened the back door of the truck and I heard that silly 'boink' noise that meant my new helmet just had it's geometry all messed with.  I found the local post office and shipped it straight to SuperDave.  He checked it out and said it was still in the "ballpark".
       So anyway, once I moved up to Arai and Suomy I never looked back.  Geometrically speaking, of course.  I find that their geometry is A+!

Thanks,
Super_Dive

[mcdowellw]

Arai has a helmet for just about every head shape and the quality is second to none. Your best bet is to go to your local cycle shop and check to see which helmet fits you best. Arai also has different thickness cheek pads in case the helmet doesn't fit absolutely perfect. Check'em out!

[MJFRacing]

Pierre – What's up?! It's you '03 crash buddy – Michael Firca

As for helmets, here's my personal experience. . .

Back in '99 I got caught up in a major wreck on the front straight at Blackhawk Farms. Right at the start/finish line at about 150mph two guys literally get together and it's bikes and bodies everywhere! Almost instantly I go over the bars running over a bike! Head first into the pavement (followed by a nice rag doll impression, a few cartwheels and then I believe a couple of summersaults) with an Arai RX7. I actually wore a dime sized hole in the chin portion and cracked the helmet in many places and scuffed about 70% of the shell. I was out cold for 20 minutes and then choppered to the trauma center in Rockford. Bottom line? I was at home enjoying my Vicodin THAT EVENING! Thank you Arai!

And now for our wreck in 2003. Last lap, final turn and we get together because a green pea cuts us off. I think the speed is probably around 60 - 70mph (?) Either way here's the bottom line – I don't remember anything. In fact, I don't remember the next two weeks! After another chopper ride to Rockford I was in a coma for a week and the trauma center for 3 weeks after that. A few months of rehab and finally I realize "Hmmm, I probably should start wearing pants.  ;) " Anyway, the helmet I wore that day was an HJC AC-10 'King Mingus'. One crack/large scuff on the right side rear. You couldn't pay me to wear another HJC.

You can tell me it was the way I fell or how I hit my head. I'm gonna tell anyone that will listen "I ONLY wear ARAI!" Based on my experience I would only consider high line lids (Arai, Shoei, etc) that have a reputation of safety and quality. Fitment is very important too. Very snug without discomfort is good and your overall vision is an obvious too. Do your own research because you're the one depending on it's features and function. Lastly, I still have both helmets if you ever want to look them over.

[gma]

I'm objective.

45 weekends a year, I make my living by watching people crash in many forms of motorsports with many different helmets.

I see what I see and I know what I know.

Spend the money - get an Arai.

[stephenr928]

Pierre,
Greetings.  I've got the obligatory 2 cents, can I play?  Been riding since 1989, racing since 2003.  I only wear Shoei.  My first helmet fit really well, a GRV, G-2.  I had a pleasant get together with a car in 1990, many things broke.....But my head was fine.  The helmet was a showcase after that crash!  
Never trusted another helmet.  
Latest helmet, X-SP II, did a nice job keeping my melon together up at BHF this past September.   (Race at Blackhawk, & get a helo ride with your paid admission!)  I took a decent smack to the noggin, & once again Shoei saved the day.......And my riding "career".
The fit got me interested, the protection keeps me hooked.
But one last note, my sponsor (wife) uses Arai.  It fits her head really well.....And I know she's protected.  
My advice:
Find an Arai or Shoei that will fit your head perfectly, then spend the money.
Cheers,

[K3 Chris Onwiler]

Those who advise to buy only Arai or Shoei obvoiusly don't know the story on Suomy lids.  The Suomy is tested to the tougher British standard.  It is bag molded to get the lightest, strongest outer shell possible.  Suomy lids are batch tested.  When a batch is run, several lids are destructively tested.  If one fails, the whole batch is scrapped.  To my knowledge, Shoei and Arai don't do that.  Also, the helmets worn by Suomy's sponsored pros are stock, off the production line pieces, just like any customer can buy.  This is a point of pride with Suomy.
Bottom line?  Shoei and Arai are very good helmets, and have been the standard for years, but now Suomy is probably even a bit better.

[stephenr928]

I didn't know the story on Suomy helmets.
Please pardon my prejudice.

[PJ721]

check here for some good info on helmets and other cycle gear...they have a section that explains all the helmet rating standards....

http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycle-helmets/motorcycle-helmets.htm

[K3 Chris Onwiler]

I didn't know the story on Suomy helmets.
Please pardon my prejudice.

;)
Hey!  Gotta plug hard for the sponsor!  Recite that spiel!  I learned all those things by watching the DVD that came with my sponsorship kit.  An hour of helmet building info! :o  
They really ARE awesome lids.  I couldn't believe that anything so light could really protect my head in a big crash, but by God they have, and on more than one occasion.  At this point, I won't wear anything else.

[Pierre - Team PMR]

Guys - Thanks for all the great info....K3, you made a great point about Suomy...and I have NO problems spending the cash on safty gear.  I think I'm going to check out the Suomy helmets!! (and then Arai if Suomy doenst fit me)

thanks again!