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Helmet Brand Feedback Wanted

Helmet Brand Feedback Wanter

  • HJC

    Votes: 16 38.1%

  • Nolan

    Votes: 2 4.8%

  • Bell

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Icon

    Votes: 3 7.1%

  • AGV

    Votes: 9 21.4%

  • KBC

    Votes: 12 28.6%
  • Total voters
    42
CalSportbike

CalSportbike

New member
Joined
Sep 10, 2002
Location
Wrightwood, CA
Moto(s)
CBR929, 888SPO, VFR800
As we're stocking the Cal-Sportbike retail shop in Wrightwood, I'm looking for input on a mid-line helmet to carry to complement our Arai stock. I'm leaning toward HJC due to my experience with these as mid-line helmets, but want more input. I'm not inclined toward Shoei since that's more in the Arai range and I'm better stocking one or the other at this point.

While I've owned several brands and have my own thoughts/impressions, I'm looking for additional feedback from riders on helmets they have worn and/or would likely buy.

Please select the poll option below if it's a helmet that you have either worn and favored due to quality/fit/finish/price OR one you think you'd buy if stocked in a retail shop. I'm only considering the brands listed herein for various reasons ranging from profit margins to how much marketing the OEM does for their dealers, so I'm not going to include an "OTHER" option in the poll.
 
I kinda like the AGV helmets, especially the Rossi's. Seem pretty flush interiors. Have never owned on though. I have only owned Arai and suomy.
 
Personally I love my KBC VR1 Euro for fit, comfort, and the price. I really only care for the VR1 and Race Ready styles though. I think allot of peeps like their HJCs too.
 
I've owned 2 AGV's. The first was good until the lining got crushed, and then I could only wear it during the winter with my balaclava on. The second was a ROSSI replica, the cheap one, and it absolutely sucks ASS. There is so much wind noise in that helmet that it is unwearable. Luckily I bought it to celebrate Rossi's first 500 GP championship and only wore it so that I could be a poser for the day. Now it's back in it's box, never to come out unless I can find some display space.

Right now I wear a Nolan N100, and I really like it..... a lot. Yeah Yeah Yeahs, it's not snell, who gives a shit. It's got the features that I like, and the new ones are even better with the single button chin lift and the removable liner. I've heard good things about HJC's, which BTW was the #1 selling brand helmet in North America Last year.

Right now I'm going to be testing out my wifes Schuberth Concept, because she bought one and used it once and hated it. But the dealer nor Schuberth would take it back. Out $400!!!! The luck is that the helmet was a bit large for her, the fuck is that it might be too tight for me. And ppl only want to pay $200 for it when we posted it for sale, so I'd rather use it as a portable toilet than let some ass monkey take my wife for $200. (yes, I know there is no logic there, it's the frickin principle of it) The Schuberth was too noisy for my wife, so she ordered another Nolan N100. So I guess for middle of the road helmets......I'm going Nolan. I really like the ratcheting chin strap.....best chin strap I've ever used.
 
Todd,

I'd submit that besides price point as the determinant factor, you might consider too that Arai & Shoei fit different shapped heads. There are lots of folks that can wear one comfortably and not the other. John
 
KBC all the way. The VR1 is much better helmet overall than anything else in the same price range.
HJC has the nice flip-up Symax wich is a great price/quality choice but I would still chose KBC to cary in the store if I could order the Symax out of a catalog if a customer needs it.
AGV good helmets but , top of the line to close in price with Arai and the mid price ones not as good as the VR1
 
Arai works fine for me and the AGV is for the passenger
 
NorCalBusa said:
Todd,

I'd submit that besides price point as the determinant factor, you might consider too that Arai & Shoei fit different shapped heads. There are lots of folks that can wear one comfortably and not the other. John
Click to expand...

Hi John,

In 2002 Arai introduced a "Shoei head" line (Astral) so now they fit all head shapes from round oval to long oval to squishy cheeks and forehead (the Shoei fit!).

So rather than go with Shoei (which is a good lid in its own right) carrying the Arai line that is clearly tops in quality AND can fit 3 different head shapes is our best course of action for our high line helmet, thus my desire to find a complementary $130-180 lid.

Many thanks for your valued input!
 
kbc is very good. the VR1 is a great helmet at a great price. Same goes for teh WOLF and the racer-1 helmets. HJC i good too
 
I'm happy with my Shoei, it's 3 years old and I'm planning on getting a new one this season... I think I'll just stick with the one that has worked so well for me (a big crash I had 3 years ago when I went into a car that pulled out in front of me, there were two big dents in the car, one from my bike hitting it and the other from my head hitting it. Luckly came out of it without any head injuries... So since I've "tested" mine I'll have a hard time finding a reason to switch.)
 
Corb said:
KBC all the way. The VR1 is much better helmet overall than anything else in the same price range.
HJC has the nice flip-up Symax wich is a great price/quality choice but I would still chose KBC to cary in the store if I could order the Symax out of a catalog if a customer needs it.
AGV good helmets but , top of the line to close in price with Arai and the mid price ones not as good as the VR1
Click to expand...

Corb has a good point with AGV and I have to agree. It would be better to have a steeper variation in price to compliment your stock of Arai's. A friend of mine has an KBC and swears by it. I examined it one day and the features are comparable to that of any cutting edge helmet out on the market without compromising cost to the consumer.

He has the VR-1 (I think)...Venting seemed very good and the graphics on the lid are of very good quality.
 
Yup. That's what I'm doing. Knowing that a lot of folks don't have the scratch for an Arai, the "middle of the pyramid" helmet is a really good idea for folks who want to spend $130-180 for a helmet but want quality.

So you're exactly correct...I'm going for a balance of high and low-middle end lids.
 
stillart said:
suomy lids are $299-$499. :thumbup
Click to expand...

Yup. I love the Suomy lids....Rick and Donny are great guys, and Suomy is a sponsor of Pacific Track Time and the Spec-1R I wear is really great. The reason I went with Arai over Suomy or Shoei was the fact that they have 3 variations for different head shapes and that is IMHO a better place for us to start right now. But I gotta give kudos to Suomy for coming out with an excellent new product!
 
I'd go with HJC for your mid to low line. They're great overrall helmets and lots of people like them because you get great options a good price. Solid helmet. 4 of my 6 riding buddies have hjc's.

KBC is ok i guess, but they're helmets are a little too hokey for some people, not to mention the vr1 or whatever is an rx7 clone.
 
i like AGV's.... plush inside, comfy, no fogging, cheap, and awesome graphics..... i think HJC helmets get too much credit for what they offer..... although they have better accessories
 
voted for Icon out of those choices as new kid on the block and they have a full line up of gloves etc. to round out your sales offerings! make things easier :) KBC is a super choice too, I just learned of this Korean helmet company is the king of private labelers and produces not only their own line but Fox, O'Neal, MSR and Answer in every price point. It was guessed a long time ago that Arai and Shoei clones would soon dominate the market and in the dirt world at least this seems to have come true. I went Axo sight unseen just fyi. I never worry about their designs or features, always spot on.
 
I like my HJC CL12, but that flat-black Icon looks good too. (just don't know about their quality).
 
Just a comment about the Arai Astral fitting Shoei heads... It doesn't. At least, not my noggin.
 
That's good to know Todd, thanks for the info.

I must say I'm having a hard time getting my mind around folks buying a "cheap" helmet- if there is one place to not cut corners... I would think these lower priced helmets are subjected to the same pass/fail NHTSA and SNELL standards- but are there higher standards for higher end helmets? Or do they simply score higher in same standard? Or they too simply pass the basic standard?
 
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