Kali Helmets

[Butch]

I rather like them and have several.
They have a crash replacement policy and will give you a new one so they can evaluate your crashed one. Like one time per purchase. They gave me a new helmet. It’s pretty cool

 

[Butch]

BWTM!

They have a new one in development! It’s got that headphones stuff built in…
Edit: It is called "Octane"

 

[budman]

Cool. So you are a crash test dummy?

What model is it? Specs?

Give us the low down.

 

[greenmonster]

Can’t say I’ve heard of this brand. DOT ECE rated? Materials used? Prices?

 

[kuksul08]

They're legit just more of a niche brand.

If it's being sold here under a reputable name it's at least DOT rated.

 

[Butch]

Can’t say I’ve heard of this brand. DOT ECE rated? Materials used? Prices?

I have a Catalyst Carbon and a Prana Carbon. And a mtn bike one, and some others. They are a different technology than most. And yeah, they meet some good specs. I forget the name of the prototype I am testing for them. Not a crash test dummy tho. Someone already did that.

https://kaliprotectives.com/collections/motorsports

They are local.

 

[Butch]

Things have changed a lot in the last few years in understanding head injury and helmet construction, testing and standards. Snell used to be the “go to” standard but with the Euro standards and DOT much more rigorous everything is different.

There are a lot opinions out there, especially on the internets. The credible standards can be trusted, I think. Much on the internet cannot be. I think.

This is a bit from the site:
Kali Protectives came from a breakthrough in safety technology - COMPOSITE FUSION, a process that bonds the helmet shell and foam enabling us to use a thinner shell, creating a lighter stronger helmet.

Lighter and stronger means a safe helmet with less mass attached to your head. In a crash, less mass attached to your head reduces impact g-forces acting on your brain.

No safety technology exists that can completely prevent injury, but we can significantly reduce the chance of trauma. Are we as helmet manufacturers doing enough? The more we learn and the more we understand, the better protective gear we can produce.

That is our goal at Kali - to deliver the best protection available to riders.
https://kaliprotectives.com/pages/the-future-of-protectives

 

[davidji]

I've tried on Kali lids before. I appreciate the light weight. At the time nothing the had was a great fit for me, though that isn't necessarily a deal breaker.

I don't think they offer a photochromic face shield, and for me that is a deal breaker.

 

[Whammy]

Kali is a reputable brand located in Morgan Hill.
I bought a mountain bike helmet there a few years ago, Its an awesome unit and very comfortable.
Butch is correct on the crash and return policy, if you crash it they want to see it. Return for a replacement.
Also enjoyed just driving up to the place and trying on the different models they have in stock then deciding.
The also have some super scary looking bike ramps in the back of their lot. Real X games stuff.

 

[cg_ops]

Do any local stores sell them, preferably in the North/East Bay, so that I could try out fitment before pulling the trigger? The Catalyst Carbon looks like a hell of a deal for $275!

I like discovering newer/smaller helmet brands. I really enjoyed the Scorpion Exo's back in the early/mid 00's, an ECE-only prototype/market-testing Nitek Interceptor in red carbon fiber, and my race helmet, an LS2 Arrow helmet in carbon fiber. At the time of purchase, each was a fantastic value at their price point, especially compared to similarly priced lids from the big boys, like Shoei, Arai, etc Carbon Fiber is my favorite "graphic" on most lids.... I just wish more color options were available for them, like the red Nitek

 

[ScarySpikes]

I don't remember the model name, but my first helmet was a full face Kali in solid 'International Orange' color. It's been a good helmet, at the time I was shopping the build quality seemed quite a bit better than other brands I tried at the time.

It's probably at the end of it's life now so I may go to them for a replacement, though I'm not seeing another bright orange model and I'm a fan of helmets in very bright and noticeable colors.

 

[Hank Wong]

Santa Clara Cycle Accessories used to carry Kali years ago. They don't any more. I probably would have owned one if not for my round Asian head. I liked their technology of placing G force absorbing spacers between the shell and the foam.

 

[cg_ops]

I don't remember the model name, but my first helmet was a full face Kali in solid 'International Orange' color. It's been a good helmet, at the time I was shopping the build quality seemed quite a bit better than other brands I tried at the time.
.

You looking at street or dirt? I saw this and really liked it for the KTM factor

 

[EC70]

I actually helped them out with tech support when they 1st started before they moved to their current spot, I've been rocking their full face Shiva lid and picked up a Catalyst Carbon lid. I also use their shin guards which have saved me many time. A great local company to support

web ---> https://kaliprotectives.com/

 

[ScarySpikes]

You looking at street or dirt? I saw this and really liked it for the KTM factor

Either street or the hybrid dirt ones with a shield. I wear glasses so I can't really use a helmet that requires goggles.

 

[Butch]

Can’t say I’ve heard of this brand. DOT ECE rated? Materials used? Prices?

Yes. I quote "It is both DOT and ECE 22.06 certified"

 

[davidji]

Santa Clara Cycle Accessories used to carry Kali years ago. They don't any more. I probably would have owned one if not for my round Asian head.

SCCA is where I tried them on. It was before a photochromic faceshield became a must have feature for me, and if they'd fit I would have bought one.

Opposite fit issue from you. I've read the complaint from others with rounder heads that helmets are getting narrower. From my perspective they're getting rounder. I guess there's less diversity of shapes than there was.

I've read about riders with rounder heads online ordering Asian fit models that aren't sold in the US market. I'd be surprised if a smaller manufacturer like Kali has those, but dunno. They won't have a DOT sticker, but who's checking? There isn't anywhere I can order a narrower fit lid.

 

[Butch]

A good tidbit:

LIFETIME CRASH REPLACEMENT

You crash it. We replace it.

It’s that simple. We don’t do this as a marketing stunt or because we have lost our minds.

We do this because what we learn from crashed helmets informs everything we do. We have you return your crashed helmets so we can take them back into our lab to cut them open, measure them, and dissect them. We then use the information we gather from the unlucky few who test our helmets in ways we cannot recreate to build the next generation of Kali helmets.

Of course, we prefer you never have to use the Lifetime Crash Replacement policy and suggest you replace your Kali helmets at respectable intervals. Let us reiterate once again, please leave the testing to us.

 

[KooLaid]

They're on ridiculous sale right now. Half off everything it seems so unless you're a small, you're out of luck

 

[senpai71]

Since I'm unlikely to be able to get to Santa Clara, can anyone say what helmets they are similar to fitment-wise - Arai, Shoei, AGV, Schuberth...? Good for narrow heads or round heads or what?