New helmet time - question about new helmet tech

[Sportbiker]

I used to have Arais and Shoeis until I tried a Suomy. It fits my head perfectly and the lightest helmet I've ever had.

The old models had a finicky visor system. The new ones are good. Speedaddicts carry them. Cheaper than Arai or Shoei

 

[motomania2007]

You will not notice any difference between a helmet with or without a rotational system until you crash. If properly designed it shouldn't affect fit and will only marginally increase the weight. They do work, reducing rotational accelerations between 10 and 50% depending on the impact scenario and particular tech. There is no "this one is better than that one" because there are always instances of overlap.

I am not a fan of modular helmets either, but you should take a look at the NeoTec 2. It's a well-made helmet in terms of ergonomics - both quiet and comfortable. It's quite heavy though.

I wear a Bell Race Star primarily because of the pro-tint face shield that auto darkens and lightens. It truly changed motorcycling for me and I never have to worry about sunglasses any more. I think Shoei might offer a similar tech. But this alone rules out a lot of other competitors. I'm not a fan of the internal flip-down sun visors because looking through another layer of plastic is kind of annoying. I also love the Bell RS-2 but they stopped making it. The Arai Vector 2 is a good basic helmet but has that awful shield mech.



Helmet choice is truly personal because everyone cares about different things.

Regarding the new helmet tech: I don't expect there is much difference in feel and I expected a slightly different, probably unnoticeable difference in weight.

What I really wanted to know was what those that have them and have ridden with them for a while, if there was any difference in wear and tear or rattles or ???

I have a friend that has 6D and loves it and rides everyday.. He has had his for about a year.

I have another friend that has had a 6D for a few years and after about 6 months it "became uncomfortable" (his description) and so he stopped wearing it. I haven't gotten him to elaborate on what he means.

Neither of them say anything about their 6D helmets that have anything to do with the new tech inside the helmets. AND THAT IS GREAT!

There are other brands, like Bell helmets that have licensed the MIPS tech.

What other brands have similar tech?

 

[Tally Whacker]

And I've always worn out a helmet before the face shield on all of my Shoei helmets. They're very good at resisting scratches.

Huh. I typically go through 2-3 face shields a year on my Rf-1100.

 

[NoobCorpse]

This is going to sound dumb, but bear with me: Has anybody come up with a fitment index for helmet fitment generalities, or a standard as a basis of comparison? I realize manufacturers won't do this because it's not in their best interest, but there's some random internet knowledge of this if one has the time / patience to scour helmet forums.

For instance: I seem to have a "shoei" head and I loved my RF1200 but other shoeis like the GT-Air don't seem to fit me well. The Neotec 2 does, though - it's basically a modular RF1200 AFAICT.
I thought I read somewhere that the GT-Air fits a bit differently and might match "Arai heads" but I don't have an arai head, from what I've tried on.

A couple years ago I tried a Bell M9 helmet for dirt biking and it fit like a dream. After being not happy with the Shoei hornet x2 I sold it and switched to a Bell MX9 adventure helmet - and bam, fits much better. I really really wanted a Klim Krios but it just did not fit well. Oh well, saved a bunch of $$ there, haha.

The fitment within brands and models is difficult enough - I had to switch from a L rf1100 to an XL rf1200 shoei - let alone trying to switch between manufacturers. Also, it's impossible to find the exact brand, model, and size you want in a brick and mortar shop to try on exactly what you need - or a large vs. x large, etc:
I had to exercise my credit card with Revzilla a few years back when shopping for a Schuberth E1 by buying both a L and XL, until I found they just don't fit me and returned both.

Seems like it'd be interesting to have a matrix of "X helmet" and similar fitment types of different brands/models of helmets to that one to comparison shop / feature scope.

 

[davidji]

Webbikeworld has a helmet shape chart. It may not have the latest kids but it's worth a look.

 

[motomania2007]

This is going to sound dumb, but bear with me: Has anybody come up with a fitment index for helmet fitment generalities, or a standard as a basis of comparison? I realize manufacturers won't do this because it's not in their best interest, but there's some random internet knowledge of this if one has the time / patience to scour helmet forums.

For instance: I seem to have a "shoei" head and I loved my RF1200 but other shoeis like the GT-Air don't seem to fit me well. The Neotec 2 does, though - it's basically a modular RF1200 AFAICT.
I thought I read somewhere that the GT-Air fits a bit differently and might match "Arai heads" but I don't have an arai head, from what I've tried on.

A couple years ago I tried a Bell M9 helmet for dirt biking and it fit like a dream. After being not happy with the Shoei hornet x2 I sold it and switched to a Bell MX9 adventure helmet - and bam, fits much better. I really really wanted a Klim Krios but it just did not fit well. Oh well, saved a bunch of $$ there, haha.

The fitment within brands and models is difficult enough - I had to switch from a L rf1100 to an XL rf1200 shoei - let alone trying to switch between manufacturers. Also, it's impossible to find the exact brand, model, and size you want in a brick and mortar shop to try on exactly what you need - or a large vs. x large, etc:
I had to exercise my credit card with Revzilla a few years back when shopping for a Schuberth E1 by buying both a L and XL, until I found they just don't fit me and returned both.

Seems like it'd be interesting to have a matrix of "X helmet" and similar fitment types of different brands/models of helmets to that one to comparison shop / feature scope.

Shoei and Arai have 2 or 3 different product lines that have the same headshape in each product line with different models in each product line.

Most other manufacturers use different sizes of the same headshape in all their helmets.

If you talk to a knowledgeable helmet sales rep from the manufacturer they can tell you which Shoei and Arai models fall into which headshape categories.

I don't know enough to identify the different headshapes for each model.

I do know that "intermediate oval" headshape, as an example, is NOT the identical from one manufacturer to another, they are similar but not identical.

Basically, what I have learned is that some people will have a headshape that fits multiple brands of helmets and some people will fit only one brand/product line of helmets.

 

[scratchpad]

Ive been wearing Suomy exclusively since 2006. Mostly only racing until i retire the helmet, whether from an asphalt test or a couple years old, and then it gets used for the street. By that time it has been and gets abused from lots of on-offs and sweat. Been through probably 12-15 Suomy helmets. They work for me and my head shape. Never ever had a cheek pad issue but over time things do wear out. By the time i need new cheek pads or liners its time for a new helmet.

6D has been on the rise, not sure if its the real deal or just marketing. I havnt tried their helmets on. Ive tried on other top brands for my head shape and some were just ill fitting or very uncomfortable and some fit real nice. I realize i dont buy street line helmets so your needs will be very different. You may want to try some Suomys out though if you havnt already.

 

[seadog]

I have a Bell Star with MIPS. I bought it because it fit well, not because of the MIPS. It does seem to sit lower on my head. Enough so that I have placed a 1/4" pad at the top. I use a 1/2" foam pad for the track.

On a side note I bought a transition shield for it. I thought it would be hokey but since my commute varies between daytime and nighttime I figured I'd give it a try. It's awesome. It really works. Even in short stretches like the Caldecott tunnel.

Also, this may help.

https://bayarearidersforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=529418

 

[jwb]

Did Bell kill off their custom fit program where they do a 3D scan of your head? I was going to suggest it but it's not mentioned on their site any more. Maybe they'll bring it back after COVID.

 

[kpke]

I bought a Bell MIPS a while back. I did get a quick MIPS lesson at the time of purchase which seemed like a good thing. But as above, it was purchased mostly because of the transitions face shield. You never need to carry a second shield or wear sunglasses. It's a great feature. It also fits me.

 

[budman]

Did Bell kill off their custom fit program where they do a 3D scan of your head? I was going to suggest it but it's not mentioned on their site any more. Maybe they'll bring it back after COVID.

I have not seen it for a while.

I got one when they did it at RoadRider.

The helmet fits so well that even with the strap left undone it stays in place in the wind. Yes.. I made a mistake by not strapping and riding down the freeway to a friends house where when I went to unstrap it I found it was not strapped.

A fuuuuucccck me moment.

It is close to aging out.. a couple more years of use. I am not counting this one as use has been miminal and it is properly stored inside.

 

[davidji]

Did Bell kill off their custom fit program where they do a 3D scan of your head? I was going to suggest it but it's not mentioned on their site any more. Maybe they'll bring it back after COVID.

I'd read it was killed off before then.

I got one when they did it at RoadRider.

Same.

Yeah I think mine is close to aging out as well.

I'm tempted to replace it with the latest & greatest Star Carbon, and sand away EPS as needed to fit, similar to the custom fit program. I hope that works in an MIPS lid.

I'm more confident of an unmolested fit from an Arai Signet X, but their in the wind, external sun-shade doesn't seem promising as an alternative to a photo chromic faceshield.

Maybe a clear pin-lock shield with photochomic pinlock lens would do it, though I'm not confident photochromic performance would be as good from inside a clear shield.

If it would, Kali lids are light and on sale this weekend and that might solve the photochomic faceshield for them. I don't think they offer rotational protection. Dunno. They do use EPS of different hardness to absorb energy is lighter impacts as well. I think they were among the 1st.

 

[motomania2007]

I was looking at Kali's website and they have a material called LDL or low density layer That is supposed to do some of the lighter and rotational impact absorption. I don't know anything more than what's on their website though. I received an email announcing their sale looks really good. But I don't know if I fit a Kali helmet or not. No one out here in Merced land carries Kali products for me to try them.

So far I'm happy to see that those that have bought helmets with the new technology the new technology doesn't seem to make any difference in the fit and comfort and reliability of the helmet. That's a good thing.

I also appreciate some suggestions of brands that I hadn't considered before because I'm just not familiar with them. So I need to go check them out too.

This is after all why we have communities like this to share the wisdom of experience. And I really do appreciate the input.

 

[greenmonster]

After reading about MIPS (which I've heard of but never really knew about) I'm wondering now about the safety of helmet I have - a fairly new Shoei rf1200.
Does MIPS make a huge difference in safety over the helmet I have? And is there a way to add MIPS to an existing helmet? (probably not).

 

[davidji]

Does MIPS make a huge difference in safety over the helmet I have?

If you get a rotational injury and didn't have it, you'd wish you did. I had one before, snow sports, wearing a ski helmet.

It wouldn't have made a difference so far in my motorcycling.

 

[greenmonster]

Well then if MIPS is so important why don't more, or all, helmets have this technology?

 

[budman]

Transition shield rocks. Love it.

 

[davidji]

Well then if MIPS is so important why don't more, or all, helmets have this technology?

It's increasing in the market.

As far as MIPS technology specifically, the following are licensees:
https://mipsprotection.com/helmets-with-mips/

I only recognize a few on that page who sell motorcycle helmets: Bell, Fox, Icon, Klim, KTM, Lazer, Troy Lee Designs, Z1R.

Other manufacturers offer rotational protection, including the European market Scorpion EXO-520, and any other helmet meeting ECE 22.06

 

[davidji]

Got to put up with his brand of humor, but still pretty informative. Worth looking at just for the FIM Standard info.

Thanks. I think Ryan F9 is the best at that. He's more informative than most, and still entertaining.

 

[Gravisman]

I bought a Bell Race Star this year specifically because of the rotational protection. At this point I will not buy any helmet without it, because the science says that rotational forces are much more damaging to brains than linear forces. In a world where it’s possible to buy helmets with rotational dampening, choosing one without it is choosing a lesser degree of safety. Now, to be clear, I don’t think everyone always has to choose the absolute safest gear regardless of cost, but as a racer, choosing to compromise on that didn’t feel like it made sense for me.

As for the OP’s questions about differences between regular helmets, I don’t notice anything externally. The Race Star is actually the lightest helmet I’ve ever had because of its carbon fiber, and everything else about the rider experience is just like a helmet without rotational dampening. I only know it’s there because it said so on the box, and I assume Bell is not cheating me.