question, advice

[mike250]

what would the resale value be on a helmet thats is used but in excellent condition?

cause, i have a blk/yellow bike and i want to buy a matching blk/yllw helmet, but this is my first bike and it is kind of old(1989) so i wont be owning it for very long, an my next bike probably wont have yellow on it. so my question is would you reccommend me buying a yellow/black helmet and then selling it when i sell my bike or just buy one helmet (black) so i could use it on any bike? and i dont plan on spending a lot of money on a helmet.($170)

just want someone else's opinion.

thanks.

[tjtripp]

I'd get a black helmet.

[jesse.m]

Or get whatever helmet you think looks cool. Pro racers often have helmets that are completely different than their bike.

Don't plan on selling the helmet or other gear with the bike. Don't forget people come in different shapes and sizes, might already own a helmet, or might not care about color-coordinating with an '89 either.

[The Sauce]

You're spending too much thought on a stupid issue. I bet you have hats to match your dunks, huh?

[blahbla]

your helmet is not a fashion accessory.....get a good one, not one that matches your bike, or gear....

[mike250]

your helmet is not a fashion accessory.....get a good one, not one that matches your bike, or gear....

it can be. wether i get one that matches my bike or not i'm still going to get the same one just deciding if it should be black or yellow/black. but i think i decied already.

thanks for all the input.

[Vtec44]

The primary function of your helmet is to protect your head in case of a crash, everything else comes second. But, good luck with shopping for a helmet. I personally prefer mine brand new because the foam lining deteriorates over time, faster if it's not taken care of properly.

[jesse.m]

Remember that more expensive doesn't mean more protection. In this lengthy article, Motorcyclist magazine found that the best performing helmet was the Z1R ZRP-1 for only $65-80. It's also the same weight as the most expensive helmets. The higher cost fiberglass helmets are light and stiff, and transfer more of the impact to the skull. They debunked the Snell test, and determined that a Snell approved helmet is more likely to give you serious brain injury than a plastic DOT-only helmet. Motorcyclists are just as concerned with looks and brand name as anyone else, so I'm glad I found this article awhile back before buying a new helmet.

http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/gearbox/motorcycle_helmet_review/index.html

[Vtec44]

I read that article a while back, too. There are pros and cons in each testing method.

[Preston!]

Buy whatever one you want. You're going to want a new one in six months anyway!

[blahbla]

Remember that more expensive doesn't mean more protection. In this lengthy article, Motorcyclist magazine found that the best performing helmet was the Z1R ZRP-1 for only $65-80. It's also the same weight as the most expensive helmets. The higher cost fiberglass helmets are light and stiff, and transfer more of the impact to the skull. They debunked the Snell test, and determined that a Snell approved helmet is more likely to give you serious brain injury than a plastic DOT-only helmet. Motorcyclists are just as concerned with looks and brand name as anyone else, so I'm glad I found this article awhile back before buying a new helmet.

http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/gearbox/motorcycle_helmet_review/index.html


i agree, but some race organizations require snell rating....KBC has been a sponsor of mine for a while, always been happy with them.

[freakdawg]

I would prioritize by order of importance:
Fitment
Protection
Budget
Cosmetics

[blahbla]

i would suggest you do what the harley guys do.....buy all your matching gear at dealership when you buy your bike....gotta have new shiny gear, nobody wants to look like they actually ride..

[bluerider6]

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/297367/bike_crash/

Try that with a $99.00 Helmet. Since you probably don't know who Shinya Nakano is, he's still alive and racing today, and I think that wearing an Arai in that particular instance keeps him doing so. Buy a good F*cking Helmet People! C'mon, It doesn't have to be an Arai, but at least a good one.

[jesse.m]

Please just read the article.

Nakano would have been better off with the $65 ZR-1. Seriously. The expensive helmets are very rigid, and the Snell test smacks the same part of a helmet twice in the same place to make sure the impact doesn't penetrate the shell. However, they do not take into account how much energy is transfered to the rider's head.

Look at modern automobile design and how cars are designed with crumple zones so that the full G forces aren't transfered to the driver. The same goes with helmets- Acording to Motorcyclists tests, the "cheap" plastic helmet transfered 176 Gs while the Arai helmets transfered 243. That's significant.

[Vtec44]

My thought on that article is that crumble zone works well on the initial impact, but may not protect the area well against multiple hits. Snell does multiple impact test, intrusion, face shield, and chin-bar test (among other tests) if I remember it correctly;i t has been a while. DOT is an "honor" system for the most part. Not to say that the testing method is wrong or inferior, but I question the quality of each helmet being produce under the standard where there's almost no sampling. IMHO, G-force measurement is definitely important but it shouldn't be the only thing that you look for when buying a helmet. Each crash is very different, and a well rounded helmet that will protect you from many possibilities is a good one in my book. :)

[bluerider6]

That was a loooooong read, and was full of fancy words!! I'm sure this will be an everlasting debate till the end of Motorcycle-dom.

Here's this... I'll never buy a cheap helmet because through practical experience, an Arai saved my head in a pretty violent high-side, that involved big, fast, air. This doesn't mean I prefer Arai, as I've moved onto a Suomy, but I still believe that I invested my money into something that may (and hopefully not need to) save my melon like the Arai did.

That article, I believe, sets a lot of things straight for the Manufacturer and Consumer. Hopefully you're right Jesse, and that cheap helmets are just as good as expensive ones. But if it's wrong...

[blahbla]

why spend 8 times more for a helmet that does not protect you anymore than a $100.00 helmet.

the test are standard, they all must pass them. if you can show me where a high priced helmet protects better than a low cost helmet....feel free to post a link....:dunno

[Vtec44]

$800 helmet? :yikes

My HJC was both DOT and SNELL approved, but it was HEAVY as hell. I'd buy a lighter helmet next time for sure, but those tend to be more expensive.

[Preston!]

If you have some spare time:

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

[blahbla]

If you have some spare time:

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

thanks...that kinda proves my point.

"
Also, the UK's RIDE magazine tested 28 helmets in the May 2005 issue. While the testing methodology was slightly different, they also found that the HJC AC-11 provided the second best impact absorption of the lot. Could it be that a motorcycle helmet doesn't necessarily have to be expensive to provide good protection?
There's much, much more to the story, and we strongly suggest reading both articles and studying this subject before you buy your next helmet. One of the conclusions in the Motorcyclist magazine article is that a softer polycarbonate DOT-only approved helmet may provide the highest levels of protection."


they all pass the same tests, what you pay for is fit,finish and style...

[Preston!]

When I was looking to get a new helmet, I spent days on that site. I ended up going with a Shark RSi. I love it!!!

The fact of the matter is; you don't have to spend a fortune to get a great helmet.

[Vtec44]

... and lighter material. Given anything else is equal, a heavier helmet do carry more energy upon impact. What they need to do is to put a weighted head in the test helmet and shoot it onto a wall at a specific speed. Of course, we pay mostly for the the awesome paint job on the helmet. No one will disagree with that. :D

[The Sauce]

why spend 8 times more for a helmet that does not protect you anymore than a $100.00 helmet.


The answer is simple...because they want it.

[mark]

Got a black and yellow HJC AC 10 good shape, no drops, needs a vent cover in back, you can have, just come get it, size Med. Also have a SHOEI RF 1000, worn 3 times for 200 bucks, also med ,yellow and black.

[blahbla]

The answer is simple...because they want it.

or somebody told them that :

More money = more protection

[tR1stan]

high school girls love arai. that is all.