Full Face Helmet | GTAMotorcycle.com

Full Face Helmet

Kyrock

Kyrock

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Hello everyone.

With so many choices at all price points, does anyone have words of wisdom on how to pick the best helmet available?

I am looking for a full face helmet. I drive a Goldwing F6B and like to tour (full and multi day trips). I would like a good quality helmet but do not want to pay more than necessary. Any suggestions?


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Whatever fits your head properly. There will be lots of closeout deals so you should be able to get a nice helmet for a great price.
 
Look for sales on older or closeout models. Now I don't mean ancient but you can usually get the previous years graphics at a disount around this time of year when new ones are being released.

Try and get the best you can afford...$300-500 is plenty for a decent helmet. Fit is more important than brand so don't get something that fits like crap just to save some $$. Shoei Qwest is a great entry level helmet and the Qwest 2 is coming out so it should be discounted. The shows are a great time to try on a bunch of helmets and find a deal.
 
LoneRonin said:
Look for sales on older or closeout models. Now I don't mean ancient but you can usually get the previous years graphics at a disount around this time of year when new ones are being released.

Try and get the best you can afford...$300-500 is plenty for a decent helmet. Fit is more important than brand so don't get something that fits like crap just to save some $$. Shoei Qwest is a great entry level helmet and the Qwest 2 is coming out so it should be discounted. The shows are a great time to try on a bunch of helmets and find a deal.
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Thanks!


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I hate shopping for helmets too - it's impossible to tell how they feel/sound at riding speeds and can't be returned. Pick your budget first, then only try helmets that are within it because there's always going to be something just a little bit more expensive. Once you've narrowed it down to a couple, read as many reviews as you can & ask others who have worn them. A good shop can make a big difference here.

For me, I've been really happy with my current Shoei Qwest - definitely a good pick for touring on something upright like your GW. Very comfortable (although a bit big/heavy) with minimal wind noise. Downside is that venting isn't the greatest so it can get a bit hot around town, but comfort and wind noise were my primary concerns and I didn't want to spend $1k+ so I deal with it.
 
Modular a are good for touring but tend to be heavy and noisier. Shark helmets have a good set of models for most budgets.
 
Always go with what fits your head the best, and more money doesn't necessarily mean a safer helmet. Every time I take on the task of getting a new helmet, I always end up coming home with an HJC. I have literally tried on every full face helmet in my size at GP and Royal, plus other stores. The fact that HJC helmets are lower priced is really a bonus. They are also DOT and Snell certified.

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Bell Qualifier or HJC CL-17, whichever fits your head best. Bell is typically narrower while HJC is known as the round-head brand. I have a Bell head, so to me HJC isn't really an option.
 
I have a standard helmet with a visor.
When riding on city streets, the visor is up.
When riding on the highway, the visor is down.
A common problem at this time of year is the visor fogging.
Go to a camera store and get camera lens defogger.
It works very well and as it's intended for camera lens it won't scratch your visor which the cheap defoggers can do.
 
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statsman said:
I have a standard helmet with a visor.
When riding on city streets, the visor is up.
When riding on the highway, the visor is down.
A common problem at this time of year is the visor fogging.
Go to a camera store and get camera lens defogger.
It works very well and as it's intended for camera lens it won't scratch your visor which the cheap defoggers can do.
Click to expand...

Thanks.


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I got a new helmet this year. I wanted a helmet with the 2015 Snell rating. Went with a Bell Star. Of course a helmet that fits your head shape is always best.
 
Rode for a couple years with bell/HJC's. Then I bought a Shoei Qwest and never looked back...Until I bought my first Arai and I don't think I could ride with anything else anymore.
 
Avoid the helmets with all kinds of vents and fancy BS sticking out. Opt for the helmets that have a very smooth outer design to ward off any extra wind noise. Fancy trinkets like Bluetooth, intercoms and helmet radios are useless if the wind noise is going to drown them out. Any DOT or SNELL helmet will do fine, but one of the biggest factors with motorcycle riding is wind noise and its effect on your hearing. The best helmets are the ones that are tested for noise reduction.
 
I'm on my second one of these. Super comfortable and affordable. Prior to this season I did a lot of touring, and the built in sun visor and the ability to lift up the front if talking to someone, or to get some air, comes in really handy. Also, the fitting is perfect because it uses a pump, sort of like a Nike air to adjust to your comfort level. Also lots of room for ear buds, which other helmets I had didn't accommodate as well.

http://www.webbikeworld.com/r2/motorcycle-helmet/scorpion/exo-900/
 
My wife and I have a set of Bell Revolver modulars. I love the modular bit - being able to flip up the chin bar to chat with others while waiting for lights or whatnot, being able to see what you're doing for quick fuel stops and such without needing to take the entire helmet off, etc. I've wore mine for good solid 12 hour riding days and never found it uncomfortable.

The "fighter jet" style flip down inside visor is nice but I found the included factory one to not be dark enough to have any worthwhile effect IMHO - I'll be replacing it with a much darker one next year. Visor action is good and solid, I like the fact it has an indent that holds it open about 1/2 an inch for added airflow while still keeping rain and such out.

Never found it hot, either, so apparently the vents actually do work well.
 
Roadghost said:
Avoid the helmets with all kinds of vents and fancy BS sticking out. Opt for the helmets that have a very smooth outer design to ward off any extra wind noise. Fancy trinkets like Bluetooth, intercoms and helmet radios are useless if the wind noise is going to drown them out. Any DOT or SNELL helmet will do fine, but one of the biggest factors with motorcycle riding is wind noise and its effect on your hearing. The best helmets are the ones that are tested for noise reduction.
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Very true and quiet is nice until your brain is hard boiled on a hot summer day. You should be wearing earplugs no matter what helmet and then a bit of extra wind noise is a small trade off for comfort.
 
Any helmet that allows/encourages chatting at traffic lights is alright by me. More chatter, better the ride. Ask any pornophile.
 
My first helmet was a black CKX full face $80 Snell helmet.
Most expensive so far, was a Scorpion EXO 1000, which is heavy.

I wear earplugs for long distances, and don't have a large budget,
so paying triple or more for a "possibly" lighter, more streamlined,
quieter helmet with fancy graphics, isn't really in the cards.

I tend to spend around $200 for a decent helmet with ECE/Snell certification.

Check the dates on the helmets if you're doing something on the track, some tracks like the dates to be recent.

Modular tend to be noisier, and have a couple of bolts for the flip up part,
that might line up nicely with your temples in a fall.

I like white, but they can be hard to come by on close outs.
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