Here is a post that TC wrote many moons ago.

Judging by the amount of new riders who are signing up, I think it will be very useful and shouldn't be allowed to be lost somewhere to in our 29k posts.

Hope you folks find it useful and to TC as usual.

Buying a new helmet

And in the same mould and equally as important is kit(jacket,trousers, boots and gloves)get the right kit, i guarantee you won't regret it..
you'll feel warmer, be more comfortable and have less chance of suffering a serious injury, even in a low speed off.
Take it from me i dropped the cb a coupla weeks ago and was just wearing a pair of jeans.
low speed (about 10-15mph) and my knee was in a pretty poor state for about 2 weeks after.
get the kit, you know it makes sense..

Ima, I wholeheartedly agree, I only started wearing my leathers the day before I jumped the hedge (maybe it was fate?) But I look back now and I dread to think what kind of mess I would have been in had I not been wearing the proper kit.

Note To Self: Old Army combats WILL NOT DO!

Looks like my student loan will be going swiftly down the pan this spring
I hate shopping!!

I know that helmet fit and choice are probably the most subjective topics next to oil brand and seat comfort in biking, but if you get a chance to fit these helmets, give it a go. They're VERY reasonably priced, for me the comfort is on par with an Arai, they seem to have all the approved standards for safety too.

Drawbacks are that the top vent controls are kind of flimsy, but mine are still in tact after a year. The visors seem to scratch easily, but a replacement visor is around 30% the price of an Arai. Wind noise and comfort are superb for MY head.

I bought the VR-1 Euro in "black chrome". The colour is really chrome so it reflects the sunlight and heat very well. It's also a nice change for me from all the racer graphics.

The "racer" section has an outdated profile of Steve Crevier, the guy I bought my SP-1 from. Incredible rider. I've seen him ride a moto crosser while sitting backwards on the bike, shifting, braking etc.

http://www.kbchelmet.com/index.html

This is gonna sound like a really barmy question but "How far down the back of your head should the base of the helment reach". I have an £80 Kiwi which fits like a glove but it looks odd from the side - really slanted

That's a good point TC. On my HJC the chinbar is very close. Is there a rough guide on how much of a gap there should be.

Arai have banned the sale of all there helmets on the web in an attempt to get people to buy a correctly fitting lid at a bike shop. I believe Shoei are going to do the same thing. Wear the right gear peeps and be safe !!!

I bought mine cause it was pretty!!


It is also a damn good fit!

my full face helmet is a great fit but i find it sometimes aggravating when turning my head to do obs as the chin bar keeps hitting my shoulder! i am sure it is because i am small/short/dwarf and helmets are designed for big bruisers? even thought about buying an open face because of it but am too concerned about the safety aspect......few things are perfect i suppose!

My long lost twin!!


Welcome bornagainbikerbird
glad to have you aboard!

p.s. you might wanna check this thread out helmets before you decide which bin to buy.

hth

Suki

Well when I brought my lid I set a price I could afford

Yes Arai are market leaders but cost a small barrel of cash. Also have to have the right shape head. I now wear Suomy as light as Arai but suit me better. As for other gear I invested in Dianese leathers and best i ever spend

But agree with statements before buy good gear not cheap as helmet and leathers do save your skin and you life

In my case the cheapest was actually the (nearest to) best fit.

The lid I got was £45 but the others didn't feel right, and were tight around the top of my face- would be fine but with Glasses it makes a uncomfortable fit.

The other ones that fir were the best part of £150... I think I'll go with the cheapo for now- and the guy in the shop pretty much agree'd.

I just recently bought a whole textile outfit, jacket and pants.
jacket is a blue delta form j&s accesories £39.99 soft foam armour with a foam back protector and a zip in thermal liner, pants are ixs buffalo, foam armour again £59.99 also from j&s So that's the full rig for about a ton, they're really warm and comfortable and i wouldn't consider setting off without them now.

sounds like a bargain Ima - do they have womens sizes? I feel a shopping spree coming on
already put my order in for the new RooF dragon when it comes in, (they are 'my' fit) so I need to be a bit frugal with the rest

sure do snappy have a look here j&s shops
see if there's one near you..

Thanks for the link Ima, I think I've been to the Newbury one, but the Portsmouth one looks bigger so as I'm in between the two I think I may try that one

my leather jacket I got at the NEC bike show is a J&S one, and very impressed I am with it too! it's very very comfy + warm + only cost 90 squid!

<edited> oops no it wasn't!! It was JTS (got confused, blonde streaks showing through again!) + worth checking out, dunno where u can buy their stuff from tho! </edit>

+ gixer, i've got a suomy too! Got it for 200 quid reduced from 300, i tried it on + it fitted perfectly. it's very comfy + i've been very happy with it + like the fact it's got d rings to fasten it.

My first helmet after returning to bike as a J1, flip front.

right price, did fit well and according to some Mag test, performed well.

So it was the one to go for.



a year after I got a Concept, flip front also. again after reading good reports specially about not fogging easily.

Did take a few weeks to fit well, was a bit tight on some parts of my head, but ok now.

Still I am not sure what would be a perfect fit in terms of safety???




I am considering a full face helmet now for later in the year, maybe a shark S800.

I like the looks , is at a good price, just have to check how well it fits.


Again it all comes down to how much you can afford and how confy it is.

bcon no matter how good the helmet is, if it is not confy enough you will loose concentration........

Safe riding