Helmets

[yamarider]

I need a new helmet. The one I have is the first one I had when I started riding, like 7 years ago, so i'm due for a new one. I'm looking to get one in the $90 range. Are they all about the same, or are some brands better than others in that price range?

Where's a good place to buy them? I already checked out rockymountain's selection, and the one that i liked the most was the MSR.

 

[klutchbuster350]

I dont know how good msr is, but i'd stay away from hjc, All the mx'rs here dont use them becuase they break to easy, I had a friend nose dive a triple, broke him arm in two places, and a bad concussion. His helmet(hjc) was cracked from the visor area, and back to the back side of the helmet. Coming form a jump I have wrecked on aswell, I wont be using hjc helmets.
I like those all black, and all white ones, who makes those bell? It would be hilariously contradicting if hjc made them haha

 

[dave76]

MSR helmets are super cheap, my friend has one. I got the HJC CLX 02, I love it. I think you can get the older models cheaper, check ebay.

 

[troys3175]

Just my opinion but when it comes to helmets cheaper isn't better. I would recommend getting one from a local dealer so you can try it on, not all run the exact same size. I can't imagine how bad it would suck to have to ride around with an uncomfortable helmet.

 

[yamarider]

I looked around the local places, and there's not much to choose from. Either they were some chinese no-name things, or looked like they had been sitting around collecting dust for 5 years. I don't think any of them even had a removable/washable liner, and that's something I need this time.

 

[yamarider]

Anybody have experience with Answer or Oneal helmets?

 

[yakuza]

I'm sure it goes back to my sportbike days, but I agree cheeper is not the way to go when it involves your head. And for the record about the hjc helmets.... My buddy nose dived real bad off a jump. Did almost a full front flip with the bike coming down on top of him, and the helmet didn't crack. Full weight of the bike from about five foot in the air, at probably about 40mph and it didn't crack. The thing no doubt saved his life. Just my .02 anyways....

 

[pelphrey]

My girlfriend got my fox helmet off rocky mountain for 139.00. I love it, of course its the only helmet I've ever had and this christmas I will have had it for a year now. I think anything over 100 on rocky mountain is free shipping. So I would go ahead and buy a helmet for 100 or even up to 120 for the free shipping. Otherwise your going to pay 12-15 bucks probably in shipping.

Unless of course you are going to buy some other stuff to to fill the limit for free shipping.

 

[klutchbuster350]

They sell oneal helmets at my dad's part time job, they look good and felt comfortable, I'll check next time for any removable lining. they were only 80 bucks.
I ride with an offbrand 60 dollar year old helmet. Mossi I think its called. This sum bitch has been threw hell,m if you look at it you'll see all the scratch marks and dents from falling. And she's been hit hard from about 8+ feet in the air.

 

[dave76]

My friend went down on his GSX-R 750 at about 110mph, got multiple bone breaks he's OK now, but the helmet had some serious gashes and bangs on it and it didn't crack, it was an HJC also.

 

[r350ridin]

i have a msr, i love the thing its saved me what would have been atleast a concussionabout 3 times, its so comfortable and it so easy to wash the lining. I lovw it, i got it free with my bike fo the dealer but i think it was around $100

 

[mattd]

i have an hjc ACX3 and love it but at $200 i think its out of your price range. I also had an hjc CLX4 and that was also a great helmet and i think i got it for like $120. I had mutiple crashes on my old hjc and never had a problem with it cracking.

 

[dswwarrior350]

MY m2r has been smashed into the ground by my quad about 5 times now and its still good... little on the heavier side and its harder to hear out of than my dads bieffe.. which is also an awesome helmet.

 

[m4skinner]

i'd stay away from hjc, All the mx'rs here dont use them becuase they break to easy, I had a friend nose dive a triple, broke him arm in two places, and a bad concussion. His helmet(hjc) was cracked from the visor area, and back to the back side of the helmet.

Lets se here if he hit his head so hard he got a concussion the crack had nothing to do with it, and because he hit so hard the helmet need replaced anyway even if it didn't crack.

 

[Guest]

Just look for something that is ANSI and Snell approved. Not easy to find at this price point but I was able to. If you smash your helmet replace it, it wont be as safe on the 2nd hit.

 

[palerider]

I suggest looking here for helmets.
http://www.sandhillspowersports.com/sandhills/OnlineStore.do? Go to the dirt helmet section.

They have a huge selection with awesome prices and free shipping over $50.

All my street helmets for me, my wife and kids are Bieffe'. These are super sweet street helmets, which we also used when we raced SCCA. For the dirt, I have an HJC for me and my 2 daughters. My son has a Thor Quadrant, which is a super sweet helmet for under $100. It is DOT and SNELL approved.

As for the helmet cracking, it did exactly what it was designed to do. By cracking it disperses the impact energy over a larger area and dissipates the energy into the helmet rather into your skull. Just like "crumple zones" on cars are made to bend and absorb the impact before getting to the passenger area.

That is why even after a small impact you are supposed to replace your helmet, because it could have small cracks in it from an impact.

 

[klutchbuster350]

[quote:uoyjwdvf]i'd stay away from hjc, All the mx'rs here dont use them becuase they break to easy, I had a friend nose dive a triple, broke him arm in two places, and a bad concussion. His helmet(hjc) was cracked from the visor area, and back to the back side of the helmet.

Lets se here if he hit his head so hard he got a concussion the crack had nothing to do with it, and because he hit so hard the helmet need replaced anyway even if it didn't crack.[/quote:uoyjwdvf]
Lets see here, If the helmet cracks that means it was weak *******, I wouldnt want to ride with a helmet that will crack at the first spill. I'm just trying to help him out and tell him on my own personal experience with hjc helmets.

 

[r350ridin]

jesse, the helmets are built like that so that they do crack

 

[klutchbuster350]

jesse, the helmets are built like that so that they do crack

So youre telling me if a helmet doesnt crack after a bad crash, Its defective? That doesnt make much sense. Mines must be extremely defective then.

 

[palerider]

Having a bad day klutch??

Helmets are designed to spread an impact over a larger area. If a helmet cracks from an impact it definately does not mean it is defective or cheap. It only shows that it did its job and spread the energy from the impact through the helmet and not to the wearer of the helmet.

If a helmet is involved in a crash and does not crack, it still does not mean that the helmet did not suffer structural damage inside that cannot be seen. It could have stress areas in it and microfissures from the impact. That is why ALL manufacturers of helmets say to replace a helmet after it has been in any kind of impact.

Klutch, if your helmet has had an 8 foot fall and is beat up as bad as you say, I would put a new helmet at the top of my Christmas list.

I realize that you are 16 and know everything now, , but I do not think calling him a ******* was called for, especially when he was right.