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I know a lot of you guys have some pretty cool and fancy helmets (ie bluetooth etc)... but I for one am new to this helmet craze.
I used to race a lot of cars, so I've always had some helmets that were DOT/SNELL approved, but never really had to worry about wearing them for too long or worried about wind noise etc.
Last season I treated myself to a new helmet since it was my first riding season on a bike. I picked up a KBC VR-1X lightning helmet.. which I read was in the "decent" but not the best, nor the worst helmet to get. I got lucky, and just as I was buying it went on a supersale online.. so I got a smashing deal on a "regular priced $180" down to like $50 shipped to my door.
Actually this is not too bad of a helmet, looked snazzy, comfortable enough, although maybe a little bit of a tight opening for my fat head. No worries, once it's on it fits okay.
I also wear glasses, and 99% of the time I don't want to bother with contacts, although on occasion I do. These helmets fit "okay" with my glasses but not the best. Wind noise is a little bit, and I notice in cold weather there's a lot of air flowing by my chin.
I got a chance to use my friend's lid.. it's an Arai, which I can't remember which model. I did notice road noise/turbulence on the highway was less, and there's a little insert piece on the chin that stopped the airflow at the chin (good for winter, and you can remove it for the summer). I thought it was neat. Only downside was the anti-fog inside his helmet wasn't so good, and it fogged up a tiny bit even on the highway (could be because of the lack of wind with this chin piece).
Anyways.. I have seen these modular helmets when you can flip up the front, and lock in the face piece. I'm told they fit tighter when it's locked, but could be windier? Still, a little easier to do more things like wear glasses I guess..
Are they all that craze, or should I be looking at something else? What makes the big names "better"? Weight sounded like a factor, but the arai felt no lighter...
Thoughts/advice?