Anyone have experience with....

[mzdagrl]

Z1R helmets?

I'm looking to replace a 7 year old Arai and don't have $450 to drop on a new one, and I have an absurdly small head (XS Arai). Basically I found one that I like the design of, but I don't know which shops in my area carry them. I will need to try one on before buying but don't want to waste my time if they aren't worth it.

FYI, I have done trackdays in my pre-motherhood days and would like to get back into it if I can score a deal, so if anyone has crash tested one, that might be useful info to me.

Thanks guys!

[imkindafkedup]

There was an article a while back, it was posted her if you do a search, that compared all helmets on an impact scale and the z1r placed 1st as I recall. I'd post the link but I'm posting from my droid. No personal expirience, but the article was definitely the least biased I've seen. Good luck on the search and getting back on the track.

[Doc]

Pretty sure they are all polycarbonate (not legal for racing) but I am sure they would be ok for a trackday. (Although your Arai and all high end helmets are Fiberglass or kevlar type weave)

Scorpion EXO700 is fiberglass and you can get them in the $150 range.

[Kurlon]

My local shop carries Z1R dirt lids, they had Z1R street lids at one point too I believe? I'll check. Didn't seem like a bad helmet although I don't think any but one of their dirt lids carried anything more than DOT certification.

Another lower cost option to consider is Icon. I raced my last year in a couple. Fit and weight were decent, only real complaint is the venting wasn't as good as my Arai XD, but then again, not much in a full face can match the XD with it's dirt style front.

[Pigman]

Go on Ebay there is always cheap Arai's and Esp XS ones...

[mzdagrl]

Scorpion EXO700 is fiberglass and you can get them in the $150 range.

Scorps don't seem to fit my head right, they are just uncomfortable every time I put them on. I also seem to have trouble with places having an XS in stock that I can try in ANY brand, let alone the one I want to try.....

Thanks for the feedback, guys, I appreciate it.

Kurlon, I won't buy Icon for a number of reasons, not the least of which is how fookin heavy they all seem to be. Where is your shop located? I hate to be picky, but with a 2-year old, I try not to drive too far just to kill time in a bike shop. They entertain me, but not her too well.

I'm not too concerned about it being race-worthy, but if it is, then that's a bonus. Who knows what might happen in the next 5 years? I gotta get myself out of the 2:00 lap times first, haha!!

[Kurlon]

I use Moto Milano in Windham ME, about an hour from the ME/NH border on 95?.

The current Icons are a lot lighter than they used to be, I can let you tear apart my crashed Mainframe if you'd like to play CSI on one.

[imkindafkedup]

Here is the impact comparison I was speaking about. (in g force)
Z1R ZRP-1 (P)Average: 152 GsLF: 148 gsRF: 176 gsLR: 153 gsRR: 130 gs

BSI/DOT Helmets

AGV Ti-Tech (F)Average: 169 GsLF: 156 gsRF: 199 gsLR: 195 gsRR: 129 gs

Suomy Spec 1R (BSI) (F)Average: 182 GsLF: 192 gsRF: 215 gsLR: 197 gsRR: 126 gs

ECE 22-05/DOT Helmets

Schuberth S-1 (F)Average: 161 GsLF: 151 gsRF: 180 gsLR: 176 gsRR: 137 gs

Suomy Spec 1R (ECE) (F)Average: 171 GsLF: 156 gsRF: 200 gsLR: 190 gsRR: 140 gs

Shark RSX (F)Average: 173 GsLF: 166 gsRF: 187 gsLR: 201 gsRR: 141 gs

Vemar VSRAverage: 174 GsLF: 171 gsRF: 198 gsLR: 166 gsRR: 162 gs

Snell 2000/DOT Helmets

Icon Mainframe (P)Average: 181 GsLF: 168 gsRF: 217 gsLR: 189 gsRR: 152 gs

Icon Alliance (F)Average: 183 GsLF: 179 gsRF: 200 gsLR: 179 gsRR: 175 gs

Scorpion EXO-400 (P)Average: 187 GsLF: 185 gsRF: 212 gsLR: 193 gsRR: 158 gs

AGV X-R2 (F)Average: 188 GsLF: 192 gsRF: 226 gsLR: 166 gsRR: 167 gs

Arai Tracker GT (F)Average: 201 GsLF: 193 gsRF: 243 gsLR: 203 gsRR: 166 gs

HJC AC-11 (F)Average: 204 GsLF: 195 gsRF: 230 gsLR: 231 gsRR: 163 gs

Scorpion EXO-700 (F)Average: 211 GsLF: 207 gsRF: 236 gsLR: 226 gsRR: 176 gs

Impact Key: LF: Left Front, 7-foot drop, Flat Pavement. RF: Right Front, 10-foot drop, Flat Pavement. LR: Left Rear, 7-foot drop, Flat Pavement. RR: Right Rear, 7-foot drop, Edge Anvil. Shell Key: (P): Polycarbonate (F): Fiberglass

As you can see, it does have one of the lowest average impacts compared to other major brands. It doesn't however say anything about the ventilation or noise. Sometimes not being able to see things cause your shield fogged up or hear the screeching brakes behind you doesn't pay off.
Here's the link to the article. Its a long read but makes interesting points.

http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/ge...iew/index.html