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the "noisy" argument doesnt work with me either. my X11 is noisy, my Arai is noisy, my RF800 is a silence chamber. ANY HELMET..the more vents..the louder it is.
thanks TuT and Chris.
i realize what the obvious choices are....but when i compare specs its hard to see the difference and justification behind the price tag. shoei and arais art department really let me down this year.
When I start my KTM in the morning, rules are broken. Its inevitable...
01 SV650S (RC51 eater)/07 690SM /03 300EXC/14 XTZ1200
TRACKS:Firebird/NHMS/VIR/Calabogie/California Speedway/NJMP/MMC/NYST/Palmer/Thompson/Club Motorsports
I agree, sort of... I've been using Suomy for 4 years and with the exception of my first (have gone through 4) have not spent more than $200 for a helmet. I would look for left over solids or do the leg work to find a discount somewhere. The net or local dealer. You can find top quality helmets without that crazy retail price tag.
You can make a difference!
On Track Media
LRRS/CCS #154 ECK-Racing 2009
Pine Motorparts/PBE Specialists | Phoenix Graphics | Woodcraft | Moon Performance | Motorcycles of Manchester | BostonMoto-Pirelli
Yea, anyone rocking 6 #1 plates is a HUGE fag in my book too...
Mladin rides in a Scorpion because they pay him alot to do it. He doesn't give a shit what he wears. He told me so two years ago when I asked him why he was wearing that crappy HJC. Those helmets are custom fit for the racers anyway. It's just an advertisement.
I just got all the new IKON helmets in stock. They will all sell out to the squids so I'm not worried about "poisoning" them here.
I'm not impressed (keep in mind that I'm a bit of a helmet snob). The shells seem huge, the venting looks like it would be hella' noisy, they're heavy, they're generally ugly (personal oppinion), i'm not loving the iterior.
My first choice is always Arai...
That being said, for less money than the high end IKON would cost, I would suggest you buy something (ar at least look at) something from Shark. If it fits you properly, then is a wonderful helmet. They only have one shell shape so it fits half the crowd very well. Quiet and extremely light (the shells are a carbon/aramid construction). The RSX and RSI lines are very reasonably priced for a high quality helmet.
Another great choice for a relatively inexpensive helmet is the KBD VR-2. It's a fantastic helmet for under $300.
LRRS/CCS Amateur #514 / RSP Racing / Woodcraft / MTAG Pirelli / Dyno Solutions / Tony's Track Days / Sport Bike Track Gear / 434racer / Brunetto T-Shirts / Knox / GMD Computrack
Icon?
KBC?
Pookie... Oxx wants to LOOK cool. He won't go with just a solid.![]()
"I'd rather ride a slow bike fast than a fast bike slow"
Bikes: Ducati: 748 (Track) Honda: RC31 (Race/street)/ CRF 110 Mini Moto/ Hawk Endurance Racer Kawasaki: ZXR1200R
BOMO Instructor
EX# X
i checked out the shark lids...anything that has a decent looking graphic on it is 5-6 bills
why does KBC make your "OK to wear" list when its not a "racer" helmet?
while their price is good their graphics lack. there were a couple but overall im just not feeling it from them.
i think "squids" like the Icons because their art dept. fucking rocks! they have so many cool designs that its actually tough to pick one.
my RF800 was Shoeis top helmet back in the day....it was $400...why are they $600 now?
When I start my KTM in the morning, rules are broken. Its inevitable...
01 SV650S (RC51 eater)/07 690SM /03 300EXC/14 XTZ1200
TRACKS:Firebird/NHMS/VIR/Calabogie/California Speedway/NJMP/MMC/NYST/Palmer/Thompson/Club Motorsports
you would think so... but even the shoei rep couldnt get me under $500 for an X11.
theres a thread on here somewhere with "great deals on shoeis"...the X11 is like $43 off...whoop dee doo...its still over $600
obviously shoei and arai are my first choices. looking for left overs just screws me in the long run. i get a couple bucks shaved off the price just so i can buy a helmet sooner when it becomes 5 years old...kinda like the one i had last year.
When I start my KTM in the morning, rules are broken. Its inevitable...
01 SV650S (RC51 eater)/07 690SM /03 300EXC/14 XTZ1200
TRACKS:Firebird/NHMS/VIR/Calabogie/California Speedway/NJMP/MMC/NYST/Palmer/Thompson/Club Motorsports
I agree the Icon look good.
Why not get a solid and get some custom work done? Too much money huh?
"I'd rather ride a slow bike fast than a fast bike slow"
Bikes: Ducati: 748 (Track) Honda: RC31 (Race/street)/ CRF 110 Mini Moto/ Hawk Endurance Racer Kawasaki: ZXR1200R
BOMO Instructor
EX# X
When I start my KTM in the morning, rules are broken. Its inevitable...
01 SV650S (RC51 eater)/07 690SM /03 300EXC/14 XTZ1200
TRACKS:Firebird/NHMS/VIR/Calabogie/California Speedway/NJMP/MMC/NYST/Palmer/Thompson/Club Motorsports
i think i'll be trying out a Bell this year...provided it fits right, still need to find some where to actualy see one in person.
my schuthbert S-1 is the greatest street helmet i've ever owned hands down, but it's kind bulky for racing and i'd hate to kill such a fine street helmet at the track. i had an arai to race in for awhile..it lasted 3 weekends before dying in the line of duty. great helmet, loved it...but i'm not paying 600 bucks for something i might ruin the first time i use it. i'm sure there is equal protection for less money out there. the shield might not be as good, the vents may not work great, but i can put up with that for 8 laps at a time if it saves me 300 bucks.
-Pete
NEMRR #81 - ECK Racing
Cyclesmith Track Days
Woodcraft | MTag-Pirelli | OnTrack Media
'03 Tuono | '06 SV650 | '04 CRF250X | '24 Aprilia Tuareg
"I'd rather ride a slow bike fast than a fast bike slow"
Bikes: Ducati: 748 (Track) Honda: RC31 (Race/street)/ CRF 110 Mini Moto/ Hawk Endurance Racer Kawasaki: ZXR1200R
BOMO Instructor
EX# X
Yeah, the money you save buying solid instead of a print could like... get your name written on the back of your helmet in white-out...
it'd be awesome.
100% custom jobs are EXPENSIVE... but oh so worth it. Look so dope.
I've actually been thinkin bout getting something simple done on the Vemar for a while now... just something small on the back. That wouldn't cost all that much.
-Pete
NEMRR #81 - ECK Racing
Cyclesmith Track Days
Woodcraft | MTag-Pirelli | OnTrack Media
'03 Tuono | '06 SV650 | '04 CRF250X | '24 Aprilia Tuareg
How much we talkin? $300? $1000?
"I'd rather ride a slow bike fast than a fast bike slow"
Bikes: Ducati: 748 (Track) Honda: RC31 (Race/street)/ CRF 110 Mini Moto/ Hawk Endurance Racer Kawasaki: ZXR1200R
BOMO Instructor
EX# X
-Pete
NEMRR #81 - ECK Racing
Cyclesmith Track Days
Woodcraft | MTag-Pirelli | OnTrack Media
'03 Tuono | '06 SV650 | '04 CRF250X | '24 Aprilia Tuareg
You asked what we thought about IKON helmets. As an IKON helmet dealer I gave you my opinion.
If you are buying a helmet on graphics alone then I can't help you. Graphics are a "to each his own" kind of conversation. I think the IKON graphics are ugly. Again, just and opinion.
I currently ride with 3 differend Arai lids. I own about 10 Arai helmets (7 of which are retired due to age). Now you know where my helemt alegience lies.
LRRS/CCS Amateur #514 / RSP Racing / Woodcraft / MTAG Pirelli / Dyno Solutions / Tony's Track Days / Sport Bike Track Gear / 434racer / Brunetto T-Shirts / Knox / GMD Computrack
Is it not ICON??
"I'd rather ride a slow bike fast than a fast bike slow"
Bikes: Ducati: 748 (Track) Honda: RC31 (Race/street)/ CRF 110 Mini Moto/ Hawk Endurance Racer Kawasaki: ZXR1200R
BOMO Instructor
EX# X
I rode with my Mainframe ( size L) last year on the street...good solid helmet, alittle heavy, but not anything to gripe about. Fit is ok...I tried on the 2008 Domain II, size M, in San Diego, and it fit perfect! Nice and snug...so I just ordered the Mechanica, will be here on Monday, and Ill post some pics with a nice little pre-season review. From what I have read so far, they have made very good improvements compared to last years.
But I am still most likely going to fork out 650 for the Arai Haga Rep...they know what they are doing...go to www.sportbiketrackgear.com and watch Brian get into the RX-7...well made lid...I'm a gear nut, gotta have a few fly looking helmets!
Carpe Diem
'10 Yamaha R6-Race-
'05 Aprilia Tuono Racing -Street-
#46, Expert, CVMA -cvmaracing.com-
Oxx, the Shark RSi I have was pretty reasonably priced. I don't remember exact price, but I'm a broke ass and I own it. It's very light. I only think it's quieter though because it has soft pads where your ears are not open space.
www.sportbiketrackgear.com
Awesome website with great videos!
"I'd rather ride a slow bike fast than a fast bike slow"
Bikes: Ducati: 748 (Track) Honda: RC31 (Race/street)/ CRF 110 Mini Moto/ Hawk Endurance Racer Kawasaki: ZXR1200R
BOMO Instructor
EX# X
im not knocking arai...if i wasnt wearing an arai 10 years ago(or any helmet for that matter) i wouldnt have a face right now.
just kinda let down by their designs this year. i had the re entry and even though it was just flames..i liked it.
just want something to protect my squash and have it look cool without spending an arm and a leg.
the first things outta peoples mouth when asking about helmets is "shoei" and "arai" later followed by soumy and shark.
i guess im just tired of the same ol same ol.
When I start my KTM in the morning, rules are broken. Its inevitable...
01 SV650S (RC51 eater)/07 690SM /03 300EXC/14 XTZ1200
TRACKS:Firebird/NHMS/VIR/Calabogie/California Speedway/NJMP/MMC/NYST/Palmer/Thompson/Club Motorsports
When I start my KTM in the morning, rules are broken. Its inevitable...
01 SV650S (RC51 eater)/07 690SM /03 300EXC/14 XTZ1200
TRACKS:Firebird/NHMS/VIR/Calabogie/California Speedway/NJMP/MMC/NYST/Palmer/Thompson/Club Motorsports