race helmets and choosing the right one

[k_cotter]

hey guys trying to scrape together all the loose ends to be ready for my first race weekend next april. My shark rsr2 (that i absolutely love) will not make the 5 year cut next year. looking for a good safe helmet but i am not in the position to drop 7 8 hundred bucks on a x12 or similar brand new helmet. what helmets do you guys have experience with that i should take a look at? also if anyone has anything nice used and recently manufactured you'd be into selling let me kno!

[snwbrdr435]

I'll be in the exact same boat in the spring, even have the same helmet.

[Brendin87]

Just my 2cts, but I personally have an Arai RX-Q. This is a step below the Corsair. Very good IMO. I just use this for the track. Your best bet is to go with a solid, roughly 5-6 hundred. They are often times cheaper then the fancier ones.
Shoei is also a very good option. RF-1100 for instance is relatively inexpensive, running about 3-4 hundred.
Another option would be to look at the new line HJC came out with. I had a rep come into my shop with some and they are very nice. This is the same style Ben Spies wears.
All in all you don't want to cheap out on the helmet. You only have 1 head.
BTW I have a couple extra eject systems if you need them.

[golden chicken]

Since HJC just came out with the RPHA helmets, you can get the RPS-10 (which was Spies' previous helmet) for $250-350 at revzilla depending on the design

[k_cotter]

Just my 2cts, but I personally have an Arai RX-Q. This is a step below the Corsair. Very good IMO. I just use this for the track. Your best bet is to go with a solid, roughly 5-6 hundred. They are often times cheaper then the fancier ones.
Shoei is also a very good option. RF-1100 for instance is relatively inexpensive, running about 3-4 hundred.
Another option would be to look at the new line HJC came out with. I had a rep come into my shop with some and they are very nice. This is the same style Ben Spies wears.
All in all you don't want to cheap out on the helmet. You only have 1 head.
BTW I have a couple extra eject systems if you need them.

i absolutly agree about not cheaping out on helmets. i have looked at the rf 1100 and the rx q online and liked them but have no experience with them. i tried on a hjc rps 10 and really liked it. good words of wisdom thanks.
and i will be needing an eject system ill pm you soon to work that out thanks
-keith

[THE STUFF 187]

Keith, I have the new high end line that HJC just came out with if u want to check them out, they r very light. I just got a few closeout deals on XSPEED helmets & for the $ I can get u one for I think it is the best bang for the buck. There top of the line XCF 3000 full carbon retail for $450. I can get you one for $275. I have had good luck with them & they r very light as well. I also like the new bell helmets as well & they offer the transition auto darkening visors which I can't say enough about. I carry almost every kind of helmet. Now that the season coming to an end I'm thinning it out inventory, but I can get you whatever you want for 20-40% off depending on brand. Closeout can be 50-70% off. Come by the shop one day soon if you want to check out the close outs as they go quickly. I'll treat you right as well as any of the NESR crew.
Justin Torres
Adrenaline Cycle
508-379-0100

[RocketPunch]

If you are looking at the same price range around the rf1100, also take a look at Scoprion's R2000 race lid. Great features and light, what I am consider getting ATM.

[Rada]

I started wearing the Bell RS-1 helmets this year. I am very pleased with them. I like the fit and they seem to hold up well. I did crash pretty good in one and konked my knoggin on the pavement pretty hard. I feel that the helmet did a good job of keeping my marbles where they belong.

[DuncanMoto]

Get the helmet that best fits your head.
Arai models are different shapes.
Shoei have different shapes as well.
Both are excellent choices.
Both have head pad and cheek pad options for a custom fit.
Buy local and get it fit properly.
Do it right and pay $500 now, so you don't have to pay the $500 ambulance co-pay later.

[kumpy]

I also agree with the HJC RPS-10, great helmet for a great price. I will add that it is made for a very round shaped head. In fact, its the roundest of all the top race helmets from all the manufacturers. I'll be looking into this helmet for next year as it fits the shape of my head.

[SwiftTone]

You can get this RPS-10 for under $200, but just this one graphic: http://www.motorcyclegear.com/street...le_helmet.html

RPS1- and RPHA 10 is basically the same helmet, save revised chin vent and slightly diff visor lock. The chin vent is actually more race oriented than the RPHA 10

[jasnmar]

Get one that fits.

HJC helmets fit my head reasonably well. When I dropped my modular and the chin bar broke, I went with the RPS-10 as a replacement.

Snell 2010 certified.
Reasonable weight.
Decent airflow.
Pinlock fog protection (without the Pinlock shield the fog protection is crappy).
Good "high" vision (at least compared to what I was used to).

It would take a lot to talk me out of buying another if I needed to replace it.

I'm also not a racer.

[a13x]

I have a few RPS-10's (2011) and a RPHA (2012) for sale. Mediums and a XS. PM me if interested.

[tsorfas]

Keith I use scorpion as well. I haven't had any horrifying crashes to test them but I have eaten shit face first twice and I'm fine. Air flow isn't the great but they don't fog, you can see fine through them and they are pretty cheap. My last 5 helmets all were scorpions.

[CBR929RE]

what fits your head is most important as Duncanmoto said

I've been in Suomy for years and have crashed in them many times. my current one I bought on closeout in a size too small and just switched the cheek pads from my old helmet to make it the right size. cost per year if it were to make it until the end of its 5 years would put it right at the same price as a brand new one. I'll probably crash it and wreck it so I figured I'd save the money this time. it worked cause last 2 crashes and it didn't even get a scratch on it.

[The Snowman]

Scorpion recently released the EXO-R2000 series of helmets, which are extremely light (3.35 pounds for a size LG) and have been getting great reviews. They're also under $400.

[maxim_X]

If you wearing a shark now why not go with another one. I'm digging this Shark Speed-R Sauer. http://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/s...r-sauer-helmet It's their street/track day helmet. The race-r is a bit lighter and has a different venting system. But, I like the speed r a bit better.

[Rambunctous]

Always check the date of manufacture. Helmets get inspected at tech and need to be 5 years or less old.

[marshdrummer]

I currently run a Bell Star and it's by far MY favorite I've ever run....That being said, Shark got 5 stars on the Sharp (I think) safety rating....if you love it, just run another! Painfully slow (my teammate runs a shark....he LOVES it)

[csmutty]

I have the Shoei RF1100 and the X12 and love them both.

[smf]

Wirelessly posted

Get the helmet that best fits your head.
Arai models are different shapes.
Shoei have different shapes as well.
Both are excellent choices.
Both have head pad and cheek pad options for a custom fit.
Buy local and get it fit properly.
Do it right and pay $500 now, so you don't have to pay the $500 ambulance co-pay later.

This is the only advice you need. Follow it to the letter.

& for the record I use a mid-range arai because it fits my head perfectly. There is no evidence proving a 800 helmet protects better than a 300 helmet. The helmet that doesn't fit right likely will leave you with a head injury though.

[Mr. Kurtz]

I used a Bell RS-1 this year, coming off of all Arai race helmets, and I liked it. Since no shops local to me carry them, I actually tried a bunch of different helmets on at Javitt Center in January at the IMS, decided on the Bell, and then ordered from Sportbike Track Gear (shameless sponsor plug, tell them RSP Racing sent you).

[The Snowman]

If you wearing a shark now why not go with another one. I'm digging this Shark Speed-R Sauer. http://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/s...r-sauer-helmet It's their street/track day helmet. The race-r is a bit lighter and has a different venting system. But, I like the speed r a bit better.

The Race-R is hard to find in the US. It retails at over $600. The Race-R Pro, is easier to find, but it cost over $700.

[Jim]

i use an Arai RX-Q also. the Q is the same as the RX-V, without all that stupid plastic vent crap that'll break off in a crash.

[The Snowman]

I used a Bell RS-1 this year, coming off of all Arai race helmets, and I liked it. Since no shops local to me carry them, I actually tried a bunch of different helmets on at Javitt Center in January at the IMS, decided on the Bell, and then ordered from Sportbike Track Gear (shameless sponsor plug, tell them RSP Racing sent you).

I snagged an RS-1 from motorcyclecloseouts.com for $199 and use it as my race helmet. This was a 7/11 manufacture dated helmet, purchased in 5/12 as my "B" helmet. It replaced the Shark RSR2 Carbon helmet that I was using until my T1 crash in August.

It's a great helmet for the price. Good ventilation, 5 star SHARP rating, comfortable fit.

I use it as my race helmet, simply because you do not put it on and take it of as often as you do when at a track day. The microfiber lining seems to retain moisture for a long time and on hot days, it still feels damp when you put it back on. Even if you use a helmet fan.

For track days, I use my AGV GP-Tech. Far and away the most confortable helmet I have ever put on my head. I managed to snag it for $542, with the dark smoke face shield by contacting Mike at Riders Discount directly.