Helmet recommendations

[duke63]

Duke how do you mean? Medium/ small??

They do two medium sizes. A small medium and a large medium.

[Rossgo]

Duke how do you mean? Medium/ small??

They do two medium sizes. A small medium and a large medium.

Ah I didn't realise this. I need to take a closer look then!

[Frankie]

Adding my two pence to this, as it is time I looked for a lid, most likely over the new year deals.
Shoei, Arai and hjc have all been favourites of mine, for fit and quality, oh and my Premier lid that was awesome. I bought the GT Air a few years back, it was at this time Both shoei and Arai bought out new models for different head types, trying to get each other's business. It was as if you had a shoei head or an arai head. Now my head fits both on selected models.

The shoei GT air is a very nice lid, drop down visor inside, good comfort, vents, but IMO it is shocking when it rains, water gets in when you open the visor just a little bit, and then it's a nightmare. It was supposed to be my all round lid for all road riding. It only comes out now when it's dry, which defeats the object of why I bought it. Very warm as well. Shame really.

So next visit to the shops will be trying a variety of lids, if they did the chaser (arai) with an inner visor that would be my lid choice no question.
But as someone said earlier, the quality of lids is pretty high, so I am going to be looking at all sorts this time around.
Also don't forget, many of them have different shell sizes for the same size lids, plus different internals and padding. So the key is to try a lot on, an ask if they have different internals, I remember the guy up at the bike shop near H's cafe (Benson wat) knew his stuff. Also check how long the test helmet has been around, the amount of big heads going into smaller lids can give you a false idea of the padding and comfort.

[Rossgo]

Cheers Frankie certainly a lot to consider

[D41]

Don't forget, Ross....it's important to get a haircut before you purchase your lid so it doesn't end up fitting too loose after a trim.

[Kwacky]

He's not Marco Simoncelli

[D41]

No but I am.....at least, my hair makes me look like a frickin' Yeti these days.


Or....I could get a haircut and look like Sasquatch The Skinhead...either way I'd be fecked.

[Rossgo]

Frankie I have just had a hair cut today and I think I will be going out on Saturday to some bike shops to try on lids so prefect timing lol!

[D41]

^^^^ It worked!!!!!!!!

[Rossgo]

So yesterday I went to Infinity and tried on a range of lids all suggested by you guys.

I wrote notes on almost all of them, unless they didn't have them in stock.

Here they are!

HJC RPHA 11 - Size Small,good fit, Ears a little tight when getting out. Cheeks tight 1250g £299 vents easy to use - visor locks into place. Comfortable maybe needs a little bedding in - LIKE LIKE LIKE ALOT

Nolan N87 Rapid - None in my size

 Shoei NXR Small - ears very tight hard to get off because of ears!! But medium too big...far too big 1260g £299 - very comfortable other than bloody ears!!

HJC FG-15 CARBON - none in my size don't like the look

AGV K5 - Small (67/8-7)?? good fit - maybe it's  bedded in seems good - £175  - ears not padded maybe loud?? Vents seem a tad stiff/ fiddly when gloves are on?

Shoei GT AIR - Small, medium too big £324 tried both exposure and expanse good fit other than ears...ears get pulled off when taking the bloody thing off

Arai RX-7 GP - Nice fit but fiddly lots of vents to open and shut - not good for when you have to open shut them quickly £475



So out of them I'm seriously considering that HJC. That is a lovely lid. Anyone got this lid what's it like for noise/ when it's raining does it let in water and also what's it like over time eg do things break off?

[Rossgo]

Also ignore the prices I'm sure I can find cheaper elsewhere...well I guess I can lol!

[Kwacky]

HJC is great in the rain but it's not the quietest or warmest

[Rossgo]

HJC is great in the rain but it's not the quietest or warmest

This is something to think about. Well I suppose I'm not to worried about the noise as I have plugs anyway. Warmth I suppose it would play well for the summer allowing the warmth to leave. I do like this lid I must admit!

[Kwacky]

Mine's great in the summer but I wouldn't use it this time of year. I'm sure others do without any problem. The lack of a sun visor means it's not suitable for my commute

[Rossgo]

Mine's great in the summer but I wouldn't use it this time of year. I'm sure others do without any problem. The lack of a sun visor means it's not suitable for my commute

Which lids do you own then Kwacky?

[Kwacky]

The Nolan N87 and the HJC r-pha10 aquilo

[StMarks]

????? You didn't try any Shark helmets Rossgo.
Fwiw my commute helmet is a Shark with a flip down visor, they're worth a look IMO.

[Kwacky]

+1 for Sharks. Well priced and excellent lids.

[Monty]

HJC RPHA 11 - Size Small,good fit, Ears a little tight when getting out. Cheeks tight 1250g £299 vents easy to use - visor locks into place. Comfortable maybe needs a little bedding in - LIKE LIKE LIKE ALOT

That's the one I've got in the same colours as Kwacky. I bought it as a summer/track day helmet but it's that good I use it all year around. Plus a I got a mega deal on it, 180 quid delivered with a spare light tint visor and a pinlock. The visor and pinlock would have cost at least 60 quid.

[Rossgo]

The Nolan N87 and the HJC r-pha10 aquilo

Oh didn't realise you owned the HJC as well, are you happy with the R-PHA 10?