norcott@cca.UUCP (Bill Norcott) (05/13/85)
*** REPLACE THIS LINE WITH YOUR MESSAGE *** I would like to recommend a good helmet at a cheap price. The Arai Astro-Vent helmet is a full face helmet with built in ventilation. This helmet is a discontinued model, it has been replaced by the Super Vent, but some are still available at a super-cheap $87.95 from California Accessories Warehouse. This helmet received an A+ rating for comfort and safety from a survey by "Motorcyclist" of 53 full-face helmets (made in 1984). It listed at $159, but scored better than helmets selling for much more (even Bell)! They only have black or white helmets left now, but if you're more concerned with comfort & protection than looks, its the cheapest and best helmet still available. This helmet passes the DOT & the new Snell '85 safety standards, too. These are the most comfortables helmets I've found & they're great for keeping down wind noise, too. I would recommend the Astro-Vent to anyone, they're a great bargain while they last. Just make sure you measure the circumference of your head to assure the proper fit if you buy any helmet through the mail. Good luck & happy riding! Bill
tjiang@Shasta.ARPA (10/01/85)
I am in the market for a good motorcycle helmet. Can any riders recommend brands or give suggestions on how to get a good, comfortable and safe fit? I'd like to know exactly how tight the helment should be? Is it okay to have a little bit of slop or does it absolutely have to be pressed up against the face?
howard@sfmag.UUCP (H.M.Moskovitz) (10/02/85)
> I am in the market for a good motorcycle helmet. Can any riders > recommend brands or give suggestions on how to get a good, comfortable > and safe fit? I'd like to know exactly how tight the helment should > be? Is it okay to have a little bit of slop or does it absolutely > have to be pressed up against the face? Personally, I am a fan of Shoei helmets. I have two; an S-12 which is a good mid-priced helmet, and a Z-100 which is (or was) their top of line and is one of the very best on the market. They are comfortable, very well built and Snell (as well as DOT) approved. The Z-100 would run about $125-$140 mail order (depending on place and color of helmet). As for fit, a helmet is supposed to be snug without being uncomfortable. A good one will have enough padding so that it fits snugly without pinching your noggin. Only a very small amount of free-play is acceptable, otherwise in an accident it could spin on your head and the chinstrap could choke you or even break your neck! Also if it is too loose, the helmet will float when you travle at highway speeds, i.e., the wind will try to lift it off your head. GOOD RIDING... -- --------------------------------------------------------------------- Howard Moskovitz AT&T Info. Systems attunix!howard
bjc@drutx.UUCP (CampbellBJ) (10/02/85)
According to the instructor at the Motorcycle Rider Course, your helmet should fit snugly, but not tight, i.e., when you shake your head from side to side, your helmet should barely move. Don't forget, it will loosen up a little. Whether to get a full-face helmet is the rider's decision, i would recommend it. I have a full-face and have seen nice big bug splats that would otherwise have hit my face, besides the consideration of rain hitting you while going 35+, sand, etc. A D.O.T. approved helmet is virtually useless, make sure it is Snell approved. Expect to pay $150+ for a really good helmet, but i would pick out the brand and size at my local parts store, then mail order it through those mail-order houses that advertise in the motorcycle magazines for about $30+ less, no postage and handling, about 7-10 days delivery time. I have a Simpson full-face helmet and have been really pleased with it. No problems with noise, etc. Good luck Becky
dob@ihlpa.UUCP (Daniel M. O'Brien) (10/03/85)
> I am in the market for a good motorcycle helmet. Can any riders > recommend brands or give suggestions on how to get a good, comfortable > and safe fit? I second this request for helmet info! I would like to use a full face helmet, but I can't get the helmet over my glasses (those aviator-style ones that wrap around the ears!). Can anyone recommend a full face helmet that will work? Daniel M. O'Brien (ihnp4!ihlpa!dob) AT&T Bell Laboratories IH 4A-258, x 4782 Naperville-Wheaton Road Naperville, IL 60566
howard@sfmag.UUCP (H.M.Moskovitz) (10/04/85)
> I second this request for helmet info! I would like to use a full face > helmet, but I can't get the helmet over my glasses (those aviator-style > ones that wrap around the ears!). Can anyone recommend a full face helmet > that will work? > > The only full-face helmet I know of that will go OVER glasses is the Porche Carrera helmet. This is because the chin bar is integrated into the windshield. The whole front of the helmet swivels up, and in fact, the whole front of the helmet can come off, thus converting the helmet to asn open-faced helmet as well. The only problems are: a) I don't know if it carries a Snell rating, b) it's very expensive (>$200) c) Very few places carry it so getting replacement part may be difficult (& also expensive). On another note, several eyewear manufacturers make eyeglass frames that have an extendable earpiece. It is a standard piece which has a sliding wrap-around that lets you put it on after your helmet and then get the added security of wrap-around ears. -- --------------------------------------------------------------------- Howard Moskovitz AT&T Info. Systems attunix!howard
jerem@tekgvs.UUCP (Jere Marrs) (10/04/85)
In article <811@ihlpa.UUCP> dob@ihlpa.UUCP (Daniel M. O'Brien) writes: >> I am in the market for a good motorcycle helmet. Can any riders >> recommend brands or give suggestions on how to get a good, comfortable >> and safe fit? > >I second this request for helmet info! I would like to use a full face >helmet, but I can't get the helmet over my glasses (those aviator-style >ones that wrap around the ears!). Can anyone recommend a full face helmet >that will work? > The BMW Systems helmet accomplishes this very neatly with an articluating jaw piece (mandible?). It will fit nicely over the head wearing glasses and then you snap (clomp?) the mandible in place. It works quite well, and the helmet performs well in all other areas too. See your friendly BMW dealer. Jere M. Marrs Tektronix, Inc. tektronix!tekcrl!tekgvs!jerem
faunt@hplabsd.UUCP (Doug Faunt) (10/08/85)
> > I second this request for helmet info! I would like to use a full face > helmet, but I can't get the helmet over my glasses (those aviator-style > ones that wrap around the ears!). Can anyone recommend a full face helmet > that will work? > I have no problem getting a Bell Star II on over my glasses. I also wear wire-rims with hooks around the ears. In fact, I discovered this when I bought a Bell TourStar in the next size up for someone else, and discovered that I could actually get it on over my glasses. I then ordered a Tourstar (in the proper size) for myself, and received the Star II. The company I ordered it from was later discovered to be a fly-by-night, but told me to keep what I had, when asked. They said it wasn't worth the extra to receive the STAR and ship the proper helmet.
jon@msunix.UUCP (Jonathan Hue) (10/08/85)
In article <811@ihlpa.UUCP>, dob@ihlpa.UUCP (Daniel M. O'Brien) writes: > > I am in the market for a good motorcycle helmet. Can any riders > > recommend brands or give suggestions on how to get a good, comfortable > > and safe fit? > > I second this request for helmet info! I would like to use a full face > helmet, but I can't get the helmet over my glasses (those aviator-style > ones that wrap around the ears!). Can anyone recommend a full face helmet > that will work? Check the September issue of Motorcyclist for a comparison of 31 full face helmets. The Snell '85 standard is tougher to pass than the D.O.T. and is voluntary, the D.O.T. is required by federal law. It seems that the manufacturers of expensive, high quality helmets (AGV, Arai, Bell, Shoei, Simpson) are the only ones who can pass the Snell '85. There is a controversy over whether a helmet which can pass the Snell '85 standard is safer than one which cannot. I figure that anything can pass the D.O.T. and I trust Arai to build a good helmet (Fast Freddie Spencer does). I currently use an Arai Supervent. I can't say that the vents are all that useful, but it remains cool is warm weather. I have no problem with my large-framed glasses, as long as I take them off first and then put them on through the eyeport of the helmet. I've no complaints with the Supervent, it's comfortable, its visor works well, and it's pretty quiet. Retails for $175, mail order for $120, and about $150 in the local discount stores. I am considering purchasing an AGV Vallenza Kenny Roberts Signature helmet for use as a spare or passenger helmet. It passes D.O.T. and Snell '85, and is very light, as light as an Arai Ultralight (49.5 oz) versus the average of ~56 oz for your standard Arai, Bell, Shoei or Simpson. Motorcyclist rated it a B+, due to minor wind whistling. It is on sale for $109 at the local discount store (Santa Clara Cycle Salvage). Yeah, people look silly on the back of my Interceptor wearing my Bell Moto IV. If the September issue of Motorcyclist is unavailable at your local library or newsstand, I am willing to mail summaries to those interested. Jonathan Hue LMSC-Mechanisms & Servos (ucbvax!amd!cae780!leadsv!msunix!jon) or something like that
markmo@tekig4.UUCP (Mark Morland) (10/10/85)
-------- In article <111@drutx.UUCP> bjc@drutx.UUCP (CampbellBJ) writes: >A D.O.T. approved helmet is virtually useless, make sure it is Snell >approved. Expect to pay $150+ for a really good helmet... > >Becky I have to disagree with a notion that a Snell rated helmet is mandatory. Many of the changes between Snell 70, 75, and 80 ratings are for fire protection, not crash protection. This is important to racing drivers, but is not the main concern of a motorcyclist. A recent article in Motorcyclist magazine was a helmet comparison. The consensus was that (permanently) crushable foam is the best liner material to give our brains a survivable decelleration rate in a sudden stop. The Snell impact test rates helmets on surviving two identical impacts. This type of test favors helmets with restorable foam. Here again, the standard helps protect racing drivers whose head is most likely to contact a specific point on the roll bar several times, but the standard is not specifically designed for motorcycle crash protection. What will I buy next? A Snell 80 - I can't race sportscars without it! I'm dissapointed that the highest rating printed for quietness was "better than average", Motorcyclist never said which one was BEST. >Expect to pay $150+ for a really good helmet... True, but ALWAYS wear SOME helmet. Happy Biking, Mark Morland tektronix!tekig4!markmo
ian@cbosgd.UUCP (Neil Kirby) (08/04/86)
While I don't want to be TOLD by the state to wear a helmet, I always wear one. There is this curious little tag in the inside that says ".. not protect you from all foreseeable impacts..". This tag sits next to the Snell '75 tag (it's an old helmet) that assure you that it will protect you from a great number of forseeable impacts. This helmet replaces the one that I wore when my bike was swept out from under me by a cross wind. That helmet didn't fit anymore, the padding in the back got alot smaller from where it crushed down. In other words in this case the helemt did its job. It took about five minutes for my vision to uncross and my doctor said that the helmet most likely saved me a fractured skull. There are many other types of accidents where a helmet can save you some hurt. There are a few where it can get you killed (the two nasty one that I know of are if you land in water or if any projection on the helmet digs in and provides torque). So that question you gotta ask yourself is, do you feel lucky today? Is the accident that you might have one of the few where not having a helmet will help? Ah but you say that they restrict vision and hearing. On my bikes, having a helmet on imporves my ability to hear over not. Restricted vision? Ha! I wear glasses (and have good vision with them) and so I turn my head to see sideways, and so my full face helmet restricts my vision not a bit. I hope some of you out there who don't wear helmets will, and those who won't will not use my insurance company. Neil Kirby ...cbosgd!ian