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Post by conanld on Dec 1, 2008 21:02:24 GMT -5
This is my first post, and I'm just starting out. Finances are tight right now, so I went for a 50cc (GTR-50), which should arrive within a couple of weeks.
Pretty much all of my riding will be on neighborhood streets with a 25 mph speed limit. I live in an area containing several thousand homes along with a fair number of local businesses that serve primarily this community.
The community is pretty much surrounded on all sides by semi-wilderness area, so I would probably need at least a 150 or 250cc to access the major metro areas because I live in the Cascade foothill mountain range of Washington state.
The only way out is via a very hilly 70 mph freeway, or via a very steep grade 40 mph highway. So given these limitations, the 50cc is not a bad compromise for me. I'll just hang around the local neighborhood. Most of my errands can be accommodated locally anyway.
At any rate, as a Washington state resident, a helmet is required, although I would want to wear one regardless for obvious safety reasons.
I also wear glasses, and was thinking of getting a full face flip-up design helmet, but the prices seem rather steep for this style of helmet relative to the purchase price of my scooter.
What I'm wondering is if anyone has had any success with models between 150 and 250 dollars that allow for reasonable comfort, and safety for eyeglass wearers, and if so, where did you purchased it?
Thanks!
LD
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Post by scooterollie on Dec 1, 2008 21:22:50 GMT -5
Welcome to the Dawg Pound!!
Helmets are best chosen by trying them on for fit. The same size from one helmet to another may be quite different in actual size. The modular front flip-up style is good for glasses wearers. I have had two and paid $90 for the second and less for the first. If you can try some on in stores while you wait for your scoot to be delivered, then shop the internet, you may find much more reasonable prices. Some other folks may supply links for good buys. It is not necessary to buy the most expensive brands or models to get a safe, certified helmet.
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Post by owenbrau on Dec 1, 2008 22:08:16 GMT -5
My Fulmer flip was about $180 at a local shop. Frankly, cheap for what it does for me. I prefer to buy at a shop, since I can try it on (I don't like fitting where I don't intend to buy it), and it helps them stay in business (always good to have a local). Heck, that's why I bought my scoot at a B&M.
Don't skimp on your helmet. I have an old shell, been dragging it around for more than 20 years now. Partly because it has a cool custom paint job a good friend did for me, but also because it has a crunched section of the fiberglass, showing that if I hadn't been wearing it, I would be dead.
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Post by conanld on Dec 2, 2008 7:56:26 GMT -5
Thanks for the responses, and the welcome  I guess my best bet then, especially as a newcomer, is to go into a shop to try them out (I hesitate to use the word "local" because the closest shop is probably 40 + miles away  I worry a bit about glasses fogging because I tend to run very warm even in temperatures that others would call very chilly. For that reason, I usually don't like the summer months even in the so called chilly Cascade mountains of Washington. I have used certain anti-fog sprays on my car windshield that work, but the smell makes me ill, so using anti-fog sprays on a helmet probably wouldn't be an option for me, unless the ventilation of the helmet was particularly good. LD |
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Post by harrywr2 on Dec 2, 2008 9:52:18 GMT -5
Thanks for the responses, and the welcome I guess my best bet then, especially as a newcomer, is to go into a shop to try them out (I hesitate to use the word "local" because the closest shop is probably 40 + miles away I worry a bit about glasses fogging because I tend to run very warm even in temperatures that others would call very chilly. For that reason, I usually don't like the summer months even in the so called chilly Cascade mountains of Washington. I have used certain anti-fog sprays on my car windshield that work, but the smell makes me ill, so using anti-fog sprays on a helmet probably wouldn't be an option for me, unless the ventilation of the helmet was particularly good. LD I ended up with an Arai due to fit issue. Arai helmets have visor vents. Actually a total of 7 vents. 4 head vents, 2 visor vents and 1 mouth vent. In any case with a bit of practice I've managed to master the art of adjusting the venting while I am riding in order to control fogging and how warm/cold my head is. I find I don't need any anti-fog stuff. Unfortunately, they are pricey. Cycle Gear in Auburn had a good selection of helmets. |
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Post by conanld on Dec 2, 2008 21:21:38 GMT -5
Yikes! Even on the Internet, the prices of the Arai helmets seem to start at around $450 and rapidly rise after that  In the end, I may need to go to a helmet like that, but just starting out, I will be forced by necessity to select something less expensive. I don't expect my financial situation to forever remain like it currently is, so later on I should be able to treat myself to something like this. LD [/quote] I ended up with an Arai due to fit issue. Arai helmets have visor vents. Actually a total of 7 vents. 4 head vents, 2 visor vents and 1 mouth vent. In any case with a bit of practice I've managed to master the art of adjusting the venting while I am riding in order to control fogging and how warm/cold my head is. I find I don't need any anti-fog stuff. Unfortunately, they are pricey. Cycle Gear in Auburn had a good selection of helmets.[/quote] |
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Post by scootdoggydog on Dec 4, 2008 7:51:22 GMT -5
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Post by monkeywrench on Dec 4, 2008 19:53:05 GMT -5
The good news is, you don't have to pay a lot to get decent protection. What you lose in the cheaper helmets sometimes is finish, venting performance, long-ride comfort, amenities, and such. Here's probably the best helmet review site out there, with tests of a couple dozen flip ups and a lot of good guidance: www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycle-helmets/motorcycle-helmets.htm |
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Post by conanld on Dec 4, 2008 22:53:42 GMT -5
I read all of the reviews on that web site closely, and it seemed that there was always a "gotcha" somewhere associated with each helmet within my price range. Nevertheless, in the end, I decided to purchase two inexpensive, but "high quality" helmets. Since my head size falls in-between medium and large, I ordered a large size for one and a medium for the other. One is the full Face Zox Azuma R, and the other one is the Open Face Vega XTS. The prices for both were very good, and the reviews for both were also good. I have two concerns in regards to helmets. One is, that I wear glasses, and glasses apparently are a problem for all full face helmets, and most flip up helmets. Secondly, I have difficulty keeping anything constrictive on my person while still remaining comfortable. For example, I have trouble sleeping at night in my bed if I keep my socks on, and during the winter, I never wear a coat because it's just too uncomfortable to bother with. (Note: I live in Washington state too, not in Florida ) Naturally, under such circumstances, I'm very worried about my will to withstand the relative discomfort of a full face helmet (especially with eye glasses), so that is why I also purchased the half helmet, just in case. Fortunately, given the low cost of these two helmets, I could afford to experiment with both designs. My scooter is still at least another two weeks away from arriving, and I just ordered the helmets, so I'll have to wait some before I can test the two helmets out. I have a sneaking suspicion that in the end I will wind up using the half face helmet, but time will tell. LD The good news is, you don't have to pay a lot to get decent protection. What you lose in the cheaper helmets sometimes is finish, venting performance, long-ride comfort, amenities, and such. Here's probably the best helmet review site out there, with tests of a couple dozen flip ups and a lot of good guidance: www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycle-helmets/motorcycle-helmets.htm |
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Post by harrywr2 on Dec 5, 2008 0:24:06 GMT -5
I ran with a with a relatively cheap 3/4 helmet for quite a while. Just couldn't find a full face that worked in the remotest possible sense.
In terms of 'impact protection' an $80 helmet provides the same protection as an $800 helmet of same design.
I.E. an $80 full face is as good as an $800 full face. An $80 3/4 is as good as an$800 3/4. I don't think their are any 1/2's that cost much more then $80.
The difference in price is comfort, fit, wear ability and some have options like head phones etc.
When I got my 250 and was whizzing about at 60+ miles an hour at 45 degrees, the 3/4 became uncomfortable.
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Post by pukame2 on Dec 5, 2008 0:56:57 GMT -5
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Post by owenbrau on Dec 5, 2008 11:22:08 GMT -5
I have to take my glasses of to put my flip-face Fulmer on, but not off. I've had to deal with that my entire riding career, as I always wear full-face. It stopped bugging me decades ago.
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Post by ailixhomes on May 24, 2012 13:13:14 GMT -5
I Would like to suggest every Vehicle Owner that have been uses Helmet While riding on Scooter or Bikes. It is very necessary for every one to keep their Safety for Road Injuries.
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Post by litninrod on May 24, 2012 14:40:33 GMT -5
Check Craigslist. Lots of lightly used helmets come up on there for less than half the price of new and sometimes a real steal
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Post by derbi on May 24, 2012 15:25:50 GMT -5
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Post by drdr05 on May 25, 2012 14:00:11 GMT -5
you know what I do, I spit on my visor like I do when I go swimming with goggles, and it never fogs up.
You do have to wipe the excess saliva off so you don't have smear marks on the visor or goggles so you don't have visual problems.
Every time I ride in cold weather i do this when warming the engine.
Other than that, I wouldn't use contaminates that would make me ill or light headed, safety reasons.
ride-on and ride safe!
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Post by karpata on May 25, 2012 14:09:42 GMT -5
Hey, what size do you wear? I have a Cabella flip face, grayish/silver that I wore a few times but like my other helmets better so it's just sitting around. It's a small, let me know if you can use it.
And welcome to the world of scooters
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Post by drdr05 on May 25, 2012 14:44:22 GMT -5
Hey, what size do you wear? I have a Cabella flip face, grayish/silver that I wore a few times but like my other helmets better so it's just sitting around. It's a small, let me know if you can use it. And welcome to the world of scooters No, man, I'm a L. But thanx anyway |
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Post by romanxrs on Jun 2, 2012 13:44:45 GMT -5
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Post by prelude2fast on Jun 3, 2012 11:18:09 GMT -5
I bought a decent modular helmet on ebay for lile 45 shipped a few months ago, and it was a great helmet, but I messed it up when my face slid across the concrete at 35mph, but search ebay, type in modular motorcycle helmet and see what they have.. Just make sure its a reputable dealer, high percentage of positive feedbacks.. Good luck and welcom to the pound.. Happu scooting!!
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using ProBoards
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Post by ailixhomes on Jun 12, 2012 0:20:18 GMT -5
Helmet is very useful and necessary for all motorcycle riders. It is good for safety during the accident time. Its protected our face and head from road injuries. I saw the site which you post here, it is the best place to buy fullface helmet with the great price. |
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Post by nougat on Jun 12, 2012 15:12:49 GMT -5
Quite a while ago, I bought a black AFX FX-90 from motorcyclesuperstore. The fit is great, it's a full face, it's vented well enough, and it's not noisy at all. Cost me $70 shipped.
Later I bought a cheap 3/4 with a face shield, kind of to have an extra in case I ever have a passenger, kind of to replace the full face with something more convenient. Ugh, it's awful. Any speed over 30MPH and there's a horrible whistling noise, whether the face shield is up or down.
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Post by davethesinger on Jun 23, 2012 4:44:24 GMT -5
My new lid, Caberg Konda 5 star sharp rated. Flip front with built in sun visor. UK price £140 bound to be cheaper in the US!!! No-one will miss you with this on your napper! It flexes enough to easily be put on and take off whilst you are wearing your specs and my design of frames is quite large. Tip! To prevent fogging of your specs in cooler weather just give the lenses a polish with a tiny drop of neat washing up liquid/detergent. I've worn glasses for over 30 years and it works! Attachments:
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Post by larrball on Jun 23, 2012 5:14:12 GMT -5
Check Craigslist. Lots of lightly used helmets come up on there for less than half the price of new and sometimes a real steal Never buy a Used Helmet. Just because it look's good on the outside,doesent mean the inside shell is going to help if needed and i hope you never need to know. Buy a slightly tighter helmet, to conform to YOUR head. Never put a price on your brain. Will the guy/gal in the car that hit's you, pay the bill? NO! You/wife and or kid's will pay the price............ Bad price. |
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