Questions about helmets...

[czechmate]

I'm wondering what kind of helmet would be ideal for scoot riding. I understand there are several types of helmets and I personally prefer a full face helmet. I was hoping that you could help me answer my questions.
What is the difference between $90 helmet and $450 one?
Can you hear the traffic around you?
Is your peripheral vision blocked?
Is full face safer than other type helmet?
What brand is good to go with?
Does it get hot in the helmet in hot weather?
I guess there’s more stuff but this is all I can think of right now.
Thanks,

[Dennis D]

Here's my answers, other people's may differ.

What is the difference between $90 helmet and $450 one?
As long as both are DOT approved, $360

Can you hear the traffic around you?
Much better with a helmet that covers and keeps wind noise out of your ears than with no helmet or a half helmet with no ear flap.

Is your peripheral vision blocked?
Some people claim that some full face helmets interfering with peripheral vision.

Is full face safer than other type helmet?
If you're trying to protect your good looks, and not just your brain.

What brand is good to go with?
The one that fits you best.

Does it get hot in the helmet in hot weather?
Yes, but even worse than wearing a white or very light colored, lightweight helmet, is going bareheaded in mid day summer sun.

[Aerostudent]

Yup, Dennis hit the nail right on the head in IMHO. I wear a fullface and have worn a half head on a few occasions, and I find I like the full face a whole lot more. The wind noise is reduced a HUGE amount and hearing ability goes up some. Fro me I don't think it blocks a significant amount of my vision. I can barely see the edges when I'm looking straight forward and I can still only see it a little when I look to the sides. As for heat, it does get a little stuffy when stoped, but it's fine when moving about 10mph or more. I think it also helps to block direct sunlight (mines black/yellow) and I think it keeps my head cooler than if I had no helmet at all, or even a hat, and it about the same as a half face. As with the difference in cost, Dennis is exactly right. As long as it's DOT, it's good enough. Personally I have an HJC helmet that cost about $125 and has 3 vents and really cool grafics (dragons and flames, it an HJC CL-15 Dragon), I recomend it as a fairly affordable, good helmet. hope this helps some!

Aero

[scooterlizard]

I prefer fullface, reduces noise in the ears,wind,bugs,rocks,sand and things that get tossed by a cage. you can buy the ones with the vents that open and close. Basiclty it's rider's preference as to what kind of helmet you want to wear and how much you want to spend. I have a Fulmer AFS1 that retails about $120, it is Snell and DOT approved. I have been hit in the side and had somebody pull out in front of me, I was wearing a full face both times when I went down. I still have my face and teeth because of those helmets. Again it's up to you as the rider what you want to wear. DenisD and Aerostudent have pretty much summed it up.

Good luck.

[newc77]

Dennis deservesa karma on me for his excellent reply. I wouldn't waste time trying to top that sage advice. Take heed and scoot safe, and save your life.

[Deleted]

Not much to add to Dennis' excellent reply, but to emphasize: A full face will protect your face/chin/lips/teeth where a 3/4 or shorty will not.

Flip-up aka modular helmets are a good option especially if you wear glasses or want to grab a quick drink while stopped at a light.

I wear a Nolan N102.

[leo]

czechmate said:

What is the difference between $90 helmet and $450 one?

i like the answer in the second post.

Can you hear the traffic around you?

yes, but it's muffled.

Is your peripheral vision blocked?

no. but i still turn my head enough to make sure.

Is full face safer than other type helmet?

i believe so. there's practically no danger from flying bugs such as hornets, wasps, and yellowjackets.

What brand is good to go with?

any DOT approved helmet that you like is a good choice.

Does it get hot in the helmet in hot weather?

yes, and you will SWEAT.
therefor buy a helmet with a removable liner, unless you like to stink.
barring that, you can wad up some newspaper and stuff it inside your helmet when not in use. the ink will act as an odor neutralizer.

[loudest143]

Well, I own a Scorpion Exo open face helmet. A full face helmet of ANY kind has been proven to be safer. I own my helmet because of a couple of small things.... I wear glasses, and I couldn't find a helmet that didn't jack up my glasses after I had them both on. They were an uncomfortable combination. I wear bifocals, and feel blind without them. In my youth, I always wore open face helmets, as they were what were available. Also, I don't mind a little wind in the face, that's one benefit of being on 2 wheels. I sweat if it's above 60 degrees, and I don't typically drip out of my helmet, unless I'm stuck between semis at a long light. Flipping up the dark tinted visor makes it great for stopping or heckling the moron who cuts you off while doing their makeup and talking on the cell phone while driving their land train.

Here's my helmet. It came with a visor, and a clear screen. I bought the dark screen, and it's perfect for daytime riding. The visors and screens are easily removed by twisting the release on the sides of the helmet. So the clear screen is in the seat, for when I leave work after dark. I tried on literally 20 different helmets, and came back to this one often. The general rule is get a helmet that is as tight as you can stand. It's supposed to protect your head from bouncing around, so think about it hitting the pavement. Do you want it rattling around in your super huge helmet? I didn't. You can pay as much as you want. DO NOT BUY UNAPPROVED HELMETS. Do you think YOUR insurance company will cover your Rascal scooter for the rest of your life if you wore a "novelty" helmet? I'm thinking uh..... NO.

150 bucks, Ironpony.com They have tons of helmets, and for cheap. Great selection. I wish I could afford an Icon or Joe Rocket, they are sick! Make a statement with your helmet. It's the "tie" of your scooter outfit.

www.scorpionusa.com/support/fitment.html

loudest143
*who's behind those foster grants?

[Dennis D]

The Exo 200 is the same helmet I have, other than different artwork. Although not as protective as a full face in the event of a face plant, I think the built-in face shield system would probably afford some protection in a slide that a snap-on visor, which would almost certainly break away, would not. I too wear glasses, and got my helmet for $129 at a local motorcycle shop. Full face helmets don't really work for me, and modular helmets are selling locally for upwards of $300... too pricey for me since I'm self employed and am lucky if I make $6.00(after taxes) an hour most of the time.

[scootdoggydog]

Premium price helmets are sometimes reinforced with kevlar or carbon fiber. They generally have fabric and foam interiors for both comfort and protection

except in the half-helmets helmet designs that come down over the ears diminish a rider's hearing.

The peripheral vision requirements call for only 105 degrees per side so try it on

Is full face safer than other type helmet? yes and no it depends but just look at all the pro's NASCAR whatever they all use fullface

In the warmer climates, it interferes with the body to dissipate heat through the top of the head some hemets have vents

check out en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorcycle_helmet for more info

[Dennis D]

Wind in your ears for 20 minutes at a time or more, really diminishes hearing... not just for the moment, but for some time afterwards. I'd much rather wear a helmet over my ears, or a half helmet with earflaps, and hear a bit less while wearing it than to hear the roar of the wind in my ears til it does permanent damage. There's plenty of old bikers that can't hear much of anything because they never wore helmets or earplugs. Constant wind noise can definitely damage hearing permanently.

Some helmets cut your ability to hear other sounds, but don't help wind noise at all. If your helmt doesn't help cut the wind noise, wear the kind of earplugs meant to keep water out of your ears... they'll still allow you to hear people and vehicles close to you, sirens, horns, etc. DON'T wear the type of earplug mde for cutting sound to a minimum, like those for use at shooting ranges, or working around industrial equipment. Check the decibel rating that the earplugs cut sound by and wear the ones that cut sounds the least.

[czechmate]

Guys and Gals,
I really appreciate you post, comments, and advice. I know I'll be getting a full face helmet (I'm thinking about the Nolan N102 or some that can flip up the chin part). I'm going to look at some local MC dealers soon and maybe I'll get one.
Thanks again!

[earlwb]

Don't believe anyone that says you don't need a helmet. I have known people who pulled up to a stop light, put their foot down and slipped on a oil patch, wham bam down they went, and they hit their heads on the curb. A helmet saved them some serious injury from a simple oops kind of accident.
I have tested helmets on several occaissions and can attest to the fact that they work. So have several other people that I know.

yes it might have a slight hearing loss and possbily a little peripheral vision (but I honestly have not noticed it), but the fact that they help protect your head is a factor far outweighed by the other negatives. Unless you like black or dark colors, the heat from the sun is not a problem, the helmets tend to keep you a little cooler. In the winter the helmet keeps your head a little warmer.

If the helmets are DOT, SNELL whatever approved, then the differences on cost is the materials being used. A cheap helmet probably has cheaper non-removeable inner liner padding and the straps may not be quite so good. A better helmet would have nice padding that can be removed for washing, and better straps.
Other differences might be the quality and how well the flip up visor or hinge joints work, if you have them.

[czechmate]

So I went to a local Suzuki dealer today to try a few HJC helmets on. To my surprise, I found out that for a short guy, I have L size head. I was going for M but my face was just too squished in the helmet. How tight is is suppose to be?
I was also druling around a brand new, freshly unpacked Burgman 400...ain't gonna happen'. But anyway, it's a beautiful machine and I believe that maybe one day... one day.

[earlwb]

Sort of a nice fit, not too tight and not too loose. Snug.
If it is too tight, it'll cause headaches.
Now the padding will shrink a little with age, so at first they might feel a bit too tight and after a year or so feel a lot better.

[loudest143]

If you scroll up, I posted a helpful fitment link from Scorpion Helmets. It lays it out very clearly on how to tell if a helmet fits you. For me, I can definitely say that not all helmets were comfortable for me. Try on alot, and find the best fit.

This brand, Sparkx, was new to me. I tried on this helmet last week, just to see how it was, and it was super light, and fit my neanderthal jawline better than some others. Their graphics are outstanding and have some in the new hot sexy 'matte' finish. I give it two thumbs up. tinyurl.com/yrdj87

check out the shark helmets, too.

loudest143
*how many helmets is too many?

[earlwb]

Well always try on several hemets of at least two different sizes until you find the helmet that fits you closely.<b> But is not comfortable.</b> If it is really comfortable the size is very likely too large.
A way to find your right size is wearing the helmet in front of a mirror, then while turning the helmet around your head gently, the skin on your temples should move along with the helmet when you do this.

I did run into a problem with the full face helmet today. I commute to and from work with the sun in my face both ways. I go East in the morning and west in the evening. On my 3/4 helmet I have a short bill/visor that I can use by tilting my head to keep the sun out of my eyes. But with a full face helmet, i don't have a bill or visor to help with that.
problems, problems.

[loudest143]

Earl, I have a similar commute, when it's frickin' warm enough! Do you have a dark smoke shield on your full facer? I've got one on my helmet, and even with my wimpy sun sensitive eyes, I does the trick. It's full on dark smoke, though, and after dusk, forget about it. I carry my clear shield under the seat.

loudest143
*blacker than black

[earlwb]

Yeah I do that, tinted in the morning going to work and clear in the evening for the ride back home. But I miss the bill on the front of the 3/4 helmet to let me block the sun with.
With the sun in your face, I can barely make out the speedo indicator, etc.
My shield is tinted but not a full on super dark one though.

Right now the sun is more to the south, but as summer starts to get here the sun will move to be directly in front all the time and then later farther to the North.

[rerun2]

Seems like I have seen a 'sun blocker' that attaches to the inside of a full face/modular face shield, as I recall it is seated by advhesion and is readily removed so it can be used in different helmets... raccoon I need to be a good puppy and locate that thing anew so I can post it! ;d

[czechmate]

Well, according to my measurements, I’d need size M helmet, but both brands I tried on were just too tight in M. You’re right that I need to go and find the right one.
Is it true that after an accident you should replace the helmet?

[kurt]

Yes. The safety padding is designed to deform on impact, thus absorbing energy and softening the blow to your head.

Unfortunately that layer is inelastic and DOESN'T recover its shape after the accident.

Worse, the "comfort lining" (the part you can see) DOES recover its shape after a blow, so you can wind up with a void between the two layers that you can't see.

Bottom line: Get a new helmet after any accident.

[earlwb]

czchmate, usually on the helmets you will find that the sizes need to be one size large, sometimes two, it depends on the manufacturer. I measure out as a large, but I cannot even get some L helmets to slip on. XL most of the time fits well. I have run into a couple of helmets where I needed a XXL to fit OK. It really pays to find a place with a lot of helmets so you can try them on and see how they fit.
Yes it is true, if you wreck out and hit your helmet, it is time to get a new one. Just what kurt stated, inside is a foam liner that compresses on impact but doesn't rebound (helps prevent concusssions). But it is tricky to decide, as you could have a crash where you swear you didn't hit your head, but the helmet can have little or no signs of damage from the impact. So it becomes a tough judgement call. But when in doubt replace it.

rerun2,
Thanks for the heads up on the sun visor thingie:
Here is an example here:
www.helmetheadcyclegear.com/cgi-bin/eShop/index.cgi?exact_match=yes&product=%20Sunblockers
and what I like is the homemade sun visor stuff here too:
www.webbikeworld.com/Reviewed-motorcycle-products/shade/
I am going to have to go to Pep Boys and look for the stuff.
Tomorrow, I am going to go to the MotoLiberty store where they are having their Ground Hog Day Sale. I'll see if they have the stick on thingie noted above.
motoliberty.com/

Wow, inflation is sure going hard, last spring I bought a pair of Draggin Jeans for $69.99 + tax and a pair of knee pads to go with them. Now they are $99.95 for the jeans.

[scootdoggydog]

Motorcycle helmets are generally designed to break in a crash (thus expending the energy otherwise destined for the wearer's skull), so they provide little or no protection after their first impact. Note that impacts may, of course, come from things other than crashing, such a dropping a helmet, and may not cause any externally visible damage. For the best protection, helmets should be replaced after any impact, and every three or so years even if no impact is known to have occurred

[rerun2]

Yo earl! the first site you posted up is the exact place I saw this sunblocker thingy, meant to order one at the time, but jorgot all about it! Guess I am just to use to automatically sliding on the Foster Grants!

[Dennis D]

scootdoggydog said:

Motorcycle helmets are generally designed to break in a crash (thus expending the energy otherwise destined for the wearer's skull), so they provide little or no protection after their first impact. Note that impacts may, of course, come from things other than crashing, such a dropping a helmet, and may not cause any externally visible damage. For the best protection, helmets should be replaced after any impact, and every three or so years even if no impact is known to have occurred

The heavier fiberglass helmets of yesteryear, could easily get cracks in the shell, just from rolling off the seat of a bike. That is much less likely with todays modern plastics. However, any impact while wearing a helmet will deform and compress the liner inside the helmet shell and render the helmet useless for protection. Also, after wearing any helmet a lot for two or three years... they will cease to be as protective because heat, sweat, and body acids, will start breaking down the padding inside of even the finest helmet.

The helmet industry would, of course like us all to replace any helmet that rolls off of a seat from 2 1/2 feet high. However that slight of an impact isn't likely to damage a modern plastic helmet, and certainly isn't going to compress the foam padding inside the helmet(unless you strap a melon into your helmet when you're not wearing it).

The modern helmet shell has much more strength and integrity than the old composite helmets, and if I didn't think I could trust my helmet because it fell off of my scooter seat with no weight in it or coming down on it... I surely don't think it would offer much protection at all with my "melon" strapped into it, and the weight of my torso also adding force to the impact. If the helmets are that fragile, I'd just as soon wear a leather aviator flight helmet like I sometimes did 30 or more years ago.
However... I don't think they are that fragile(though they used to be), so I certainly won't be without my helmet.

[earlwb]

In my opinion, for $15.95 plus s&h, it is cheaper to buy a roll of tint film at the local stores like Pep Boys, Wal-Mart or some other place. The film is applied in the same manner as the sunblocker stuff.
You only need to use a pair of sissors and cut off a piece to size and you are in business then.

[earlwb]

This might be better, the "Super-Visor", www.super-visor.com/
It uses a transucent or solid plastic visor that you stick on to the outside of the faceshield to block the sun. This comes closest being like the old style snap on visor/bill I use on my 3/4 helmet.

But I can take some ABS plastic sheet from the local hobby shop, cut out and shape a piece and then stick it on with double sided sticky tape. Which would be a lot cheaper.

[earlwb]

I wound up going to Pep Boys and getting a roll of 5% tint screen for like $9.95, so I have a lifetime supply of the stuff.
I used a newspaper scrap to make a pattern of the curve (using the top of the visor) and cutting out a piece, about 1.5 inches tall. Then I watered down the visor good and stuck it on and smoothed it reasonably good. I used a new blade in a X-acto knife and trimmed off the excess.
Anyway it works pretty good, no problems now at all.
Thanks for the tips.

[loudest143]

www.youtube.com/watch?v=14qeu7JRwt0

I was always partial to this super visor. Just one of my all time faves.

LMO