[ericmonstro]

My moving company scratched and otherwise marked up the helmets when we moved from Dallas.

I have an Arai Ican'tremember and my Girlfriends is a HJC. Mine was about $300 and hers $150 ish. So I'd like to get 2 new helmets for about the same or less cost.

Does anyone have any recomendations for some good $200 helmets? I have NO problems with the ARAI and I've never worn anything else.

 

[MonsterHooligan]

$200, eh?
well, arai is out.

 

[scrappy]

Check ebay; never know what you might find... ;D

 

[ericmonstro]

I just read some good things about the KBC racer1...anyone have any thoughts on that.

ANywhere on teh web to see what ARai's are going for?

 

[boplicity]

This has been talked about a bit: Arai no longer sells helmets over the net. They decided that all sales must be through a certified helmet fitter. Good idea except I don't think they really trained all the employees at the shops that do sell their helmets. So we're left with the same helmet sales people as before and no discounted internet pricing!

Anyway, go to http://www.araiamericas.com/ to see their suggested pricing. If you can wait until after the season (are you current helmets just scratched?) you can usually get great deals on Arai's last season helmets.

 

[ericmonstro]

the thing that sucks is the moving company wants to "salvage" the old helmets. They look to be just scratched..but one was in a helmet sack, and packed in a box, so if it got scratched then it was thrown around pretty hard. Mine ha sscratches AND pockmarks on it

 

[iamic]

Arai no longer sells helmets over the net.

Did Arai also 'outlaw' the sale of shields over the internet? I can't seem to find them on any US website.

 

[Guest]

Buddy of mine bought his Arai Rx-7r? whatever it was the Haga replica 2002 model and paid 250 brand new. They were closeouts, you truely never know what you may find.

 

[mmoore]

I'd say if the helmets were dinged/scratched or otherwise abused in transit just write them off. You don't want to find out the damage was more than superficial when you really need it to work! And unless the helmets on eBay were listed as new I'd give them a miss also, for the same reasons.

As I recall, Arai shut down net sales from authorized dealers, but you might find jobbers or closeout lids still available online.

I really like the look of the flat black Icon helmet, but would need to make sure it is up to snuff construction-wise.

Lastly, take a look at the gear survey - I included people's comments on helmets and there were some trends as far as noise and comfort. YMMV of course.

Hope the rest of you stuff arrived in better shape than your helmets!

 

[maxpower]

I would be wary of buying a helmet off EBAY. I would think that a used helmet would be suspect - unless of course you see one out there that you can verify as new. That brings me to another question - how can you safely pack a helmet for shipment? I would think that if you don't have an issued helmet box and the appropriate packing that the bike shops receive them in - I would be a little worried about what happens to it in transit.
I thought of this when I had to fly with one. Of course you can't bring it on the plane - cuz I might throw it on and try to head butt my way into the cockpit. So luckily I had the thing packed in a big ol duffel bag packed between my saddlebags and some other really sturdy stuff and put a fragile sticker on it. The check in person asked me what the hell was in it that was fragile. I said my helmet. She was all - isn't that supposed to be non fragile - and I was all - kind of a one time use kinda thing. End of story.

Anyone else have any good ideas of how to pack a helmet to prevent damage?

 

[Fillmore]

Are you kidding? They wouldn't let you take a helmet as carry-on?!?!?

Just recently, I had accidently left a 5mm allen wrench in my messenger bag and the TSA creep found it. She just kept saying "TOOLS ARE NOT AUTHORIZED!" over and over again and called the supervisor and the local cops over like I was a war criminal or something... I don't even think Boeing builds planes with metric hardware So, they confiscated one of my most used tools, but completely missed the pair of scissors that I had also accidently left in there.

BTW, helmets are not on the list of prohibited items from the TSA, so I'd probably print out the list and make an issue out of it if I had the time. I'd point out that it may be required by law where you're going and bring up the AMA, NHTSA, whoever...
http://www.tsa.gov/interweb/assetlibrary/Permitted_Prohibited_7_24_2003.pdf

I wouldn't trust my helmet with baggage handlers, but if you do actually check the helmet as checked luggage, most companies just ship them in double cardboard boxes. I'd do that, maybe some extra bubble wrap, a bright orange fragile sticker and hope for the best.

As for the original question, I've seen and tried on some KBC helmets and was pretty suprised by the apparent quality and comfort. Even the best KBC can be had for just over $200 and they meet every safety standard you can think of.

The AGV Demon is another excellent helmet that is available for under $200. DOT/Snell and pretty cush, too. If you do look at the AGVs, I'd recommend trying one on first. AGV sizing seems to be different than other brands, and I actually received one from mail-order that had a size sticker on it that didn't actually match what the individual parts said they were.

BTW, most of the big mail-order helmet shops have a huge re-stocking fee for returns (like 10% or $25), so if you go that way, be sure that you're getting the right thing.

--Fillmore
(Can you tell that lots of travel has made me bitter about this whole TSA thing? The more that I deal with them, the less that I believe that they do anything to improve safety)

 

[Guest]

--Fillmore
(Can you tell that lots of travel has made me bitter about this whole TSA thing? The more that I deal with them, the less that I believe that they do anything to improve safety)

scientific american had an editorial where the airline wouldn't allow the pilot to board because he had a pair of nail clippers in his flight gear. as the pilot handed over the clippers he asked them what were they going to do about the big 'ole fire ax behind his seat in the cockpit.

terrorists are the least of my worries, who's going to protect us from all the stupid people when they take away our nail clippers?

 

[Hellboy]

Just bought HJC Symax about $240 and like it alot, full face design and flips up to openface at stoplights or the gas station with a press of the button, also have an Arai, you can't beat their comfort level. Hope this helps.

 

[mmoore]

<snip>

 

[maxpower]

I can't remember where I was flying from when they told me I couldn't bring the helmet on board - but it wasn't the US - so must be different regs depending on country.

Actually - kinda made sense to me compared to most of the stuff they won't let you carry on.

 

[Fillmore]

Ooops, there I go again being mentally USA-centric...

Still, it seems weird to me that a motorcycle helmet would be an issue. I think that my laptop would be a better kinetic energy weapon (but, we can't bring booze bottles as carry-on over here).

--Fillmore