I took my other helmet apart to clean the lining, and have decided that it's time for a new one, not worth the effort putting the old one back together.
Anyone have recommendations for a good full faced helmet in the $150 and under range?
Has to be full face, I took a stone to the face once, hurt like hell.:crying:
Does it have to be full face or is modular OK (still full coverage when down)?
I really like my LS2 Strobe. I tried on several at a local store, ended up finding one on Amazon for $70 ("used", but was brand new).
Regular price they are ~$130-160 depending on size and color. Amazon Link
I had never had a modular before this one (always full face, or at least a full shield), and in future purchases, a modular is high on my list.
They are easier to put on and take off, you can talk to someone easily, when I stop for gas I can leave it on, even going inside the store. You can also actually take a sip of a drink while riding with a modular.
And if your driving slow (like in a parking lot or such) you can move the whole modular section up and it feels like an open face helmet, nice when it is hot out with minimal air flow.
Last riding class I did all the full face guys were complaining how hot it was, but those with modular (or open face) were OK.
One of the biggest drawbacks of a modular is they tend to have more wind noise due to the cracks of the modular part.
Just make sure you get a modular with metal latches (The LS2 Strobe has them). Some cheapen out and use plastic which could break in an accident.
I know I have seen at least 1 modular that the chin bar flips all the way around to the back of the helmet, basically giving you both a full face and open face option.
I love my HJC. Comes with pinlock but not the chin curtain. The liner comes out easily for washing and can be put back just as easily. Mine is DOT and SNELL rated which was something I really was looking for
+1 on the HJC. I just bought a HJC for my wife last summer and she loves it. I will be buying one next! Hers is the HJC-C3 model. Between the helmet and visor was like $110. I bought hers off revzilla. Tons of padding and super quiet. Easy to take it all apart for cleaning too!
I just got a Scorpion exo r320, I really like it. The visor is pin lock ready, not bad for about $100. They also had Bell Qualifier for about the same price.
If you can buy local, do it. There's no replacement for properly fitting a helmet.
If there's a Cycle Gear near you, check out their offerings. I've found some reasonably good helmets there at reasonably good prices.
Ask the salesperson to steer you towards the ones worth having: Some are good and inexpensive, and some are just inexpensive.
Was my Cycle Gear modular as good as my Scorpion Modular...No, but it was a good helmet at a good price. I wore one for years.
Note that unless things have changed, modular helmets are not Snell rated...just DOT. DOT is good enough for me.
(Nowadays I usually wear a 3/4 with a full flip up shield instead of a modular because it's lighter. I have degenerative disc disease so the lightness helps. )
I'd strongly recommend trying before buying. I've never bought a helmet over the net.
One other thing...
Watch out for helmets selling off the shelf at greatly reduced prices. Sometimes they are already 5+ years old (check for the manufacture date under the lining) and have been on that shelf the whole time.
There was one modular that was SNELL rated, but no longer made.
The SNELL test is hard for modulars to pass since they test the weakest points of helmets, and on a modular it is the hinge or locking pin. Plus it is really designed for racing applications (although they have a different street and track test).
Helmets with internal sunshields also will not pass SNELL.
I know my LS2 is DOT and ECE rated (ECE is the European rating, a little different than DOT tests, LINK to differences).
Biggest problem with DOT is there is no actual gov't lab for testing, it is left up to independent contractors to do random tests of random helmets, not all will actually be tested, but the thinking is that if manufactures know they may be tested, they will make the correctly.
As mentioned before, more important than which rating the helmet has is that it is a properly fitting helmet.
I have a Scorpion 1/2 helmet and love it, I think for a Fullface I should have bought one of theirs. Instead I went cheap because I only wear a FF in the cold weather. I bought an HJC modular and it is horrible for noise. I would not recommend it.
By now, you've likely made your mid up, but I will offer my two cents:
Price and value should be separated. You can buy a crap helmet for 70 bucks (price) verses a helmet with decent features and better protection at 150 (value).
I'm on my first helmet - it's an HJC CL-17. I LOVE it. Huge selling point was my price range at the time (120) and the fact it's SNELL rated.
Do your best to stay away from DOT only helmets.
Lastly, I'll point you to an oddity I found while browsing RevZilla's catalog. Most high selling full face helmets have at least one review where the rider - who crashed - claims it "saved my life." I have found no such reviews for modular helmets. This isn't to say you'll die with a modular, but found it odd no-one was checking in like they did with full faces.
Lastly, I'll point you to an oddity I found while browsing RevZilla's catalog. Most high selling full face helmets have at least one review where the rider - who crashed - claims it "saved my life." I have found no such reviews for modular helmets. This isn't to say you'll die with a modular, but found it odd no-one was checking in like they did with full faces.
I just did a ride report on the Hjc RPHA 90 modular helmet. I am very impressed and it will be my five year new helmet. My previous 2 five year helmets were the scorpion modulars. Last one the exo900
Here is my report I did for ultimate motorcycling .com
I’ve had excellent experiences with Scorpion helmets. The EXO helmets were developed by their engineers with insights/advice from MotoGP riders. I really like that they are track tested - not merely in a lab. They have all kinds of affordable choices.
Since my brother is a Critical Care Paramedic, and teaches Pre-Med Emergency Medicine at a local college, I paid close attention when he insisted on me getting a full-face helmet.
Modulars are easier, but I prefer to keep my entire face, in case someone in a car is not paying attention & tosses me onto the asphalt.
Definitely both SNELL *and* DOT approved. I don’t bother looking at anything else. Safety has to trump price.
Not to hijack -just saying hi to spiritman Bought a Yam venture in 2013 and been kicking around those forums. But every once in a while I see a post I can add some value to I chime in.
Ihavethespirit...
I actually have that helmet in my Amazon Watch list, been there for about a year. I need to find a shop with one that I can try on first before I splurge on one, since I am not crazy about full face helmets (as mentioned, I like modular), but would really love to have a transisition shield.
I have a Chrome Outlaw Half Helmet. Love it. Someone mentioned wearing a white helmet to be more visible to drivers ... Chrome is even better! ;-) Also have a HJC Full-Face. It's really quiet, low wind noise. I also have a China junk modular that I rarely ever wear -- cos it's China junk. Oh, and I just got a Chrome 3/4 open face with a mirror-chrome bubble visor. Haven't tried it out yet but looks darn kool!
DOT approved modular helmets are DOT approved for only the helmet, NOT THE CHIN GUARD. In a crash you can't count on the chin guard to protect you like full face. That said, I sure do like the convenience of the flip-up.
Has anyone tried "1Storm" helmets? I've read a lot of good reviews about those. Even a couple from those who've crashed. For the money they seem like really decent helmets. https://www.google.com/search?q=1Storm+Helmets
'Twas I who mentioned white being more visible. I feel that the LS2 TRACK OF569 is a great deal with both a drop down face shield and also interior goggles that they label as sun visors. I got mine from Amazon for slightly less than $100 and it's both DOT and ECE rated. And there's very little wind noise.
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