A while ago I posted on this forum asking people about the risk and reward of owning a bike as I was determining whether I wanted to buy a Harley. I have since decided to buy the bike and have really enjoyed it so far. Thanks for all your input. Now I need advice on buying a helmet. I'm looking to buy a full face helmet with a flip down sun visor. I know Harley makes one, but I'm wondering if there are any competitors that also have this feature that might be a better helmet. I appreciate all opinions.

Edit: To clarify, I'm looking for a helmet that has a clear visor + an on-the-go flip down sun visor. (If possible)

 

HJC and Bell both make helmets with the visors. Those are the 2 I have.

 

How do they compare to the Harley one? Or have you not ever used it?

 

Most manufacturers have what you are looking for. Check out Revzilla.com for videos and reviews of a large selection of helmets.

I bought a new one a month ago and love it. It's easily the best helmet that I have ever owned. It's a Scorpion EXO-T1200. It's a little pricey to some, but you get what you pay for with helmets in my opinion.

 

The Harley helmet is likely a re-badged HJC that will be $100 more expensive because of the HD logo.

 

I bought the Icon Alliance GT earlier this year to replace my HD helmet which didn't feel very protective. I also wanted something that would have less buffeting and generally just good bang for the buck. So far I am very happy with my purchase. It has a nice drop down sun visor and if you wear glasses its not a problem. Here is the review I wrote on Revzilla:

I was searching for a helmet that wouldn't break the bank but that would also have some of the features of a much more expensive helmet. I saw this helmet was new and had no reviews but my past experiences with Icon products has been excellent to say the least. I decided to pull the trigger and buy it. If I decided I didn't like it, I could return it thanks to Revzillas excellent return policy.

It arrived 2 days after I placed the order and I opened the packaging to try it out right away. I had ordered a size medium after measuring my head a couple of times and it fits absolutely perfect; nice and snug. Everything seems to be of great quality and nothing is flimsy or seems like it is going to break.

Now onto some of the features. If you are looking at buying this helmet, then you are probably wondering about the drop down sun visor. I think they got it just right with the design and the visor stays in the up or down position very securely. I wear a pair of prescription glasses and they fit under the visor perfectly. This brings me to my next point; this helmet so far has been excellent for me as a person who wears glasses. Not only can i use the sun visor but there also seems to be room for the frame of my glasses so that they are not getting crushed against my head( this happened with my previous helmet and would start to become quite painful after a while).

Since this is an Icon helmet, it also has a fog proof visor( not sure about the sun visor though). I found the airflow to be adequate; the front vent does an excellent job but the top vents didn't do as good. With that being said it still flowed a lot of air. I ride a Harley Davidson Sportster and have a windshield attached to it and this helmet also works great with that as well. There is a lot less buffeting with this helmet and head checks don't rip your head off.

All in all I think this helmet is one of the best values for the money. You get a lot of features such as good airflow, fog proof visor, drop down sun visor, and good aerodynamics. I feel like this is some of the best money I've spent in a long time and theres no doubt that it looks amazing with that gold drop down visor!

Link to the helmet:http://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/i...ubatone-helmet

 

The only problem is buying online. You really want to try on a helmet. Some look good but don't fit right. You might have a odd shaped noggin.

 

When I was looking for a new helmet I stopped by a Cycle Gear and tried a bunch of them on. They have a very good selection and different price points. I believe they also have a 7 day return policy on helmets so it gives you a chance to wear it.

 

Or you can purchase the transition lens. Transitions Photochromatic shields automatically adjusts to light conditions, darkening when exposed to sunlight and clearing in low light. It eliminates the need to change between tinted and clear shields when riding in the light of day, the darkness of night and anything in between.

 

Harley does not make helmets. Go to the Honda/Kaw/Suz shop and try some on. My local Honda dealer is competitive with on-line sellers, and you support a local business. If you plan on doing long distance riding, consider a white helmet. Matt black will cook your brains on a hot sunny day.