Looking for a full face helmet...
In the old days there was a lot of truth in "you get what you pay for" as far as protection from a helmet. Today that does not hold as true as it did way back when. As long as the helmet has DOT, SNELL or ECE certification it is going to provide pretty much the same protection from impact.
In the US you have DOT and SNELL, SNELL is said to be a little more rigorous standard although there has alwasy been a lot of controversary about which is best. Overseas its ECE which is accepted in 50 countries and every major racing organization including the AMA
DOT is pretty much on the honor system in that manufactures test themselves and can put a DOT sticker on and start selling. If the DOT folks test the helmet it can be pulled from the market. Snell is not mandatory in the US so some companies do not bother with it. Personally I prefer ECE because it is more rigorous and up to date testing than either DOT or SNELL. In addition for ECE testing the manufacturer has to send in 50 production helmets for testing and the test have to be passed before they are allowed on the market. So basically SNELL is optional, a DOT sticker is on the honor system by the company but ECE has to be approved before a helmet reaches the market.
All three, SNELL, DOT and ECE are pass/fail so any claims that one helmet will give you better protection than another with the same certification is nothing but opinion and marketing mumbo jumbo.
You can take a $200 helmet and a $500 helmet with the same certification and saying one offers better protection than the other is just opinion with no testing to back it up. They both passed the exact same requirements.
Here is a good read on certifications
http://www.bikebandit.com/blog/post/...-snell-and-ece
Here is a bit on the controversary that many have with SNELL and the reason I prefer ECE standards
http://www.michaelpadway.com/gear-an...et-you-can-buy
Where the big differences comes in that affect price is in materials used making the helmet lighter, liner material, some have better wicking properties and/or more comfortable, venting and how well vents work, visor systems and materials used for visors. Then there is fit and finish you can take a look at higher end helmets in comparison to cheaper helmets and see differences in hardware used, are they eyeglass adaptable, better paint and clear coat etc.... But in the end if they carry the same certification there is no way to say one is safer on impact than the other
For me personally when picking a helmet I look for a manufacture that is ECE certified then it come down to fit. Each manufacture or model line fits best on a specific head shape so I go with one that best fits my head shape. A shape that is not right for your head may feel OK for a short ride but wear it all day and you will get pressure points that make it uncomfortable. Then I look at how well the vents actually work, I have seen and worn many that the vents made no difference open or closed. I want a good removable liner that has excellent wicking properties because it gets hot in MS in the summer. Next comes features like pinlock ready, retractable sun visor etc... Fit and finish is important as well when I drop $$ on a helmet I want one that looks good to me
Bottom line is that in the old days there were a few helmet manufactures that were much better than all the others and they could demand a higher price. Today they can still keep their prices up because many folks still think that the best helmet is the most expensive. Problem is today there are a lot more helmets of equal quality in the market so the old thinking of the most expensive will give you the best protection just does not hold up anymore
In the US you have DOT and SNELL, SNELL is said to be a little more rigorous standard although there has alwasy been a lot of controversary about which is best. Overseas its ECE which is accepted in 50 countries and every major racing organization including the AMA
DOT is pretty much on the honor system in that manufactures test themselves and can put a DOT sticker on and start selling. If the DOT folks test the helmet it can be pulled from the market. Snell is not mandatory in the US so some companies do not bother with it. Personally I prefer ECE because it is more rigorous and up to date testing than either DOT or SNELL. In addition for ECE testing the manufacturer has to send in 50 production helmets for testing and the test have to be passed before they are allowed on the market. So basically SNELL is optional, a DOT sticker is on the honor system by the company but ECE has to be approved before a helmet reaches the market.
All three, SNELL, DOT and ECE are pass/fail so any claims that one helmet will give you better protection than another with the same certification is nothing but opinion and marketing mumbo jumbo.
You can take a $200 helmet and a $500 helmet with the same certification and saying one offers better protection than the other is just opinion with no testing to back it up. They both passed the exact same requirements.
Here is a good read on certifications
http://www.bikebandit.com/blog/post/...-snell-and-ece
Here is a bit on the controversary that many have with SNELL and the reason I prefer ECE standards
Many top experts in the motorcycle helmet field are highly critical of the Snell standard, because it causes helmets to be too rigid. They point out in particular that the ability to withstand two hits in the same place has nothing whatever to do with real world crashes. By making the helmet too rigid, instead of softer, many preventable head injuries occur in more common lower impact accidents. Some experts seriously recommend not purchasing a Snell certified helmet, particularly since Snell upped it standard a few years back. I discussed this at length with an MD who rides motorcycles, and his response was to purchase a European helmet, because it was softer. Given that this issue is so well known, it seems reasonable to expect change in the not too distant future.
As a solution, I recommend looking into European manufacturers. There is a major difference between the European and US approach to helmet design, directly related to the hardness and softness of various helmet components. In some impacts, a harder material provides better protection; in others a softer material provides better protection. In gross terms, the softer material is better for greater impact protection, while the harder material works better in more common, but lesser impacts.
As a solution, I recommend looking into European manufacturers. There is a major difference between the European and US approach to helmet design, directly related to the hardness and softness of various helmet components. In some impacts, a harder material provides better protection; in others a softer material provides better protection. In gross terms, the softer material is better for greater impact protection, while the harder material works better in more common, but lesser impacts.
Where the big differences comes in that affect price is in materials used making the helmet lighter, liner material, some have better wicking properties and/or more comfortable, venting and how well vents work, visor systems and materials used for visors. Then there is fit and finish you can take a look at higher end helmets in comparison to cheaper helmets and see differences in hardware used, are they eyeglass adaptable, better paint and clear coat etc.... But in the end if they carry the same certification there is no way to say one is safer on impact than the other
For me personally when picking a helmet I look for a manufacture that is ECE certified then it come down to fit. Each manufacture or model line fits best on a specific head shape so I go with one that best fits my head shape. A shape that is not right for your head may feel OK for a short ride but wear it all day and you will get pressure points that make it uncomfortable. Then I look at how well the vents actually work, I have seen and worn many that the vents made no difference open or closed. I want a good removable liner that has excellent wicking properties because it gets hot in MS in the summer. Next comes features like pinlock ready, retractable sun visor etc... Fit and finish is important as well when I drop $$ on a helmet I want one that looks good to me
Bottom line is that in the old days there were a few helmet manufactures that were much better than all the others and they could demand a higher price. Today they can still keep their prices up because many folks still think that the best helmet is the most expensive. Problem is today there are a lot more helmets of equal quality in the market so the old thinking of the most expensive will give you the best protection just does not hold up anymore
Last edited by Mxdad; Dec 1, 2016 at 11:07 AM.
Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 613
Likes: 75
From: Marietta, GA
I like the DLX for possibly putting a Sena system in it since it's already set up for oen...would you say it's quiet enough that this is a good idea?
My kids got my this HJC CL-17 for fathers day. I have a Uclear on the side I can hear all the music but still has some wind noise. I am thinking of going back to earbuds then you never worry about wind noise. Just wish HJC Dark Smoke Shields were Darker. My daughters each have a Speed & Strength SS1100 they are nice also and a darker shield. Only Difference I see is my HJC is SNELL and the daughters are DOT.
Club Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 11,470
Likes: 3,572
From: Idaho
http://www.ebay.com/itm/201551638409...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 105
Likes: 9
From: Rhode Island
Got an HJC CL-17 full face mostly to accommodate a Sena 10. Both Snell and Dot certified which I found attractive for the price point. Overall pleased. Took a little getting used to compared to the half I had been wearing.
Thread Starter
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 6,673
Likes: 502
From: Orange County
In the old days there was a lot of truth in "you get what you pay for" as far as protection from a helmet. Today that does not hold as true as it did way back when. As long as the helmet has DOT, SNELL or ECE certification it is going to provide pretty much the same protection from impact.
In the US you have DOT and SNELL, SNELL is said to be a little more rigorous standard although there has alwasy been a lot of controversary about which is best. Overseas its ECE which is accepted in 50 countries and every major racing organization including the AMA
DOT is pretty much on the honor system in that manufactures test themselves and can put a DOT sticker on and start selling. If the DOT folks test the helmet it can be pulled from the market. Snell is not mandatory in the US so some companies do not bother with it. Personally I prefer ECE because it is more rigorous and up to date testing than either DOT or SNELL. In addition for ECE testing the manufacturer has to send in 50 production helmets for testing and the test have to be passed before they are allowed on the market. So basically SNELL is optional, a DOT sticker is on the honor system by the company but ECE has to be approved before a helmet reaches the market.
All three, SNELL, DOT and ECE are pass/fail so any claims that one helmet will give you better protection than another with the same certification is nothing but opinion and marketing mumbo jumbo.
You can take a $200 helmet and a $500 helmet with the same certification and saying one offers better protection than the other is just opinion with no testing to back it up. They both passed the exact same requirements.
Here is a good read on certifications
http://www.bikebandit.com/blog/post/...-snell-and-ece
Here is a bit on the controversary that many have with SNELL and the reason I prefer ECE standards
http://www.michaelpadway.com/gear-an...et-you-can-buy
Where the big differences comes in that affect price is in materials used making the helmet lighter, liner material, some have better wicking properties and/or more comfortable, venting and how well vents work, visor systems and materials used for visors. Then there is fit and finish you can take a look at higher end helmets in comparison to cheaper helmets and see differences in hardware used, are they eyeglass adaptable, better paint and clear coat etc.... But in the end if they carry the same certification there is no way to say one is safer on impact than the other
For me personally when picking a helmet I look for a manufacture that is ECE certified then it come down to fit. Each manufacture or model line fits best on a specific head shape so I go with one that best fits my head shape. A shape that is not right for your head may feel OK for a short ride but wear it all day and you will get pressure points that make it uncomfortable. Then I look at how well the vents actually work, I have seen and worn many that the vents made no difference open or closed. I want a good removable liner that has excellent wicking properties because it gets hot in MS in the summer. Next comes features like pinlock ready, retractable sun visor etc... Fit and finish is important as well when I drop $$ on a helmet I want one that looks good to me
Bottom line is that in the old days there were a few helmet manufactures that were much better than all the others and they could demand a higher price. Today they can still keep their prices up because many folks still think that the best helmet is the most expensive. Problem is today there are a lot more helmets of equal quality in the market so the old thinking of the most expensive will give you the best protection just does not hold up anymore
In the US you have DOT and SNELL, SNELL is said to be a little more rigorous standard although there has alwasy been a lot of controversary about which is best. Overseas its ECE which is accepted in 50 countries and every major racing organization including the AMA
DOT is pretty much on the honor system in that manufactures test themselves and can put a DOT sticker on and start selling. If the DOT folks test the helmet it can be pulled from the market. Snell is not mandatory in the US so some companies do not bother with it. Personally I prefer ECE because it is more rigorous and up to date testing than either DOT or SNELL. In addition for ECE testing the manufacturer has to send in 50 production helmets for testing and the test have to be passed before they are allowed on the market. So basically SNELL is optional, a DOT sticker is on the honor system by the company but ECE has to be approved before a helmet reaches the market.
All three, SNELL, DOT and ECE are pass/fail so any claims that one helmet will give you better protection than another with the same certification is nothing but opinion and marketing mumbo jumbo.
You can take a $200 helmet and a $500 helmet with the same certification and saying one offers better protection than the other is just opinion with no testing to back it up. They both passed the exact same requirements.
Here is a good read on certifications
http://www.bikebandit.com/blog/post/...-snell-and-ece
Here is a bit on the controversary that many have with SNELL and the reason I prefer ECE standards
http://www.michaelpadway.com/gear-an...et-you-can-buy
Where the big differences comes in that affect price is in materials used making the helmet lighter, liner material, some have better wicking properties and/or more comfortable, venting and how well vents work, visor systems and materials used for visors. Then there is fit and finish you can take a look at higher end helmets in comparison to cheaper helmets and see differences in hardware used, are they eyeglass adaptable, better paint and clear coat etc.... But in the end if they carry the same certification there is no way to say one is safer on impact than the other
For me personally when picking a helmet I look for a manufacture that is ECE certified then it come down to fit. Each manufacture or model line fits best on a specific head shape so I go with one that best fits my head shape. A shape that is not right for your head may feel OK for a short ride but wear it all day and you will get pressure points that make it uncomfortable. Then I look at how well the vents actually work, I have seen and worn many that the vents made no difference open or closed. I want a good removable liner that has excellent wicking properties because it gets hot in MS in the summer. Next comes features like pinlock ready, retractable sun visor etc... Fit and finish is important as well when I drop $$ on a helmet I want one that looks good to me
Bottom line is that in the old days there were a few helmet manufactures that were much better than all the others and they could demand a higher price. Today they can still keep their prices up because many folks still think that the best helmet is the most expensive. Problem is today there are a lot more helmets of equal quality in the market so the old thinking of the most expensive will give you the best protection just does not hold up anymore
My main helmet is a Shoei Neotec, but before that I and my regular riding buddy both that HJC modulars. After we installed SENA headsets, it really became apparent how much wind noise there was. Then, I found these. They are outstanding, and the wind noise dropped to nothing. Snapped right into the slots on our IS Max BT helmets. Hell of a lot warmer in cold weather, too!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/201551638409...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
http://www.ebay.com/itm/201551638409...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 986
Likes: 32
From: Georgia
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Joe Kucinski
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 5,701
Likes: 2,697
From: Vancouver B.C.
That's another bonus to the higher end helmets - different cheek pad sizes. My Qwest was really tight on the jaw. I got the XL cheek pads and that made it much more comfortable.
But I have heard there are Shoei people and there are Arai people. One is more oval shaped and the other more round. Or so I'm told.
But I have heard there are Shoei people and there are Arai people. One is more oval shaped and the other more round. Or so I'm told.
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,228
Likes: 34
From: Wisconsin
I wear glasses, and this year I switched to a Nolan modular(104 something) I really like the large shield area. If it's not wet it's the one I'll wear. I have a bunch of helmets, I'm lucky enough to fly around the country for work, which I leave stashed with friends and clients. I have all the low end brands hjc , built, HD, etc. I find them all equal in comfort and yet slightly diferent. Now that I have paid for one Nolan I may try one of the other expensive brands when I need a new one.