"Did you have the headset in another helmet and transferred it to the new helmet?"

No, it is a brand new J&M headset that will not work in my Harley Davidson (HJC IS-33) helmet without helmet modification.

"I read the J&M instructions with the headset that mentioned removing material from the helmet shell and was absolutley stunned that J&M would suggest potentially compromising the shell's integrity by removing material."

I had the exact reaction. J&M is suggesting that I cut away the polystyrene liner. I think an attorney, in the case of a head injury motorcycle accident, might have a field day with this issue. The polystyrene liner puts a thick buffer between the human head and the outer helmet shell to serve as a cushion. It also provides the support on which the interior cloth and foam reside. By removing the polystyrene, I believe helmet stability and safety may be an issue.


"Hope you get your issues resolved."

It would have been nice if JMJOHN had offered me a refund rather than asking me if I would want to trade to the lesser quality ultra-slim speakers. The ultra-thins have less speaker area and are not ported as are the Elite series speakers. Accordingly, I was not surprised that he did not respond to my speaker quality question.

 

Crescentmotor,
I too had to switch out from Elite's to the "performance series" ultra-slims (BCD279-UN-HO) because I have two SHOEI helmets and they just don't fit without extreme modifications.

On John's suggestion, I bought a set of the BCD279-UN-HO from Sierra Electronics (an authorized JMCorp dealer) + lower cord and installed in one of the helmets. I think the fidelity is nearly as good as the Elite Series, with slightly less bass response. In my opinion, well worth the swap with John!!

 

 

John and J&M are excellent to do business with. John will exchange for you or make it right. Your first step upon fitting problems should have been to call John to get instructions about refund or exchange.

Giving a businessman the opportunity to make it right is always the first step with anything with which you are dissatisfied. Additionally though, if in fact J&M actually says to ream out a helmet shell for a fit-up problem well that I have real problems with and John should retract that advice immediately.

 

I put that same headseat in HJC my IS-33. Took out the ear pads on each side, positioned the speakers and modified the polystyrene by making a pocket for the speakers. Works fine, fits great and sounds really good. I figure if I hit my head hard enough in that area of the helmet that it fails and causes me injury, I'll probably have much bigger issues to worry about. YMMV

Hope you get it all worked out.

 

"Giving a businessman the opportunity to make it right is always the first step with anything with which you are dissatisfied. "

JMJOHN has had every opportunity through this thread to "make it right" but only offered to swap the Elite headsets for the lesser quality ultra-slims. That would not have made it right from my perspective. However, the main reason I started this thread was to ultimately expose the safety issue. Another poster beat me to the punch. All along, I knew I could make the J&M headset work with some helmet modification.


"Additionally though, if in fact J&M actually says to ream out a helmet shell for a fit-up problem well that I have real problems with and John should retract that advice immediately.[/quote]"

The instructions suggest that consumers with some Shoei and HJC helmets cut the polystyrene liner to make the Elite headsets fit. I have no doubt the fit issue arises with many other helmets. The value of this thread, I hope, is that forum members will focus on this safety issue. By cutting out the polystyrene liner, helmet safety integrity is likely compromised. I think anyone who suffered a motorcycle head injury after following J&M's suggestion would win a lawsuit in a heartbeat. And...no one should have to buy this product and not be aware of this potential safety issue until after they have spent their money. In my opinion, J&M should state on their website that they do NOT recommend helmet modifications in order to make their products fit helmets. Instead, J&M, having sales as a priority, is furnishing helmet modification recommendations that, in my opinion, may put riders at risk.

Because of the extensive modifications required, I do not recommend the J&M Elite headset for my particular helmet, or the comparable HJC helmet. I did make a personal decision and accept the risk of modifying my helmet. I discovered the ear/cheek pad can be removed from this helmet (it is secured to the outer shell by a single screw and some velcro). If you are accomplished with a dremmel tool and have a couple of hours patience, you can make this headset work. You have to cut a hole the size of the speaker diameter and approximately 3/8" deep in the polystyrene. In addition, you must cut a similar depth channel for the speaker porting tube. Once this is done, the speakers will fit sufficiently deep in the helmet to assure comfort. The speakers do sound pretty good.

Hopefully this thread has served the purpose for which it was intended, i.e., to bring a safety issue into focus. I hope J&M will reconsider the advice it is giving customers to cut out helmet safety liners in order to make it's products fit.

Safe riding everyone!

 

So in the end, after all the BS spewing about safety concerns and what J&M ought to do or say, you not only went ahead and modified your helmet but you also post information on how to do it?

That's damn funny.

 

You don't get it. There's a big difference between a business recommending an action that may put that consumer at a safety risk versus a consumer making an individual choice and assuming the consequences.

An anology--in a state that doesn't require motorcycle riders to wear helmets, I would never recommend that riders not wear helmets. On the other hand, in such states, a decision to not wear a helmet is the right of that individual and he assumes the safety risk. Get it.

In this instance, J&M, in their instructions, is advising consumers to cut out helmet liners. As an attorney would say, that is questionable judgement at best and reckless endangerment at worst.

I still maintain J&M should think about this business practice of advocating helmet liner removal--no skin off my back because I won't be the one sued if a rider has a helmet injury and J&M is found culpable. This is my last post on this thread.

 

I think he "got it" just fine. I didn't believe that I was the only one to burst out laughing after reading the whole thread! Funny stuff.

 

Seems to be a lot of this sort of thing going on around here lately. You know, people having a problem with everything or being douche bags.