First of all find an auto helmet for $200, that does not exist. The cheapest Arai is about $600 and that is a karting helmet not even for road racing...

 

I didn't mean to ruffle any feathers. I said earlier I crashed a crotch rocket at over 100mph in 1988. I had an injury to my leg only. the helmet (Shoei) looked like it had been through hell. I am sure I am a little predjudiced because Shoei served me so well. I ride a cruiser now at much more reasonable speeds with a full face Shoei. That is the only helmet I will wear. I have been a Career Fire Officer and Paramedic for almost 20 years and have seen first hand other brand helmets fail under less of an impact. I do believe that a helmet is not something that you should pinch pennies on. Shoei and Arai have more sizes and options for the users comfort and I'm sure that can effect the price to the consumer.
And by the way, I live in a state with no helmet law and I still wear one every time I'm on my bike. The status of the Shoei name means nothing to me!

 

Arai GP5(PED)

Incorporates Arai's exclusive, premium Sclc2 (Super Complex Laminate Construction) shell technology. Because of this proprietary aerospace fiberglass composite, the GP5 offers the benefit of improved impact-energy management properties, as well as low helmet weight without the use of trendy lightweight materials which may not be properly suited for use in helmet applications.


PED: Performance Enhancing Devices are include as a kit in the helmet box, giving the driver a choice of installing after painting or immediately if the helmet will not be painted.


Upper-ventilation system incorporates three intake air ducts in the front and two delta exhaust outlets in the rear for improved airflow performance. Depending on the application, the installation of the rear PED component can dramatically enhance ventilation performance.


Lower-ventilation systems feature two large air-intake clots in the chin bar area. Located just under the shield, they flow air to the muti-dimensional air passages that direct air towards the face and mouth at multiple angles for improved fresh air distribution. Again, depending on the application, the installation for the front PED component can dramatically enhance ventilation performance.


Arai's GP series also utilizes a proprietary flame-retardant interior material knows as Carbon Knit. It's softer for better comfort and also offers excellent performance in the event of a fire.


The shape and size of the GP-5 (PED) face shield both compliments the shell design and saves weight in process.

 

Great points and that would make me a SHOEI customer myself.

If you read the article I cited the helmet construction has vastly improved. This is good news as most people cannot afford $800 for a helmet. However there are just as good helmets available for $200 now.

 

Look for yourself. Here is some testing data with brands listed.

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/Cars/testin...8/2007s218.pdf

Price alone does not ensure protection. Many brands can provide equal, and in some cases better protection for less money. The pic in my avatar happens to be a Bell Star II from the 70's. I have had several Bells since and many other brands. I currently have a Bell & 2-HJC's. It's likely if I go down I'll want a cheap helmet cuz there won't be enough of the rest of me left to worry weather my head stays intact.

Most of what you see posted in this thread is is simply "OPINION" or sales brochure reprints.

 

I agree with Hairbag, Bell has made great helmets for many years. I can't believe I forgot them. Sorry for the omission.

 

Girly, so why don't you wear a helmet all the time? It's just an interesting observation. The answer is you would look like a fool. Most people would rather not look foolish than to avoid a head injury in an accident. Tell me, why is that a dumb post? And there is no reason to be insulting just because someone doesn't agree with you.

 

would have the same out come what ever helmet he had on

 

The helmets I wore in the past (on motorcycles exclusively) were all full-face Bells and were certainly not the top of the line but protected me very well. The point of the thread was full-face vs open and a lot of marketing hype about materials doesn't necessarily improve the safety capabilities. Get the best you can afford and, IMHO, make it full-face unless there is a specific reason not to.

 

I raced motocross and desert racing for many years and no doubt full face helmets are the way to go. The only reason I am alive to is because of a full face helmet when I totalled my Wing.

But when racing the vette I preffer an open face helmet. This is in autocross and drag racing. Even if I was doing HPDE I would still run with an open face helmet provided it did not violate saction rules. This is of course in my street car. If the car was race prepped I would use a full face.

 

I've ridden motorcycles since 1971, and roadraced fairly seriously in the early 1980s, so I've always been interested in helmet safety. Today I have three Shoei and one Arai helmet - all full face. They are considered two of the top brands made.

Having said that, most studies today agree that the most important thing for a motorcycle helmet is having both DOT and Snell ratings. After that, they tend to agree that the more expensive helmets are not necessarily safer than less expensive helmets.

For roadracing cars, there are different requirements, so looking for the appropriate ratings is still the key.

BTW, the comments about air bags makes exactly zero sense to me. I can't picture an airbag driving a full face helmet into your throat any more than falling off a motorcycle and stuffing your face into the ground. And in all my years, I've never heard of that happening. But I'm willing on being open minded if someone can show the report that explains this better.

 

http://www.ioportracing.com/Merchant...tegory_Code=PH
So i take it the 135 dollar one doesn't really cut it.

 

A few quick points:

Somehow, at the end of the day, the age old rule always seems to apply... you get what you pay for. I don't think a day goes by when I am not reminded of this.

I've fortunately never had an opportunity to put any of my helmets to the ultimate test, so I cannot say for sure if a "cheap" DOT/Snell helmet is any more or less safer than an "expensive" DOT/Snell helmet.

But I've tried an assortment of different helmets over the years and CLEARLY the expensive helmets were WELL worth it overall.

Keep in mind, a helmet is wrapped around your HEAD. If it is not light, super comfortable, well vented, good shield mechanism, overall excellent design, etc, etc, etc, your experience while wearing the helmet will be greatly degraded.

Anyone who can afford a nice bike or a new Corvette can surely afford a $600 helmet. If one could not, then they should not own such vehicles to begin with... wouldn't make sense. If you ride / drive some of the best high-performance vehicles on the planet in the name of achieving the very best performance experience, a top-notch helmet is surely a VERY critical part of the equation, this is not an item to skimp on.

My favorites were always the Shoeis and Arais... though I became an Aria-man ultimately. (At least back in the early `90's, the Arais were a bit lighter and more streamlined) I still have my "favorite" Arai, bought it in 1993, was their top of the line model at the time (solid black color though which kept the cost down), I wore this thing for probably a good 100k miles all around the country... I could not imagine using a lesser helmet. Picked up another Arai later on, also an excellent helmet.

Don't know much about the current line up of Shoeis and Arais, but I do remember that, with most helmets, especially back in the day, you'd pay a lot for the fancy paint jobs. A plain black helmet would cost at least $100 if not $200 less than a fancy-shmancy multi-colored one. Point is, shoot for the best helmet you can get, but make sure to get the "plain solid color" option to keep the cost reasonable.

I had tried a few "cheaper" DOT/Snell helmets over the years, big difference. Would these have kept my head intact just as well as an Arai in a 130mph spill??? Don't know for sure, but I do know that after a few miles with a cheaper helmet on, you can't wait to get it off... becomes a big annoyance and can ruin or at least lessen the experience. Not sure what a track day costs, but if you want to get your money's worth out of it, get a GOOD helmet.

So, in sum, I guess I'm just saying, from experience, regardless of whether or not a cheaper DOT/Snell helmet is as "safe" as an expensive one, get the expensive one anyway.

(Side note... never cared one bit about bragging rights... I actually peeled off the Arai stickers that came on my helmet, I was hoping that nobody would recognize it as an Arai and thus not be as inclined to try to steal it. Now thinking about it, I should have put some HJC stickers on it, that would have kept the thieves away! )

Oh yeah, the original topic... Get a full face helmet!!!

 

Being i will only do a couple of HPDE's a year i'm just looking to keep the cost down and stay safe. It's not affording the helmet, and if i smash my car on thr track they mind as well bury me there anyway because i'm f-----.
Will probably go with the full face, and spend the rest on pads and good fluid.
Thanks for all the info.

 

There have been many tests that I'm sure a quick google search can bring up. I don't want to categorically say that cheap helmets are just as good as expensive ones, I also will not agree that money is the determining factor.

Anyone who has much marketing experience knows that price points are set for many, many reasons. One of the biggest reasons is that many companies - whether the product is helmets wine or perfume know that many people will assume that higher price makes a better product. In many cases, its just a marketing decision designed to make bigger profits.

The point is not to discredit more expensive helmets, but people should not assume it makes for a safer helmet.

BTW, one other safety factor is making sure the helmet fits right.

 

Comfort is important.

Vet,
Your saying someone cannot find Comfort at $200 these days? You would be wrong.

Helmet buying is a very unique process. Different strokes for Different folks.

Buying a DOT / Snell approved helmet is what I am preaching. How much you want to spend is up to you.

In addition my link earlier tested DOT / SNELL helmets and they did just as good as the designer helmet brands.

 

My Arai's

RX7 RR4 John Kocinski Replica


RX7 RR4 Corsair Kenny Roberts Jr. Replica


RX7 RR4 Corsair Kenny Roberts Jr. Replica

 

Here is a very extensive article by Motorcyclist - they have been very active in studying helmet safety.....

http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/ge...iew/index.html

 

I have a neat story about John Kocinski. When I took riders school (as in roadracing) in 1981, there was a 12 year old kid there with his dad. The kid was riding a 70cc dirt bike with street tires. This on a small track in east Texas. He was riding circles around everyone else - including me on a 750 Honda. It was John Kocinski. The rest is history!

BTW, Doug Polen and and Kevin Schwantz also started in Texas when I was racing, and Fast Freddie had started there before my time. I knew Doug a little and he was a super nice guy.

 

I knew this about John Kocinski that is so cool you got to see him that young!!! He was one of my favorite riders.

Look back on page one I have my Kocinski Helmet on.