Phreon Posted August 4, 2014 Report Share Posted August 4, 2014 (edited) I have an LS2 full face helmet, my first. After having a minor "traction disability", I figure it's time to upgrade. Not because the helmet took a hit, but because I'm pretty attached to my brain. Since I can't rely on good looks, I figure I need to keep the noggin working. I have a "long oval" head and had a hard time finding anything that fits when I was looking. The LS2 is pretty good, but it shifts up and down too much. Also, since I wear hearing aids, wind noise is a real problem. Any idea what brands / models to look at? Long oval, better than DOT, reasonably quiet, reasonable ventilation, mid range price? I heard the ICONs are pretty good, but maybe noisy. Thanks in advance. Edited August 4, 2014 by Phreon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pokey Posted August 4, 2014 Report Share Posted August 4, 2014 Come to Columbus and head to the Iron Pony, bet you will walk out with a new helmet that is perfect for you. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Butters Posted August 4, 2014 Report Share Posted August 4, 2014 Arai are oval Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcrenzo Posted August 4, 2014 Report Share Posted August 4, 2014 My Arai RX7Corsair fits my oval head perfectly. I can wear it for several hours without feeling any discomfort. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gsJack Posted August 4, 2014 Report Share Posted August 4, 2014 This WebBikeWorld listing of helmet by shape might be helpful in choosing which ones to check out first: http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycle-helmets/motorcycle-helmet-shapes.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mojocho Posted August 4, 2014 Report Share Posted August 4, 2014 This WebBikeWorld listing of helmet by shape might be helpful in choosing which ones to check out first:http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycle-helmets/motorcycle-helmet-shapes.htm+1That's where I started, but nothing beats first hand experience. My oval head fits best with HJC, Scorpion, and Bell. Bell being my first choice in terms of quality. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phreon Posted August 4, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 4, 2014 I looked at the webbikeworld link a while back - it seemed a bit out of date. I intend to try helmets on somewhere, but that doesn't tell me how noisy they are. Information seems sketchy in this regard. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mojocho Posted August 4, 2014 Report Share Posted August 4, 2014 I can't comment on noise because I always use ear plugs. But one very general rule of thumb is if they say it has a lot of ventilation, that usually means noisy, and vice versa. It's kind of obvious if you think about it. More ventilation = more wind = more wind noise. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bark615 Posted August 4, 2014 Report Share Posted August 4, 2014 Arai Signet is the true Long Oval shape... I just went through this process earlier this year. I must have tried on 15+ different helmets at the IMS show, was measured the the Arai guy, Shoei rep ect.... Arai dealer could spot my oval head from 20' away. The Signet wasn't cheap but if you have the Long Oval head.. your options are limited. I was really hoping to get a Scorpion helmet to fit properly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phreon Posted August 4, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 4, 2014 Sweet jumping Jehosephat! $550+ for the Signet-Q. When I was trying helmets, they did have me try a Shoei - it felt like a Lay-Z-Boy for my head, but the sticker priced me out of it. I was hoping for sub $300. I can mute my hearing aids (they have a remote), but even with them effectively off, I hear a constant woooooooo that changes to a full on blast/rumble if I lean my head forward at all in my LS2 (at speed). I attribute part of it to the mediocre fit - too much room around the sides/ears. I want quiet, but with swampy SW Ohio summers, ventilation is important. All I want is a magnificent helmet that fits perfectly, is quiet, has great ventilation and is cheap. And it must make me irresistible to the ladies while filling my bank account. Is that too much to ask? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redkow97 Posted August 4, 2014 Report Share Posted August 4, 2014 Riders Discount had mentioned they were going to post on how to measure and fit a helmet for online purchase. I know that's not a direct answer to your question, but it might help open up some more model options. I have never owned a helmet that I felt really fit me perfectly. I'd like to find that, and just start stocking up on them... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackFlash Posted August 4, 2014 Report Share Posted August 4, 2014 My next helmet as of today will cost $626.99.Based on a limit of seven good riding monthsin our part of the country, it breaks down toaround $17.91 per month, over a five yearperiod. I will probably actually wear thehelmet longer than that, considering the pricebecause I think it's partly marketing that tellsus to buy a new one every five years. But, if I break it down to what it cost me eachtime I go for a ride, it's not much money toprotect my priceless skull. I know it's a bigprice to pay, all at one time, but if you stretchit out over the time you expect to use it, ithelps us to justify the expense. It's like adding a buck or two to a gallon ofgas. If gas was five-fifty USD, we would stillride. Maybe we would ride even more, anddrive our cars even less. The more you ride,the less expensive the helmet becomes perride. . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redkow97 Posted August 4, 2014 Report Share Posted August 4, 2014 My next helmet as of today will cost $626.99.Based on a limit of seven good riding monthsin our part of the country, it breaks down toaround $17.91 per month, over a five yearperiod. I will probably actually wear thehelmet longer than that, considering the pricebecause I think it's partly marketing that tellsus to buy a new one every five years. Plans are all well and good, but some of us go through helmets a lot quicker than that. And the 5 year rule is not a joke. I have two identical Bell Vortex helmets. One I crashed the second day I wore it. It went on a shelf in my closet, for use as target practice. The second one I have worn for the last 2 years. I put the "old" one on the other day, and the difference in fit is extremely significant. The padding just breaks down in the helmet you wear more often. And I am religious about washing out my helmet after a day of use. I come home from the track, and bring the helmet into the shower with me, then dry it on a fan over night. With any significant use, I can't foresee a helmet really lasting more than 2-3 years tops... I try to buy safe helmets without creature comforts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackFlash Posted August 4, 2014 Report Share Posted August 4, 2014 Plans are all well and good, but some of us go through helmets a lot quicker than that. And the 5 year rule is not a joke. I have two identical Bell Vortex helmets. One I crashed the second day I wore it. It went on a shelf in my closet, for use as target practice. The second one I have worn for the last 2 years. I put the "old" one on the other day, and the difference in fit is extremely significant. The padding just breaks down in the helmet you wear more often. And I am religious about washing out my helmet after a day of use. I come home from the track, and bring the helmet into the shower with me, then dry it on a fan over night. With any significant use, I can't foresee a helmet really lasting more than 2-3 years tops... I try to buy safe helmets without creature comforts. I was hoping that the difference in fit would be from thepadding continuing to adjust to my head shape. I canmove it around on my head just a bit more than when Ifirst bought it plus, now it is more comfortable. Do you wear the same helmet on the street as you doon the track? I want to ride comfortably, so I do wantsome comfort features. . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redkow97 Posted August 4, 2014 Report Share Posted August 4, 2014 I've only done about 500 miles of street riding this season, and this is the first time I've had a plated bike since 2011, so right now I am wearing the same helmet for street and track. I honestly think that expensive helmets are more necessary for street rides, where you're going to be wearing the lid for hours on end. My track helmets are only worn for 30 minutes at a time or so, and I am so focused on riding that I don't notice any mild discomfort in the padding, etc. I haven't done so recently, but a few years ago I did quite a bit of research on which helmets provided the best protection for the least amount of money. Thus how I started buying Scorpions. But now they've changed all their models so many times that I don't even know which one fits me any more... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phreon Posted August 4, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 4, 2014 (edited) BTW, it's fair to say any helmet designed for a sport riding position won't work for me. With the neck issues I have, I only ride bikes that keep me close to "bolt upright" - My NightHawk 750 is almost too much w/o risers. Forward tuck = massive migraine. I have a feeling this would eliminate Scorpion, which otherwise has some interesting offereings. Don't know about Icon. Or Bell. Thx Edited August 4, 2014 by Phreon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redkow97 Posted August 4, 2014 Report Share Posted August 4, 2014 has anyone slummed it and bought an AFX helmet? The only thing I'm reading that I really don't like is that they only have 1 shell size... I wear a medium or a large, depending on the brand, and my dome looks HUGE in Bell helmets, and badass in Scorpions. I much prefer the smaller shell... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Z. Heimer Posted August 4, 2014 Report Share Posted August 4, 2014 http://sharp.direct.gov.uk/homeThis is the best site I have found to date rating helmets and giving info on helmets. Their testing results is a perfect example of "just because it costs more does not necessarily mean it it a better as in more protective product". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phreon Posted August 4, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 4, 2014 (edited) So far, after reading up, I have the following on my list to check out: Icon AirmadaBell RS-1Shark S700 / S900Scorpion EXO-500/700Arai Signet-Q (breaks my budget) What else? Edited August 4, 2014 by Phreon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redkow97 Posted August 4, 2014 Report Share Posted August 4, 2014 I don't know if my head qualifies as long oval or not, but I'm likely going to find out if the EXO-410 fits as well as the 400 fit me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blue03636 Posted August 4, 2014 Report Share Posted August 4, 2014 HJC rpha-10, not sure if it's an oval but it fits me like a glove and not super expensive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redkow97 Posted August 4, 2014 Report Share Posted August 4, 2014 http://stores.sportbiketrackgear.com/Page.bok?template=Motorcycle+Helmet+Shopping+Guide Helpful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phreon Posted August 6, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 6, 2014 Thanks for all the input. I'm just going to have to take a trip up to Iron Pony and try on a few helmets. That is unless any of you can recommend a shop with a wide selection in or near Cincinnati. I haven't found a place yet that carries all or most of the brands I've listed above. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mojocho Posted August 6, 2014 Report Share Posted August 6, 2014 Good decision. Make a day trip out of it. Just plan a away to carry a helmet back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redkow97 Posted August 6, 2014 Report Share Posted August 6, 2014 Good decision. Make a day trip out of it. Just plan a away to carry a helmet back. ...like leaving your old one in the dumpster? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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