pearl dark blue helmet [Archive] - ST-Owners.com Forums

sherob

06-16-2005, 08:40 AM

Or, you could ask yourself which is more important... finding a color to match the bike, or, finding a color that folks SEE well, like high viz yellow which compliments the pearl blue nicely? See & be seen man, rule #1 in my book.

Good point... Bluemax has a kickarse yellow graphic KBC helmet and yellow jacket that looks great with his 04! I have a Silver with red and yellow graphics on the way... being seen is good!

GRN

06-16-2005, 08:46 AM

Good point... Bluemax has a kickarse yellow graphic KBC helmet and yellow jacket that looks great with his 04! I have a Silver with red and yellow graphics on the way... being seen is good!

I have the solid yellow shoei, and JR atomic with yellow... and it all looks fine with the blue (not that I really care). When you see a pack of bikes, if there is one rider with that solid yellow, you notice it first, way visable in a wide variety of environments. I would rather be seen for being ugly than not seen for being slick and sexy :eek:

crazykz

06-16-2005, 08:48 AM

I bought black which doesn't stick out at all but I have some high-viz stickers from the MSF and others that work well. You can get what color you want and add some high-viz stickers later.

Even a white helmet in the dark doesn't show up as much as some reflective material. I wonder if anyone makes a helmet that looks a normal color in sunlight but reflects in the dark. Kind of like street signs.

Isn't there a reflective paint that goes on clear? If so you could mask it and put some cool designs in it with the reflective paint. Now you've got me thinking... :rolleyes:

Curt

sherob

06-16-2005, 08:58 AM

I've got a black Symax and CL-Max now... in this 96 degree heat, not even summer yet, I am going to die... :eek: So I got a Scorpion on the way with some nice noticeable graphics on the way... should be here by Wednesday. :D

rwl1955

06-16-2005, 09:55 AM

I`m thinking of buying a KBC Vision or VR-1. Motorcyclecloseouts has them for $130.0 and $147.0. Anybody have one of these helmets?
Opinions?

805gregg

06-16-2005, 11:49 AM

There are 3 things to think about in helmets #1 protection (got a 3/4 head get a 3/4 helmet), #2 visibility, white or yellow are best, #3 heat a black or dark blue helmet will be much hotter than a light color, try touching a black car and a white car on a summer day, I'm a roofing contractor so we think about roof color alot a black roof will be 50 degrees hotter than a white roof.
805gregg

Doobage

06-16-2005, 11:57 AM

Helmet heat. While I agree completely that black will generate more heat, I've been told (not proven) that since there is so much styrofoam between your head and the shell that it's negligible in helmets.

I have a white helmet, so I haven't been able to confirm or deny these claims, but it seems like it makes sense to me.

Has anybody stuck LED's on their helmets?

miller205

06-16-2005, 02:57 PM

Bob - I have the KBC VR-1. Its ok, fits well and all but it is noisy. Lots of wind noise. I'm looking at the Shoei RF-1000 now- it has a little wing on the back of it to reduce turbulence over the helmet and make things quiet. Some folks that have them really like'em, but they're more $ than KBC.

GRN

06-16-2005, 03:05 PM

I like the rf 1000, seems to run a little small though if your going to mail order with out sliding one on first.

Dorian

06-16-2005, 03:26 PM

I can understand the desire for high visibility and buying a helmet accordingly. I don't do that, but I can understand others that do. There are LED's and such that can be put on helmets. There is even a company that makes an remotely operated brake signal that goes on the back of the helmet, and another that works on an accelerometer.

But helmet color will have no bearing on temperature inside the helmet. The main insulator and padding used on the inside of helmets is the same material used to make Styrofoam coffee cups and other insulated products. There are a couple of web-sites that discuss studies where thermo-couples were attached inside of helmets of different color. The temperature difference between a black helmet and a white helmet was immeasurable.

Choosing a white helmet because it helps you to be seen makes sense. Choosing a white helmet for protection from the suns heat, although it seems initially logical, is self deluding.

GRN

06-16-2005, 04:52 PM

I agree w/ Dorian, hard to believe the color has much of a thermal effect given the immense insulating properties of a helmet. Two biggest factors that I have noticed are 1. if your body is hot, guess where it's all going... right up into that bucket of insulation; 2. the venting of the helmet - my RF 1000 stays much cooler with the shield fully down, and the top vents getting good flow.

Managing your body temp and helmet venting are the keys to heat IMO... still wouldn't catch me in a dark blue bucket though :p:

blumax

06-16-2005, 04:59 PM

I have a yellow and black KBC VR-1 and I am really happy with it. I am thinking of buying the KBC flip-up next. Too bad it doesn't come in yellow. :04biker:

nm6r

06-16-2005, 05:13 PM

High visibility might be a priority until you get pulled over by the fashion police.

My advice would be to get a full face Snell approved helmet. Color is up to the individual.

Ray
http://www.frontiernet.net/~st1300rider/smile04Bikerwheelie.gif

Bones

06-16-2005, 05:32 PM

Dorian

06-16-2005, 06:06 PM

After riding sweep last Friday behind a bunch of guys in red or black helmets and the point man in a white helmet, I'll never buy another dark helmet. The rider farthest from me was the most visible, by far.

Being visible is good.

I remember a gal riding on the back of a Harley down in San Bernardino... it was a hot day and she had decided not to bother with shirt. She definitely caught my attention, more so than what ever the front-seater was wearing. I don't even remember what he looked like, but I could pick her out of a line up.

Different is what catches anyones eye. If all the bikers had been wearing white helmets in the middle of the day except for one black helmeted rider, chances are the black helmet would have stood out.

AZST

06-16-2005, 06:44 PM

I like the rf 1000, seems to run a little small though if your going to mail order with out sliding one on first.

Just bought an RF-1000 through E-Bay. The helmet fits fine...it's the cheek pads that are tight as hell. Gonna have to exchange them out....otherwise...I like it and agree with your assessment that they size a little small.

I have a blue ST and chose the TC-2 (Voltage) graphics to match. Personally, I think it matches the blue in the bike the closest--- agree with CrazyKZ-- some high viz sticker on the back will help.

--Bryan
04ST1300A
STOC# 5197
:04biker:

GRN

06-16-2005, 07:10 PM

Different is what catches anyones eye. If all the bikers had been wearing white helmets in the middle of the day except for one black helmeted rider, chances are the black helmet would have stood out.

I'm with ya on the rack... but...

Both of my degrees are in fields pertaining to color science, and have done extensive study on it's control, and use to control human response. I have yet to see a study that will even begin to agree w/ your sumation... I'll leave it there and spare us all the details.

Solids are superior because they visualy define a "memory" shape, meaning folks recognize the shape as something... a helmet. The fancy snazy graphics, in any color, still create a camo effect due to the lack of the above.

White is a good color (reflects the most light), but there are yellows and flor greens that are better due to their reflective values scattering less light effectively delivering more to the eye, and their colors being less apt to fall blind against a natural background.

Sorry, I lied and didn't leave it alone... all I want to make clear to folks is this, I might not know much, but I may very well know 10X what most people do about the visual effects of color as percieved by human eyes... I wear solid axis yellow buckets, and I don't give a crap what the fashion police say ;)

:04biker:

pablowablo

06-16-2005, 07:10 PM

oh yea, why don't i just wear some flashing green neon lights. yellow helmet, oh yea i'm getting one of those

805gregg

06-16-2005, 07:57 PM

You should get a dark blue 3/4 helmet to match something, crash then show us a picture of the other 1/4 of your face if you still have one.

listen or you will be scolded
805gregg

Bones

06-16-2005, 09:01 PM

Different is what catches anyones eye. If all the bikers had been wearing white helmets in the middle of the day except for one black helmeted rider, chances are the black helmet would have stood out.

I'll grant you that different catches your eye, without a doubt. But a dark helmet is not different enough from the rural landscape where I was riding to be visible. A dark helmet blends in with the backgound. It's camouflage.

The white helmet stood out because the background wasn't white. It was a black road, green trees, dark shadows, brown fields. The snow has melted, even in New England, so there was no white of any consequence. A hundred riders with white helmets would all stand out and a single dark helmet would be lost.

Try riding sweep behind people with different color helmets and see for yourself which riders you see best. All other things equal, I guarantee you it won't be the people with dark helmets.

Dorian, more often than not I ride alone. In group rides, I typically ride the point or second. Last Friday was the first time in 20+ years of street riding that I rode sweep with several riders ahead of me. I was blown away by the visibility (and lack thereof) of my fellow riders in front of me.

If you believe that different catches the eye, cover your head in a helmet that contrasts from its visual backgroud. My last three helmets have been increasingly darker shades of red. My next one will be white.

MNwing

06-16-2005, 09:14 PM

I have the Shoei RF 1000 and Nolan X-lite, both Silver, and like the Shoei best, less wind noise, cooler and just feels better on my head. Both were apx. the same cost.

After getting use to the full face helmet, I will never ride again with a 3/4, since I usually ride with the windshield down and this being the prime season for bugs in this part of the country.

Its your choice, but choose wisely.

pablowablo

06-16-2005, 09:30 PM

better idea for you 805gregg. mount a airport control tower beacon on your helmet so when i see you coming i can stay way, way away from you pal.

GRN

06-16-2005, 11:49 PM

The white helmet stood out because the background wasn't white. It was a black road, green trees, dark shadows, brown fields.

My next one will be white.

Bones, agree w/ you 100% on the merits of white on the open road. Where I get away from liking white is in more residential areas, the commute to work, etc., where in NE neighborhoods it's not uncommon for the houses to be predominently white... and your in tight enough traffic at times that your helmet is the only thing visable beyond/over the car in front of you... not too many things in that environment are bright yellow, not even with all the crazy Frenchmen up here!

tdeboeser

06-17-2005, 06:38 AM

I`m thinking of buying a KBC Vision or VR-1. Motorcyclecloseouts has them for $130.0 and $147.0. Anybody have one of these helmets?
Opinions?

I've owned a VR-1, VERY good helmet for the money. I choose it over Shoei, because Shoei went out of my price range. The VR-1 offered good quality and a decent price.

My $0.02

Tom de
'03

Dorian

06-17-2005, 11:47 AM

So I guess helmet color is all a matter of where you ride? I ride predominately in the deserts and near the beaches, so perhaps a darker helmet will contrast better against the back ground? Of course, there are days where I head to the mountains and ride among the giant sequoias and other evergreens so I probably want to have a white helmet available for those days. Oh, and there are my frequent rides to Yosemite where the granite walls could camouflage black or white helmets, so I better keep a fluorescent colored helmet handy for those rides?

Rather than buy several helmets to suit differing riding conditions, I'll stick with my main contention that If someone has to see past my fog lights, driving lights, head lights, tail lights, saddle bag and trunk lights, assorted chrome accessories and large profile and notice my helmet for me to be safe... I'm in trouble.

The same goes for my wife. If her helmet is the only thing that will get her noticed when she is riding an ST, I'll sell the ST and get something more obvious for her. I don't think that is necessary.

GRN

06-17-2005, 12:05 PM

Rather than buy several helmets to suit differing riding conditions, I'll stick with my main contention that If someone has to see past my fog lights, driving lights, head lights, tail lights, saddle bag and trunk lights, assorted chrome accessories and large profile and notice my helmet for me to be safe... I'm in trouble.

Dorian, not suggesting a collection, just that there are caertain things that are apt to be more visable in a wide variety of environments. I also drive a white 01 VW camper, with driving lights, fog lights, and headlights on all of the time... people have still managed to "miss" me in that and pull right in front of me in environments where a big *** white thing stuck out plenty... = to about 8 GL's best I can guess.

If you start without a cage, on 2 wheels, on public roads, you're in trouble from the getgo... lots of lights and chrome and a big ride is a good idea... wearing/riding colors that further enhance your visability to others is a good idea... I'll take all the good ideas I can get a once myself. To each his own man. :) :beer3:

Dorian

06-17-2005, 12:10 PM

Dorian, not suggesting a collection, just that there are caertain things that are apt to be more visable in a wide variety of environments. I also drive a white 01 VW camper, with driving lights, fog lights, and headlights on all of the time... people have still managed to "miss" me in that and pull right in front of me in environments where a big *** white thing stuck out plenty... = to about 8 GL's best I can guess.

If you start without a cage, on 2 wheels, on public roads, you're in trouble from the getgo... lots of lights and chrome and a big ride is a good idea... wearing/riding colors that further enhance your visability to others is a good idea... I'll take all the good ideas I can get a once myself. To each his own man. :) :beer3:

In accidents where drivers survived a collision with a train at a railroad crossing, most of them state "I didn't see it coming." What about a train makes it hard to see? It is a good thing to increase your chances of being seen as much as possible, but the only solid advice is to make sure you ride as if you are invisible. Being prepard to act is much more effective than relying on being seen. But I agree, both make a great combination.

Mellow

06-17-2005, 12:42 PM

All I know is I used to ride a Bright Yellow Wing, with a Bright solid Yellow helmet and sometime a yellow jacket.....

Left for Big Bend once and got through Dallas, Fort Worth, Abeline traffic (okay, Abeline has no traffic but it just seemed more dramatic with 3 cities) and out if the middle of nowhere an old couple in a pickup failed to yeld... They didn't hit me but as they were 'failing' to yeld, I made eye contact with them the whole time, and on my horn... they never touched the brakes... my friend on the CBR954RR behind me just about fell over in disbelief...

Of course, that's a whole other can of worms, older drivers... and I won't go there..

I think yellow is the best all around color to be seen in but there will always be those that won't see you even if you are knocking on their head yelling "McFly!... McFly!..." :D

GRN

06-17-2005, 01:22 PM

In accidents where drivers survived a collision with a train at a railroad crossing, most of them state "I didn't see it coming." What about a train makes it hard to see? It is a good thing to increase your chances of being seen as much as possible, but the only solid advice is to make sure you ride as if you are invisible. Being prepard to act is much more effective than relying on being seen. But I agree, both make a great combination.

Absolutely man... my 4 golden rules (for myself...)

Rule 1. do everything you can to clearly see & be seen
Rule 2. ride as if you are invisible
Rule 3. respect (fear) the bike the way you do a chainsaw (in a sense), **** can go wrong to fast to do a damned thing about it, don't screw around.
Rule 4. SMILE BIG :D

805gregg

06-17-2005, 01:47 PM

You are well away from me, you know in Calif. there is no life east of I-5

805gregg

Carl_T

06-17-2005, 03:14 PM

Of course, that's a whole other can of worms, older drivers... and I won't go there.. Naughty, naughty Joe, you should not be talking about me like that. That wasn't you yelling "Mc Fly, Mc Fly" at me the other day was it? He_l man, I wasn't going to pull in front of you with my skateboard... really I wasn't, that G. wing is HUGE and scary... I just wanted to see if you'd drop the Dairy Queen malted if I feinted in your direction a bit. :D