Helmets Time to Replace My Helmet

PaPa John

Joined
Jul 9, 2008
Messages
8
Location
Canada
My old HJC helmet needs replacing. I am shopping around and have tried on Arai at the motorcycle dealer where I deal. It is a good fit and felt very comfortable. Nice and snug, but not too tight. Wore it around the shop for about half an hour and no pressure points, no headache. Upon removing there was no tell tale too tight ring. The dealer will give me a good deal on the helmet. But it is black in colour. He doesn't have another colour. I tried on a different brand but the large was too big and the medium, I couldn't get on. He can get in coloured helmets, but the price is a lot more than this one.

There is a dealer in my hometown, but they are not what I consider customer friendly. I was there once to try on helmets and the only help I got was, a young pup saying that looks nice. I may go back just to try different models on.

My question is - How many of you wear black helmets and what is your opinion on a black helmet. I will be staying with a full face helment. I have read numerous articles on helmet colour and visibility, but information from other riders can be more productive that reading surveys and studies.

My coconut is important to me, so I am not going to skimp on price.

Sorry for being long winded. Thanks greatly for your assistance.

John
 
I think its personal choice. Yes a yellow or white helmet will stand out more than a black. A good helmet can last 3-5 years. If you "want" a different color helmet than they have on hand, I would order it and be happy with the extra price because when you spread it out over 5 years, its really not that big of deal. Plus you will be completely happy with your choice. If you are fine with black, then get the discounted one, but since you started this thread I have a feeling you are not wild about a black helmet.
 
If you can afford and Arai... that is the way to go. Most helmets have 3 sizes of shells and make the rest up with padding. Arai has something like 7 different shells and all kinds of padding options. You really need to see an Arai specialist to get the benefit.
 
PaPa John said:
My question is - How many of you wear black helmets and what is your opinion on a black helmet. I will be staying with a full face helmet. I have read numerous articles on helmet color and visibility, but information from other riders can be more productive that reading surveys and studies.
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I had an old black HJC Sy-Max that I painted white after a year (when I changed bikes). Other other conditions remaining the same... the 'white' helmet was by far cooler in the sun than when it was black. I also belive a white helmet is far more visable when bobbing in and out of traffic than black, blue, red, or gray. Only yellow helmets stand out more.

Another plus side of a white helmet is stickers blend in better!
 
I wear a black helmet. In fact my last four helmets have all been black. I like black for a couple of reasons which include; doesn't show marks and goes with whatever color bike I'm on. :D

I used a white helmet when I was skydiving years ago and it showed every bump, rub and scratch.
 
HotFix said:
....

Another plus side of a white helmet is stickers blend in better!
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I am starting to feel like a billboard with all the stickers beginning to adorn my white helmet..... It started with a Moonshine sticker, then a memorial to our fallen member Jackpine Savage, then a DOT sticker, then I got the bike blessed, and well....I did need that Yellowstone sticker didn't I........help me......
 
White lid... LEO's wear white lids... when someone looks out there rear view mirror, all they see is a white lid... guess what most left lane drivers gut reaction is... move over :cool:
 
IMHO white is the most visible colour. I believe there are some studies that back that up. One from Australia I think. But it is a personal choice, I do not let the price dictate what helmet I get. I try to get the best helmet I can afford. And the most expensive helmet is not always the best. But you only get one head so protect it as well as you can.
 
Thanks everyone for your input. Greatly appreciated. I realize that colour is a personal choice, however, I feel no question is a stupid question and that is why I asked. Only way to learn is ask.

With the weather the way it has been here, riding season is still a good couple of months away, I have time to make a decision as to the brand. Lots of time to try on other models to find the best fit for my noggin.

Again, thanks for you replies and comments.

Riding season can't get here fast enough. Been a long cold winter this year.

John
 
I like the Arai myself, and plan to buy one this year if I can.

Honda has a new line of helmets (only available from Honda Canada). They are Arai helmets with some nice color choices.

I'm gonna buy the Contrast pictured here. And heres the link.

As far as black goes, I would never wear a black helmet. Something guys have not mentioned or thought of here is inside the helmet heat levels.

A black helmet has to be hotter in inside temperature than a lighter colored helmet.

My experience has been that a black car will be hotter inside and need the AC more often than a white car. The black car runs the AC when the white car can have the windows down and be fine.

I don't want to cook my head thank you. This will be a problem if you ever make a trip down to Texas in the summer time, trust me :D

http://www.honda.ca/MCPE/Motorcycle...=E&Type=Apparel&View=Apparel&Name=AraiHelmets
 

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PaPa John said:
what is your opinion on a black helmet. I will be staying with a full face helment. I have read numerous articles on helmet colour and visibility, but information from other riders can be more productive that reading surveys and studies.
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I wear nothing but white helmets. I made this decision long ago after noticing while riding in groups that those with white helmets stand out like a sore thumb. It's just one of the things I do to increase the odds of surviving on roads full of brain dead, cell phone yacking cagers.
 
Arai has something like 7 different shells and all kinds of padding options. You really need to see an Arai specialist to get the benefit.[/QUOTE]

i just saw a new arai in a magazine and i was thinking i would go have a look see. but you mention an (arai specialist) who would that be? i dont want to waste my time with a salesman on a $700.00 helmet if i can talk to a specialist
 
Nothing wrong with a black helmet and as for cooler it may be on the outside if white but they did tests a number of years ago in Death valley and the difference was moot . Its the air flow that cools a helmet not color . As for being seen if thats a issue there are cool reflective decals to fit every safety mind from black widows to checkered strips . so also a moot point . But like they said its a personal choice for color as long as it fits
 
Capt_Gruuvy said:
I'd buy the black one and cover it with animal fur ....
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Maybe just black and put a big 8 on it a be an eight ball.:D Couldnt't resist. Fur no. I have threatened to grow a ponytail - with what hair I havel left. Wouldn't look good sticking out of the fur covered helmet

John
 
Now down to serious business. Whet to the local Honda shop and tried on different helments. Arai - the new one didn't fit to good, quess it was my head. Tried a Shoei - padding didnt fit right around the ear. Had to suffle the helmet up and down and side to side to get it comfortable.

Dealt with a person I know at the shop and he was very helpful. The young pup I dealt with earlier wasn't there. Darcy was very courteous and helpful. He even took me upstairs where they had about four hundred helmets stored Tried on a HJC with the interior tinted visor. Really neat setup. Tried on a large, too big. Tried a medium and fit quite good and felt comfortable. Nice and snug and no pressure points. Have a good assortment for colours - white, silver, multi graffic colours. One was a black, red and silver design.

Decisions, decisions. So I left it after trying on quite a few. Now to think, and ponder a decision.

By the selection, looks like I will be dealing with Darcy.

John
 
Simple equation.... White reflects light (and some solar energy)... Black absorbs light (and some solar energy)... Basically, if it is hot, then the black helmet is going to be hot... but the white helmet will be hot too - but maybe not as hot... :rolleyes: and maybe a little more visible to the BDC's....
:cool:
P.S. I wear a white one... for the visibility and the break (however small) from the solar energy...
 
I agree with the votes for the white helmet. Better visibility and seems to feel cooler in hot weather (I've had black ones). My own conclusion on what is the best helmet, is whatever fits my head! I currently have an HJC and am quite happy with the fit and weight, tho' the Shoei I had before seemed to seal out the rain better. Go for fit and visibility!

Norm
 
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