View Full Version : Question About Helmets
Chopper Rick
12-25-2005, 04:08 PM
Before i get to my question just want to say i hope you all had a wonderful Christmas. Now on to the question. I'm looking to purchase a 3/4 Dot Approved helmet but here is the problem that i'm having, when trying them on instead of seating low on my head they tend to seat to high on the head as if you have a mushroom on your head. The only helmets that i have found that don't give me that mushroom look are the Buco helmets but there not dot approved. Are there any other 3/4 helmets out there that you guys own or wear that you know about that will give me that low look that i'm looking for & are dot approved?
Thanks
GearJammer
12-27-2005, 11:58 AM
Hope your Holidays are going well also, Chopper Rick. Haven't been ignoring you, it's just that we don't have a lid law here (after age 21) & I don't wear one, so obviously I know nothing about them, LMAO!
Maybe someone else knows what you're referring to & will chime in ? Anyone ?
Chopper Rick
12-27-2005, 03:07 PM
My hoildays went well thank you Gearjammer. The problem i'm coming across as it pertains to the helmets are the way they look when sitting on my head. I get that bubble head or mushroom look that just doesn't look cool. When i do find a helmet that fits & looks the way it should it's usually a non-dot helmet. For me i don't like the idea or thought of my head skidding down the pavement with very little or no protection at all.
Chopper Rick
12-27-2005, 03:19 PM
Here's a company Gearjammer i found on the web that appears to make dot approved lids that sit down lower on the head.
http://www.carbonfiberhelmets.com/dot.htm
screamineagle
12-27-2005, 06:31 PM
Hey Rick,
Not sure what your looking for here, but at almost $200 just so your helmet sits closer to your head doesn't sound like a good tradeoff (to me at least).
All I can do for you here is give you a pic of me with my lid on and let you see what IT looks like.
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b398/screamineagle_rc/DSCF1215-2.jpg
This is a $60 lid made by AFX and is DOT approved.
I sell the non DOT approved type helmets, and I am looking to start selling the DOT type. But I hate the way DOT helmets sit, so I only wear non-DOT style helmets.
I won a harley davidson DOT helmet at the last biker event one of the local churches puts on. I have had it since may and have worn it twice. Hate the way it fits, but I keep it in case I want to ride a passenger.
I bought my wife an HJC DOT aproved helmet, she loves it, but the visor makes the wind lift it, so she rides without the visor.
Later
Chopper Rick
12-28-2005, 12:09 AM
Hey Rick,
Not sure what your looking for here, but at almost $200 just so your helmet sits closer to your head doesn't sound like a good tradeoff (to me at least).
All I can do for you here is give you a pic of me with my lid on and let you see what IT looks like.
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b398/screamineagle_rc/DSCF1215-2.jpg
This is a $60 lid made by AFX and is DOT approved.
I here you that $200 is a bit pricey but for me wearing those mushroom head helmets tend to be very uncomfortable & look pretty ridicules on me. Thanks for the pix of the AFX lid your wearing.
Chopper Rick
12-28-2005, 12:16 AM
I sell the non DOT approved type helmets, and I am looking to start selling the DOT type. But I hate the way DOT helmets sit, so I only wear non-DOT style helmets.
I won a harley davidson DOT helmet at the last biker event one of the local churches puts on. I have had it since may and have worn it twice. Hate the way it fits, but I keep it in case I want to ride a passenger.
I bought my wife an HJC DOT aproved helmet, she loves it, but the visor makes the wind lift it, so she rides without the visor.
Later
Like you i also don't like the way the the dot helmets fit or feel on my head. Now as for the non-dot lids they are the only helmets that sit properly on my head but as you know already offer very little if any protection to the head.
GearJammer
12-28-2005, 01:44 AM
Chopper Rick, Please forgive me for hi-jacking the thread momentarily...just wanted to note that the subject of helmets is always a controversial one, there's pro's & con's on either side of the issue. I've literally seen and/or know of results from accidents, some of which would support/some of which would not, so I personally respect that decision to be left up to the individual rider (when/where that choice is available) Bottom line: I ride without, BUT, I also ride with some folks that do wear 'em & their decision is fully respected here.
Back on topic...It's interesting to read the difference in fit between DOT approved vs. non-DOT approved. Hadn't been aware of that before & I trust you'll find the one that suits you, Brother :wink:
Chopper Rick
12-28-2005, 04:29 AM
No problem Gearjammer i don't mind the hi-jack. I've also read many reports on the pros & cons & after reading all those reports i came to the same conclusion as you, leave it up to each individual to make the choice to wear one or not. I choose to wear one after seeing & speaking to several guys in the head trauma unit who no longer will be the same again because of the severe head injuries. And not one of those guys had protection for there heads either. But after seeing all that & saying what i just said, i still believe that each individual should make that choice to wear a lid or not.
If I can dig it up I will post the research done that shows most bike related head injurys come from the chin/front face area, so it would be the idea that a half helmet isnt very protective on average. But I own every type helmet and never give grief over what one chooses to wear. If you find one you like and like the way it fits, ride on. I happen wear the non dot for comfort, and ride without when in a state like SC that allows it.
Later
GearJammer
12-28-2005, 01:38 PM
Thanx guys...
There's no shortage of info out there for either side of the issue, but it's good to see that we can agree on the freedom of choice aspect.
Ride Safe...
Chopper Rick
12-28-2005, 03:08 PM
It's definitely an issue that will be debated for many years to come whether to wear or not to wear one.
ChrisJ
12-28-2005, 04:42 PM
If I can dig it up I will post the research done that shows most bike related head injurys come from the chin/front face area, so it would be the idea that a half helmet isnt very protective on average. But I own every type helmet and never give grief over what one chooses to wear. If you find one you like and like the way it fits, ride on. I happen wear the non dot for comfort, and ride without when in a state like SC that allows it.
Later
Chop chop! 'Tis 'ere.. http://bmwdean.home.att.net/swisherhelmet11x17.pdf
Chopper Rick
12-29-2005, 05:52 PM
"Back on topic...It's interesting to read the difference in fit between DOT approved vs. non-DOT approved. Hadn't been aware of that before & I trust you'll find the one that suits you, Brother."
GearJammer, The differences between todays helmets & the ones made in the 60s & 70s are the older vintage helmets have a thinner shell & less padding which allows that steamlined fit against the face so you don't get that bubble look, but unforunately the older helmets are not up to date with todays dot standards. The newer helmets as you probably know meet todays dot standards & have a thicker shell & more padding which is why you get that mushroom head look.
GearJammer
12-29-2005, 10:21 PM
O.K....I'm following that & thanx, Chopper Rick. What about the helmets that the motorcycle cops wear ? They'd definitely be DOT approved & more than likely are scored in quantity from some helmet company or another.
Which reminds me (going off-topic again, LOL!) but for the longest time the motorcycle cops here had been riding Kawasakis. I swear I saw one on the highway riding a HARLEY a few months ago. Haven't seen that in YEARS! Come to think of it, if they're switching back to H-D, a person could probably outrun 'em now! LMAO! (teasin' :lol: )
Chopper Rick
12-29-2005, 11:25 PM
O.K....I'm following that & thanx, Chopper Rick. What about the helmets that the motorcycle cops wear ? They'd definitely be DOT approved & more than likely are scored in quantity from some helmet company or another.
Which reminds me (going off-topic again, LOL!) but for the longest time the motorcycle cops here had been riding Kawasakis. I swear I saw one on the highway riding a HARLEY a few months ago. Haven't seen that in YEARS! Come to think of it, if they're switching back to H-D, a person could probably outrun 'em now! LMAO! (teasin' :lol: )
The helmets the cops wear meet or exceed current dot & snell standards. And if you've notice even they have the bubble head look. The motorcycle cops in my nick of the woods ride Kaws because there so much lighter than harleys & better mechanically.
GearJammer
12-29-2005, 11:50 PM
The ones I see in the cities are still the Kaws here, too. This H-D was on the Interstate & the only one I've seen so far. I was driving in a cage, looked in the sideview mirror, saw the H-D coming up on the left & as he passed, I said to myself "Was that a cop on a Harley ?"
Sure enough, several miles up the slab, he flashed the lights & pulled some guy over.
With their stocks falling, maybe H-D is looking for a new customer base, LMAO!
Chopper Rick
12-30-2005, 12:42 AM
Man i haven't seen a cop on a harley in ages. You could be right,
H D might be looking to get back in the game with the department.
Its pretty common here to an electra porker. Our local SO has one, HD leases them to the force for $1 per month, they trade in every year and get a new one.
Not a bad deal, wish they would pass it along to the rest of us.
Later
GearJammer
12-30-2005, 11:44 AM
$1 per month ? Holy Moley! I think that H-D should offer the same terms to non-profit organizations, like the Devoted Order of Scooter Tramps....hehehe....
Wonder what H-D does with the exchanged ones ? Use them for dealership rentals ? Auction them off ?
The returned models are sold to the public for anywhere between $11k and $14k, so it works out for everyone in the end, they usuall end up with between 2k and 6k miles.
later
GearJammer
12-31-2005, 12:04 PM
Good deal, but still overpriced & H-D is only continuing to glut the used Harley market, ROTFLMAO!
Seriously, I wonder what the future holds for H-D. Their market is glutted, the competition has come on strong, the "yuppie" customer base might be (if not actually "IS") dwindling. Can't see H-D being able to compete in the sports bike field. Where do they go from here ?
Recently had thought that maybe they'd venture into the "factory chopper" arena, but the new 2006 EPA laws might prevent that from being an option.
around here there seems to be a shortage of HD's, there are waiting lists for certain bikes. I think HD is going to have to eventually re-define the nature of their price structure.One of my buddy's just bought and kawasaki vulcan 2000cc and it is far superior to any HD as far as ride, size and even sound. It sounds like a boss hoss. Only time will tell where HD takes their monster.
GearJammer
01-02-2006, 12:58 PM
You're probably right in that one of H-D's options may be to have to lower their prices. Not sure about waiting lists at the local H-D dealership here, but there's a ton of used Harleys being sold privately. It'll be interesting to wait 'n see how this new EPA law effects the bike market in general, both stock & aftermarketwise.
Hadn't heard of the Kawasaki 2000 until now. Sounds pretty impressive & is probably just one more item to give H-D fits! LOL!
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