New Helmet ... Unsure

[alien.46.uk]

Hi All ...

For the past 2 years i've had a £30 Nitro Helmet ... which when I was on the 125, was ok, but I have now upgraded due to now being on the 600.

Anyway, I went to the NEC bike show (second time, but this time had to pay to get in, lol) ...

Got to the MandP stand which I'd already seen the KBC Gun DUO there for £119, which is a very good price, but now was £99.99, so over I went too buy one which I did.

But what was odd, was that my Nitro was an XL, where the advised me to get the M ... Now I tried on an XL, an L, and an M ...

*XL was defiantly too big ...

*L felt pretty good, but was told when it wears it will become sloppy ...

*M felt too tight, but was told it would wear and flex a bit to eventually sit well ...

Now the ridge on the forehead felt so tough I was advised to get a spoon and using the outer curved bit, smooth down the (cork?) ridge.

I decided on the M purely based on the salesman's advice and as he was a representative from KBC themselves I decided to trust them.

So did the spoon thing for a bit then, tried just sitting in me room for a bit with it on. About 10 mins in, it was hurting behind my eye sockets, should it be this tight even at the start? I'm sure the nitro wasn't like this but was soo long ago now I cant remember ...


I was told after the M size it changes to a complete bigger shell, when XS, S and M use the same shell, but for L and XL, it uses a complete bigger shell.

How should a well fitting helmet feel roughly when new and when worn in?

How long would wearing in roughly take?

Has anyone else had experience wearing in the KBC V2's?

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks a lot,

Luke.
____________________
2007 Kawasaki ZX10R :: 1998 Kawasaki ZX-9R - SOLD
1998 Yamaha FZS600 Fazer - SOLD :: 1994 Aprilia Pegaso 125 - SOLD

[Itchy]

Nitros are always dead big , AFAIK they have a single shell size and pad it heavily , I ripped open a nitro once and it had a helluva lot of padding ,

Nitro I am XXL64 + , Shark I'm smaller, though I can't actually tell anymore cus there are no size markings on my ruined shark.
____________________
Spain 2008France 2007Big one 2009 We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will. In the end, your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it is worth watching.

[Stu_666]

Have'nt got experience of those helmets but it does sound like its too tight.
I did a CBT once where they gave me some crappy helmet which was too small as they didn't have any other sizes and after about half an hour I had an aching forehead like you had.
The fit should be comfortable with not too much play or tightness. Should be able to move the helmet slightly from side to side as it needs some give (obviously not too much though).
With the helmet I've got (had ), it didn't really change its shape from new (as in expand a bit inside).

[Jlo31]

Hi,

I am not keen on the advise of using a spoon to push in the padding. The foam liner is the 'shock abbsorber' to help protect your brain in an impact and this could reduce the effect of the shock absorber.

May be you don't have a KBC head. Bit naughty of the KBC representative as I think he just wanted a sale!

Hope it does bed in for you.

Jlo

[Seb]

A new lid should definately feel tight but not so much so that its actually painful to wear.

Best advice I can offer you with regards to a lid is simply try everything on, I went into my local HG aiming to buy a HJC or AGV and came out with a completely different Arai purely because of comfort and fit.

But yeah, whilst I can't help but think that the advice on the spoons is madness (Likely to cause extra wind noise as well as potentially lower the liners ability to absorb and spread an impact), he is right in the regard that the fit of the lid will improve as you wear it in, gloves tend to be prone to this too, often painfully so.
____________________
2010 Triumph 1050 Sprint ST

[The Tot]

I think Luke VFR has the KBC VR2's. I once had a KBC AR-1 and that had the best padding and plushest liner of any helmet i've tried (it was a beige colour) - better than my arai actually! But i took an S in that! - I think they only make 2 shells and just shove loads of padding into their helmet. Probably only 2 shell sizes and make up by the padding?
____________________
The Tot 2019 Z1000SX - 2007 R1
Never argue with autism

[Itchy]

Hmm , I don't seem to be able to find a size on my ruined shark helmet , anybody know if Shark lids have the size printed on them anywhere? (I'm buying shark again this year and want to do it via mail order but obviously can't find the size Doh!).
____________________
Spain 2008France 2007Big one 2009 We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will. In the end, your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it is worth watching.

[TheDonUK]

Sounds like the large would have been a better bet, or a different helmet that fits your head better.

It shouldent give you any pain when breaking in a lid, The cheekpads will give somewhat, as well as any other padding, but from what i understand the forehead part stays largely the same, for obvious reasons. Keep plugging away at it, and hope that it beds in, otherwise you are best getting a new lid, that fits you well. If you ride around with a lid that is too tight it will cause you too loose consentration and that aint good son...

BTW A decent helmet is just as needed on a 125 as a 600...

[Finglonga]

How long did you try it on for? You should have it on for a minimum of 10 minutes. Sounds like its too small or even could be the wrong shape for your head. Not all helmets fit the same size head.

If you haven't used it I would take it back (they may not take it back now as they don't know if you may have dropped it) or ring them to see if you can return it by post and try a different make one.

If you are not 100% sure about the fitment of a crash helmet walk away, its allot of money to spend on a plant pot!
____________________
Andy Sez....
F.Y.Y.F.F.

[alien.46.uk]

Hmm ... ok, thanks for everyone's advice.

I will give it a try out on the bike I think for a 40 mins ride or so, see what it's like. I'll also strap the old helmet to the bike just in case.

I have a feeling based on what you lot said, I may be in another battle with M&P. First battle were over boots which fell apart in 2-3 months wear, lol ...

Only thing is, I guess i'll have to pay full whack to get it changed for a larger size ...

Hmm ... makes me think I should have gone for the AGV Stealth ... Was a Nice matt black with neon blue fog and skulls on with a blue mirror visor ... lush ... Was just more pricy ... It fit very well ... just tight on cheeks which would probably have been more suitable ... I just decided to trust the KBC bloke with M&P.

Anyway, as I said, i'll give it a go on the bike see what it's like ... what sort of timescale would it have on wearing in the forehead area?

Thanks.
____________________
2007 Kawasaki ZX10R :: 1998 Kawasaki ZX-9R - SOLD
1998 Yamaha FZS600 Fazer - SOLD :: 1994 Aprilia Pegaso 125 - SOLD

[alien.46.uk]

[J.K.R]

If i was you i'd have taken advantage (ooo-er) of the £1<>$2 rate and got a simpson

Wouldnt have bought the KBC if it needed a gentle 'spooning'
____________________
www.oldskoolsuzuki.info

[Finglonga]

If you try it on the bike you can't expect them to take it back as it is 100% second hand. You would stand no chance if they find road grime on it, and they will as you can always tell when a lid has been used.

Wear it around the house for a few hours, its the same thing and if it hurts you have dropped a bollock!
____________________
Andy Sez....
F.Y.Y.F.F.

[Ichy]

Sorry mate but as far as I'm concerned you've been screwed. Normal M and P tactics. No way will they take it back without some PITA. The spoon stuff simply means that it was the wrong shape for your head.


I should point out I hate the bastards, not biased or anything.

[Type_Mo]

[strag]

Your head is weird...live with it
____________________
carbon bling