Looking to buy a new helmet - suggestions?

[BravoCharlie]

Hey guys,

Hope we are well!

I'm looking to buy a new helmet and have been mainly looking at the Shark Vancore after spying it in J&S the other week - so i was wondering if anyone had any suggestions for a lid around £200-£250?

Full face or flip is the main criteria, the less wind noise the better but i can deal with it!

Cheers!
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Current: Kawasaki ZL600 Eliminator
Past: Suzuki GZ125, Kawasaki GT550, Kawasaki GPX600R, Honda vrx400,Kawasaki Zephyr 750, Suzuki SV650 K5
Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today.

[c_dug]

The obvious "whatever fits best" advice applies as always, but I'm a fan of X-Lite lids. They're just about the only brand that fits me nicely to be fair, but I feel like they're decent quality for the price. No flappy vents or leaky visors after 9 months of 40 mile round daily commutes.
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I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[_Iain_]

For batshit mental graphics, ease of use and comfort I'd highly reccomed an Icon lid. bargains can be had ordering the discontinued models with your local Parts Europe dealer as they appear to be slashing the RRP's to shift the unpopular colours. Not the quietest lid I've ever had mind, however they are exceptionally well vented & this does make riding a lot more pleasant in the warmer weather.

https://www.rideicon.com/products/?categoryId=2224

For quietness, Scorpions EXO500. Many find them exceptionally comfortable too due to the inflatable cheek pads that seal a lot of the noise out.

https://www.scorpionsports.eu/english/products/helmets/street-helmets/fullface/exo-500-air/exo-500-air.html

The Vancore will be horrificly noisy as it's a Nano openface with a chinbar & goggles.

Don't kid yourself - it's all about the look as it's an exceptionally unpractical helmet with a chinbar that sits a few mm off your mouth. Ideal for posing at the Ace with your Streetfighter, useless the rest of the time. If it's the look you're after hop on ebay.de and have a look for a Craft RX series lids as they're significantly cheaper to buy in their country of origin & actually offer a comfortable fit, with a sensibly positioned chinbar!

https://www.crafthelmets.com/RX6-Evolution-Black-Chrome-Limited-Edition-ECE-2205_1
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Please be aware that the above post may be full of complete nonsense.
Riding: '07 KTM Duke II, Baotian BT49QT-20 Driving: '88 Volvo 340

[BravoCharlie]

Thanks guys, i appreciate it.

Iain, those icon helmets look brilliant, i'm just unsure of buying without checking the fit out!

No denying i like the vancore due to the fact its aesthetically pleasing, but thats why i've come here, hoping that someone will point out a more sensible option! Gonna go check the x lites out online!

Thanks again
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Current: Kawasaki ZL600 Eliminator
Past: Suzuki GZ125, Kawasaki GT550, Kawasaki GPX600R, Honda vrx400,Kawasaki Zephyr 750, Suzuki SV650 K5
Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today.

[c_dug]

This is my current lid:

https://cdn2.bigcommerce.com/n-nr1m3w/ghykihq/products/7788/images/3742/X_603_13_25_600___06629__22248.1400180508.600.600.jpg?c=2

An X-603, it is designed to be compatible with Nolans bluetooth sets if that is your thing. My only negative thing I can think of is the matte colour gets quite grubby.

I've had a few brands of lid in my 8 years riding, and X-lite by far have the best visor detachment mechanism IMO.

Anyway, enough of the sales pitch
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I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[Nexus Icon]

My last lid was an X-Lite and I would definitely have another. It was lighter than my current Arai but I had knocked it around a bit and the Arai was at too tempting a price when I was looking to replace it.

There is nothing intrinsically better about the Arai, with the possible exception of reduced wind noise, but it was twice the price.
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Greetings from Shitsville!

[arry]

Slightly out of budget but I was looking at this earlier:
https://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/motorcycle_parts/content_prod/104537

Main feature being 'adjustable fit' - and 4 shell sizes should mean that it's not too much of a struggle to make it nice and snug.

I was struggling to find the weight of it though.

[andys675]

best bit of advice I can give is don't buy a cheap "new" shoei off ebay, mate of mine did and it's US homologated DOT, thankfully advertised as euro spec so he managed to return it as not described
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Some people feel the rain, others just get wet.

[grr666]

I'd recommend the HJC RPHA ST at around £270
Double D, internal sun visor, loads of fancy graphics or plain,
Pinlock with insert supplied, award winning, pretty quiet at speed,
good lifesaver view visibility. Good venting and easy to use visor
which can be easily opened/closed with either gloved hand.

More here

https://www.hjc-helmets.uk.com/news-and-media/NewsItem_22/winner-of-test-helmet-motorrad
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Currently enjoying products from Ford, Mazda and Yamaha
Ste wrote: Avatars are fine, it's signatures that need turning off.

[gavbriggs]

The best advice I can give you is to use money and get one that fits your head. The rest is purely cosmetic/desire
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Recent bikes: Varadero 125 - Mod 2 3/2/14 - Bandit 1200 SK4

[Rogerborg]

Hello! Here's a list of all the crash hats that I've had...


No. Just no.

Dafuq does cost have to do with it? Fit, then features. Cost just rules out lids that you can't afford.

Dem Shark Vancore lids look well weapon though, dey is get you much refpect.
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[Snop Doog]

Literally just got an email from Sportsbike shop about their AGV clearance, maybe you'll find something in the clearance?

[arry]

[BravoCharlie]

I getcha, Rodgah, innit?


Nah, i appreciate fit is everything. Hence why i said i'm apprehensive about buying without trying it on, i'm looking for suggestions on what to try, and if alls well, then buy. Surely there's no harm in asking?

I've tried the shark on and it does fit pretty well on my head, unlike the arai and schuberths i've tried (back when i had a bigger budget).

as for cost, ive never spent more than £110 on a lid and felt safe and secure in them all. I just have a bit of spare cash to treat myself and if i do find something cheaper (thinking a Caberg), then the rest may go towards a new jacket.

Some things I like the look of and will have a snoop around locally to see if any are in stock
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Current: Kawasaki ZL600 Eliminator
Past: Suzuki GZ125, Kawasaki GT550, Kawasaki GPX600R, Honda vrx400,Kawasaki Zephyr 750, Suzuki SV650 K5
Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today.

[Snop Doog]

[ADSrox0r]

I'm just coming to the end-of-life with a Caberg Ego which has been a cracking good lid for the price, you get a lot of quality for what you pay. I have a right ballache lid shopping though, I have a skull like a bull mastiff that is just too damn massive for anything but XL and XXL and then some.

Always end up with some fuck ugly thing that looks like a bargain bin reject just because it's the only one that doesn't feel like a vice around my noggin.
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Current bikes: '08 VFR 800 VTEC(yo) , '07 ZZR1400 Winter hack: '95 Aprilia 650 Pegaso Currently lusting after: RC30

[_Iain_]

Have a word with your local dealer.

We don't stock Icon, however can send it back for a small re-stocking fee.

I measure a customers head, order the lid they want in the size they need, then a few days later it comes in & they try it on. If it fits, they buy it, if it don't I order another in the smaller size/bigger size & they try that on. Best bit with Icon is that they've got charts of cheek pad and top liner thicknesses in their book so you can easily work out how to custom fit yours - My XL has XS cheekpads in it as they packed it out by an extra 5mm either side to get that perfect fit

If you do get to trying one on they do have a rather narrow head opening so you will have to pull the straps apart. This does loosen up nicely after a while & it makes the lid feel very planted on your head, interior material (Hydradry?) had a rather nice feel to it too.
____________________
Please be aware that the above post may be full of complete nonsense.
Riding: '07 KTM Duke II, Baotian BT49QT-20 Driving: '88 Volvo 340

[chickenstrip]

HJC RPHA 10 has proved to be comfortable and quiet for me, so if you get a good fit in it,
10s are available at a good price, as they're now on the 10 Plus - same lid, but with a different visor and vents. The newer visor will also fit the earlier model.
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Chickenystripgeezer's Biking Life (Latest update 19/10/18) Belgium, France, Italy, Austria tour 2016 Picos de Europa, Pyrenees and French Alps tour 2017 Scotland Trip 1, now with BONUS FEATURE edit, 5/10/19, on page 2 Scotland Trip 2 Luxembourg, Black Forest, Switzerland, Vosges Trip 2017
THERE'S MILLIONS OF CHICKENSTRIPS OUT THERE!

[johnnyarctic]

i have a shark s700. the s900c that i originally was looking at didn't fit at all. such a big difference between them
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Current Ride: VFR750

[_Iain_]

[Skudd]

Just got myself a new Shoei XR1100. Had the XR1000 and loved it so tried the new one and it felt even better. I did have to go up a size from my last one so even the same make but different styles change fit.
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Famous last words of Humpty Dumpty. " Stop pushing me "
Petty Anarchists look at "1984".............. The Visionary looks at "Animal Farm".

[Mark 37]

Shoei Qwest????

Yes that's how it's spelled.
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No matter how fast light travels, darkness was always their first.

[_Iain_]

[Mark 37]

Everyone to their own. I love mine too.

Quietest helmet I've owned below 75mph (private road).

Comfy.

Everything needed is in the box.

No useless sun visor.

Can fit a pair of polarised aviator sunglasses (far superior than a useless plastic tinted internal visor).

Nearly a replacement for every part for when they become worn, so should keep a good fit.

If my memory is correct it scored a sharp test score of 5 stars for those interested in that kind of thing.
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No matter how fast light travels, darkness was always their first.

[barrkel]