I am looking for a 1/2 helmut that won't act like parachute on my head. I live in south florida and summer is super hot so I really prefer for around town a 1/2 helmut. The one I currently use does look like a mushroom on my head but I really don't care how I look I do want safety and it is dot approved. But when I get over 60 with my current helmut the wind wants to yank my head off. I use a 3/4 helmut with face shield for trips. Wind is of no issue with that. In florida we don't have to wear a helmut but with all the blu-hairs and cell phone talking/texting locals and tourists it is much wiser to protect my skull. So looking for an aerodynamic 1/2 helmut that won't cost as much as a kidney transplant. Thanks for any ideas and suggestions.
Well i was gona ask if you've looked at the carbon fiber helmets, but then you said at a reasonable price, I'd love to have one thats thinner than mine but no luck so far, I'll subscribe and maybe we can both find what we're looking for.
I purchased an ACC carbon fiber half helmet that was a DOT helmet. It was light, didn't look like a mushroom, etc. At the time they were one of the best DOT half helmets but it lifted at speed. I sent it back and they sent another one that had the strap moved forward about 3/4" and that fixed the lifting problem. It's almost as comfortable as a half shell helmet. Later they recalled them saying the helmet failed the DOT test or something. The company folded and re-opened as a kayak helmet company before I sent it back for a refund. I've still got the helmet but never use it much. I bought a Shoei 3/4 helmet and have been using it. If you can find an ACC helmet I'd try it and see if that's what you're looking for. There may be a few around.
You can check out these guys: http://www.leatherup.com/c/Outlaw-Helmets/2/131.html I have the carbon fiber without the graphics. It fits well and I don't have a problem at higher speeds, however there are no vents, so in hot weather it is still not comfortable.
You can also try daytona half helmets. Smaller than anything I've ever seen. 50 bucks. Not the most comfortable but I thinks that's how they got it smaller. Mine doesn't lift bad as long as my chinstrap is on good. Ill send a link.
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We're going through this right now and have tried a bunch of different 1/2 helmets. Most all of them give you the "mushroom" look, but we found that the Vega XTS Naked ones are the best fitting DOT approved 1/2 helmets out there.
Just for the record, Skid Lid was the worst in both fit and shape (at least to us).
If you aren't interested in DOT, the Daytona novelty helmets looked the best and were fairly comfortable.
DOT standard state that a minimum of 1.25" of padding has to be present, so it all comes down to the shape of the lid as to whether or not it's going to look right.
If you a cheap head buy a cheap helmet. Otherwise Seer makes an excellent helmet that is cool enough to wear in So Fla during summertime. And Seer makes all the motor officers helmets here in So Fla plenty of protection !!! I paid the bucks but Seer makes a helmet that fits my 75/8 head and is comfortable to wear. Enough buy Seer ...
I think you are going to get that parachute effect with any dot half helm. i have one by Fuel which is the smallest profile aerodynamically of the 3 half helmets i own and it pulls at speed as much as the others (hjc and bell).
My DOT half helmet used to get some lift (with the windshield off) until I took the visor off the front. That made a huge difference. Keeping the chin strap nice and tight makes a difference also.
We all say that we ride for the Freedom of the Road and get really mad when people tell us that we should not be riding motorcycles. We even have a old T-shirt that says "If I HAVE TO EXPLAIN THEN YOU WOULD NOT UNDERSTAND".
Yet when a fellow biker opens a thread on looking for a certain type of helmet; we give them help by telling them what a terrible choice they have made.
I will agree that a full face helmet will keep my jaw and teeth in place under certain conditions but I don't like the way it fits or feels on my head. It's my head and if I make a choice that is different from yours then just wish me a happy life and not tell me what I'm doing is wrong.
I ride with the Police style of helmet and find it works for my riding style and yes it is like I'm a member of the mushroom group. That fits right in with how I'm treated; kept in the dark and fed waste products. Take Care and enjoy those rides Fairshake
Bingo! Well said, but I would have used a few more colorful words. With that said, go to Rev-zilla.com, sorry don't have a link for you, and look at some of the newer half and three quarter helmets, some have internal drop down visors and still have a really cool post apocalypse kind of outer shell. They have all the modern bits and I think one even had bluetooth in it already. I would join you in the half helmet thing, and often do when riding my trials bike. But in no-stop comp and the higher speed power touring I do, it behooves me to not eat quite so many bugs. My wife tells me I am a gassy bugger if I eat that much raw meat and makes me sleep on the couch.
Can we turn this into another helmet or no helmet thread. The last one went 14 or 15 pages. I havn't worn a helmet in a couple years, but I just got another bike (cbr954rr) so I'm looking for a good full face or modular with blue tooth. Anyone ever use a helmet with blue tooth speakers? I'd like to be able to listen to music while riding. I'm not interested in talking so I don't need a microphone.
try HCI ( helemt city international) helmets. they are the smallest and lwest profile DOT helmets on the market. they run about 32 to 50 bucks. i have their carbon fiber which is a pound lighter than their normal helmet but at 109 bucks. love these helmets.. i do also own two helmets by headtriphelmets.com
don't think they are dot anymore but they are super strong. and they have awesome colors. plus they are even smaller. the two i have are a medium/large size. they fit as a large.