What's your helmet choice and why?

[suecanada]

Right now I have a Vemar Jiano...bought on the mad thought that it would be nice to have "no wires attached" bluetooth option. Well....throw that extra cash away and burn it! The wind noise makes it too hard to hear the bluetooth GPS navigation instructions and the GPs's MP3 music sounds like the chipmunks singing over 60 mph. Everything is good more or less up to 60 mph. Very much depends on the wind velocity and direction on the day. So I have a wire to the new Garmin GPS and earbuds which I stick-in with my plasticine type earplugs. I personally find music good for me. Everyone must decide. I had let my old MP3 battery run out last year and even a bit of music or the action of stopping and putting in a new battery would probably have saved me from my accident. I needed some stimulus! I fought the music thing when David suggested I try it. Then he gave me a MP3 for xmas! So I tried it. Still working on getting the sound good at speed though.
For comfort and quiet I think my 2 Arai helmets were best. The Caberg flip-up leaked a bit and tickled my nose in the rain but it was a life saver so I shant complain about it. As my first flip-up helmet the Caberg was a joy. They seem noisy though which is understandable. First helmet was one with earflaps, second one was open face with a plastic visor and third was the fullface Bell in the mid 70's. The internal sun visor is a fantastic feature which was in the Caberg and now the Vemar. I miss D-rings though!

[Semper Gumby]

Shoei RF-1000 -- plain Jane White With replective decals on it.  I like it because I can remove the shields in about 3 seconds without tools.  This is because I have a clear lense for night riding and the darkest smoke lense with a polar optic sun screen on top for day riding.  I keep other screen on the bike in the a Whitehorse cloth bag.  At the moment I'm using ear plugs and a silky (which I wash once a week).

My favorite helmet of all time was the Marushin which they stopped making  for this country.   :-/

If I go modular/flip up I will probably go with the Shoei again....The only time I would use an open face helmet is while riding Trials.  I would never be caught out on the road without a full face helmet.  

< never >

ATGATT!   8-)

[alexznam357]

I currently have an Arai Profile.  It is the second Arai helmet I've owned (previously had a Quantum-S).  Yes, Arai helmets are expensive, but you get first-rate quality (beautiful fit and finish), great venting and visibilty, and quiet comfort.  I've also owned Bell and Shoei helmets...no comparison to the Arai.

[steve hawkins]

I have a Davida Jet for those non-rainy days when only an Open Face will do.  This is not the pudding basin type, but is actually good enough for the race track.

I also have a Caberg Trip for those other days when an Open face is too painful (rain hurts at anything above 30mph). Sun visor is great, but vents could do with some work.  Anti-mist/fog treatment for visor a must.  Great for the price.

I wear clothes that I am comfortable in for the trip that I am doing.  On short trips across the town it might Jeans, with a stout Jacket, sometimes a leather one, sometimes a fabric one, and sometimes with armour.  Always sturdy boots (HM forces high legs) and gloves.  I dress for the conditions I am likely to meet.  

I do not conform to ATGAT, I would rather make an informed choice at the time.  I will not be told by the 'safety police' what I should be wearing - that is my choice.  But you won't ever see me in trainers and shorts.

If I ever consider a neck brace or self inflating suit to be advisable/necessary - then I will stop riding.  

When I get to my destinations, I expect to be able to walk around and do other things.  Its bad enough that I have to carry my helmet, if I have to carry round a heavy suite of armoured clothing, or am made uncomfortable with what I am wearing, then that is a major inconvenience.  I will not festoon my bike with hard luggage to store it all.  I particularly do not like top boxes - due to the effect that they have on the bike at speed.  side panniers are okay though - although I have sold both my sets.

I never drive with music.  Your riding style and speed will change as your music does - beware.  I would rather listen to the engine.  I always wear ear protection though.  I can also do without intercoms and radios.  

My routes are planned before I leave and I would rather be watching the road than a sat nav.  I will conceed that a satnav has been useful on occasion - to get out of a jam.

My tuppence worth

[suecanada]

I agree with Steve that the GPS has it's place. I figure it is a useful driving partner. On a long day when you're hot and tired a bit and heading into an unknown town or city it is nice to have instructions to a motel. GPS and the music thing is like the girl with a curl in the middle of her forehead...."when she is good, she is very very good and when she is bad she is horrid!!!

Nice to have the choice.

[Bengt_Phorqs]

Interesting article on Forumula One helmets.  http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/25/how-felipe-massas-helmet-saved-his-life/
Wonder if he had to shell out the $17k from his own pocket?  Hmmm?