I want to buy a real motorcycle helmet

[krey]

Hey all,

Looking for suggestions on a motorcycle helmet. Yes I only drive a Honda 125 CC scooter but I like to get a full helmet besides my little half helmet that I wear now that i presume will only help if i happen to land on it the perfect way:) I like something safer. I dont know squat about helmets so looking for suggestions on

1. what kind should I get

2. How much should i be spending ( I dont need the best but want quality)

3. Where should I get it

4. Any tips on buying a helmet, how it should fit, shield, weight etc

thanks

[masuk]

full face with jaw guard.

[mesquite]

full face with jaw guard.

Yes. Recommend NOLAN helmet. Go to Mike's Burgers by the moat, then turn left and go up Chiang Moi for about 1/4 mile and you'll see a shop on the right. About 1500 THB or less.

[NeverSure]

I agree with all of the above. If by chance you decide to order, and from the US such as from Ebay or Amazon, be sure it has a DOT (Department of Transportation) sticker on it to prove it has been tested and approved. Those are the only ones that are legal there. Be sure it's a trusted seller as some will have fakes drop-shipped from China although that's highly criminal and rare.

Cheers.

[flare]

Have a look in Helmet2Home near Pantip. You should be able to find something with a DOT, Snell, or ECE approval for ~5K or less (look at the Real brand, which is locally-made and decent- but not great- quality). There are many brands, and it's easy to spend 15K+, but what you're mostly getting for the extra money is features, so if you're looking for something strictly for safety for relatively short trips on your scooter, any safety-certified helmet should fit your needs. Personally I only wear Shoei helmets (they fit me very well- some helmet brands fit some head types better than others due to their shell shape) as the extra features (drop-down sun visit, extra venting, Bluetooth headset cut-outs, etc) as necessary for me, but they're pretty expensive in Thailand.

One thing that might be of a concern for you is a TIS stamp- even very high-end helmets tend not to have one as they're not approved for use in Thailand (which is crazy- a 20K premium helmet with every safety feature and option is technically illegal to use here while a useless 300bt Tesco helmet is perfectly fine)- basically, on a random stop, the cops could bust your balls for a helmet without the sticker (my helmet doesn't have one and I've had no issues, but it's a possibility). This would not be an issue with Real or other local brands. Most of the helmets in Helmet2Home are TIS approved. They'll also be able to help you with fitment, etc.

https://www.facebook.com/helmet2home/

Edited January 7, 2016 by flare

[FolkGuitar]

No doubt about it, a full-face helmet is the way to protect your head. It's not the most comfortable thing to wear on a hot Thailand summer day in the sun, but if you buy a recognized brand you should have plenty of venting to help dissipate the heat. Buying a white color helmet helps reflect the heat too. The shop on the first floor of Panthip Plaza sells Shoei, Arai, and a couple of other well respected brands. The shop down Chiang Moi Rd carries Nolan and one or two other well-known brands.

Perhaps most importantly, TRY THEM ON! If they don't fit comfortably, you won't wear them. Each company's design is slightly different, and the shell shape is important. Is your head oval, round, pear-shaped up or pear-shaped down? Find the brand that fits your shape. The helmet shouldn't move when you shake your head, but still not squeeze your head while wearing it. It should be a tight fit when new as it will loosen up a bit after a few months.

These photos from the Motorcycle Safety Foundation show the percentages of impact during a crash for each area of the head. As you can see, it's actually the lower face area that takes the most impact...

[Dellboy218]

You might also like to read

http://sharp.direct.gov.uk/

Web bike world also holds a wealth of information

http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycle-helmets/motorcycle-helmets.htm

You might like to look at the flip up type helmets in place of fixed full face. For a good fit you should be able to shake your head around without it moving, the Sharp website has information about fitting. Also consider those with extras like a retractable sun shield. Make sure the helmet has good ventilation otherwise it will be uncomfortable. As someone has mentioned Nolan, I use a Nolan but they are a slightly narrow fitting and not suitable for everyone. Real world reviews on Web bike world will have more information.

[tassini]

Just for you $600...

[masvil]

You might also like to read

http://sharp.direct.gov.uk/

I agree.

I bought AGV K3 SV - http://sharp.direct.gov.uk/testsratings/agv-k3-sv at Helmet2Home near Pantip, recommended if you want to be safe. They have another branch too but I can't remember where because my GF drove me there at that time.

Edited January 8, 2016 by masvil

[CMKiwi]

The other branch of Helmet2Home is down Chang Puak Rd. Its not far down from the moat turning and on the right hand side.

[flyDelight]

Saw brand helmets inside Panthip Plaza near the side exit around 5000-15000b.

'Nolan helmet for 1500b' sounds like fake, a decent helmet should cost at least 5000.

Edited January 8, 2016 by flyDelight

[FolkGuitar]

Saw brand helmets inside Panthip Plaza near the side exit around 5000-15000b.

'Nolan helmet for 1500b' sounds like fake, a decent helmet should cost at least 5000.

Nolan has the distinction among quality helmets as being remarkably low cost compared with the other name brands.

I wear a Shoei "Neotec" flip-up style and love the comfort and convenience of this type of helmet here. One very nice feature of both Shoei and Arai brands is that you can 'custom fit' them. The inner linings are snap-fit, so you can get slightly thicker or thinner padding for them. The padding doesn't affect the safety of the helmet (that comes from the crush-able expanded foam layers attached to the outer shell) so you are free to size it purely for comfort.

One thing to keep in mind though, especially when purchasing a very expensive helmet... While there isn't much need to lock up a 150-baht Tesco helmet, you might give it some thought when you have an 18,000 baht helmet. People don't 'borrow' them because they want a new helmet. They take them because they see a police check point down the street and need to get past it without getting dinged. They are just as likely to leave it somewhere after the 'danger' is passed. Meanwhile, you're out an expensive brain bucket... The nice thing about a full-face helmet is that you can slip a small cable lock around the chin bar and lock the helmet to the bike easily.

Edited January 8, 2016 by FolkGuitar

[krey]

thank you all for your thoughts I will check out the couple stores mentioned see what suits me

as I said not looking for all the bells and whistles, a comfy fit and has some good venting of course would be a bonus

great info guys thanks again

[kanook]

You cannot buy a Nolan helmet for 1500฿ (maybe that was a typo) and the helmet type referred to as 'flip up' is a modular helmet.

[Gonsalviz]

I agree with all of the above. If by chance you decide to order, and from the US such as from Ebay or Amazon, be sure it has a DOT (Department of Transportation) sticker on it to prove it has been tested and approved. Those are the only ones that are legal there. Be sure it's a trusted seller as some will have fakes drop-shipped from China although that's highly criminal and rare.

Cheers.

I think DOT means nothing in Thailand. Harley Davidson cannot import helmets because they are not Snell qualified.

[Gonsalviz]

I paid nearly 18,000 Baht for an Aria helmet. 2 weeks later one of the vents started a rattle that would drive a sane person mad. Parts are not available in Thailand. Then the face shield mounts broke. I was able to get a friend to bring the parts from USA. Some parts are not available unless you contact the manufacturer in Japan.

I now own 2 Nakoya Thai made helmets.(700 Baht each). I am not poor but I refuse to buy a helmet I cannot repair.

[freedomnow]

REAL ( brand name) helmets good middle ground for price/quality. Bilmola look good but shoddy creaky in-hand. INDEX - will pass Police helmet stops but little else in safety. 1500 Baht and up for proper entry-level ones from Real.

Forget those Thai flip-up helmets/modular helmets...the ones here after getting hands on with them, the entire chin area would just snap off at the side hinges at the temples on a direct chin impact. Maybe Euro/USA ones are better, but the ones here are shoddy.

Get good medical cover in this country if you use a bike here daily. I have to do fast evasive action almost every day due to pure selfish/crap habits here.

Lack of signal/incorrect signal and ignorance of right-of-way main offending habits.

Edited January 10, 2016 by freedomnow

[Johpa]

As others noted, try on as many quality brands to find the best fit. Close your eyes and your head will tell you which is the best fit. I spent two days going to every motorcycle shop in my area and tried on just about every brand at least twice until I found the best fit for me (Shoei). Once you have the fit down then you can decide on the style of helmet as most brands offer a range of styles, but the fit remains constant.

[CMKiwi]

REAL ( brand name) helmets good middle ground for price/quality. Bilmola look good but shoddy creaky in-hand. INDEX - will pass Police helmet stops but little else in safety. 1500 Baht and up for proper entry-level ones from Real.

Forget those Thai flip-up helmets/modular helmets...the ones here after getting hands on with them, the entire chin area would just snap off at the side hinges at the temples on a direct chin impact. Maybe Euro/USA ones are better, but the ones here are shoddy.

Get good medical cover in this country if you use a bike here daily. I have to do fast evasive action almost every day due to pure selfish/crap habits here.

Lack of signal/incorrect signal and ignorance of right-of-way main offending habits.

I had a modular LS2 helmet here and it was as good as gold. No problems with catches on hinge pins but then I didnt crash in order to test it! It had snap out foam inserts which was very good to aid cleaning, the only down side was that the neck roll/foam at the back wasnt removeable. After a few years it was time for a new helmet as this neck foam was a bit manky to say the least.

Ive currently got a fullface Bimola and its ok for the moment but Id suggest it will be pure hell in the hotter months. Ventilation is not one of its greater points.

My other LS2 motorcross style helmet is good in both hot and cold however as other posts have said re LS2 helmets the rubber band around the helmet shell is utter BS. After a time it will shrink and the glue wont hold it on. Although its only cosmetic its still a pain. I went to an aftermarket shop and bought a plastic strip that is used to go over edges. At 20 baht a metre it worked a treat...also good for putting on your car door so it doesnt get damaged if you accidently open it to close to something (Like another car or a garage wall)

I agree with all posts suggesting that you try each helmet first as they do come in different shapes as does ones head.