Enduro helmets - choice, diversity, and no idea what to do
 

I'm in the market for two new enduro helmets, one for me and one for my wife. I've had a Nexo enduro helmet for a few years now but unfortunately it broke last October. My wife has been using my Caberg helmet, and is in dire need for something that is not too big for her. What I'm basically looking for is an open helmet, colored and eye-catching (the sooner the others see you the better). My wife would prefer an enduro helmet with a visor, since she doesn't like the idea of goggles. I already have Progrip goggles and intend to keep them. I've been browsing the web and local stores for a while but am still undecided. What's most important is that it absolutely has to be fiberglass or carbon, polycarbonate is not an option. Since we need two helmets money may also become an issue if both helmets are too expensive - our budget is around 500€ for both helmets.

To be honest I'm a bit swamped right now and don't really know what to look for. There's plenty of seemingly good helmets that fit our needs, all within a reasonable price range (150-400€) and I don't really know how to choose. What makes an enduro helmet a good or even great enduro helmet? Obviously design (the louder the better, imo a good enduro helmet has to scream "HERE I AM LOOK AT ME LOOK AT ME YOU'RE NOT LOOKING LOOK AT ME!!!") is an issue, but that still didn't help me narrow down my choices. The question is: how can I sort the good from the bad? What should I be specifically looking for? Any input will be greatly appreciated.

Airoh S4 Review
 

Hey MJ. As far as my experience goes, the only endro helmet I have owned/own is the Airoh S4. It currently retails at 195.00 GBP although I think I got mine for 90.00 GPB so interesting to see the price has more then doubled in the past year!

Its 6/10 comfy; not irriatble but not as soft as one would like for a long trip
Its 4/10 for noise reduction; I do ride over the peaks a lot but still its quite noisey for the price
Its 10/10 for the looks
and 10/10 for visabilty; the viser is very tall and wide and offers great vis

All in all I will probably buy another when/if the price drops as I think there are lids out there that are better value for money, buts its a top helmet and it had saved me once already!

Hope this helps with your research

link: Airoh S4 : Welcome to BIKEGEAR, helmets, jackets, leathers, all the bike gear at low low prices!.

My solution is this:

Arai Tour X Helmet. You can wear this with or without goggles.

I have tinted goggles for cool daytime riding. Keeps the sun out too.

As it gets overcast or dark I remove the goggles and flip the clear visor down.


"quickstraps" on the goggles make removal a doddle...

Jeff Dean has an article on white helmets.
Reduce Risk 24%!

Tommy: the S4 looks looks good. However it's a thermoplast outer shell, aka polycarbonate, and therefore a no-go. I tried on an Airoh fiberglass helmet - M was too small, L was way too large but damn did that helmet look good. I'll certainly try on other Airoh helmets as well, I like their design.

Ted: I've heard good things about Arai but I'm definitely not spending 500€ on a helmet. Our budget is around 500-600€ for both helmets, not each. Frankly, I never really understood why Arai charges so much more for their helmets than anybody else, including Shoei and Schuberth.

What I forgot to mention: noise is not an issue at all. My Nexo was quite loud and it really didn't matter to me. I have good plugs, which I barely ever use though. Plus the noise level is pretty minimal behind my GSA's wind screen. Also, after years of experience and trying on dozens of helmets I can say this: my head was not made for Schuberth helmets whereas my wife's head was not made for Shoei helmets.

John: nice article, thanks. That's precisely why I want a colored and eye-catching helmet and not a black one. Never considered white, maybe I should take that into account as well.

£230 if you shop around...

Worth every penny.

Arai Tour X - White

Only if your head is S or XS though... (which is why they are so cheap at Helmet City - it's also the older Tour-X2 version, nothing wrong with those mind, I have one myself).

I agree with Ted, the Tour-x (and Arai in general) is probably the best helmet out there, and if you look at one side by side with any other (even a Shoei) you can see where the money goes - it's the finish and detailing and quality of the shell/paint/lining etc.

That said, even if you can get a plain one for around £280 (which is possible), that is at the top end of your budget as you say...

If you really want something bright, Lazer do an MX style helmet (no visor) in day-glow fluorescent green or orange for £145 - not sure if it is fibreglass or not, but it's Gold ACU approved.

J xx

The Lazer helmets look pretty nice, thanks. I wasn't paying attention to them because they're a bit hard to find in Germany. I'll look around though, there's a few very nice ones I would definitely be willing to put my head in.

I'm looking for an enduro helmet to do some hare&hounds and trail riding in. I've got an Arai TourX from a previous trip but they're not as cool as a proper mx lid for exerting yourself on a summer trail and they're quite heavy too.

I'm also going to keep an open mind on the material construction side of thing after reading a comparison of the different helmet rating tests (in the US/UK/EU etc) because I have reason to suspect that it is in the interest of the established helmet makers to mislead us that expensive, fiberglass helmets are providing a safety premium in addition to the improved comfort that they currently differentiate their products with. i.e. if I can find a comfortable, cheaper helmet (that meets current UK standards inc Sharp) then I should have no reason to feel that I have made a poor decision.

It's not safety or a lack thereof that bothers me about polycarbonate, it's the durability. Polycarbonate tends to embrittle after three years and needs to be replaced. Fiberglass can last up to ten years without showing any signs of wear, carbon even longer than that. Of course nowadays they all claim that one should replace a helmet after three to five years either way, which is simply ridiculous, because when fiberglass was first introduced it was a lot more expensive than today, and supposed to last for more than ten years. Consequently, as fiberglass helmets became more common, their durability seemed to lessen.

In terms of safety they're all on a par as long as they're new.

I completely agree that it's costly to replace helmet every 3 years but the manufacturers are using this as an excuse to make helmets that only last that long, and we accept this as part of the never ending quest towards this 'personal responsibility to increase our own safety'.

To manufacturers out there: I EXPECT a standardised level of safety, because you HAVE to provide that in order to sell your helmets in the UK, and I will only PAY for comfort and styling features beyond that. -Now go away and make cheaper, comfortable helmets that I will replace every 3 years. That way everyone's happier.:thumbup1:

Ah, but remember its not just about the shell - part of the reason the manufacturers suggest you change your helmet every five years is because eventually the lining will stretch (and get soggy from sweat etc) and thus the helmet will not fit you as well than when it was new - thus possibly increasing your chance of injury if it were to move on your head during an impact...

fwiw - until comparatively recently, I used to use an Arai MXa for trail riding that I bought in 1993! I'd only used it for about two months before my bike was stolen back then (and I didn't replace it or ride for a few years after that) so I mothballed it and it was good as new... However, after five years of trail and long distance riding, I'd say any helmet should be replaced - if only because of the smell!

J xx

ps. Regarding fibreglass - it is still typically going to be heavier than the polycarb and carbon alternatives, that's the compromise you're going to have to make.

Arai
 

The price of Arai's aint bad Tour X3 White Bikers Bargains
here.

I do the opposit to Ted... Dark visor and clear goggles

John

Funny you should say that.. That's what I did in South America and found it a nightmare.

The dark visor was great to keep the sun out during the day but it was hot in my helmet. As the sun started to set, the lack of any street lighting made it impossible to see through the dark visor so I would switch to the goggles..

Now, wearing goggles at night is COLD and when you switch to goggles for rain or overcast, they also steam up A LOT !! I ended up riding through Brazilian moutain forest roads in pitch black with no goggles or visor as the goggles would steam up so badly and the visor was too dark too see through.

The way I see it, tinted goggles for daytime riding where you want the ventilation and a clear visor for when its dark or cold. I have to admit, I havn't travel tested this set up yet.

What do you think ????

Here's my 2 pennies worth: get a £20 white open face helmet with e-marking/kite marking and save the rest of the money for an extra few days travelling. Above all, enjoy yourself.

No helmet is going to make you invincible, so stop trying find one that claims that it can.

I'd like to think that all collisions/accidents have some part of the rider's responsibility to it's cause. Without exception.

If you want to be safe, don't live.