New helmet = new bike!
 

Hi all,

I recently bought a Cadberg helmet that after a few days riding was obviously too big. After doing a lot of research into correct fitting helmets I returned to town to find another.

After maybe 5 different stores and fifty helmets, honestly the only one that fitted snug and felt right were Shoei. I bought the cheapest (not exactly cheap), a Shoei GT-Air.

While initially upset that I have a very expensive shaped head, I feel I must come here and express the joy of riding with a high quality and well fitted helmet.

I honestly feel like a new rider, much more confident and athletic. Lifesaver checks just feel intuitive rather than forced. The noise reduction is also very noticeable and welcome.

While my Cadberg is no doubt a great helmet, it didn't fit at all, and now in retrospect feels like I was riding around with a bucket on my head.

1+ for good and well fitted helmets!

Safe riding,

rtw

My opinion is that one should never save money when buying a helmet... Head is the most important part of ones body and will not heal as other broken bones...

Correct fitting is really important (need to feel a bit tight in the beginning) for comfort and safety.

If you still add earplugs, you get some extra comfort :)

I,d agree with that 100% :thumbup1:

Where did you buy the Caberg from?

I won't let a customer walk out of the store I work in wearing an ill fitting helmet.. however some customers don't want advice or assistance, what to do?!

Depends how you define I'll fitting IMHO. The only helmet that ever caused me grief was sold to me by a shop owner who insisted on trying them on then trying to rip them off my head. Maybe this is yet another pointless race track thing, that's what all the shops were into back then.
The one he said fitted hurt but as a new rider you don't think to tell them "******s, it won't change shape later, I'm off to another shop".

The result was a lid so tight that after an hour the only thing on my mind was the pain across my head. Distraction, misting and the letterbox outlook on the road made testing the crash protection more likely.

I think knowing what works is yet another thing you learn, and slowly too as no one let's you try a helmet for a week. It is totally correct that if it feels wrong it is wrong though.

Fit is everything. A £30 scooter lid has passed the same approval test as that £500 shoei in the EU or North America. The assumption that the £500 gets you more protection is unproven, independent tests have show very varied results. What you can tell is that if the scooter lid feels better the everyday (when you don't crash) functions have been met. Outside EN/BSI/DOT zones a brand might tell you more than just fashion tips.

Ear plug are the same. I use the mould your own kits or sponge type. The rubber plug ones hurt and a pair work had made professionally for me were useless. Again a case of just keep trying I think.

Andy

indeed... I ask customers to wear the helmet round the shop for at least 10-20 mins to see if it gives them a headache...

I bough it here in Chile so don't think they really worry too much aboutthat stuff. Two months with the Shoei and I really love it, probably my favourite bit of kit!

I have got myself a Shoei Hornet Helmet its a really good fit, although everyone head is different
As for ear plugs I had my ears injected and a mold made for custom fit ear plugs, they work a treat. Got them done at the NEC Bike Show

Fit is important in a helmet both from a safety standpoint and a comfort standpoint. It is miserable to ride for 12 hours in a helmet that isn't comfortable and we are supposed to be having fun.

But high cost doesn't always equate to high comfort or high safety. I have had expensive helmets that were miserable and relative cheap helmets that were both safe and comfortable. An example of the latter was a KBC VR1 I paid about $100 for, DOT and Snell.

One advantage of high end helmet like Arai is they are customizeable. In Arai once you find the model that fits your head shape you can tweek the sizing by changing pad. When something breaks you can get a part (at a price).

On the ear plugs, Radian makes a kit to mold your own earplugs. You can get the kits off ebay for about $20. You can also mold in earbuds. The molded plugs are very comfortable but rated 26db. The foam Radian earplugs are rated 33db.