I just completed my first IBA ride SS1000, and I am planning on doing CC50 at the end of march. One of my takeaways was that I need a new helmet. The only thing that bothered me the entire trip was my head and neck. I live in FL so most the time I wear no helmet or if I am doing interstates its a half helmet. I am open to anything. Any recommendations on a good long ride helmet? Anyone else have similar issues?
Helmet Recommendations
- Thread starter Fireball
- Start date
I wear a Shoei Neotec 2. Buy a few helmets from RevZilla and wear them around the house for awhile. Walking around, watching tv, etc. Return the ones that you like the least. This is much better than wearing them in the store.
When you find a good helmet, you will find that it is more comfortable wearing one as opposed to not wearing one.
Your helmet logic makes no sense. You head will smash just as easily on city streets as opposed to the interstate. And city streets are more dangerous than interstates. So if safety is the reasoning here, you should wear the helmet of non-interstates.
Congrats on your SS1000!
When you find a good helmet, you will find that it is more comfortable wearing one as opposed to not wearing one.
Your helmet logic makes no sense. You head will smash just as easily on city streets as opposed to the interstate. And city streets are more dangerous than interstates. So if safety is the reasoning here, you should wear the helmet of non-interstates.
Congrats on your SS1000!
First, I want to mention that long distance riding places one at greater risk of injury than just doing short day rides. Many of those risks are out of one's control. I was once on a ride on an interstate where a golf ball sized rock was thrown up by a passing car and hit me square in the middle of my helmet. Less than thirty minutes later, a bird hit me in almost the same place. In either case, I would have been knocked silly and probably been killed. That is why it is common for long distance riders in particular practice ATGATT - All The Gear All The Time. I highly recommend it, even in FL in the middle of summer.
With regard to helmets, full-face or flip ups are the best. What brand to buy largely depends upon the shape of one's head, i.e., there are Shoei heads, Arai heads, etc. The main thing is to be sure of correct fit - a little annoyance on an afternoon ride turns into pure torture on a Saddlesore 1000.
Ira Agins
Iron Butt Association
With regard to helmets, full-face or flip ups are the best. What brand to buy largely depends upon the shape of one's head, i.e., there are Shoei heads, Arai heads, etc. The main thing is to be sure of correct fit - a little annoyance on an afternoon ride turns into pure torture on a Saddlesore 1000.
Ira Agins
Iron Butt Association
The better (lighter, quieter, more protection) the helmet, the easier the long days are. And you never regret spending the money when your life could depend upon it. I've had a fun experience asphalt surfing I10 in So Cal. My head hit the ground so hard, my face shield popped out as it compressed. But my face, head and neck were protected. When my husband picked me up from ER, he apologized for complaining about how much the Schuberth cost and told me 'you get what you pay for'. Yup. I used to wear a baseball cap cruising around on my Harley. That was before I understood just how violently you can hit the ground. And no one is exempt.
Physical comfort is No. 1
Good ventilation, Quiet, Light weight all matter.
Modular is pretty much mandatory for me. Being able to eat and drink etc eliminates a million times you would have to remove your helmet.
Good communication also matters. Many manufacturers offer integrated or pre-wired comms.
Note that some manufacturers offer different liner parts that can change the fit dramatically. It's good to be up to speed on this prior to trying one on at the dealership.
If you plan to do more than one SS1K then plan to buy at the high end of the market.
Good ventilation, Quiet, Light weight all matter.
Modular is pretty much mandatory for me. Being able to eat and drink etc eliminates a million times you would have to remove your helmet.
Good communication also matters. Many manufacturers offer integrated or pre-wired comms.
Note that some manufacturers offer different liner parts that can change the fit dramatically. It's good to be up to speed on this prior to trying one on at the dealership.
If you plan to do more than one SS1K then plan to buy at the high end of the market.
As noted above - my first recommendation is - wear one. I don't ride around the block without one.
I'd suggest you consider the Schuberth line. I found the C-3 to be a good fit for my pumpkin and have a couple. After more years than I can recall wearing my C-3, I decided to give the C-3 Pro a shot. Due to some health concerns, I haven't been able to give it a reasonable test ride yet but I think it's good to go wherever I wind up...
I'd suggest you consider the Schuberth line. I found the C-3 to be a good fit for my pumpkin and have a couple. After more years than I can recall wearing my C-3, I decided to give the C-3 Pro a shot. Due to some health concerns, I haven't been able to give it a reasonable test ride yet but I think it's good to go wherever I wind up...
I agree with all of the previous comments and would add the following: If God Almighty reached down to you and placed his hand on your shoulder and said "I promise to you that you'll never have an accident while riding your motorcycle without a helmet". And you said "Thank you God, thank you very much". He then said to you "But dealing with rain, cold weather, insects, rocks, gravel, sand, wind, and loud noise is on you". Welcome to the IBA sir and congratulations on your first SS100 !
Fireball, just an addition to what's already been said above. The biggest benefit to a flip front helmet is the ability to drink and feed while riding. I myself wear a Shoei Neotec. Years ago I worked out that my head likes Shoei helmets the best. One thing to remember is that a flip front helmet is slightly heavier than a normal full face. Saying that, during a 50CC last August 2023 [Melbourne to Darwin, Australia] my helmet didn't come off my head during the days riding, just flip the front for everything including going into pay for my fuel. No issues, no problems. Oh, another thing is I use very good ear plugs all the time. The wind noise will kill your hearing over time. Stay safe and enjoy your riding. Cheers.
@Fireball - Helmet comfort is largely about head shape and matching your head shape to the helmet you wear. With half shells, it didn't matter much. With a full face or modular, it matters a lot. Most LD riders prefer modular helmets, as igneouss mentions above. I also prefer modular helmets. I started LD riding with an excellent fitting Arai FF, and quickly realized it's limitations on long rides.
Go to a dealer that stocks a lot of helmets and talk to someone about your head shape. See if you can determine if you're round, oval or mid oval. Those are the most common shapes. If you're European decent, head shape tends towards oval to long oval. Shoei helmets are mostly round, but they do offer some mid oval styles. Many of the manufacturers offer both, some only offer one shape, or just generically put everything as mid oval.
In the store, try on some different brands and walk around for a while with it on in the store. If you're an oval guy, you'll get a hot spot on your forehead pretty quickly if you're wearing a round helmet. If you're a round guy, your ears will get squished, assuming you're wearing the same size helmets.
Be careful not to cheat the issue by wearing a larger helmet that's not your shape. As the helmet breaks in, that ends up being worse. All new helmets will be on the tight side of fitment. Think of it as a performance fit and it will break in some over time/miles.
If mid oval, check out LS2 helmets for very competitive prices and good quality. Lighter is nice on long rides and the Carbon Fiber helmets will usually be the lightest in their different classes. Modulars tend to weigh a little more than full face versions, but the trade off in the ability to drink, eat while riding and hold a conversation when stopped is worth it.
Once you know your size and head shape, you can do a lot of research online in pretty short order and have a high degree of success on ordering a helmet w/o trying it on first.
I like venting front and back for flow through. Pinlock ready visors. Drop down sun shields so you can just move the sun shield down w/o changing glasses or main visors.
It sounds like this will be a new experience for you, (wearing a full face or modular helmet). If so, expect it to take some time and rides getting used to it. Most of us wear ear plugs or in ear monitors as well. Noise is a stressor and will cause greater fatigue, not to mention permanent hearing loss. When you're riding ~2300 miles in 50 hours, it makes a difference. Find a Safety Supply store and buy a bunch of different styles of foam earplugs if this is new to you. See what works for YOU. If your ear canals get sore, a tiny amount of Neosporin helps.
Go to a dealer that stocks a lot of helmets and talk to someone about your head shape. See if you can determine if you're round, oval or mid oval. Those are the most common shapes. If you're European decent, head shape tends towards oval to long oval. Shoei helmets are mostly round, but they do offer some mid oval styles. Many of the manufacturers offer both, some only offer one shape, or just generically put everything as mid oval.
In the store, try on some different brands and walk around for a while with it on in the store. If you're an oval guy, you'll get a hot spot on your forehead pretty quickly if you're wearing a round helmet. If you're a round guy, your ears will get squished, assuming you're wearing the same size helmets.
Be careful not to cheat the issue by wearing a larger helmet that's not your shape. As the helmet breaks in, that ends up being worse. All new helmets will be on the tight side of fitment. Think of it as a performance fit and it will break in some over time/miles.
If mid oval, check out LS2 helmets for very competitive prices and good quality. Lighter is nice on long rides and the Carbon Fiber helmets will usually be the lightest in their different classes. Modulars tend to weigh a little more than full face versions, but the trade off in the ability to drink, eat while riding and hold a conversation when stopped is worth it.
Once you know your size and head shape, you can do a lot of research online in pretty short order and have a high degree of success on ordering a helmet w/o trying it on first.
I like venting front and back for flow through. Pinlock ready visors. Drop down sun shields so you can just move the sun shield down w/o changing glasses or main visors.
It sounds like this will be a new experience for you, (wearing a full face or modular helmet). If so, expect it to take some time and rides getting used to it. Most of us wear ear plugs or in ear monitors as well. Noise is a stressor and will cause greater fatigue, not to mention permanent hearing loss. When you're riding ~2300 miles in 50 hours, it makes a difference. Find a Safety Supply store and buy a bunch of different styles of foam earplugs if this is new to you. See what works for YOU. If your ear canals get sore, a tiny amount of Neosporin helps.
The C4 had a different shape, and that sort of went against the shape all the C3 people liked!
Look at your helmets closely. You will never, ever find a NRR rating. That's because helmets are not rated for hearing protection and are not hearing protection devices. No where, in any helmet advertisement or specifications will you find claims for hearing protection. Hearing loss is cumulative and permanent. By the time it seriously impacts you, it's far too late and gone forever. The prolonged exposure to wind noise, aka white noise, is both a fatigue stressor and a hazard to hearing. I urge you to reconsider your choice of not wearing hearing protection while riding. Especially on long rides.
Look at your helmets closely. You will never, ever find a NRR rating. That's because helmets are not rated for hearing protection and are not hearing protection devices. No where, in any helmet advertisement or specifications will you find claims for hearing protection. Hearing loss is cumulative and permanent. By the time it seriously impacts you, it's far too late and gone forever. The prolonged exposure to wind noise, aka white noise, is both a fatigue stressor and a hazard to hearing. I urge you to reconsider your choice of not wearing hearing protection while riding. Especially on long rides.
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Eric I do DBA testing in Life saftey industry for the last 30 years , and can still hear a fire panel on another floor 
my bike , and C5 or the C3 it is not needed for myself . I understand your concerns , and appreciate them . Everyone is different , and we chose what works for us .
I can tell you though having no hearing protection in while wearing a helmet has saved my life more than once.
Had there been foam ear plugs in I wouldn't be typing this today . I'll trade some hearing for living longer
my bike , and C5 or the C3 it is not needed for myself . I understand your concerns , and appreciate them . Everyone is different , and we chose what works for us . I can tell you though having no hearing protection in while wearing a helmet has saved my life more than once.
Had there been foam ear plugs in I wouldn't be typing this today . I'll trade some hearing for living longer
the number 1 thing I always consider when buying a helmet is my head shape. In the past I've bought the wrong shape and ended up with headaches from pressure on my forehead. I'm more oval than most, so look for helmets that fit my shape. second for me is they type of helmet. 3/4, modular, full-face? that's somewhat a preference with safety considerations playing a role in this decision. Third thing is weight. lighter weight means less neck muscle strain. The other thing to consider is what bike you ride and the amount of wind protection you have from your windshield/fairing.
Really happy with Schuberth's C-3 Pro. But as others have said, head shape plays a huge role in helmet selection. If possible, either try on helmets at a local gear store, or order online from a retailer who has a no-hassle return policy.
I purchased my Schuberth a few weeks before my first IBA ride as my previous helmet, a Shark Evo Series 2, was getting old and I would develop a painful hot spot on my forehead after a couple hours. I knew there was no way I could ride for 15-20 hours at a time with that helmet. I purchased the helmet at my local Cycle Gear. I actually purchased it along with the current version of the Shark Evo helmet, and specifically asked the person helping me if I could ride with both helmets around the block to test them out, then return the one I didn't like. They were perfectly fine with it and I returned the Shark the next day. YMMV of course.
Being able to eat and drink either on the bike or off the bike at a gas station saves a bunch of time for me. Another critical aspect that modular helmets excel in is approachability. Walking into a store with a full face helmet can creep people out since it's a common tactic in robberies. With a modular, instead of having to take off your helmet every time you have to go inside, say when there's no receipt at the pump or just needing to use the restroom, you can simply just open up the modular and walk in. Might get some looks, but I've never been told to remove an open modular helmet (I have been yelled at before for not removing a full-face before I walked to inside due to rain).
I purchased my Schuberth a few weeks before my first IBA ride as my previous helmet, a Shark Evo Series 2, was getting old and I would develop a painful hot spot on my forehead after a couple hours. I knew there was no way I could ride for 15-20 hours at a time with that helmet. I purchased the helmet at my local Cycle Gear. I actually purchased it along with the current version of the Shark Evo helmet, and specifically asked the person helping me if I could ride with both helmets around the block to test them out, then return the one I didn't like. They were perfectly fine with it and I returned the Shark the next day. YMMV of course.
Being able to eat and drink either on the bike or off the bike at a gas station saves a bunch of time for me. Another critical aspect that modular helmets excel in is approachability. Walking into a store with a full face helmet can creep people out since it's a common tactic in robberies. With a modular, instead of having to take off your helmet every time you have to go inside, say when there's no receipt at the pump
or just needing to use the restroom, you can simply just open up the modular and walk in. Might get some looks, but I've never been told to remove an open modular helmet (I have been yelled at before for not removing a full-face before I walked to inside due to rain).FWIW the only place I ever had tell me to remove a modular helmet when going to the men's room was a Native Casino. I wasn't in the casino part of it, but the gas station store with a separate entrance, (that did connect), and the security guy told me to remove the helmet. After I had dealt with the pressing needs, I spoke to the security guy and we had a positive chat about how a helmet on may appear to be a disguise, but a helmet in the hand is an extremely effective weapon. I think I opened his eyes a bit on that after he hefted my helmet by the closed chin bar.
Quick side-story on removing your helmet: I spent 6 months on a Grand Jury and usually rode my R6 to the courthouse. On each visit, after passing the metal detector, the Security officers took and stored my plastic-armored gloves, but told me to keep my full-faced Shoei helmet. I suspect it was simply because they had no place to store the helmet. I believe that a helmet would make a better weapon than armored gloves.
I recently bought a Schuberth E2, which is essentially a C5 with a removable peak and improved ventilation. It's my first modular and I love it. Fit was good for me. I decorated it's stark whiteness with a inexpensive decal. The helmet already saved me from a heavy metal "something" kicked up by a passing truck. It really rattled my cage! Note the battle scar just below the eye-port. Glad I had the chinbar down:
I recently bought a Schuberth E2, which is essentially a C5 with a removable peak and improved ventilation. It's my first modular and I love it. Fit was good for me. I decorated it's stark whiteness with a inexpensive decal. The helmet already saved me from a heavy metal "something" kicked up by a passing truck. It really rattled my cage! Note the battle scar just below the eye-port. Glad I had the chinbar down: