Interesting investigation ! One thing that made me cringe though was the one handed use of the grinder. If I'm not mistaken ,and have sussed out the direction of rotation of the blade, a grab would have resulted in the grinder jumping out and powering in to your left hand at 0:09 ..yuck!! I frequently use a grinder single handed but do not have the other hand in the line of fire. I have worked in steel fabrication for years and grinders are so versatile but take no prisoners .Gloves wont stop them..I know. With belt sanders and most other rotating machinery I prefer a bit of belt rash or barked skin to a "pull in" when the belt grabs your glove or other clothing, so I usually don't wear gloves on the belt and make sure all clothing is well clear and / or tucked in tight. Be careful out there. Cheers, Dave NZ.
Thanks. It was a cack-handed way to use the grinder, but having used one for years for testing chains and locks, I was careful of how it wanted to pull and considered what it was doing while I used it. The guard on the back of the blade helped protect my right hand but I was extra cautious of it jumping out, especially when it started to bind. Cheers, John
Those 1 mm discs dig flesh very quickly!,my youngest fitter is currently sporting a nice big crusty scab on his middle finger knuckle,it's at the stage where he can't bend it because it's too thick and hard😂. kn' youngsters don't listen!
I just water and a soft cloth to clean my visor. Don’t see the need for any special cleaner. I clean it after every time I ride and they look good as new for years.
i'm cheap, but i've always worn Arai, Schuberth and Shoei. My latest Shoei GT-Air is lovely, but i do still think my old Arai Viper fit me just a bit better. Schuberth fit good but quality was complete nonsense for the price...600 eur and it fell apart after 2 years. Schuberth C3 was the quietest for a little while though.
As heads are different shapes there are no perfect helmets. I am enjoying a carbon fibre lid as it is much easier on my neck and would exert less force in a crash. Also the visor is photochromic so I don’t need an insert. (Lazer Monaco Evo). I can’t get into an Arai. Wear earplugs because deafness doesn’t catch up with you until you are older and the damage is cumulative.
I assume that each rider knows the value of his brain. My brain is very valuable to me and I buy/wear top line helmets. Visor cleaner is water and soft clean cloth.
@@tc9694 everyone comes out with that shit. Just save up for a month or two longer, you know how long your lid has till you need a new one. The sales also get you a top end helmet, I've just picked up an arai qv for 335 quid instead of 589. Helmet prices are insane.
I remember the salesman saying, when buying my first helmet - decades ago now - if you've got a ten-quid brain then, by all means, get yourself a ten-quid helmet. It was his response to me saying, why are some of these helmets so god-damned expensive? Got his point across.
Hi, Great explanation of price difference. I shopped hard for a helmet last year and figured that since they were all tested to a standard fit was the most important factor. Happily the cheaper HJC FG-17 proved best. A year on and I have had to stitch the upper edges of the cheek pads to pull them back to avoid hamster cheeks, the outer edges of the rubber nose guard have sprung up like butterfly wings and I have had to pad the crown to get brow visibility back. Noise is important to me and the HJC is wind tunnel tested. (A purchase factor) I can only assume they tested for stability, which is good, not noise, which is a symphony of high speed air whistles. No amount of trial and error with duct tape solved the problem. The point you make about inset pin visors showing a distracting line is a considerable annoyance to me specially as I have rarely found the pin necessary as ventilation is good. A lot of folks complain about the visor indexing being weak but I find mine works well. The helmet is light enough for a plastic composite and the general liner condition, after about 10,000 miles, is as new. I'd give the FG-17 about 5/10 overall, losing most for noise then collapsing crown padding and hardening cheek padding respectively. Price is its biggest bonus. Just as an aside, while looking for helmets I started checking the manufacture date, (by law a label inside the liner) some helmets were already 12 years-old! When I pointed this out to the staff they were overcome with indifference. Where you shop is vitally important. Thanks for a great guide and I hope this info helps. Barry Marshall, GSXR-750 British Columbia, Canada
When John mentioned the change in shape of the cheap helmet and how it could get caught on the road I immediately thought of your helmet. I did buy one and it was a comfortable helmet but on my GS I felt I was not benefitting from its aerodynamics so sold it on.
@@2wheelsrbest327 Yeah not sure whether the aero let's on mine break off or not. I've tried a few different helmets and not found anything better for the MT10, helmet is comfortable for hours and so stable compared to others I've tried... But yeah on a GS you won't be benefiting from much of the aero
bought an RX7 in Tokyo, half the price of the UK, Ride On Pro Shop in Taito City, the two guys that run it are amazing, spent over an hour changing different internal pads, making sure the lid was a perfect fit. Amazing product.
It was interesting to see how much stiffer the Arai shell was compared to the GFX. But is that a good thing? About 20 or so years ago (or 30?), Motorcyclist magazine in the US ran a series of impact tests on helmets and found cheap helmets did better. It was because the shells of the expensive helmets were so stiff they transmitted more g-forces straight to the rider's head (and with head trauma, it's g-forces that injure and kill) whereas the cheap helmets had shells made of different materials that flexed on impact, which absorbed some of g-forces. The expensive helmets were made very stiff to meet the Snell standard that existed at the time (which the cheap helmets did not meet), and a few years later the Snell Foundation tacitly admitted they had induced manufacturers to make their helmets too stiff when they changed their standard. I'm sure a lot has changed since then in terms of testing and helmet technology (although the basics haven't changed much; most helmets are still hard shells around EPS padding), but still, one wonders. . .
It's a good question. I'd simply say that ECE 22.06 has created a very good benchmark of testing, and it's in this that I'll trust my own head. Cheers, John
I clean my visor every time after the rain just using clean water and microfibre cloth. Sometimes there is a bug stuck really hard and I use a little bit of dish wash, rinse it on a running tap water, wipe it dry and looking good as new. Thanks for making this video, thumbs up 👍
I wear what fits the current budget and my head and it's quiet. Just like now, I found a HJC that fitted the budget but not my head, so went for a cheaper HJC that actually fitted my head and is quieter than the more expensive one because it doesn't have vents on the very top to make noise when it catches the air, because I am just too tall for the windscreen to be in a calm bubble.;))) I'm using a touring screen plus extension and still not enough;))
I've been riding 32 years and have obviously had many helmets. Had a lot of shoei but using agv now. I think it's a lot of bang for the buck. Arai seems to be the most comfortable though but really like the drop-down screen of the agv. It is a carbon composite and comes with different tabs for screen settings. Good crash ratings and comes with a pinlock visor. All this I got for 250 on sale and is also a nice fitting and good looking helmet too! Like I said, I like bang for the buck... Stay safe my fellow riders.👍🇺🇸
Didn't realise that the premier thing was set up for a live chat, would have tried to catch it. Have you and perhaps some of the Bennetts team thought about doing a UA-cam live chat? Something like the Missenden Flyer does? See TMF was in a Bennetts fleece at the superbikes
Would have been better if they compared a fibrglass £500 Arai with say a £200 Bell poly helmet, not a £25.00 piece of crap. No-one's in two minds whether to buy £500 or a £25 helmet so this exercise is a bit pointless.
The only helmet Ive ever found that fit perfectly and I liked it on my head was an AGV Ducati helmet. I wish I could find the model without the Ducati designation as it was a perfect fit. Otherwise I have tried on dozens of helmets from all kinds of brands and I just find they are all uncomfortable in one way or another. Thanks for this review!
Comprehensive and informative as always, thanks John. Mine is a Shoei Neotec. I like it, and the only fault is that flies sometimes get sucked through the top vent. For cleaning my visor I nip into Specsavers where they'll sell you a small spray bottle of glasses cleaner. Costs £2.50, designed for plastic specs and comes with a nice silk cloth. Lasts ages and provides a smear free finish, smells good too.
That yellow helmet at the end is poor, to be in that state after just a year. I have a white box bx1 (the cheap helmet he cut open) which I replaced after about 40k and 3 years but it still looks almost brand new when washed and is a 4* sharps helmet. I know it's not the greatest but it's definitely good enough and if you look around you can find it for around £30. It really can't be beat in that aspect, just use ear plugs for motorways and it's very good
5 років тому+4
I tried all, really, top brands, and there is none like Schuberth, at least for sport touring and Adventure. S2/C3/C4 are second to none.
It was fun watching you hack up those helmets! Informative as well. However, I do wish you would have used a more mid-level helmet to put up against the Arai; the piece of crap used is not a worthy contender. But I got the point you were trying to make. Personally I could never get into an Arai. They just don't fit my head no matter how I try to make them fit and for a street rider it's a bit of a joke how much they cost. That said, it's no big secret that we all want the best lid we can get, and everyone's threshold of what they can reasonably pay will vary wildly. My Avitar shows a great example of a helmet that fits me perfectly, looks fantastic, is very quiet yet vents well, has a SNELL rating and costs half of what that Arai costs. So it can be done. Sometimes, though, you have to spend a bit more to get what you need. I was in the market for a modular but the prices (and the quality) of what was out there varied to such a degree that I almost gave up. Then I got lucky one day, caught my dealer in a good mood and got a smokin deal on a Shoei Neotec II. I had been working on them for months and had walked away multiple times. I guess I finally drove them into submission! LOL! Just kidding. He really did me a solid. Was it more than I wanted to spend? Yes. But I did get a great deal and I got the helmet I really wanted. After all... how much is your head worth? Ride safe everyone. Cheers.
An Aria won’t fit. Like... really won’t fit overhere.... got 2 Shoei. Happy with them.. one got the photochromatic visor... kinda cool thing that is...
10:23 Similar to a 'Used Car'... the driver's seat is moulded to (and hss been farted on 🤢) the previous owners ass. You also don't know how said vehicle has been Abused... Always Buy New... 😉👍
I paid approx $900 USD for a stylish Shoei Neotech II. Wish I could turn back time cause I regret this purchase! I contacted Shoei customer. Support & was told to purchase more padding (wow!) I know helmets are a subjective fit, but this supposed solution to spend more $ is not helping matters! Anyone want to buy a new helmet called a Shoei Neotech II cheap?!?
I've always used Shoei. I use a damp kitchen towel wait 10 mins while putting on jacket boots etc then bugs just wipe off. When I am out in the bike I bring a wet micro fibre cloth in zip bag and do the same thing as kitchen towel. 👍
Google UserX the sharpe test was influenced by AGV which builds helmets with a softer shell and harder eps liner. Great on track as your only likely to have one major impact. On the road you’ll have several. Arai and shoei build hard shells with softer eps to protect against lots of hits. Also the range topping arai and shoei that we buy in the shop is identical in every way except liner and cheek pads as the racers helmets. The range topping AGV we can buy is very very different to the AGV Rossi wears.
Good video on the topic, but perhaps the worst use of an angle grinder I’ve seen! I hope you see the irony that this is in a video concerned with safety!
Very interesting video. I recognise John from the Niken test at Bruntingthorpe. When I was after a flip front helmet I bought a Caberg for £99 to see I got on with flip fronts, after 3 months I bought a Multitec, the difference was night and day, in comparison the caberg was creaky, noisey and just generally clunky. Now have a Neotec 2 but still have an Arai Chaser V for occasional use which is also the helmet of choice for the wife.
As a general rule of thumb is change your lid after 5 years, is that 5 yrs use or 5 yrs from manufacture and if the latter how long do we know has a lid been sat on the shelf at the shop??? I've got a 10 yr old lid that's never been worn, still has the visor sticker on, would that still be safe?
It'd likely be safe, as long as it's not been kept near sources of heat etc. It's five years from purchase, hence they say 5-7 years as it could have been on the shop shelf for two years.
I read somewhere that Arai's helmets average SHARP safety rating is 3.5. I've seen a fair number of sub £100 helmets rated 3.5 or 3. So clearly not all Arai's are worth the money and at some point you'd be better off going with the 'cheaper' helmet. My own opinion is that with items like helmets, locks, tyres and loo roll - never compromise.
I wear a Shoei RF1200. Ride a 1200GSA (65/35 street/offroad). Only helmet I have found that fits me perfectly. Neotech 2 also fits pefectly. Guess I will always be a Shoei guy.
HJC IS-17 for me. It was reasonably priced and scored really well on the sharps safety test site. moved away from a helmet that snapped open to a full face helmet. It's a little noisy but pretty comfy. And I'll get a new one in five years or thereabouts regardless of condition (the poly insides degrade over time and that shoei should be binned now matey).
My wife and I had been using Shark helmets for years and the build quality just seemed to have gotten to be crap. We both still have Shark helmets out latest one the Evoline 3. It has not been worn much and the liner is coming apart. I bought an LS2 Pioneer helmet for 150 dollars and it has been awesome. Very comfortable and no more noisy as the Sharks. So Deb bought an LS2 and she loves it. Half the price of the Sharks and seems to be built a lot better. As far as cleaning my helmets I have used Pledge furniture polish for years. It will make the water bead up and slide right off the visor. It will also help the visor from fogging up. You will have to use clean micro fiber clothes. Works for me.
I use SHARP ratings for my buying decisions, where possible. I got a Bell Race Star (5 star) for 50% off. I had one Arai and it gave me horrible headaches in the temples and forehead. Their side impact results are worse than they should be, according to SHARP so they are skimping on EPS in that location possibly to make a narrower profile or save weight. The Bell fits me with all day comfort. That being said, I’ve ordered the ECE22-06 Arai for my wife because she needs a new lid anyway. Hopefully it’ll fit her more round head than my oval. Great video, John.
Great video thanks for making it. When I review helmets I often get people complaining about some of the prices, I was going to make a similar type of video looking at why some are more expensive than others, but now I can just send them here :) I’ve always found a Shoei size L fits me whatever style of helmet. I like Arai too, but the narrow opening can be a problem and I always tend to have misting issues (even with a pinlock) maybe because they are such a close fitting helmet?
you compare very cheap Helmets with very expensive Brands like Arai oder Shoei. Those very cheap Helmets are trash, no question, but it would be interesting to compare Arai or Shoei to mid Class Products like HJC or Nolan. I think those are very good as well....
Bell Qualifier DLX with MIPS, and I use clean water and a soft clean micro fibre cloth to clean the visor. The transitions visor is a great answer to carrying a spare around when I’m on multi day trips.
I'm using a lowes bucket covered in great stuff foam stuffed in a home depot bucket with two holes drilled in it to see out of. the home depot bucket is on the outside because it's bright orange, gotta be safe you know.
I've saved all my helmets, going back to a Nava, from 1980. It's interesting to see how helmet technology has improved over the years. With the exception of an AGV X-R2, I have worn Shoei helmets since 1990. My current lud us a Neotec.
@David Miatke , it's Nava. It was a. Italian company that got quite popular around the early 80's. They also produced a very unique ski boot and binding combination , that never really got popular. You can find them on Google.
I used to have Arai Quantum but when I went for a new helmet I found they had changed the shell shape and the new Arai did not fit for the same size, I ended up with a Shoei GT air which did fit so like you said you must try on the helmet and not just hope a mail order item is going to fit even if it is the same make as makers continually develop their products.
Same here. Loved the Quantum lids until the shape change and price hike so went to a Shark Spartan as I couldn’t afford the shoei GT which I also liked. The Shark is as comfy and a bit roomier whilst offering decent lowish wind noise and quite light in the carbon composite model. Shoei GT is a great lid though.
Ultimately it came down to what I had to hand and the length of the video, but hopefully it's shown that a lot of the construction quality can be seen by having a close look inside. And I'm not trying to say that one is better than the other or safer - it's just to show the different construction methods between cheap and expensive.
Helmets are so subjective. AVG fits me so badly. Pressure points to n my forehead and the chin bar touches my face! Arai, on the other hand, I find incredibly comfortable.
I’ve owned a few helmets: quite a few Bell full face and 3/4 helmets, Aria full face and Givi scooter helmet. My latest is a Bell Race Star which I’ve yet to ride in but I will soon in Vietnam. I like Bell’s innovations and use of slip planes, such as MIPS (in my previous MX9 adventure) and tri-flex lining in the Bell Race Star. The MX9 was a bit small (size L) and caused me headaches in the forehead after 1 hour of riding, as did the Arai. I remeasured my head and realized I needed a bigger size, which is why I got the Race Star in XL. I got it on sale for about £300 since the colour is unpopular but I like it (white, blue and hiviz yellow). I recommend getting a Sharp 5 star rated helmet and you don’t need to spend as much as I did. However fit is just as important so wear for at least an hour at home and return it if it starts to hurt. It maybe the wrong size but also an unsuitable shape liner - some are more oval some are more round.
I daresay you wore a mask when cutting, but I'd have done that outside. Now, every time you open the garage door the draught will stir up the invisible carcenogenic dust for you to breathe in. Having had a visor destroyed by Rain-x I am careful what I allow to come in to contact with my visor. I clean using just warm water, or with mild hand soap if necessary, soaking with a paper towel when required to remove insects. I avoid clearing on the move with my glove as that tends to cause scratching, preferring to turn my head and allow fast windflow to shift the drops. Honest, officer😊
Did that visor cleaner test ever happen? Interested to see the results. I generally use normal glass cleaner, done it for years with out issue and I'm guilty of using helmets a bit too long.
Had Shoei's (they fit my head) in the way back. Thirty years later I am getting back into enduro/trail/travel and ended up getting a deal on a Klim Krios and thought I was fine (it is a great helmet) until I decided to get a dedicated MX/goggle setup. I got a deal on a Fly Carbon and, whoa, I felt ten times as safe. Not entirely sure why. Even though both setups weigh exactly the same, the Klim feels maybe not as solid and maybe lightly built to me, with the qualifying words "to me". Nitpicky, really, because helmets are sooo very much better these days and I feel fortunate to have both of these helmets
I've worn rx7's for years. Nothing fits as good for me and I've had a serious head impact in one and it took it. Can't get better than that. I will never complain about the cost.
I'm a flip up/modular fan, only because sitting at a traffic light for 5 minutes in 90f (32c) and 60% humidity year around is dreadful. Currently just got a cheap HJC C90 (CL MAX 3)... which runs about $140-160. If I start getting serious with riding then I'll upgrade to the HJC RPHA 90 which runs for around $400-$430 because the shell is made up of 3 materials (fiberglass being one) that are way more stronger than Polycarbonate. If it weren't so hot where I am (Thailand), then I would have gone with a HJC CL-17, then move up to a HJC RPHA 11. --- I had almost bought a MT Helmet brand over the HJC but something made me cancel my order... scared me and I can't remember why.
Going to be dusting those shelves off for a while! Used Arai for quite some time, great helmet but didn't enjoy fitting the visor and wanted a drop down sun visor. Moved to a Shoei Neotec, great touring helmet that I struggle to fault other than weight so very recently bought the latest Shoei GT Air. Just buy the best gear you can afford. Do think the drop down visor is the safest long term option as I've ridden with so many guys that have got caught out in either bad weather of at dusk with just the dark visor and still ridden. Do think Arai need to move and design at least 1 range to accept the internal drop down mechanism. Thanks for the in depth vid cheers.
Good video. Recently purchased a Frank Thomas FTSA001 and toured Spain with it and had jo issues. Can be a little noisy on motorways but I use custom fit ear guards. Good value and comfortable.
I find it fascinating that for someone who is so passionate about PPE you used that cutting wheel with one hand and no gloves! I work in heavy industry (shipbuilding) where I use one almost daily and that made me cringe! Great video otherwise sir love your content
Honestly... Why didn't you take a third helmet $200 and show what the difference is because this just shows don't buy a $50-120 helmet instead buy a $900... Would've been nice to see why you shouldn't buy from $150-250 or why you should consider upgrading Anyway great video keep up the great content
I am surprised when you were talking about visors you didn’t mention the transition visors that Bell provide this saves having flip down sun visors and also the need to carry a spare visor for nighttime use. Job done.i also notice that flip front helmets are not ACU approved witch to me is an indication of their lack of safety. I now wear the same BELL helmet that you have in your video with the MIPS system. I bought my first BELL STAR in 1969 when most riders were still wearing pudding basins what a massive leap forward in helmet design that was. And I have stayed with BELL ever since then..
Currently using a HJC RPHA pro 11. Before was a Bell Race Star, before that was a Bell Star and before that were a few Arai corsairs and Quantum. Shield cleaning is done just like you do, with damp cloth staying on the visor a few minutes. On the go I’ve been using glasses cleaner and a soft cloth for years and never damaged a visor.
I don't like the ventilation protrusions on modern helmets. I'm afraid they will snag. Their ventilation also makes a lot of noise. I also don't like built in sun visors that create a weak area in the helmet. I haven't found a low noise helmet on the market that I trust and like. I'm still using my AGV helmet that I bought in 1978. It's well rounded, and I can use it without earplugs. I would pay for a low noise Schuberth, if they removed the sun visor and the ventilation protrusions.
It certainly is! I've had a wasp and a horsefly get in mine. It's another good reason to wear earplugs. Some lids have a fine mesh, like the new Schuberth C4 Pro.
15:01, that is WILD! Would never have guessed it'd do that. My first helmet was a Scorpion EXO 400, rolled in into my financing along with my jacket and gloves. DURRRRRRRR!!!!! lol. Now I rock a Shoei GT Air 2 because it's a name I've heard of before and it comes in lime green. That's pretty basic-b***h, and I don't care. If I wanted to NOT look cool, I'd drive the Crosstrek around instead.
Interesting investigation ! One thing that made me cringe though was the one handed use of the grinder. If I'm not mistaken ,and have sussed out the direction of rotation of the blade, a grab would have resulted in the grinder jumping out and powering in to your left hand at 0:09 ..yuck!! I frequently use a grinder single handed but do not have the other hand in the line of fire. I have worked in steel fabrication for years and grinders are so versatile but take no prisoners .Gloves wont stop them..I know. With belt sanders and most other rotating machinery I prefer a bit of belt rash or barked skin to a "pull in" when the belt grabs your glove or other clothing, so I usually don't wear gloves on the belt and make sure all clothing is well clear and / or tucked in tight. Be careful out there. Cheers, Dave NZ.
Thanks. It was a cack-handed way to use the grinder, but having used one for years for testing chains and locks, I was careful of how it wanted to pull and considered what it was doing while I used it. The guard on the back of the blade helped protect my right hand but I was extra cautious of it jumping out, especially when it started to bind. Cheers, John
Those 1 mm discs dig flesh very quickly!,my youngest fitter is currently sporting a nice big crusty scab on his middle finger knuckle,it's at the stage where he can't bend it because it's too thick and hard😂. kn' youngsters don't listen!
Totally - I was just cringin through that - frightening
I just cut my helmet open to see how it was made but now it won’t join back up properly...will glue fix it?😂
Flex tape it bro.lol
Duct tape! 😆
EAR WAX IS WHAT THE PROS USE.....
😂😂😂
Only crazy glue
The lesson is: never buy second-hand helmets from Bennets... : ) : ) : )
Bit of glue and gaffa tape and nobody will know
Why not , they are thoroughly inspected .
Second-hand is OK but a brand new half helmet from the show would be a different story because I'd not know what he was referring to as "half helmet"
Lol
@@hardworkingamerican8847 Because they have spiders living in them!
The Arai was clearly more angle-grinder resistant, which is a prime buying point for me ;-)
Ha! To be honest, it was noticeably harder to cut. I had to edit out the breaking of two discs, though that was down to me twisting it.
You should wear working gloves 😉 I am an Arai happy owner & lover. My new one is an XD4.
And respiratory protection!
I just water and a soft cloth to clean my visor. Don’t see the need for any special cleaner. I clean it after every time I ride and they look good as new for years.
Lol come take night drive by the river...hody chit mang bug bomb galore
My first thought was I'm not going to watch all half hour of this video, but I did. Interesting information on the different in lids.
i'm cheap, but i've always worn Arai, Schuberth and Shoei. My latest Shoei GT-Air is lovely, but i do still think my old Arai Viper fit me just a bit better. Schuberth fit good but quality was complete nonsense for the price...600 eur and it fell apart after 2 years. Schuberth C3 was the quietest for a little while though.
As heads are different shapes there are no perfect helmets. I am enjoying a carbon fibre lid as it is much easier on my neck and would exert less force in a crash. Also the visor is photochromic so I don’t need an insert. (Lazer Monaco Evo). I can’t get into an Arai. Wear earplugs because deafness doesn’t catch up with you until you are older and the damage is cumulative.
Appreciate the Wilhelm scream when the grinder turns on at 8 seconds.
I assume that each rider knows the value of his brain. My brain is very valuable to me and I buy/wear top line helmets. Visor cleaner is water and soft clean cloth.
Or maybe your brain values itself.
I'm sure everyones brain is extremely valuable to them but not everyone has the same budget
Then you're very rich Oldman
@@tc9694 everyone comes out with that shit. Just save up for a month or two longer, you know how long your lid has till you need a new one. The sales also get you a top end helmet, I've just picked up an arai qv for 335 quid instead of 589. Helmet prices are insane.
I remember the salesman saying, when buying my first helmet - decades ago now - if you've got a ten-quid brain then, by all means, get yourself a ten-quid helmet. It was his response to me saying, why are some of these helmets so god-damned expensive? Got his point across.
Hi, Great explanation of price difference. I shopped hard for a helmet last year and figured that since they were all tested to a standard fit was the most important factor. Happily the cheaper HJC FG-17 proved best. A year on and I have had to stitch the upper edges of the cheek pads to pull them back to avoid hamster cheeks, the outer edges of the rubber nose guard have sprung up like butterfly wings and I have had to pad the crown to get brow visibility back. Noise is important to me and the HJC is wind tunnel tested. (A purchase factor) I can only assume they tested for stability, which is good, not noise, which is a symphony of high speed air whistles. No amount of trial and error with duct tape solved the problem. The point you make about inset pin visors showing a distracting line is a considerable annoyance to me specially as I have rarely found the pin necessary as ventilation is good. A lot of folks complain about the visor indexing being weak but I find mine works well. The helmet is light enough for a plastic composite and the general liner condition, after about 10,000 miles, is as new. I'd give the FG-17 about 5/10 overall, losing most for noise then collapsing crown padding and hardening cheek padding respectively. Price is its biggest bonus.
Just as an aside, while looking for helmets I started checking the manufacture date, (by law a label inside the liner) some helmets were already 12 years-old! When I pointed this out to the staff they were overcome with indifference. Where you shop is vitally important.
Thanks for a great guide and I hope this info helps.
Barry Marshall, GSXR-750 British Columbia, Canada
You bought in imported helmet? Why not make a classical Canadian helmet with the outer shell made of maple and the inner shell made of fir and balsa?
I'd love to see the same comparison include a mid-priced helmet too
That would have been useful instead of a piece of crap.
Shoei X-Spirit 3 for me, I wore an AGV for years and was never comfortable. Tried on the X-Spirit and it was perfect instantly.
When John mentioned the change in shape of the cheap helmet and how it could get caught on the road I immediately thought of your helmet. I did buy one and it was a comfortable helmet but on my GS I felt I was not benefitting from its aerodynamics so sold it on.
@@2wheelsrbest327 Yeah not sure whether the aero let's on mine break off or not. I've tried a few different helmets and not found anything better for the MT10, helmet is comfortable for hours and so stable compared to others I've tried... But yeah on a GS you won't be benefiting from much of the aero
@@2wheelsrbest327 the vents on the shoei also detach/break away!
bought an RX7 in Tokyo, half the price of the UK, Ride On Pro Shop in Taito City, the two guys that run it are amazing, spent over an hour changing different internal pads, making sure the lid was a perfect fit. Amazing product.
It was interesting to see how much stiffer the Arai shell was compared to the GFX. But is that a good thing? About 20 or so years ago (or 30?), Motorcyclist magazine in the US ran a series of impact tests on helmets and found cheap helmets did better. It was because the shells of the expensive helmets were so stiff they transmitted more g-forces straight to the rider's head (and with head trauma, it's g-forces that injure and kill) whereas the cheap helmets had shells made of different materials that flexed on impact, which absorbed some of g-forces. The expensive helmets were made very stiff to meet the Snell standard that existed at the time (which the cheap helmets did not meet), and a few years later the Snell Foundation tacitly admitted they had induced manufacturers to make their helmets too stiff when they changed their standard. I'm sure a lot has changed since then in terms of testing and helmet technology (although the basics haven't changed much; most helmets are still hard shells around EPS padding), but still, one wonders. . .
It's a good question. I'd simply say that ECE 22.06 has created a very good benchmark of testing, and it's in this that I'll trust my own head. Cheers, John
Dude. Gloves....
I clean my visor every time after the rain just using clean water and microfibre cloth. Sometimes there is a bug stuck really hard and I use a little bit of dish wash, rinse it on a running tap water, wipe it dry and looking good as new. Thanks for making this video, thumbs up 👍
If you have a 10 dollar head. Buy a 10 dollar helmet !!!!!
I like this?
I wear what fits the current budget and my head and it's quiet. Just like now, I found a HJC that fitted the budget but not my head, so went for a cheaper HJC that actually fitted my head and is quieter than the more expensive one because it doesn't have vents on the very top to make noise when it catches the air, because I am just too tall for the windscreen to be in a calm bubble.;)))
I'm using a touring screen plus extension and still not enough;))
All screens suck......no matter what size..lol
@@SteveWKk Could be the case, but I won't have the chance to find out.;)))
Thank God that grinder didn't kick back and take your fingers
The first time he had a grinder in hands😱
And, ironically, he's comparing safety products lol
@@stevebevan5104 You're all so caring.
ua-cam.com/video/9TuWhbYr4As/v-deo.html
Was thinking the same thing ,using a grinder with one hand like that is rather stupid.
I've been riding 32 years and have obviously had many helmets. Had a lot of shoei but using agv now. I think it's a lot of bang for the buck. Arai seems to be the most comfortable though but really like the drop-down screen of the agv. It is a carbon composite and comes with different tabs for screen settings. Good crash ratings and comes with a pinlock visor. All this I got for 250 on sale and is also a nice fitting and good looking helmet too! Like I said, I like bang for the buck... Stay safe my fellow riders.👍🇺🇸
The Box helmet you use comes out very well in the Sharp ratings, 4/5
Which is maximum rating for helmets with drop down sun visor.
Join me when the premiere starts to chat about your motorcycle lids and what you think of the differences as they're cut open! John
Didn't realise that the premier thing was set up for a live chat, would have tried to catch it. Have you and perhaps some of the Bennetts team thought about doing a UA-cam live chat? Something like the Missenden Flyer does? See TMF was in a Bennetts fleece at the superbikes
If someone ever stands on your head, Arai’s the helmet to have 👍
with high speed crash, there's big possibility your head will bump something with much greater force than let say 80kilos..
I’ve always used Arai but why do they do pretty poorly In the SHARP tests, especially with side impacts? Does someone know why?
Arai- I unfortunately have experience from several crashes but Arai helmets have always kept me safe.
Glad you're okay!
The more valuable your brain is, the more you pay for a lid. The more you pay for a lid, the more valuable your brain is.
Would have been better if they compared a fibrglass £500 Arai with say a £200 Bell poly helmet, not a £25.00 piece of crap. No-one's in two minds whether to buy £500 or a £25 helmet so this exercise is a bit pointless.
The only helmet Ive ever found that fit perfectly and I liked it on my head was an AGV Ducati helmet. I wish I could find the model without the Ducati designation as it was a perfect fit. Otherwise I have tried on dozens of helmets from all kinds of brands and I just find they are all uncomfortable in one way or another. Thanks for this review!
It is an agv k5
@@dennisnoordam3221 Thank you so much! I appreciate that! AGVs are hard to get ahold of here in Germany. Take care!
Comprehensive and informative as always, thanks John. Mine is a Shoei Neotec. I like it, and the only fault is that flies sometimes get sucked through the top vent.
For cleaning my visor I nip into Specsavers where they'll sell you a small spray bottle of glasses cleaner. Costs £2.50, designed for plastic specs and comes with a nice silk cloth. Lasts ages and provides a smear free finish, smells good too.
On the list - thanks!
I wish they compared the $650 helmets to $250 helmets instead of $50 helmets. How do Icon, Scorpion, HJC, or Sedici compare to Arai or Shoei????
That yellow helmet at the end is poor, to be in that state after just a year.
I have a white box bx1 (the cheap helmet he cut open) which I replaced after about 40k and 3 years but it still looks almost brand new when washed and is a 4* sharps helmet. I know it's not the greatest but it's definitely good enough and if you look around you can find it for around £30. It really can't be beat in that aspect, just use ear plugs for motorways and it's very good
I tried all, really, top brands, and there is none like Schuberth, at least for sport touring and Adventure. S2/C3/C4 are second to none.
It was fun watching you hack up those helmets! Informative as well. However, I do wish you would have used a more mid-level helmet to put up against the Arai; the piece of crap used is not a worthy contender. But I got the point you were trying to make. Personally I could never get into an Arai. They just don't fit my head no matter how I try to make them fit and for a street rider it's a bit of a joke how much they cost. That said, it's no big secret that we all want the best lid we can get, and everyone's threshold of what they can reasonably pay will vary wildly. My Avitar shows a great example of a helmet that fits me perfectly, looks fantastic, is very quiet yet vents well, has a SNELL rating and costs half of what that Arai costs. So it can be done.
Sometimes, though, you have to spend a bit more to get what you need. I was in the market for a modular but the prices (and the quality) of what was out there varied to such a degree that I almost gave up. Then I got lucky one day, caught my dealer in a good mood and got a smokin deal on a Shoei Neotec II. I had been working on them for months and had walked away multiple times. I guess I finally drove them into submission! LOL! Just kidding. He really did me a solid. Was it more than I wanted to spend? Yes. But I did get a great deal and I got the helmet I really wanted. After all... how much is your head worth? Ride safe everyone. Cheers.
If that grinder grabbed you would have lost you hand. 🤢
I like to live dangerously, John
An Aria won’t fit. Like... really won’t fit overhere.... got 2 Shoei. Happy with them.. one got the photochromatic visor... kinda cool thing that is...
Interesting video :) Just ordered my new agrius helmet today £51 4 star sharp rated with pinlock and sun visor
10:23 Similar to a 'Used Car'... the driver's seat is moulded to (and hss been farted on 🤢) the previous owners ass. You also don't know how said vehicle has been Abused... Always Buy New... 😉👍
Try driving a lorry, the sweat and farts of a thousand arses, not good .
Watching you hand flex those face shields was very unnerving lol. Like waiting for a balloon to pop.
Shouldn't ever be a problem, as long as the visor's been well cared for.
I paid approx $900 USD for a stylish Shoei Neotech II. Wish I could turn back time cause I regret this purchase! I contacted Shoei customer. Support & was told to purchase more padding (wow!)
I know helmets are a subjective fit, but this supposed solution to spend more $ is not helping matters! Anyone want to buy a new helmet called a Shoei Neotech II cheap?!?
That doesn't sound good; if you were buying from a decent dealer here in the UK they'd make sure you had the right fit before you left the shop.
Caberg.. 60 quid 5* SHARP rated...
Shuberth.. 400 quid 2* SHARP rated...
I know which I'd buy!!!
The way you cut the helmet gave me anxiety get a damn vice grip
Woow, is it illegal in that country with a black visir.
I've always used Shoei.
I use a damp kitchen towel wait 10 mins while putting on jacket boots etc then bugs just wipe off. When I am out in the bike I bring a wet micro fibre cloth in zip bag and do the same thing as kitchen towel. 👍
Speaking of safety first, this 0:09 made we cringe and I hope you wore a dust and fumes mask.
I probably should have...
@@bennettsbikesocial Appreciate the public service, but look after yourself first.
Some Arai helmets got 2 stars in SHARP test.
Google UserX the sharpe test was influenced by AGV which builds helmets with a softer shell and harder eps liner. Great on track as your only likely to have one major impact. On the road you’ll have several. Arai and shoei build hard shells with softer eps to protect against lots of hits. Also the range topping arai and shoei that we buy in the shop is identical in every way except liner and cheek pads as the racers helmets. The range topping AGV we can buy is very very different to the AGV Rossi wears.
@@JohnSmith-yi9ve I compared both test, IMO the SHARP test actually accurately represents real world crash.
Good video on the topic, but perhaps the worst use of an angle grinder I’ve seen! I hope you see the irony that this is in a video concerned with safety!
Where's the fun in being safe with everything?!
Very interesting video. I recognise John from the Niken test at Bruntingthorpe. When I was after a flip front helmet I bought a Caberg for £99 to see I got on with flip fronts, after 3 months I bought a Multitec, the difference was night and day, in comparison the caberg was creaky, noisey and just generally clunky. Now have a Neotec 2 but still have an Arai Chaser V for occasional use which is also the helmet of choice for the wife.
As a general rule of thumb is change your lid after 5 years, is that 5 yrs use or 5 yrs from manufacture and if the latter how long do we know has a lid been sat on the shelf at the shop??? I've got a 10 yr old lid that's never been worn, still has the visor sticker on, would that still be safe?
It'd likely be safe, as long as it's not been kept near sources of heat etc. It's five years from purchase, hence they say 5-7 years as it could have been on the shop shelf for two years.
5 years on the head, 7 years on the shelf, whatever comes first
something inside me badly wants him to wear gloves while cutting...don't know what it is...
You shouldn't be ashamed of your fetishes
I read somewhere that Arai's helmets average SHARP safety rating is 3.5. I've seen a fair number of sub £100 helmets rated 3.5 or 3. So clearly not all Arai's are worth the money and at some point you'd be better off going with the 'cheaper' helmet. My own opinion is that with items like helmets, locks, tyres and loo roll - never compromise.
Arai chaser v for me just clean with water and a drop of fairy liquid!
I wear a Shoei RF1200. Ride a 1200GSA (65/35 street/offroad). Only helmet I have found that fits me perfectly. Neotech 2 also fits pefectly. Guess I will always be a Shoei guy.
HJC IS-17 for me.
It was reasonably priced and scored really well on the sharps safety test site.
moved away from a helmet that snapped open to a full face helmet.
It's a little noisy but pretty comfy. And I'll get a new one in five years or thereabouts regardless of condition (the poly insides degrade over time and that shoei should be binned now matey).
Been wearing Arai RX7s since 1996 ( not the same one) and added a XD4 this year for my adv bike. For me, just the best most comfortable helmets.
My wife and I had been using Shark helmets for years and the build quality just seemed to have gotten to be crap. We both still have Shark helmets out latest one the Evoline 3. It has not been worn much and the liner is coming apart. I bought an LS2 Pioneer helmet for 150 dollars and it has been awesome. Very comfortable and no more noisy as the Sharks. So Deb bought an LS2 and she loves it. Half the price of the Sharks and seems to be built a lot better. As far as cleaning my helmets I have used Pledge furniture polish for years. It will make the water bead up and slide right off the visor. It will also help the visor from fogging up. You will have to use clean micro fiber clothes. Works for me.
I use SHARP ratings for my buying decisions, where possible. I got a Bell Race Star (5 star) for 50% off. I had one Arai and it gave me horrible headaches in the temples and forehead. Their side impact results are worse than they should be, according to SHARP so they are skimping on EPS in that location possibly to make a narrower profile or save weight. The Bell fits me with all day comfort. That being said, I’ve ordered the ECE22-06 Arai for my wife because she needs a new lid anyway. Hopefully it’ll fit her more round head than my oval.
Great video, John.
Glad your not my dentist!
Well done info though!
Thanks
Is it just me or was that the worst H&S I’ve seen in a long time ?
Pah - health and safety is for insurance companies.
Oh, hang on.
I really enjoyed the hand in front of the grinder ^^
Gordon Bennett I was waiting for the blood to flow at the start!😲😲
I hate seeing people do that. 2 guys at my work have been pretty badly hurt from similar technique in the last couple of weeks
Not just you bro - that was really shocking!
Great video - Arai is the duck's guts :)
Bell race star for me. Love it
Great video thanks for making it. When I review helmets I often get people complaining about some of the prices, I was going to make a similar type of video looking at why some are more expensive than others, but now I can just send them here :) I’ve always found a Shoei size L fits me whatever style of helmet. I like Arai too, but the narrow opening can be a problem and I always tend to have misting issues (even with a pinlock) maybe because they are such a close fitting helmet?
all items in the world. when it comes to quality. japanese worksmanship is the best.
you compare very cheap Helmets with very expensive Brands like Arai oder Shoei. Those very cheap Helmets are trash, no question, but it would be interesting to compare Arai or Shoei to mid Class Products like HJC or Nolan. I think those are very good as well....
If you had an arai shell why oh why did you cut up a beautiful helmet? I dont care that you cut up that no name pos.
Probably an out of date lid
Bell Qualifier DLX with MIPS, and I use clean water and a soft clean micro fibre cloth to clean the visor. The transitions visor is a great answer to carrying a spare around when I’m on multi day trips.
The best video I have seen on knowing why we spend more on helmets.
Thanks! John
I'm using a lowes bucket covered in great stuff foam stuffed in a home depot bucket with two holes drilled in it to see out of. the home depot bucket is on the outside because it's bright orange, gotta be safe you know.
My contribution, for what it’s worth... “ you got a ten dollar head, you buy a ten dollar helmet “.
apparently i have a $600 head...
I've saved all my helmets, going back to a Nava, from 1980. It's interesting to see how helmet technology has improved over the years.
With the exception of an AGV X-R2, I have worn Shoei helmets since 1990. My current lud us a Neotec.
Blimey! That lot must take up some space!
@David Miatke , it's Nava. It was a. Italian company that got quite popular around the early 80's. They also produced a very unique ski boot and binding combination , that never really got popular. You can find them on Google.
HJC IS-MAX II and I love it!
I wear the same helmet and like it a lot. I'd be curious to see him cut into and compare a mid grade helmet like the IS-Max II.
I wear a Shark Skwal 2.2. great helmet!
I used to have Arai Quantum but when I went for a new helmet I found they had changed the shell shape and the new Arai did not fit for the same size, I ended up with a Shoei GT air which did fit so like you said you must try on the helmet and not just hope a mail order item is going to fit even if it is the same make as makers continually develop their products.
Same here. Loved the Quantum lids until the shape change and price hike so went to a Shark Spartan as I couldn’t afford the shoei GT which I also liked. The Shark is as comfy and a bit roomier whilst offering decent lowish wind noise and quite light in the carbon composite model. Shoei GT is a great lid though.
How about dissect a hjc helmet?
Ultimately it came down to what I had to hand and the length of the video, but hopefully it's shown that a lot of the construction quality can be seen by having a close look inside. And I'm not trying to say that one is better than the other or safer - it's just to show the different construction methods between cheap and expensive.
I recently bought an AGV Corsa and I'm very happy with it.
Helmets are so subjective. AVG fits me so badly. Pressure points to n my forehead and the chin bar touches my face! Arai, on the other hand, I find incredibly comfortable.
I'll be happy if when I crash I get a concussion rather than permanent brain damage because I spent a little more and got a shoei.
@@skeeterjames912 I rather not crash at all, AGV is a good brand.
@@Bentsi2002 I agree, AGV is a great brand. You'll be fine with that purchase.
I’ve owned a few helmets: quite a few Bell full face and 3/4 helmets, Aria full face and Givi scooter helmet. My latest is a Bell Race Star which I’ve yet to ride in but I will soon in Vietnam. I like Bell’s innovations and use of slip planes, such as MIPS (in my previous MX9 adventure) and tri-flex lining in the Bell Race Star. The MX9 was a bit small (size L) and caused me headaches in the forehead after 1 hour of riding, as did the Arai. I remeasured my head and realized I needed a bigger size, which is why I got the Race Star in XL. I got it on sale for about £300 since the colour is unpopular but I like it (white, blue and hiviz yellow).
I recommend getting a Sharp 5 star rated helmet and you don’t need to spend as much as I did. However fit is just as important so wear for at least an hour at home and return it if it starts to hurt. It maybe the wrong size but also an unsuitable shape liner - some are more oval some are more round.
I daresay you wore a mask when cutting, but I'd have done that outside. Now, every time you open the garage door the draught will stir up the invisible carcenogenic dust for you to breathe in.
Having had a visor destroyed by Rain-x I am careful what I allow to come in to contact with my visor. I clean using just warm water, or with mild hand soap if necessary, soaking with a paper towel when required to remove insects. I avoid clearing on the move with my glove as that tends to cause scratching, preferring to turn my head and allow fast windflow to shift the drops. Honest, officer😊
Did that visor cleaner test ever happen? Interested to see the results. I generally use normal glass cleaner, done it for years with out issue and I'm guilty of using helmets a bit too long.
Not yet I'm afraid - just haven't had time! Cheers, John
Had Shoei's (they fit my head) in the way back. Thirty years later I am getting back into enduro/trail/travel and ended up getting a deal on a Klim Krios and thought I was fine (it is a great helmet) until I decided to get a dedicated MX/goggle setup. I got a deal on a Fly Carbon and, whoa, I felt ten times as safe. Not entirely sure why. Even though both setups weigh exactly the same, the Klim feels maybe not as solid and maybe lightly built to me, with the qualifying words "to me". Nitpicky, really, because helmets are sooo very much better these days and I feel fortunate to have both of these helmets
I've worn rx7's for years. Nothing fits as good for me and I've had a serious head impact in one and it took it. Can't get better than that. I will never complain about the cost.
Always worn Arai now I know why
I'm a flip up/modular fan, only because sitting at a traffic light for 5 minutes in 90f (32c) and 60% humidity year around is dreadful. Currently just got a cheap HJC C90 (CL MAX 3)... which runs about $140-160. If I start getting serious with riding then I'll upgrade to the HJC RPHA 90 which runs for around $400-$430 because the shell is made up of 3 materials (fiberglass being one) that are way more stronger than Polycarbonate. If it weren't so hot where I am (Thailand), then I would have gone with a HJC CL-17, then move up to a HJC RPHA 11.
--- I had almost bought a MT Helmet brand over the HJC but something made me cancel my order... scared me and I can't remember why.
I use crest toothpaste
I'm confused, I think I will try not to fall off. But thanks for showing us. 👍🇬🇧
Going to be dusting those shelves off for a while! Used Arai for quite some time, great helmet but didn't enjoy fitting the visor and wanted a drop down sun visor. Moved to a Shoei Neotec, great touring helmet that I struggle to fault other than weight so very recently bought the latest Shoei GT Air.
Just buy the best gear you can afford. Do think the drop down visor is the safest long term option as I've ridden with so many guys that have got caught out in either bad weather of at dusk with just the dark visor and still ridden. Do think Arai need to move and design at least 1 range to accept the internal drop down mechanism.
Thanks for the in depth vid cheers.
Seems like ribs on the inside not only cool your head, but would also act as crumple zones. Almost like a two-density liner.
Good video. Recently purchased a Frank Thomas FTSA001 and toured Spain with it and had jo issues. Can be a little noisy on motorways but I use custom fit ear guards. Good value and comfortable.
I find it fascinating that for someone who is so passionate about PPE you used that cutting wheel with one hand and no gloves! I work in heavy industry (shipbuilding) where I use one almost daily and that made me cringe! Great video otherwise sir love your content
Honestly... Why didn't you take a third helmet $200 and show what the difference is because this just shows don't buy a $50-120 helmet instead buy a $900...
Would've been nice to see why you shouldn't buy from $150-250 or why you should consider upgrading
Anyway great video keep up the great content
I am surprised when you were talking about visors you didn’t mention the transition visors that Bell provide this saves having flip down sun visors and also the need to carry a spare visor for nighttime use. Job done.i also notice that flip front helmets are not ACU approved witch to me is an indication of their lack of safety. I now wear the same BELL helmet that you have in your video with the MIPS system. I bought my first BELL STAR in 1969 when most riders were still wearing pudding basins what a massive leap forward in helmet design that was. And I have stayed with BELL ever since then..
Currently using a HJC RPHA pro 11. Before was a Bell Race Star, before that was a Bell Star and before that were a few Arai corsairs and Quantum. Shield cleaning is done just like you do, with damp cloth staying on the visor a few minutes. On the go I’ve been using glasses cleaner and a soft cloth for years and never damaged a visor.
To your question on what people wear: I use a Caberg Duke 2 flip front
I don't like the ventilation protrusions on modern helmets. I'm afraid they will snag. Their ventilation also makes a lot of noise. I also don't like built in sun visors that create a weak area in the helmet. I haven't found a low noise helmet on the market that I trust and like. I'm still using my AGV helmet that I bought in 1978. It's well rounded, and I can use it without earplugs. I would pay for a low noise Schuberth, if they removed the sun visor and the ventilation protrusions.
I keep clicking on this like a knobhead
I have a hjc is max 2. I always leave the air vents closed because I believe there are bugs entering the helmet while riding. Is that possible?
It certainly is! I've had a wasp and a horsefly get in mine. It's another good reason to wear earplugs. Some lids have a fine mesh, like the new Schuberth C4 Pro.
That's a new fear - spiders inside your helmet. Now I need an inner, bug free hat 😬
Caberg Vox. £140ish, 5 star Sharpe but noisy!
15:01, that is WILD! Would never have guessed it'd do that.
My first helmet was a Scorpion EXO 400, rolled in into my financing along with my jacket and gloves. DURRRRRRRR!!!!! lol. Now I rock a Shoei GT Air 2 because it's a name I've heard of before and it comes in lime green. That's pretty basic-b***h, and I don't care. If I wanted to NOT look cool, I'd drive the Crosstrek around instead.
Agv k3 has been my lid of choice for a long time now I've had three.