Really cheap helmets and other gear

[mchury]

eBay Store - t-motorsports: XR50 CRF50 parts and Pit Bike performance parts. Suspension, ROLLING CHASSIS, swingarms

I just picked up a new matte black/yellow full face helmet to match my bike for 38 dollars. Thats including shipping costs.

[FZ6R-HWD]

While on the subject of helmets. If you are on the way to bike week and need a very inexpensive NOLEN helmet, there is a guy selling 3/4 units for $25.00 and full face for $40.00. The catch, they are small and extra small so if you have a girl or child that needs a good helmet and you need to save some scratch this is the place. My wife got one and they are new and in the box. You can find the booth at destination daytona just to the SW of the Harley entrance in the parking lot. This is the guy that usually sells the Powerlet and Ram mount stuff. Other good deals there too.

[JonKerr]

Sorry, but I don't think I'd trust my melon to a $30 helmet. Just my $.02

[dart1963]

+1 to Jonkerr
but, remember there is a difference between "cheap" and "deal"... if it's a good helmet/gear at a great price, it's a "deal", if it's.... well, cheap, then it's cheap and you get what you pay for.

[JonKerr]

I learned not to buy a "cheap" helmet with a GMax that cost 3 times what those ones cost. And it fell apart in less than 2000 miles on the bike. The vents started falling off, the padding inside broke down and lost any support shape, and the seals around the visor started falling off and letting a lot of air in. I have two good helmets now and they're both great. I have an Icon Domain 2 (ChatterBox Helmet for group rides) and a Shoei RF-1000. Both cost more than 10 times those cheap helmets and are totally worth it. And I'm sorry to say, DOT doesn't mean squat. All that means is that the DOT agrees, that is a "helmet." From what I've read, to get a DOT sticker, there's no testing done, nothing. SNELL at minimum is what you need to see. The extra money will be worth it if you should need to used it.

Originally Posted by dart1963

+1 to Jonkerr
but, remember there is a difference between "cheap" and "deal"... if it's a good helmet/gear at a great price, it's a "deal", if it's.... well, cheap, then it's cheap and you get what you pay for.

Exactly. $104 for a GMax Helmet was a "Cheap" helmet. (That fell apart in a couple of months.) $275 for my Shoei RF-1000 (normally $450+) from Cycle Sector because the RF-1100 came out. That's a deal.

[MikeN02]

Yeah was wondering if those were DOT and Snell approved? I usually look for both...

[Heineken]

Originally Posted by FZ6R-HWD

This is the guy that usually sells the Powerlet and Ram mount stuff. Other good deals there too.

Must of missed him at the Chicago show, because I was looking for a Powerlet dealer.... oh well....

Originally Posted by JonKerr

I learned not to buy a "cheap" helmet with a GMax that cost 3 times what those ones cost. And it fell apart in less than 2000 miles on the bike. The vents started falling off, the padding inside broke down and lost any support shape, and the seals around the visor started falling off and letting a lot of air in. I have two good helmets now and they're both great. I have an Icon Domain 2 (ChatterBox Helmet for group rides) and a Shoei RF-1000. Both cost more than 10 times those cheap helmets and are totally worth it. And I'm sorry to say, DOT doesn't mean squat. All that means is that the DOT agrees, that is a "helmet." From what I've read, to get a DOT sticker, there's no testing done, nothing. SNELL at minimum is what you need to see. The extra money will be worth it if you should need to used it.



Exactly. $104 for a GMax Helmet was a "Cheap" helmet. (That fell apart in a couple of months.) $275 for my Shoei RF-1000 (normally $450+) from Cycle Sector because the RF-1100 came out. That's a deal.

I'm exactly on the same page with JonKerr and dart1963 on this matter...

As of matter of fact I just got my Shoei RF-1100 Solid White delivered today, and yes I believe I got a fair deal considering I payed $287 delivered (also I added the Dark Smoke shield witch was another $45. BTW tnx JonKerr for your feedback on a previews thread about the visor color, almost went for Chrome). My other helmet is a HJC CL-15 witch is DOT and Snell 2005 approved, but I feel safer now that my melon is enclosed in SHOEI craftsmanship.

[FZ6R-HWD]

Just to clarify. The Nolen Brand is widely sold at BMW shops across the country. Does this mean that the brand is the best? Who knows. But I can tell you that the BMW crowd has money to burn on 20K + bikes, spends absurd amounts of money on gear and if you don't already know, BMW clothing is some of the best money can buy. This being the case I would venture to guess that Nolen Helmets are consumed by more then just a few of these well healed clients wanting top of the line stuff.

Also on the note of Money vs. quality on the helmet issue. Having no fewer then six lids myself and many friends willing to pop for very expensive lids, price is not an end all be all tell tale! I have a KBC flip. $350+ and the thing is junk! Falling apart already and the build is not so good. I also have a Scorpion that cost me $250.00 and it is holding up very well. My friends with the expensive lids (500+) will all tell you your paying for a name and a paint job. Excuse me but paint will not mean a damn thing as you skid along the asphalt!

I suppose your not going to really ever know if that helmet you bought is going to turn out to be a life saver. Hopefully you never find out. In the end The $25.00 helmet I got for my wife was better then the off brands I have never heard of for four times the cost being sold there. (At $100 still cheap) I would never suggest that anyone here take a chance on his or her lid. I believe that I made a correct decision by not buying off brands. Remember, there are still some good helmets that do not pass Snell or are never revieved, likely due to cost factors. Do not buy into the Snell hype. And Just because they can bang them from the top in a controlled lab environment does not mean they will be 100% safe on that unpredictable fall you hopefully never encounter. Just my point of view. Be safe out there.

Ed

[porky45]

Originally Posted by FZ6R-HWD

My friends with the expensive lids (500+) will all tell you your paying for a name and a paint job. Excuse me but paint will not mean a damn thing as you skid along the asphalt!

While I agree with most or your post, this particular comment noted above stands out.

Wind Noise, Ventilation, Padding and Overall comfort/fit vary incredible amounts (in my opinion of course) between your $200 and $500 helmet. Obviously a paint job will add another $100-$300 to the cost of a helmet, but on a single color helmet there is a difference.

Example : The ventilation/wind noise on your Shoei's and Arai's are much different then your HJC's.

[mchury]

well i will let all you guys know how it turns out after i get it. I am not getting rid of the one i have now which is a good helmet. i just like the one i just got better lol. i will post after i used it acouple times.