Helmet Review - GMax GM68

[JonKerr]

I thought I'd write up a little review about my first helmet now that I've been using it for a bit over a month.

I searched around for a low cost helmet before I took my MSF class as I didn't want to spend a fortune on a helmet and end up deciding not wanting to or able to get a bike. I found an article online (unfortunately I can't remember where) that talked about the SNELL testing and how expensive it is. (Approximately $80k-100k for every model a company wants to have tested according to this article.) So that's why many helmets are so extremely expensive. Especially some of the ones that have a lower circulation. They have to pay for that testing somehow. They talked about how some smaller companies are building helmets to the SNELL specs but not actually submitting them for SNELL approval. GMax was one company that was specifically noted. So finding that the GMax GM68 was a good looking helmet and fit me extremely well and that I could get it online for $104 shipped with a free tinted visor! I was stoked.

Well after about 5 weeks now, I can tell you that you really do get what you pay for. Especially with a helmet. Honestly this thing is a piece of crap! As you'll see in the pictures, it's falling apart. First thing I noticed was suddenly I had a whistle coming from the visor. I had to hold the visor down to get it to stop whistling or open it up completely. Got to my destination to find that the rubber seal around the face opening was peeling up. So far that's needed to be glued 3 times. Then I just happened to notice that the rubber finishing edge around the bottom had bulged and is coming up in the back. Then this week i noticed I was getting some really loud whistles from the top of the helmet at freeway speeds. I start to check the vents to see if there's something stuck or something. I find that the vents themselves are coming apart. I also noticed that the breath guard that's not supposed to be removable keeps trying to come apart from the front of the helmet. Then to finish it off, the cheek pads aren't so much breaking in as they're breaking down. They've broken down so much, I don't even need to pull the chin straps out to expand the helmet to get it on. I can just set it on my head and it'll slide on.









So in short, if you're looking into this helmet, I'd suggest you look elsewhere. This week I'm going to be biting the bullet and buying a new helmet. But the way I see it, my head is worth the money I need to spend on a good helmet. I'm going to be getting the Icon Domain 2 Serpecant in Slayer Black.



I've tried on a lot of helmets this week and this one fits my head great and feels SO much higher quality that the GMax helmet.

Just thought I'd give my take on this helmet to date. I don't think I'll ever think about buying anything from GMax again or going cheap on a helmet again. It's just not worth it. I mean that was $100 on a helmet that lasted a month. That's just wrong to me.

[joloy133]

Sorry about your helmet. On "web bike world", it got rave reviews but you know first hand whats up. Arai, Shoei, Shark, and a few others have been around awhile, and have the full range of helmets. This might be a part of your decision making, along with factory guarantees that your vendor will honor. (My Shark has a 5 year warranty on workmanship issues.) Some of the newer stuff is risky........like GMax.......?????? Good Luck

[99vengeur]

Scorpion is also a great helmet company. No complaints from me about my EXO-700.

Thanks for the review. The more info out there about the products we use, the better informed we can be. This keeps the community as a whole safer and better protected.

[dart1963]

Sorry to hear, I wondered about some of those at the $100 range.

I've had no issues with my shoei RF-1000.
I got the %20 off when I bought my bike, so it still was $400. But I've seen nothing wrong so far, I've had it for a little over a month, and have been riding EVERY day (rain or shine) to work and most weekends even if for a short trip around the "mountain".
I was looking at the icon and scorpions online, loved some of their graphics, but went with what the dealer had, and think I made a good choice (my buddy has a shoei and an arai, that he's had for years).

[JonKerr]

It's still between the Shoei RF-1000 and the Icon Domain 2. They're both around $400 and both fit and feel great. The one thing that's making me lean toward the Icon is on DSR Powersports website, they offer a free tinted or mirrored visor with all Icon helmets. That mirrored visor is an additional $70 for the Shoei. So that's probably going to be the deciding factor.

Also this week of trying on pretty much every helmet out there has really shown me the importance of trying on every helmet you're considering and difference in helmet shape from model to model even within the same manufacturer. I was really looking at getting one of the Icon Airframe helmets. They had a few graphic options I really liked. But I tried one on and it was shaped all wrong. Even in an XL, it was super tight front to back and too loose on the sides. Then I put on an Icon Domain 2 one size smaller in a large and it's shaped just right. So just because one model from a brand fits right doesn't mean all of their models will fit the same way.

Originally Posted by joloy133

Sorry about your helmet. On "web bike world", it got rave reviews but you know first hand whats up. Arai, Shoei, Shark, and a few others have been around awhile, and have the full range of helmets. This might be a part of your decision making, along with factory guarantees that your vendor will honor. (My Shark has a 5 year warranty on workmanship issues.) Some of the newer stuff is risky........like GMax.......?????? Good Luck

That was one of the articles I read about the helmet that made me decide to get it. It just shows that a brand new helmet is going to feel great at first. Just like mine did for the first few weeks. Those reviews aren't long term as far as I know so they saw the best part of it's life.

[jdesiano1]

Sorry you had a crappy experience. I bought a gmax and currently still ride with it depending on what mood I am in. I also have Joe rocket, Scorpion exo 400, and now the Seven zero seven Bad Betty from cycle gear. Yes the scorpion has more padding and feels better but the others IMO have perks as well. Hope you get what you really like!! Good Luck!