[sandeepmohan]

Originally Posted by b16h22

Coming to conclusions based on subjective crash experiences is a futile exercise. Because dynamics of a crash changes drastically for every case.

100%.
Certifications are all well and good until the day you crash. The thing with riding a motorcycle is that you're not going to know how you're going to crash. Ever. All it takes a little more of a twist to your neck and you're a goner. Your helmet can be perfectly intact and you could still be eating through a straw for the rest of your life.

More than every possible certification on the planet or all the tall claims that are made, make sure the helmet you choose fits you well. It needs to fit snug and you should be comfortable under that lid too.

The good thing about the helmet market these days is there are heaps of options to choose (Local and Imported). There is something for everyone, at all price points. You don't need to empty your bank balance to find a decent, well made helmet. Don't feel bad that you couldn't afford the one that a Goldwing rider was wearing. Its alright.

[that_sedate_guy]

Guys, severe off topic. Sorry!

My take on helmets, riding gear and basically every safety equipment is that there's kinda like a multi-axes graph that can be drawn among safe load distribution levels, impact region, surface properties and physics limitations all of which cumulatively contribute to the difference between a helmet-less jaywalker walking away unscathed and a MotoGP professional losing their life on a track.

To dissect the mindset in short:

Too many people rely a lot on paper specs and forget the fundamental contributor. It's physics. A person can literally build a spacecraft material armour around their entire body and ride a bike but if their soft and squishy insides experience a threshold G force in a crash, they will die. No unnatural happenings, no unexpected results. Just physics doing its job.

Now that's where load distribution weighs in.

Good equipment will be well designed to transfer a higher amount of force safely and spread it out, limiting the impact density. That's it. It only limits and does not eliminate. Conservation of momentum, folks!

Okay then let's talk about surface properties.

Riding gear works best to save a person from abrasive injuries. Anyone can relate to falling down on gravel during street football and the nasty pain and bleeding that follows. Take that fall to motorcycle speeds and your bones will get ground down to a stump in 2 seconds on asphalt. That's where gear excels in protecting. Impact protection, yes but only up to the physics threshold. Abrasive protection on the other hand, that's what one should keep in mind and get gear.

Finally on to the impact region. People simply forget how vulnerable the human body is. Apart from the areas where there is skeletal framework and large muscle groups, the rest of the body is just soup contained in skin. We're that fragile. If we were to protect all of that during motorcycle riding, the result would be a car.

Okay now where on earth am I getting at with all this? The best helmet, the best jacket, gloves, boots, racing suit, whatever, is all your own mind. Ride defensively and responsibly. If there's a speed limit, obey that limit instead of banking on the gear you own because the forces of nature don't give a damn about safety certifications. If there's a chance you might slip on a gravel turn, slow the heck down first and then think about making the turn correct, wearing the correct gear, having the correct motorcycle etc. How we prioritise the way we ride matters.

Before anyone says gear is for protecting against the unforseen mistakes of others, again, till all work only in tandem with the above mentioned points.

All of this might be severely off topic but while discussing on brands and standards is needed, I thought of putting in a quick reminder that above all of that, our safety is predominantly in our hands first.

[MileCruncher]

Originally Posted by that_sedate_guy

Ride defensively and responsibly.

above all of that, our safety is predominantly in our hands first.

These two statements become even more important if you are on a big and fast bike in India. The Indian roads are not race tracks and expect the unexpected at all times.

Ride remembering there is a someone waiting for you back home!

[VijayAnand1]

Originally Posted by Sudarshan42

So, which of these would you pick? If any of you have any suggestions on what else I need to consider, please let me know. Hope this helps others too.

I've been a silent specter to this thread, having had the opportunity to read varied helmet purchases, varied helmet reviews of varied brands, at various price points.

In my experiences of owning the following helmets from the following brands I'd like to share my personal observations.

AXXIS (Hornet, Segment Active, forgot the other model name purchased 5+ years ago)
Steelbird
Studds
Axor (Apex Venomous)
RJays (GP3 Warrior Yellow)
LS2 (Duality, Air pump model)
Royal Enfield's Escapde series
SMK (two variants included, Stellar Dynamo, Force Boost)
Airoh GP500 Andrea Iannone full carbon fiber helmet (the lightest yet the most uncomfortable one) purchased way back in 2012 pathetic Italian build quality, now lying without liners to keep my daughter's shoes -- just a simple reminder to me eventually that all great things aren't simply great as they seem to be.

Little Boring Backstory: I would recommend you to purchase the LS2. Back then in 2011-2012, when I purchased my first expensive helmet, the RJays an Australian brand sold by Bachoo Motors, I paid 7999 for the RJAYS GP3 Warrior Yellow, it was as solid as a backhoe's bucket, huge for my head though it fit decently well, rode it for years, the wide vision correction factor, and the butch quality meant it served me well over 2020 before I eventually gave it free for a budding biker back then.

After all these years of owing and experiencing different helmets, inspecting them critically, ALWAYS choose a helmet that fits one's crown evenly, without any pinch/pressure points and fits one's cheek snugly well and with a minimum rating of ECE/DoT. Anything more is a plus, SHARP, SNELL, AS/NZS (Australian Helmet Standard -- my RJays had it). Double D-ring is an added plus as well, yet it doesn't mean a QR ratchet system is bad either.

If only I had to pen down a detailed write-up, in the style I had to do, for all the helmets I've owned and currently do, it would at least take a week and 10 plus pages of detailed photos and write-up of experiences, which I sincerely am hesitant to do so, as it would be for a great boring Sunday read, but sincerely to keep it shipshape, keeping it tightly to what I can.

Almost all the helmets are made with EPS or Expanded Polystyrene or thermocol as it's called with varying densities coupled with EIPS, Fiberglass, Carbon Fiber, Kevlar and what not. With due respect, all helmets with a decently labeled rating, perform decently in real world conditions. The difference expensive helmets offer are with the know-how they gather from racing, wind-noise, paint quality and to an extent comfort, because I personally can attest to the fact that, the best helmets out there don't mean they offer the best comfort -- that's hogwash.

Case in point my 2013, 7999 RJays was more comfortable for me than my 2012 40k Made in Italy helmet. My RJays was a tank, it was heavy and I can pretty much keep my head under a truck with trust, but the Airoh was light as a feather, extremely flexible, extremely compact, though I had the XL, it still pinched my cheeks even after years of usage, the paint quality wasn't that great (maybe perhaps painting over CF was a big deal) wind-noise was present, liner quality were sub-par, visor adjusting plastic screws were made of Italian parmesan cheese, one gentle wash and you'd observe the foam flaking from back of the head crown liner, right from the first wash and so it wasn't an easy life.

In the end a helmet is there to save your head, and if a helmet succeeds in doing so, it's done a good job at that -- irrespective of the brand.

What matters is choosing a decent enough helmet brand that has good credibility backed by good rating and they simply do a great job at that.

A helmet isn't there to adorn one's rack as a display piece or an expensive artifact, it's there to protect one's noggin. A 1 lakh plus helmet would still crush like a lollipop under a truck's tire, given the wrong circumstances and does that mean he/she should have invested on a 10-lakh rupee helmet. No.

Do your homework, wear what you have to, afford the best you can, make sure you're strapped, comfortable and smiling each time you hit the road!

And in any case one wonders what my 40k Bergamo manufactured, Andrea Iannone, Italian Parmesan cheese infused Carbon Fiber helmet does now. Nope, it doesn't adorn my rack, it just serves me as a reminder, that eventually things don't seem as grand as they seem, especially Italian made.



Cheers!
VJ

[saikishor]

I picked up an Axor helmet yesterday. I am unsure of the model, am assuming it is the apex. Costed 4800. Size for me is M, and I must say the helmet is very tight. I need to get used to it. It feels suffocating now, but IIRC even my THH T76 felt the same in the initial days when I got it in 2020. My helmet comes with a D ring.

Need to use it and see how it feels after the break in period of the helmet.

[amit_shimla]

"Investing in a high-quality, safe helmet is essential, but cruising at 120 km/h on a motorcycle is still a major risk. No matter how good your helmet is, crashing at such high speeds puts you in serious danger. In my opinion, it's always better to prioritize safety over thrill—better safe than sorry."

[pedrolourenco]

Originally Posted by no_fear

Attached are the pics of my friend's crashed bike - he kept the helmet at home as a reminder.

Could you post some pics of the helmet too?

Originally Posted by 100Kmphormore

Is Axor a Vega brand with ECE certification?

I was one of the people who bought an Axor when it was just launched (pics somewhere in the thread). It was sold in the Vega store in the "Imported Series" section of the store alongside Nexx and Airoh. It used to be an Italian brand which I thing was acquired by Vega. A lot of the design elements and manufacturing processes trickled down to the Vega branded helmets.

Originally Posted by Sudarshan42

Option 2: Airoh Connor 6
Price- 12,950/-
Safety ratings- ECE22.06
Features- pinlock compatible, some new 3D mesh design for better impact absorption (no idea if effective)
Note- no pinlock visor provided, that comes as an additional purchase.

I guess this is the best of the 3.

Originally Posted by VijayAnand1

Airoh GP500 Andrea Iannone full carbon fiber helmet (the lightest yet the most uncomfortable one) purchased way back in 2012 pathetic Italian build quality, now lying without liners to keep my daughter's shoes -- just a simple reminder to me eventually that all great things aren't simply great as they seem to be.

One of the biggest problems with the imported helmets is the difficulty in getting spares for wear and tear parts like visors and liners.

[Raghu M]

A little side tracking but what kind of accessories provide safety at 120 kmph? I mean discussing the pros of wearing a helmet while driving at 120 kmph is a little too much. A car is crash tested for safety at way below speed levels and here we are discussing a bike doing 120 kmph and a helmet saving the rider after an accident. Sorry but the discussion should just be - driving slower would have avoided this topic altogether. Strictly my opinion.

[pedrolourenco]

Originally Posted by Raghu M

A little side tracking but what kind of accessories provide safety at 120 kmph? I mean discussing the pros of wearing a helmet while driving at 120 kmph is a little too much. A car is crash tested for safety at way below speed levels and here we are discussing a bike doing 120 kmph and a helmet saving the rider after an accident. Sorry but the discussion should just be - driving slower would have avoided this topic altogether. Strictly my opinion.

Helmet is just a PPE. It's the last line of defence in mitigation of Risk. Nothing is 100% but you have to prepare for anything.
See the pic and relate the control measures to biking.

- Elimination: Don't ride a bike. A bit difficult to do.

- Substitution: Use a car. But then that's defeating the purpose of biking.

- Engineering: Manufacturers to make bikes that don't crash and government to build roads that are 100% safe. Again not really practical.

- Administrative: We have traffic rules. You may follow them but others on the road may not. So at best 50% effective.

- Behaviour: Ride safely. Safely does not mean slow as you can be:
a) Slow and Safe
b) Fast and Safe
c) Fast and Dangerous
d) Slow and Dangerous

- PPE: When all fails you have your PPE (Helmet and Riding Gear).

A lot of people think that PPE is your primary means of mitigating risk.

[Rajesh V]

Hmm... I haven't gone through the full discussion, but people should keep in mind that the certifications only create a baseline. Not my expertise, but there should be helmets that significantly exceed the requirements of current standards. Say, they might even pass ECE 22.07 and up in their current state, while most others might not.

[dukeofmurphy]

What is the general opinion on MT helmets? For someone who doesn't have the budget for a 50k plus lineup, do MTs do the trick well? I know that it's a Spanish brand and has its presence in SBK & Moto3/2, but never really found any material on user experience in a detailed manner.

I own an MT Thunder 3 Pro since the last 6 months and it seems to be doing really well in terms of noise insulation, fit and finish and I love the way it looks. Feels premium for under 7k.

However, does anyone have more details (from personal or shared experiences) on how the helmet performs during impacts, where it really counts? Would love to know some thoughts on this.

Follow up question: What would be the best option to go for within a budget of 25k?

[b16h22]

Originally Posted by dukeofmurphy

I own an MT Thunder 3 Pro since the last 6 months and it seems to be doing really well in terms of noise insulation, fit and finish and I love the way it looks. Feels premium for under 7k.

However, does anyone have more details (from personal or shared experiences) on how the helmet performs during impacts, where it really counts? Would love to know some thoughts on this.

You can find the UK SHARP test results and rating for the older Thunder 3 here.

https://sharp.dft.gov.uk/helmets/mt-thunder-3/

It is a 4/5 star rated helmet. The Thunder 3 pro is basically the same helmet with a spoiler AFAIK. MT has been in India for at least 10 years now.

[doomketu]

Originally Posted by dukeofmurphy

What is the general opinion on MT helmets...
I own an MT Thunder 3 Pro since the last 6 months... I love the way it looks. Feels premium for under 7k.

For most of our city usage, this helmet works wonders. At that price point, you can use the helmet extensively and at 3rd / 4th years of its lifecycle you can start hunt for a replacement. Liners and visors are freely available and so you wont be worried about spare parts.

Originally Posted by dukeofmurphy

Follow up question: What would be the best option to go for within a budget of 25k?

I would stick to LS2 , KYT or MT that suits your taste within this range. I wanted to get the AGV K1 S which was in budget range, but was told to avoid it. Folks more experienced that me might know the exact reason why.

[dukeofmurphy]

Originally Posted by b16h22

You can find the UK SHARP test results and rating for the older Thunder 3 here.

https://sharp.dft.gov.uk/helmets/mt-thunder-3/

It is a 4/5 star rated helmet. The Thunder 3 pro is basically the same helmet with a spoiler AFAIK. MT has been in India for at least 10 years now.

That is quite surprising. I checked out some of the ARAI helmet ratings and quite a few of them are rated 3 on 5, which seems to be in conflict with the premium they ask for those helmets.

I read quite a bit of this thread and have heard people say very good things about helmets like Shoei and Arai, which brings me to a few questions:

1. Are Arai, Shoei and other premium helmets overrated? I mean, if the performance rating is not that far off from a sub 10-15k helmet, how does it justify 7-10 times the cost?

2. Are SHARP ratings unideal for helmet shopping when compared to say SNELL or ECE 22.06? I mean is it comprehensively better or comparable to the other two?

3. In a real sense, how much of an Arai/Shoei/Shark etc are about safety and how much of it is brand value?

[Karthik1100]

Originally Posted by Karthik1100

One of my friends, recently started riding and is looking for a helmet under 5K.

Finally my friend bought SMK typhoon from Bike World, JC Road after trying couple of helmets. He paid 5K including helmet cleaner, Balaclava, helmet strobe light and Basic gloves.