Helmet Help Please!

Okay guys (and gals), I need your help. I just got back from a great ride up the coast with my girlfriend on the back (her first on the VFR). Although she loved the ride, there's a hot spot from her helmet right on her forehead that leaves it red and hurting after about 30 to 45 minutes. This is her second helmet and the first did the same exact thing. The first helmet was a Seven Zero Seven from CycleGear and the second one is a Scorpion EXO-750 with the inflatable cheek pads. The Scorpion is a little better but the same problem and certainly something that shouldn't be happening.

Have any of you had a similar problem and, if so, were you able to find a helmet that worked for you? And, lest you think my girlfriend has some huge, bulbous forehead, let me assure you that she doesn't. In fact, here's a recent pic of us together taken at the beach last weekend. That's me on the right and her on the left.



Yes, I realize I've just risked my life beyond anything riding on two wheels has ever threatened. Both the big forehead and the fact that it's a whale is bordering on suicide. Scubalong, if you mention this to her (or worse, show it to her), you're dead! She's actually quite beautiful. That's her with me (really, this time) having dinner at Koi in Vegas. Pricey but really good. So, as you can see, normal forehead. Any help or suggestions would be great appreciated!

 

It's the only way......

Find a cycle shop that has a HUGE selection of helmets and have her try on every single last one of them until she finds a helmet that fits her head. Seriously my friend that's the only way.

 

Not a bad suggestion. Knowing that the first helmet didn't work for her, she wore the Scorpion in the shop while we picked out all her other gear so that, hopefully, she'd get an idea whether it was comfortable. No problems in the shop, she said it felt comfortable. I guess she just has to try on as many different lids as she can and hope that one just feels noticeably better than the others.

 

YOU have to get a shop that offers lots of selection and try them on. Many helmets cause the issue you are referring to. It's the shape of the helmet vs. Head shape. You can try to use your tumb and rub out the hot spot if it not too pronounced. It is just polystyrene.

Sounds like your GF hase a more round head which is causing this issue. Look for a mfg that offers more than one head shape. I think shark, avg and arai offer ore than one shape. Well I know arsi does for sure. They offer three shapes. Some other mfgs offer two shapes. Go directly to the mfg web site.

http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycle-helmets/motorcycle-helmet-shapes.htm

 

Exactly. Her helmet is the most important piece of riding gear that she'll be wearing so make sure to give her plenty of time when selecting her new helmet. Don't rush it,try them all. If you have to go to another cycle shop,do it.

When she finds one that fits comfortably have her wear it around the shop for awhile,hell have her wear it until they kick you two out of the shop. :lol:

Whatever it takes,just be certain that's the helmet that fits her head shape the most comfortably. Sounds silly I know,but that's how it's done.

 

I'm a firm believer that helmets and shoes should be comfortable from the instant you put them on. I went to cycle gear and tried all of them and found 2 that fit. I had tried everything from 2x to several 3x helmets. I ended up with a 2x shoei rf 1100. It felt good from the instant I put it on. It is the head shape that determines fit. Who says she can't wear it in the store for an hour? I can buy pants shirts jackets by size only, but shoes and helmets have to be tried on. Cycle gear is decent place to try some helmets but they are by no means the end all of selection. Check if any of the online big delers are local to you. I intend to ride to compacc in sc to see their retail store. You might print out the info on this webpage to take with you to see what type head shape my work and then you could try helmets within that category.
Anyway the webpage:

Head shapes


Dang I'm slow.

 

Other than finding a local shop, check out local races such as AMA and WERA events and motorcycle shows. Thats where I found the helmet I wanted then went online and got it $100 cheaper.

 

+1 A big Amen to that Jugornot. ^^^^^

Same goes for work boots too.

Ah crap...... it's Saturday,I mentioned the "w" word didn't I. :mmph: :lol:

 

Helmets shpuld be as tight as you cand stand for proper fitment. The polystyrene will compress and the pads will wear. They shouldn't be uncomfortable but tight fitting. Hot spots point to an I'll fitting helmet shape.
Proper fittment is most important thing in comfort and safety.

 

Just a thought......

One more thing I noticed Metally is that your g/f has very long hair. Pretty much all of the long-haired gals that have ridden with me either tied back or braided their hair first before they put their helmet on so it wouldn't get ratty from floppin' around in the wind.

If your g/f ties back or braids her hair when she rides with you make sure that's the way she's wearing her hair when she's trying on helmets because that hair braid at the back of her head just might be what's causing her helmet to pull tightly against her forehead and cause that hot spot.

 

Yes exactly tight, but do not concentrate on the cheek area. I replaced the cheek pads with a smaller size because of the robustness of of my cheeks. You should not be able to put a finger between your forehead and the helmet. But I reiterate it should be comfortable. The "Hot spot" is trying to an egg into a tight bowl. It will only touch in a couple of areas and create undo pressure "Hot spots." I feel the foam should only be compressed when it is serving its function during an accident. It is absolutely possible to get a tight comfortable properly fitted helmet without compressing the foam unless you have some odd bumps and lumps on your head.

 

Ah crap....... it's no wonder I can never find a good fitting helmet,my whole head is nothing but a collection of odd bumps and lumps. :lol:

 

Good catch stosh....

 

I'm with you on helmets and shoes needing to be comfortable immediately. And I appreciate the link (even if bitterpil beat you to it). I think it's like everyone is saying and just a matter of trying on so many helmets that at least one will stand out from the rest as most comfortable. As it is now, I think she just doesn't know any better. It's like when I used to run in these crappy (for me) Adidas shoes and I thought they were comfortable enough. Sure, I got some blisters and my back hurt occasionally but I figured that was how all running shoes were since they felt comfortable when I walked around in them. Then, I tried some Asics Kayanos and my standard for comfort changed completely. There's no going back. So, we just need to find the right Asics Kayanos for her head!

 

This is a great point and something I hadn't considered. It makes sense that with all that hair, the braid is going to take up enough room that it will put pressure towards the front of the helmet. We'll do as you suggested and hopefully find something that works.

Edit: I meant to quote stoshmonster's post re: braided hair.

 

I have an unfortunately large and odd shaped melon and it does make helmet purchasing a pain. I have never had any issues with Arai helmets but Bell and Shoei helmets will leave painful red marks on my head where the edge of the pads push on my giant cranium. I have found the marks on my head show me where to work the padding down to make the lining less painful. Just how I deal with it.

 

The main points have already been covered. Find a shop with a huge range of helmets and keep trying them on until you find one which fits like a glove, which is neither loose nor over tight - just snug is what you want.

Even if it takes a lot longer to try out each helmet, it is important that if she intends to tuck her hair up inside her helmet then that is how she needs to try out the helmets in the shop. Don't be in a rush and never let fashion dictate the choice of helmet.

Take something to read with you. Once you find a possible helmet, just find a chair and settle down to read your book whilst she wears the helmet continuously for a good half hour if you can. If it still feels OK then its probably a good choice, but if it starts to hurt in that time, then it is probably going to be a menace especially if you are planning longer rides or touring on the VFR!

If you can't find something that feels just right in the first shop then just leave and try other shops.

I don't know what helmets are available in the USA, but in Europe you can often short cut the selection process as models from many European makers seem designed for certain head shapes. So if you find Arai helmets don't fit right, then try something from a different manufacturer as most Arai models will use the same basic shell and padding design. So if you need a narrow helmet style then try an AGV - seems to reflect typical Italian head shapes, whilst Shoei are great if you need a wider helmet. Caberg seem to be a good choice for people with smaller heads.

But the only way to tell what will work, is to try them on.

If you are planning on a lot of pillion riding and touring, then you may also want to think about features in the helmet like having an integral Bluetooth intercom system. Rather than trying to decode taps on your shoulder - it is a lot easier if they can tell you when they need a break, and you will find that listening to music can really help eat up the miles on longer runs, although it can be amusing if your pillion starts listening to their favourite dance track…

When you finally find a helmet that feels just right, it may be worth going back to the shop and buying a second whilst they are still available. Manufacturers seem to redesign helmets frequently and it often seems that the upgraded model does not feel anything like as comfortable.

 

Thanks for the suggestions. We're fortunate in that there are a number of shops with a good selection of helmets relatively close to where we live.

Ahhh...now THAT may be even more difficult than finding a comfortable helmet. I remember her words clearly when we chose the Scorpion, "Ah, that one's pretty, I want that one." Me: "But is it comfortable?" Her: "Yeah, it feels fine." Me (hesitantly): "Okay, as long as it's comfortable." And here we are...

That's exactly my concern. I have hopes of doing longer rides, at least several hours if not more. Our last ride became unbearable for her after about an hour. I well fitting helmet is critical for both her enjoyment (and mine) and safety. I guess I have a rather neutral head as every helmet I've tried (assuming it's my size) has fit well.

Another good suggestion and something I'm looking into. I think the Scala system is something I'll invest in. I'm not sure about listening to music while riding. I enjoy the sound of the engine and the wind and just taking in everything around me. The longest I've ridden at one time is about six hours. I imagine with rides longer than that, music might be a welcome option; especially if the roads becomes one long straight.

 

If the forehead has a hot spot, try with some cushion on that area. Maybe put a patch (about 1/4 inch thick) on the top of the head toward front so that the helmet does not put its weight on that particular spot. Cut out cushy mouse pad or gel pad you can find at a drug store. Whenever I buy new helmets, I use this trick. You need to wear a helmet at least a couple of hours until you can declare it fits right. I have a weird shape head no helemt can fit me right without some mods unless I choose one size up which I hate to do it. Good luck with the helmet.

 

I taught everyone here well. All great points. Especially that a helmet does break in to some degree. And your GF may have skin that is more sensitive than others. Try giving the present helmet a little more time. A few more shorter rides. I just bought a Shoie HLTXM4500LTZ or something like that. Anyways it was expensive. And I thought at the beginning, I had made a big and costly error cause it was so tight. It now fits like a glove.

BTW, I had a higher end Sharke. Was a nice helmet but they are more geared to Auto Racing helmets and I found that their after sale service to fall short of sucking.