Helmet Hjc?

Looking at getting a HJC carbon fiber AC-12. Do
any of you guys have one and how do you like
it? Looks like the weight and vent system is par
if not better than most I have read about but I
don't know much about real world usage.

Thanks

 

question is....does it fit your head?

because all the quality and design in the world does little good if its shape isn't congruant with your noggin's. Best try one on!

 

I'm using an HJC CL-SP. Best, most comfortable helmet I've ever had. Cost me $185.

 

I'd compare the weight of the carbon fibre to the Shoeis (SP?). I've heard the Shoeis are actually lighter.

I like my HJC though, it's been a great helmet for it's price. I've always seen HJC as the highest quality low-mid range lids.

 

I love HJC!

I have several HJC Helmets and love them all. Lansonfloyd has it right;does it fit your head?

Let us know how you like it. It's on my short list!:biggrin:

 

I run HJC's for snowmobiling, comfortable helmet. Was planning to buy another for biking but tried on an ARAI and it fit my noodle like no other!

 

Update:

Well I spent a week going around to all sorts of diff cycle
stores in my area up to 60 miles. If one had something
that the other didn't offer I tried it out. Saving the HJC
for last. I did this so I could get a good idea of what was
on the market. This is my first street helmet and after
reading all the stuff here about fitment, noise, and so
forth I kept all that in mind also. Many felt good and
some felt great. Then I got to a store today that sold
the Carbon AC-12 they only had one. My good luck had
it was a large. I tried on a non carbon xl and it had too
much lateral movement. I was told the cheek pads will
compress 1/8th inch give or take, which at this time
don't feel bad at all.

The weight of this lid is not a huge diff from any other
400 buck helmet but it is lighter I thnk. My only
wish was a SUPER STORE that sold all the quality
major brands so you could check them out at the
same time. Anywho, fit and finish are outstanding,
I didn't opt for the graphic AC-12 because it would
be much easier to hide scratches on a solid color
I suppose. All and all I really like it. I will let you
guys know how it is when I get the bike this weekend
and see how loud it is or isn't.

Helmet, mirror and clear visor gold visor, and a really
nice helmet bag were 312 bucks out the door. Best
I found was ebay at 299 and av cost was a touch over
400.:biggrin:

 

competition accessories has HJC ac-11's for 109.95.I have 2 and have been happy with them.The visor mechanism is a bit fragile,but changing out is easy.Adjustable venting works well,and they fit me well,no complaints.Good pricepoint.I save $ where I can but try not to compromise quality and performance.I pay top dollar for tires.If it feels good,$ should never matter:wink:

 

I like mine OK. I wish it had a little better ventilation in the top though.

 

newenough.com has some good deals on those helmets.

http://www.newenough.com/product_group_helmets_hjc_private.htm

 

Don't buy used helmet!

Don't buy an
A. Used toothbrush
B. Underwear
C. Helmet

Though you can find good used prices, you'll never know how many times that it's been dropped on that concrete floor in the garage.

If you're really that cheap, I understand that cruiser shops have novelty helmets as cheap as 10$:usa2:

If you have a $10 head, wear a $10 helmet. You'll improve the gene pool!

 

newenough doesnt sell used helmets. Thats just the name of the company since one upon a time they sold used vanson jackets. Unless stated all gear is new.

In addition that $10 helmet for a $10 head is crap. Look at the studied done in numerous magazines and reports. A $89 Z1R helmet beat out a $700 arai helmet even though the Z1R was only DOT. Do your research before claiming to know the relation between cost and head worthiness.

I have done mine. http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/gearbox/motorcycle_helmet_review/

The problem is the Z1R is noisy so in that aspect you are paying for comfort.

 

10$Helmets?I'll buy one for some of the riders that have riddin with me,Legs,how much is your head?Get a helmet,it' s the law here.Sometimes I think how much safety equiptment we need.We ride motorbikes...danger.is part of the game.just graduated traffic school(speeding ticket).we are 16times more likely to die than car drivers,drop that in your garage.If it feels good,buy it and wear it.Just ride and be happy,life is short

 

Wits? Well I'm half right.

If the wits who wrote the last posts had read and understood my last posts, maybe they would realize that there are lots ot bogus helmets on the market.
Unless it's a KBC from China, I'd suspect anything made there!!

Some cheap helmets test well, but many are not legally certified or tested.

I'm not talking about a certified KBC, but some of the crap sold in swap meets and unscrupulous shops. The $10 dollar helmet for a $10 head still holds true years after Bell coined the phrase.

By the way, you'd look real stylin with a bogus half -shell on your VFR.

I agree that there are lower priced helmets that are good, but not $10.00-20 knock off. My reports have been published in ThunderRoads and Full Throttle.

Yours?

 

I would only buy a NEW helmet and then only from a reputable dealer. If that dealer has sales (like newenough) then I would buy. Its the same people that say buy a $200 helmet if your head is worth $200 that have to say that after paying >$200 for a helmet. Well look at some of the Moto GP and AMA racing champions. Ive seen them wear things from HJC, Shoei, Arai, and Bell. So I will tell you if the champions wear them then they are good helmets.

If you paid $500 for a helmet from a local shop and I can get the same helmet for half from a legit shop on the internet then you paid what you paid. It was a good deal to you and thats all that matters. I just like giving my business to the one that will give me the most value for my money.

Plus most helmets that cost <$100 are either last years model or only DOT certified or some combination of the two. Remember Snell doesnt always mean better. It does mean that in 89% of accidents it will let more G's to your dome. I guess at that point it wont matter how much you paid for your helmet.

Lastly my head is worth a lot. In fact I dont think they make helmets that are worth what my head is to me. So going by the $$$=more safe notion is moot. Get what feels comfortable and is at least DOT certified. Anything costing more than $200 and you are paying for creature comforts (ie softer liner, more vents, etc.)

Good website for helmet reviews.

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

 

Back to the real meaning of this post.

My 2 major Helmets are HJC's(SY-Max and CL-MAX), not real expensive, but have been rated as the best by the Gold Wingdingers.

I took a spill at warp (SY-Max and the hit tore off the lower section of the helmet(Flip up) instead of my lower jaw. I replaced it with a CY-Max that is slightly cheaper, but is much quieter. Though not a smoker, it's cool to be able to open the face and drink or talk. My oldest son dropped his VTR at warp with an Arthur Fulmer flip up and broke off the chin piece w/no damage to his face.

All of these helmets were under $300. I have pointed out Motorcyclist's courage about helmet testing, and the fact that it has cost them advertising dollars in print and elsewhere in this forum. You can get a lot of helmet for >$300.

Nowhere in any of my posts or professional writing have I said that there is a relationship to high cost and safety. That said, there are still pieces of crap on the market, especially when you leave the US and don't have those pesky liberals to make sure that safety and quality standards are adhered to.

I guess that I need to wear a sandwich board to confirm my research!

 

All I can say is that you are one brave puppy to be trying those flip ups. I dont trust them for the same reason of what happened in your fall.

As far as overseas standards, I think they are more safer than DOT. ECE standards are pretty high. I think racing helmets need at least those. Not sure though. You did not say that $$$$=safe, but you implied it by saying $10 helmet for $10 heads meaning if your head is worth anything then get a more expensive helmet.

Now while $10 is crazy for anything other than a childs manual bicycle helmet (and thats pushing it) I get what you mean. I just wish people would stop saying that because the unaware see it as spending >$300 on a helmet means you are getting a better one than say one that cost <$300

 

My point, get a real helmet!

I don't understand how you and that next dweeb came to that conclusion. My reference was about novelty helmets, and a lot of the cheap knock-offs that are currently being imported I have seen boobs on sportbikes with novelty NAZI helmets, In SF and LA no less! . Someone who does'nt know better could easily be fooled.

I stand corrected on newenough, a friend had bought used Vanson from them, and I have a real bias against used helmets. I wasn't aware that they had changed their modus operendi. My Marsee jacket is used, but I don't wear it on my head!

Europe and North America have high standards, but most 3rd world countries don't. You can find bogus helmets in the US and Canada as well. When I pointed this out in Full Throttle a few years ago, I had my life threatened by importers of the same and some "real Harley" guys. I was actually throw out of a shop for mentioning the same.

I'd love to have a Z carbon fiber helmet, but it is as actually harder than steel, so I think that I'll stay with DOT.I've written articles on helmets and most recently safety gear, and always have a cadre of idiots tell me how I'm wrong, and yes, that full face helmets will break your neck. I'll bet that I have done more research on safety gear and helmets, motorcycling and industrial, in the last month than most have done in their lifetime.

If you really think that GP racers are using "off the shelf" helmets, I have some property in Southern Louisiana that I'd like to sell you!:laser:

 

Just make sure its to a standard

You cant go wrong if your helmet is made to a standard.

All helmets in Aussie have to be to an Australian standard. Also all helmets in new Zealand have to be to either the NZ standard, or the Aussie Standard.

Funny thing happened to me today.

Went to the shop to get some cleaner, asked about a new visor for my helmet. Because I brought my helmet with me from NZ, the salesman said I should buy a new one as if i get pulled over by a copper, he will make me walk home - it wasnt up to the Aussie Standard.

I know mine was made to a Aussie Standard, but it no longer has a sticker with the standerd it was made to inside. Its a good hat, so im not gonna buy a new one just for the sake of it.

Open vs Full Face ?

In my younger days, I had a crash, and was knocked out. When I regained conciousness, I had trouble getting my helmet off. Perhaps some people die with full face helmets, swallow thier toung or choke in vomit, especially if the bystanders, first aiders dont know what to do. However, looking at the condition of the helmet afterwards, If I had been wearing an open face one, I would have been into hospital not just for observation, but also for some major face reconstruction.

I will always wear a full face helmet.

 

Got to agree with Hopsterman about the full face thing. Went down once wearing an open face helmet. Luckily it was low speed on a gravel road and it was the middle of winter so I had a thick scarf on. Still ended up with a cut chin but no real damage. Since then I have NEVER ridden without a full face helmet. Came of at over 120k once, banged my full face helmet on the pavement pretty hard but got up and rode the bike home. So you will never convince me that less is better with a helmet, lighter yes but less protection no.

I can't figure how shops in Canada are allowed to sell the stupid scull cap helmets the HD riders seem to love.