Where do you shop for your helmet?

I'm planning to purchase my first VFR!!! in a few months and will get a new helmet at the same time or earlier. Where do you guys go for the best deals / selection online? I find great deals on closeout helmets on various sights but unfortunately, I have a standard mellon. A Large. No deals on helmets that are easy to sell...

 

newenough.com

 

Steps to buy the right Helmet,

1. Go to local dealerships
2. Try on as many brands as you can to find right shape and size (note brand, model and year) for best fit
3. Leave store without buying
4. Go online and find the Helmet of choice in prefered color for better price
5. Call local dealer and see if he will match (out of courtesy) either buy from local or reputable online store (newenough, sportbiketrackgear, etc)

Usually my local dealer will match and give extra to make up tax.

 

+1. Couldn't have said it better myself. I think it helps if you've bought a bike from them before, or have just spent a bunch of dough with them over the years. Two out of the three shops that I frequent will usually give me a deal such as the one V4FRider describes.

 

If you have a cycle gear near you, they usually have a pretty good selection to try on.

Action

 

Motorcycle shows are also a good source. You get a much wider selection not to mention they have good prices.

 

helmetharbor.com is a good place, but if you want a deal (after finding the helmet you want in the correct size), is ebay. There are a few guys that list @ retail and have a bazillion ads, but if you email them for a "best deal" they turn out to be wholesalers. I got both of my Shoei's (R1000 graphics) new in the box for $220 each (Duhamel 5 years ago and a Sever last year)

 

Me? looks to be a inter-net purchase from over seas. as it's japan only.

 

As most of you said..I just ordered a new helmet from sportbikertrackgear.com. I went with a Scorpion. I did go to my local shop for sizing, but he would not come down on the price. I got some other stuff and got free shipping on the order, so if you need gloves, jacket, ect.. you may get free shipping. I should get my stuff tomorrow. Good luck!

 

I look online at what is available and the prices the various helmets are going for. Then I hit a local shop or two. Try one different helmets looking for the proper fitment first then features and cost. Proper fitment is the key to the protection the helmet offers the wearer. The last time I bought a helmet, the shop offered me a discount that got it close enough to online for me not to care. As a matter of fact my local shops offered me a discount on all my helmets and I ended up buying 4 of them locally.

 

I got mine from Dennis Kirk on sale last year.

ace57

 

ridersdiscount.com over at the WERA 13x forum. They do specials on everything and post up a bunch of stuff every week. All you have to do is email them and use the WERA Forum code.

 

Proper helmet fit is imperative, I like Cycle Gear because they have a large selection and are close to internet prices. Buying a size too large is a very common mistake, first time buyers should ask lots of questions and seek one on one help.

 

Helmets are for wimps. Seriously how can you expect people to see how cool you look on your new bike if you cover your face up. lol... If you have the money I recommend a carbon fiber helmet. I don't see how I ever wore my old $100.00 HJC special. I was patient and stalked ebay for weeks until I found a brand new HJC carbon fiber for $199.00. It was one of those promo deals to attract new costomers to their online store

 

What makes the carbon fiber helmets so much better? I know they look cool and must be lighter, anything other than that?

 

I usually go shopping at all the local stores first, then go online to shop for the best deal (most times on Ebay, but sometimes shops have closeouts that are good). Also, WebBikeWorld.com is a great source of product reviews, as YouTube can aslo be a good source as well.

I did this last year when I was interested in a Bell Star helmet. I went to a shop, that I called ahead of time so as not to waste an hour's ride time, and confirmed they had the Bell Star in stock. I tried on a few sizes and found that it was indeed true what they say about that helmet. I buy large ALL the time, but for some reason it was the medium that fit correctly. Well, after trying it on, the salesman said he could make me a god deal on it. I was like, 'Sure, sure... like $50 off or what?' Well, when they first came out there were all about $550. The salesman said they were on sale for $299!!! Now I could not pass THAT up, knowing that no one was going to match that online. Salesman said they just weren't moving, so there were all on sale. Well, at that price I got a dark smoke shield while I was there, and a free t-shirt from the dealership!

 

Where's the best place to buy one of those cool polished chrome brain bucket thingies that the hard asses wear when out on their bar hopping cruises? Golly those are neato keen! Gosh, I'd look so gnarley in one! And are they DOT, Snell, and/or ECE approved? They look so substantial and protective. Gots to have one!

 

I accept with informatio1. Leave store without buying
2. Go online and find the Helmet of choice in prefered color for better price
3. Call local dealer and see if he will match (out of courtesy) either buy from local or reputable online store (newenough, sportbiketrackgear, etc)