- This topic has 11 replies, 10 voices, and was last updated 14 years, 4 months ago by Ixecapade.
Helmet fitting problems–getting frustrated
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November 26, 2009 at 8:59 pm #3592WeaponZeroParticipant
I’ve gone through three helmets by three different brands since I’ve started riding (one was a premium brand) and I keep running into the same problems.
My head is apparently a size that sits in between large and XL for most brands, and XL helmets feel fine when new but once “broken in” fit like a helmet that is one size too large. Large helmets, on the other hand, I can’t even get on. They won’t go past my ears when trying to put them on.
WTF am I supposed to do?
EDIT: The HJC CL-15 was the absolute worst in this respect. It went up like two sizes after breaking in. Not kidding. Just FYI.
November 27, 2009 at 12:17 am #23552MunchParticipantAsk the dealer of the helmets if they have access to different padding for the helmet. A lot of helmet manu’s have various thickness padding for helmets to give you a more custom fit.
November 28, 2009 at 4:52 pm #23572ranetteParticipantNot an endorsement as I’ve never tried one, but Nexx includes a custom fit kit with all of their XR1R full face helmets.
http://www.nexx-usa.comNovember 29, 2009 at 6:28 am #23558Gary856ParticipantI’ve worn a Shoei RF-1000 size XL for 11 months. It’s size didn’t seem to change much before/after break-in.
I wear a bandana under the helmet to: a) keep the hair somewhat neat, b) avoid sweating up the helmet liner. The bandana makes the fit just slightly tighter. When it’s cold enough to wear both the bandana and a thin cotton ninja hoody over it, the fit gets a little tighter still but still ok.
December 10, 2009 at 5:28 pm #23675WeaponZeroParticipantI purchased a Shark RSI helmet on sale at sportbiketrackgear.com–beautiful helmet BTW. I got it because all the helmets I’ve owned previously have had shell shapes designed for “round” heads. I decided to go toward the opposite end of the spectrum and pick up a helmet made for “long oval” headed people, and it fits way better than my other helmets have so far. We’ll see how it holds up over time. I’m wearing it around the house to “break it in” even though riding season is pretty much over.
December 10, 2009 at 6:51 pm #23676XRayHoundParticipantYou need to go try on EVERYTHING. I wear a different size in every brand of helmet that exists. I have an XL Arai Quantum, my track helmet is an L RF1100, Scorpions are made small, I wear a 2XL in that, and KBCs pinch my skull so hard I won’t even have the POS things. Go to a big store, I don’t know where you live but here on the central east coast Cycle Gear is good for the purpose, and try on every brand in every reasonable size you can lay your hands on until you find something right. If you’re really dedicated you might even consider changing your hairstyle, the volume of hair on your head has a small but noticeable effect on helmet fit.
December 21, 2009 at 1:54 am #23788IBA270Participantbuy your helmets from a local dealer. It sounds like they don’t fit because you haven’t been fitted properly…that’s really the best way to go.
December 29, 2009 at 5:03 pm #23845megaspazParticipantpadding in the helmet will loosen over time. it happens. a perfectly fitting helmet brand new might not fit so snug after 6 months of continuous riding. Either replace the padding or get some foam weather stripping and add judiciously underneath the padding.
December 29, 2009 at 5:46 pm #23846IBA270ParticipantYou STILL owe it to yourself to go see a reputable dealer of helmets. That’s really the best/only way. If you ever get to Texas, I’ll show you my collection of “mail order” helmets from 20 years ago that I bought for a good deal and never fit or felt good.
Another point; don’t get hung up on what the size is. Only women care if they are a size 2 or a 6. Who cares? If you think you’re a large, start from there. I wear a Large in a Shoei and an XL in an Arai. I’ve worn a XXL in a Bieffe…doesn’t matter.
As another poster pointed out, many helmets have customizable interiors from a sizing stand point. Can’t give you an all inclusive list, but you better helmets usually do.
I would not recommend modifying a helmet to you in any way. There is a helmet that fits and fits well for you. A helmet mod for comfort is folly…and ill advised. Can you get away with a bandana or skull cap? Sure, that should pose an issue. But, for instance, I had a guy in one of my classes who wore a baseball cap under his lid. I asked how that metal button was going to feel driving through the top of his skull in a crash…he hadn’t that of that…
As always, hope that helps.
December 30, 2009 at 1:14 am #23848briderdtParticipantWell, not so bad, really. I got a relatively inexpensive helmet last year (Gmax 68), and it fit me great. Untill… I got my hair chopped off on 12/23. Helmet rattles on my head now. So I go out and try on some today. And what amazed me is that not only did I drop down a size, but the helmet that fit best today was one that I couldn’t take off fast enough a year ago. So keep an open mind.
December 30, 2009 at 7:38 am #23850eonParticipantMade the mistake of trying on an Arai Profile today. Dang, that thing felt good. Having already put a large dent on the cc in that store I managed to resist buying a $550+10% tax helmet. Will power was not so strong when I got home and found one online for $430 in a cool paint scheme. Oh well, Christmas is but once a year.
WZ, I also have a long oval shape and was planning on buying the Shark RSI also. If you get a chance you might want to try on the arai profile (then again you might not!). I think I saw somewhere (probably sportbiketrackgear sportbiketrackgear.com video) that the RSI is at the far end of the oval spectrum and the profile is one step closer to round.
December 31, 2009 at 5:13 pm #23855IxecapadeParticipant“Only women care if they are a size 2 or a 6. Who cares? If you think you’re a large, start from there. I wear a Large in a Shoei and an XL in an Arai. I’ve worn a XXL in a Bieffe…doesn’t matter.”
hey now… thats so not entirely true!!!! play nice!
and yes chopping hair off will make a huge differece- its like anything else- try on as many as you can. when I went saddle shopping for my horse when I switched disciplines I kept an open mind (saddles are sized by the ‘seat’- although it really has more to do wtih the length of your thigh bone but people get REALLLLLY wicked bent about it …I digress)… don’t look at sizes and numbers- starts where and work up and down with different brands- you will know the right one when you get it- there is no fussing and figeting you put it on and go… ‘ahhhhhhh’ (then you start fussing with it)
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