[DJones]

I’m hopefully getting my first bike within the next few weeks, and I’m trying to map out my price ranges. I live in Florida so upwards of 90 aren’t uncommon in the summer so i need a helmet with good ventilation. I’ve read all the reviews on this site but I want the vents to be the reason the helmet is amazing. I used to ride motorcross and would get hot with those helmets which is why I;m so concerned now.

Am I being to close minded? are the vents the least important part and I should just deal with the heat and get a helmet based on something else?

[Munch]

Personally the Vents are just as important as t he fact that it is DOT approved. Over heating is just as dangerous as not wearing a helmet…..if not more. Definitely look for well ventilated helmets.

[briderdt]

So take what I say with a grain of salt. I have a Gmax 68s, which has 5 vents in the top that can be closed off, and the normal chin vent. So far it’s been plenty (though to be fair, most of my rides even on warm days have been in the morning). THere’s a new Givi that has a switchable chin bar for summer vs winter riding that looks interesting.

[DJones]

I was looking at the gmax 68. I just wish they had a few more designs

[roborabbit]

Don’t worry so much about the vents. You’ll find that you will always be wishing you had more ventilation anyway .

—

Some other tips for keeping your head cool on hot days. Wet bandanas are perfect for keeping you cool on short-ish rides (they dry up after 30min – 1 hour). Use a skull cap / face cover and soak it in water. Aside from keeping you cool it also helps keep your helmet from smelling like a jock strap since you can wash it unlike your helmet liner.

A note about D.O.T. approval. They leave the testing up to the industry and do not even require that manufactuers send them the results. There is virtually no government oversight for DOT approval. The only real time that DOT requests test results or preforms them is when there is a lawsuit or legal problem. While this doesn’t mean that every manufactuer is putting out poor helmets just because they only have a DOT sticker it does mean that every now and then some poor quality helmet that can’t protect your bucket will slip through with a DOT sticker on it. So, basically ignore the DOT and look for the SnellM2005(Soon to be SnellM2010) approval. They actively test all helmets before they get the snell sticker. Also even after the first test they randomly pull samples of helmets they’ve approved from store shelves and test them as long as the helmet is still being made and sold.

[SantaCruzRider]

From what I’ve read, it’s as much a marketing and protection game as anything else. Actual comparison tests of both DOT and Snell approved helmets show no Snell advantage — http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycle-helmets/motorcycle-helmet-faq.htm

Personally, one of my helmets has Snell approval, but that didn’t factor into the buy.

My best helmets are DOT approved. The day I see a helmet manufacturer publish data showing that their Snell tested helmet is statically safer in a crash, I’ll consider changing my mind.

[BouncingRadical]

“Use a skull cap / face cover and soak it in water. Aside from keeping you cool it also helps keep your helmet from smelling like a jock strap since you can wash it unlike your helmet liner.”

I am going to have to try that, my helmet has been having to get a regular febreezing since it has been getting hot here.

[Munch]

One thing…. both my G-max FF and my half helmet have washable liners.

[eternal05]

That’s a great article, SantaCruz!

For anybody that reads it, read the whole damn thing. Read the response from Snell (so angry!), and the response by Motorcyclist magazine to that Snell response.

Incredibly informative.

[briderdt]

…you could always just pop the visor up a little bit.

[owlie]

Totally agree.

I’d been looking for a similar guide but all I could seem to find was site trying to sell me helmets. It was a great article.

Thanks!

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