I spent the last 2 and a half months looking for the right helmet for me. When I first started shopping, I had no idea what to look for and didn’t know how a helmet should fit. I also had no idea about different brands: Arai, Bieffe, Shoei, Bell, HJC, etc. I kept hearing about different brands from different people, but the one brand that seemed to get the most discussion was Shoei (“show-ee”). Turns out that was the brand that fit me best when trying them on at a store.
A few weeks of research on the Internet reading descriptions and comparing prices, I decided I would stick with Shoei, since I know what size I wear in that brand. Also, reviews talk about how the Shoei helmet stays put while riding. The helmet I had been wearing felt like it lifted up when riding at higher speeds. I finally settled on the RF-1000 and ordered it in light silver. This helmet also has vents located in places that allow air to flow, minimizing sweat.
The helmet came yesterday, just hours before a 70 mile highway trip to Pennsylvania. It was supposed to be my first highway ride on a motorcycle. Jason and I were planning to leave yesterday, but because of the chance of showers, we decided to leave the next day. I’m glad we waited, or else I’d be riding with an old helmet– the one that feels like it comes off in high speeds.
I put the helmet on and read the guide. It says it should fit snugly around my whole head and i should be able to feel the cushion against the top of my head. I do. With the helmet on, while moving the helmet around left and right and up and down, my skin should move with the helmet. It does. With the chin pads in, the pads should be pressing in on my cheeks. They do. They press in so much that I practically bite the inside of my mouth, and I can barely speak. Supposedly, over time, the helmet will take the shape of my head and will feel less like making funny faces. Basically, this helmet fits snugly enough that if I fall at a high speed, it won’t come off until I take it off.
I had only ridden on a motorcycle once at a speed of 70mph, and it was scary with a helmet that didn’t fit me well. But today, while riding on the highway, the helmet was secure. It didn’t feel like it was trying to come off my head in high speed. It was comfortable and comforting. Didn’t even seem like we were going 70.