Bought me a "cheap" helmet....
05-15-2007, 07:43 AM
#1
Senior Member
Superstock
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Trussville, Alabama
Posts: 406
Bought me a "cheap" helmet....
I stopped by the local Cyclegear shop yesterday to poke around and see what they had. Mainly wanted to look at the Pirelli tires they will have on special this Saturday.
As I mentioned a few weeks back, I got my new Scorpion matte black helmet signed by a bunch of riders at the AMA races at Barber. So, I am making it a sit-on-the-shelf item and won't be wearing it much.
That left me needing another helmet.
I ran across a decent looking skid lid at Cyclegear. They had it marked down for closeout, plus they had a special - an additional 20% off all KBC helmets.
I tried it on and it actually fit pretty nice and felt good.
The face shield is quite sturdy with strong positive latches. Graphics looked cool. Decent venting system, blah, blah, blah. So, I bought one in red/black graphics scheme:
http://www.cyclegear.com/spgm.cfm?item=TUC_CG-8360_G
Total price was only $48.00.
Heck I have owned Arai, Bell, Shoei, HJC, Scorpion, and now a KBC.
One thing that makes me feel comfortable with most any major name helemt:
I have seen loads of crashes on the roads and at tracks. I have never seen a helmet fail and only heard of a very few cases where head injuries resulted when rider had on a helmet. And, it seems in all those cases, it was not that the helmet failed, it was a matter of hitting something so hard, so fast, that head injury was inevitable.
Any comments? Anybody else have a KBC?
Thanks for any comments or input.
As I mentioned a few weeks back, I got my new Scorpion matte black helmet signed by a bunch of riders at the AMA races at Barber. So, I am making it a sit-on-the-shelf item and won't be wearing it much.
That left me needing another helmet.
I ran across a decent looking skid lid at Cyclegear. They had it marked down for closeout, plus they had a special - an additional 20% off all KBC helmets.
I tried it on and it actually fit pretty nice and felt good.
The face shield is quite sturdy with strong positive latches. Graphics looked cool. Decent venting system, blah, blah, blah. So, I bought one in red/black graphics scheme:
http://www.cyclegear.com/spgm.cfm?item=TUC_CG-8360_G
Total price was only $48.00.
Heck I have owned Arai, Bell, Shoei, HJC, Scorpion, and now a KBC.
One thing that makes me feel comfortable with most any major name helemt:
I have seen loads of crashes on the roads and at tracks. I have never seen a helmet fail and only heard of a very few cases where head injuries resulted when rider had on a helmet. And, it seems in all those cases, it was not that the helmet failed, it was a matter of hitting something so hard, so fast, that head injury was inevitable.
Any comments? Anybody else have a KBC?
Thanks for any comments or input.
05-15-2007, 08:28 AM
#2
Senior Member
Superstock
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 379
I have that helmet as a back up piece...like you I saw it and said "wow, thats cheap and its snell and dot"...fits my GF nice but since she is getting into riding more she is going to look into getting a more top shelf helmet...but yeah the KBC hasn't served me wrong...I don't know about its fit seeing as it is a size I have is a small
05-15-2007, 09:05 AM
#3
Senior Member
Superstock
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: 58 miles from Deals Gap
Posts: 442
I'm on my second KBC. I have the VR2 and love the helmet. My previous one was the VR1 which I field tested and walked away without any injury. The helmet is light and quiet and I've been very happy with the KBC's. I figure if it's good enough for Mat Mladin then it's definately good enough for me.
05-15-2007, 10:52 AM
#4
Senior Member
SuperBike
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Richmond, Virginia
Posts: 1,315
Been wearing KBC for 6 years. I've had a their VR1 for a couple years now.
Shield works nicely.
Crashed it @ the track last year. It took some cosmetic damage, but that was it. Pretty cool & comfy. Not all that quiet, but I use earplugs when I'm not toolin' around town anyway.
What did you think of the Scorpion?
Shield works nicely.
Crashed it @ the track last year. It took some cosmetic damage, but that was it. Pretty cool & comfy. Not all that quiet, but I use earplugs when I'm not toolin' around town anyway.
What did you think of the Scorpion?
05-15-2007, 01:26 PM
#7
Moderate-whore
MotoGP
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Leander TX!!
Posts: 9,049
I stopped by the local Cyclegear shop yesterday to poke around and see what they had. Mainly wanted to look at the Pirelli tires they will have on special this Saturday.
As I mentioned a few weeks back, I got my new Scorpion matte black helmet signed by a bunch of riders at the AMA races at Barber. So, I am making it a sit-on-the-shelf item and won't be wearing it much.
That left me needing another helmet.
I ran across a decent looking skid lid at Cyclegear. They had it marked down for closeout, plus they had a special - an additional 20% off all KBC helmets.
I tried it on and it actually fit pretty nice and felt good.
The face shield is quite sturdy with strong positive latches. Graphics looked cool. Decent venting system, blah, blah, blah. So, I bought one in red/black graphics scheme:
http://www.cyclegear.com/spgm.cfm?item=TUC_CG-8360_G
Total price was only $48.00.
Heck I have owned Arai, Bell, Shoei, HJC, Scorpion, and now a KBC.
One thing that makes me feel comfortable with most any major name helemt:
I have seen loads of crashes on the roads and at tracks. I have never seen a helmet fail and only heard of a very few cases where head injuries resulted when rider had on a helmet. And, it seems in all those cases, it was not that the helmet failed, it was a matter of hitting something so hard, so fast, that head injury was inevitable.
Any comments? Anybody else have a KBC?
Thanks for any comments or input.
As I mentioned a few weeks back, I got my new Scorpion matte black helmet signed by a bunch of riders at the AMA races at Barber. So, I am making it a sit-on-the-shelf item and won't be wearing it much.
That left me needing another helmet.
I ran across a decent looking skid lid at Cyclegear. They had it marked down for closeout, plus they had a special - an additional 20% off all KBC helmets.
I tried it on and it actually fit pretty nice and felt good.
The face shield is quite sturdy with strong positive latches. Graphics looked cool. Decent venting system, blah, blah, blah. So, I bought one in red/black graphics scheme:
http://www.cyclegear.com/spgm.cfm?item=TUC_CG-8360_G
Total price was only $48.00.
Heck I have owned Arai, Bell, Shoei, HJC, Scorpion, and now a KBC.
One thing that makes me feel comfortable with most any major name helemt:
I have seen loads of crashes on the roads and at tracks. I have never seen a helmet fail and only heard of a very few cases where head injuries resulted when rider had on a helmet. And, it seems in all those cases, it was not that the helmet failed, it was a matter of hitting something so hard, so fast, that head injury was inevitable.
Any comments? Anybody else have a KBC?
Thanks for any comments or input.
05-15-2007, 01:28 PM
#8
Senior Member
SuperSport
Join Date: May 2005
Location: North Wales, PA
Posts: 809
I've got a KBC airborne, and its the best lid I've ever had. its light, has that nose cover thign to keep it from fogging up. and this little snap that hooks onto the extra strap that hangs down when you draw it tight. nice touch. anyway, I love it, and the graphics on the airborne always get looks.
05-15-2007, 01:35 PM
#9
Moderate-whore
MotoGP
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Leander TX!!
Posts: 9,049
I've got a KBC airborne, and its the best lid I've ever had. its light, has that nose cover thign to keep it from fogging up. and this little snap that hooks onto the extra strap that hangs down when you draw it tight. nice touch. anyway, I love it, and the graphics on the airborne always get looks.
05-15-2007, 08:49 PM
#14
Senior Member
Superstock
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Trussville, Alabama
Posts: 406
Regarding weight: I can't tell a nickle's worth of difference between the KBC and the HJC. The Scorpion might be a wee bit lighter.
Regarding the Scorpion: I have the EXO 4000. It is a fine helmet for the price. Really (IMHO) top-end for what you pay. I liked it but got the feeling it would not be a good fit for every head. I really like their quick change shield set-up. Nice when you get it figured out.
Regarding the Scorpion: I have the EXO 4000. It is a fine helmet for the price. Really (IMHO) top-end for what you pay. I liked it but got the feeling it would not be a good fit for every head. I really like their quick change shield set-up. Nice when you get it figured out.
05-16-2007, 12:53 PM
#17
Senior Member
Superstock
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Trussville, Alabama
Posts: 406
I took the KBC out last night and gave it a good going over. You know, for the $48 I paid, it appears to be a heckuva deal.
The liner is pretty spiffy and the graphics are flawless.
As Sgt. Rock said: I am impressed with the quality.
The liner is pretty spiffy and the graphics are flawless.
As Sgt. Rock said: I am impressed with the quality.
05-31-2007, 05:47 PM
#18
Senior Member
Back Marker
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Cincinnati Ohio
Posts: 205
Well after all the years I have been riding I have seen 2 broken helmets a Bell and a HJC the only problem both were on MY head...the good thing both times I received no head injuries.. now what was I talking about.. I remember helmets... but I did add a few more pins and screws to the body both times... also these were both off-road helmets during a Hare Scramble race.... As for the street I have been wearing Arai for years.
06-10-2007, 09:04 PM
#19
Senior Member
Superstock
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Trussville, Alabama
Posts: 406
Update
Wore the el cheapo KBC all weekend at the rally.
Without a doubt, the most comfortable, best fitting helmet I have ever had.
I never really thought about it until this weekend, but after riding a lot, I realized I was forgetting I had a helmet on. And, I realized THAT was a sign of a nice fitting helmet.
No pressure points or anything to be an aggravation.
Best $48 I ever spent.
Kinda' wish I'd bought two!
Without a doubt, the most comfortable, best fitting helmet I have ever had.
I never really thought about it until this weekend, but after riding a lot, I realized I was forgetting I had a helmet on. And, I realized THAT was a sign of a nice fitting helmet.
No pressure points or anything to be an aggravation.
Best $48 I ever spent.
Kinda' wish I'd bought two!
06-11-2007, 05:27 AM
#20
Moderate-whore
MotoGP
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Leander TX!!
Posts: 9,049
Wore the el cheapo KBC all weekend at the rally.
Without a doubt, the most comfortable, best fitting helmet I have ever had.
I never really thought about it until this weekend, but after riding a lot, I realized I was forgetting I had a helmet on. And, I realized THAT was a sign of a nice fitting helmet.
No pressure points or anything to be an aggravation.
Best $48 I ever spent.
Kinda' wish I'd bought two!
Without a doubt, the most comfortable, best fitting helmet I have ever had.
I never really thought about it until this weekend, but after riding a lot, I realized I was forgetting I had a helmet on. And, I realized THAT was a sign of a nice fitting helmet.
No pressure points or anything to be an aggravation.
Best $48 I ever spent.
Kinda' wish I'd bought two!
06-11-2007, 06:25 AM
#21
Senior Member
SuperSport
SuperSport
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Victoriaville, Quebec, Canada
Posts: 880
One word about the Snell standard, I read a great article on the helmets standards, I just can't find the link, I think I had it from another forum, The snell standard was in fact a really bad protection in common crashes and is about to be banned from europe. The helmet is designed to provide protection in very high G's crashes, 300 G's...twice, if I recall right, but it's right on the edge of brain injury. A hard hit that meets the helmets limit may not even leave your head attached to your body. They went trough all europe stats to find that there were no deaths from head injuries alone at high speeds (really lol) people were really thrashed. The hard lining could leave the foam uncompressed after a crash and provide a 300 G impact to the head even at low speeds where a softer lining could have compressed and reduced the G's. Riders rarely have head injuries alone, and the combined trauma from head, chest, arms, legs overwhelms the body and usually kills the rider.
Rule don't buy an helmet that is designed to hit a concrete wall at 150 MPH because it won't save you.
Rule don't buy an helmet that is designed to hit a concrete wall at 150 MPH because it won't save you.
06-13-2007, 08:24 AM
#23
Post Whore Junior
MotoGP
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Triad, NC
Posts: 4,825
One word about the Snell standard, I read a great article on the helmets standards, I just can't find the link, I think I had it from another forum, The snell standard was in fact a really bad protection in common crashes and is about to be banned from europe. The helmet is designed to provide protection in very high G's crashes, 300 G's...twice, if I recall right, but it's right on the edge of brain injury. A hard hit that meets the helmets limit may not even leave your head attached to your body. They went trough all europe stats to find that there were no deaths from head injuries alone at high speeds (really lol) people were really thrashed. The hard lining could leave the foam uncompressed after a crash and provide a 300 G impact to the head even at low speeds where a softer lining could have compressed and reduced the G's. Riders rarely have head injuries alone, and the combined trauma from head, chest, arms, legs overwhelms the body and usually kills the rider.
Rule don't buy an helmet that is designed to hit a concrete wall at 150 MPH because it won't save you.
Rule don't buy an helmet that is designed to hit a concrete wall at 150 MPH because it won't save you.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
mike21091
Rider's Gear
0
02-18-2013 02:11 AM
inderocker
Everything Else
37
04-15-2011 07:14 PM
