[Malkop]

Just thought I'd share this experience. I was shopping around for a new dual sport helmet and was looking closely at the new model fly that hit the shops here recently. I went on line and discovered that "AFX has private-labeled the THH TX-26 helmet....and Fly has also!!!" I looked around and found an local on line shop that had the THH TX-26 and got a smart one with great graphics for 30% less including delivery than the Fly monochromes in the stores. The helmet arrived at my door an ahour ago and read the pamphlet. Says:



"THH is one of the largest safety helmet manufacturers in the world. A number of well-know private labels are also manufactured in our factories. . . THH is accredited by every major safety organisation as well as being accredited certified ISO 9001."

Most of their helmets are also Snell tested but guess this takes time. Here is the DOT test:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-zh40qtQ84

If I could get one delivered to my door on the southern tip of Africa way cheaper than a Fly then you all closer to the market hub should do even better.

This is where I had the aha! moment:

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=664544

Here is the rebranded THH being sold as AFX. The one in the video on this site is identicle to mine excep the graphics on my THH are more detailed, not that that is of any concern.

http://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/afx-fx-39-dual-sport-helmet

Please share any helmet experience here. I have had normal road full face and motocross and goggle combo’s but now want the best of both. I think I might have got it. Am going to go and ride and see.

Malcolm

 

[admiral]

I know there have been other helmet topics before, but this one caught my attention. I use an old MX helmet and goggles. Wearing goggles over my glasses has been a pain in the butt. And insects always seem to find just the right place to hit my face in between the goggles and front of the helmet.



These helmets you've shown here have a faceshield with the MX look. I like the faceshield MX look as I ride mostly on trails, and wouldn't interfere as much with my glasses, plus I don't want a true "road bike" style look.



Thanks for sharing.

 

[operose]

I love my AFX "dual-sport" helmet. As Admiral said, I wanted an "MX-style" helmet that didn't need goggles. Having the visor and face shield in one helmet has been awesome. This was better for me than a modular helmet ($$$) and will even admit to liking the looks of it more

 

[moneal]

I have a Arai XD3 and I love it. It allows me to wear my sun glasses and I can put down the shield at higher speeds for the bugs. The peak is also helps a lot when riding into the sun but I need to find the right adjustment for higher speeds. Right now it makes a lot of noise at 55+ when at certain angels.

 

[operose]

My afx visor is great for blocking the sun, as well. Standard practice so far has been shatter resistant sunglasses in the daytime, and clear safety glasses at night. Visor is flipped down over 40-45mph, or in rain/dust/thick peak bug hours. The afx makes little if any noise, up to the 65mph (indicated) my tdub has gone. They are DOT and whatever european thingy approved...

 

[lizrdbrth]

How are the face shields on the newer version? They were a bit odd to look through on the older ones.

 

[chipyting]

AFX FX-37DS







This is one of my helmets. I primarily use this one off street. It was less than $70 and I like it, although it runs a little small. It feels light and less claustrophobic than my street helmet. It is kind of noisy too at 55 mph.



Overall I like it, it's worth the money.

 

[xdac]

I have the same one and i love it

 

[RodneyReed]

AFX FX-37DS



Do you know if full size goggles can be worn with the face shield in the up position?







This is one of my helmets. I primarily use this one off street. It was less than $70 and I like it, although it runs a little small. It feels light and less claustrophobic than my street helmet. It is kind of noisy too at 55 mph.



Overall I like it, it's worth the money.

 

[xdac]

I bring goggles incase but yes they can be..normally its sunglasses for me, if i get behind a car i flip the sheild down.

 

[Malkop]

The Lizard asked "How are the face shields on the newer version? They were a bit odd to look through on the older ones."

It was great until wife and kids got home and started pawing the visor with their greasy paws. But the helmet comes with a lint cloth for cleaning and a few wipes had it pristine. I found the wide angle of vision fantastic and has improved the quality of my ride since I like going up into the mountains on the TDub. The helmet comes in a nice protective bag that allows it to dry. Another thing that they have over road helmets is the peak/sun shield will protect the visor from scratching since it stops it rolling onto the visor and the visor flips up under it.



The venting will improve the quality of the ride in the African summer. In the revzilla video http://www.revzilla....al-sport-helmet they show the advantages of this over the old AFX which Chip pasted above. I like a sun shield since it can also keep rain off the visor (used to be goggles) thereby improving visibility. I took the TDub up to 60 mph and found no noise or anything. If you have a bike faster than the TDub and it worries then you can take it off.



I sound like a salesman but can't find a cheap outlet for the THH online in the states.



Admiral if you want one it should be cheaper than the AFX, then ask your local dealer to import a few from THH and see how they sell. I reckon that if word gets out that its the same thing then everyone will want to upgrade. I sure am glad that I did. I feel a bit bad about trying on the fly for size in the shop then ordering online, but I'll get over it.



Malcolm

 

[Malkop]

Took a ride on dusty roads this am and tested the vents on this warm spring morning. Great! The wind coming into the helmet increases the noise but I'd rather put in earplugs than have a sweaty head. If your gloves are thin enough you can open and close them quite easily. If you see a car coming then visor down and vents closed head down and I rode through dust patches with no discomfort and no need for goggles. I think if you are in a rally expecting chronic dust, take the goggles bit otherwise I am glad to dispense with them.



A word of caution though, polaroid glasses cause some refraction in the lense but its like a special effect and does not hinder visibility.



So in short, I am glad to have old 80's technology between my legs but on my head I want the 21stC safety innovations and comfort.



It amazes me how branding works, I would never have thought to have looked for this unknown brand if not for that other adventure rider site. How quickly info in shared and spread these days does make for a tougher market. Looking around the world at the helmet market there are plenty of people trying to rip us off. There is no reason why Admiral should not be able to upgrade to new safety headgear for more than $50. My THH cost 30% less than the Fly Trekker and the AFX so should yours. Why pay for a sticker on your head which does nothing except take a slice of your wallet.



Malcolm

 

[lizrdbrth]

We used to have a saying: "If you've hot a 20 dollar head, buy a 20 dollar helmet". No longer the case.



When I was doing my homework on flip helmets I learned that the lowly Vega brand ($70 online) beat out some $800 helmets in terms of safety rating, ventilation, weight and wind noise and its only shortcomings were lack of a drop down sun shade and lower quality materials in the liner. I think now they even have a dropdown shade. I ain't messed up about price as an indicator on my lids these days.



Big Torque, check Craigslist in Los Angeles or one of the major metro areas. Various THH vendors have been marketing them that way lately. Though I've never seen this style you may be able to source one from them. Just do a search using "helmet" under the "motorcycles by owner" heading.



I get the impression these are smalltime home buisinesses. They make no mention of brand names, but if you magnify the pics a lot of them are THH in flip and solid types.

 

[Malkop]

Thanks lizard but am in South Africa. I got one delivered to my office yesterday. Your tip will help the admirable Admiral or anyone else in the US who might want to upgrade for a few dollars. Am off to a fun enduro ride in my new one on Sunday and will be the guy with old bike and the new helmet.



Malcolm

 

[lizrdbrth]

I'm easily confused.



If anyone has difficulty locating one of these garage vendors near their home I could possibly approach one of the Craig's vendors in SoCal. I'll look into it over the weekend.

 

[Malkop]

Thought I'd say that the helmet was great on an enduro ride i tried to do on the weekend. I would have been a lot sweatier without the vents and being able to push the visor up made for a quick cooling breeze.

 

[Critter]

I got a flat black AFX-39 this spring and I'm really happy with it. I ride almost every day, the last 2 months it's been hot enough out to bake a caserole, and this this helmet stays cool. I did pop out the cheek pads to increase the flow. Best one I've owned in many years. Sizes run smaller than what you measure.



http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/1/1/38/35916/ITEM/AFX-FX-39-DS-Helmet.aspx?WT.ac=SLIsearch

 

[Malkop]

The new helmet thread is reinventing the wheel. Nothing wrong with that. My THH is a cool generic and have found that its not in the stores here yet but the brands are. When I put it down on the table at the pub, my status as an alpha male soars. The graphics on it are radical. Digging out this old thread made me realise its time to take out the lining and put it in the wash. My old Bell hemlet had all the foam disintegrate from my acidic sweat over the decades or else I'd still be wearing it. Like Qwerty, I tend to be skeptical old codger and a tad resistant to new technology so am grateful for decay in hindsight. I open those vents and feel the breeze blowing back my non-existant hair. Baldness plus vents = cool.

 

[MBGraphix]

I am very happy with my FLY Trekker. Here is a link to one on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Fly-Racing-Trekker-Motorcycle-Helmet/dp/B005GYBBN0



Everyone's head is different, this one seemed to fit me pretty well (front to back, side to side). The face shield on this one seems a little smoother to me than the AFX Helmet and seems to have a really solid seal when closed.



I would recommend the FLY Trekker to anyone - it is serving me very well.



At a price around 130.00 it is also Very affordable.

 

[darnold87]

I am very happy with my FLY Trekker. Here is a link to one on Amazon: http://www.amazon.co...t/dp/B005GYBBN0



Everyone's head is different, this one seemed to fit me pretty well (front to back, side to side). The face shield on this one seems a little smoother to me than the AFX Helmet and seems to have a really solid seal when closed.



I would recommend the FLY Trekker to anyone - it is serving me very well.



At a price around 130.00 it is also Very affordable.

Val~ After seeing your helmet last weekend, I want one. I'm gonna go into Bill's Motorcycle and try them on and find my size. This is on my wish list now!