[frog13]

Ordered one of the above mentioned helmets on Friday....should be in my hands by Wed.. When I get some ride time,I'll give a report.These helmets range in price from $98---$129 depending where you get them from.

 

[old mad max]

Here in michigan we now have a no helmet law................. Looks like we will be having lots of new helmets just sitting around in box's............. I can't believe how many dummies are not using them.... I get a big kick out of the harley guys...... Dressed in full leathers,boots.gloves........... No helmets..

Good luck with the new skid lid... P.S. Yes my wife and I always wear lids. OMM.

 

[PalmStateCrawler]

Here in SC you are not required to wear a helmet unless your under the age of 16. I guess it is the governments way of promoting "natural selection". Though I usually dont wear protective gear on the rest of my body, I ALWAYS wear a helmet!

 

[matchu67]

Good luck with the new GMAX, report back to us with a review. I live in FL where helmets are optional... I get a kick out of the Harley dudes/dudettes too, all leathered up and NO helmets. I opted for the FlyTrekker Dual Sport in NEON yellowish/greenish... EVERYONE sees me coming from 1/2 mile away

 

[Leisure Time Larry]

I got the GMAX GM11D. Granted, I'm still a newbie, and I have no seat time with other helmets, but guys here is my 2 cents. I bought my TW recently and borrowed a buddy's extra open face to get in the saddle with. Since then, I have been trying to find myself a good helmet. I thought I was going to get a AFX FX-39. In fact I did, two of them. I really wanted that helmet because I thought it looked cool, it was affordable, it got great reviews, and it seemed to be the "hot" choice. I feel that both the AFX or GMAX are good choices.



I chose the GMAX for these main reasons: 1) I am a glasses wearer, and my riding glasses particularly have thick frame arms. The GMAX allows me to slip them right on and they fit comfortably, while AFX had a slightly higher area in the cheekpads that made my glasses tilt downward, as well as pressing them hard into my head. 2) The visor on the GMAX goes up completely out of your field of vision, while most of these dual sport style helmets have a clearance problem with the peak forcing the visor to be down slightly in it's raised position. 3) Fit. While I got two FX-39s and multiple cheekpads to try to get it to fit "right" I just couldn't find a sweet spot and sent it all back. The GMAX didn't fit perfectly mind you, but close, and without dinking with cheekpads, etc. 4) The FX-39 has a ratcheting clasp on the chin strap, while the GMAX has the traditional double d-rings. Also, I felt like the chinstrap on the AFX was farther back trying to choke me. Your mileage may vary.



After a little seat time, I like it. I've mostly ridden with the visor up, but it is nice to have when you want it. I got mine from Amazon for $103. Thanks!

 

[805gregg]

Get a good top quality helmet from a good manufacturer, whats your head worth?

 

[DonBenito]

Get a good top quality helmet from a good manufacturer, whats your head worth?

A smart observation on its surface, but the flip side of the question might just be what is a brand name worth?



A DOT or Snell sticker has actual criteria behind it, but beyond that what makes a SHOEI helmet worth $400 more than an off brand helmet, and what makes an Arai worth $1000?



IMO, the same thing that makes a pair of crappy brand-new old-school Nike sneakers worth hundreds of dollars to someone who doesn't even actually play basketball.



I think that ergonomics and personal fit are far more important than brand recognition, so long as the safety testing standards have been met.

 

[retmotor]

Regarding certification, as I understand it the DOT sticker is applied by the manufacturer. It's their statement they believe it meets DOT specs. It means nothing unless it has been tested. NHTSA will test helmets given to them to be tested, but it is not mandatory and the last time I looked, I couldn't find anything on their site for helmet tests newer than 2008. http://www.nhtsa.gov/cars/testing/comply/fmvss218/



SNELL on the other hand requires testing for certification. The GM11D is not certified SNELL, but GMAX does have four helmets that are. You can check helmet certification here: http://www.smf.org/cert

 

[frog13]

So far the helmet is doing well.Not going to debate the DOT thing,but,I can't believe that any manufacturer can just slap a DOT sticker on?.Anyway,the helmet has good air movement.If your on the edge of centimeter fitment/inch fitment I would suggest staying with the smaller helmet.EX: My bucket head measures at 61cm,a size large goes from 59cm---61cm if I remember correctly,so I went with the XL size(it went on easier).The XL on my head has a bit too much play in it,not a gross amount,but alittle too much....i just couldn't tolerate the tight feeling of the large size...I know,wait until it breaks in and then you'll be ok....I do not have as much tolerance as when I was younger!. The helmet does well at highway speed.........yes,there is alittle bit of "peak" drag when you turn your head,but, it is by no means a neck jerker!. The quality of the helmet seems quite good.It comes with xtra side covers that you can put in place where the peak mounts to the sides if you want to ride without the peak.....like a street only helmet.Yes,I'm sure there are other high priced helmets that would fit and maybe even feel more comfy,but, not for the xtra $200---$300....nah.As time/mileage goes on,I'll chime in more!.

 

[retmotor]

...I can't believe that any manufacturer can just slap a DOT sticker on?...

...i just couldn't tolerate the tight feeling of the large size...

I don't remember where I saw the info on the DOT certification, but here's a snippet from about.com on it: "The DOT rating simply indicates that a manufacturer believes that its helmet meets the basic DOT standards, without any actual testing on the helmets themselves. In that sense, DOT ratings are fairly easy to come by, and virtually anybody can make and sell a helmet with a DOT sticker." From here: http://4wheeldrive.about.com/cs/beginningatv/a/atvriderhelmets_4.htm



Here's another, "DOT certification, however, is less regulated. The manufacturer performs their own tests and determines whether their helmets are DOT approved. Even though the manufacturer doesn't have to report their findings, the government does occasionally conduct limited tests or spot checks. Nevertheless, allowing each company to test their own equipment and not make them report their results means that the DOT certification is done by the honor system." From here: http://www.leatherup.com/g/DOT-Approved-Helmets/89.html



I have the Fly Trekker. I bought it when I was in a pinch and I expected to replace it as soon as possible because, like your large, it was uncomfortable. Wearing it for more than 20 minutes would give me a headache. If I tried to ignore it and wore it for an hour or more I'd have an almost debilitating headache. I'd guess after wearing it for around 25-30 hours, just all of sudden, it didn't bother me anymore. I'd even say it's as comfortable now as my old Arai.