Modern Vespa

Looking to buy a new helmet. Based on Sharp testing and pricing, I've narrowed it down to a Caberg Duke and a Shark Evoline 2, neither of which is available in the US as far as I know (the Evoline 3 is, but the 2 would be available at a discount ordering online from overseas). So, any thoughts on who to order from? Not being able to try either of these on, a liberal return policy would be important.

A liberal return policy would be important.<<Good luck.

I really think that the only way to pick out a helmet is to try it on the difference in the feel of the helmets is huge....just my opinion and likely the opinion of many MV members.

I see some great deals online. Really GREAT DEALS!

But I am convinced I need to handle the helmet, and try it on before I purchase.

I agree with the try before you buy technique. Helmets are so sophisticated today that buying one online without a return policy would be considered conspirarcy to commit helmetcide.

"Designerhelmets.com" will ship to the U.S. They should have both helmets you are considering.

Sorry Delta... re-readinng my post I realized that I pretty much ignored the fact that your heart is pretty much set on those two brands. Not very helpful of me at all. Good luck with your purchase. Route 66 link should give you a good start.

Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Caberg%20Duke%20#/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Shark+Evoline+2&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3AShark+Evoline+2

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Caberg%20Duke%20#

I strongly caution ordering from overseas. I just ordered and received a helmet from the UK, it doesn't fit, but they have a very generous return policy, which is cool. However, it all went to hades in a hand basket when I went to FEDEX/UPS to ship it back and quotes started at $250.00 CAD to return it, which is more than I paid for it. So now its going on Ebay for whatever I can get for it.

Co the caveat here is, regardless of the return policy of the place you buy it from, check first to see what it will actually cost to return it, as it may be as a big as a shock as what I received.

best of luck.

Google is your friend. Shark Evoline 2 closeout at Revzilla

you should give the Nolan N-104 a good look; lots of great features that both helmets you're looking at have as well.

Unless you have personal experience with the fit I'd think twice about that. Fit really is the most important factor in any helmet and the molds used by manufacture vary, alot. A return policy may let you get out of a bad fit but it will not let you find the best fit. For that you need to go to a large shop and try a lot of different lids.

I love internet shopping but there are certain things that just don't work well that way and helmets is one of those. If you have a helmet you don't like you will not wear it so it becomes useless. If it does not fit well it is also not great. You need to go to as many shops as needed as all shops usually stock different helmets. Try them on not only for size but also what feels like something you can wear. I bought my vespa from one dealer, but I did not like the helmets they had but found another dealer who had helmets I liked. I actually really like my helmet but that is because it fits my head well. So try them on and get what fits, even if you decide to order it from the internet know what you need and what size you need. Also realize that internet shopping is killing many shops so if someone was good to you it would be nice to give them business, likely the price difference is not much and without those shops we would all be screwed. Hope this helps.

Larry

do not go to a shop/dealer and try on helmets and then find out the one you like and walk out just to buy it on line. If you want to buy a helmet on line do so and deal with mailing and exchanging it back and forth.
Dealers and shops are not around for your convenience.
They exist to provide a service to PAYING customers. With out them in their brick and mortar store we have no shops.
Now if you go into a shop and actually try and buy a helmet and can't find what you need I am sure they can order what you like or need . They can also help with proper fitting and if you ever need any warranty issues they should be able to assist you there also.

Gotta agree with OAD on that. You find a helmet that fits at a local retailer or shop then buy it there. Maybe if enough people do it the shop will be there the next time you need a helmet...or anything for that matter.

That said I did try on helmets at my local yamaha shop and the HJC's just did not fit right. So I used Revzilla online and carefully measured my head and ordered a Shoei. Perfect fit first time but if it didn't they have a great return policy.

Old as Dirt makes a very good point and considering all the helmets offered today, I find it hard to believe that someone has to purchase 1 of 2 helmets not offered in the states. Every year when we go to Moto GP, I always look through the gear and try things on and usually wind up getting a decent deal on something that works for me. Not sure how you made your decision on something you've never seen, good luck.

I'm entirely with Dirt. Saying you "want" a helmet based on on-line web searching is foolish at best. Based on such research I was all in for a Nolan modular -- until I tried it on at a brick and mortar store. The helmet really didn't fit my shape of head (although all the web accounts said it would), it had no space for my ears (a Nolan quirk not mentioned in reviews) and the strap was not the standard D ring but something more like a bicycle helmet and very uncomfortable for me. Look, the Nolan probably is a fine helmet, but it was as useless as a trash can lid for me. I wound up with a Shoei Neotec which fits me perfectly. The points being -- go to a shop and try something on. You may find your initial assumptions are all wrong and you will avoid the hassle of going through mail order returns.

Thanks for all input and advice. I agree with Old as Dirt, if you try it buy it. FYI online vs brick and mortar, for me it is a balancing act. If I had a shop near by that I could try on a bunch of helmets in my price range and find the perfect helmet at the price I could afford, I would. My reality is I drive 7 hours, spend a lot of time I don't have and money I don't have and maybe find a perfect fit. Or I could look at the Sharp ratings, assume they mean something, filter 5 star rated helmets to keep my melon as safe as possible, and see if I can get one on line at a decent price that just might fit. If it doesn't, ship it back and try again. Now if shipping it back costs more than the helmet, a 7 hour drive starts to make sense. The Nolan looks like a nice option, ordering stateside for lower shipping costs. My main questions are "has anyone ordered overseas, wanted to return the helmet, returned it, all went well and would do it again." OR "has anyone ordered a helmet from overseas, tried to return it and when all was done say 'never again'." Again, thanks in advance for your advice.

Skymed, just the kind of advice I was looking for. Did the store require FedEx or was there no cheaper shipping return options? Regardless, something I would definitely take into account.

tangocharlie

Goto the web sites for FedEx, UPS and the USPS and take a gander at what it costs to ship a 5 pound 35 x 35 x 45 cm box from MN to Europe. It ain't cheap, unless you are a company making consolidated shipments.

I'm going to go on record here as believing that buying a helmet solely according to Sharp scores is -- to be blunt -- foolish. It all sounds good on paper, but this is something that requires a damn-near-perfect fit on your head. Those helmets may be great, or they may be entirely the wrong shape for your head. You might be between sizes for that brand / line. You might give up after two tries to get the right size via an online purchase because of the difficulty and expense of shipping them back. And you certainly won't have the opportunity to try on enough helmets to even form an opinion as to what a good-fitting helmet actually feels like.

In the end, Sharp scores will mean absolutely nothing if your helmet doesn't fit properly or if the fit is uncomfortable. Sharp scores might even be the least important factor of all the tangibles and intangibles that make up the helmet selection process.

Go to a store. Try on five or 10 helmets. Pick the one that fits well and is in your price range. Buy it and take it home. Done.

Looks like a consensus. I figured as much, but was maybe hoping for some members' experiences that would settle my cognitive dissonance. Like maybe there is a chance ordering one shipped from overseas would be a good idea. Reminds me of the scene from dumb and dumber (not my favorite movie, but one of my favorite scenes)....

LLOyd - Just level with me, what are my chances?
Mary - Not good.
Lloyd - Do you mean "not good" like 1 out of a 100.
Mary - I'd say more like 1 out of a 1,000,000.
Lloyd -So you're telling me there's a chance!

7 hour drive it is...Thanks alot!!

You have Aerostitch in Duluth, shadetree somewhere down highway ten between St Cloud and Minneapolis. There's the Hitching Post (BMW) Moon Motorsports in Monticello, Motoprimo in Lakeville and a few others. But you also have Scooterville in Minneapolis.

I don't know where in MN you are but those are a few ideas off the top of my head.

Go for fit. Fit is everything.

Harv

Anyone remember Nava helmets? I had one of those...

Areostich has a nice showroom and they stock a lot of inventory, plus they would definitely know how to fit you properly. I've been there numerous times and have bought a lot of things from them over the years. They used to have Saturday hours as well.

any person who quotes Dumb and Dumber is a friend of mine! Mock..Yeah!..ing..Yeah!..Bird..Yeah..Yeah..Yeah!!

The store used UPS to ship it to me, only cost 30 GBP, so I guessed that it would cost the same to return it. They didnt mind how it was returned, so I tried Fedex/UPS and Canada Post and all were exorbitant. The chap in the UK told me that even if he issued an RMA # and he paid for the return, it would cost him the same.

UPS told me that shipping returns form Canada to Europe is insanely expensive, but also said that if I was in the USA it would me much cheaper, so I guess mileage varies.

FYI, looks like $50 shipping to Germany and Italy via USPS.

I think this thread can now die a natural death.

I want the Nolan N43 Aire because it has more vents than the Nolan N43 Trilogy which is the US model. I have no problem ordering it from Europe but then I've owned at least 4 Nolan helmets including 3 different N43 models. If anyone in the US carried the Aire version I'd buy it here but since they don't it will have to be from Europe (tried once and though they said it was in stock it really wasn't so after waiting nearly 3 months I cancelled the order.)

I'm waiting to see if the newer version comes to the US with the better venting or not before trying to order again overseas.

a perfect example of someone who can buy a helmet online. They have owned the same one/style previously , they know the sizing and how they fit. And want to continue to stick with that lineage of helmets.