Modern Vespa

So, I just purchased a GTS 300 - and want to buy a helmet that can fit under the seat for most of my day to day rides since they will be shorter 9-10 mile rides to my office etc. I also want to get a full face helmet for when I am out doing longer rides - I am aware that wont' fit under my seat - however I want to know what y'all think about what helmet I should get. I am sure it goes w/o saying but comfort is key, and I have an XL head for sure.

Any guidance would be great.

I also have a large head and have had good luck with Shoei helmets. My current one is modular but is nearing the end of its usable life so I will be shopping for another soon.

As far as fitting under your seat I'll let someone with a 300 answer but I commute to my office and I just take the Shoei in with me.

If under seat helmet storage is a must, that will limit you. A lot of full face and modular helmets just won't fit; you needing an XL size will result in a larger outer shell for most manufacturers. If you decide you want a top case, you can store your helmet there pretty easily. Most 3/4 helmets will fit under the seat of a 300.

Don't be fooled into thinking your short commute is safer than a daylong ride. You'll be exposed to the same risks (traffic and road conditions) whether it's 9 miles or 90 miles. I have had modular helmets for the last 10 years and like the flexibility they provide with the flip up chin bar. Some modulars you can ride with the chin bar open (Nolan, LS2, Shark, there might be others) if you wanted.

Use a cloth tape measure to get accurate sizing of your head circumference (both in CM and inches) across the forehead just above your eyebrows in front and around to the occipital bone in back. Also measure across the top of your head side to side above the ears and front to back from middle of forehead to occipital bone. This will give you an idea of head shape (round, oval, intermediate-oval). Helmet shape varies across manufacturers as well as sizing.

Check out Revzilla for good reviews to help research and narrow down your choices. If possible, find a local retailer to try some of you final choices.

Good Luck

Don't just look at helmet size, look at helmet shape. Different people have different head shapes, from round to long oval.
For example, I'm a long oval. I have yet to find a helmet that isn't FF or modular that fits well & even then I end up changing the cheek pads to thicker ones for a better fit.

You don't think it makes a difference until you correct the issue and, suddenly, you're not NEARLY as fatigued at the end of a ride as you were before.

Good information in here: Helmet for my big head

LS2 Spitfire works great for my long oval noggin.

^^^^ I agree with this completely. The only accident I had was 2 miles from my house just as I started a 40 mile ride for an errand. I got on the freeway which was jammed. I made the decision to abort the errand and get off the freeway. Just then a car in the next lane swerved into me and knocked me over. I wear all the protective gear and it all damaged. My helmet had a gash in the chin bar, that would have been my chin if I wasn't wearing a modular (flip up) helmet. Just sayin'. BTW, all my protective gear was damaged to some degree: armored jacket, gloves, pants and boots. I've been riding for decades and never got into an accident before.

You can order helmets from cyclegear.com and return them to the store so you don't have to pay shipping either way, if you have one near you.
Miguel

I trust you wern't riding in the blind spot?

Hard to say actually. Her lane was virtually stopped. My lane was clear. She wanted into my lane and pulled in. I was parallel with her front fender but couldn't get out of the way fast enough. She clipped the back of my bike and pushed my back wheel in such a way that I top-sided.

And back to the OP's questions about helmets, I tossed the crashed helmet and got a new one identical it: Shoei Neotech II modular (flip-up). I've worn Neotechs for 14 years and I'm on my 5th one. I'll buy another in about 3 years.

Miguel

Unless your area is full of idiots that think a helmet in the open is a target, get these. They allow your helmet to hang from the posts under the seat.

That reminds me that I used to use a small crescent wrench (spanner) to hang my helmet from the helmet hook years ago when my helmets used D-rings to fasten the strap. Its essentially a helmet hook like you showed above but has the obvious secondary function if needed. Unfortunately, they won't work if your helmet uses a ratchet strap.

BTW, at least one person broke the helmet peg on a GTS because the wrench was too big or small so when the seat closed it put too much pressure on the helmet hang-peg. So make sure it all fits properly without putting too much pressure on the helmet hang-peg.

Miguel

I usually hang my helmet off the mirror, and found that the biggest problem with that is not theft. it's rain.

Love Neotechs

Great point above ^


Keep in mind DOT certification is basically a joke. DOT asks manufacturers to self-certify. Anyone can start a fly-by-night business that prints their own DOT stickers, and disappears if Johnny Law ever does reach out to them. Then they just sell the same helmets under a different make and model name.

Other standards ask manufacturers to get their helmets certified BEFORE they can even be sold.

Not only that, but look at the construction: polycarbonate (fancy word for plastic), fiberglass, carbon fiber, carrot, etc.

Squeeze the sides inwards. Does it have a lot of flex? Some helmets, even from supposed name-brands, are only moderately better than an orange home depot bucket on your head.

I ride with a hand-made Arai fiberglass helmet, but I get that it's not for everyone, I also ride with a polycarbonate half face that is probably on par with home depot bucket level of safety. But it has a DOT sticker on the back so it must be safe right???

How secure my helmet depends on where I'm parked
I came out to find the remainder of a happy meal & coke in my helmet, that was secured to a motorcycle helmet lock thing :O

I added hooks to the frame for the trunk
The hooks allow me to put down my helmet while I gear up, without having it fall off the seat
The Burgman I was riding when I built the frame, had integrated mirrors
Now I'm used to having it there, handy when loading up the groceries

Not to pile-on here, but my accident last December was a mere three blocks from home, reinforcing the message here (and keeping with well-known accident stats):

The Melody Chronicles: We took a hit tonight

The Upshot: You want a seriously-good helmet, everywhere you go.