Helmets

[rookster]

Re: Helmets

Hi, I'm not looking at something fancy, only require a decent helmet for daily commute. I looked at Studds and Steelbird full face helmet. They agree with my budget of sub 2500. I've divided between Studds Professional/Shifter and Steelbird Air Sba 1 and 2.
Which one is better in terms of stealth and minimum wind noise ?

[kundalus]

Re: Helmets

Hi, I'm not looking at something fancy, only require a decent helmet for daily commute. I looked at Studds and Steelbird full face helmet. They agree with my budget of sub 2500. I've divided between Studds Professional/Shifter and Steelbird Air Sba 1 and 2.
Which one is better in terms of stealth and minimum wind noise ?

I've used shifter for a about 6months and it is a very good helmet for 2k. Not heavy and decent padding for the price. Liked the quality as well.

[rookster]

Re: Helmets

I've used shifter for a about 6months and it is a very good helmet for 2k. Not heavy and decent padding for the price. Liked the quality as well.

How's the wind noise cancellation ?

[Siddhanth Paul]

Re: Helmets

How's the wind noise cancellation ?

Can't expect much from a Rs. 2000 helmet, but, it is decent till about 60-70kph.
Main area of noise is the gap between the helmet and chin, in my case.

[kundalus]

Re: Helmets

How's the wind noise cancellation ?

Yup, the wind noise kicks in once you cross about 75/80. But perfect for city rides or daily commute for me

[Siddhartha.S]

Re: Helmets

How's the wind noise cancellation ?

Hey, i bought the shifter recently, and i must say it is worth the price. The padding is very good when compared to steelbird and vega helmets of similar price bracket.
Yes there is windnoise above 60kmph, but in my case the noise is from the gap between the chin and the helmet, so i made a temporary chin-curtain and tested, the noise reduced a little and good till 80kmph

[The Mountain]

Re: Helmets

Regarding wind noise, I would suggest that any rider invest in earplugs. They should have a Noise Reduction Rating of at least 20 (NRR 20). This is whether you have a Rs40,000 Arai or a Rs4000 Steelbird. I recommend the disposable foam plugs, the kind you roll up between your fingers. These are less likely to be dislodged when you put your helmet on, and since they have no hard parts, they will not be pushed around by the helmet liner, or shoved too far into your ear. If you're careful (and your ears are fairly clean), you can usually get 3-5 days out of a single pair of plugs before they get too dirty and stop working properly. Rinsing the plugs with warm water after use can help extend their useful life. You should be able to get a package of 30-40 for less than Rs100.

Pro tip: Before using earplugs, clean out your ears. You can either use purpose-made ear wax drops, or a couple of drops of hydrogen peroxide. If you can find one, you can also use an ear syringe filled with warm water afterwards to help rinse out any leftover wax. If you don't do this, you'll probably get a surprise when you remove your earplugs for the first time, and will probably end up throwing that first set away. You can also use ear swabs (Q-Tips) to help clean things out, but be careful; if you insert the swab too far you can rupture your eardrum, and if your ear has a lot of earwax inside you could just end up pushing it further in making it harder to clean and impairing your hearing.

Pro tip 2: When inserting the ear plug, first roll it between your fingers so it squishes into a long thin rod shape. Then, reach around *behind* your head with the opposite hand and pull the top of your ear back, and insert the plug. Once it's in your ear canal, let go of your ear but hold the plug in place with your finger until it has expanded enough to really block out sound.

Do NOT use silicone swimmer ear plugs. They do not have noise ratings, and very likely will block and distort sound too much. They are also airtight, and can cause ear infections if worn too long especially inside a hot sweaty helmet.

Proper rated earplugs will not block all sound, so you'll still be able to hear car horns and at least some of the sound around you. Note that the sirens on most "official" cars, and especially private ambulances, are not nearly as loud as the ones here in the US, so you will need to pay extra-careful attention to your mirrors, and be looking around you constantly. You will also have a harder time hearing the engine on your bike, especially since most Indian bikes are very low-displacement, so you will need to train yourself to "feel" what your engine is doing, and keep track of your fuel since you won't hear the engine start to sputter when your tank gets low. Note that with earplugs in, you also won't be able to wedge your cellphone into your helmet and take calls while riding (this is a good thing), and if you have the misfortune of being stopped by the police, you should take off your helmet and remove at least one plug so you can clearly understand the officer (minimizes their irritation if nothing else). The plus side will be that you will be A LOT less fatigued at the end of your ride.

[a_shirke8]

Re: Helmets

Hi guys,

I'm assuming this has been posted here numerous times.

I will be getting my Apache RTR 200 this saturday. I have very less time to get a helmet and even less budget. I'm planning to get something below 2k I will stretch it to 2.5k if it is more VFM. And hence I'm limited to Studds, Vega and Steelbird. I have not been able to do much reaserch in this segment and that is why Im seeking help from the experienced.

As of now I'm looking at the Studds Shifter and SteelBird SBA 2. Im reluctant on getting the SBA 2. To me the Shifter looks good and safer. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

I'll be using the bike for commuting only on the western expressway in Mumbai, from Bandra to Goregaon. So the speeds will vary from 20-80 at the most. Im looking for good air flow so I stay cool in the hot summers of Mumbai. Will mostly use a wet balaclava in the summers to keep cool. But the air flow is appreciated.

If you have any suggestions, comments or even reviews on these please share it with all of us here. Anything else you want me to look into. I'm all for research.

Thanks and Cheers!

[prateek2210]

Re: Helmets

As of now I'm looking at the Studds Shifter and SteelBird SBA 2. Im reluctant on getting the SBA 2. To me the Shifter looks good and safer. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

SBA 2 is just looks and no chin protection. Go for shifter

[adityagaur51]

Re: Helmets

Try studds scorpion too... I found it's padding way more comfortable than shifter.... But it's rather plain and old school oval looking shape than more contemporary shifter...

[wingrider007]

Re: Helmets

SBA 2 is just looks and no chin protection. Go for shifter

How is Thh ts31y compared to shifter ? Thh is dot certified and comes for 2400 rs with mercury visor

[Ankey]

Re: Helmets

Hi guys,

I'm assuming this has been posted here numerous times.

I will be getting my Apache RTR 200 this saturday. I have very less time to get a helmet and even less budget. I'm planning to get something below 2k I will stretch it to 2.5k if it is more VFM. And hence I'm limited to Studds, Vega and Steelbird. I have not been able to do much reaserch in this segment and that is why Im seeking help from the experienced.

As of now I'm looking at the Studds Shifter and SteelBird SBA 2. Im reluctant on getting the SBA 2. To me the Shifter looks good and safer. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

I'll be using the bike for commuting only on the western expressway in Mumbai, from Bandra to Goregaon. So the speeds will vary from 20-80 at the most. Im looking for good air flow so I stay cool in the hot summers of Mumbai. Will mostly use a wet balaclava in the summers to keep cool. But the air flow is appreciated.

If you have any suggestions, comments or even reviews on these please share it with all of us here. Anything else you want me to look into. I'm all for research.

Thanks and Cheers!

Check out the Studds Shifter. costs around 2K and is best helmet at this range.
It has 2 air vents on top which can be opened for air flow and closed if needed. It comes with 2 wind shields, the outer one is clear plastic and inside the helmet, a tinted one to use on sunny days. Both of these are good and clear and if kept scratch less and clean you won't even feel that there is a plastic wind shield in front of you. The fit and finish is very good and it comes in matt black color. The helmet fits snuggly over the head and the cushions and paddings are soft and plush.
The only down side that I felt over 4 years of usage is the weight. The helmet is heavy, feels solid and robust but heavy. I have no problems in the city, but the neck starts aching on long tours. About 2-3 hours in a long journey and you start feeling the weight of helmet on the muscles of your neck. It is very good for city riding and daily commutes. Check it out in a shop near you or order it online. Let me know if you have any specific queries. Ride safe.

[prateek2210]

Re: Helmets

How is Thh ts31y compared to shifter ? Thh is dot certified and comes for 2400 rs with mercury visor

That is also good, but mercury visor is pain in night visibility

[The Mountain]

Re: Helmets

...We have come across some major problems that we think the bikers face, which we feel should be addressed! So we have prepared ...

Who is "We"? People might be more likely to answer your survey if they knew who was asking the questions.

[Ajit 2501]

Re: Helmets

Who is "We"? People might be more likely to answer your survey if they knew who was asking the questions.

It is actually my friend and I who created this survey form! We two are college going people and currently live in Tamil Nadu, India.