| Author | Message | ||
     Yeags30 |
i was curious to hear opnions on icon helemts......i recently decided i don't like my hjc(too much wind noise)andi'm looking at other options....before i go dropping 500 on a shoei i thought i woould ask about the icons | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
I have one. Not too pleased with it. It rolled off the kitchen table, and the vents broke! They are paper thin, and are just attached with tape. If there is any way to replace them, I could never figure out how. The dealer said it was impossible, and Icon wouldn't even answer my email. Style is hot, but it is just a cheap helmet, after you get past the bling. I was able to find a new old stock Arai, got great fit, ( I need a long oval), wonderful visibility, high quality all around. Glad I found it. I like it so much, I never take it off.   | ||
| Rokoneer |
Yeags, Do a Google search for people's opinion on Icon helmets. I did, and came away with the impression that about 95% of the people who had bought one regretted it. | ||
| Shea |
I found out that Icons are simply re-badged cheap helmets. IMO, base your purchase off of fit, less so on actual label. I hated to do it, but my head is more oval and oddly shaped (insert joke here) and ended up buying a Shoei that cost me about $400. It's a great helmet though. Good ventilation, great fit, took a few hours of wearing it before it loosened u pa bit, but fits perfectly now. Remember, chipmunk cheeks are good. (Message edited by shea on May 21, 2006) | ||
| Torch |
i have the icon alliance ss.its heavy and moves around quite a bit at speed.vents really dont seem to work either.it does match my bike quite well though.i guess you get what you pay for.  | ||
| Cmm213 |
I have a mainframe scorpion and I have no problems with it, its pretty light and it fits me great. I cant bitch because I picked it up on e-bay brand new for 145.00. Only thing I like better about high dollar lids is the decreased noise levels . | ||
| Swordsman |
I've got a Scorpion Exo-700 that I'm quite pleased with, $170. Sizes run small, so I had to go one bigger than all the others I tried on. Much, much better than any HJC, Fulmer, or KBC. Didn't try on any Arai or Shoei for comparison (at the price they charge, you outta' be freakin' immortal once you don it!). ~SM | ||
| Butch_xb9r |
I tried on some Icon helmets last year and didn't like the fit. I ended up buying an Arai for the fit and the extra vents. I love it.  | ||
| Nastynate4469 |
any thoughts on KBC?? | ||
| Jak |
SHARK RSR2 FOGGY LEGEND. YOU WILL LOVE IT, YOUR WIFE AND YOUR BANK ACCOUNT WILL NOT. | ||
| Vanvideo |
I have 3 KBC VR-2s, a VR-1 and a Wolf. I like KBCs, obviously. The VR-2s fit well on my round head. VR-2s also have a fairly large viewing port. I noticed they're better to see out of than the older Wolf models. I also own a Shoei RF-1000, and I think the Shoei is quieter than the KBCs, although I haven't worn the Shoei enough to make a definite comparison.. | ||
| Bake |
My Icon Mainframe is comfy and noisey | ||
| Buellballs |
I have a Scorpion Exo 700 and think it is the best bang for your buck. No visor fog but can be noisey, they sell the chin flap to help with this but haven't got one yet. | ||
| Bake |
Don't waste your money on the chin flap! | ||
| Pupu |
i have two kbc helmets, one with chin flap and one without. the advantage of the chinflap i think is it lets less cold air in and i wear that one in colder weather, but they are both the same as far as noise. i havnt worn many other helmets, and none that were better, but i wear earplugs so the noise dont bother me anyway | ||
| Rhinowerx |
I have an Icon Mainframe Rubatone black helmet, fit's my head well, looks bad ass, and I picked it up online, brand new, for $160 shipped. At these prices, I can afford (and have) more than one helmet that I use for different occasions. if money were no object, the helmet I would love to own is the new Shoei X-Eleven - Kayagama TC-5 - but for the price of it (more expensive than the total of the three helmets I currently own), it would be the only helmet on my shelf, not to mention that I don't trust myself (read clumsy) - first scratch and I'd be in tears... | ||
| Torq |
scorpion EXO400--I cant say enough good stuff about it-great fit,comfy,low noise,minimal movement @ speed,$140 just about anywhere they carry them | ||
| Yeags30 |
i mean it is a helmet so if it gets scratched o well....imagine if you crash and it saves your life but you put a big ding in it...are you still upset about the scratch??....thanks for the opinions i will stay away from the icon and save my pennies for a shoei Bob | ||
| 99buellx1 |
Shark RSR or RSR2 | ||
| Badbuell82 |
Can't speak for the helmets, but I took a 60 MPH spill in an Icon Timax mesh jacket awhile back. I had heard that anything short of the "full race" gear, intended & approved for racing, is junk and wouldn't protect too well, but besides breaking 6 ribs, which was pretty much unavoidable, me and the jacket held up admirably. No rips, tears, or broken stitching (It's titanium thread!), just some serious scuffing on the metal plates, where I was sliding quite a few yards. | ||
| Rhinowerx |
The Icon Mainframe is labeled as meeting U.S. DOT and Snell standards - and if it fits you head, well... Last time I looked, HJC was DOT only (having said that, I own 2 HJC's also - street and off-road). I too am saving pennies for a Shoei, but in the meantime - so that I can ride - I need to be wearing something that will help protect my noggin. Let us know which Shoei you end up with. Cheers -Jack | ||
| Txfatcat |
I also have the Icon Mainframe. So far it has been good to me as far as fit and what not. It is a little noisy. I think I will be buying an X-11 next time. I have also heard with some of the cheaper helmets, at higher speeds your head just bobbles around and you get beat to death trying to keep your head straight. The Icon mainframe seems to be stable all the way up to 120mph from my own experience Yes you can save money by buying a cheap helmet that may be DOT or Snell approved....but is cost an issue when you go down on your head????? | ||
| Yeags30 |
my hjc is fine for now....i was asking a guy about a shoei the other day and he told me its quiet inside his...i was just wondering because i like some of the icon helmets...after this post i won't buy one.....why spend the money if i'm going to have the same problems....like i said before i'll wait and get a shoei | ||
| Lucas70374 |
Never used a ICON but I can speak for shoei. I LOVE IT. money well worth it. I have the shoei x-11 Norick edition. Today I bought a Suomy Bostrom Tattoo edition. Will give feedback tom. | ||
| Nastynate4469 |
Just a something I read but having a Snell approved helmet isn't always better. Here's the link to article on Motor Cyclist magazine: http://motorcyclistonline.com/gearbox/motorcycle_helmet_review/ Definately some food for thought. | ||
| Ulendo |
nastynate - then of course, there's the other side of the coin from that same article <quote>A number of manufacturers chose not to participate: Bell, KBC, OGK, Shoei and Simpson were contacted repeatedly, but chose not to send helmets <endquote>\ so much for the 'big guns' backing up their products in a test. also important to note, all of the SNELL helmets listed meet at least one other spec as well...multidensity cores allow them to meet both 'hard',and 'soft' impact specs. | ||
| Pupu |
seems to me that a dot would be just fine, i mean, you cant have a helmet that can do both to a high degree. so somewhere in the middle is just fine. everyone has an opinion, and if someone wants to spend 500 plus dollars on a helmet cuz they feel safer, then that is what they need to do. but from the tests in the article, i think any of the helmets will be just fine, except for the pep boys ones. | ||
| Butch_xb9r |
I know some people get worried if they scratch their helmet. I used to be until it actually got scratched. I patched it with clear nail polish so it wouldn't chip and then covered it up with this sticker that I bought for $1.  (I have nothing against Suzuki's products. Nearly all of my riding buddies have gixxers so we're always dogging on each others bikes. Hence the sticker.) | ||
| Nsbuell |
I just bought an Icon Mainframe this season...it's comfortable and fairly quiet so far...I like it...but then I've never owned a really good helmet either. A couple of lower-end HJC's and some cheapy brands when I was younger and poorer. | ||
| Eexb |
I should start an organization called "helmet buyer's anonymous" !!! "My name is Emery and I'm a "helmet-holic" !!! I have a weakness for cool helmets and have purchased WAY TOO MANY over the years, most of them hardly ever worn. At last count, I've had something like 37 helmets of just about every brand. I can contribute a few things I've learned - the more expensive, major brands like Shoei and Arai are definitely high quality helmets. They also offer better fit through adjustable cheek pads and etc and they have a good line of add-ons like breath guards and chin curtains. They (Shoei, Arai, Suomy, etc) are also generally quieter than the less expensive helmets like HJC and etc. I think you'll find that ALL major brands offer good quality helmets, but several like Z1R and ICON seem to be more marketing hype than actual full featured, high quality stuff. I'm not meaning to bash any helmet, but since this is a thread on ICON, I feel the need to say that the (2) ICON's I've owned exhibited poorer quality finish, "cheesy" looking interior's and they seemed to be pretty "pricey" compared to (what I consider) better bargain brands like KBC and HJC. One person's opinion, but I have been 100% satisfied with Shoei and Arai. E | ||
| Lucas70374 |
you have 37 helmets!!! wow you my role model now. I am working my way but I am far away. Now I do agree you can tell quality in fit, noise, and actual size of helmets. The Shoei, Arai, and Suomy helmets, the shell is also a difference size depending on helmet size example and M Helmet and a L helmet are not the same shell. Making a person with a small head have a smaller shell and a Big head have a bigger shell. YOU PAY FOR WHAT YOU GET. Like I said earlier I bought me a Suomy and I can tell you some likes and dislikes about it compaired to my Shoei Helmet. | ||
| Tpoppa |
I have 3 KBC helmets. I think KBC gives the most bang for your buck. KBC has excellent customer service. I had a probelm with a vent. KBC sent me the new vent and a new helmet liner for FREE! | ||
| Eexb |
"you have 37 helmets!!!" Over 20+ years of riding, I have owned 37 helmets, definitely not all at the same time !!! | ||
| Metalstorm |
I have a Scorpion EX-700 helmet & it works really well. The one & only complaint I have about it is that the shield doesn't seal well so when you're riding in the rain or in a heavy fog (I mean heavy) water builds up on the inside of the shield where you can't wipe it. But in dry weather it is bliss. | ||
| Madtony |
I really like my KBC Force RR Dark. Maybe because of the fit, which seems to work well for me. Maybe because I have not been hot in it, even riding at above 85 degrees. Maybe because the graphite black nicely matches the frame paint. Maybe because of the skull and crossbones on the side, because I like pirates. For whatever reason, I am glad I got the KBC. |
