ISO: Motorcycle helmet that doesn't suck
 

Okay, so I've got a Honda Shadow Sabre cruiser motorcycle and I've been wearing a gigundo crotch rocket helmet while riding it since I got it back in '07. This is mostly because I like the visor and the idea of keeping my teeth intact if I get tossed by a retard in a SUV.

Problem: Crotch rocket helmet amplifies the growl of my 2.5" straight pipes. It sucks because it gives me headaches after a while.

Solution: Wearing a "brain bucket" actually means I can hear better because the rumble isn't funneled up into my ears. Pretty quiet, actually.

Issue: Finding a "brain bucket" style motorcycle helmet, DOT-approved, that doesn't look retarded.

Find: Daytona Skull Cap -> LINK

...

Any suggestions? I could go with one of those silly Nazi-looking helmets but I don't really dig the symbolism despite the added protection and functionality of the shape.

Along the lines of the Nazi helmet look but maybe a tad less anti-social looking and a little more coverage than the Daytona skull cap...I like the Bell Drifter style, this one is in titanium color scheme

http://www.bikersden.com/public/Prod...702/Image1.jpg

Kinda cool. What's with the ear muffs?

You can fold them up into the helmet if you don't have ears.

I got one of these: Scorpion Helmet
The one on the right. The visor comes off, the shield goes up into the helmet with a light touch of its side and the ear padding is removable.
Cost was about $100. I got shiny black, which they don't show on that page and I found it at a Honda dealer.

How about ear plugs with the original helmet? Keeps the teeth and ears intact.

Fiatguy85: Whoops, forgot to mention that I already do.

Yeah, I already wear the 30 DB rated neon orange ear plugs crammed in as best they'll go. It still sucks. Full face helmets are noise funnels for loud bikes.

Consider me gently retarded. What item are you talking about? "On the right" so doesn't help me when I've got that kinda catalog display.

I ride a 50cc scooter and wear a full-face helmet. Best advice I ever got- regardless of style, if you've got a $10 head put a $10 helmet on it. I'll be interested in your final choice, as I'm getting a cruiser-style this spring.

Sorry, thought it'd show just the page for that series. It's their EXO100:
https://riverwayracing.com/store//im...olid_black.jpg

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Okay, my part time job was selling gear for a while so I'll give you my input. I never recommend anything other than a full face helmet. Realistically, it's the best option by far. How often do you see people crash and only land on the top of their head? (It almost never happens).

As far as the noise is concerned, get yourself a good set of custom ear plugs. It's cheaper than a new helmet, $60 or less usually.

If you want suggestions on good full face helmets, there are many and it is going to depend a lot on how much you want to spend. With helmets, what you pay is what you get (with a few exceptions of course).

As I stated in the OP, I already own a big honkin' full face crotch-rocket helmet with 32 DB reduction blaze orange foam ear plugs.

I like my current helmet. It's a really nice flip-up / modular job... but it is a PITA because it funnels the pipe growl right up into my brain.

I've ridden with a borrow half-shell helmet and it was a much more pleasant. Obviously the full face helmet is safer, but it's annoying and ruins my rides.

This shield only covers your eyes and flips into the helmet when you don't want it and the ear covers are removable. The helmet itself is a semi-shorty. That's what I like about this helmet, it's totally convertible to the needs at the moment. Even the liner comes out for cleaning.