I urge you to read the stuff on webbikeworld about head shapes. A "normal" head shape is something between round and oval and many helmet manufacturers build their helmets to fit this shape, as that is the majority of people. But, if you've got a head that's Earth shaped (round when viewed from the top) and try to put it in a "normal" helmet, it is likely to be tight on the sides of the head. Same is true for a head shape that is a long oval...pressure point will be on the forehead, which can be VERY uncomfortable. If the pressure point is not really bad, you can take the back side of a spoon and use it to compress the foam a bit to reshape that portion...I'm not saying to do it a LOT, but compressing it 1/16th of an inch here and there can make a HUGE difference in comfort level. I've even pulled back the liner and taken a piece of emery cloth and slightly sand a bit of foam out of the hot spot area...again, not reshaping or removing enough material to compromise the integrity of the helmet's safety design. Also, a new helmet is going to fit tight until it adjusts to your head a bit. You also have to consider whether your head is "tall", how far your jaw bone protrudes, etc. Most flip face helmets have more room between the chin/mouth than a true full face to allow for the pivoting action, but some are closer to your mouth than others.
The reviews on webbikeworld of each helmet discuss what head shape might fit best in any particular helmet. I would suggest you read the review on the HJC you are looking at.
Unfortunately, there are not many manufacturers who design helmets for different head shapes...the only one I am aware of is Arai, and they currently do not offer a Flip Face helmet.
Whatever you end up with, I would suggest that you wear it around the house for at least an hour before committing to it 100%...or do so in the store. You might look dorky, but in the long run you'll be happy you did. In an hour or so, you'll find out if there are any hot spots.
Since the Shoei is now out of the picture, I'd strongly recommend giving the Nolan N-104 a good look. If you can't find what you're looking for at the local Cycle Gear shop, or some other bike shop, Revzilla is a good source...it might cost you a few dollars to ship it back and get another size, but they are very good to work with from my experience and they get good reviews on line for their customer service. They also do some excellent video reviews on gear.
Your Mama didn't drop you on your head as a baby, did she?
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Topic: Full faced helmets in the Southern heat (Read 14689 times)