Helmet doesnt fit

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Soldato
Joined
7 Dec 2008
Posts
2,846
Location
Scottish Borders
Went into my local bike shop last week to buy a new helmet. Was just going to go for another cheapish HJC which I had previously and liked, but was talked into a Shoei at twice the price. The guy in the shop did all the usual checks after having me wear it for 10 minutes, and it did seem very snug.

Problem is that after wearing it for a few hours, it now seems too loose, as the padding has compressed some. At motorway speeds the helmet will lift quite a bit from the wind if I raise my chin. Obviously not good.

What sort of argument do you reckon I can make here? Will be going into the shop on the way home tonight, but wonder if I will have a leg to stand on given that I agreed that the helmet did seem to fit, and they were quite clear that there was no refunds on helmets once they have left the shop, for obvious reasons.
 
You may be able to talk them into a goodwill gesture but even then I reckon it'll be a discount on a new one rather than a full refund.

Was it a decent local indy type shop or a big chain?
 
Depending on the helmet and the size you may be able to get a new set of interiors and cheek pads for the next size down.

For example, my old Shark helmet I bought a size L but the cheek pads never loosened up so I bought XL pads which are thinner and put them in, now it feels great.
 
You might be able to get inserts, but I'd go back and say at speed it's no good.

I've never found a Shoei thats fit me well.
 
^JP^ said:
Depending on the helmet and the size you may be able to get a new set of interiors and cheek pads for the next size down.

For example, my old Shark helmet I bought a size L but the cheek pads never loosened up so I bought XL pads which are thinner and put them in, now it feels great.
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That's a good shout actually.

You don't say which model you've got but there seems to be plenty of replacement pads around http://www.helmetcity.co.uk/categories/Helmets/Helmet-Accessories/Shoei-Helmet-Spares/
 
The pads shouldn't have compressed in a few hours, that's strange that it was snug and is now loose. What model Shoei is it?

When you move it up and down, does your forehead skin 'move' with it?
 
Yep good call on the cheek pads guys. Shop changed them over for free so nice and snug now. Left with some Kriega luggage as well....need to stay away from that place!
 
It's an expensive habit, I keep eyeing up a Kreiga tool roll to replace the falling apart bag the OEM toolkit comes in.
 
Clum said:
Yep good call on the cheek pads guys. Shop changed them over for free so nice and snug now. Left with some Kriega luggage as well....need to stay away from that place!
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Great news, nothing worse than ill-fitting gear, distracts so much from riding!
 
IC3 said:
You know what they say, you've either an Arai or Shoei head. :p
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Haha this is true. When I first got into biking I got an Arai. I thought it fit okay but after a while I noticed a red mark on my head. Then I realised I could move my jaw fowards onto the mouth guard and the whole helmet would budge forwards.

I recently got a Shoei and it's like a whole different biking experience. Much better and far more comfortable :)
 
Its weird though my XR right cheek pad doesn't feel right, it goes up and more forward than the left. I'll contact helmetcity tomorrow, I tried to reposition it, but you can't really re-position it...
 
Nah, the GT Air was fine... they didn't have XR to try. You can see the right cheek pad isn't positioned the same way as the left...
 
Ive got an old second hand shoei thats a bit too big.

Its perfect for winter though as with a nice balaclava on its a perfect tight fit.

And toasty warm ^_^
 
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