Any opinions on Icon Helmets?

I'm not so sure I'd trust ICON with my head. I've got a Suomy that I absolutely love! And they're not too expensive.

I think I'd pass. Their gear seems to focus on style, not performance. Shoei, Arai, AGV, Suomy...

I bought an Alliance Mainframe Halo. Comfortable for me DOT and Snell2000 rated. I haven't had a chance to ride in hot weather yet, so I can't comment on the venting. I also let a buddy wear it for a couple hours and he said he was getting one.

I tried to pin the Snell Foundationn representative on this at the Cycle World show. He insisted that " As long as the helmet is undamaged and fits properly", one Snell approved helmet would perform as well as another. I asked him about the difference in workmanship and materials between a Shoei X11 and an Ikon or low level HJC or KBC. He just repeated what he said earlier and said that if everything else was equal, then if the Shoei was more comfortable and ventilated better, I should use the one that gave me the most peace of mind, because they'd all do the same job in a single crash.

I bought the Shoei, if for no other reason than that if it vents better, I'll presumably be able to think better.

CBRVFR said:

I tried to pin the Snell Foundationn representative on this at the Cycle World show. He insisted that " As long as the helmet is undamaged and fits properly", one Snell approved helmet would perform as well as another. I asked him about the difference in workmanship and materials between a Shoei X11 and an Ikon or low level HJC or KBC. He just repeated what he said earlier and said that if everything else was equal, then if the Shoei was more comfortable and ventilated better, I should use the one that gave me the most peace of mind, because they'd all do the same job in a single crash.

I bought the Shoei, if for no other reason than that if it vents better, I'll presumably be able to think better.

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I see your point. With today's technology and an existing blueprint of materials and requirements to manufacture an approved helmet, why the cost differences. I currently have a low end KBC (TK7 I think) and I tried on a KBC TK9 ($180.00) at the show. Fit was good, graphics were cool, but when I went to take it off, the removable material starting coming off as well. The nervous booth rep tried to hurry and push the padding back in but I told him I shouldn't have been able to pull the material out that easily, and I moved on. Now, that might have just been that paticular helmet or just bad design/material. It's you people buying those $500 helmets that's keeping them at their prices! (just kidding.......well, sort of.....) :smilebig:

I believe Icon's are made by HJC.

CBRVFR said:

I tried to pin the Snell Foundationn representative on this at the Cycle World show. He insisted that " As long as the helmet is undamaged and fits properly", one Snell approved helmet would perform as well as another. I asked him about the difference in workmanship and materials between a Shoei X11 and an Ikon or low level HJC or KBC. He just repeated what he said earlier and said that if everything else was equal, then if the Shoei was more comfortable and ventilated better, I should use the one that gave me the most peace of mind, because they'd all do the same job in a single crash.

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That's pure, unadulterated, bullshit. Do all tires that meet DOT safety specs perform the same? Go ask Ford and Firebomb...I mean Firestone.

fl-929 said:

I believe Icon's are made by HJC.

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Probably. There is a large helmet contract manufacturer in China that builds helmets for all these guys and then paints and brands them. Notable exceptions are people like Arai, Shoei and AGV who roll their own, and the guys in China copy to varying degrees of success.

luvtolean said:

That's pure, unadulterated, bullshit. Do all tires that meet DOT safety specs perform the same? Go ask Ford and Firebomb...I mean Firestone.

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I don't know what else I was expecting him to say. All those manufacturers have paid his organization to test their helmets, and apparently all of them passed... He can't very well slam any of them publicly.

So are you saying that the Snell tests aren't adequate predictors of crash performance, or that (like the Bridgestone/Firestone fiasco,) certain brands are safer over a longer period of time due to superior mfg techniques? Or that they somehow greatly exceed the Snell standards the others struggle to achieve?

I'm not disagreeing, I am very loyal to Shoei because I've crashed hard in one. But I've often wondered if I'm throwing money away that could be used for tires or trackdays.

CBRVFR said:

So are you saying that the Snell tests aren't adequate predictors of crash performance, or that (like the Bridgestone/Firestone fiasco,) certain brands are safer over a longer period of time due to superior mfg techniques? Or that they somehow greatly exceed the Snell standards the others struggle to achieve?

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Both really. It's good there are standards out there, but they could certainly be better.

And certain brands seem to be better. Shoei and Arai seem to be the best, and very close. RRW &MC Tech, although I'm not much of a fan, nor do I think they use scientific rigor in their mag, did a survey of helmet brand and concussions per crash for club racers. Shoei and Arai were notably better than the rest. I can't exactly recall but I believe AGV was third.

Good thread about helmet testing Link