[dsn_klr650] license plate: happy99 is on the loose!

[Jeff Walker]

> > Brad Davis wrote: > > Now on to my question . I had thought I had decided on a > > Shoei RF- > > 800 until I went to my local shop and tried on a HSC CL-12. It fit > > great and seemed high quality to my inexperienced eye. I know some of > > the other listers have HSC helmets and are satisfied with them. Well, > > what is the catch? The CL-12 is $140 and the RF-800 is $220 (from > > www.helmet.shop). If it is only that HSC has lower advertising costs > > and chooses to pass them on to the consumer, please let me know, I > > rather get the HSC and save some $$$. Both helmets are Snell95/DOT > > rated so I am really curious about what the differences may be that > > would justify the 70% greater cost. Isn't it true that the HSC is > > built in Korea and the Shoei in the USA? I don't know for sure > > but > > possibly the difference is due to labor costs. > > You mean HJC, right? > > I dont know. My dealer says that "some people have Shoei heads and

some

> people have Arai heads". As it turns out, my XXXL bucket of a head is a

HJC

> head. The CL-12 (and the CL-0 it replaced) fit me perfectly, so thats what

I

> g owith. Never have tested them to destruction, I am happy to say but I

have

> a high degree of confidance in them, even though the XXXL size is not

Snell

> rated. > > > -Tom

Personally, that Snell 95 rating is very important to me, as it implies a standard and testing method that the manufactured good must comply with for impact safety. (You can argue all you want about non-Snell helmets being just as good or better, but to me, an industry test standard is a test standard. Say you design and build pressure vessel, if it doesn't conform to A.S.M.E. Boiler Code, I won't buy it.) In any case, that is the reason why the HJC helmet costs less, because they didn't pay to have their product evaluated by the Snell foundation, and without the approval sticker, many motorcyclists won't buy it at the higher price that Snell approved helmets go for. I always go for the Snell helmet, I had a friend get seriously hurt after crashing with non approved lid, the dam thing just cracked and caved in, and he was in a comma for three days. Just my opinion, but I know I'm right! Jeff

[Tom Simpson]

Look out! We have another round of Happy99 on the list! -Tom