Helmet Color

[bigbob]

Think about getting a Shubert helmet. Lots of $$ so want to make the right choice.

Revzilla has a Matte Black which will match my Ténéré, a Gloss White, and a Silver. So my question is if you are riding in 100 degrees in bright sun, does the color matter.

 

[BarkSlayer]

IMO it matters only for the sake of conspicuity - how visible you make yourself to other drivers. In that case, gloss white is your only choice among the three you listed. With respect to temperature...the surface temp of a darker helmet will be a bit higher than white or a similar, very light color. Keep in mind, what matters is the heat transmitted to your pineapple inside that helmet. Between you and the heat source is one of the best insulators known to man - a thick layer of high density foam (in most cases) so the heat transferred to your head by a black or very dark helmet is nominal.

 

[tomatocity]

See you have a Matte Gray motorcycle so that makes you difficult to be seen. Most helmets are difficult to see if they are not safety yellow or yellow. I say choose the color you want and add reflective material to be seen in the dark.

I wear a black Arai helmet and looking to replace it but will probably get another black helmet and add clear reflect material. My Tenere is a bright blue a hope it can be seen.

 

[OldRider]

Color really matters. I have a black Arai and a Silver Arai. I sat both of them outside in the sun and waited about an hour. I could not put my hand on the black one and the Silver one was warm, but it was not uncomfortable to the touch. Try it and see. No more dark helmets for me.

 

[BarkSlayer]

See you have a Matte Gray motorcycle so that makes you difficult to be seen.

Well, isn't that ironic? You noticed my matte gray motorcycle. ::008::

I have a matte gray motorcycle with Clearwater high intensity LED fog lamps (amber lenses), a full set of PIAA high intensity LED driving lights and P3 brake light enhancements. My helmets are gloss white. Most of my riding gear is hi-vis yellow. If I'm headed toward you on the road, chances are you'll notice me.

 

[Nooner]

Color really matters. I have a black Arai and a Silver Arai. I sat both of them outside in the sun and waited about an hour. I could not put my hand on the black one and the Silver one was warm, but it was not uncomfortable to the touch. Try it and see. No more dark helmets for me.

http://gl1800riders.com/forums/showthread.php?320016-Helmet-color-vs-temperature

This guy set up an experiment to test and found that the black was much hotter.

 

[squarebore]

I buy white helmets and white cars mainly because I live in a hot place. My house is a light colour. Huge difference in temp in all of them.

 

[OX-34]

http://gl1800riders.com/forums/showthread.php?320016-Helmet-color-vs-temperature

This guy set up an experiment to test and found that the black was much hotter.

I would not have expected such a clear difference. I thought that the styrofoam would have insulated better than that, leveling out the internal temperatures. I was wrong. Thumbs up to LarryM from GL1800 Riders for conducting the experiment. ::008::

 

[Dogdaze]

http://gl1800riders.com/forums/showthread.php?320016-Helmet-color-vs-temperature

This guy set up an experiment to test and found that the black was much hotter.

Those results are something I felt all along. Colour choice is very personal and being adults, you have only yourself to please in that regard. I have a white and a black helmet, cold winter months or cloudy days I go with the black, on warm/hot sunny days I wear the white. I also have a Caberg Ego with a 'sunroof' that is fantastic, but too noisy ::007::
As for safety, again, personal choice and I'm pretty sure the guy that will run into you would not have read the same article for wearing hi-vis.
Interesting point that in France it is mandatory for all helmets to have hi-vis stickers, even tourists......

 

[2112]

They're a funny lot the French... ::013::

As it happens I have an AGV AX8 evo in white to match the bike ::008::

 

[Dogdaze]

They're a funny lot the French... ::013::

As it happens I have an AGV AX8 evo in white to match the bike ::008::

2112, make sure you get and carry you own "blow in a tube" alchi check if you ride through France.....

 

[shrekonwheels]

White is your only choice of the three for even decent visibility of the three.

Motorcycle color does not matter in regards to visibility but lighting has shown to be extremely effective.

The Hurt report is the most comprehensive study ever done, I encourage everyone to read it.

http://isddc.dot.gov/OLPFiles/NHTSA/013695.pdf


Once I switched to bright colors over a decade ago I noticed a difference immediately I also have caters thank me for wearing high vis.

 

[Velvet]

I currently wear a gloss black Schuberth helmet and I had a black Shoei Multitec before that. I've never experienced what I feel is excessive heat, even out here in the southwest in 100+ temps. I'm going to use my black Schuberth for one more season then buy another Schuberth in high-viz green or white....only for visibility purposes. If you go with the matte black, I would definitely install the black reflective tape that shines white when light reflects from it.

 

[EricV]

Some of the responses are pretty funny. ::008:: Yes, black helmets are warmer than white or light colored helmets. To a degree, the importance of this depends on your riding. When I rode everywhere and only had a bike, black helmets sucked, because I commuted on the bike too, so had daily traffic to be stuck in. Even in Oregon, at 60F, sitting in the sun in traffic was a lesson in how to bake your noggin in a black full face helmet. White, not big deal. OTOH, if you don't commute and ride mostly where you're not stuck in traffic or in the desert, go for what ever color floats your boat. Ditto if you're talking about a half shell helmet, it's not as noticeable.

I know lots of guys that buy color matched helmets for their bikes. Good for them, no fault there. Not my thing. Seems like the more bikes I've had and the more miles I've ridden, the less something like helmet color matters. I buy white because plain colors are cheaper, I live in a world where moto cops often where white helmets and people are people. Living in the desert it makes sense too.

Do what makes you happy. (but matte color helmets do look dorky, imho)

 

[exegete]

Having ridden in Phoenix AZ (90-120 degrees F) quite a bit in both a Shoei TZ1 Shogun (mostly black with red and silver designs) and my white Shoei RF1200, I can say that sitting still, I really notice the color difference. It was the difference between sweat running down my neck compared to my hair being wet. I also noticed pretty quick that the RF1200 cooled off much faster than the TZ1 due to drastically better venting.

From personal experience, I'd also opine that the white helmets tend to be more visible in daylight conditions. Even over helmets with reflective tape or high via yellow. The white pops out like a beacon. High Vis is my second choice to a white helmet these days.

 

[barkingllizard]

interesting subject, with one additional thought: when you are out on the road, riding or driving, which helmets ARE getting YOUR attention.....

 

[frez]

I've had white helmets and black helmets, I can't say I've noticed any difference. With a white helmet you get drivers doing stupid things because they think you might be a cop, that's if they see you at all. I can't say I've noticed any difference in visibility, I assume nobody sees me and I am often proved correct in that assumption. Current helmet is black with yellow hi-viz stripes Shoei Neotec.

 

[Nooner]

On my White Tenere, with grey jessie's, red SOLAS tape, wearing a hi-vis yellow motoport suit and wearing a white helmet, people move out of my lane of traffic all the time - I think they think I am a cop too.

I prefer white helmets for all of the previous mentioned reasons (heat, visibility, police impersonation, etc). My next helmet will be white.


BTW - I had a C3 (not Pro) Schuberth and the chin strap drove me nutty - I sold it at a considerable loss after just 2 or 3 wearings.

 

[bigbob]

interesting subject, with one additional thought: when you are out on the road, riding or driving, which helmets ARE getting YOUR attention.....

Never seem to pay attention. I am always looking at the bike, or the passenger!

 

[bigbob]

BTW - I had a C3 (not Pro) Schuberth and the chin strap drove me nutty - I sold it at a considerable loss after just 2 or 3 wearings.

Was looking at a $500 C3 so what was it about the chin strap?