Hawk Modular Helmets

[adventurer 08]

Is there anybody here own or have used any of the Hawk Modular Helmets? They look and sound good but are very low in price. They are dot approved.

[JoeW]

I have a Motorcycle Gear modular brand name 'Built'. Looks like the Hawk ST1198. Flip up chin piece and built in flip down inner visor. Its only DOT approved, not Snell. I plan on trying it out this season. Fits OK. Outside shell is like a football helmet plastic (polycarbonate ?) but the inside is foam and padding like typical mc helmets. It was cheap - $100. Only wore it twice so far for very short rides. Not bad for the price but can't tell how good the protection is.

[ditchdoctor]

I just bought two of them. Modular type. Seem very cheap. Not like my HJC. Sending back for full refund.

 

Steve

[motorcycle_1300]

My wife and I have a pair of the hawk modular helmets with built in Bluetooth communicatoirs. the blue tooth functions work very well both for bike to bike communication as well as pairing with various devices. good sound quality, way better than my old chatterbox units.

 

The helmet is a good low end helmet, mine fit very well had to swap for a slightly smaller size for my wife( I had taken advice to buy one size larger than measured size) so my wifes was fine as measured mine xxl fit well but by measurement an xl should have fit. Latches work well but clear shield was a little hard to flip, a little work with a file on the notches fixed that) the vents drove me nuts for months, they made serious noise in either the open or closed position. mostly vibration, found if I played with them I could find a quiet position. Eventually I just put electrical tape over the top vent and was happy. If it gets hot enough to need to open I just peel the tape. If I know it is going to be hot I leave the hawk at home and use my half helmet.

Al

[pprince]

I started with the cheap helmets and quickly realized that .... they are cheap. I have also heard some bad stories about the modular helmets splitting open in an accident. The hinge is only plastic. I do have a modular helmet.

 

I finally splurged in December on an Arai. The fit is much better and it is a quieter helmet.

[wannarsv]

Wow second post in the last few minutes(whats wrong with me). We used to have a saying when I raced go-karts, I think the same holds true with any helmet...."If you have a $5.00 head....buy a $5.00 helmet.

Going back to my corner now, Mel

[BigLenny]

Ahhhh, we Americans. We always fall for the, "if it cost outrageously more, it's gotta be better" trick.

 

You know what I mean. Like, yeah, the Toyota is nice, but I think I'll pay $15K more for the same car that looks a little different but has a Lexus badge on it, because it "has to be better because it costs more". Or, I think I'll pass on the nice new $25K Honda Accord and buy the $45K Mercedes E Series with its $200.00 oil changes because it "has to be better because it costs more". NO! IT ISN"T ALWAYS BETTER! I know people with long miles on Mercedes', and I know a lot of people with 200K+ and 300K+ on average old everyday vehicles.

 

Consumer Reports tests and rates products of all kinds every year, and they always give some low dollar version that tested just as good as the most exepensive ones. But, we always buy the most expensive because it "has to be better because it costs more".

 

So, here's my delima. I sit here in the same boat that some others are in, looking at buyng new helmets for my wife and I. I am looking at modular styles only. Let me make this clear, I am not considering low dollar helmets like Bilt, and several of the others. I have seen them and tried them on and operated their latches and the cheaper ones are certainly off the mark in fit and finish, and usually have clunky latches that do not open and close smoothly. However, there are a few mid priced helmets that I've tried on that are very comfortable, and have a quality feeling to them in all areas. HJC and Nolan are two brands that i have tried on that feel just as comfortable and quality built and operate just as smoothly as the Aria and Shoei brands that a lot of people will swear up and down are over twice as good a helmet. I'm having a tough time biting on this notion, and when i'm standing in the store switching tryons between Nolan, HJC, Aria, and Shoei I get a sick feeling that I'm being sold the ole "it has to be better because it costs stupidly more". I have specifically asked more than one helmet sales rep to give me data or studies, or some kind of buld quality comparisons that prove that the Aria, Shoei helmets are twice as good as the Nolan, HJC helmets. They never can provide anything other than verbal stuff like " it just fits better", or "it's tested better" or yada yada yada.

 

So, what I'm asking is; for any of my friends here that might have concrete proof that Aria and Shoei, and Shuberth are without a doubt, hands down twice as good a helmet as some of the better mid ranged helmets on the market. I don't see it, or feel it when I'm trying them on and comparing them. I will gladly plunk the $600.00+ down for them if I need to.

 

Thanks,

 

Lynn

[adventurer 08]

Thanks for everybodys in put, I don't plan to buy one of those. Whats a good mid price modular helmet? Seen a few in the $300 range that seemed preaty good. Theres just so many to pick from.