Helmet Fit : Pinched Cheeks?

[JVRR]

I could not really get a good answer online, and the guy at the shop was not very helpful.

I bought a helmet today (with any luck getting a bike tomorrow!). I picked up a HJC CL-16 Large. XL was more comfortable but the only help the guy at the shop provided was that if I was between sizes to go down because the padding will stretch basically. Makes sense. A problem I have in both helmets though, and more so in the large, is that I cannot bite my teeth together because my cheeks are pushed in and there is cheek between them lol. He said thats normal?

I am going to try and get out to another shop about an hour out tomorrow morning, they have the GMax GM68 that I want (still stuck on what I will do, I was hoping to pick up a ~$50 helmet and then find one online to order to match my bike and such. But all the stores the cheapest I found was this at $130 before tax... might have to give it a few days without riding so I can just order online)... anyway...

Is this normal? It is both an annoyance, and seems unsafe if I were to crash (maybe the least of my problems) I don't doubt I would bite right through my cheeks lol.

Also... I really was set on a modular helmet. I am a little less into that now due to price and style (limited in my price range). I tried on the "cheap" HJC modular (cannot remember which model) and I noticed there is less chin protection. It is still there but I felt like my neck was more exposed. Granted I do not see sliding down the pavement with my neck straight down and chin all the way out/up... but I did notice the smaller protection area right away. Is this a legitimate concern? Helmets are expensive enough I want to do it right the first time, but I do not really want to compromise much on safety.

Thanks .

PS The visor on the HJC is bugging me. I have no idea what I wore in the class (probably cheap garbage) but the visor had many different "open" settings, the HJC opens a crack, a little more than halfway (eyes exposed pretty much) or all the way, there is no in between.

[Wrider]

That is the problem with the HJCs, that they only open certain amounts... You'll get used to it. As for the pinched cheeks, I believe HJC may make different sized cheek pads so that you can fit in there more comfortably. Yes the pads will stretch out, but it does take a bit and is gradual.
I know the feeling though man. I look like a freaking chipmunk in a helmet!

[gsJack]

I bought a Shoei RF-1000 a few years ago from a local shop and was ready to get the XL size because it felt just right to me, a helmet should be a bit on the too tight side when new because it will loosen up a bit in the first month or two and not change much after that. Fortunately I thought to take the cheek pads out and try the helmet and the helmet was really too loose, I had been faked out by the much too tight cheek pads so I tried a L size and it fit my head just right around the hat band area above the eyes without the cheek pads. A helmet should be tight enough on your head that it will move your scalp with it when you grab the helmet and rotate it on your head a bit. I rode home with my jaw held tightly shut all the way so I wouldn't bite off the insides of my cheeks wearing the L helmet. At home I took the pads out and removed the foam from the cloth covers and split it in half thickness wise and it was just right after that, snug on the cheeks but not too tight to open and close my mouth with the helmet on.

After a few years with the RF-1000 I dieted down from about 255# to 210# and my Shoei was then too loose on the cheeks, the bottom would rattle back and forth sideways. So I got new cheek pads close to the size of the original ones and it's a good fit all around again. So if you get a helmet without removable cheek pads that are too tight you can solve the problem with a good diet. LOL I couldn't live with the too tight bite your cheek pads.

I have a HJC CL-Max I use in the winter and I like it, that's HJC's lower priced flip face one. But your right about the shield having very limited click points to hold it partially open unlike the Shoei that has many click points from closed to open to hold the shield about anywhere you want it.

[jstark47]

PS The visor on the HJC is bugging me. I have no idea what I wore in the class (probably cheap garbage) but the visor had many different "open" settings, the HJC opens a crack, a little more than halfway (eyes exposed pretty much) or all the way, there is no in between.

At any decent amount of speed, "open a crack" is usually enough to keep the visor from fogging up. I've been using HJC's for 6 years, I'm too cheap to pay almost $500 for a Shoei!

[zeligman]

having hit the pavement - I think the almost $500 I paid for my arai - and its excellent fit, was well worth still being able to read, write, and post! DON'T SKIMP on your HELMET! I know that it is expensive up front - it was rough for me too - but i also never thought I'd go down, and yet I did - in a traffic accident, and the helmet saved my ugly mug from being comic book ugly hamburger, and my ability to pretty much do anything.

your head is the most important part you are protecting ...

Congrats on the bike!

[JVRR]

Ended up with the JMax GM68. Paid about $140, quite a bit more than internet but I am impatient, also matte black, tolerable but would have enjoyed something fancy. I am one of those that does something all the way, or not at all. So I know I will either be selling it all or building quite the collection of stuff within a year, so figured it was worth it to get on the road today for the $40 extra.

I first thought the GM68 was not going to work at all, was really liking the GM44. Then she for some reason thought the Bell fit very nicely, so brought out a brand new (not sure if it was new, or new to the store) Bell Revolver modular for $200. I loved it. The store had no returns though on helmets so I spent a very long time trying them on (saleswoman was patient as heck) and fortunately at the end decided to throw my glasses on- the Revolver was a no go, the pads felt fine but the connection was in a weird place that forced my glasses up.

Curiously in the GM44 I thought a medium was pretty good, but ended up with an XL on the GM68. I would have loved to go modular but there were a few factors working against me, the glasses, the price, and the time (I was out in Tacoma, and left myself about an hour and twenty minutes before I had to meet the guy with the bike, and that's at least an hour drive)... came time to just make a choice and go with it!

Now to get that HJC garbage back to the other store. I am sure it is a fine helmet but I had very few problems with my cheeks being pinched in the helmets I tried on today. Salesman at Renton Motorycle was not nearly as helpful, kudos to Eagle Leather in Tacoma!

Ended up with the bike as well

[HYPERR]

PS The visor on the HJC is bugging me. I have no idea what I wore in the class (probably cheap garbage) but the visor had many different "open" settings, the HJC opens a crack, a little more than halfway (eyes exposed pretty much) or all the way, there is no in between.

That's strange, South Korean helmets like HJC & KBC are virtual copies of the Japanes Shoei and Arai, and they utilize the same detent visor system they stole from Shoei so it should have multiple positions.

[jstark47]

PS The visor on the HJC is bugging me. I have no idea what I wore in the class (probably cheap garbage) but the visor had many different "open" settings, the HJC opens a crack, a little more than halfway (eyes exposed pretty much) or all the way, there is no in between.

That's strange, South Korean helmets like HJC & KBC are virtual copies of the Japanes Shoei and Arai, and they utilize the same detent visor system they stole from Shoei so it should have multiple positions.

Multiple positions: yes, HJC's have many, many positions where the visor will NOT stay open!!

[sunshine229]

My first helmet was a gift and it was a tad too small. It smushed my cheeks and although I didn't have the problem you suggested (can't bite down), it wasn't very comfortable. After a few years (and student loan payments gone!) I bought myself a new helmet and it was the best thing.

BTW, congrats on the bike!!!!!!! It's super hot!!!!!!!

[Mr. Invisible]

Try helmets from other brands. You will notice that the other brands will be like getting half sizes from each other. Also with glasses flip-ups are a lot easier to get on and off. I had trouble trying to poke the earpeaces in after I put the standard full face helmet on, and the flip up goes on without removing your glasses.

A doo rag helps too, keeps the helmet from folding your ears down as you put the helmet on as well as keeping the sweat out of your eyes as you ride.