What color helmet should I get?

[BamaDrifter64]

No, I'm not asking this in a lispy, limp-wristed manner because I want to make sure it doesn't clash with my outfit....

I'm thinking about the heat while touring.  I'm heading off to Sturgis in 2-3 weeks and looking to get a new touring helmet.  I've always had black helmets, but I've heard other riders say they make you hotter than a silver or white helmet.  This will be a 3/4 helmet with visor with intercom.  What say the masses?  Black = hotter or just a wives' tale?  Can you tell the difference while riding?

Dave

[Serk]

I can tell a difference... Admittedly, I didn't stick a thermometer in it to measure the temperatures, but wearing a full face black helmet in Texas in August is a similar experience to sticking your head in a microwave oven...

I mean, there's gotta be SOME truth to the story that black is hotter, or California wouldn't be discussing banning black cars, right? 

http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/25/california-to-reduce-carbon-emissions-by-banning-black-cars/

[Bladedog]

I have two helmets I wear, one full-face HJC Symax II, one half-helmet also an HJC.  BOTH are white/pearl.  I do believe it helps keep you cool, and I think they are more visible than black.

[JimC]

Know anyone with a infrared thermometer?

If so set a black, and a white helmet out in the sun for 15 minutes and check them for temperature. You will be amazed at how much hotter the black one will be on the outside. At least some of that heat will transfer to the inside of the helmet.
Jim

[Lyn-Del]

I have too many helmets!!!  What I've found, personally, comparing only half helmets, is that I find the silver cooler than even the white.  And the coolest of all was the chrome helmet.

[Tundra]

A little test a car wax salesman told me...Go to a parking lot (florida) and place your hand on a black car at high noon, then see how long you can leave it there. Then repeat with a white car. I did this, the black will melt your skin, you'll pull away quickly. The white you can leave on as long as you like. His point was the wax breaks down at a certain temp, yata, yata, yata...but I got his point!
  With all that being said, my summer helmet is a Nolan half helmet, with zip out ears and neck. (black cause it matches)

[Black Pearl's Captain]

Picture made last weekend with the temps at 100. ATGATT baby.

I have black and white helmets and I can't tell the difference between them. Mine all have foam between the hard shell and the hard head and the heat doesn't "penetrate" so there it is..

Raymond

[sandy]

A local test done in Phx a few yrs back. Black & white cars were left in a parking lot overnight. Noon temps on the paint were 195 and 130. Guess which color was 195. I use white and silver helmets for cooling, visibility at night. I've also added reflective tape to my helmets since the 70's. Never been in a wreck or laid one down. Close calls rarely happen.

[Momz]

I used to wear a white Bell bicycle helmet.
 Very comfortable on hot summer rides. And it met the letter of the law in MI. We have a goofy and non-enforcesble helmet law here.

[Jess from VA]

Talk of white and black temps on a surface is a no brainer; the real question is how much extra temp gets transferred through the black's internal polystyrene to your noggin.  I'm guessing it only makes a noticealbe difference in the hottest brightest weather.  I only wear flat black halfs 98% of the time (DOT-scorpion) and in hot weather, but can't say I've noticed high heat, but how would I know to compare?  I decided to try to wear better gear last year (mesh), and strongly considered a white hat for the visibility, not heat, but my black supervalk with motolights is so often mistaken for the cops, with tons of people slowing in front of me all the time as I come up behind at ten over (which is really annoying) that I thought if I got a white hat, it would just get worse.    
I shitteth you not.  

I think in AZ, I'd wear a white hat.

[R J]

Talk of white and black temps on a surface is a no brainer; the real question is how much extra temp gets transferred through the black's internal polystyrene to your noggin.  I'm guessing it only makes a noticealbe difference in the hottest brightest weather.  I only wear flat black halfs 98% of the time (DOT-scorpion) and in hot weather, but can't say I've noticed high heat, but how would I know to compare?  I decided to try to wear better gear last year (mesh), and strongly considered a white hat for the visibility, not heat, but my black supervalk with motolights is so often mistaken for the cops, with tons of people slowing in front of me all the time as I come up behind at ten over (which is really annoying) that I thought if I got a white hat, it would just get worse.    
I shitteth you not.  

I think is AZ, I'd wear a white hat.

Get a BRIGHT PINK one

[Jess from VA]

Get a BRIGHT PINK one

Well there you go;  good visibility, cooler, and no mistaking for LE.

I hadn't even considered that.

Now that I have......... I guess not.


I do kick back on the hwy pegs with a smoke to not appear to be LE, but all they see is the big black fairing and 4 lights coming.  I could probably be in my birthday suit and it'd still happen.  So I'll stick with flat black.  But thanks for the input.

[Strong Eagle]

WHITE.  Then add a blue shirt and black jeans and the cagers will mistake your for a cop... treat you better.

[Big IV]

My father rides a yellow Nolan with a smiley face on the back in black duct tape. My buddy rides a red helmet. I can spot them on the interstate on the horizon if we get seperated in traffic. They stand out.
I personally wear a burgandy helmet at the moment (matches the bike).

The non-black helmets FEEL cooler to me. But most importantly, I stand out in the interstate.
Just my 2 cents.

[RedValk]

Talk of white and black temps on a surface is a no brainer; the real question is how much extra temp gets transferred through the black's internal polystyrene to your noggin.  I'm guessing it only makes a noticealbe difference in the hottest brightest weather.  I only wear flat black halfs 98% of the time (DOT-scorpion) and in hot weather, but can't say I've noticed high heat, but how would I know to compare?  

+1

oh, and LOVE my black half helmet Scorpion and that retractable visor that hides up in the helmet. BEST HELMET I'VE EVER OWNED. Absolutley love it.......

[TwoDogs]

White helmets = 24% safer. While there are lies, cursed lies and statistics, since reading that I've paid attention to the visibility of other riders and have found that white really stands out, even at a great distance. I have three helmets, all of them are white.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/7136.php

[Jess from VA]

Talk of white and black temps on a surface is a no brainer; the real question is how much extra temp gets transferred through the black's internal polystyrene to your noggin.  I'm guessing it only makes a noticealbe difference in the hottest brightest weather.  I only wear flat black halfs 98% of the time (DOT-scorpion) and in hot weather, but can't say I've noticed high heat, but how would I know to compare?  

+1

oh, and LOVE my black half helmet Scorpion and that retractable visor that hides up in the helmet. BEST HELMET I'VE EVER OWNED. Absolutley love it.......

I concur on the EXO-100!!  Best helmet I've ever owned (both fit and function, for a half).  And like most, I probably have 6 or 7 out in the shed.   

[six2go #152]

A few years ago, Motorcycle Consumer News conducted a test of this very subject. Results? A black helmet was MUCH hotter on the surface than a white one but the amount of heat transferred to the interior was not worth worrying about.

[RedValk]

A few years ago, Motorcycle Consumer News conducted a test of this very subject. Results? A black helmet was MUCH hotter on the surface than a white one but the amount of heat transferred to the interior was not worth worrying about.

+1

[F-106]

I have a back and a white helment. both RF-1000'S. I can tell you i can not tell the differance in the summertime between the two. It get as hot as 110 here. Now there is a differance in the outside surface temps yes but i can not tell any from inside the helment.

[stude31]

Great...  thanks a lot guys... I have a "black" Icon Fusion helmet and I just bought a "black" nolan n102 this year.       

And now you tell me that white is cooler and is 24% more visible than a black helmet....  Oh well...  I have ridden my black interstate w/ my back mesh jacket and my black helmet across the hot flat lands of kansas in the blistering hot summer of July of last year.  I rode with four other riders, some wearing shorts and no helmet, others wearing white helmets, jeans, and short sleeve shirts.  By the time we had made it to Great Bend,Ks with a heat index of 117 we were all hot and ready for an ice cold tea at Applebee's. 

I had made a comment that it felt like my bike was burning but as other riders on Goldwings and vtx's agreed that they too, felt the heat and the smell.  So I knew that no matter what I wore or didn't wear one thing was for sure.  We were all feeling the temperature. 

So I rate this conversation along with what oil to use or motorcycle tire vs darkside...    To each his own.... 

Ride safe..

Stude31

[Willow]

And now you tell me that white is cooler and is 24% more visible than a black helmet.... 

Rest easy, Stude31.  According to a recently posted safety article your chances of being involved in an injury accident are about 6.3 per million miles ridden.  The white helmet being 24% safer means you could reduce your chances to 4.8 per million miles ridden.  My guess is that the average rider can't comprehend the difference between 6.3 per million and 4.8 per million.

I wear black.  I do think that red, white and chrome are more easily seen.  I also believe that riders wearing bright yellow riding suits are more easily seen.  I'm just not quite there.

[solo1]

 The 1 inch or so of polystyrene foam in the helmets is a good insulator.  It will keep the heat from the outside surface of the helmet from transferring to you.

However, you are generating heat to your head and the hotter that the temps get, the  more the quantity of heat that is trying to leave your head but it's unable to because of the polystyrene.  That's why the vents help, especially on an unfaired bike.  Good venting helmets would be coolest.

I've had all colors of helmet and couldn't feel a difference between black and pearl white.  
However, I've found that people tend to see lighter colored helmets better.

I wear a yellow helmet, doesn't go with anything except maybe a pearl yellow GW or a Bumblebee Valk.

[hubcapsc]

I could probably be in my birthday suit and it'd still happen.  So I'll stick with flat black. 

Yes, please 

-Mike

[franco6]

nowJESS if you installed a flashin head light modulator they would all get out of the way!when i  ride my black st wearing hjc white half helmet with black visor its what happens. even when riding the valk with head light flasher off they still get out of the way! i usualy send them a thank you wave.my winter helmet is a shoei white full face. white is more visible at night when i do half my riding back from work. also cooler in the day but when its 100 f it doesn t really matter  which color. its too damn hot!

[Madmike]

............. rooster dink pink - it is always a statement in itself........... someone that doesn't fear being judged as "different"..........

[Jess from VA]

The 1 inch or so of polystyrene foam in the helmets is a good insulator.  It will keep the heat from the outside surface of the helmet from transferring to you.

However, you are generating heat to your head and the hotter that the temps get, the  more the quantity of heat that is trying to leave your head but it's unable to because of the polystyrene.  That's why the vents help, especially on an unfaired bike.  Good venting helmets would be coolest.

I've had all colors of helmet and couldn't feel a difference between black and pearl white.  
However, I've found that people tend to see lighter colored helmets better.

I wear a yellow helmet, doesn't go with anything except maybe a pearl yellow GW or a Bumblebee Valk.

Excellent analysis!  I really didn't think you could tell the difference from exterior heat regardless of color.  But on really hot days your whole body heats up, and it does have trouble getting out of the helmet.  On those days, I often stand on the boards for the radiator effect, and will sit up over the fairing/shield and tip the half back to let the air blow underneath. 

[Jess from VA]

I could probably be in my birthday suit and it'd still happen.  So I'll stick with flat black. 

Yes, please 

-Mike

Yes please what, Mike?   

Stick with the black helmet, or ride in my birthday suit?  Only Stan would do that (with his feather boa). 

If I fell off the bike, I might bend my kickstand.    LOL   

[Jess from VA]

nowJESS if you installed a flashin head light modulator they would all get out of the way!when i  ride my black st wearing hjc white half helmet with black visor its what happens. even when riding the valk with head light flasher off they still get out of the way! i usualy send them a thank you wave.my winter helmet is a shoei white full face. white is more visible at night when i do half my riding back from work. also cooler in the day but when its 100 f it doesn t really matter  which color. its too damn hot!

Well, it's so crowded here they don't usually get over, they all just slow down.  I know they increase visibility, but I do not like modulators.  I have both 35W motolights on the calipers for daytime running, and PIAA 1100s on the fork wings for nightime (which are brighter than the IS headlights on bright (55/60s).  If I flip the PIAAS on they do get over.  But I don't do that. 

[therapist]

Last time Inzane was in Co it was an ungodly hot trip there and back, during one of the hottest couple summer weeks on record.  I wore a black full face there and was so hot inside that thing, that I got rid of it when I arrived and bought a white modular from a vendor.  It felt like a world of difference on the way back...all in mind?   

Don't think so.

[BonS]

I wouldn't take lightly even small differences in the internal temperatures of helmets when the heat is on. Like alcohol and lack of sleep, seemingly small changes in the temperature of the brain can have a huge affect on our safety. A 1968 NASA study observed the following:

Over the course of one hour, the average person made five mistakes when the temperature was 80 degrees.
At 90 degrees, they made only nine mistakes during a 60-minute span.
When the temperature reached 95 degrees, the number of mistakes spiked to sixty in one hour. That's one per minute!

The difference in mental acuity as temperatures move up from 90F to just 95F is scary.

It's about a lot more than comfort. Cool vests, ventilated jackets, hydration and clothing/helmet color all work together when it's really hot.

[Black Pearl's Captain]

I wouldn't take lightly even small differences in the internal temperatures of helmets when the heat is on. Like alcohol and lack of sleep, seemingly small changes in the temperature of the brain can have a huge affect on our safety. A 1968 NASA study observed the following:

Over the course of one hour, the average person made five mistakes when the temperature was 80 degrees.
At 90 degrees, they made only nine mistakes during a 60-minute span.
When the temperature reached 95 degrees, the number of mistakes spiked to sixty in one hour. That's one per minute!

The difference in mental acuity as temperatures move up from 90F to just 95F is scary.

It's about a lot more than comfort. Cool vests, ventilated jackets, hydration and clothing/helmet color all work together when it's really hot.

Mistakes huh, I thought they were just Arizonans.

Raymond

[BonS]

I wouldn't take lightly even small differences in the internal temperatures of helmets when the heat is on. Like alcohol and lack of sleep, seemingly small changes in the temperature of the brain can have a huge affect on our safety. A 1968 NASA study observed the following:

Over the course of one hour, the average person made five mistakes when the temperature was 80 degrees.
At 90 degrees, they made only nine mistakes during a 60-minute span.
When the temperature reached 95 degrees, the number of mistakes spiked to sixty in one hour. That's one per minute!

The difference in mental acuity as temperatures move up from 90F to just 95F is scary.

It's about a lot more than comfort. Cool vests, ventilated jackets, hydration and clothing/helmet color all work together when it's really hot.

You'd think that cagers in their air conditioning would do a better job wouldn't ya?