All this is new to me so bear with me please! Got my first helmet before I picked up my scoot back in September. The guy at the shop who fitted me first had me in a small....he was not all that pleased with the fit b/c I seemed to have just a wee-bit(not alot, just enough to make him concerned) freedom of movement inside the helmet, so we tried an XS, which is very weird since I wear a medium in my cycling(pedal) helmets. Anyway, the XS is very secure, and now I'm wondering if it's going beyond secure and on to being too tight. It feels as tho I have NO freedom of movement inside the helmet. I have to take my glasses off to get the helmet on, and can just barely get them back on. When I pull the helmet on it feels like every hair follicle on my head is getting an electric shock...and of course, the cheeks are squished up, which is very attractive I must say!
It's loosened up a touch over the past four months...but now that it's cold, I've been trying to put on one of those buffwear things to help my head keep warm, and all the helmet does is push this thing down over my eyes. Today I just gave up and decided I'd have to be cold.
I'm thinking this thing is too small and maybe I better try a small....at least for the winter months.
Thoughts?

Having to take your glasses off to get the helmet off is actually a good sign. If you could take it off with the glasses on it would definately be too big.

The padding WILL compact as you wear it. I get in about 4 hours a day during the riding seasons and my HJC helmet compacted quickly. Its actually too big now and was sooo tight when I first got it that I had head aches...and was almost in tears after the first hour long ride.

I, personally, wouldn't try the over the head backlavas/facemasks unless they were made of swim suit material. On a properly fitted helmet, I don't think you should have room to fit one on anyway. I have a great one muffler/face mask that velcros behind my neck like a muffler.


I hope that helps..

_________________
Jess
PIAGGIO BV500 for sale!!!!

Jess,
Thanks, your words helped alot, and saved me some $$ too! Was about to pull the trigger on another HJC helmet at NewEnough.com! I'm glad to learn it's supposed to be that tight! The longest I've worn it at on shot is about two and half hours....that day it seemed to feel better the longer I had it on.

On the cold issue -- I got a Seirus Thick N Thin balaclava. It is a thin liner part over the head, then the polar fleece around the neck. I got it at Dicks, but it is available all over the place. Here is a link to the description at REI. (note the reviewer says it is too warm, but he is using it under a climbing helmet -- so he is sweating a lot more than a scooter rider in winter.)
http://www.rei.com/product/725710

My helmet is pretty cheek-squishing too, but this fits under it.

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-- kim

I have a thin silk balaclava that fits easily under a tight helmet:

From: http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___68166

I also wear a wind-proof jacket with the neck zipped all the way up
(under my motorcycle jacket) to keep my neck warm

Then, once I've closed off the helmet vents and added a Respro Foggy mask
(the red thing inside my old, beat-up helmet below),
my full-face helmet is pretty toasty warm in even the coldest weather!

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~~~~~ Linda ~~~~~

My fullface helmet fits exactly like yours. I figured if I didn't get a headache the fit was good. I actually don't even feel it at all and is very comfortable even after a couple of hours. I live in Canada and it is cold here in the beginning and end of riding season and I have never used a hat of any kind. I got a large square scarf folded it in half tied it snuggly and tucked it inside my helmet and it worked fine even at higher speeds, and if my face was cold I just pulled it up over my nose and cheeks (if you ever watched the old western movies you know what I mean)and it worked great. I also have a silk type one that I used riding in the country in the Summer to prevent bees etc from being able to get into my helmet or in my jacket. Have to say watching a wasp or bee comming at you in what appears slow motion is a very scarry thing for me. I was hit by a few this summer and was preparing for the sting which thankfully never happened ...... yet at least. I stilll have to leave at least one vent open usually the one on the chin) other wise I fog up esp for the beginning of my rides.
As for the glasses I have the same problem I found putting my index finger close to the ear piece to support them while sliding them in place it helps with the glasses a bit, but it is very hard on them, but at the same time I don't have to worry about them sliding down my nose while riding which is a big plus.

Arlene

Before pitching in the helmet - maybe there are some thinner inserts you can get for it. It probably won't effect the top of your head, but for me it made me feel much more comfortable. Does your liner come out?

Before getting thinner cheek padding, I had serious fish face (suck in your cheeks and look in the mirror) and I was worried about biting the inside of my mouth when riding on dirt roads (a common thing for where I live). Now, it feels so much better!

And like you Tucker, my vents have to stay open otherwise my glasses and faceshield fog up even with the Foggy Respro! But in this cold I can feel the biting cold on my head, so a micro-thin neck/head gator goes on my head - it took a few tries to not get a bunch of material pulled onto my eyes.

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winds blow past my face ... a waking dream of summer ... blue scooter sleep well

Thanks for all the input. Here's what I've done so far and it seems to be working....I had been storing the helmet under the seat, out in the cold. As a last ditch effort one Friday evening before heading to the moto-gear store on Saturday, I decided to bring it into the house and try putting it on in front of the bathroom mirror and just "mess" with it a bit. I brought it in, got distracted and came back to it about an hour later. I compressed the foam cheek pads a bit, put it on and it fit fine. Since then, I've stored it in the house where its warm, and everytime...it's gone on without a hitch with none of the extreme tightness I described in my original post. I've still not tried any head covering again...I'm still waiting to see if this current method is going to fail me.
We'll see! Now...if the weather could be as cooperative!

you can try a stocking cap under it also. you can pick one up very reasonable anywhere. That is what i did and it works like a charm!