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lol I just bought me a scooter... 1983 Yamaha Maxim 550. Figured this would be a good bike to learn how to ride on. Not to much power but enough. Bike is in excellent shape has a new rear tire. front has good tread but the sidewall is a bit weather checked. 23k miles. picked it up for 600 bucks from a co worker who just bought a Harley. Anyways who makes a good full face helment. Something that has good ventilation and that will allow me to wear sunglasses. Price isn't much of a concern just want something that will fit good and be comfortable. gonna go out tomorrow and look around. I don't have the bike yet. I have to go in and get my learners permit so i can legally ride it for 90 days till i can get in and get my endorsement. I've rode dirt bikes a bunch in my younger days so i've got the general concept of it all. Plan on taking it real easy for a while and just get a good feel for the bike before i decide to go take my riding test to get the endorsement.

Bieffe makes good helmets.. can be expensive though.. Cirrus makes the helmet I'm using now. Plenty of room inside. I've had 10 or so different helmets over the years.. My Bieffe is by far the most comfy. It's an old one, but nice. Just make sure that it's DOT cert. Not a big deal anymore, but make sure there's no Seam running down the middle of the helmet. If there is, it's not DOT. I'll look around and see if I can find the names of the others I've had. You may try http://www.denniskirk.com just to see if you can find one you like there for a good price.

eGo

I use a old WW2 american army helmet. works great and was only 20 bux at the army navy surplus store. Has starps and all the goods.

Thanks eGo. i totally forgot about dennis kirk... i dunno how much junk i've bought from them in the past for my quads LOL Was checking out the Bieffe's... have a nice one thats kind of a flat black for 52 bucks. Not to bad. I remember the last time i was looking for a riding helmet for my quad i was looking at spending 150 bucks here locally. Tomorrow i think i'm gonna crash the bike shops here in town find something i like there then come home and order it online cheaper I plan on running my VW in autox this summer and i need a helmet for that as well so i can kill 2 birds with 1 stone.

helmetharbor.com
helmetshop.com

I have a Suomy. I recommend Shoei, Suomy, and Arai (in no such order). Remember, a cheap helmet for a cheap head!

Good luck with the bike =]

I have a HJC and a Kiwi- both are due for replacement this season or next as It is becoming hard to find new face shields for both

When sizing helmets you want something that is comfortable- but be sure to get a nice snug fit
Its not fun when a helmet is trying to pull you off the bike at 80mph!

BTW that should be a excellent bike - Enjoy

well i ended up with an HJC CL-14 that looks just like this one in this ebay auction. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... egory=6749 I got mine for a lot cheaper... knowin' people in the right places kicks ass. got it for 120 including sales tax! WHOOT! Fits great no pressure points but its nice and snug. Tried on 2 Arai's and a couple Suomy's and didn't like the feel of them at all. seemed to squeeze my head in the front and the sides felt loose and sloppy. This was a large i got a fat head lol

Pred, just saw this thread.... I've got the same lid, was going to recommend HJC, good helmet at a decent price. Have fun on the new bike.... just be careful out there..

I recommend taking an MSF (Motorcycle Safety Foundation) course, learn all sorts of stuff, and get a break on insurance when it comes time to get that big bore, high dollar machine.......

I'm scheduled for the MSF in 7 weeks... ya it sucks but for the time being monday i'm going into take a written test so i can get my learners permit in this state... that way i'll at least be legal to ride. Just cna't ride at night and no passengers which don't bother me much at all.

Get someone with lots of bike experience to look over the bike...... brakes, driveline, mechanicals, also, check it over good for loose nuts and bolts, fittings, fluid leakage at fittings, and look closely at wiring harnesses for frays and rubbed through areas. Save you a lot of grief later on for a couple hours work.......

I'd consider a new front tire, dry rot in scooter tires is bad news, a high speed blowout is ugly Bike stuff is expensive, but not near as expensive as medical bills........ Back tire problems are bad enough, but fronts are worse........ Dried out tires get a lot less traction then new rubber, and with the weight transfer, (up to 80%), on a panic stop, the front tire does all the braking.

Practice panic stops in a parking lot, slow speed at first and then work up to faster speeds, use that front brake.. The rear is mainly for bad traction areas, like gravel and slick roads and for stabilizing the stop as you slow down.

Be careful out there, and enjoy the ride! :

i already have a new front tire ordered for it. He's replacing the rear cause its bald but the bike has been gone over and its all in really great shape. Getting the tire and new fork seals put in on tuesday. i should have it by the end of the week.

since there was this time i was cruisin down the highway - this nice lady chopped my retainer belt so's she could thry an throw me off an steal the bike...

so i let her.

then there i was flying down the highway - throwing sparks all over and got bounced by a 4wheeler...

then the bike shut down,

and she tried to make me light it off again...

anyways i definitly reccommend the skid lid.

:

ps dont forget to get some armoerd gloves and replace the air cleaner cover. running witout it can be expensive as the road will throw stones at it and could jam or break the cooling fins - i'd be looking for a steel unit myself.

Originally posted by jayscybertrhs
since there was this time i was cruisin down the highway - this nice lady chopped my retainer belt so's she could thry an throw me off an steal the bike...

so i let her.

then there i was flying down the highway - throwing sparks all over and got bounced by a 4wheeler...

then the bike shut down,

and she tried to make me light it off again...

anyways i definitly reccommend the skid lid.

:

Hi jayscybertrhs , welcome to PCA !! You speak English ?