FZRSupport: the FZROnline Archive

Helmet politics and the ideas of NAFTA and "free trade with China" (read: vaseline required)
Ok, well with the Wal-Mart-ization of our country, should we have any feelings at all ? Or is it ok to be lemmings and let the Chinese walk all over us, and the Malaysians and the Koreans. I'm not "hating" here, just wondering really what you think. Before responding please take a look at this article about SparX (new helmet company), where they mention KBC and Scorpion among others.

(goddamn I love worms)

http://www.dealernews.com/dealernews/On ... ail/469109

Also, can someone find a COMPREHENSIVE LIST of HELMET manufacturers and WHERE the helmets are actually made ? Not be be biased, but I'm part Italian (mostly Irish), but would maybe be willing to spend more and have a Made in Italy helmet. Just to avoid everything in the goddamn world going to be Made in China plastic junk. (sorry I couldn't refrain)

Interesting article. Funny they stressed they are separate but their helmets are made in the same factory. It's really hard to know what is made where anymore. Not alot of products are made in their country of origin these and with everyone owning and buying everyone it's getting hard to know what's what...

I confess, I didn't read the whole thing. I don't see myself buying a low-end helmet anyways, I've got a scorpion now and I only really see myself going up. Life is too good to buy cheap safety gear.

sweekster wrote:Interesting article. Funny they stressed they are separate but their helmets are made in the same factory. It's really hard to know what is made where anymore. Not alot of products are made in their country of origin these and with everyone owning and buying everyone it's getting hard to know what's what...

the other helmets were coming over from china, KBC's are made in korea, they just ship to the same place....

God damn Walmarts!

Initial research: Suomy & AGV = ITALY
Arai, Shoei = Japan
Schuberth = Germany
KBC & SparX = China
Scorpion = China but the faceshield says Made in Canada

Ok well, here's a little more information. I went to a local dealer today...

They had the SparX. These are Chinese and from what I tried on are VERY entry level, not very comfortable, but not very heavy either. I like my Scorpion 400 about 10 times as much.

Here's one thing that irked me in the article, apparently the owners of the main Chinese manufacturing firm that make KBC and SparX don't want anyone to know their name. Like a big bureaucracy hiding behind ("pay no attention to that man behind the curtain") while saying that the likes of Suomy, Arai, and Shoei are big corporations who don't care about anything but world domination and sales. Kinda seems like the pot calling the LSD high. One thing I noticed, and maybe I'm totally wrong on this, if so, I'll be glad to be proven wrong, but it seems that companies like Shark, Suomy, Shoei and Arai, even HJC and Bell, actually SUPPORT racers by giving them free helmets. "sponsorship" I believe. Anyway, I don't see many other manufacturers doing this and I think it's quite pathetic. I hope I'm wrong. Anyway, I'll try to do more research.

I may just pop my old Lazer back on occasionally for variety, even though it's over 10 years old. It's still VERY comfortable and light enough, and I kept it in perfect shape and clean over the years. AND it's made in Belgium, which makes me feel like maybe it's at least from a friendly country. (yeah I know you're not supposed to wear helmets longer than 5 years)

I sport two HJC's which i believe are korean

http://www.webbikeworld.com/kbc-helmet/

they say kbc=korea which backs the article that the whatever brand arent the same as a KBC

Yeah, I wear an HJC for motocross, and i tell you it fits so perfect and is so comfortable. Of course helmets tend to stay in good shape when you take good care of them. I always wash the liner and cheek pads, because I sweat like crazy plus it gets loaded with dust and dirt. For $220 I couldn't ask for more.


Quote from article below:

That opportunity relates to the owner of the SparX brand, MK Sports Industries Inc., a U.S. company founded by the owners of KBC Helmets Inc. and the owners of what Kim asserts is the largest helmet manufacturer in China. Both are major players in the private label business in the United States. Although SparX is a separate entity, it has access to KBC's marketing, design and engineering prowess. Likewise, it benefits from economies of scale by being made at the Chinese partner's factory.

Kim tells me the Chinese partner prefers not to be named. But because of DOT regulations, anyone holding a SparX helmet can look inside it and see that the manufacturer is MHR mhrhelmet.com in China's Guangdong province. MK Sports is a pairing of MHR and KBC. KBC makes the vast majority of its helmets in its four factories in Korea, China, Indonesia and Brazil. Select models, however, are sourced out to multiple third parties, MHR being one of them.

Kim says that because two large companies are behind them, they were able to create a "low-end helmet with high-end features."

...unquote.

So that's the answer. This is typical for asian business models. Typical for the way they run their companies (trust me, I've worked for the Koreans and the Chinese, nothing wrong with them generally speaking, they are very shrewd businessmen, probably not a whole lot different than the Gordon Gecko's of Wall Street. (although the ones I worked for in design & construction industry were very nice folks, they do tend to be work-a-holics and extremely demanding, many working 7 days a week, I guess a lot of that is just friggen raw greed)

If I remember correctly, Scorpion helmets are actually made in China but the headquarters is in California. This is probably similar.

dur good catch on my not remembering what I read

Well crap. I just tried on some Suomy's and AGV's. They don't fit my head at all, either too loose or too tight. Looks like I'll narrow down to the Scorpion after all, won't be able to afford Shoei or Arai.


I tried on the EXO-1000 again. DROOL.

more odd things come up.... Well last week I got a replacement MX helmet. It's a nice Bell Moto-8. Someone on another forum said he was pretty sure the new $500 - $600 Bell street helmets that came out recently were made in the USA. I don't know about that, maybe I'll find out eventually, but, although this Moto-8 is a very nice and extremely lightweight helmet, that even came with extra hardware, cheek pads, visor, and plush carry bag, it's Made in China.

I haven't taken it for an actual ride yet, but from the reviews they say it flows more air than any helmet on the market, so I guess we'll see. Anyway, just stirring the pot. If anyone finds any FULL FACE SPORT helmet that is actually made in the USA I will mail you a crisp one dollar bill.

http://www.akumahelmets.com/ , Pick any of them all are USA.

Thanks, I may have to call them. Looks like they're out of all the normal sizes for the good looking helmets (Navy and Air Force) (unless you're into red devils or dragons, and even then (I could even go for that) these look pretty goofy)

I get a feeling they were so popular they ran out quick or maybe those designs are limited productions. I'll try to find out.

What a horrifying kick in the groin. I was reading their website..... says...... Akuma is American owned and operated. (well giggity-goo!)

So I go read the Webbikeworld review...

MADE IN CHINA !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Argh ! It's still pretty cool looking, got a great review and I believe Kneedraggers.com actually has all the sizes.

Anyway. Damn. I guess we really only build cars in this country, cars, buildings, broom handles and tootsie rolls. I need to place a phone call to John Ratzenberger (Made In America show) ...maybe he can rattle some cages. Ha!
Back to the drawing board.