Posts
26
Joined
4/7/2024
Location
Red Lake Falls, MN
US
I'm in the market for a new helmet. Im leaning towards an alpinestars sm5. Tried it on at Bob's cycle. A little tight putting the helmet on and taking the helmet off. But fits great when I had the helmet on minus it squishing my cheeks. I wear a size large, are they true to size? Do they run small? I love the look of them and the lightweight feel. Any info would be greatly appreciated before I purchase
3 different years of sm5 all fit different to me. I would not buy one unless you can try it on first.
I'll definitely try it on again before I buy. I'd like to see what an sm8 and 10 feel like
The 8 and 10 fit my head better and feel like they have thicker padding. The m5 usually had weird pressure points and didn’t feel like it had padding when I tried it on.
The SM8 and 2023 and older SM10 share the same liners and should fit pretty much the same as each other. I wear an SM8 and love it. I came from wearing a Shoei that was the generation just before the current one. I do sell Alpienstars,Arai,6D and Leatt helmets . So I may be biased in a way. I tried a 6D ATR-1 ,ATR-2 and the Alpinestars SM8 and SM10's on before settling on a helmet. I found the SM8 to fit me the best. I recently got a Leatt MTB helmet and plan on trying one of their high end models at some point too. The MTB helmet is really nice and well made VS the 100% I also have.
The 2024 SM10 has some changes to the liner and EPS inside. If You do try the SM8 and SM10 on , the 2024 SM10 has been fitting tighter than the previous versions. So if You find yourself in between sizes in an SM8 or older SM10. The newer version might fit better .
You may be able to get a sweet closeout deal on an SM8 or last years SM10 if you look around. I grabbed a hand full of them when my distributor had them on closeout and I sold them all fast. The downside of the older SM10 and the SM8 being that they do not meet the newest ECE standards while the 2024 SM5 and SM10 do. That is something to think about. The newest standards put more focus on the front of the helmet and rotational energy absorption than the past have.
We have had a few guys upgrade from the SM5 to an SM8 or SM10. I recommend trying on the actual helmet you plan on buying before buying. The SM8 and 10 both vent extremely well and are light weight. They do hurt a little sometimes when You pull them on or off.
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I'll have to see what dealerships carry alpinestars around me (northern MN) I'm coming from a leatt 9.5 carbon and I absolutely LOVED it. I like the fixed visor, I like the lightweight and great ventilation. Right now it's hard to justify spending $700 plus on a helmet now since I became a dad last May
Are you replacing due to a crash? Leatt has a crash replacement program if so.
All the new Alpinestars stuff is fitting a bit tighter as mentioned above. I wear a small in an M10 and am making it work, but it took some time to break in. Would go with a medium next go around.
The SM 8 is the best bang for the buck helmet in my opinion. You get a helmet that is very close to the Sm10 in many ways. But You get it for less $$$. It weighs a little more than the SM10. But its hard to feel it when holding 2 of the same size helmets at the same time.
A benefit the SM8/SM10 have over the SM5 and pretty much every other helmet. The adjustable liner. It allows You to change how the helmet sits on Your head. If You wear a neck brace this can be a big help. It has helped make the helmet more comfortable and work better for some customers. I have customers who switched to the SM10 from Bell Moto 10's and are happy with them.
I know the $$$ saving is important as a new dad. But in my opinion I would try and find another area to save money other than a helmet. Buy the best helmet You can afford. As a new Dad , protecting Your head is even more important now than ever. 6D helmets are also really safe helmets , just do not fit my head as well. You only have 1 head.
Why are You replacing the Leatt 9.5? Did You crash in it? or is it just getting old and worn out? I would love to hear Your opinion on the Leatt 9.5 and also how You would compare it to the Alpinestars helmets.
Your dealer may be able to order you a close out version of an SM8 or SM10. If You ask them nicely about it. Sometimes distributors will have certain sizes or colors that You can save money on and still give the dealer the same margins . From what I have heard about the SM5 it is more important to try those on. The SM8's have been consistently sized from year to year so if You find that it fits in a certain size. It should fit the same for all years that are still available. I've heard the SM5's fit different from year to year .So I would make sure to try on the same model year SM5 as You intend to buy .But having a dealer order You a SM8 would be safe if You find that a certain size fits You.
I would try and save money on a helmet by getting an old colorway over getting a cheaper model. Helmet wraps fit the SM8 and 10 very well if You get a good enough deal on a color that You do not love.
I measured my head after I tried a large on. And I still measure out to a size large. If I remember correctly it was close to the minimum size for an XL that the measurements of my head were at. I have looked into the replacement program from leatt but I think I'm missing something that they need like the receipt
Replacing it from a bad crash I had last year at the end of the season. Ended up breaking the outer shell of the helmet
I had the 9.5 for about 2 years. Before that I had a Bell mx-9. I could instantly feel the difference in weight. Honestly felt like I wasn't even wearing a helmet when I had the 9.5 on. The ventilation was great. Never tried the sip tube channel in it cause I only ride track. I felt good about the technology in the helmet and the science behind it. Overall it was one of my favorite helmets. I never rode with an alpinestars helmet. But the time I tried the sm5 on felt similar in weight and I love the look of it and the 8 and 10. If I remember correctly I think the leatt had the same type of form fitting liner as the alpinestars does
I've been keeping tabs on deals for the sm 8 and 10 on MX locker
If You are still looking the 23 and older SM10's and all of the SM8's should be all on closeout soon if not already. If You got a new helmet already , what did you get and how is it compared to your Leatt when it was new ? Hope You are having a great spring!
Buy the one you want and drop that sum bitch on the ground
Never had a head injury in any of my shoei’s. Bad concussions in three other brands that were absolutely not low-end. I’m usually an XL but have had to wear XXL in certain brands. The shoei XL’s fit my big head awesome and breathe great as well. Can usually save some coin purchasing close-out’s with last year's paint. Helmets are really a “to each their own” type of item imo. They’ve all got pretty good technology now days but I don’t think it’s mentioned often enough how vastly different all of our skulls are shaped. The best helmet for one guy isn’t necessarily the best for another.
Bob’s Cycle is bad*ss! Miss living up north and getting to swing through in person!
Every time my wife and I go to the cities to visit her family we always stop in to Bob's cycle. I love that store especially when they have their supercross sales when supercross is in town!
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