It finally happened, a morning ride in the mid 20s (F) and then a return home to drop the helmet on the concrete floor. Pieces scattered and detached from the Fulmer helmet that I’ve worn for the past five years. It performed well enough to take a place along the street today and accept a ride to it’s eventual burial at the landfill. Farewell.

On Monday after work I stopped at Kissell Motorsports and browsed the least expensive helmets in the Scorpion line. Everyone here probably knows that price and protection aren’t really connected. In blind test after test the cheapest helmets often outperform the expensive ones in impact tests. Armed with that knowledge I puffed my chest ready to rebuff any sales pitch steering me towards an Arai, Shoei or other fancy bauble. I have selected a Scorpion helmet. Grey, plain, functional. I’m ready to go.

Craig Kissell stops to see how I’m doing and says, “Those are nice helmets but you really should check out one of the Shoeis, I think you’ll really like it better.” He’s recently told me he wants me to try out the new Ducati Diavel and the new Triumph Tigers when they come in so I listen politely.

He hands me a Titanium Shoei Qwest. Pretty. And pretty expensive. He repeats that it might be a good helmet for me and adds “You’re getting older now.”

What?

To make a long story shorter he tells me the real advantage of the Shoei over the Scorpion is the fiberglas construction makes it noticeably lighter and easier on my aging neck and cervical spine. Damn, it did feel lighter. I remembered long rides where the helmet seemed like it was dragging me down. I thought for a few minutes while weighing the helmet in my hands and said sold.

I’ve been riding to work the past two days in the Shoei. The weight difference is noticeable. The fit is much better than the Fulmer was. Quiet and without much wind noise. And for a winter rider, the big payoff is the breath guard really works. It was 22F on Tuesday morning and I did not have to open the visor once to clear fog.

But the big lesson for old men (and women) — a lighter helmet means less neck pain. I’m already liking the less weight part.