You have NO idea how in the DARK you are...

I've been selling helmets for longer than I've done most things in my life, minus my second marriage...lol. If my helmet career was walking around Arizona, it would be starting High School soon.

 

You would think with all my experience I would feel a "tiny bit of LOVE" from those I deal with on a everyday basis.  Most I do, but then there are the OUTSIDERS...lol.

 

Here's how the cookie crumbles...  They (Manufacturers & Distributors) sell me stuff, and in return I sell it, and pay them. If I sell A LOT, they make more money.

 This Capitalism stuff isn't all that tough to figure out.

 

Now to the deep down secret, that even took me 12+ years to figure out.

Most (not all) of the Manufactures look down on retailers who actually offer up an opinion to their customers. 99.9% of the Distributors (the guys I buy stuff from) absolutely HATE IT.

I need to define “opinion” because I'm well aware there are retailers out there that might have a VERY different take. A bit of, “Hey, speak for yourself! I do give my opinion in my reviews (video/written).” For this reason, I'll be clear.

As an example; If you're doing a video on a helmet, and while you're tinkering with it, the vent cover breaks. After looking closer, you determine all the vents appear to be flimsy. This helmet is from a Nationally known company.

Do you?

1. Show how the helmet functions without pointing out the defective vent covers?
2. Mention the covers, but sandwich the observation between two more upbeat comments about the product?
3. Simply don't mention the covers, and focus on “how” the vents apparently work?
4. Look into the camera, and shoot straight?

Most (not all) will do some variation of A – C. Ask yourself this simple question, and it's been asked to me; how many helmets would you sell if you pointed out every flaw?

I'd say a TON, but most Dealers, and many Manufactures would answer "Fewer" and be PISSED OFF if you mentioned it. It has been plainly expressed to me that my purpose is to SELL.  They could careless if I tap danced on my roof top to get it done, just don't mention a flaw.  To them, everything is perfect, up until someone mentions the design flaw...  At that point, it's the person who mentioned its fault, not the product.

Do you see where I'm going with this?  It's all about what ISN'T said...

Again, I know from personal experience...lol.

The motorcycle industry doesn't exist in a different dimension where flaws don't exist. I have yet to find a PERFECT product. Have you? And if this holds true, and you don't hear a single mention of these flaws in a video/written review, how great is the review?

Simply, THEY'RE LYING TO YOU. Either by omission, or by lack of product knowledge. Either way, the product overview is WORTHLESS. Having someone belting out bullet points on a product can be informative. However, if there's no mention that the vent covers are cheap, who cares where the vents are placed, or how they open and close?

So, why this subject? Simple, since 2006 (the birth of YouTube) I've watched as the motorcycle industry has adapted. Up to that time I had mainly focused on written reviews on my website. Yes, I started doing video in 2002, but because of the MANY issues at the time (LONG download times, and slow connections), I wasn't able to post many. YouTube changed all that, and now you have companies like RevZilla and STG belting out videos on everything down to socks and casual belts...lol. By the way, this is all fine.   

 

My disappointment is in the content.

One glance and it's apparent that most online companies have decided to stick to bullet points, and have CHOSEN to runaway from having opinions in their product videos. It's easy to rationalize this plan of attack by simply stating, “What I have an issue with in a product, might not be an issue with the customer watching.  Everyone should keep their opinions to themselves.”

I DISAGREE...!

Who has a better understanding about a product than the person who has actually touched it. Better yet, used it? How can someone pick up a product, play with it, use it, and not have an opinion? Especially if that person has seen the DIRECT competition?

I can pick up two identical spoons out of my utensil drawer and pick my favorite...lol.

 

Put two products in front of you, that do the same things, and you can pick a WINNER.  It might not be by much, but most of us could pick one, or the other.  So can these guys...

Let me ask you the following question, and PLEASE shoot me an email, or go back and post a comment on TheHelmet Harbor Facebook page and let me know where you stand.

1. Is it refreshing to watch (read) a review/overview that points out the products features, AND the found shortcomings?
2. Would a balanced approach, pointing out the good (and bad) stop you from buying?
3. How many of you would find this refreshing? Refreshing enough to tell others?
4. Are opinions unneeded? Facts are fine.

Yes, I've actually been banished by Manufactures and Distributors BECAUSE I don't always have pleasant things to say in my videos...  I make them uncomfortable.  The loose cannon.  They never know what I'm going to say...  Isn't that awful...lol.

They have EVERY right to do what they do, and I guess I could change.  That's not doing to happen...

 

This is the important part, Manufacturers and Distributors are actively suppressing Dealers (not just me) from expressing their opinions to their customers.  THAT'S YOU.

1. Is this right?
2. And if not, would it stop you from purchasing that product?
3. If not stop you from purchasing, would it at least be a HUGE Red Flag?
4. Would you tell others, and allow them to make a decision?
5. Are "Bullet Points" OK with you?

Honestly, I'm selling EXACTLY what I want to sell.  However, I sit in the "Dealer" chair. Your "Customer" chair has MANY more options. It's VERY true that customers vote with their dollars. Customers dictate/control the market.  In a nut shell, it PISSES me off when Manufactures, Distributors, and many Retailers forget who they work for...

A quiet voice can have this effect.

Seriously... When Does STUPID Start?

Everyone has the right to make choices for themselves.  I consider myself a Conservative.  A Constitutionalist.

If that offends you, oh well.  I won't be apologizing.

I'm not perfect, but I would like to think that I have a good grasp on commonsense.  99% of the time I bite my tongue when I see something that sets off my "Warning STUPID CLOSE" alarm.  Today was no different, up until this CHALLENGE rider cut me off in traffic.  I would have simply bit down harder, if it wasn't for the "show" he put on through my front windshield.  Weaving in and out of traffic.  Stopping short, splitting traffic...  ENOUGH..!

No Helmet?  

If you think it's "safer" to ride without a helmet (any DOT helmet), you're an idiot.  Have most of us road without a helmet, @ some point?  Yes.  We're human, so moments of stupidity are sewn into our genes.  The difference is, MOST of the time we understand what we're doing is dangerous.  We supplement our lack of good judgement with over cautious riding behavior.  This rider was apparently numb in this area of the brain...

No Jacket? 

Here's a question for you.  If you fall off your bike going 25mph, are you going to tumble?  Are your arms going to impact the road?  How about your back?  Chest?  Shoulders?  Elbows?  For those of you that think the above "helmet section" was stupid, the answer is YES, to all of the above.  Every one of these body parts are going to hit the concrete.  Without protection you will...

1. Grind the skin off your elbows
2. Imbed gravel to your shoulders
3. Damage your back

Scroll back up and take another look at the picture of this guy, and tell me I'm wrong?  Oh, for those that think 25MPH is to slow to cause injury.  You know what, you might be right...  To prove me wrong, bounce up into your buddies pick up truck, and jump out @ 25mph.  Shoot me an email with your conclusions...

For those that still think the "Helmet Section" doesn't make sense, I WAS JOKING ABOUT JUMPING OUT OF THE TRUCK...

No Pants?

I CHOOSE to wear actual riding pants 95% of the time.  Today there are a wide range of styles.  I prefer the pants that look like jeans.  Again, look at this rider above and ask yourself if his legs will look the same after a 50 foot slide...

No Boots?

Just the thought of my ankle, caught under a sliding bike, going 40mph, makes me sick to my stomach.  Reach down and touch your ankle.  Does it appear to you that there's a ton of FLESH between your ankle bones and the rough, hard concrete...  Once again, for those that disagree with the "Helmet Section" above, the answer is NO.  Just thin skin.

Why is it that many riders simply can't understand that if they crash on their motorcycle, the deck is stacked against them?  Even with protective gear.  Take the protective gear away, and your life will NEVER be the same, even if you survive.

I'm sorry, but if you think you're bullet proof, you're not.  If you think you'll never go down, you're fooling yourself.  They're called "accidents" not "on purposes".  It doesn't need to be the most expensive gear on the market.  Something is better than nothing.

There's just not enough room on the road for guys like this.  Period.

Noisy Helmet? I can help...

If there's one thing I can count on, is that I'm going to get calls from customers about wind noise inside their helmet.  Models like the Arai Corsair-V, RX-Q and the Signet-Q have a bad rap for being loud.  I myself lecture that ANY high flow helmet is going to be noisy.  If you invite that much air inside a helmet, expect a little wind noise.

Several factors come into play when I hear customers having issues with noisy helmets.

1. First, SIZE.  If your helmet is to big, it'll be noisy.  The seal around your ears will not be snug, and sound sneaks in.
2. Age.  If you've had your helmet for a while, through general use, the foam will flatten, making the helmet noisier.  Again, the seal isn't snug enough to keep the ear isolated.
3. The VISOR.  When a helmet is being built, the visor is attached in a "neutral" position.  It may not be sealing against the gasket.

If you have a helmet with a removable liner, you might be able to fix #1 and #2.  Replace it.  #3 will take a bit of experimenting to get it just right.  For this reason, Ill be focusing on this one point.

Remove the visor from the helmet, loosen the screws holding the baseplate to the helmet, and move them slightly to the rear.  Tighten the screws.  The key here is to move them, "slightly" to the rear.  Since you'll be doing the same procedure to the both sides, it doesn't take much to make a HUGE impact.  You'll be walking a fine line between being able to close the visor, and not enough pressure.

Take your TIME.  Nothing about this process is fast.  You will make it worse, before it gets better.  Once you have it perfect, you'll know.  You should "hear" a noticeable improvement.

Firstgear apparel... OK, why these guys..?

Wait for it...  OK, here it is right up front!  I picked Firstgear because, I BELIEVE in the Company.

Honestly, buying gear would be much easier if I didn't have a history with EVERY apparel company on the market.  I could close my eye's, press my finger against the monitor, and let chance dictate my purchase.  When you have 1000's of products to choose from, and no one being honest about what's good, or bad, you're leaving it to chance.

I don't don't have the luxury.  I've sold just about everything, and have dumped companies on a regular basis.  Oh, and it's not always about the apparel.  No product is perfect.  Often I've kick products to the curb simply because the Company "behind" the product sucked.  A customer had an issue, and the "company" could careless.  The sale was complete; their only goal.  I end up disappointed, the customer is disappointed, and the manufacturer is booted to the curb in seconds.

I learned a LONG time ago (and I've been doing this for over a decade) that if the company behind the product drops the ball once, you don't automatically give them a second chance.  9 out of 10 times, it'll happen again.

So again, why Firstgear?

"Todd, why not Olympia, Joe Rocket, Aerostitch, Tourmaster, Roadgear, S&S, Klim...?"  The list goes on and on.  Simple, while many of these companies may make great products, I'm looking for the COMPLETE package.

• WELL MADE
• PRICE RIGHT
• LONG SERVICE LIFE
• INNOVATION
• OUTSTANDING WARRANTY
• COMPANY SUPPORT
• BROAD PRODUCT LINE
• A HUGE BASE OF HAPPY CUSTOMERS

Most companies fail, or fall short in one or more of the above categories.  Firstgear is the ONLY company that has NEVER failed me, or my customers.

Have there been issues?  Firstgear doesn't live in a alternate universe.  Of course, but I have never been disappointed in how they resolved these issues.  Each time I was impressed, and they've exceeded my expectations.

I also use their products.  I use a Kathmandu jacket for the winter, and a Mesh-Tex jacket in the summer.  I wouldn't be caught out in the cold without my heat jacket, gloves and socks.  I'm not spoiled, I've just figured out that EVERY ride is more fun when I'm comfortable...

Let me give an example of the INNOVATION I mentioned earlier.  The Kilimanjaro and Kathmandu jackets both come with a armor called d30.  I'm not going to explain WHY this stuff is amazing, since this video is worth 10,000 words.

"Google" Firstgear.  Read the customer reviews.  As you weed through the hundreds of positive comments, remember that only 1 in every 50 HAPPY customers take the time to leave a review.  1 in 5 UNHAPPY customers make sure too...

Soon Firstgear will be hitting the market with a rain proof heated liner, vented mesh boots, and several updated jackets.  If you're in the market for a new ANYTHING apparel, you owe it to yourself to look HARD @ Firstgear.  You'll be glad you did.http://www.helmetharbor.com/firstgear-kathmandu-jacket/http://www.helmetharbor.com/firstgear-kathmandu-jacket/http://www.helmetharbor.com/apparel/

Wave..!

Wow, I'm writing this , because....lol  Simple, it pisses me off when I raise my hand to another riders heading in the opposite direction, and they blow me off...

Is it a law that every rider MUST raise their left hand?  Lower it, palm open?  Wiggle their fingers?  Nod their head, or at least look in the general direction?  Nope, but it still PISSES me off when I waive, and don't get some sort of token reply.

After returning home from a recent weekend ride, I sat down and gave this subject some thought.  I REALLY focused during the commercials during my football games...  In my junk food induced coma, here's what I came up with.

1. First, maybe they simply didn't see my raised hand?  If this was the case, acknowledgment wouldn't have been an option.  If they "had" seen my raised hand, they would have willingly replied.  But lets not forget, they could have initiated upon seeing my bike approach...
2. My second thought?  These riders were simply too "good" to acknowledge another riders gesture. In that case, I got caught wasting my effort on an Ass$#@&*...
3. Raising their left hand off the handlebars is a hazard.  I'll buy this, but if this was truly the case, I'm a bit scared for everyone else in their path...
4. Simply anti-social.  Not an Ass%$#@*& like those in #2, but just not willing to engaged in a brief ceremony of interaction.  I feel compeled to cut this group some slack.  It's not their fault  We all know people who fit this category.
5. Bike selectivity.  In other words, if I was on a Harley, BMW, or another bike that they deemed "wave worthy" I would have received the lowered arm, open hand acknowledgment.  I pride myself in raising my hand, to ALL bikes, even scooters...lol

I understand that I can't allow the few to influence my own actions.  Wow, that sounds so "adult".  I need to focus on the 90% who do make the effort to acknowledge, or raise the hand as I pass.  

What #2, #4 and #5 don't understand is that it's not "just" a wave.  It's about displaying mutual respect.  An acknowledgment that we're "both" members of a small club, and that we "share" a passion.

I can't bring myself to "not" raise my hand in salute, even if you're a #2.  Oh, and numbering this group as #2 wasn't by mistake...  Just keep rumbling down the road, doing what you do.  Those like me will continue to give you a wave as we pass.  Maybe someday you'll understand.

Why "COOL GEAR" sits in the closet...

New gear comes on the market everyday.  Often it looks SUPER COOL, and we buy it, only to find it spends more time in the closet, then on our bike.  What seemed to be practical @ the time, now looks like massive pain in the butt and waste of money.

I've found that it's not always the products fault.  I've brought stuff in, played with it, only to toss it in the junk drawer.  Only months later do I discover that if I had purchased an accessory, or taken the time to install it correctly, my complaints would have been rectified.

Where were THOSE people when I plopped down the money...?

Here's some free advise, and a couple of examples.

GoPro Video Camera

Here's a product that sounds SUPER COOL.  You slap this little guy on your bike, helmet, heck, anywhere, and you're taking video.  And not just any video, but full HD video.  Want some "slow-mo", you got it.  Looking for something waterproof?  Covered.  Have a need to take 10 photos in under a second?  Yep.!

This little video camera takes awesome video, but to save it from the closet, there are a few things you need to buy...

First, GoPro makes a wifi remote that plugs into the back of the camera.  Why?  Say you have the camera mounted on your helmet.  Cool place right?  What you see, the camera will record.

You start the camera, but after about 20 minutes you decide to turn it off.  Why use all your memory on stop signs and traffic jams?  You reach up, while riding, and hunt for the "Off" button.  You feel something that you think is the off button, and you press; all the while wondering if you pressed it hard enough.

10 minutes later it's driving you nuts, so you stop, take off the helmet, turn off the camera, put the helmet back on, and head back out.  20 minutes later you enter some amazing country, something you want to record...  It starts all over again.

While the extra remote costs about $100, it takes your GoPro from a novelty item, and makes it into something handy and easy to use.  Without it, it's a pain in the butt...  With it, useful...

Cardo ScalaRider G9 Bluetooth Communication System

90% of the time your bikes engine is soothing.  You have zero need for music, a phone call, or any other type of interruption.  You're at peace with yourself, soaking in the freedom that your two wheeled buddy is providing.

But then, there is that 10%...

I've NEVER been one for communication systems, and I've used them ALL.  Most were hard to setup, harder to use on the bike, and they never worked like I'd hoped.  After only a few rides they would end up in a drawer, never to see the light of day.

Now lets fast forward to today.  The G9 is one of the easiest Bluetooth systems I've ever used.  Pairing to my iPhone (or anything else) is super easy, the buttons are easy to work on the bike, 8 other people can connect and talk, and the range is amazing.

Here's where riders make the mistake...

The G9 allows you to take off the big boom microphone and replace it with a wired version.  Important if your wearing an enclosed helmet (full-face).  Nothing can discourage you more than stuffing a boom mic inside your helmet EVERY time you put on your helmet.  Oh, and don't forget taking it off...

Why wouldn't everyone install it this way?  It appeared more complex, and permanent.  What if they wanted to remove it from there helmet?  Also, I scary high number of us fail to read the direction...  Many simply didn't know it was an option.

Advise; USE THE WIRED OPTION from the start.  Odds are, once installed, it not going anywhere.  If you use the wired microphone option, you'll discover that the G9 is amazing.  If you use the Boom, it'll turn into a HUGE PAIN in only a few rides.  The items in your JUNK drawer will have a new EXPENSIVE friend.

I use both of the above

I like taking video.  I enjoy putting together the clips into a movie.  I LOVE the idea of documenting my journeys.  I USE the REMOTE.  Mounting the camera on my helmet is my favorite location.  Without the remote, this would not be possible.

I own, and use the ScalaRider G9.  I don't make many calls (I can ever use Siri with the G9, which I have done to find something quickly), but I have received them.  I occasionally enjoy listening to the radio, or the music on my iPhone.  I've also chatted it up with riding buddies, but not as often as I'd thought.  The same goes for my wife when we take trips.  I installed the boom-less microphone on my helmet, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

So in closing...

Spending the extra cash, or taking the extra time can mean the difference between something that get used, or sits in your closet.  Play it smart and go the extra step.

Riding really in our blood?

"Hey, work the gas..."

I have a photo, taken by my dad, of me sitting on his bike, in a diaper, with the biggest smile.  If it had an engine, two wheels and a throttle, I LOVED it from day one.

I was also a rebel, sneaking out our little Honda Trail 90, only to flat both tires before bring it home...

I've always loved riding.

My Dads stories go all the way back to the early 1940's.  Adventures born from the seat of an old Harley...  Sleeping on the side of the road, dirt roads, no Interstates.  The "Old School" approach to riding; something he insists has disappeared today.

If the love of motorcycles was genetic, I would be a good candidate for the first test.

While my "love" of riding has never wavered, my "inner need" to ride has diminished; DRASTICALLY.  I even remember past rides differently.  Gone is the energy.  They've lost their magical properties.  Stories of my 1600 mile marathon's aren't as exciting to tell.  Now I simply remember the pain, no longer the triumph over pain.

Late I've felt detached.  Have I lost my inspiration for motorcycle riding?

About 2 years ago I sold ALL my motorcycles.  While I know every rider goes through dry spells, I've owned @ least one bike (at one point 7) for as long as I could remember.  I was never without one.  As I watched my BMW LT1200 ride off, I wasn't overcome by any emotion.  I simply turned and went inside.  Deep down inside, glad it was gone.

Leading up to the Olympics I watched a story on Michael Phelps.  First, I'm aware of the differences...lol.  The part of the story that caught my attention was his change of attitude toward swimming after winning his 8 Gold Metals in Beging.  The last thing he wanted to do, was swim.  When it was time to hit the weight room, he escaped out the back door.  Often he would simply leave with friends, for weeks on end.

He'd had enough.

Not that he didn't LOVE swimming, he simply didn't "want" to swim.  Don't tell me that Phelps doesn't have the DNA of a great swimmer, but he wanted to walk away.

He'd had enough.

Of course he came back for London, trained and won some more medals.  Now, he's officially finished.  He says he'll swim again, but from now on, in the ocean...

In my case, I was simply tired of riding from point A, to point B.  Riding, for the lone purpose of simply riding, had lost it's luster.  Spending 200 miles in the saddle, just to eat a burger, now seemed NUTS.  Cooking in the summer desert, so I could ride in the pines, now looked like a complete waste of a day.

A HUGE peice of ME, was missing, and I could careless.  I told myself it was time to turn the page.  It was time to focus my energy, elsewhere.

Sitting outside one morning, in the 90 degree heat, I started day dreaming about camping.  A cool river/creek, in the cool pines.  Each summer, I have the same overwhelming thought.  The strange twist was this time my plans included a motorcycle....

My mind raced, "I could get a dual sport bike (I've never owned one before), load it with gear, and a few days a month, explore Arizona backcountry.  How cool would that be?!  I'll head up North in the summer, and escape the heat.  I'll head South in the winter...  On a bike, but without limitations, like pavement!"

The following week I bought a Suzuki V-Strom (Wee-Strom), and the rest is history.

Why the change?  I have a theory, and a conclusion...

First, the conclusion.  Motorcycling IS in your DNA.  While we all might take breaks, turn away, we can't stay away.  Oh, and there's NOTHING wrong with that.

My theory is that all to often we get into a rut with our riding.  Every now and them we need to shake things up a bit, and explore the unknown.  Combine our LOVE of riding, with our other interests.  If we can just master this endeavor, motorcycle riding will forever be a part of our lives.

Isn't that what ridings all about...

When do you become a SPECIAL buyer?

Now, what do I mean by "Special"?

I don't make this stuff up.  In "General" you get one type of service at Walmart, and another at Nordstrom's.  It's different between Best Buy, and The Apple Store.  Black Angus and Gordon Ramsey Steak House.  I can go on and on, but I think you get where I'm going with this...

First, a short story.  A few Christmas's ago, my wife completed one of those video DVD workout programs (OK, Power 90), and lost a bunch of weight.  That Christmas I wanted to get her a pair of expensive jeans to celebrate her accomplishment.  She would never buy them for herself, so it was the ideal gift.

I had ZERO idea were to go, and I was pretty sure Walmart wouldn't be the place, so I started at one of the larger department stores.  I wandered the isles for 30 minutes, looking straight at the price tag.  I figured if they were SUPER expensive, I was on the right track.

I found a pair over $200.00, and it was now time to get some help.  Even with all my face gestures, no one helped, and when I asked, the young lady wasn't a whole lot of help.  She knew a little about all the jeans, but couldn't tell me all the fine details.  When I asked, "which brand has a reputation of being the best?", she couldn't really give me an answer.  "Well, they're ALL good."

She simply wanted to make a sale.  That's her job.  I got a smile, and she seemed nice enough.  It was the lack practical information that drove me nuts..!  I wasn't asking about what type of cotton was used, where they were made, or how they were built.  Simply, were they the most prestigious brand on the market.  Would my wife recognize the brand?  I'm sure plenty of men walk into that store, want a fast conclusion, and bought the first item placed infront of them.  I just couldn't do that knowing I was about to drop $200.00 + on a pair of jeans.  They had to be the "right" jeans.

I left and called my daughter.  Her advise?  Visit a store (30 miles away) that did nothing but designer jeans.  I made the drive, walked in, and was greeted right away by a classy looking middle aged women.  She was also WEARING SOME AWESOME JEANS.  Kim happened to be about the size as my wife.  Fitting was now going to be a breeze.  Kim asked meaningful questions about my wife's taste, answered all my questions, modeled the jeans, and assured me that if I made a mistake, they would correct the problem.  Most importantly, she assured me my wife would know the Brand as PREMIUM and EXPENSIVE.

I spent $350.00, of my hard earned money, on cotton in the shape of jeans, and LOVED it.  I knew my wife would "GET" the magnitude of the gift making it all worth the expense.  I also knew that if she didn't like them, Kim would make it right.  I was a happy guy, even if I paid full retail.

While my wife protested at first (she knew how much these jeans cost, which was the exact point I was trying to make...lol), she never once asked to return them.  By the way, they fit awesome.  Kim had nailed it with the styling, an amazing feat.

Both places sold high-end jeans.  One got my cash.

I'm not saying that customer service is directly related to the price of the products sold.  At one time I sold a ton of helmets under $100.00, and hope that everyone felt special.  But lets face it, many times this isn't the norm.  By the way, I've been treated like crap in fancy designer shops as well.  It happens.  What I'm asking is "where" is awesome service most likely to happen?  In a mass product store, or a speciality store?

I say a Speciality Store.

Knowing your product is EASIER when there are only 50.  Yes, there are a few people who've been around since the meteor wiped out the dinosaurs.  By simply being around so long, they know pretty much everything there is to know on 100 products.

Thought I would say 10,000...lol.  Nope, the average human must SPECIALIZE in order to have great knowledge, and we have our limits.

If you walk into a store, and you see a HUGE selection, hope for the best.  Yes, there's always the possibility that you'll find the guy, on his own, decided to specialize.  He picked a few (typically big ticket, or hot sellers) and went to work studying.  Smart!  Nothing wrong with this approach, but I've found it to be rare.

Personally, if I'm going to spend over $100.00 I want the guy helping me to know what they're selling.  Over $250.00; they better impress me with above average insight.  North of $500.00?  Wow, the sales guy better earn my trust from the handshake.  Now we're talking about some serious cash.

Why do we interrogate poor teenager at Best Buy about $30.00 headphones, but demand much less from the guy selling us a $700.00 TV?  The truth is, we can do hours of research, but we all crave a sales guy who has the answers.  We ask, "is the TV going to look better in my room, than it does on your wall?"  If get a simple, "yes" we're happy.

It's time we all start asking hard questions.  I expect it of you, the second you walk into my store.

Made in CHINA?

Let me establish a baseline before I go on further...lol.

• This post is FOCUSED on "Premium" helmet models because, well, that's what I sell.  I'm not talking about the $100-$300 helmets, from manufacturers that most of have never heard of.  I'm talking about companies that "State" they are premium labels.
• China has the "ability" to make good products.  Machines can be programmed to do just about anything these days.  Those with jobs in China are thankful.

With that being said, is it possible for TRUE premium helmets to be manufactured in China?  That's a question, not a conclusion.

I'm a HUGE believer that quality comes with HERITAGE.  Consistency breeds quality.  To me it's simple.  If you work in a company that has a history of building quality products, and the factory is in your backyard, there's a great chance the quality will be amazing.  If a worker has a "personal" connection, company pride, that will reflect in a products quality.

Now the other side of the coin; if you're simply showing up, under paid, and your primary motivator is NOT being replaced by the thousands standing outside the front factory gate, quality could suffer.

I'm the proud owner of an iPad.  LOVE IT.  The other night I saw a documentary showing how the iPad was manufactured in China.  Huge companies, 10's of thousands of workers, and working on a line stuffing parts into an iPad case.  Much of the work didn't appear super technical.  Each worker had a well defined task such as, "insert the battery into the case."

Steve Jobs admitted that Apple manufactures their products overseas because, as a company, they can't afford to manufacture it here is the USA.  Too expensive.  Too much regulation.  Does this go for helmet manufactures too?

Lets take a product like Bell.  I'm using Bell simply because it's the poster child for subject matter of this blog.  A US born company, who has moved many of their operations overseas.  While I'm sure the Chinese workers are happy to be working, producing Bell products, they have ZERO connection to where the Bell brand was created.  It's a paycheck.

Bell manufacturers most of it's motorcycle helmets outside of the USA.  While they might have an inspection station or two here, almost everything is build outside of the US.  China, primarily.  Bell also manufacturers a  motorcycle helmet, built in China, which sells North of $550.00.

My question is, can a $550.00 helmet stack up against a $550.00 helmet manufactured in Japan, or Europe?  I guess it's how you look at it...  

• You could argue that since building stuff in China is VERY cheap, this Bell helmet is actually a $850.00 helmet if built somewhere else.  Like, say, in the USA...  
• Or, Bell makes their helmets in China to MAKE THE MOST MONEY POSSIBLE.  If they trimmed their profits to that of other manufacturing companies, they could keep the price @ $550.00 and build it ANYWHERE.

For the record...  

I'm a small business owner, and I'm a STRONG supporter of the Capitalist System.  Profit is GOOD, and without it, companies don't exist.  Like me, EVERY company figures out where they want to go, and how THEY want to get there.  I'm also aware that you can't please everyone.  So be it, they can shop somewhere else if they're not a good match with the companies values.  Such is life.

Also, I could careless if my sandals, belt, iPad, iPhone, or any other product is manufactured in the China.  Lets face it, it allows companies to make huge money, because overhead is much lower.  However, many of the premium helmet products are HANDMADE.  Not simply loading a battery, but a skilled craft that takes YEARS to master.

Now lets use Arai as an example;  At the Arai factory, it takes years before an employee "earns" the privilege of various tasks.  Years of "proving" themselves skilled to handle the more critical stages of construction.  It's more of an "Art" than a cog in the wheel, grinding out a helmet.  They also have a personal connection with the company, and the Arai family, who still own (and runs) the company.  Those that work in the Arai factories are not simply Numbers, but rather respected artisans.

It's more of a "Family" than a company.

It's a HUGE leap for me to think a chinese worker could show such care.  That's just me...

This is more about what I "Personally" associate with "Premium".  Granted, VERY few products are 100% made, anywhere.  In a global economy, that simply doesn't make sense in many cases.  However, Bell is an American brand, and when a brand so "American" is made primarily outside the US, it gives me a twinge in my gut.

It would be like the Ford Motor Company closing down EVERY USA factory, opening a Chinese factory, employing chinese workers, and claiming nothing had changed.  Even if the quality was the same (or better) it would NOT be the same in my eyes.  Oh, and yes I know many parts on a Ford are made outside the US, but I can still point at a Ford factory here in the USA.

Brands like Bell are great examples of what happens when a company looses it's identity.  Could Bell make their motorcycle helmets in the US?  Yes, they could, but like ANY company, profit can take center stage.

When do we, as consumers, push companies back to our shores?

Granted, we shop @ Walmart for the deals, and Bell isn't the only US born company manufacturing their products elsewhere.  I just feel that if these companies moved home, trimmed the fat, made awesome products, and put "MADE IN AMERICA" front and center on their product labels, they could be even more successful.

Are you ready for premium?

Do you like the way I've challenged you're NEED for a premium helmet right in the title..? (lol).

First things first, ALL HELMETS ARE SAFE as long as they have a DOT sticker.  I've said it a thousand times, and it still holds true today.  By the way, that's a DOT sticker ONLY helmet.

Arguing about safety standards is honestly a waste of breath.  Simply, they're all good, and yes, there's always room for improvement.  DONE.

Premium helmets like Arai are in a league all by themselves.  Handmade, human tested (4 times in the case of Arai) and only the finest materials are used.  Workable if budget isn't your only concern.

Explaining the difference between an entry level helmet, and one these beauties can be a challenge. Overcoming the cost difference is never a walk in the park.  Plus, comfort is unique to everyone.  Combine this with the lack of Dealers with a honest grasp of the basics, many feel lost.

Then comes the fitting process...

Have you ever put on something; a pair of shoes, jacket, and thought it was tailored to you, ALONE.

I like to use the custom golf club story.  Lets say you play golf every weekend, and LOVE it.  It's your passion.  You're not bad; shooting in the low 90's.  One day you show up at the course, and your buddy, who you typically beat, pounds you into the grass by 8 strokes.  On the 19th hole you find out that he spent $500 having his clubs professional fitted by the ex-PGA guy, at the swanky club you can't bring yourself to play because of the high green fee's...

That $500 knocked 10 strokes off his game.

If you're a golfer, shooting a lower score is the ultimate, frustrating, goal of golf.  Less strokes (lost balls) equals more fun.  Those green fees start to look more and more affordable the lower your score drops...lol

How much more fun would you have on that 40 minute commute to work, multiday ride, or the annual cross country ride, if your helmet fit amazing?  No more stops to "give your head a break".   No more sick feeling when it comes time to put your helmet back on.

I've been there, and speak from experience.

Once you pull the trigger and buy a premium helmet, it (properly fitted) becomes part of the ride, in a positive way.  You wear it because you WANT it on your head.  Your thoughts are focused of how the helmet will save you from a bug strike, not how your head is going to ache in 30 minutes.

True comfort... for which many believe is as elusive as the lower golf score, is centered on shape.  If you find a helmet is the correct shape, comfort will follow.

Comfort has more to do with SHAPE than size.  A square head, in a round helmet will never be comfortable.  Much like fitting a set of clubs involves more than adjusting the length of the shaft.  The fitting pro will watch your swing, and adjust several angles to match.  Like your head, your golf swing in unique.

Matching the shape of the helmet, directly to the shape of your head, dictates what SIZE you will wear.  If your head is longer oval, and you stuff it into a bowling ball round helmet, your tendency is to go larger with the helmet to compensate for the shape mismatch.  This is the WRONG approach, but unfortunately the norm.

Arai has always understood this, which is why they're the ONLY manufacturer who makes multiple shaped shells.  Everyone else, one.

I've fit customers, who've insisted they were a size large, into small Arai's.  How?  I was able match their head shape perfectly with the Arai helmet, and in turn, fit them in a smaller helmet.  Smaller helmets also equal less weight.  Less weight, equals more comfort.  Less helmet, less surface area.  Less drag, less neck strain.  Oh and if you combine these, it equals greater safety if you were to crash.  Every additional ounce rolling in one directing is going to be tougher to stop.

Are Arai helmets for everyone?  Lets face it, not everyone can afford an Arai helmet.  Most of the customers I come into contact with have purchased other products in the past, and eventually found their way to my store.  The number one reason?  They're simply tired of being uncomfortable.  Years of wearing entry level helmets effectively pushed them to opening their wallets a bit wider.

Personally, I think it's important to take this step.  How else will you know how great you have it in an Arai, unless you go through those growing pains?  Of course, there are those that want to start right at the top...  A word of warning.  Once you wear something thats comfortable, everything else will never live up...lol.

You're forever ruined and subjected to only premium stuff..

The RESET Button, 2012

Before diving into the last 12 months, I think the only way to start is from the beginning...

In 1999 I quit my job as a Chandler police officer (10+ years) and opened The Helmet Harbor, LLC.  First, from the safety of my living room, but soon out of a 600sf office I shared with another new company.

As my NAME spells out all too clear, my vision was to specialize in MOTORCYCLE HELMETS.  Mainly online, but soon my local presents grew.  After 6 months my wife left her job to help, after 12 months I was in a larger building and hiring my first employee.

As my company grew, so did the products I offered...

It only makes sense, right?  I had super happy customers buying helmets, but they also needed jackets, pants, gloves, and luggage.  I saw an opportunity to expand, and I took it.  Soon The Helmet Harbor, LLC didn't match it's name when it came to the products I offered.

I lost sight of what was important.  Not only to my company, but to myself.

Now don't get me wrong.  In the last 12 years we've had 10's of thousands of HAPPY customers.  It wasn't like our customer service went into the toilet because I brought on more products.  What slipped was our UNIQUENESS...


I had grown my company into something that looked just like EVERYONE else.  Sure, I had a semi-unique way of presenting product, but nothing stays unique long in ANY industry.  Soon, it blends into the normal.  No longer unique at all.


Where does a company, with 10's of thousands of products go once everyone starts nibbling at your heals?  Well, first comes PRICE WARS.


PRICE WARS are really a sign that you've run out of other ways to sell VALUE.  If it didn't register, VALUE.  When uniqueness slips away, VALUE starts to take on the simplest forms.  Slashing price is the easiest.  Even the most brilliant minds crumple under the simple logic.  "If I sell something CHEAPER than the other guys, I win."


Granted EVERYONE wants a fair price.  Some (actually the minority in my view) want a STEAL.  As a business owner, by nature you're competitive.  If you loose one sale to someone with a lower price, it's a HUGE defeat.


The going rage right now is VIDEO.  I'm proud to say that I was one of the first motorcycle companies online to embrace video, and YouTube.  I published my first video on YouTube in July 2007.  It had launched less than two years earlier.  We all know what it is today...  I started putting video on my site in early 2005.


TODAY you typically get one guy, who's comfortable in front of the camera, talking about EVERYTHING.  It's obviously his main job.


HERE'S THE ISSUE TODAY.  Yes, you know a great deal about the product, but what if you have a question beyond the video?  Can you depend on speaking with THAT guy?


No longer is it someone who KNOWS the product.  COME ON.  This point can't be argued.  How can you convince anyone that you honestly know a product when you're doing videos on 1000's of vastly different merchandise?


If you're looking to buy a $250,000 sports car, you going to head to a lot full of 1000's of different vehicles?  Trucks $10,000 starter cars, dump trucks, hybrids, luxury sedans?


I can't speak for you, but if I'm going to spend THAT much money on something that specific, I'm going to seek out someone WHO ONLY SELLS SPORTS CARS.  Better yet, ONLY SELLS the manufacturer I'm thinking at buying.


To be GREAT at something, you MUST focus on that ONE THING.


That's just me.


I mentioned PRICE WAR before.  Now we have a INFORMATION WAR.  A products features are rattled off into a camera, and now you, the educated consumer, are better prepared to make a purchase.


Makes sense, right?  Information is power.  Information allows you to hit that "Buy Now" button and spend your hard earned money.


GETTING BACK ON SUBJECT.


I had grown my company to a point where I had lost the personal connection with my customers.  Yes, I did my best, but there was no way I could be everything, to everyone.


In April on 2011 I made the decision to drastically change how I did business.  I had actually started in early 2010 by thinning down my product lines, but there just wasn't a way to make it work.  At the core, my company was setup to be a larger company.  Changes beyond simply cutting product needed to be done.


Thus The Helmet Harbor, LLC going into a mild hibernation.  Plans were set into motion, and implemented slowly over the following 12 months.  I took some time to not only reorganize, but also broaden my base.  


I was honored to have been invited on a gold dredging operation in the out-back of Washington State.  


I took a little savings and bought an investment property, taking advantage of the Arizona real estate market.


All along moving forward with hitting the PLAY button on The Helmet Harbor, LLC.


I now specialize in Arai helmets, having ALL the models on the sales room floor.  If someone walks in looking for an Arai Corsair-V, or an RX-Q, I'll have it in their size.


IN CLOSING, I simply want to GREAT at one thing, not simply OK at many.  That's my "not so simple" goal.  Not everyone will understand.  Some will prefer to go somewhere else.  THIS IS PERFECTLY FINE.  I prefer it this way.  Those that choose The Helmet Harbor, LLC will be very like minded.  Ideal for long term growth.