Shops with good helmet selections?

[tgrrdr]

I tried a search and didn't find anything super useful or current. Where would be a good place to check out Schuberth and Arai helmets? I went to Cycle Gear in Pacheco and they only had about 10 Arais (none of the ones I was looking for).

My current helmet is an Arai Defiant and I've heard the Defiant X doesn't fit the same. One helmet I noticed online yesterday is the Quantum-X; prior to the Defiant I had two or three Quantums and if the new one fits like the old ones did that would be my first choice.

Schuberth's website isn't much help so I hoping BARF can save me...

 

[Izzy_C]

Cyclegear

 

[Lowerside]

I remember seeing the Quantum-X on the shelves in SF Moto last time I was there. You might want to give them a call and check out if they still have some.

 

[Hank Wong]

Shops with great helmet selections don't exist any more because people go there to try on helmets and then buy them on the internet to avoid sales tax.

 

[gixxerjeff]

Shops with great helmet selections don't exist any more because people go there to try on helmets and then buy them on the internet to avoid sales tax.

^^^Sadly, This^^^
End thread
Good luck

 

[Butch]

Shops with great helmet selections don't exist any more because people go there to try on helmets and then buy them on the internet to avoid sales tax.

I buy stuff from Santa Clara Cycle Accessories and Cycle Gear for exactly this reason. Road Rider too, in another life. It takes service to try on every boot they have. Don’t get me started on the cruel shoes.

 

[moto-rama]

SF BMW usually has a good selection of Shoei, Arai, Schuberth helmets. They keep their prices competitive, so people will actually buy them.
I've gotten my last 6 or 7 helmets there. If they don't have your exact helmet, they'll order it.
Everything else in the store is Hella Expensive, though, cuz it's a BMW shop.

 

[Blankpage]

The answer to these questions is always CycleGear

 

[Butch]

In the past we have ordered upwards of ten units of an item off the internet (this might have been back in the day when it was “mail order”) just to test the fit. Then we send back the rejects in the original packaging.

Pretty easy, though for helmets, the freight might be cost prohibitive. On the other hand, having stuff delivered to your porch and trying it on in your living room is kinda nice.

What about Riders Discount?
https://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=540400

 

[ScottRNelson]

The answer to these questions is always CycleGear

The Sacramento Cycle Gear has a large helmet selection. Their helmet section is larger than the entire Pleasanton Cycle Gear store.

 

[mayorofnow]

Scuderia in SF carries both brands.

 

[rizzay1]

I like cycle gear because you can try on and get the right fit!...

 

[CrumpetRocket]

The Sacramento Cycle Gear has a large helmet selection.

Came to say this. Their helmet section is as large as some stores. Cycle gear in general has the best helmet selection. Would be better if they didn't have as much bilt and sedici taking up space, but you still wont see as varied sizes and brands anywhere else.

 

[gixxerjeff]

Another vote here for Cycle Gear.
We are lucky as riders to have them...as brick & mortar stores are rapidly going the way of the Dodo bird.
They are a national company based right here in our own backyard (Benicia) and deserve our support.

 

[WWWobble]

Another vote here for Cycle Gear.
We are lucky as riders to have them...as brick & mortar stores are rapidly going the way of the Dodo bird.
They are a national company based right here in our own backyard (Benicia) and deserve our support.

No they don't. I think you have this backwards. Customers owe nothing to retailers in today's market place.

[We've discussed this before...]… Cycle Gear needs to offer something to customers in order to EARN their business.

"No, we don't have that, but we can order it" is heard far too often in the retail world. My understanding is CG and Revzilla are co-owned via Comoto Holdings, and maybe they can work that relationship so retail space makes sense. I dunno…. Retail space as a showroom and customer gets the product tomorrow, something like that maybe.

But Cycle Gear as a solo retail presence is a long shot imo.

 

[gixxerjeff]

We couldn't be farther apart on this one, Wobble. As dealerships reduce their inventory if not close down entirely and we lose stand alone moto supply stores one by one your approach is short sighted.
Competing with the internet head to head is a losing proposition as evidenced by all the dead bodies (closed stores) strewn about.
I happen to admire them for doing what they can to stay in the game.

 

[Unst Ernst]

Shops with great helmet selections don't exist any more because people go there to try on helmets and then buy them on the internet to avoid sales tax.

Sure, in the past. But CA now mandates all online purchases collect sales tax. I think started last January 1?

 

[WWWobble]

We couldn't be farther apart on this one, Wobble. As dealerships reduce their inventory if not close down entirely and we lose stand alone moto supply stores one by one your approach is short sighted.
Competing with the internet head to head is a losing proposition as evidenced by all the dead bodies (closed stores) strewn about.
I happen to admire them for doing what they can to stay in the game.

We might not be *completely* far apart...

I too would like to see healthy storefronts, but I don't think retail can compete "stand alone." A merger between online distribution and retail may offer possibilities.

Take helmets: If a retail store had a couple brands with 1 model in each size, and representative colors or graphics -- those would be for customers to see and fit for size. Then the order would be placed for next day or 2nd day delivery from the online distribution center, direct to the customer or to the store, customer's choice.

The customer would know up front exactly what he was getting and when and where it would be delivered.

I believe Amazon and Walmart are playing with this concept now. Bezos is a very smart guy, and I suspect this business model might make sense. I'm surprised CG isn't doing this with Revzilla, but... maybe there are other issues.

 

[Beanzy]

...
My current helmet is an Arai Defiant and I've heard the Defiant X doesn't fit the same. One helmet I noticed online yesterday is the Quantum-X; prior to the Defiant I had two or three Quantums and if the new one fits like the old ones did....

Were you able to try the Arai DT-X?

It's supposed to be a round head helmet.

I'm thinking of getting it if it is.

https://www.denniskirk.com/arai-helmets/dt-x-helmets.pfp3311415.prdf

 

[gixxerjeff]

I believe Amazon and Walmart are playing with this concept now.

Cycle Gear does this too. They have a strong online presence....which they are often harshly criticized for.
It's the Buell story all over again. Harley guys hate them because they are sportbikes, sportbike guys hate them because they are Harleys.
There is often no love in the middle.