BILT Helmets

[Gixxergirl1000]

But again, the salt only contacts the pads, not the foam. I can see replacing pads, but I just think having to replace an entire helmet under the premise that the foam and/or plastic is "worn beyond a safe point" after 3-5 years is more superstitious/rumor/unfounded than anything else.

I'd obviously love to read a science-based article refuting my point...I just can't seem to find one.

I don't know about YOU, but on a race weekend or trackday at T-Hill in August, my helmet gets wet. I hate putting it on for the last sessions on Saturday!
It's not the cheek pads that are the issue... it's the much thinner padding at the forehead, top of the head, and temples. I'm not talking about the cheek pads.

 

[Kornholio]

Fair enough.

 

[mean dad]

Let's see. A $45 helmet. Retail markup of about 100 percent, means wholesale cost of $22.50. Manufacturer makes money, say a 20% operating margin, so that's about $18 of actual cost in that helmet, including design, testing, manufacture and shipping. About the same price as a 12 pack. So yeah, I'm sure it's a great helmet.

What full-face helmet has a retail of $45? Even the BILTs are typically 3 to 4 times that, unless they're on sale.
Using your numbers, that puts actual costs closer to seventy bucks per.

What's your threshold cost?

 

[EjGlows]

What full-face helmet has a retail of $45? Even the BILTs are typically 3 to 4 times that, unless they're on sale.
Using your numbers, that puts actual costs closer to seventy bucks per.

What's your threshold cost?

http://stores.sportbiketrackgear.com/Detail.bok?no=11634 - $54!!!

The again, I've got a small dome so it probably only takes $54 to build a full face for me. *off to order one right now*

Quite a few Bell, Scorpions, and AGV under/around $100! http://stores.sportbiketrackgear.com/Categories.bok?category=Motorcycle+Helmets:Closeout

 

[Jakemate]

I purchased the Bilt explorer. It's more comfortable and quieter than my Shoei helmet. YMMV.

 

[HeatXfer]

Anybody here sail or go to the beach? What's the most common flotsam?: Styrofoam. Salt water won't degrade it; Sweat won't degrade it: "Occasionally somebody spreads rumors that sweat and ultraviolet (UV) exposure will cause your helmet to degrade. Sweat will not do that. The standards do not permit manufacturers to make a helmet that degrades from sweat, and the EPS, EPP or EPU foam is remarkably unaffected by salt water"

Here's a link to the article. It's about bicycle helmets, but EPS is EPS.

Liners, foam rubber pads & shells degrade over time but unless it's damaged or exposed to petroleum based solvents, the EPS in your helmet will last years beyond the assumed expiration date. Marketing & fear are powerful tools.

 

[Gixxergirl1000]

Anybody here sail or go to the beach? What's the most common flotsam?: Styrofoam. Salt water won't degrade it; Sweat won't degrade it: "Occasionally somebody spreads rumors that sweat and ultraviolet (UV) exposure will cause your helmet to degrade. Sweat will not do that. The standards do not permit manufacturers to make a helmet that degrades from sweat, and the EPS, EPP or EPU foam is remarkably unaffected by salt water"

Here's a link to the article. It's about bicycle helmets, but EPS is EPS.

Liners, foam rubber pads & shells degrade over time but unless it's damaged or exposed to petroleum based solvents, the EPS in your helmet will last years beyond the assumed expiration date. Marketing & fear are powerful tools.

Cool article, very informative! I should have done more research, and not relied on information passed along by salespeople over the years!

 

[Archimedes]

What full-face helmet has a retail of $45? Even the BILTs are typically 3 to 4 times that, unless they're on sale.
Using your numbers, that puts actual costs closer to seventy bucks per.

What's your threshold cost?

There are 3 helmets (all BILT) under $50 on CG right now, and 26 under $100. Some are the retail price, some are discounted, but BILTs are ALWAYS discounted so their 'retail' price is largely irrelevant. Sorry, but any helmet that can be sold profitably at a price point under $100 is a helmet that will never go on my head. YMMV of course.

 

[ThumperX]

The beauty of it all is that it's an individual choice. Like jakemate, I prefer my BILT over my Shoei. I also like that the replacement parts are inexpensive and available.

I also drive a.Nissan not a Porsche, I still get to the same place, but with a lot less style.

 

[Yakoo752]

There are 3 helmets (all BILT) under $50 on CG right now, and 26 under $100. Some are the retail price, some are discounted, but BILTs are ALWAYS discounted so their 'retail' price is largely irrelevant. Sorry, but any helmet that can be sold profitably at a price point under $100 is a helmet that will never go on my head. YMMV of course.

I do not know what the margins on the product are but you assume that they are making a profit on them. Sometimes you have to pay to enter a market with a ton of competition.

Since it's a CG made product, sold in CG stores they can have lower margins and still make profits on overall sales. Lose some profit in the helmet sales because they are making it up in the margin on the textiles apparel.

but it would be incredibly smart business to operate some product at a loss just to get brand identity out there.

 

[Caddywumpus]

Plus they have to blow out last years inventory. Sometimes, it just costs to hold stuff.

 

[gixxerjeff]

Its called a lost leader. Been done for generations.

 

[Archimedes]

I do not know what the margins on the product are but you assume that they are making a profit on them. Sometimes you have to pay to enter a market with a ton of competition.

Since it's a CG made product, sold in CG stores they can have lower margins and still make profits on overall sales. Lose some profit in the helmet sales because they are making it up in the margin on the textiles apparel.

but it would be incredibly smart business to operate some product at a loss just to get brand identity out there.

No actually it wouldn't, particularly given the fact that everything in their line is priced low. Are they loss leading the $45 helmets so they can't make a killing on the $35 boots or the $25 gloves?

BILT is cheap because it is cheaply designed and cheaply manufactured, period. Not saying it's wrong to buy it or that it doesn't have it's place in the market, I'm just saying it is what it is - an incredibly cheaply made product.

And referring to the fact that a BILT helmet passes DOT testing as evidence of quality is retahded. It doesn't cost much of anything to design a helmet that will pass those tests. A group of first year engineering students could do it.

BTW, BILT is a CG brand, it is not a CG made product. BILT is made by a contract manufacturer.

 

[Archimedes]

Its called a lost leader. Been done for generations.

They're loss leading the entire brand?

 

[Yakoo752]

No actually it wouldn't, particularly given the fact that everything in their line is priced low. Are they loss leading the $45 helmets so they can't make a killing on the $35 boots or the $25 gloves?

BILT is cheap because it is cheaply designed and cheaply manufactured, period. Not saying it's wrong to buy it or that it doesn't have it's place in the market, I'm just saying it is what it is - an incredibly cheaply made product.

And referring to the fact that a BILT helmet passes DOT testing as evidence of quality is retahded. It doesn't cost much of anything to design a helmet that will pass those tests. A group of first year engineering students could do it.

BTW, BILT is a CG brand, it is not a CG made product. BILT is made by a contract manufacturer.

PLBs are distinct in that they are managed solely by the retailer for sale in only a specific chain of store. The retailer will design the manufacturing, packaging and marketing of the goods in order to build on the relationship between the products and the store's customer base. PLB goods are generally cheaper than national-brand goods, because the retailer can optimize the production to suit consumer demand and reduce advertising costs. Goods sold under a PLB are subject to the same regulatory oversight as goods sold under a national

Since the brand has virtually zero overhead they can sell at a much lower costs. Does BiLT have a single employee?

To say that your iPhone is just an Apple brand because it's manufactured by Foxconn is disingenuous. (it's a stretch because Apple designs everything in house and then contract manufactures it out but the principle of the argument stands on face value)

I would also put money on it that the contract manufacturer in China/Pakistan/India is using design templates they have purchased off a different helmet manufacturer, specifically a helmet that is no longer manufactured/considered outdated. I would highly doubt that someone took the time to re-engineer the wheel here.



fwiw - I have never even picked up a BiLT helmet. I do not shop in CycleGear unless it's for maintenance parts like oil/sparkplugs/filter cleaner.

They're loss leading the entire brand?

I would not doubt if CG is using the BiLT line as a loss leader to some extent but again... I do not shop in CycleGear unless it's for maintenance parts like oil/sparkplugs/filter cleaner.

 

[Caddywumpus]

Pretty sure they sell enough at full price to discount the closeout stock.

 

[GAJ]

No actually it wouldn't, particularly given the fact that everything in their line is priced low. Are they loss leading the $45 helmets so they can't make a killing on the $35 boots or the $25 gloves?

BILT is cheap because it is cheaply designed and cheaply manufactured, period. Not saying it's wrong to buy it or that it doesn't have it's place in the market, I'm just saying it is what it is - an incredibly cheaply made product.

And referring to the fact that a BILT helmet passes DOT testing as evidence of quality is retahded. It doesn't cost much of anything to design a helmet that will pass those tests. A group of first year engineering students could do it.

BTW, BILT is a CG brand, it is not a CG made product. BILT is made by a contract manufacturer.

You really have a bone to pick with Bilt.

My friend has had his two years, nothing has broken, nothing has fallen off, nothing has worn out.

Does it have the sheen or quiet operation of the Arais I've owned?

No.

Will it do the job?

DOT says yes.

Is my friend happy with it?

Yes.

And his prior helmet was an Arai.

If buying a BILT helmet lets a newer rider with limited funds ALSO buy other quality gear with the hundreds saved I'd say it's a definite win for that rider.

 

[MC BumSlap]

If you think you can do it better than CG, then do it.

 

[packnrat]

the dot requirements are for impact only.

snell testing shows how much of that force makes it to your skull.

some buckets will transmit full impact G forces to your skull.

some buckets will not transmit full impact G forces to your skull.

 

[simi510]

the dot requirements are for impact only.

snell testing shows how much of that force makes it to your skull.

some buckets will transmit full impact G forces to your skull.

some buckets will not transmit full impact G forces to your skull.

when i took the msf, they said a dot helmet must have a polystyrene foam like material inside and a hard shell outside.