I am using a Zeus helmet for myself. However, my wife who is back riding with me uses an Index 411 helmet.
After reading some articles about Helmets (i.e., HOW TO IDENTIFY UNSAFE MOTORCYCLE HELMETS (http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/pedbimot/motorcycle/UnsafeHelmetID/index.htm)), having her use that helmet made me think otherwise. Some observations from this helmet:
1. upon close inspection parang barely met yung safety standard of having an inner liner usually about one-inch thick of firm polystyrene foam; also
2. the soft inner paddings also became thin after a few months of use.

Now this is the first helmet that I bought since I bought my bike 5 monts ago. Yung store ko na pinuntuhan kasi sabi sa akin OK daw na brand ang Index. kaso comparing Index with Zeus (my helmet) and HJC (my freind's) parang ang nipis ng helmet na to.

Index is NOT a good helmet.

I got an Index 411 too right after I bough mike bike. After a month of use I decided to hunt for another helmet because of obvious reasons.

1. Ventilation is not so good.
2. Face shield scratches easily. It also gets blown open by the wind sometimes.
3. Comfort liners began to deteriorate.
4. Outer shell doesnt seem too durable.

I bought an HJC and compared it with my Index and I was very surprised at the different. I feel more comfortable and secure wearing my HJC though I still use my Index for short distance scoot rides.

Index is NOT a good helmet.

and yet it is very popular.

That's because Index helmets have great designs. It is also affordable.

You know what they say: "You get what you pay for"

sad but true. What pissess me off is that I was, as a newbie, made to believe that Index was a good helmet kasi nga daw popular at maraming gumagamit nito. Tsk, tsk,...my mistake.

There are still good Index helmet models Sir, but the common misconception that some helmet vendors are propagating is that all Index helmets are DOT Certified (I believe that the 411 model hasn't been approved by the DOT). They create a wrong sense of value for consumers to sell there stocks.

I know exactly how you feel about being short-changed sir, Akala ko nun kapag marami ang gumagamit at OK na rin. Reading through the MCP forums helped me become wiser in choosing my gears.

There are still good Index helmet models Sir, but the common misconception that some helmet vendors are propagating is that all Index helmets are DOT Certified (I believe that the 411 model hasn't been approved by the DOT). They create a wrong sense of value for consumers to sell there stocks.

I know exactly how you feel about being short-changed sir, Akala ko nun kapag marami ang gumagamit at OK na rin. Reading through the MCP forums helped me become wiser in choosing my gears.
Can you give me a reference, a website, or maybe an article that says that any Index helmet is DOT certified?

I believe they can claim that they created products that conform with the DOT standard but saying that these helmets are CERTIFIED is very misleading unless these products PASS the tests conducted by DOT.

Here are the lists of tests made by DOT from Year 2000-2005.

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/testing/comply/fmvss218/index.html

I don't see a single model from Index.

Can you give me a reference, a website, or maybe an article that says that any Index helmet is DOT certified?

I believe they can claim that they created products that conform with the DOT standard but saying that these helmets are CERTIFIED is very misleading unless these products PASS the tests conducted by DOT.

Here are the lists of tests made by DOT from Year 2000-2005.

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/testing/comply/fmvss218/index.html

I don't see a single model from Index.


Good point Sir Titanium, I havent seen the Index brand in any of the Official DOT certified list too, so you maybe correct about this. So far there are only websites that CLAIMS the Index Helmet brand is DOT approved. Here's one: http://www.geocities.com/indexhelmets/standards.htm

This could be marketing ploy, just like what distributors are doing locally. Giving us a false sense of product value.

the 411 is good than wearing nothing at all. if your budget permits, then buy a better one like hjc or at least a zeus.

index, being a good or bad helmet is neither at all a justified claim nor observation. it still boils down to the question of how good is good and how bad is bad.

and for most people, deing DOT or SNELL certified isn't alone a good guarantee that, indeed, a particular helmet can be considered good. well, technically, yes...

it's cheap. has good designs. and better than most affordable helmets out there. and if an indiscriminating individual happens to see an attractive helmet with an equally attractive price, i guess he wouldn't budge a bit. and considering also that "higher quality" helmets are way too pricey for the more common folks, my guess is that INDEX are good for them.

and let's just leave it that way... some things may be good for us but not for others.

and i believe tagging how GOOD can an INDEX helmet be isn't as appropriate than asking how ACCEPTABLE can an INDEX helmet be...

IMHO lang po...

Original Index helmets are better than other helmets out there especially those copycat ones:)

i have an index i bought in honda. after a month of using it, it feels so loose on my head. it slightly moves against the strong wind. and yes, the face shield gets easily scratch.

not a good helmet.

I had an accident ones using an Index 411 bought it at P1,250, got head-on with a van, threw me up front its windshield head first... With the index helmet on ofcourse, it smashed the vans windshield.

That index 411 really did its purpose with just minor scratches on the visor. The impact knock me off unconscious but got back on my feet after a while smoking a cigarette without a single scratch. P1,250 was worth it:)

But compared to other brands, HJC and ZEUS Helmets are far more better and safer ofcourse, which is what I use now.

i used to own an INDEX 903 and it saved my face and head from an accident..so i guess it did it's job right?..pero over-priced talaga ang INDEX ngayon cosidering it's make, finish and quality; i wouldn't consider it affordable now..i think i'll be better-off buying a cheap Zeus model instead an INDEX..

Hmmm... this discussion is getting more interesting.

Guys thanks for sharing your actual crash experiences wearing Index helmets. Its nice to hear that even if its safety certification is a bit questionable, the helmet did serve its purpose and protected your head.

am not an INDEX helmet user but i use equally the same made (thailand din) w/c is CARTING. i have 2 thai helmets. i had a crash 2 months ago, oil splat. my full face thai helmet saved my face cuz the visor caught the concrete pavement flat out! the lens cracked but didn't break-off. had it not for a cheapo thai helmet, my face would have been erased by now...

mapa INDEX man or CARTING of whatever cheapo helmet out there, thing is, having an acceptable quality helmet like INDEX can definitely serve its purpose... wearing cheapos like these are better than wearing 'hardhats' of 'skateboard' helmets...

wearing cheapos like these are better than wearing 'hardhats' of 'skateboard' helmets...

These helmets (i.e., even those dealer giveaways) are definitely out of the equation and of no comparison at all.

I made the thread because as I mentioned above, as a newbie, I was made to believe that Index Brand was actually DOT certified and an OK helmet because of the number of users. I was just disturbed (still thinking of the right word here...) to know that after reading an article from DOT website and a close scrutiny of that helmet, this is somewhat not the case.

However, it is good to hear some actual testimonies regarding Index helmet users. Reading those somewhat gave some assurance of the helmet doing its job.

dami nga po talagang nagsusuot ng index dahil mura. dami rin pong nagkalat ng pirata.

honestly, being a cost-conscious individual like me, i'd prefer practicality with an accepted "safety quality" rather than expensive ones with warranteed safety certifications of some sort.

while it is true that helmets with DOT/SNELL certifications and cost a whopping 5-digit mark are of no question, safe and all. still, for us many na hindi naman ganun kayaman, we'd rather buy a helmet na maganda naman ang public acceptance. yes, me mga helmets na less than P3K but worth the gamble to buy and use even if we're not sure if it is DOT/SNELL certified. thing is, these cheap helmets CAN STILL PROTECT OUR HEADS. not generally, though.

sure... INDEX helmets, the ones made in thailand, are better constructed than most imits or cheapos. they cost around P1.8K to P2.8K. mura. maganda. at ang daming gumagamit. at ang dami nang nasagip na buhay....

i wouldn't spend more than P5K for a helmet knowing a good cheapo like Carting or Index helmets can protect me just the same. and looks just as good, too...

sa akin lang po....

for me,,index is a good helmet..it saved me from a spill..and it has a good designs also..

check it out at ---> www.indexhelmet.com

honestly, being a cost-conscious individual like me, i'd prefer practicality with an accepted "safety quality" rather than expensive ones with warranteed safety certifications of some sort.

while it is true that helmets with DOT/SNELL certifications and cost a whopping 5-digit mark are of no question, safe and all. still, for us many na hindi naman ganun kayaman, we'd rather buy a helmet na maganda naman ang public acceptance. yes, me mga helmets na less than P3K but worth the gamble to buy and use even if we're not sure if it is DOT/SNELL certified. thing is, these cheap helmets CAN STILL PROTECT OUR HEADS. not generally, though.

sure... INDEX helmets, the ones made in thailand, are better constructed than most imits or cheapos. they cost around P1.8K to P2.8K. mura. maganda. at ang daming gumagamit. at ang dami nang nasagip na buhay....

i wouldn't spend more than P5K for a helmet knowing a good cheapo like Carting or Index helmets can protect me just the same. and looks just as good, too...

sa akin lang po....


i agree with you sir... wala na akong dapat sabihin....:clap: (index user din ako...)

i agree with you sir... wala na akong dapat sabihin....:clap: (index user din ako...)

at for us na hindi naman mga professional racers at bihira naman makipag karera, kudos to what sir kicker2 said.. be practical. e ano naman ma pala mo kung hi end yung helmet at hindi ka naman marunong kumarera, i mean by using the race track, yung iba pa nga dyan hindi marunong mag banking :*

my inputs regarding index helmets:

mga bro ok naman ang index helmet na saksihan ko na siya im using an zeus 508 nga pala, nagkaroon kasi kami ng mga riding budies ko ng accident involving one of our riding buddy, naka index helmet siya, luckily he is still alive wearing his index pero kung hindi malamang magpulot kami ng utak sa kalye, he was riding a beta ark scoot tapos na gutter siya at umikot ang motor niya, pumalo ang ulo sa gutter, wow bro nung pinulot namin siya nag hihilik agad at walang malay, nung natauhan medyo maga lang ang left face niya, yung index nag crack lang, pero ciguro kung imitation or mahaning helmet lang ang suot niya durog siguro yung helmet, i recomend it to my friends using index kasi mura nga kaya lang ang prob. marami na ngayong local na index eh, for me Index helmet is good, but rider disicpline is perfect

I have a Zeus 803 & Index 911TX. Mas kampante akong gamitin ang Index ko dahil pinapagamit ko lang pang backride ang Zeus ko. Sa physical observation ko, mas mukhang matibay at safe ang Index ko dahil sa material niya at itsura kaya pinapam backride ko lang Zeus ko.

Note: Don't buy imitation or fake helmets.

Bibili rin ako ng maganda at mamahaling helmet pag nagkapera na, total, ang life span ng helmet ay 2years lang eh (yung di pa naka experience ng accident ha dahil pag meron na, dapat ng idispose kagad), whether mukha pang bago or luma, dapat ng i-dispose. IMHO lang po.

kahit ako Index gamit ko(911TX-Nexus)... this helmet saves me in one of my scratchy spill, my tama sana yung ulo ko kung wala ito... so far ayos naman siya... kung sa susunod na bili ko siguro kung me pera palit tayo ng HJC pero kung wala sa 911TX-doom/shadow na lang...

AMEN to you sir KICKER!!
index is a good buy! just dont dont support the imitators that sell those cheap INDEX! orig is the best kahit sabihin mo mura pa to! kesa bumili ka ng index na japeyks bumili ka nalng ng CARTING may sarili pang identity or other orig makes!

:d :d ;) ;)

I understand your points, you're just being practical.

By the way, remember to replace your helmet after an accident. Even if it only suffered scratches, it has already done its job. You can't be sure of its effectivity anymore. Wearing a damaged helmet is like not wearing a helmet at all.

i own an index 903-2 almost 2 years na rin ata siya....its well ventilated and the tint (blue) is okay pa rin. own 3 helmets but i use the index for everyday ride 'cause its comfortable. the downside of the index was , the face foam inside loosen in just one year and the metal lock easily rust........but overall , index okay.

just be careful in buying index, there are a lot of imitations in the market...bought mine before for 3k.

a Thai-made index right now cost around P2.2K, average... you really can tell the difference from imits. foampads are thicker and done well. it has mesh cloth pa. price will also tell you that they are different. lalo na ang pagkakagawa... your keen eyes will help you a lot in knowing what's fake and what's real...

yes and the cheapest i guess are the 811 models.. less than P2.5k

Ok Index full faced at ganda porma/visor. Malalaman/ramdam mo lang na inferior quality nya pag nag upgrade kana ng helmet na CERTIFIED Snell@Dot approved tulad ng HJC or Zeus.. Ganun kasi ako-naka 3 model ng index fullfaced helmets before Hjc@Zeus full faced. Ride fast@safe

index helmets certification:

http://www.indexhelmet.com/Page_Certification.htm

index helmets certification:

http://www.indexhelmet.com/Page_Certification.htm

this makes a good guarantee already... thanks, bro vener...

Count me in for Index Users. . . ok naman sya e basta wag lang buy ng mga peke at samahan ntin ng unting ingat sa pagdridrive. . . . safety first. . .

this makes a good guarantee already... thanks, bro vener...

no problem dude..

ok yang index may 903-22 ako na index pang araw araw ko saka ginagamit ko yan pag nagpapraktis ako sa racetrack. . . di naman nabibiyak pag kumakalat ako. . . gas gas lang.

i had my index before and got an accident kaya disposed ko agad. it helps a lot. Now i had my Carting and after few month of use, la pa nmn nagbabago sa wearing ko. still the same masikip and ok pa un lense.

I guess un helments may pinag babasehan. if you are a racer, better get a highend helmet kasi mabilis takbo mo, if dka nmn racer, ok na rin un d highend (also consider un budget). All i know about the basis of certification is the impact of the accident.

IMHO . . . .