Helmet info - must read!

[Danskman]

Bored in an airport again, and I found an absolute diamond... pick up the June 2005 issue of MOTORCYCLIST and read the special report, "Blowing The Lid Off". Absolutely fantastic article on helmets. I learned a ton. Most in depth and objective info on helmets that I've ever read. If you have occasion to use a helmet for any application, you should read this article.

[Hayabusa]

I never ride without full gear!

[CBRacerX]

Is there an online source to read this?

Chris

[nostatic]

not that I know of, but it hammers Snell pretty hard. One of the engineers from Snell had a long response to the article...made the rounds of the motorcycle boards. Not sure who I believe, but I'll take my $400 Shoei over a $100 HJC any day...don't really care what the magazine says. I think it is a better built and better designed helmet.

[Andras Nagy]

What you have to remember is that Shoei (whose helmet I use with my bikes, by the way), is probably so expensive beause of prior lawsuits that they must now amortize those costs. Same goes with Bell and Simpson.

The most recent Korean helmets don't have legal costs to attach to the price of their helmets, and that's why they are cheaper. And if you read the article carefully, there is a raging war of opinion and testing that is trying to determine if hard shells and soft insides are better than softer shells and softer insides.

The bottom line: it's not the cost of the helmet that protects, but the helmet itself that is better than no helmet at all. Read the article carefully, and read between the lines.

Great article; a keeper!!!!

[Rot 911]

Originally posted by nostatic
not that I know of, but it hammers Snell pretty hard. One of the engineers from Snell had a long response to the article...made the rounds of the motorcycle boards. Not sure who I believe, but I'll take my $400 Shoei over a $100 HJC any day...don't really care what the magazine says. I think it is a better built and better designed helmet.

Todd reread the article, more expensive is not necessarily better. The problem is in the Snell testing and the unreasonable theory that in an accident you will strike the same place on the helmet twice. Forces manufacturers to make the shell too hard thereby transmitting more force to the skull. I have a $400 Arai helmet and that article is going to make me rethink my next helmet purchase.

[mtelliott]

Originally posted by Kurt V
The problem is in the Snell testing and the unreasonable theory that in an accident you will strike the same place on the helmet twice.

I'll admit that I haven't read the article. But, why is this an unreasonable theory. I would think that in a car with a rollcage in place, this is very reasonable. Mabye not so on a motorcycle. Once again, I didn't read the article.

Michael

[andycook]

I had learned about the Snell "Testing measures" a while back when I was drag racing bike. It seemed the actual "real world" scenarios versus the testing methods left alot to be desired.

As for Shoei helmets, I have a trophy helmet at home I refuse to part with as a reminder. I high sided my car tire dragbike at about 106 mph, and it completely chowdered my helmet. But, it saved my head. Gouged the helmet almost all the way through with two major impact points. The helmet never cracked, and did its job exceptionally well.

Were it not for the quality of the Shoei brand, as well as my leathers, I would not have been back at the track the next day racing again.

I tend to steer away from the inexpensive helmets now after seeing a quality one do its job., Not a chance I am willing to take.

I just hope I never have to test my Simpson in my car!!

[MotoSook]

I've got a Shoei helmut, and a couple of other lesser name brands...my Shoei (old as it si) still is my favorite helmet.

Just like a roll cage (a discussion we had in the racing forum) you can design it and even perform FEA on it, but in a crash, there are too many random motions and impact, that you just can't predict what will save you.

If the helmet looks cheap, feels cheap...leave it on the shelf...most quality helmets will give you equal chance at surviving a crash....and no approval testing will cover all the possible impact/damage that the helmet will see.

[Scott Clarke]

Based on the article, it seems to me that Snell has been slow to respond to feedback from real world accidents. The article outllines the requirements of all major world standards, and Snell is at the end of the spectrum, being the "firmest" of the lot. My next helmet will not be Snell rated unless required by a sanctioning body. If I face such I requirement, I intend to voice my concern abouth the choice of standard.

I do think that the difference between motorcycle and car accidents needs to be considered, and it does seem like the Snell philosophy is more appropriate for cars than bikes. A key point of the Motorcyclist article is that in a bike accident, other life theatening injuries are likely in a severe accident, and there is no point in designing a helmet to protect you head from circumstances your body can't survive. Repetitve impact in the same location alson seems much more likely in a car.

This article is the best thing Motorcyclist has published in years.

[Andras Nagy]

Amen. And that's why we cyclists love that mag.

[NoLift911]

As the weather gets warmer I am amazed at the squids on the litre bikes that cruise in wife beaters, shorts and sneakers...and then there are those with chicks on the back dressed in tube tops, flip flops etc...

Darwinism in action I guess.

I rode this past weekend and it was hot as hell - but still wore the full gear and sweat like a pig...

I just look at those guys as organ donors. Full gear is the only way to go - all the time.

-Jeff

[dickster]

Arai are regarded as one of the best among motorcyclists in the UK.

Jeff, I do wonder about the safety of pilions (I saw one yesterday with no gloves), but the rider can make his own decisions and should ride accordingly (when he is on his own).

On a hot day I will wear a T-shirt with no jacket (but otherwise full kit) because I enjoy it. But I tend to ride a little less briskly

[vash]

not to change the subject, but i understand that arai and shoei has a new competiter for top lid. suomy or soumy (?). visors come fog resistant. i dont ride when it gets tooo hot. i hate getting ripe in my vansons. and i am too cheap to buy summer armor.

i thought i read in the past that the diff between DOT and SNELL was the testing method. one used a blunt hit and the other used a sharp wedge hit to simulate accidents. either way, i save $$ by staying clear of the racer replicas.

[TRE Cup]

Does anyone have info on the FIA requirements and how they compare to Snell?

[sammyg2]

I read this article a couple weeks ago and posted about it on 914.com. It created quite a bit of discussion, or at least arguments. I don't post there anymore

If you get in a severe collision, having the helmet survive should be your last priority, not the first.
As the article states, minimizing the trauma to the head and brain is the highest priority.
I can design and build a helmet that would never crack or get damaged, but it would be a POS because it would transfer too high of g-forces to the brain.
What good is an expensive helmet that survives of you are a vegetable?
I'd rather have a cheap helmet that fell apart than a brain that is made of mush. Oops, looks like it may be too late

[NoLift911]

Originally posted by dickster
Arai are regarded as one of the best among motorcyclists in the UK.

Jeff, I do wonder about the safety of pilions (I saw one yesterday with no gloves), but the rider can make his own decisions and should ride accordingly (when he is on his own).

On a hot day I will wear a T-shirt with no jacket (but otherwise full kit) because I enjoy it. But I tend to ride a little less briskly

Sure to each their own - however playing the odds is dangerous in my opinion. Wearing a t-shirt and riding "less briskly" certainly covers you and your actions but not the actions of the cagers.

Maybe it is that day that the guy in the Honda Civic with a new pipe is racing around like an idiot and driving briskly while blowing through and intersection at Mach 2 not seeing you...

I hardly ever worry about myself - it is the other folks on the road.

Kinda like not buckling up for the trip up to the convenience store that is .5 miles from your house - and you wonder why most deadly accidents happen within a 2 mile range of your house.

-Jeff

[Jack Olsen]

Can someone post a link to the text of the article?

[camgrinder]

A nice article on Roy Richter, who was the Bell helmet guy when the Snell foundation was started.
http://www.cragar.com/2004-115524-467.asp