Jay Leno meets the helmet man (Arai)

[Cajun]

This is a rather interesting video(10 min) from Leno show talking to Bruce Porter from Arai, about right fitting helmet, and some interesting facts about helmets.


I even picked up something i didn't know before. Which is handy espially since i am in hunt for a new one at moment

Enjoy

[Sparky Bills]

VERY good video.
And I hope people take note of the good points in it.

New helmet you say??

[Cajun]

VERY good video.
And I hope people take note of the good points in it.

New helmet you say??

yeah i always been told, when dropping a helmet even from seat etc means its needs replacing it, but the comment he made in there, that says it does, which is interesting, and filed in the memory bank for later use.

[vifferman]

That was very interesting. Didn't really learn anything, but it was good to have 'official' confirmation that a helmet is not necessarily wrecked if it's dropped on the ground without a head in it. (This is because the foam is compressed as it decelerates the skull).
I for one - like Jay Leno - took many years to finally arrive at a helmet that fitted properly. The problem was that my gourd is 59cm, and I owned a succession of AGV helmets that had only even-numbered sizes, so they were either slightly too large, or slightly too small. Also, I think the shell shape was not right. It was lovely to try on a variety of brands, models, styles, shapes, etc. and find that the Large-sized Shoei XR1000 and Arai Corsair fitted perfectly, whereas AGVs, HJCs, Sharks and others I can't even remember were not quite right.

One thing the Arai Guy didn't mention was that apart from matching a helmet to your head, you also need to match it to you on your bike. Each bike has different ergonomics and aerodynamics, and different helmet shells (with their own particualr vents, spoilers, etc) will react in a particular way to the airflow over your bike and your jacket. The Shoei's much better for this than the AGV X-Vent was, even though the X-Vent was quieter in that it let less noise through the shell - probably because it was too small and effectively plugged my ears by pressing so tight on them. (It probably also cut off the blood flow to my brain...)

[Sparky Bills]

I really hope that the stats (8 out of 10) doesnt cross to nz!
Its not hard to get a good fitting helmet. And to be able to custom fit with different size liners is great!
I have done just that with my Arai, and will never look back. It fitted awsome standard, but you have no idea how much better it can be unless you try it.

[vifferman]

yeah i always been told, when dropping a helmet even from seat etc means its needs replacing it, but the comment he made in there, that says it does, which is interesting, and filed in the memory bank for later use.

I think this is because some fibre-reinforced helmet shells could suffer cracks when dropped, especially if they landed on some protrusion, like a footpeg, the edge of a curb, a rock, etc. This isn't the case at all with injection-moulded helmets, which many lower-priced helmets are, and also with advances in helmet construction such as the use of 'high-tech' materials such as kevlar, carbon fibre, etc. the shells are more robust anyway. The helmet manufacturers don't want their helmets to lose their integrity (crack open and/or fall apart), so they're making them much stronger so they can withstand higher-speed impacts and resist penetration better. A fall of less than 1 metre is nothing.

[vifferman]

I really hope that the stats (8 out of 10) doesnt cross to nz!
Its not hard to get a good fitting helmet. And to be able to custom fit with different size liners is great!
I have done just that with my Arai, and will never look back. It fitted awsome standard, but you have no idea how much better it can be unless you try it.

Some/many of the bike shops don't bother stocking the replacement liners, cheekpads and replacement parts, and don't even mention you can buy them if a helmet's not a good fit. F'rinstance, when I bought the Shoei, I saw on the Shoei website that there are replacement strap covers and cheekpads listed, yet when I rang the shop back to ask about it, they reckoned they didn't have any and didn't think they could get them. Not a good ad for buying locally.
(Kinda ironic that the banner ads on this thread say "In Stock all the time").

[Sparky Bills]

Some/many of the bike shops don't bother stocking the replacement liners, cheekpads and replacement parts, and don't even mention you can buy them if a helmet's not a good fit. F'rinstance, when I bought the Shoei, I saw on the Shoei website that there are replacement strap covers and cheekpads listed, yet when I rang the shop back to ask about it, they reckoned they didn't have any and didn't think they could get them. Not a good ad for buying locally.
(Kinda ironic that the banner ads on this thread say "In Stock all the time").

Thats a shame to hear.
Not that im blowing my own trumpet but I am taking a very personal step forward to learning as much as I possible can about all the different helmets out there. Obviously im focusing on the more popular brands such as Arai, Shoei, Shark etc so am never happy to hear about the lack of knowledge out there.
You CAN get different size cheek pads for Raid 2, XR1000 in nz. If you havnt tried a whisper kit id suggest you do too. They are magic!

Although I dont like to be could gulable (sp) or a lier when I state that the top gp guys can take one off the shelf and use it as its the exact same as what they use on the track. Some people just simply dont believe it.

[erik]

that was cool.

[Daffyd]

'official' confirmation that a helmet is not necessarily wrecked if it's dropped on the ground without a head in it.

Unfortunately I can't download it as it would take at least 24 hours at my download rate, but from the above comments it seems to back up statements I made in a heated debate on this forum some months ago when I was taken to task for stating the same thing.

[Owl]

Learn something every day. I've already replaced one Arai cause it fell off my handlebars. Probably didn't need to.

[Hitcher]

Its not hard to get a good fitting helmet.

This announcement sponsored by the Small Head Association.

[Quailboy]

That was a great clip.

It is probably THE most important part of riding a motorcycle, yet many people I have met have no idea about helmets lifespans, proper fitting etc.

I definitly understand from experience how uncomfortable and dangerous a loose fitting helmet is, so learnt quickly to get a snug fitting one- I would rather look like chippy the chipmunk than have my neck snap from a rotating helmet.

[Daffyd]

I definitly understand from experience how uncomfortable and dangerous a loose fitting helmet is, so learnt quickly to get a snug fitting one- I would rather look like chippy the chipmunk than have my neck snap from a rotating helmet.

The first time I took a bike for a test ride, the dealer lent me his personal helmet. He had a huge head...at the first Give Way sign I slowed down and looked both ways, only I couldn't see anything. My head turned but the helmet didn't.

[Quailboy]

The first time I took a bike for a test ride, the dealer lent me his personal helmet. He had a huge head...at the first Give Way sign I slowed down and looked both ways, only I couldn't see anything. My head turned but the helmet didn't.

Yeah man, its scary eh?

I had the same thing, got my bike but hadn't got a helmet yet, borrowed a worn out XL size from a friend, and it took on a mind of its own with the wind. It slipped forwards and I had to put my head back to see anything.

I swear my head would've slipped right out if I had a bin as the strap was done up tight as possible but I could just about fit my hand underneath it.