Can Off Road helmets used on tarmac?

[Coldkiwi]

Thinking about a new helmet following my little dingle at Pukekohe and I'm wondering whether an off road style helmet would be as good as a full face helmet for city type riding and a bit of twisty back roads. I'm intending to slow down a bit (thats another story) so I don't plan to put it over 150kmhr (ie. massive drag resistance isn't really an issue) but I'm struggling to find any info on whether a dirt lid can cut the mustard in a 100kmhr tarmac crash situation given that most dirt bikes never get that fast.

But while I'm asking, how badly will an off road helmet get blown about at highway speeds?

Anyone seen any info on this?

[k14]

why would you want to use a motox helmet in the first place?

[Hitcher]

The Road Code says you must wear a secure approved helmet, or somesuch. I guess bicycle helmets (joke that they are) are a no no, but anything else should be OK...

[Jantar]

Thinking about a new helmet following my little dingle at Pukekohe and I'm wondering whether an off road style helmet would be as good as a full face helmet for city type riding and a bit of twisty back roads. I'm intending to slow down a bit (thats another story) so I don't plan to put it over 150kmhr (ie. massive drag resistance isn't really an issue) but I'm struggling to find any info on whether a dirt lid can cut the mustard in a 100kmhr tarmac crash situation given that most dirt bikes never get that fast.

But while I'm asking, how badly will an off road helmet get blown about at highway speeds?

Anyone seen any info on this?

For summer riding I used to love using an older style open face helmet. Its lighter and cooler than a full face. Just be careful about eye protection and you'll love it.

[DEATH_INC.]

Yeah,I sorta wondering why too......
They're ok but you always get rain stinging you between your goggles and the facepeice and the peak will try to rip your head off if you look up at speed...
btw I had an 250XC KTM that topped out at around 160......offroad too

[Kickaha]

Going by the fact most of the Motard riders that race use them I would say they pass the current standard to be used for road racing so in a crash situation should provide adequate protection

[Motu]

I got a Fly 303 MX helmet for Xmas,and I love it!My road helmet is a Nolan N70,the adventure helmet with peak,I don't want to wear it again after an off road helmet.It's just so light,and even with Scott goggles the visibility is superior to a road helmet,ventilation all around the face of course,and on a hot day you can feel it over your head,I can wear my Alpine ear plugs for 10hrs straight with no pain - there is much more freedom around the ears.The peak doesn't adjust down far enough and at 100kph and above I have to tuck my head,just a little - I sit upright on a dirt bike,if you lean forward it would be better,get's knocked around in wind as well,but not as bad as my last dirt helmet,must be because it's lighter with a sharper chin peice.Only problem is I must remember to sun screen my nose,the tip is exposed and takes a beating.

[Blakamin]

but I'm struggling to find any info on whether a dirt lid can cut the mustard in a 100kmhr tarmac crash situation given that most dirt bikes never get that fast.

Only if ya dont want a head....
the bottom of an MX sticks out too far for my liking and would have a tendency to get torn off (with ya head) if it stuck to the road... they plough dirt good tho!! (fuckin stupid "dirt in mouth" bits)

[avgas]

I used to ride every now n then with a motoX helmet, during cafe races.
But DO NOT WEAR IN THE RAIN, HEAVY RAIN AT 60+KPH STINGS LIKE STONES

[TwoSeven]

Going by the fact most of the Motard riders that race use them I would say they pass the current standard to be used for road racing so in a crash situation should provide adequate protection

Yes, but I think the motard folks should be stopped using them if they are racing only on track - which is whats done here. Proper motard is mostly on dirt and the speeds are not as high.

The basic rule is that the faster you can go, the more serious a lid you should be using. Dirt bike lids are not designed for high speed crashes and its quite common for the straps to break on them in road crashes - you'd think a strap was a strap but apparently they use a different standard.

Having said all that when I commute in town I ride with a half face lid. But then I have push bike riders wearing nothing but tights and plastic buckets overtaking me

[Jackrat]

I've worn a dirt helmet on the road an found it ok.
Rain doesn't cause me many problems even with an open face until I'm over legal speeds,hails another story altogeather.
My XR could do well over 100kms on the beach and one thing that did always concern me was possility of the chin catching an braking my neck.
It's a compromise thing,they are legal,they are comfortable,BUT, the choise is yours.
Oh yeah, an your gonn'a look a right prat on your sort of bike with a dirt lid.

[Kickaha]

Yes, but I think the motard folks should be stopped using them if they are racing only on track - which is whats done here. Proper motard is mostly on dirt and the speeds are not as high.

The basic rule is that the faster you can go, the more serious a lid you should be using. Dirt bike lids are not designed for high speed crashes and its quite common for the straps to break on them in road crashes - you'd think a strap was a strap but apparently they use a different standard.

They may be built to a different standard but they obviously comply with whatever the roadracing rules require and that would mean they are quite capable of withstanding a tarmac crash at speed,helmets are checked at sign in(at MC Canterbury at least) and if your helmet doesn't have the required standard you don't get to race in it

Having just checked three helmets,2 on road and one off road and they all have the same standard marks

Haven't ever heard of helmets straps breaking before,apart from hearsay,do you have a source?

[TwoSeven]

I've seen two lid straps break during race crashes both were the mx style. My old FM race lid had a d-link type connector that was required in the UK at the time. Newer lids have those little plastic clip locks. It was these that broke.

The other one that happens quite a lot is said lid coming off rider. Although I've never seen it on a race track I've seen it on a dirt track once and just recently at the cemetry racing. This is not to say it doesnt happen with road lids (I suspect the cheap $100 lids probably live up to their costs).

Speaking of which, does anyone know if FM have an outlet in NZ. Their race lids are excelent. I can only find those cheap ass FFM things here.

[k14]

As far as i know you aren't allowed clip type strap helmets for racing over here either. They all have to be double d rings.

[merv]

Motu interestingly your comments about the N70, ear space in your MX helmet etc prompts me to make a comment. Every time I've looked for a new helmet I've checked out Nolans of one sort of another and I've always ended up buying HJC helmets instead. Why? Well the Nolans never seem to have any proper pocket for your ears to sit in so to speak and they would tend to flatten the sides of my head which would lead to headaches. The HJC on the other hand always have very comfortable padded edged pockets where my ears comfortably fit. So I have an FG9 road helmet an FG3 open face and a CSXII MX helmet. Must be my fat head but HJC seem to make helmets that fit me best.