Helmets 101

[Lou Girardin]

Wierd that isnt it, is DOT different in differnt parts of the world or is it just our crazy laws?

This is LTNZ genuis at work. I can only guess that it's designed to stop helmet imports from the US as almost none are made there now.

[dawnrazor]

Colapop - I recently bought a new helmet, I took the chance to try on a few different makes as I've only ever had Arai, not because I'm a flash git, but because they have been the only make that I find comfortable (wierd shaped head or something).

Anyway I tried on shoeis and sharks and nolans yada yada yada, and I ended up buying another Arai 'cus it was the only one that didn't give me a headache after 2 minutes, (I got my new one on special and got $500 off the price, although it is a very green colour)

So there is no subsitute for trying on plenty of makes and find the one that suits you best, I can recogmend Arai - they are great and don't be to bothered by colours or pretty designs - you can't see any of that shit when its on your head.

Lastly and this is very cliched but true - if you've got a $5 head get a $5 helmet. You get what you pay for I guess.

[NinjaBoy]

go shopping somewhere where they have quite a few different brands. They do have different shapes and some will fit you head shape better than others. A firm fit is needed to avoid movement.

Also they do not last for ever so expect to replace them every few years or so.

[scott411]

Snell most definitely is. DOT is only recognised if the helmet is manufactured in the US.

try to bring a batch of helmets in with snell rating and they will get turned down even tho they meet the ECE standards as well,

[Lou Girardin]

We've sold Snell approved helmets at AMPS. CL14's to US spec.

[magicfairy]

A firm fit is needed to avoid movement.

If, while wearing helmet and chewing some gum, you bite your cheek then you have nice firm fit.

[McJim]

It may be a pisstake but I think it actually has some merit.

It wasn't a pisstake - I've got a couple of ideas in the draft stage already in terms of materials and suppliers - all I need to know is "Is a small, portable, folding wind tunnel something that Helmet retailers think will help them upsell helmets?"
I know I would never have bought my current helmet if I'd tried it in a wind tunnel for example - I'd have paid another couple of hundred bucks for a quieter one that didn't try to snap my neck every time I checked over my shoulder above 100kmh. Is that $200 lost to the shop for the want of an invention that could cost as little as $150 delivered....

[Colapop]

You'd need a fairly powerful fan to give the right wind speed. It'd be harder than you think I'm guessing - not to put a dampener on things. The airflow would have to be channelled so that you got direct flow. The issue of getting people in and out easily would have to be addressed. Yep there's the hole in the bottom thing, but you gotta look at helmet damage. How about a wind tunnel collar typ deal - sort of hinged lengthwise. The customer would then stand withthe helmet on and have the tunnel closed around them. I think the K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple Stupid) method should be applied.

[Lou Girardin]

It wasn't a pisstake - I've got a couple of ideas in the draft stage already in terms of materials and suppliers - all I need to know is "Is a small, portable, folding wind tunnel something that Helmet retailers think will help them upsell helmets?"
I know I would never have bought my current helmet if I'd tried it in a wind tunnel for example - I'd have paid another couple of hundred bucks for a quieter one that didn't try to snap my neck every time I checked over my shoulder above 100kmh. Is that $200 lost to the shop for the want of an invention that could cost as little as $150 delivered....

The only problem is that helmets behave differently on different bikes. Things like screens, riding position etc all affect airflow over a helmet. Just standing in a wind tunnel won't prove much.
A good guide is that the dearer brands like Shoei, Arai, Nolan/XLite etc all pay more attention to aerodynamics.

[Skunk]

Don't foret the air will have to be sucked though the tunnel, not blown into it.
The fan would create turbulence that would upset the results.

[McJim]

It was never meant to be a scientific product - just something to give the lay customer an idea of "Oh, this helmet really is quieter then that, I'll pay the extra $200" rather than the approach that I take in shops of "that mercenary salesperson is trying to upsell - I'm now personally offended and will never come here again - I'll take my business to a shop where they're not pushy".

Anyway - I asked the question "Are any of the helmet retailers interested in such a prioduct being developed?" No one answered in the affirmative so the idea has been unceremoniously shelved due to lack of interest.

Guess you're just going to have to persuade those Helmet Retailers to let you have a test drive with the helmet on after all Colapop - nothing else for it.

[Highlander]

Echoing a number of these comments.

Like the idea of doing a ride test cause otherwise "noise" is guess work. Any one know of any shops that will let you do that on a you ding it you bought it basis?

Think about the visor thing too. Tinted (or mirrored) visors are good on sunny days but less than usefull when it gets dark. How easy they are to change is well worth looking into.

A comment here was D rings are better than clips. Is that a personal preference or an actual safety thing? - My last helmet had a clip and I preferred it to what I have now.

[davereid]

If you crash your bike, the first thing the well meaning bystanders will do is wrench off your helmet and break your neck. So choose the simplest fitting you can - maybe youll be a C3 tetraplegic and able to use your elbows rather than a C2 who cant. For me I wear a helmet to avoid gravel rash. It will never save yr head from a hard impact, the laws of physics are not diverted by japanese fiberglass. Don't woory about how flash you helmet is, its just a wank anyway except for gravel rash.

[sAsLEX]

If you crash your bike, the first thing the well meaning bystanders will do is wrench off your helmet and break your neck. So choose the simplest fitting you can - maybe youll be a C3 tetraplegic and able to use your elbows rather than a C2 who cant. For me I wear a helmet to avoid gravel rash. It will never save yr head from a hard impact, the laws of physics are not diverted by japanese fiberglass. Don't woory about how flash you helmet is, its just a wank anyway except for gravel rash.

You seen ngkano drop it at 340kmhr and see him hit the deck hard and tumble?!?!?

Best advert for Arai ever.

[Dafe]

.

Would be interested in a discussion about whether or not one can test ride a helmet - don't know how you'd assess noise and aerodynamics otherwise. Bike shop people? Hello?

Dave

Kerry at Sawyers always offers to let me try a helmet before buying.

My first rule in buying a helmet - Only buy Carbon fibre/kevlar multistrand helmets.
My second rule - Only buy Shark (Fits me best and great quality for great price, and I'm biased).
Last but not least - No less than an RSX model helmet. (Top quality starts here).

I've brought four Shark helmets in the last two years.

Note: I find the cheaper RSX helmets far more comfortable and quieter than Sharks top line RSR2 helmet.
Hence, I brought a RSX for my everyday riding.

I've also personally tested an RSX model, highsiding at 100kph and landing head first into the concrete.
The RSX did a great job, just a scraped off some paint. However, obviously the helmet is now retired.