Helmets 101

**davereid** · 18th August 2006, 22:47

Yeah you are quite right, if you get to tumble without being stopped by a lamppost or an LTSA cheesewire cutter safety barrier you are living proof that speed doesn't kill.

Of course better design works.

But if you watched telly the other night, they crashed a 5 Star safety SMART car and a 2 star GM car into a barrier at 70 mhp. The 5 star car could still open its doors. The GM car was bent but passenger cell intact. But all dead, as the human body cant handle the de-acceleration.

Same when you bump yr head.

My head bruised and dead in el cheapo helmet. Yours pretty as, but still dead. Maybe youll survive an accident in the small window of chance that I would. For my money, Its just luck... I'll never moan about having a better helmet... but I'll always drive as if I don't have one at all !

**Dafe** · 18th August 2006, 22:53

Originally Posted by davereid

Yeah you are quite right, if you get to tumble without being stopped by a lamppost or an LTSA cheesewire cutter safety barrier you are living proof that speed doesn't kill.

Of course better design works.

But if you watched telly the other night, they crashed a 5 Star safety SMART car and a 2 star GM car into a barrier at 70 mhp. The 5 star car could still open its doors. The GM car was bent but passenger cell intact. But all dead, as the human body cant handle the de-acceleration.

Same when you bump yr head.

My head bruised and dead in el cheapo helmet. Yours pretty as, but still dead. Maybe youll survive an accident in the small window of chance that I would. For my money, Its just luck... I'll never moan about having a better helmet... but I'll always drive as if I don't have one at all !

Good call Davereid.

Crumple zones in helmets are an important consideration.
My RSX helmet has a polystyrene inner than is designed to compress in an accident, thus allowing a slight deceleration process for the brain.

**davereid** · 18th August 2006, 23:01

Yep its all got to help. I'm not dissin helmets....i'd never suggest that.... but if they really helped us avoid head injuries, car drivers would have to wear them... after all a head injury is the most common cause of death for a car driver...

**Lou Girardin** · 19th August 2006, 08:57

Originally Posted by Big 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".

If you want quiet, see the Schuberths when they arrive. They are tested at 85 and 86 Db for the Full Face and the Flip front respectively. You can put one on in the shop and hear a major difference in ambient noise. But you'll be paying $1000 or more. To my knowledge they're the only manufacturer available in NZ that quotes noise levels.
Bu even they say that screens, riding position etc wll affect noise levels.

**Hawkeye** · 19th August 2006, 09:47

Originally Posted by Colapop

I've got two...

I know a few managers who have 2 faces.... does that count

**jester67** · 7th June 2007, 12:57

I have a nice (but older ~ 1990) Arai that gets a bit sore after a long ride. It has a couple of small pressure points just above my forehead and at the top back of my head. I heard an urban myth that there is an Arai fitment service available in NZ that does the rounds of the paddocks and shows etc - does anyone know morw about this?

**vifferman** · 7th June 2007, 13:06

Originally Posted by jester67

I have a nice (but older ~ 1990) Arai that gets a bit sore after a long ride. It has a couple of small pressure points just above my forehead and at the top back of my head.

If it's a 1990 helmet, it's pretty well past its use-by date!

But (however!) my AGV was like this, and you can fix it (provided it's only slightly the worngA shape, otherwise you'd be better off getting a helmet that better matches the shape of your skullbone).
Get a spoon (teaspoon or soupspoon) and rub the helmet with the 'bowl' of the spoon where it's too tight, while pressing firmly with your thumb on the back of the bowl. This should compress the foam in the liner enough to relieve the pressure on your forehead. You may need to repeat this two or three times before it's OK.

**jester67** · 11th June 2007, 11:34

Thanks Viffer, fresh back to riding after a 13 year break. Glasses and helmets have come a long way in the interim so I may be shopping for a new flip Nolan.

Thanks again.

**Hitcher** · 11th June 2007, 14:49

The flip Nolan is only a solution for spectacle wearers with "normal" heads.

**HenryDorsetCase** · 11th June 2007, 16:06

I wear glasses all the time (darn these bookish good looks) and my Shoei is fine.

there are times a flipper front would be minimally more convenient, but all the ones Ive tried on were the most bizarre fit imaginable.

my Shoei (its a cheap one too) is the best fitting helmet Ive ever had. I wanted to buy an Arai because its what the cool kids wear but they just werent as comfortable.

also, with some of the money you save, buy decent gloves.

**mattimeo** · 17th June 2007, 20:05

I bought an Arai last week. It was a big investment but i'm treating it like accident insurance... Of sorts. It sure is good though, amazingly aerodynamic and so quiet. I wouldn't spend $900 on comfort alone, though i hope not to test its considerable saftey features!

The pinlock visors RAWK! No fogging -at all-. I rode from Palmy to Masterton early Saturday morning, thick fog for about half an hr. Only the outside of my visor clouded slightly, not so much as a whisp on the inside.

**cooneyr** · 20th June 2007, 08:55

Originally Posted by Gremlin

From all that I have read, and I could be wrong, SNELL approved helmets are better than only DOT... and SNELL pass both, so if money can afford it, make sure its SNELL.

I did a bit of reading about helmets after my crash (broke C1 but full recovery) and from what I've read I'd say don't go for the Snell. This is because of the helmets having to be stiff enough to withstand the double impact testing method they use. Because they helmets are stiff they transmit too much energy to the head i.e. don't absorb enough themselves. The DOT and ECE 22.05 standards are not suppose to be dissimilar (ECE requires the helmet to withstand slightly more G's therefore transmits slightly more) hence are softer on the head than the Snell standard.

From what I've read if you are going to suffer a helmet crush type injury during the crash you are stuff no matter what happens. The benefits of helmets is that they protect you from gravel rash and attenuate the G forces transmitted to the head (if they are "soft" enough).

Here is a website to start with but there is stacks of reading you can do.

Cheers R

**roogazza** · 28th June 2007, 11:29

Just updated from older Shoei to Shoei X Spirit. Great hat , but guess it should be for the price ($1200 ). Good fit, lightweight and much quieter than anything I have ridden with. Gaz.

**Freakshow** · 28th June 2007, 12:08

A friend who use to race mentioned a test that was pulled at a track meet and several people failed. They thought their helmets wer fitted and the officals reached over to the back and rolled the helmet in one swift movement over the front and off. So check that even done up that it holds your head in place and you cant roll out!