My chin touches my helmet

**Spuds1234** · 3rd May 2007, 18:51

I went out and probably spent far to much money on a helmet (if you can do such a thing). I've been using it for about a week now and I really like the lid. Its light, comfitable, feels safe and appeared to fit perfectly until now.

However while I was out for a ride tonight I noticed that if I push my chin out I can touch the part of the helmet directly infront of my chin, with my chin.

If I hit the helmet hard enough with the palm of my hand, the part protecting my chin will actually hit my chin with quite a bit of force (obviously dependent on how hard I hit the helmet).

Im thinking that in an accident that this could hurt quite a bit should this happen and could even break my jaw.

How likely am I to land on this part of the helmet (ie hit the ground face first)?

Am I worrying about nothing, or should I find a new helmet with more of a gap between the helmet and my chin?

**The Pastor** · 3rd May 2007, 18:53

yeah My head touches my helmet too, I just cant figure out WHAT to do! Hmmm there seems to be some sort of wall where my door used to be! Oh no! whats going on here?

Oh wait its the door.

**Grahameeboy** · 3rd May 2007, 18:56

Originally Posted by Spuds1234

I went out and probably spent far to much money on a helmet (if you can do such a thing). I've been using it for about a week now and I really like the lid. Its light, comfitable, feels safe and appeared to fit perfectly until now.

However while I was out for a ride tonight I noticed that if I push my chin out I can touch the part of the helmet directly infront of my chin, with my chin.

If I hit the helmet hard enough with the palm of my hand, the part protecting my chin will actually hit my chin with quite a bit of force (obviously dependent on how hard I hit the helmet).

Im thinking that in an accident that this could hurt quite a bit should this happen and could even break my jaw.

How likely am I to land on this part of the helmet (ie hit the ground face first)?

Am I worrying about nothing, or should I find a new helmet with more of a gap between the helmet and my chin?

Just put my Shoei on and I can stretch my chin out and touch the padding...guess that is what the padding is for.

Even wearing a helmet you will feel something in a crash...helmets are designed to absorb impact so reduce the trauma to the brain.

I would not worry about it

**Trudes** · 3rd May 2007, 19:37

My nose touches my visor, so I'm pretty sure I will break my nose if I ever face plant the road. Not sure if the chin is too much of an issue.

**Colapop** · 3rd May 2007, 19:48

Look laddy, don't be worrying about it. It's like the old joke:- You "Doctor Doctor it hurts when I do this" Doctor:- "don't do that..." DUH.

Your chin or head moving (slightly) around in your helmet is the least of your problems if you ever need the strength of your helmet in a crash.

**Lil_Byte** · 3rd May 2007, 20:06

My helmet also was like that - touched my chin very easily on the front of the helmet.

I did a face dump on the seal at 100kph and damaged the helmet - not the chin.

So sounds like that is the way they are designed

**Coyote** · 3rd May 2007, 20:20

It's always good to have a healthy level of paranoia but you don't have to worry about this at least. My helmet doesn't even have padding where my mouth is (albeit it is a cheap helmet but I'd buy another like it [which I should])

**xwhatsit** · 3rd May 2007, 23:23

My old helmet did that, and I crashed in it fairly face-planted (except more onto the side). The visor has some scratches on it. Picture is somewhere on these forums.

New one (RJays GP or something) is a lovely comfortable thing, smaller around the head, but has more room for my giant nose and also my chin has more breathing room.

Wouldn't worry about it.

**M1CRO:Me** · 4th May 2007, 02:10

Originally Posted by Spuds1234

How likely am I to land on this part of the helmet (ie hit the ground face first)?

Saw an article a while ago, but cant find the dam thing.. however I did save this picture which shows the frequency of impact zones in a study of "a number" of accidents.. Cant remember the number but the study was German based