Davida helmet opinions?

[ital916]

Hey all

Am considering getting a davida jet helmet for my 21st. I find them really comfortable and extremely quiet for me *without earplugs..as I find riding with earplugs uncomfortable*. Was just wondering if any davida owners on here had opinons on them. I quite like the cream eggshell with RAF design *being from england and all haha*.

Also if any davida owners have opinons on goggles. Aftermarket or Davida ones *i quite like the aviator or halycon ones*. I have been very impressed with the quality of the build and the plushness of the quilted liner *it adds that retro feel and look*.

The jet will be used in conjunction with my full face *full face for long tours and extremely horrendous weather*. As a plus the jet even comes with the ACU gold sticker, sounds silly but it adds reassurance of the quality of the helmet.

Thanks a bunch

Drider87

P.S Already had a chat to big dave about this one, mind you he does have a lot of helmets haha.

P.P.S The girl in the davida advertisement has to be one the sexiest girls ever.

[motorbyclist]

oh dear

this isn't just to spite the SMC is it?

you're one of our "most well dressed for safety" members, always ranting on about having atgatt, still have regular bins, and now this? half a helmet? really a good idea?

your choice, of course, but don't say i didn't warn you.

[xwhatsit]

Cool helmet, I'd wear one, but then I don't crash.

[xwhatsit]

I was quite keen on this one, even comes with goggles: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=157989056 They pop up from time to time, I'll get it next time.

Was dozy and missed out. Only sold for $43, too! Before somebody makes a smart comment, I do have a $43 head.

Millions (billions?) of people managed to stay alive for the past 100 year riding motorcycles with half-face helmets (or none at all), so meh. Still, probably not best for people like Drider or brand-new scooter girls to be wearing them though

Guzzi girl (big poster of her up in Motomail, ever been there Dushy?) is a bit shit, but that Guzzi is delicious. Aluminium turns me on.

Cromwell also do lovely helmets, they've got a similarly ancient history. This is their Spitfire model:

[ital916]

I was quite keen on this one, even comes with goggles: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=157989056 They pop up from time to time, I'll get it next time.

Was dozy and missed out. Only sold for $43, too! Before somebody makes a smart comment, I do have a $43 head.

Millions (billions?) of people managed to stay alive for the past 100 year riding motorcycles with half-face helmets (or none at all), so meh. Still, probably not best for people like Drider or brand-new scooter girls to be wearing them though

Guzzi girl (big poster of her up in Motomail, ever been there Dushy?) is a bit shit, but that Guzzi is delicious. Aluminium turns me on.

Cromwell also do lovely helmets, they've got a similarly ancient history. This is their Spitfire model:

Haha I know it's up there matey, everytime I walk in there I see her. Yeah they are great helmets. No andrew it's not to spite the club, I'm not like that *notice the fact I never gave out any red rep*, it will be to wear with a full face. On days when I feel like it, it's a calculated risk.

[Squiggles]

Who's the chick?!

[xwhatsit]

Who's the chick?!

Top post, ya munter

[Romeo]

I guess they look cool, in the same way that riding in a Led Zeppelin t-shirt looks cool.

What I'd do is just get a white fullface helmet and paint the vintage racing stripes on

Just out of interest, I suppose you've read about what happened to FknAmerican?

[ital916]

I guess they look cool, in the same way that riding in a Led Zeppelin t-shirt looks cool.

What I'd do is just get a white fullface helmet and paint the vintage racing stripes on

Just out of interest, I suppose you've read about what happened to FknAmerican?

Yeah that was a bit of bad luck wasn't it with the visor popping off and all. Mind you like I said it's a calculated risk, I'm just probing, I have to be able to afford one first haha. The chick is called Katrien stephen. I don't know where se is from but she is a bit of alright *and by alright I mean farrrrk *

[Phurrball]

(snip) Mind you like I said it's a calculated risk, I'm just probing, (snip)

I think you know my opinion of ALL open faced helmets already...BUT...

With all due respect, I don't actually think it is a "calculated risk" you're considering undertaking.

Why do I think that?

Because, you're not only a smart young fella, but you're educated too, so to be a "calculated risk" would mean you've analysed the known variables and have made a survey of independent respected literature - an informed "calculated risk" can only be based on such empirical data.

D, you clearly know a bit about helmets, I'm not belittling that, but I'd like you to critically think about the source of that knowledge. I'm guessing here, but I'll bet a large part of your info is from helmet manufacturers via your job. Remember helmet manufacturers exist to SELL helmets (not that that is a bad thing, product development, improved safety etc - BUT it biases the information provided. Why would an open face helmet manufacturer warn about extra risk associated with their product??).

Don't mistake manufacturer-derived information, in all its technical glory, for independent knowledge.

I don't think you've looked into the literature much, or you'd be beating us all round the head ('scuse the pun) with the *one* potential injury-related thing full-face helmets may not be so good for.

(No, I'm not going to tell you, you can find out for yourself - and it's a minor risk in the face of overwhelming advantages)

Looking at medical research is sobering. One can never predict exactly how a crash will happen, only prepare one's self as best as possible with good safety gear and safe riding practices. What looking at such research tells us is the safety advantages/disadvantages of different helmet types -

This independent medical research is pretty damning of open face helmets.

I've attached a recent paper analysing autopsies of helmeted riders from an URBAN area (Like where you state you would ride with the proposed open face helmet). Remembering that we can never control the muppetry of drivers around us, and that Tokyo driving standards are likely to be better than the woeful standards of Auckland drivers, it certainly gives me pause for thought with respect to whether an open face lid is ever OK in even in town.

There's always rotten.com or google images of course, but medical journal articles are a little more sophisticated as an informative tool than outright gore.

The University of Auckland, which you and I are lucky enough to attend, has excellent database subscriptions, not just in Law or Engineering, but in medical sciences too. You can get to most full text articles via google if you don't fancy the library databases. (So long as you're on the university network and UoA subscribes.)

Go and read independent information first before you make a decision.

IMHO The helmet you are considering is clearly beautifully made and stylish - it will make its wearer look the part, BUT it WILL fall short in the safety stakes in spite of those things that make it so desirable.

It's only safe for a hypothetical 'happyville' where car drivers don't exist and the road surface is as perfectly groomed as the stylish helmet-wearer.

If you're prepared to risk it, that's up to you: I'd rather you didn't as I'd hate to see you suffer adverse consequences without FULLY CONSIDERING the risks involved.

You can be as safe as you like, but you can never predict extrinsic factors like eedyits in cages. I prefer not to count on luck, so I wear a full-face helmet.

The open face you're looking at is worth a reasonable amount (even with a staff discount no doubt.) My 2¢ is that you'd be wise to put that towards a nice full face, of which your work has plenty.

I like to feel the breeze when riding too, so I ride visor-up frequently – I get the breeze through my flowing locks that way (haha) but I also know my face (ugly as it is) is safe behind the chin bar.

I'll not hassle you further...

Ride safe, and make an informed choice.

Ross.

[HenryDorsetCase]

Ive been looking for an open face helmet recently, but then I realised I only wanted it as an ornament in my study. Then I gave myself a sharp crack upside the head and told myself not to be so silly and to spend the money on something else (tyres for the race bike, getting the other VFR going, upgrading the street bike, hookers, JD). so unless its cheap......

[MisterD]

I've got one, and it's fantastic for English summer conditions. In Auckland I find it far too hot because of the leather liner (and the otherwise great) snug fit, so I wear a full face with vents and I avoid the horrible feeling of sweat seeping out and down the back of my neck...

[HenryDorsetCase]

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-158760136.htm

[ital916]

"Type of Helmet We classified helmets as either full-face or open-face. Open-face helmets included half helmets covering only the top of the head and “jet pilot”-style helmets covering the top and sides of the head but not the face or chin"

Thank you for the article ross, I do appreciate it and have had a good read through it. A few problems though.

1. The article states that the open face helmets used encompass, shorty, soup bowls styles etc all the way to jet styles. What it fails to do is break down the percentage and severity of injuries caused by each kind of open face helmet. A reason the percentage of injuries is greater in this test is the fact that "shorty's" and "soup bowls" and the such will barely protect your head. It's kind of like saying "we are going to compare injuries statistics between leather and non leather jackets. The non leather jackets can include plastic rubbish bags etc".

The "jet" helmet produced by davida *as silly as it may sound* comes with the ACU gold sticker, meaning it is race approved in the uk *though I fully support the use of full face helmets in racing*. This means it is not some silly half bowl made out of toy store plastic I shall be putting on my head, but low and behold might actually have some inkling of quality and protectiveness.

2. What were the conditions of the crashes. It just states autopsies of the deceased due to traffic accidents. Now the traffic in japan is hectic. Was there alcohol involved, excessive speed by the motorcyclist. What were the road conditions, motorcycle conditions etc etc. Stating that thirty six dead peoople between the age of 19 and fifty were studied.

19 with o/f, seventeen with f/f. We found the open face helmets were worse than full face is a bit far. Study deceased people in excessive speed accidents with f/f and o/f "jet styles". Then bad weather f/f and o/f "jet styles" etc. Then collate results and reach a general conclusion.

I find it hard to swallow that all of a sudden the world has turned on the open face hlmet. I said it's a risk. I won't wear it everyday, but my god where has the passion gone. Yes I am a bit of a safety nazi but some days I do want to say oh poo I'm gonna be a little daring whilst still wearing a helmet that will provide excellent protection minus said face shielding.

The world is full of danger. I used to compete in martial arts, I've been put through tables, hyper-extended my shoulder, had concussions and numerous injuries from sports. I partake in boxing where I voluntarily step into a ring to bash and get bashed in the head. I bloody sit on an engine with two wheels where at any point in time a multitude of things may go wrong. I try my hardest, in fact I try 200% to not have accidents, to be aware and ride safely.These are dangerous activities but I love all of them. I know they are dangerous my friend, but living life in a safety bubble 100% of the time means I won't be experiencing the life I want to.

I do appreciate your counsel. You are a good friend Ross and I am glad that you believe in what you are saying and are good enough of a friend to be worried with my decisions to try and change them. Let us partake in more discussion soon where I shall further take apart the attached study *whilst you will undoubtedly put your lawyerly skills to use and piece it back together*.

Tell me Kb, where's the passion gone. It's funny. The posts when I first started motorcycling were full of naive ideas of this is bad and this is good in the motorcycling world. I've come to realise that behind every decision a motorcyclist makes there is usually an emotional as well as logical idea. Without that emotional feeling, we will.....will.....dear god....all turn into katmans. Yes there is sense and logic, but I believe motorcycling is nothing without passion *disclaimer: that is an opinon not a statement*.

Maybe it's just me. *braces for tellings off and bad rep*

[HenryDorsetCase]

. I've come to realise that behind every decision a motorcyclist makes there is usually an emotional as well as logical idea. Without that emotional feeling, we will.....will.....dear god....all turn into katmans. Yes there is sense and logic, but I believe motorcycling is nothing without passion *disclaimer: that is an opinon not a statement*.

Maybe it's just me. *braces for tellings off and bad rep*

absolutely right. well said. We call this process of "Coming to realise" things growing up.

If you want a Davida, you should just bloody well go out and get one.

Get one for me while you're up? Cheers.