My Shark's visor popped off when I fell off

**Jiminy** · 10th February 2009, 21:38

I was riding with a pillion on Saturday night. Going downhill on the Takaka Hill, we were coming out of a blind left (in a left-right-left sequence) when we met a rock the size of two bricks waiting in the middle of our line (after what seemed like ages to decide, I tried to swerve on the outside of the curve, but didn't manage to avoid the rock).

We were only doing about 30-40 kph, and my pillion escaped with (almost) nothing: she didn't even scratch her brand new leather jacket! Oh, and I only have minor injuries myself (and was riding the next day).

Our gear worked well. My pillion's trousers and gloves took a minor hit, while I put my helmet, Quasi leather, shoulder armour, draggin jeans and gloves to good use. Although my draggin jeans were scratched open at the ankle where there is no kevlar, my boot did protect me.

However, when I hit the ground with my helmet, my visor's quick release button broke and my visor popped off (well, half off). Now I don't know for you, but I'm really uncomfortable with that. When I hit the road (the hard way), I count on my visor to stay in front of my eyes. My helmet is a Shark S800, and I sure know what helmet I will NOT be buying again!

**The Stranger:Me** · 10th February 2009, 21:42

You buy these cheap helmets you got to expect this kind of thing.
After all what's your head worth?

**Jiminy** · 10th February 2009, 21:55

Originally Posted by The Stranger

You buy these cheap helmets you got to expect this kind of thing.
After all what's your head worth?

Hmmmm, I'd like if things were that simple, but I think it has more to do with the way the visor is attached to the helmet. Somehow, I don't think that the visor on the $150 HJC I used when I started riding (instead of about $500 for the Shark) would have popped open the same way (no, I'm not prepared to test it).

**Katman** · 10th February 2009, 21:56

An S800 isn't a cheap helmet.

It's not top of the line but all helmets with a quick release visor mechanism have the potential to pop off like that in an accident.

Shark's top of the range helmets feature an extra two catches that stop the visor coming off.

**Jiminy** · 10th February 2009, 22:04

Originally Posted by Katman

An S800 isn't a cheap helmet.

It's not top of the line but all helmets with a quick release visor mechanism have the potential to pop off like that in an accident.

Shark's top of the range helmets feature an extra two catches that stop the visor coming off.

Ah, now that's useful information! Thanks Katman

Still, I'm surprised by how easily the visor went off, considering that I was really not going fast and didn't hit my helmet hard.

**McDuck** · 10th February 2009, 22:08

Originally Posted by Jiminy

Ah, now that's useful information! Thanks Katman

Still, I'm surprised by how easily the visor went off, considering that I was really not going fast and didn't hit my helmet hard.

Are you 100% sure that it was on properly when you put it on last?

**Ryan432** · 10th February 2009, 22:17

The visor on my s800 popped off when I crashed but I had just slammed my face into the ground at pace and I barely felt a thing! to me thats a good helmet! I think it has to do with the effect of the helmet flexing on the quick release mechanisim..

**Katman** · 10th February 2009, 22:19

There are expensive helmets and there are cheap helmets.

There are cheap helmets that will crack like an egg on impact and there are those that do what they'd designed for.

Shark are a company that supply a range of helmets that cater for all budgets. All of their helmets meet stringent safety requirements but obviously their helmets in the higher price range provide extra features.

I owned a Shark helmet for a lot of years before I became a Shark stockist. And the decision to do so was based entirely on how I felt about my own helmet.

**racerhead** · 10th February 2009, 22:47

The visors on most quick release helmets will pop off if they get hit in a certain area so I wouldnt worry so much about it. The visors dont help with any structural strength in the helmet and offer little protection to your eyes when sliding down the road as most grit and stuff can get in around your chin

**FruitLooPs** · 10th February 2009, 22:49

Its not just shark, wasn't there a thread a while ago about a fellows Shoei XR1000 visor popping off when he came off, shortly before he axed his face into a road sign (but survived)

I've got an XR1000 myself, and it doesn't help me feel at ease. Although the rest of the helmet performed very well by all accounts.

**Katman** · 10th February 2009, 22:52

Originally Posted by racerhead

The visors on most quick release helmets will pop off if they get hit in a certain area so I wouldnt worry so much about it. The visors dont help with any structural strength in the helmet and offer little protection to your eyes when sliding down the road as most grit and stuff can get in around your chin

But.........

.......the 3 mm thick visors of Sharks top range give considerable protection to that area protected by them.

I've watched the sales rep take one of the 3 mm visors and bend it backwards upon itself till the two outside ends touch and then seen it return back into shape just like new.

**MaxB** · 11th February 2009, 00:08

Hi Jiminy

Glad to hear you and yours are OK. For your next helmet I found this link helpful:

http://www.smf.org/faqs.html

Basically any approved standard compliant helmet will give adequate protection from impact. Despite what the marketers tell you there is very little difference in a Snell or ECE 22-05 complied helmet whether it be $200 or $2000.

There is a catch. Passive safety. For helmets this is basically that the helmet must do nothing to distract you from riding safely. Comfort, light weight, wind sealing, aerodynamics, ventilation, ease of operation with chinstraps and changing visors are all improved with R&D that someone has to pay for.

It is the features that separate helmets in price given the safety standard is reached. A good fitting, comfortable helmet that does not distract the rider is far more important than what particular brand it is. I think every rider has a brand or model that is just right for them.

**Mikkel** · 11th February 2009, 01:26

Originally Posted by Katman

I've watched the sales rep take one of the 3 mm visors and bend it backwards upon itself till the two outside ends touch and then seen it return back into shape just like new.

That's very interesting. However, irregardless of how flexible the visor is, the probability of it staying in place and protecting the wearer's face depends much more upon the fastening system which keeps the visor in place to begin with.

Shattering thermoplastics doesn't happen that often after all.

**Gizzit** · 11th February 2009, 02:17

This thread ... just caught my eye .... and I was going to chime in with some silly comment about sharks wearing visors anyway ??? what is the sea world coming to .... and shit like that .... but then I remembered .... when I binned my bike back in November last year, the Shark S500 I was wearing .... did the same ... it popped the visor on one side.
Actually what it did ... was break the visor mount on the one side of my helmet, so that I couldn't pop the visor back in place (ok .. not smart .. but I rode home with my broken gear / busted bike ... at the time !!)

I wonder if Shark has a weakness then with the visor mount! (sorry .. haven't read the whole thread ... someone may have already said stuff about it ...)
Just thought I'd add my 000.457 cents worth ...