| Author | Message | ||
     Lbcalex |
This is a question for us people in the states. Are snell approved helmets legal to wear in the states also which one is better or are they basically the same dot or snell? | ||
| Eboos |
Yes, Snell helmets are also DOT approved. There is some debate as to which is better, due to the hardness of the impact foam in a Snell rated helmet. The summary is, you are not likely to sustain the types of impacts that Snell helmets are rated for, so on a lower velocity crash you may sustain more injury from the foam not collapsing easily enough. Motorcyclist magazine did an artical on this last spring. There was a link to it in a recent thread here. Edit: links added Motorcyclist story: http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/gearbox/motorcycle_helmet_review/ Snell's response: http://www.smf.org/response.html (Message edited by eboos on August 06, 2006) | ||
| Steve_mackay |
To pass a Snell foundation test, the helmet is subjected to some very high energy impacts. Helmet manufacturers must make their helmets stuffer to pass a Snell foundation test. The stiffer the helmet, the more G forces get passed to your noggin. The hardest Snell test for a motorcycle helmet to meet is the two-strike test. The helmet is subjected to a 150 joule drop on to a stainless steel ball about the size of an orange. The is similar to dropping an 11 pound weight from about 10 feet. Some seriously high energy impact. The next hit, on the exact same spot is set to 110 joules, or about an 8 foot drop. To pass, the helmet can't transmit more than 300 Gs to the inside of the helmet in either hit. So, really, in my opinion, the Snell test has transformed in to a marketing gimmick. DOT ONLY helmets are generally softer, and transmit less energy to your noggin. But they can't take a hit in the same spot, more than once. I've never seen a Snell rated helmet that isn't DOT approved as well. | ||
| Lbcalex |
how about the ones from japan that are snell only no dot? | ||
| Eboos |
I may be wrong, but if it is not DOT certified, you can not use it in the US. | ||
| Rr_eater |
Eboos is correct there, sort of.... Most enforcement agencies (cops) see SNELL as a superior rating to DOT (in my experiences). A such, they will look over the lack of a DOT sticker, though they should not. DOT rated melon cages are mandatory in states requiring their use, so there is a bit of a rating disparity here.... I have see both with and with out the other rating, Hell my X11 only says SNELL, no DOT approval, and it has been "inspected" by both local authorities and base police, so.... Bruce | ||
| Skyguy |
I went with a Euro helmet that only has DOT. That article in motorcyclist got me to thinking Snell is to much for a skinny guy with a light head................ | ||
| Jlnance |
Are snell approved helmets legal to wear in the states also which one is better or are they basically the same dot or snell? DOT is department of transportation, the govt agency. For states like NC, which require you to wear a helmet, this is the agency that certifies it as an acceptable helmet. For states which do not mandate helmet use, I wouldn't think the certification would matter. SNELL is a not-for-profit company which exists to promote helmet safety. They have their roots in racing helmets, but have branched out to other types of helmets over the years. Helmets marketed for use only in other countries have no need for DOT certification. They will be certified by the some govt agency where they are intended to be sold. All racetracks that I know of require SNELL helmets. As you saw mentioned above with respect to the stiffness of the foam, there is some debate as to what makes a helmet good. It is difficult to answer this, because we can't put healthy people in helmets, bang on their heads, and see if they survive. That being said, SNELL standards are more stringent than DOT. The DOT standards are what people must wear. They are political compromises amongst people with different agendas, including people who don't want to wear helmets at all. Thats why you can get a DOT half helmet. SNELL standards are written for people who actually want to be wearing a helmet and expect it to work. I would reccomend SNELL approved helmets. Helmets are a very competetive business, so keeping costs down is important. It's not possible for a consumer to look at a helmet and know how safe it is. The only clue they get is the certification. So manufacturers can not justify going beyond the certification if it makes the helmet cost more. The certification keeps people from trimming a millimeter off the foam to save $.20 per helmet. | ||
| Wes12185 |
Also, DOT requires only the the company say that the helmet meets the requirements, it doesn't do any testing. I'm sure if in retrospect the helmet was terrible they'd get in trouble, but no good if you already crashed your untested DOT helmet. | ||
| Grimel |
Until DOT requires more than the maker saying it meets the req's the DOT sticker is a bad joke. IIRC, SNELL buys off the shelf helmets at random spots to recheck approved helmets. I've walked away from many a low speed impact with a SNELL approved helmet. | ||
| Pwnzor |
DOT stickers are applied to helmets at the factory with NO inspection or approval from the United States Department of Transportation. USDOT neither certifies nor tests any helmets. The "DOT rating" is a set of guidelines established by the independent agencies and approved by the USDOT. It is the guidelines which the DOT approves, not the helmets themselves. Regardless of these facts, the DOT sticker rating is requred for all helmets used on public highways in the USA. Funny thing, in states where no helmet is required, you can still get a ticket for a "non-DOT" helmet.  | ||
| Jlnance |
Funny thing, in states where no helmet is required, you can still get a ticket for a "non-DOT" helmet. Our governments can be beyond stupid sometimes. | ||
| Grimel |
only sometimes? I'm more suprized when they do something relatively smart than when they do something like giving a non-DOT helmet ticket in a no helmet state. | ||
| Diablobrian |
Don't forget you can always buy a DOT sticker from ebay for your lid that exceeds DOT specs, after all people put them on their brain buckets to avoid tickets. Most cops do not really give full face helmets a second look in regards to DOT stickers, That's usually something they hit the guys with the minimal (yarmulke) skid lids. | ||
| Pwnzor |
BUY a sticker??? That's a good one. Aren't we all using COMPUTERS here???? We disagree on the spelling of Yarmulkah but we agree that that type of helmet is the target of those tickets.  | ||
| Diablobrian |
My computer won't cut vinyl letters for me. I certainly wish it would. | ||
| Teddagreek |
DOT Rating is a Joke.... Shame on US that there is no STRICT standards such as CE and BSI... What kills me there are actually people that think that a half helmet is all you need.. | ||
| Skyguy |
My non snell helmet is one of the best helmets made out of italy. Hard to argue with the numbers posted by the mag............. | ||
| Lbcalex |
thanks for the info guys bought a helmet with the snell rating can't wait to get it. my old helmet has seen better days. | ||
| Eboos |
"What kills me there are actually people that think that a half helmet is all you need." Ever notice that all motorcycle police wear 3/4 helmets, and no leathers? Wouldn't that be setting more of an example if they were wearing something like a modular fullface, and a proper suit? | ||
| Grimel |
Look at the European motorcops. | ||
| Eboos |
Never seen them. | ||
| Grimel |
here is a link http://www.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/02032004135430MIKH66.htm Here is the BMW police site. http://www.bmw-motorrad-authorities.com/authorities/en/index.html | ||
| Mdm |
google search, tada  Seriously, when I lived in Norway *everyone* wore full leathers and the cops drove bikes in the snow ! The kids drove scooters, in the winter, tripod style around icy corners. I think there was some kind of insurance discount with full leather ? | ||
| Eboos |
Is there just something in the mentality of the average American that causes us to ignore what we know is the right thing? (I hope I didn't come across as a little too far to the left) | ||
| Grimel |
It is very simple. In the US we don't consider motorcycles as real transportation. They are treated like toys. |
