| Author | Message | ||
     Skyguy |
Hi All, I took it upon myself to copy this post from another area becasue it seems to be an important stand along topic. I read the article linked by Henrik and found it ot be fascinating. I am seriously re-thinking my next helmet purchase due to it. I am looking forward to everyone take on the article... (Posted by Henrik) This Motorcyclist helmet article has been mentioned before. But here it is along with the SNELL open letter response, as well as Motorcyclist's response to SNELLs letter. http://motorcyclistonline.com/gearbox/hatz/ | ||
| Southern Marine |
I read an article similar to this in RIDER or CW magazine, forget which issue. Anyway, they did their test on helmets, rated them and then talked about helmets and testing. The point, wear a full face helmet that is at least DOT certified. If you do and you have an accident, you stand a very high chance of walking away from it with your head intact. Each safety standard has different testing methods and they are all good, so if you get one that meets one, two, or all of the standards, great for you, just wear one, please. The article I read rates helmets that costs anywhere from $149 to $800. One of the top helmets was HJC CL-14. Testing and recommending helmets is "subjective". What I might consider the perfect helmet for me, may not be the case for you. Spend what you want, but my suggestion is wear a helmet, preferably a full face, wear one that is comfortable to you, and please make sure that it meets at least one of the many safety standards. | ||
| Djkaplan |
I decided on the polycarbonate CL-14 instead of a more expensive fiberglass helmet based on the Motorcyclist article. I hope I never have to find out if I made the right choice. | ||
| Rotchcrocket51 |
The helmet study article that I read was in Motorcyclist. My new helmet, a Scorpion EXO-700, was rated as # 2 in the list as putting the MOST g-forces on your brain in a crash. The Arai was the # 1, as best I remember. This concerned me, but I continued to wear it. On July 9, at Barber Motorsports Park, I had a high-side crash on my M-2, at approximately 90-100 mph. The corner worker said that I was still holding on to the left grip when my feet were straight up in the air. I remember looking down on the bike when I was in the air, so his account sounds about right. As best as I could recreate the crash, I flipped in the air so that the first thing that hit the track was my right shoulder. The next thing to hit the track was the back of my head, then my left foot and hand as I began to roll like a rolling pin on the track. This rolling went on forever, it seemed. I can remember wanting it to JUST STOP! Right before it did stop, my feet came around in the direction that I was traveling so I was on my back with my head pointing toward the oncoming traffic. Fortunately, everyone managed to miss me and the bike, which was also still in the track. My point in all this is that I never lost consciousness. Witnesses said my hand was up waving to the corner worker as soon as I stopped. I think the helmet performed admirably, in the worst possible situation. At least, I hope I never put a helmet to a more severe test. I contacted Scorpion and asked if they would like to have the helmet to study since it had been tested in a real world crash. They now have the helmet but I haven't heard anything else from them. As soon as I recover from my other injuries, I intend on purchasing an identical helmet. As far as I am concerned, I think it is a great product. | ||
| Djkaplan |
Wow! Great post. I've highsided my M2 before at a much lower speed. I plan on doing a trackday at Barber in the fall. I hope I don't do that again. | ||
| Steve_mackay |
I really wish someone would make a Snell approved flip front helmet for us guys that wear glasses. | ||
| Spatten1 |
After the article ran I bought a Suomy because they are BSI certified rather than Snell. I did not want a cheap helmet. The lower line Suomy is the same as the old Gunwind (used to be top of the line) with different vents and a much lower price. | ||
| Outrider |
Steve...Sorry Bud, but Snell is full face only compliments of the fragile nature of the hinging mechanism. So what's your problem with getting your glasses on with a helmet? I've seen your specs and they should fit just fine. At least you don't have a pair of the Poindexter Goggles from the 1970 and 1980's. Damn, those were really a bitch on your beak as the helmet kept banging them down on your schnozola.  | ||
| Steve_mackay |
Outtie, just laziness really. It's nice putting a helmet on without taking my glasses off  I've also got the Buell helmet for track days(wife picked it up at a rummage sale for $25, 1 year old, worn twice said the owner ). But I'm SURE a flip front helmet could be engineered to be Snell approved, even with the hinge mechanism. | ||
| Whodom |
Steve...Sorry Bud, but Snell is full face only compliments of the fragile nature of the hinging mechanism. Outrider, Not true; from Snell's webpage (http://www.smf.org/): Why won't Snell certify some types of helmets like flip up front designs? Snell does not dismiss out of hand any helmet design that strays from the conventional. Snell does not point out any design specifications other than general requirements in our standards. We are however, always concerned with innovations and new designs that may effect the helmet's ability to protect the wearer, or in some cases the helmets potential to cause injury. At present the Foundation has not had the opportunity to test any of the flip up front type helmets for certification. We do not find any fault with these designs as long as they are used according to the manufacturers instructions and meet all of the requirements of the standard. We will also certify any size of helmet as long as it meets the same requirements as any other Snell certified helmet. Given that these helmets have been out for a few years now, it seems pretty odd that they haven't tested any of them yet. | ||
| Henrik |
It's not unlikely that no manufacturers have submitted helmets for testing and certification. Speaking from vague memory, I think SNELL testing includes some sort of impact to the chin bar test. Most major helmet manufacturers have their own testing facilities, and may realize that their flip-front helmets will not pass at least that part of SNELL testing. Just thinking out loud. No facts to support this. Henrik |
