Helmet Safety Question.

[Rambunctous]

Does a top of the line Arai or Shoei offer more safety than a lower cost model or is it just more bells and whistles? Sorry if this question has been asked before.

[NobodySpecific]

You will get every different answer to that question. I won't buy super cheap helmets, but HJC has proven crashworthy to me (left side impact and scratches, rash all over the front, and rash on the right side) and there is data that suggests that there are some cheaper helmets can prove even better than some of the more expensive helmets, but I don't have the data handy, sorry. Research the specific helmet you want and you should be able to get a reasonable feel for it's safety factor.

Edit: You will usually get a nicer fit & finish with the more expensive helmets

[ZOG]

Money does not equal safety
read this
http://sharp.direct.gov.uk/testhelmetlist
The Sharp tests:


THE HELMET SAFETY SCHEME

Up to 50 lives could be saved each year if motorcyclists wore the safest helmets available to them.

SHARP came into being in 2007, after the Department for Transport found real differences in the safety performance of motorcycle helmets available in the UK. While all helmets have to meet minimum safety standards, research showed that up to 50 lives could be saved each year if motorcyclists wore the safest helmets available to them.

That’s why SHARP is here.

Taking the best bits from current standards around the world, SHARP raises the bar – putting motorcycle helmets through a more rigorous and targeted testing process.

Thanks to a simple five star scoring system, SHARP provides motorcyclists with independent and objective advice, revealing the different safety performances of UK motorcycle helmets.

___________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________

some inexpensive helmets score very well and some expensive helmets are just fair.

Here is another interesting helmet read. http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/ge...iew/index.html
A lot of helmet snobbery exists, don't fall for it.


If some one pays $700 for a helmet, what do you expect them to say about it?
Especially when a helmet for 1/2 the price scores higher on the Sharp safety rating.
Don't judge by anecdotes and decals, use an independent safety testing authority, if you are buying for safety.

Remember; It's got to fit to work, (don't buy too big.)

[Rambunctous]

The 2011 Arai lineup. Will be for racing only.
Corair-V
RX-Q
Profile
Vecotor-2
All of these meet and exceed the requirements. But does any of these offer more protection than another (of the same brand) or does more money just get more bells and whistles?

[G21forme]

Pm duncanmoto if you have questions about their line, he and Komaki know some shiznit about arais. Jerseygirl as well

[OreoGaborio]

When it comes to Arai, it's pretty much just the features. Try them all on and hope the cheapest one fits.

I"m a Vector head

[Pigman]

Arai....

[R7]

Some people have funny shaped heads..so each brand may fit one or another better. IMO the brand that has the required ratings and fits your mellon the best should offer the best protection.

[Stromper]

Blah Blah eventually there way the idea that helmets were judged by their ability to protect in multiple impacts (car racing) so the foam is too stiff. What they said was that softer foam protects better from concussion on the first big impact. They ultimately said the cheaper helmet with softer foam was better for the protection against concussion.

My recollection is helmets that pass DOT but fail Snell are safer for motorcycling.

Then I buy another Shoei every 5 years, will be getting an rf1100 soon

[burnham]

The 2011 Arai lineup. Will be for racing only.
Corair-V
RX-Q
Profile
Vecotor-2
All of these meet and exceed the requirements. But does any of these offer more protection than another (of the same brand) or does more money just get more bells and whistles?

yes. I just was in Moto Market last week and talked helmets with Paul for a while.

[legalspeed]

Got a $5 brain? Put it in a $5 helmet. It will wind up there anyway.

Not a $5 brain? Then take the advice from someone that has been a safety director for decades, one whom accepts partial responsibilty for each and every impact. I would suggest Jerry Wood, any of his relatives (sons), or John Ulrich.

NOTE: they are very busy and you may not be able to get their time.

I was smart enough to learn from the experience and expertise of professionals that have been in the safety business for more than 40years.

I wear a Shoei and would consider an Arai.

Good luck bro.

[DuncanMoto]

Come visit us Exit 17 of Mass Pike East.
I'll teach you and show and tell for 20-30 minutes.
There's a lot more CORRECT information I can give you and show you here in person.

[Karaya One]

My new lid. Paul at Motomarket spent about 40 minutes with me trying on all kinds of helmets, cheek pads etc.

I really wanted the XD style at first, but in the end went with the Vector 2.

[DucDave]

Ah....late winter Helmet thread. And I thought, for a minute, we'd forgotten....

[obsolete]

That article will never die.

[DuncanMoto]

The 2011 Arai lineup. Will be for racing only.
Corair-V
RX-Q
Profile
Vector-2
All of these meet and exceed the requirements. But does any of these offer more protection than another (of the same brand) or does more money just get more bells and whistles?

The biggest difference in the models is head shape and bells and whistles.
You really just need to get fit properly.

[rbrais]

More expensive helmets may not protect any better than some cheaper helmets, but there is a good chance they will be quieter and more stable at highway speed. You usually have to pay a little more for aerodynamics, but then I haven't checked out the new additions like Scorpion.

[G21forme]

Pm duncanmoto if you have questions about their line, he and Komaki know some shiznit about arais. Jerseygirl as well

Come visit us Exit 17 of Mass Pike East.
I'll teach you and show and tell for 20-30 minutes.
There's a lot more CORRECT information I can give you and show you here in person.

I said that, now give me free parts!

[DuncanMoto]

I said that, now give me free parts!

O.K., but just for you.
Come see us sometime.

[Mike Qube]

Before I got my Arai, I had an HJC and a GMAXX. Both were good helmets and the GMAXX did it's job when I got hit in the shield on 93s with a piece of metal while going 75. The differences that I've noticed between the less expensive helmets and the Arai are;
Comfort - the Aria fits me perfectly. The others didn't quite feel right no matter what I did to them.
Quality/Finish - I've only had the Aria for one season now, but if I cleaned the bugs off if it, it would look as good as new. I wore the HJC for about 6 months and parts of the liner are showing tons of wear, the trim ring around the bottom doesnt want to quite stay on anymore. I wore the GMaxx for about a year and it's showing lots of wear, for one it has a matte finish. That has started to peel off, the liner needs replacing as it's starting to have foam poking through it. One thing about the GMaxx is the shield is tough. I got hit with what looked like a junction box cover doing 75 and took it right off the shield. It barely left a scratch, but did break one of the little nubs that holds it in place, so I had to replace it.
Optics - The Aria's shield is like looking through a clean spotless window compared to the other two. The HJC seemed to scratch if I breathed the wrong way and was never quite clear. The GMaxx is tough as hell, but sometimes it would make weird light reflections and I would kinda get rainbows on things.

[Rusty the Scoob]

Count me in the camp that believes that as far as we know, $200 worth of HJC or Scorpion branded EPS-foam-with-shell offers the exact same protection as $500 worth of Arai branded EPS-foam-with-shell. (assuming they both fit correctly)

I'd gladly pay extra for a lid that is scientifically proven to be safer, but unfortunately all we get is a pass/fail rating system.

[Garandman]

I have an Arai Profile because it has a "long-oval" shape. But it seems to be designed for touring riders, so I have to cant my neck up to see while track riding.

The more expensive helmets seem to have more shell sizes and better interior materials. I'm not sure there has ever been a study done on the relative importance of fit versus helmet construction, but I'm not taking the chance.

[xsiliconkid]

Taking the major brands into account.
One big difference between their "race" marketed versions and street; “race" helmets typically have more ventilation ports for the obvious reason you are working harder on a race track. For the street, All the vents can make them "noisy" as a street helmet.

Re HJC polycarbonate (plastic) shells vs. composite shells - there is a lot of anecdotal evidence that the poly shell (cheaper to manufacture) is not a good choice for racing, e.g., LRRS and some other organizations ban them.
ps HJC do make composite shell helmets as well.

[DuncanMoto]

xsiliconkid is right on.

As for Rusty The Scoob:
Polycarbonate injection molded shells with single density EPS foam protects you from impact like a '73 Chevy Caprice with a lap belt only.

Composite fiberglass or kevlar based handmade shells with multiple density EPS foam liners absorbs impact like a modern day BMW with crumple zones, shoulder belts and airbags.

I will never wear a plastic helmet on the track, so why would I wear one on the street.
That said... HJC and Scorpion make composite fiberglass shells as well and some of the upper end models utilize multi density EPS foam.

In closing.
1. Read about the helmet you are thinking of purchasing and know what it is made of.
2. Don't buy plastic (polycarbonate) shells.
3. Make sure it fits your head correctly. (Any doubts, pm me for some free self fitting advice.)
4. Realize that you only get one chance to protect your head in an accident. (the last thought I had when hitting pavement face first at 70mph was "Thank god I spent $600 on this Arai that I am about to destroy and walk away from".)

["Dangerous" Dan K]

Let me preface this with saying "Duncanmoto has forgotten more about helmets than I'll ever know, listen to them first".

That said, I got my bell rung a couple times last year. The TTD after the last race weekend, I borrowed an R6 for a session. I race EX's. Turns out, whacking an R6 open generated enough force to push the helmet against my lips. That surprised and scared me. It got in my head, and I didn't ride on my 100% A game the rest of the TD, even back on my own bike (which weighs a metric fuckton and makes 50hp) even though that never happened on my own bike. And it's a good helmet (scorpion) that has served my friends well in many crashes, and served me well once. All that said, this is just like the tire thread I commented in earlier. I have 10 cents of concentration to spend at any given moment. That 10 cent has to be shared. Shared between traction, location, strategy, markers, braking, the bike next to me, etc. I don't have a fraction of a cent to spend thinking about my lid. I'll be seeing Duncan Moto for a proper fitting of a high quality helmet before I race again. I'm not even sure that an arai will protect me better than a scorpion, but im damn sure a scorpion will not protect me more than an arai. It's worth it to me to get that fraction of a cent worth of concentration back on the track and off of my helmet.


edit: jebus, I sound like a duncan shill lately. Anyone that knows me will vouch, I have no affiliation with this shop. I pay retail. I like Ted and Komaki but have no affiliation. I just know how careful they are fitting high end helmets, and that shit matters to me. That crap can save the lives of my friends, or myself. So no, I'm not on any payroll, I'm not getting discounts, I'm just telling it how I see it. I raced in a legit cheapo helmet (joe rocket) and was REALLY unhappy with how I felt after a relatively minor crash. I'm not willing to think the same thing about my scorpion after a MAJOR crash, regardless how good a job it did me on a similar and minor(ish) crash. I'd rather just spend the $ and be confident in my gear, so I can ride 100% and have all 10 cent for the task at hand. And, of course, the best helmet in the world sucks if it's fitted wrong. I thought my Scorpion fit perfect until it pressed against my lips and nose when I whacked open that R6. I'm done self-fitting. Time to see the pro's.