Helmets Modular Helmet failures?

RP3

RP3

Joined
Feb 16, 2007
Messages
6
Location
Vancouver, WA
Bike
2001 ST 1100
I am seeking posts from people with bona fide firsthand experience with crashing and modular (flip) helmets. Specifically if there are any genuine situations of helmet failure due to modular design.


I love my aging Shoei RF1000 which is the best fitting helmet I've ever worn and I will be replacing it very soon.
Santa says to take my wife with me (even though she would much rather go to the yarn store than a bike shop) and get one before Jan 1.
My most likely purchase will be a Qwest , but I found a great deal on In-stock Shoei helmets - RF1100's at the local Cycle Gear through the end of the weekend (20% off = $319) and have also been a longtime considerer (if that's really a word) of a Multitec (which they also have in stock - but no Qwest in stock).
The Qwest is currently tops on my list due to reports of increased quietness, and I know the Multitec will be a little noiser - but maybe someone wants to sound off on this point too.
Thanks and Happy New Year to all
 
Re: Helmet failures

I really can't go past Shoei................expensive yes, but.......best fitting helmet ever!!

"The quality remains long after the price is forgotten"

Cheers and best wishes for the New year

Baz :aussie1:
 
Re: Helmet failures

I normally use modular helmet(fulmer), one time I crash but only rollon the floor was not a direct impact helmet, in this case help a lot and no broke, but I undertand that never be strong as full face.
pros
love to flip up fill the are and give you more sensation of frredom.

neg
too heave due a modular mechanics add more weight to your head and neck

remenber that front only have 2 screw to hold the modular, never will be strong and light as a full face helmet.
 
Re: Helmet failures

If you fall off and the flip-front section fails, you have more important things to worry about than failure.

For me it is about comfort and ease of use. I could never use a full face as I like the fact you can just flip up the front bit and feel the breeze (when stopped or very low speed)
 
Re: Helmet failures

nubeena said:
I really can't go past Shoei................expensive yes, but.......best fitting helmet ever!!

"The quality remains long after the price is forgotten"

Cheers and best wishes for the New year


Baz :aussie1:
Click to expand...

I have to agree, been using my multitech for a while now and am very impressed.

I was in a bike accident at work about 10 years ago and was wearing a BMW system 3 helmet, the side of my head hit the road at around 80mph and this caused the visor to come off, exposing my face to the grit and crap flying around. I then gracefully went backwards into a fence which took the top of the helmet off like the top of a boiled egg.

Apart from the bruising, the busted ribs and pain I was ok, the lid took a massive impact but it saved my head(I like to think so anyway). I was also wearing a Knox back protector which due to the impact left its shape in bruising on some areas of my back.

I have pics of the ST1100 after the accident and it looks like it has been hit by a missile.
 
I have used Caberg, okay but noisy and not as robust feeling as the following... then moved to a Schuberth C2, good helmet with internal sun-visor, survived an accident although no serious impact damage.

Then moved to a Shoei Multitech, this is by far THE most comfortable helmet I have ever worn, even with the Autcom speakers fitted. Although no sun-visor this is not an issue as a good pair of sunglasses compensates for that and is a minor inconvenience. A very good pinlock system and whisper kit too. Very easy visor removal for maintenance or cleaning. Excellent 2 stage ventilation too.
Expensive, oh yes, but very well worth it.
 
Have a look at the Shark Evoline
The only flip front helmet to be tested both with the front open and closed.
It's probably more functional than a simple flip-up helmet, because the Evoline is designed to be worn with the chin bar rotated all the way back, unlike most/all flip-up helmets, which are not designed to be worn (and are not safe and in the UK illegal) with the rotating visor in the raised position. Except maybe some Roof helmets.
Scores 5 stars in the Sharp test.
70% of impact tests saw the front remain FULLY locked. Very impressive when you look at other flip front test results. Some manufacturers will not submit their modular helmets to this test...I wonder why??
Schuberth C3 3 Star rating
Shoei Multitech 3 Star rating
Both these helmets are twice the price of the Shark??
I have had mine for two years I will replace it with another, the weight disappears when it's on your head, it's internal sun visor could be longer...this has been addressed in newer models.
I have never had a better helmet....I used the Shoei Multitech for years whilst riding with the Police the Shark is much better in my opinion.
If you do go the Shark route wash the coating off the visor as soon as you get it I don't know what they put on it but mine smeared something chronic in the first rain fall I was in.
 
Paul, I'd have thought you used the Syncrotec with the police, not the more recently introduced Multitec.

I have two Syncros (Mk I and II) and find them comfortable but noisy - no quieter than the Caberg I used to have.

I tried on a Shark and found the sizing was too large with too much space either side... intended for people who have rounder heads than me, I guess. Apart from that it seemed a very well made and plushly comfortable helmet.

Sorry, I don't have any crash experience though.
 
Re: Helmet failures

echo said:
Hmmm like what?
Click to expand...

The fact you head has hit the ground/object so hard your helmet has FAILED. Either you have hit a solid object..... or something has hit you and there are more important things to worry about.

As for the SHARK rating the tests are all done at 28mph so if you hit something at 28mph then the rating will help. If you hit something at 40mph+ it is anyone's guess.
This was told to me by a 5 star rated helmet distributor in the UK.
 
Re: Helmet failures

I crash tested the very first Shoei I had and since then that's all I will buy. I love the fit and haven't had any problems with them at all. :bow1:

A couple of years ago, I crash tested a Multitech at low speed (25 to 30 mph) and although the helmet scraped the K-Rail (a small area of white paint on it) it did not disfuction. I replaced it with another Multiech. :clap2:

I also have an Autocom and the speakers fit just fine after taking a little piece of fleece to cover them, so they don't directly touch my ears. :D
 
Re: Helmet failures

echo said:
I see people riding with those modular helmets flipped up all the time. If they crash while doing so I would have to believe that counts as design failure.
Click to expand...

Since nearly all flip up helmets are designed to be used only when the flip is closed (there arey exceptions such as the Shark Evoline and the Scorpion EXO 900) it would seem to me that crashing with the flip open is an operator error not a design failure.
 
alphafang said:
I have had mine for two years I will replace it with another, the weight disappears when it's on your head, it's internal sun visor could be longer...this has been addressed in newer models.
I have never had a better helmet....I used the Shoei Multitech for years whilst riding with the Police the Shark is much better in my opinion.
Click to expand...

The Multitec did not appear in the Shoei line up until 2007. It would appear that if years of use were involved before the last 2 years in a Shark you wore the Shoei Syncrotec which was replaced by the Multitec.
 
Re: Helmet failures

lawmanuk said:
I was also wearing a Knox back protector which due to the impact left its shape in bruising on some areas of my back.
Click to expand...

:th1:
I wear one of these as well because of reading someone else's very similar story. The emergency room doc told him he could see bruising on the spine that mirrored the kevlar plates. Told him that if he had not been wearing it, his back would have been broken in several places. Made a believer out of me which is why for the last 12 years I've seldom been on a bike without it. Velcros right into my Darien.
 
Re: Helmet failures

Mick said:
Told him that if he had not been wearing it, his back would have been broken in several places. Made a believer out of me which is why for the last 12 years I've seldom been on a bike without it.
Click to expand...

I was told by the doc that had I not been wearing it I would have probably met my maker or best case scenario paralysed. The back protector that I was wearing was sent back to the manufacturer for testing as they wanted to examine it.

I see some have recommended the Schuberth C3, I had one, new and out of the box and after about 7 months of constant use the hinge mechanism gave up, if the front was opened up it would not stay up, it was sent back, returned and came back the same way. They all ended up in the bin and the Multitech's bought for us.
 
echo said:
It gives the owner the option of ensuring failure. Something you cant say a conventional ff helmet does!
Click to expand...

What if you don't secure the chin strap and the full face helmet came off during a crash? Would that be design failure or operator error?
 
We discussed the listed crash ad nauseum when it happend. The guy 'fell asleep' and hit that fence at something north of 60 MPH. In my opinion, the helmet didn't fail...

You pays your money, and takes your chances, I guess. I have seen several examples of Modular Helmets that didn't fail.
 
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