Helmets Is your Helmet Safe???

[motomac]

I have had two unplanned get offs this year and had the same HJC flip shield helmet on in both cases. The second one broke the chin bar off on the left side. The helmet saved my bacon both times, but it has been replaced with another CL Max. Ever ride down the road and look over your shoulder with a busted chin bar???

 

[SupraSabre]

OK, I forgot open face helmets. I would place them below modular helmets but above half-helmets. By the way, what I mean by a half helmet is one that covers your head down to the tops of your ears or so. Would usually have vinyl or leather covering your ears.

I don't think that any of this is earth shattering information. It just seems obvious to me that a solid full face helmet provides more protection than a modular which is better than an open face and so on. It's all about the level of risk each of us is willing to tolerate. I know I should be ATGAT but sometimes I am not.

Larry

Agreed! The main reason for me to have a modular is as I stated, I get motion sickness and if I can get extra air, by opening the whole face, it helps a lot!

I have crash tested two helmets, with two different types of crashes. The first was a spill @65 mph from a frontend wobble. The Shoei Fullfaced helmet had some really nice scrapes along the top (would have been my hair and scalp if no helmet).:22yikes:

The second was with a Shoei Multitec. One bang on the back and a scraped front shield. But the helmet did it's job. :clap2:

Two reasons why I don't ride helmetless...4:

 

[eb-larry]

Agreed! The main reason for me to have a modular is as I stated, I get motion sickness and if I can get extra air, by opening the whole face, it helps a lot!

I have crash tested two helmets, with two different types of crashes. The first was a spill @65 mph from a frontend wobble. The Shoei Fullfaced helmet had some really nice scrapes along the top (would have been my hair and scalp if no helmet).:22yikes:

The second was with a Shoei Multitec. One bang on the back and a scraped front shield. But the helmet did it's job. :clap2:

Two reasons why I don't ride helmetless...4:

Interestingly, three of my four get-offs in 30+ years on the street were when I was not wearing a helmet. One of those was at freeway speeds from a blown rear tube. I consider myself very lucky I did not hit my head. My most recent accident was at low speed from some slippery coolant. I hit my head really hard and blacked out for few moments. By that point I was wearing a full face helmet and I figure it saved me from a fractured skull. All I had was a moderate concussion. You just never know.

Larry

 

[SupraSabre]

Interestingly, three of my four get-offs in 30+ years on the street were when I was not wearing a helmet. One of those was at freeway speeds from a blown rear tube. I consider myself very lucky I did not hit my head. My most recent accident was at low speed from some slippery coolant. I hit my head really hard and blacked out for few moments. By that point I was wearing a full face helmet and I figure it saved me from a fractured skull. All I had was a moderate concussion. You just never know.

Larry

Luck and someone watching out for you, for sure! :22yikes:

 

[Fjroamer]

Every impact is unique, every load is different. From the way the FJR forum guys post looks, the helmet was not fitted well or the strap was too loose. If you look at the pics on the CalSci site, it is a miriacle that the rider was not dead.

Chris

Sorry and don't mean to be contentious here but I saw the helmet, was at the scene and rode with Dennis all day. It was never stated that his helmet was not fitted properly and it was never stated that he did not have it firmly attached. You made that assumption through other peoples mere random speculation. He had facial, ear and bridge of the nose cuts most likely from the chin bar popping open and the helmet being forced over his head from back to front. This probably would not have happened with a full face but that too is speculation. Yesterday I stopped in at a shop, with owners permission I tried 5 different HJC flip fronts. I hit the chinbar at the latch release as hard as I dared with the palm of my hand and three popped open (but not every time). Impailing your chin on the front of bike (going over bars) or landing on your chin on impact with ground or into a tree or another vehicle can force these things to pop open. It is safe to assume that this has happened in unique cases and will happen in unique cases. And please note I did say "assume" and "probably" , not "I know" or "absolutely"

Not meant to be an argument, just a clarification (and yes, I'm most likely a bit too touchy still)

Roamer

 

[clmixon]

Sorry and don't mean to be contentious here but I saw the helmet, was at the scene and rode with Dennis all day. It was never stated that his helmet was not fitted properly and it was never stated that he did not have it firmly attached. You made that assumption through other peoples mere random speculation. He had facial, ear and bridge of the nose cuts most likely from the chin bar popping open and the helmet being forced over his head from back to front. This probably would not have happened with a full face but that too is speculation. Yesterday I stopped in at a shop, with owners permission I tried 5 different HJC flip fronts. I hit the chinbar at the latch release as hard as I dared with the palm of my hand and three popped open (but not every time). Impailing your chin on the front of bike (going over bars) or landing on your chin on impact with ground or into a tree or another vehicle can force these things to pop open. It is safe to assume that this has happened in unique cases and will happen in unique cases. And please note I did say "assume" and "probably" , not "I know" or "absolutely"

Not meant to be an argument, just a clarification (and yes, I'm most likely a bit too touchy still)

Roamer

No Problemo, Any incident like that would make anyone touchy.

Chris

 

[RaYzerman]

I remember reading somewhere there is only one helmet that will not come off your head, if you put it on strap it up normally and properly, lift the back up at the back of your neck. Only one. Can't remember the brand.
I like flip fronts, and now have a Scorpion EXO-900. It appears very well designed, and you can custom fit the cheek pads and neck band via an inflation feature. I'm kinda doubting it will come off if you snug it in properly, but who knows.

 

[John Anthony]

Roamer,

Thanks for starting the thread and to all for posting links for follow up reading. I'll be replacing my Arai before next riding season and it's good to get caught up on the current thinking. My youngest still isn't overjoyed that her mom and dad ride. I try to make her as comfortable as I can by being informed on safety issues and making prudent decisions.

John