Open face helmets question

[guest27]

Ahhh - these are the tests that MCN amongst others are up in arms about - maybe because they belittle some serious advertisers.  Is testing of helmets based on some data and some assumptions (and it would seem missinterprutation of some of the data).  Dont think O/F have been tested as they will fail any chin bar tests....

Also seems that many helmets are made for the UK market now, with added protection in the areas tested - specifically to pass the test etc.

Mind same arguments were held for the old BSi tests too.

Has there been any serious investigation into impact on injury of helmets - as per SMudges posting above, done in the last 5 to 10 years that actually identifies and stratifies by helmet model/family rather than just OF, FF etc?

It is a minefield

R

[squirrelciv]

All this data on helmet design & efficiency is a little wasted really. You can guarantee they never tested it under the conditions similar to the accident your actually involved in. No, all a helmet MUST achieve is your piece of mind. You must feel safe and comfortable whilst wearing it and have confidence in it no matter what. If it does that, then worries won't be nagging you in your subconcious, tightening you up and costing you an edge should things go tits up. How it does when called upon....who knows and who knows how the one next to it on the shelf would have done either. That's down to the powers that be.

[robG]

Sounds good to me Pat .

Rob .

[guest18]

TBH I think long and hard before buying helmets, but once they're on I never give them a second thought, what sort of helmet I'm wearing certainly doesn't affect how I ride  Of course if I were wearing a flat cap I might revise my style a little!
There is certainly a large element of luck involved, however I'm biased enough to believe that a five year old decent quality fiberglass/composite lid is more likely to behave in the manner envisaged by the designer than a five year old plastic lid... of course at one year old both *should* be broadly equal(!)
Whether it will save you from injury is another question entirely of course 

None of which really helps me to decide whether I want an OF helmet of course, or which one(!) I definately fancy a roadster or even maybe an Osbe, but I want to have a look at them and try them on before throwing over £100 at one. Like the concept, like the style, can't be noisier than my current one(!) but completely useless if they don't fit my head. 
Anyone know if there will be dealers at the show this weekend? Or if there are any stockists between here and Uttoxeter?

[guest7]

Like Jules and Pat I wear the Arai flip up model. I'm on my second one and I have to say I can't see any reason to buy anything else. It's an expensive lid, but bloody lovely.

The visor is brilliant at shedding the rain (when it's clean) and the visibility is as close to not wearing a lid as you're ever going to get.

GC

[guest18]

Is that the Arai Freeway "jet" type or the (say it in a Clarkson voice) SZ Ram 3 ?(at over £300 !!) or indeed the SZ-F?

(I still hate that style of visor   )

[guest7]

My first one was an SZB (two vents), the current one is an SZM (four vents).

GC

[themoudie]

Aye Smudge,

Go to this: http://www.whyarai.co.uk/

The dealer in Perth has gone!

regards, Bill.

[guest18]

Ahh Arai's are easy Bill  it was a ROOF or maybe an OSBE dealer I was looking for...

Mind you the Arai doesn't look as bad here;


Is that a different visor I wonder or just a different angle...

[themoudie]

Looks like 'Smoke an' Mirrors' to me!

Much rather walk in, pick up the goods, give it a fumble, stick it on the head and then ask them to pull it off.

Afore I bought my Arai, left the cards behind the counter and went for a spin to hear how quiet it was and whether I could look over my shoulder to have a looksee. Maybe we should ask to do that more often?

There is still part of me fancies going back to an OF lid with a visor or goggles.

You could even do a Rickie Fulton, God bless him!

Toodle pip, off to the Quack tomorrow to get the bronchial tubes sorted!

Bill.

[tj63]

Anyone know if there will be dealers at the show this weekend? Or if there are any stockists between here and Uttoxeter?

According to the show's website:

"With live bands courtesy of the VJMC on Friday and Saturday, dealers, traders and a raft of auto jumblers there’s something for everyone. "

As for the second bit, it depends where "here" is...


Trevor

[niblue]

I used to believe that "ahem, harumph" years ago... but having stepped off a couple of times, and with the assistance of cagers, I've yet to hit my chinbar on the deck, and knowing quite a few couriers, and others, who've hit the ground pretty hard over the years it's astonishing how few beat up the chinbar... it happens, but not that often...

We had a chap highside (a BMW tourer!) on one of ClanIxion ride-outs. He split the chinbar but didn't get any damage to his face. After seeing that I vowed never to wear an open-face helmet!

[guest40]

Smudge, re your post


"An unverified article from the web, anyone able to confirm or deny the truth of it?"
 
I plaqgarised this and put it on our Ulysses club web page. Apparently this Doctor is quite ligit, and I have quoted one response from a learned character who knows these things.

Quote:

Kurt, that appears to be legitimate.

Dr Rodney Cooter did do his doctorate at Adelaide University on the effects of motorcycle helmets on spinal and head injuries.

He continues to write on that subject and is a practicing plastic surgeon in South Australia.

An article of his in Lancet [Jan 1988], co-written with DJ David DJ, AJ McLean AJ, and DA Simpson, is summarised (abstracted) in scholarly indicies as follows: "Observations after a fatal motorcycle accident suggested that the face bar of a full-face helmet may transmit an impacting force to the skull base via the chin strap and the mandibular rami and condyles, bypassing the energy-absorbing facial bones. If this mechanism is confirmed, the structural properties of these face bars will need to be reassessed." Which is pretty much in line with what you pasted in above.

BTW: he's also a good guy to see for breast work, some of his writing is on plastic surgery for nipple areola reconstructions."

I reckon he would be able to do a great nose replacement.. could be quite nice rubbing your nose!!!!

[guest18]

Sorry, East Central Scotland 

....As for the second bit, it depends where "here" is...


Trevor

[tj63]

designerhelmets.com sell Osbe and Roof, and are based in Halifax.  Don't know whether they sell direct to Joe Public, but it may be worth a call.


Trevor