Helmet Report

[Kasumi]

Yea we don't have Snell or DOT over here. There is European standards and then ontop of this Britain tests all helmets too. You can tell which ones helmets have passed as they have a chip like sticker on the back. Mine is British Standard and European Standard indicated by the kite marks on the back. So it complies with both. I feel very safe in my helmet.

This is just a little bit of a clip from the helmet law here in the UK, i was suprised but since helmets are not law over in all states in America you probably arn't.

If you are driving or riding on a 2-wheeled motorcycle on a road you must wear a helmet. Passengers in a sidecar don't have to wear a helmet and neither does a Sikh who is wearing a turban. Also, no helmet is needed if someone is pushing the motorcycle on foot.

What suprised me is you dont need a helmet if your in a sidecar, yet if a bike was to crash you would be just as injured as a rider when you fly out without a helemet. And also if you wear a turban as part of your religion you don't have to wear a helmet. I've seen this happen there is someone by my school who rides with just their turban on and i thought that they were just breaking the law but seems not. I can't believe (not being discriminative) but a cloth turban would protect you from any accident.

[The Buddha]

The tests motorcyclist used to determine that Z1R whatever was good ... is plenty applicable to the real world. As in the snell tests ... now most helmet weenies (AKA people who make $$ selling them) trash the cheapo helmets that rated high in the Motorcyclist test by saying the tests were not possible in the real world ... what ever ... BS.
The reason Z1's and fulmer rated well is the size ...
Their shell is a bit thicker ... but its made of a weaker material ... kevlar/Fiberglass mix in shoei is better and they can use a thinner wall ... not a fulmer is like 30% larger in size ... that shell may be an extra couple 100th's ... the rest is extra styrofoam ... whihc is the best material you can have next to your head ...
Shoeii should amke a plastic helmet that is the size of a watermelon ... and sell it for cheap ... like under $150. Lets see what Z1 then ...
In any case extra size wont bother me, I hate shoeii but the fact is ... styrofoam is better ... and more styrofoam is more better ...  ...
Cool.
Srinath.

[trumpetguy]

You're absolutely right, a SNELL uses a higher deceleration force to allow for a wider range of possible impacts.  Therefore "harder on your brain".  The question here is simple.

You failed to quote the rest of my phrase.  I said "harder on your brain IN A TYPICAL CRASH."  A big difference.

Would you rather:

a)  Experience a maximum survivable deceleration to your brain and not need all of the liner.

or

b)  Bottom out in the helmet at less than maximum deceleration and be dead anyway.

Study the physics involved.  The motorcyclist article misses a number of key points.  The purpose of a helmet is to cover the widest possible range of impact speeds while offering reasonable deceleration in an acceptable liner thickness.  The physics therefore dictate that the force required to compact the lining be as high as reasonably possible.  (The Snell standard assumes around 300G, the maximum a young male can be expected to endure without permanent injury.)

Ah, but I'm not a young male.  In fact, I'm in the last category they listed.  At 49, I'm almost dead.

It's all a calculated gamble.  Do I want a helmet that will:
1) protect my brain best in a typical real-world crash, or
2)one that will protect me in the tiny percentage of crashes that involve huge helmet impacts with non-flat surfaces or objects?

Given that choice (and we are given that choice), I'll take the one that softens the blow in MOST accidents.  As an old man, I'm probably not surviving the other accident anyway.

And I'm all about the physics.  That's what convinced me that Snell testing is massive overkill and results in a harder liner that can survive tests that my brain probably won't.

The director of Snell admits that more testing needs to be done to come up with statistics relating to real world crashes, G-forces involved, and injuries sustained.  Unfortunately, nobody is interested in funding it.  In the mean time being young, male, and in good health, I'll take 300G as opposed to bottoming out.  That route has better odds.

I disagree that your odds are better with the Snell helmet, even though I presently own one.

For the record, the problem I had with their testing was that multiple impacts were done in different locations on one helmet.  That can't be good, especially in fiberglass helmets.  The integrity of the shell was undoubtedly damaged in the first impact.  Imagine a bridge without some of its load-bearing supports.  That's what a fiberglass shell is like when part is already damaged.  The load cannot be spread through the rest of the shell as effectively.

[Alphamazing]

I wrecked last year and slid into a curb. The back of my Shoei Z-II smacked against the curb with enough force to not only send cracks through the EPS liner (as it absorbed energy) but also to make a large area of paintsimply dissapear from impact damage. I'll take my SNELL helmet over DOT only any day.

[aaronstj]

I'll take my Snell helmet over a DOT helmet any day, too.  The biggest reason is that at least I know the Snell helmet has been tested.  Snell is a testing regime, and whether or not the standards are flawed, at least I know the helmet conforms to the standards.  DOT is a standard body, but little to no testing is done.  Manufacturers certify that they are following DOT standards, and they get to slap the sticker on.  The DOT spots tests some helmets, but not many, and mostly beanie-type helmets and not full face helmets.  So who knows if that DOT helmet your trusting is really up to the standard or not?

[trumpetguy]

I think we should hear replies from people who have actually crashed tested helmets. 

Anecdotal evidence is not the same as statistics.  There are always exceptions (and they'll always speak up!).

I'll take my Snell helmet over a DOT helmet any day, too.  The biggest reason is that at least I know the Snell helmet has been tested.  Snell is a testing regime, and whether or not the standards are flawed, at least I know the helmet conforms to the standards.  DOT is a standard body, but little to no testing is done.  Manufacturers certify that they are following DOT standards, and they get to slap the sticker on.

FACTS:
1)  The Motorcyclist review in question was based on testing, not stickers. 

2)  The helmet with the best brain protection in a typical accident was a DOT helmet (Z1R Strike).

What's not to understand about either of those? 

I do understand that Snell rated helmets offer better protection in some situations.  But I also understand that in MOST situations, the Z1R is better. 

I don't play the lottery or slot machines, either (same principle).  In most situations, the casino (or state) takes your money.  Once in a while, someone wins money, keeping the math-challenged at the casino or lottery line.  And that person who wins is now a believer in gambling, whether it's logical or not.

In my case (at age 49) I can't gamble with brain deceleration the way some of you youngsters can.  I'm still riding with my HJC CL-10 until I get Z1R, but I'm shopping.

[Onlypastrana199]

I z1r I own (strike)...is freaking heavy..and like 8 times the size of my head...even the extra small did not fit as well as my exo...theres more to having a helmet potect you than design. Plus, the visor fogged up constantly, it was horribly loud, some of my vents broke. I've had that helmet for two years and logged alot of miles with it, including winter riding. Would I recommend that helmet to someone whos a noob and highly likely to wreck at low speeds? Yep How bout for a someone learning to stunt in a parking lot? Yep...but for a rider who pushes it in the twisties? No way...