Bonneville America Forums Forums Rider Safety Forums Helmets and Gear speaking of helmets

I'm cheap and was checking out lower priced helmets on http://www.jafrum.com/Motorcycle-Helmets...Helmet-608Black for one.they have some I can't tell who makes em, they have V can Ray ven HCI and THH the vcan was a fiberglass modular for under 80 usd and some of the full faced were around 40. Question is are these junk or is there anything credible about these brands? I know I heard most helmets will protect your noggin but the comfort factor and wind noise make me wonder if they are just gonna collect dust or what. I'm stepping up from a 3/4 with flip up shield to some more protection. Any bodies experience will help here.

mike

I'm cheap too, but I was asked the question (more than once) "what is your head worth to you?"

I looked for a comfortable full face mask that had decent reviews and think I found one that works for me.

One thing we went over in the MSF course was that everybody checks and makes their own DOT determination. For instance, HJC tests their helmets for DOT approval, Arai tests their helmets, etc. To top that off, they only have to take a small batch of helmets during the initial production run. If something adverse happens later on in the production process, well, you would never know.

When it comes to Snell standards they end up sending a batch of helmets every so often during production for testing at the Snell foundation so they can constantly keep up to standards. Its just a little bit of extra protection and quality assurance, but it comes with a higher price usually.

So, I now pose the question. What is your head worth to you?

Thanks for the information about SNELL and DOT testing... I learned something today so not all is a loss... This will certainly help me when I purchase my next helmet!!!!

Rob, I was just going to mention the Motor Cyclist article. It is amazing to me (but I guess kind of makes sense psychologically), that some people really believe that the more you pay, the better protection you'll get.

Soren

I never passed judgement in my original post. I also never said that the more you pay the better the quality of the item. I simply laid out the facts. Helmet manufacturers perform their own DOT testing. Snell rated helmets usually are higher in price.

I also agree that salesmen use that question to scare people into buying more than they need. But, someone asked a question, and I had, at the least, a little bit of information to give.

I'm curious to know where you exactly pick up that I am suggesting that his choice was inferior and that I am suggesting the OP spend the most money possible? If it was the last line of the post, I get that. Maybe I should have changed the way it was phrased. I did not intend it to be that way at all.

No! perhaps it was I who should have been more specific...

I didn't think you were passing judgement on the helmet choice made...

I did think you were passing judgement on the DOT vs Snell testing...

This was the "pass judgement" I was refering to...

the rest of the stuff was not dirrected at you (unless you work in the industry )

You hear it so often that I almost belive it myself sometimes...it gets frustrating at times...

sorry if you took it as an attack to you ...it was most certainly not meant that way....

Plus with me I tend to be much more direct in my attacks ...which are few and far between

Just to further the Snell vs DOT discussion:
The Snell Memorial Foundation (SMF) is a not-for-profit organization created to provide a high quality standard of safety for helmets. Founded in 1957, SMF is named after William "Pete" Snell, a popular sports car racer who died in 1956 of head injuries he received when the racing helmet he wore failed to protect his head. A group of friends, scientists, physicians, and others joined together to create a group that would promote research and education as well as test and develop standards to improve the effectiveness of helmets. Snell Standards significantly surpass those set by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), ASTM International (ASTM) and the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission's 16 CFR Part 1203. Snell Standards are updated about every five years. These updates are based on new scientific research and improved, available manufacturing technologies. As such, and in addition to other factors such as typical use wear and tear, Snell recommends that helmets be replaced approximately every five years to ensure good safety.

As far as the styrofoam degradation issue goes try this. Take a cooler from any mini mart and store it in your garage for a couple of years. Expose it to sunlight one day a month. Tell me how well it works when that time's up.

My experience here in Alabama is two years is the max for unprotected styrofoam, the stuff crumbles like dust after that; I suspect 5 years is good for the stuff in my brain pot. You city folks may be exposed to more ozone so there's no telling how long it's effective in your dense urban areas. I know this, $20 a year ain't much to protect the ol' noggin so I'll be getting a new Bell RT every third year. (they get pretty smelly after that)

I in no way doubt the Good intentions of Snell or it's desire for safety, initially...

Now they may be a 501(c) corporation but that doesn't mean that they are all dropping by on the weekend and nights to volunteer their time...these people are compensated...and according to a vast many experts (read the article) they are testing to a set of standards that are unrealistic and in some cases unsafe.

The foundation may have started with the best intentions but it has become a unwitting marketing tool for others to take advantage of...and they (Snell employees)also have a desire to "self preserve"

And as the article points out...(in collaboration with what the medical community)

A tougher, stiffer, harder, helmet may not be your safest option...

After the Earnhardt accident there was a flurry of action in the community regarding all aspects of safety...and (big surprise) a slower deceleration is exactly what the DR ordered....HARD does not equate to slower...SNELL tests REQUIRE hardness...

again all I'm saying is research...Snell posts its standards and methods on their web site...draw your own conclusions...

Ok so fit is an important factor on how well you will like your helmet but has anybody even heard of V-can or THH or HCI and if so what was their quality like? The only way to tell fit is by trying them on but ifthe quality is low I won't even look for a dealer to try them on.


mike

try this!

HCI Review

How much is the illusion of safety to you is the real question. If I get broadsided at 50 or hit a fixed object at 50 its closed vs. open casket as the more valid question.

Just because a company chooses not to pay Snell and donate their product for testing with that check doesn't mean it doesn't meet Snell. It means exactly what it is. Not Snell tested. Somehow that becomes flawed logic meaning not safe.

Full disclosure here: I don't have a Snell rated helmet either, I just thought a better description of their rating as opposed to DOT was in order. My impression is that proper fit is vastly more important than the rating organization, excluding those ridiculous "novelty" helmets, of course. I go for good fit and good noise qualities and buy accordingly.

Oh, I do love the horns

Noo that spikey thing is my favorite. thanks for the input, I think it will be a couple weeks before I find a modular that doesn't leak like a sieve and not break the bank.


mike