Reliable Helmet Brands

[cbinker]

Well, listen up: all SparX helmets carry a 5-year warranty and they're both DOT and ECE approved. And check this out: if you crash in a SparX helmet, you can send it and the Police report back to SparX and they'll give you a new lid for free.

ugh police getting involved, another crash statistic a crash on the record, i would avoid that if possible. my crashes happen on the track anyways.

[Invert99]

+1 for nolan. I originally got a Bell rs-1 because of it's excellent reviews. Unfortunately it didn't fit my head very well. The nolan replacement is much more comfortable for me, and seems like it is good quality so far.

[accumack]

Originally Posted by adouglas

That looks like the piece.

The problem with testing (no matter what the test) is that the laboratory is, and must be, a carefully controlled environment so that the results have a common baseline.

The real world is the opposite. ANY test is flawed when compared to the real world.

What's the temperature in the lab? Out in the real world people ride in freezing temps, and anyone who's seen a piece of plastic shatter because it's cold knows that temperature affects the properties of materials. They test for impact. Do they test for impact AFTER the helmet slides across abrasive pavement? Etc. etc.... it's simply impossible to precisely replicate real-world conditions in a consistent way, because the real world is too complex an environment.

So they come up with standards intended to produce a helmet that will protect the wearer under a reasonable range of conditions. And the helmet manufacturers build to meet the standards, because that sells helmets.

This is the same mindset that leads to standardized testing in schools. The intent is honorable... to prepare children to compete in the real world. But what winds up happening is that the kids are taught how to score well on the tests, which is not the same thing as actually developing skills or learning how to think.

Saying that this or that standard is better than the other guy's standard misses the point. A helmet standard is a set of criteria designed to answer this simple question: "Will this helmet protect a rider in a crash?" The answer depends on the circumstances... there is no single "right" answer, so there is no single "best" standard.

I wrote to SHARP about testing in cold temperatures this is what they sent me>
Dear Jim,

Thank you for your email and interest in SHARP.

The SHARP assessment is limited to helmets that can legally be sold for road use in the UK. Essentially, this means that all helmets rated by SHARP have already be approved to either UN ECE 22.05 or British Standard 6658. These standards include a requirement for the performance of the helmet to be evaluated at both high (50 +/- 2 degrees C) and low (-20 +/-2 degrees C).

The SHARP tests follows recommendations made by the COST 327 Report, the most comprehensive study of European motorcycle accidents ever done. The report can be found at http://ec.europa.eu/transport/roadsa...nal_report.pdf. While the report recommended more severe linear impacts than those used by regulation (advice that SHARP has adopted), no recommendations were made regarding testing at different temperatures.

We hope this information is helpful,

The SHARP team

For updates about SHARP you may wish to consider subscribing to our email updates (to subscribe click on ‘subscribe’ at the top of the SHARP homepage) or follow us on twitter (@SHARPgovuk) and we will let you know when any new ratings are published.

[Boom King]

^ Good info. Also, IIRC, the ECE testing also simulates UV and other ozone exposure and humidity. It's been a while since I read through it though.

[DaBlue1]

Originally Posted by accumack

....These standards include a requirement for the performance of the helmet to be evaluated at both high (50 +/- 2 degrees C) and low (-20 +/-2 degrees C).

Snell 2015 Standards are the same too.

DOT Standards are a little less but really close.

[Rogue]

I'm a huge Shoei fan. I even converted my husband, who used to always wear AGV over.

More specifically, I'm a fan of the Shoei Qwest line. You can still find them, and score, they're all on clearance now.

Here's the one I picked up for him, it's the Airfoil graphic.




Here's the review: http://www.webbikeworld.com/r2/shoei/qwest/

It's not only Snell and DOT approved, but it has a 5 star SHARP rating. Also, I thought it just felt better than the RF-1100 that I tried on. Yes, I have one, but it's black with bright pink girly graphics, so I'll spare you guys the torture.

[Boom King]

I really like the graphic on that lid . I really considered the Qwest before getting my RF1100 because of all the positive reviews on it. Similar shapes but I think the RF1100 fits just slightly more snug and better for my narrow to intermediate oval head.

[mrbanksta23]

This will be my next lid. Just a few weeks until I purchase it.

[beren]

Thanks for the advice all.

After reading y'alls take I also went by a local store and tried a few on, and did some online shopping.

Ended finding a Scorpion exo-500 at a pretty decent price. Should be delivered today.

[LNasty]

Originally Posted by accumack

Here's the sharp helmet ratings.
http://sharp.direct.gov.uk

Was just checking this out for modular helmet ratings. Pretty sad to see some of the supposedly top brands having such low ratings. Not sure what my fulmer modular helmet I wear rates at since they don't test Fulmer. Did find that the Caberg Trip system helmet is a 5 out 5 and only around 100 bucks. I have never even heard of this brand

[beren]

Originally Posted by LNasty

Was just checking this out for modular helmet ratings. Pretty sad to see some of the supposedly top brands having such low ratings. Not sure what my fulmer modular helmet I wear rates at since they don't test Fulmer. Did find that the Caberg Trip system helmet is a 5 out 5 and only around 100 bucks. I have never even heard of this brand

I came very close to buying a Fulmer modular that was on clearance. I liked it a lot, but decided to go with the scorpion. A bit of a coin flip since they were similarly priced and similarly liked.

I see, when checking on the HJC IS-MAX modular that I am replacing that it scored 3 stars there. There scary thing is the info that the "Percentage of impacts where the faceguard remained fully locked" was only 40%. Yikes.

[Dmented]

I switched from Shoei to HJC and haven't looked back..
get a plain lid n hook it up!

[Sirref]

Originally Posted by cuong-nutz

I love my Scorpion helmets. I have the low end EX400s. Ventilation sucks, it's noisy (that's what earplugs are for) and slightly heavy compared to others out there. Holds up great when sliding on the pavement (which is all that matters to me:



My next helmet will probably be an HJC. It got great reviews on WBW. All depends on fit.

Those scorpion ex400s are such a good budget track helmet, I'm looking into getting one of them or an HJC so I'm not risking my super comfortable but not any safer than those helmets exo1100.

[LNasty]

Originally Posted by beren

I came very close to buying a Fulmer modular that was on clearance. I liked it a lot, but decided to go with the scorpion. A bit of a coin flip since they were similarly priced and similarly liked.

I see, when checking on the HJC IS-MAX modular that I am replacing that it scored 3 stars there. There scary thing is the info that the "Percentage of impacts where the faceguard remained fully locked" was only 40%. Yikes.

yep, HJC all around has pretty bad safety ratings on there. now look at the caberg trip. 90% on amount of times the lid stays down and 5 out of 5 stars, the caberg konda is even better- 97%. they cost about 120 usd.

[beren]

Originally Posted by LNasty

yep, HJC all around has pretty bad safety ratings on there. now look at the caberg trip. 90% on amount of times the lid stays down and 5 out of 5 stars, the caberg konda is even better- 97%. they cost about 120 usd.

Well, assuming that 1. I don't go down on my ride home tonight and 2. The new helmet waiting for me at home doesn't have some sizing issue or defect requiring a return, then I lucked out with the hjc since I never actually had to use it. Also, as i was trying on helmets and looking into sizing, I realized that either I got a helmet that was a size too big to begin with, or else the years have really compressed the pads, because it is too lose on my head.

[beren]

Its here!

[LilMiss]

Originally Posted by dcj13

What the good Signor says in its entirety!

I go for comfort. Unfortunately, I have an Arai-shaped head. I wish I had a Bilt-shaped head, because they are very attractively priced!

The KLR250 I bought last month came with a cheapo new-condition used THH motocross helmet that is damn near as comfortable as are my Arais, and I look forward to wearing it when the weather warms up (as it's cold as hell: too well ventilated!).

I have an Arai shaped head too. The only thing I've found that fits almost as well (like...very close!) is the Icon AirFrame. (Tried the Airmada and hoy crap it was terrible! Lol)