Simple Simon
Novice Class
Posts: 94
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posted August 28, 2005 05:35 PM
Helmet performance article
I was wondering if anyone read the helmet performance article that Motorcyclist Magazine printed in its June issue. I was wondering what comments people had about the article. I thought it was an excellent article that really made me question getting another SNELL approved helmet. If you haven't read the article here are 2 links to it.
http://teamoregon.orst.edu/to_web/PDF/Blowing%20the%20Lid%20Off,%20Motorcyclists%206-05,%20D.%20Ford.pdf
http://motorcyclistonline.com/gearbox/hatz/
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Don't show your stupidity, wear a helmet.
   
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lizard
Pro
Modulator
Posts: 1483
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posted August 28, 2005 07:19 PM
Canadamaxxer what do you think?
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trenace
Needs a job
Posts: 3056
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posted August 28, 2005 09:34 PM
 Edited By: trenace on 28 Aug 2005 22:35
Seemed to have sound reasoning and some decent testing. Lacking any substantive response showing anything differently, I'm going to agree with them.
Doesn't mean I'll be tossing my present Snell helmet, but does mean that next time around, I'll see if I can get one from the UK rather than the US.
Along this same line, I saw something interesting in a Brisith Aria ad: they state that the helmets worn by Arai-wearing racers are the exact same as the ones purchased off the shelf, they do not make special helmets (except for paint job) for racers.
That is something never claimed in Arai's US ads so far as I know.
So pretty clearly, for racers or at least racers in Europe and the UK, Arai chooses non-Snell helmets.
Whereas their response in the US to this entire matter, is to pull their ads from Motorcyclist rather than come up with anything substantial -- or anything at a all -- standing behind the Snell standard and arguing that Snell-standard Arai's actually are superior for impact protection to non-Snell helmets.
It does seem to me that the Snell has become a bad, poorly thought out standard that actually can make a helmet worse not better, just as Motorcyclist concluded.
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Simple Simon
Novice Class
Posts: 94
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posted August 29, 2005 06:05 PM
The Shoei that I wear to work everyday is about 10 years old and is really do for replacement. After reading the article, I decided that I don't want another SNELL approved helmet. I checked into getting a Shoei from the UK and then having it shipped to me in the US. This option would not be cheap (shipping would be $50) but it is not excessively expensive. The thing that worries me is getting the helmet and then have it not fit me. The helmet that I was considering was the XR1000. This past weekend I tried on an X-11 at a local shop and it fit good. I was wondering if the shell for the X-11 is the same as the XR1000. I guess I will write to Shoei and see what they have to say. While at the shop I also checked out the Arai helmets. They have a great reputation and some of thier helmets are sharp looking. The problem with Arai helmets is they also sell only Snell approved helmets in the US. I could order one of them from UK but then I still won't know if it fits until I get shipped. Another option would be to purchase an AGV Ti-tech helmet. This helmet was tested in the article and it did pretty good. Problem with AGV's is that none of the local dealers stock this helmet and I would have to order it to try it on. I am also concerned about the availibility of the face shields for the helmet. Any suggestions from anyone would be greatly apprieciated.
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Don't show your stupidity, wear a helmet.
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trenace
Needs a job
Posts: 3056
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posted August 29, 2005 06:46 PM
Ya know, thinking about it more today and seeing that Arai has STILL got their ads pulled from Motorcyclist, that is significantly turning me against Arai.
What an attitude -- a magazine makes what clearly appears an honest effort at scientific testing, finds that helmets meeting a given standard actually transmit more G forces to the head in most impacts, and the response of the world's premier helmet company (or at least they like to be perceived as such) is to pull their advertising in punishment, or perhaps as fulfillment of a previously issued threat.
Rather than provide any sound information of their own, or perhaps offer to provide in the US their non-Snell helmets and let the buyer make the choice.
They may have thought they could bully Motorcyclist and suppress the truth, but they can't bully me, and they failed to suppress the truth.
That is not an up-and-up way to do business. Shame on Arai, and that's putting it mildly.
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Simple Simon
Novice Class
Posts: 94
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posted August 30, 2005 05:04 PM
You have a good point which makes me lean toward purchasing the AGV next. Shoei did not submit a helmet for the test. Some readers wrote in and said that the magazine should have bit the bullet and purchased a Shoei to see how they compared to the others. It would have been nice to see the results. However, I don't think that would have been fair to the companies that went out on the line and sent their helmets for testing at no charge. That seems to me that Shoei knew that thier Snell approved helmets would not do good and/or they were afraid to let people find out the truth. Just look at the results for the Arai Tracker GT helmet. This helmet placed as the third worst helmet in the test. That isn't very reassuring being that Arai has the reputation for making some of the best made helmets. As for what I am going to do for my next helmet, I think that I am going to go for the AGV Ti-tech. Another thing that I thought was interesting was the fact that AGV started selling this helmet in the US and they didn't change it to get it Snell approved. AGV submitted two diferent helmets for testing- a Snell approved model and a BSI/DOT model. Perhaps AGV had the courage to show the difference between the BSI rated and the Snell.
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Don't show your stupidity, wear a helmet.
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trenace
Needs a job
Posts: 3056
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posted August 30, 2005 05:10 PM
Did Shoei pull their advertising though?
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TedG
Moderator
Posts: 8222
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posted August 30, 2005 07:46 PM
Edited By: TedG on 30 Aug 2005 20:54
After reading the article, it seems that all the specs are out of date, especially the Snell. I was surprised to find the polycarbonate helmet absorbed more energy than the composite helmet. To me comfort, venting, shield quality, etc. are more important than a steel ball hitting the same spot twice. I have always known that the helmet only falls 6 feet or so but with much more forward momentum and sliding on the pavement. I am still an Arai fan mostly because of the fit. My new RX7RR Corsair fits just beautifully and I love the way it supports my face cheeks, reminds me of my old F1 Arai.
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Ted
2000 Green ZX12 sold
The fast color!!
Green 2005 ZX10R
2009 Concours Black ABS
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canadamaxxer
Pro
Posts: 1090
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posted August 31, 2005 04:50 AM
quote:
Canadamaxxer what do you think?
nothing but Arai for me.....anything that survived like mine did is well worth the money.....
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