JunkyardDog

First of all, I wouldn't wear a German helmet for other reasons other than lack of protection. I recommend any decent DOT approved full face helmet, Snell means nothing to me, in fact, IMO the DOT is the best real world standard, and Snell is an advertising gimmick. It didn't start out that way, but it seems to be that way now. I have worn half and 3/4 helmets for many years, but now only wear FF. Not so much for crash protection (in 32 years I have never crashed) but for comfort, and protection from the wind, and whatever might be in it. While I have never crashed, I have been hit in the face shield a couple of times with things that broke the face shield, and hurt my neck, and probably would have been fatal with a half or open face helmet. If the impact wasn't, the resulting c
crash, both times at 80 mph+ would have been. Jerry.


EDIT: The people involved in this test (the late Professor Harry Hurt, and David Thom) are the worlds foremost experts on motorcycle safety and helmet design. They dedicated their lives to it. I would take their opinions anytime over those of Snell, or anyone else.

http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/ge...iew/index.html

__________________

Shadow Shack

Even if it's a DOT approved German-styled helmet, I can't recommend them for any two wheeler that is capable of moving faster than a 49cc moped.

Seriously, that lip catches the wind more efficiently than anything else out there. You could bolt a solid one piece "butt-slapper" garage door to the front of your bike and create less aerodynamic drag. Simply put, the wind will try to lift that thing right off your head, with the chin strap pulling tighter and tighter the faster you go. Suffice it to say, at freeway speeds your chin won't last five miles.

And if it's not DOT approved, that cheeseball chinese made plastic clip on the chin strap won't last very long at speed either. True story: I had a sportbike riding friend who had a German-style novelty helmet, and when he goosed his 1000cc crotch rocket from 25mph to an instantaneous 65mph the fastener broke and the helmet went flying. All witnessed by a cop --- who asked him, in addition to a exhibition of speed & littering fine, if he'd prefer to be written up for no helmet or failure to wear a DOT approved helmet.

I won't even get into how those cheap novelty helmets disintegrate on impact, assuming the plastic chin fastener doesn't break off before the helmet has a chance to hit the ground. About all it will protect you from is small debris flying off the tires of big trucks, assuming said debris hits you above the eyebrows. Bottom line here is a $40 helmet is only good for a $40 brain. If you feel your brain is worth more, invest accordingly...

__________________
"Ride Safe, Chop Safer"
Support your FLIBS (Friendly Local Independent Bike Shop)
3500cc worth of Honda: http://shadow-shack.20m.com

DeeG

~400 Euro. Not cheap, but its a wonderful helmet.

Interesting piece by MSF:

http://www.msf-usa.org/imsc/proceedi...cleHelmets.pdf

Given a choice between a DOT or Snell or ECE helmet? I'll take the ECE, thank you.

What interested me about the COST 327 study (mentioned in the MSF study and the Motorcyclistonline online article) is that they used crash test dummys and mock ups as part of their study, unlike everything else which just drops helmets onto an anvil or other surface. I don't understand why that isn't standard. All the auto mfgs do that, to test and improve crash safety. Seems logical that a helmet mfg would want to do the same. '

__________________

JunkyardDog

Interesting article. Again, Harry Hurt and Dave Thom are 2 people I would trust without question when it comes to helmets. And that's saying a lot coming from me, I tend to question everything. I have 2 helmets I wear most of the time, a KBC TK-77, and a Z1R, the one that did so well in the test. I bought it after reading that test. The KBC cost $119 on clearance, and is both DOT and Snell approved. The Z1R cost around $100, and is only DOT approved. Both fit great, and are comfortable. I would have to say I like the face shield mechanism on the KBC a little better. Jerry.

__________________

wannabeyooper

I have several helmets also, Shoei, ZR1, and ZOX. I had a KBC (my son's friends dog chewed the KBC up! I was hot I liked that one, DH and I had matching helmets needless to say that dog is baned from my house!) The ZOX has a built in speaker for my mp4 player and is dot & Snell. I really like it. It normally runs about $89 (I paid $69). The shield mechanism is kind of cool read specs about it.

__________________

Fridgitator

Sounds like a nice bike, but IMHO, it wouldn't work well as a helmet.

__________________

GuitarMan

Yes! Definitely not Carnegie approved!

__________________

maxweljames

I grew up and learned to ride in Illinois, no helmet laws. I rode for years before I ever bought one and that was half face with shield used only for riding during the bug season. I moved to Georgia and soon learned that they require helmets, even though the law is poorly written.

Since I hate riding with the half face + shield unless it really buggy, I opted for the German Beanie style. It's still "DOT approved", but really I wasn't caring about that, it's a cheap brain bucket that keeps the cops away, is lightweight, comfortable, and doesn't choke me on I-95 at 70mph.

Personally I think the government has no business forcing me to protect myself. If I choose to ride without a helmet and die, that's my fault. It is not a matter of public safety since me not wearing a helmet in no way endangers others. I'll get off my soap box before I really get going.

__________________
Maxwel James
2003 Honda Rebel

Fridgitator

Got to thinking a few days ago-I know that sounds dangerous- Motorcycle helmets are rated to protect your cranium contents based mostly on a Styrofoam crush layer encased in a some sort of hard shell. Every manufacturer swears that a helmet should be replaced after any sort of impact because the shell might have undetectable cracks and could shatter in a subsequent impact, leaving the manufacturer liable for serious injuries. NFL and NHL players wear helmets that are not designed to protect them from hitting pavement at 100 MPH, but still have shells that sustain repeated impacts more severe than those that render a motorcycle helmet unfit for use. Why can't a motorcycle helmet be made with a shell of comparable durability?

__________________
'09 Rebel 250

Loud ties save lives.

flitecontrol

Good question. I believe the main reason football helmets have a longer life is they gon't come into contact with immovable objects or sharp edges and they are lined with resiliant dense foam. The shell and shock absorbing material inside are not compromised by repeated impacts. But those impacts are not nearly as great as those generated by a crash above 30 mph, which happens often on a bike.

__________________
I'm keepin' all the left over parts. I'm gonna use 'em to build another bike!

2001 Rebel 250, 1989 Vulcan 750
Putting your bike info in your signature helps others help you!