Thread: A question of helmets.

Originally Posted by ramblingboy42

My current full face is an R-Jays...not cheap one.
... .... ...

Is it the R-Jays SP2? It performed particularly well. 72 for protection and 75 for comfort and it is closer to $200 than it is to $1000.

...think it's a GP2.....

Originally Posted by vnx205

I remember that ad campaign from the 70's. I don't know how long they continued the slogan and it would have needed adjusting for inflation to still be relevant.

The success of that campaign has a downside however. It has left a lot of people with the notion that if you pay $1000 for you helmet, you will get one that protects you better and is more comfortable than a $200 helmet.

Independent Australian testing clearly shows that paying more definitely does not a guarantee a better helmet. Look at the results on this site. CRASH - Test results

You can pay $829.93 (on special, normally $899.95) for a Shoei GT-Air Wanderer TC-1 Helmet. Specials : Motorcycle Accessories Supermarket, Motorcycle Accessories Supermarket (MCA) is your one-stop shop for Harley, sports bike, & off road bike parts & accessories. Fast shipping.

You can pay $286.99 for a very fancy version of the Sparx S-07. Zoxoro.com.au | Sparx S-07 Limited Edition Platinum Full Face Helmet Multi Xxl/Xx-Large or $96.05 for a less fancy paint job. Sparx S 07 White Lightning Full Face Helmet XX Large Closeout | eBay

Yet the cheaper helmet scores 76 for protection and 50 for comfort. The helmet that costs about three times as much (or maybe nine times as much) scores just 59 for protection and 54 for comfort.

There are plenty of other examples of expensive helmets that offer less protection and are less comfortable (on the heads they used for testing) than some of the cheaper helmets.

The evidence is clear. You can pay $200 for a certified helmet that scores better on independent tests than a $1000 helmet. If your head is the right shape, it will even be more comfortable.

So your $1000 head may be just as safe and comfortable in a $200 helmet.

If i remember correctly my Bell helmet cost around $70, more than a weeks wages, hourly rate back then was $1.50/hour, so back then the Bell was an expensive helmet.
The bell helmet was so much safer than the "$10 helmet" which was the gist of the Ad.
The only criticism was weight and the straight neckline at the back, which was causing some injuries in F1, came with 2 visors, one clear the other Yellow for low light conditions.
The Styrofoam inside the helmet is in top condition, but the lining and thin sponge type foam has turned to powder, thanks Baz for the info, regards frank.

Originally Posted by Tank

If i remember correctly my Bell helmet cost around $70, more than a weeks wages, hourly rate back then was $1.50/hour, so back then the Bell was an expensive helmet.
The bell helmet was so much safer than the "$10 helmet" which was the gist of the Ad.
The only criticism was weight and the straight neckline at the back, which was causing some injuries in F1, came with 2 visors, one clear the other Yellow for low light conditions.
The Styrofoam inside the helmet is in top condition, but the lining and thin sponge type foam has turned to powder, thanks Baz for the info, regards frank.

No worries Frank, my Bell Evo was $265 from Bikebiz at Granville, the Helmet Wharehouse has them for around the same price.

Looking at the crash data though it did score well for protection(36), but did score high for comfort(70)

Baz.

Originally Posted by Mick_Marsh

A friend is visiting from Sydney. He says to a friend in Melbourne "Don't wear that helmet in NSW because you will be fined for wearing a helmet that does not conform to standards.
Now, this helmet has a sticker on it that says it conforms to AS1698 - "Protective Helmets for Vehicle Users". It also has a tinted visor that conforms to AS1609 - "Eye Protectors for Motor Cyclists and Racing Car Drivers" as AS1698 certification cannot be given unless the visor conforms to that standard
So, what is so different about the NSW standards that make a hemet that is legal in Qld and Vic but illegal in NSW?
The motorcycle sites are awash with warnings about this anomaly but are rather short on detail.

I did read somewhere that there's such a mish-mash of federal and state helmet requirements, that there's not one helmet available in the world which meets all the requirements and hence all helmets are illegal in Australia. We're so advanced, we need to wait for the rest of the world to catch up and produce helmets to Aussie standards.

Frank, Bell now sell a retro full face helmet that just about looks identical to their original full face helmets from the 70's.

Can anyone shed any light on a recent furphy I heard that you need to replace your helmet every three years. This could get very expensive.

The site I linked to earlier says:

You need to replace your helmet if it has been involved in a crash. If it's been properly taken care of and hasn't been involved in a crash or another impact, it should be replaced approximately once every five years, or every three years if used regularly. Helmets are made of materials which will deteriorate with time, heat and humidity. Hair oils, body fluids and cosmetics also contribute to helmet degradation. Petroleum-based products present in cleaners, paints, fuels and other common materials may also degrade materials used in many helmets, possibly degrading performance.

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