Motorbike helmets

[Leon]

I'm having a look at helmets and they are giving the sizes in CM.
Which circumerence of the head is this?
Straight line around the top of the ears? ARound the crown? where?
Ta!

[Storm]

TBH it's worth going a trying helmets on as there tends to be a huge variation in shapes etc.

Buying one on size alone is not a good idea imho.

Most people are either a shoei or arai head :)

[NissanNewbie]

And get one which initially nips a bit, nothing stupid like your cheeks trying to escape through the visor but a little pressure on the forehead, only mention this cos as the lining beds in it will soften up and become a perfect fit, i always get helmets that nip slightly, oh and shoei helmets tend to be bigger than other manufacturers, AGV seem`s to fit me the best and FM is like trying to get my head into a ...................... errrr lets just say a very very small thing.

[GrahamB]

I've got an Arai shaped head:D:D:D:D

[Storm]

Actually tbh I have neither a shoei or arai head.

I guess I'm one of the lucky ones like NissanNewbie who found AGV fits me best :)

I never really understood the point of paying tonnes of cash for a helmet (other than getting it to fit properly that is) as they all have to conform to the same safety standards anyway.

[Paulie]

The reason for paying more money for a helmet is that the more expensive ones are generaly more comfortable, lighter, and last longer. If you ever have to wear one for a long period of time you will appreciate the difference:thumbs:

[Storm]

I have done, I did the whole of Holland in 2 weeks on my bike last year and a couple of years earlier I did Spain and back in 9 days :)

[Paulie]

I used to dispatch in London, twelve hours a day rain or shine, used to chuck helmets away when I couldn't stand the smell anymore:D

[Steken]

The main reason for spending loadsa cash for a helmet is that its made of composite material instead of crap plastic!

Composite helmet are made to absorbe the impact all over the head instead off having all the impact on one spot.

You always get what you pay for...

[Storm]

Not necessarily, the safety standards only require a helmet to take one major impact regardless of cost you should buy a new one if you even drop it.

As for composite rather than standard polymer (sorry but plastic is a material state not a material, I can't help it if I'm a mechanical engineer ;)), it's not the outer shell that absorbs the impact energy its the core beneath it.

[kirkster]

All I know is I wear an Arai lid, it cost me 400 quid, but there is no price on your head. You've only got one of those!!!!!!

Arai test the strength of the helmet in many key areas, facial impact, side impact, top impact etc etc where as cheaper lids do not.

To get a Gold stamp as well, they only have to take a certain amount of force on the top of the lid. Now unless you hit something on the top of your head you're fcuked :)

Kirky.

[Storm]

Ahhhh but do they do the chicken test ? ;)

[GrahamB]

Originally posted by Storm
Ahhhh but do they do the chicken test ? ;)


and if they do are they frozen????;)

[Leon]

it depends on the relative mass before and after cardiac stoppage

[Sideways Danny]

you don't have to pay mega bucks for a decent lid, as long as you get a type a approved one then make sure it fits well and is not too heavy you can get something quite acceptable for about £100. You can get some seriously sexy stuff which is super light like the £400 arais etc and they are well worth the money if you ride a lot. I paid £70 for my Nolan in a sale a few years ago, and I only use it for occasional karting now as it's a bit old. old lids give less protection than when new

[Leon]

what are the older open-face style like?

[gaz.thomas]

what are the older open-face style like?

The pi$$ pots are great looking lids but don't do much for your face if you come off...

Gaz
-x-