New helmet after coming off bike?

kingfisherblue

CBT instructor did tell my son to repalce helmet in the event of an accident. I believe this advice has been around for many years - way before my ex (age 50) was riding a motorbike.

I think the real issue with him is that I didn't ask his advice, but just went ahead and took my son to a specialist bike shop and bought a new, suitable helmet. We've been apaart for almost twelve years, but he still seems to think that I should ask his advice on things, or he offers his opinions on matters that don't concern him. It took me a long time to realise that he was quietly controlling and that I had a lucky escape.

Moto2

BeenThroughItAll wrote: »

I'm well aware of the SHARP test outcomes, but the side impact test isn't particularly representative of real-world impacts. Sure, a small area impact will demonstrate weakness, but few people hit, statically and laterally, a small object such as the test piece used in SHARP testing. Side impacts are typically spread over a much wider area than that tested, and include rotational elements.


If you look at SHARP results, even high-end Arais and Shoeis often don't score 'green' on the side impact test, but plenty of MotoGP, Moto2, Moto3, BSB, WSB and TT riders trust them to protect their bonces in ~200MPH crashes - so, like me, they're clearly not concerned about SHARP.


If you compare results, SHARP 5* lids can often underperform in other tests like Snell, which is highly-regarded as being one of the most rigorous programmes worldwide, and since its introduction SHARP testing has been the subject of a number of studies which have found to varying degrees that its testing regime is somewhat lacking in appropriateness to the real world of motorcycle accidents.


I'm happy with my lid, anyway.

I use a Schuberth on the road (who make the BMW helmet) so that has a similar test result.
The point I was making was regarding modular helmets

I wasn't aware Snell published test results other than certified or not,.
It would be interesting to compare various helmets test results between the two organisations, do you have a link?

BeenThroughItAll

Moto2 wrote: »

I use a Schuberth on the road (who make the BMW helmet) so that has a similar test result.
The point I was making was regarding modular helmets

I wasn't aware Snell published test results other than certified or not,.
It would be interesting to compare various helmets test results between the two organisations, do you have a link?

Totally agree with your point - no argument there; the message has to be a cheap helmet that fits is always better than an expensive one that does not.


I don't believe Snell do publish individual results, but their testing regimen is intended to relate more closely to real-world accidents, so a helmet that doesn't pass Snell is quite likely to be less protective than other static tests may demonstrate. One of the more interesting studies of SHARP that I've seen goes into a fair amount of detail particularly around rotational testing, though:


http://www.righttoride.co.uk/virtuallibrary/ridersafety/Critical_evaluation_SHARP.pdf

Moto2

How we can compare Sharp Vs Snell then - as you suggested - if Snell don't publish??

I'm not sure any comparison would be possible anyway with our road helmets as neither are Snell certified.

BeenThroughItAll

Moto2 wrote: »

How we can compare Sharp Vs Snell then - as you suggested - if Snell don't publish??

I'm not sure any comparison would be possible anyway with our road helmets as neither are Snell certified.

I'm not meaning to suggest comparing the individual test elements - my point is that SHARP may be picking up a poorly-performing Arai which is Snell certified - since Snell testing is more rigorous I'm suggesting that I'd rather trust a Snell certificate than a SHARP rating.


As you say, moot in the case of my BMW lid (and the Schuberth, I guess you mean) - but my mistrust of the SHARP tests remains.


I'd rather put my head in a high-quality helmet regardless of what a UK government-created test has to say as a result of fairly unrealistic testing compared to real-world accidents.

Moto2

All that casual buyers (like the OP) can do is find helmets that fit and then if they want use the SHARP test results, use those as a decider since no other organisation produces results.
I don't believe there is any data for "real-world accidents" regarding helmet types used, so all that's left is anecdotes or SHARP.

I know which I would choose if I were a relatively un-informed buyer.
Which - with no offence to the OP - I believe they are.

IamNotAllowedToUseMyName

FWIW, if he's come off his scooter and he hit his head then his head and helmet have fallen down from riding height to the ground with the acceleration of gravity - it doesn't sound like he was in a controlled fall. Forward speed is not relevant unless you hit an obstacle and the impact from riding height is enough to fracture your skull regardless of forward speed.

If he had pain, then they leave the helmet on in case the effort of removing it risks further damage to the neck/spine. The paramedic will have asked a lot of questions and been through a checklist before removing it, but I would take it from his cautious approach that the paramedic saw evidence of a reasonably severe impact so simply from that I'd replace.

Richard53

kingfisherblue wrote: »

We've been apaart for almost twelve years, but he still seems to think that I should ask his advice on things, or he offers his opinions on matters that don't concern him. It took me a long time to realise that he was quietly controlling and that I had a lucky escape.

You're well out of that one. Twelve years! Crikey. He hasn't moved on at all, has he?