Sharp helmet test?

Looking for a new lid, heard about the sharps test, ive always said if its comfortable, wear it. But looking at the sharps test, Arai Quantum, £470 and 3 star rating and then they have a Lazer for £70 and has a 5 star rating!

Is the sharps test to be trusted???

I think the SHARP tests are great in principal, but predictably the manufacturers that score badly disagree Note that the test does not say anything about comfort, weight, or fittings - just certain crash tests.

All helmets in the UK meet the same minimum spec, and a well fitting helmet is always going to be better than an ill-fitting one.

There are many pro's and con's to the SHARP test system.

Arai do complain a lot because they design their helmets so the outsides stay tough and the inside breaks, decelerating your head IIRC.

I had an Arai Chaser (£360 helmet) on when I got taken out by a hay lorry and I had a good bang on the floor with my head which took quite a good gouge out of the helmet. My head is fine and I didn't suffer any ill effects from the crash.

With helmets I run a mentality of "you get what you pay for"

Thanks for that, i agree. I just read Arai's response to the SHARP test, obviously to be taken with a pinch of salt, but they explain about the side impact, saying your going to take the force on your shoulder rather than side of your swad, but i think that depends on what you hit!

That is true, twice I have come off and twice I have hit the side of my head on the floor, but, most accidents do usually involve the "chin bar"

like I said, you get what you pay for.

I have been out today to get my Arai assessed after my second off and it passed with flying colours, so, I have gone back to using that rather then the HJC I had. £100 difference in cost and you can feel it when you are wearing the Arai

if you want I can PM you some photo's of my first Arai and you can see why it is worth paying more for a helmet, at the end of the day, how much is your head worth?

Yeah would apreciate a look at those photos

Originally Posted by Cymraeg_Atodeg

if you want I can PM you some photo's of my first Arai and you can see why it is worth paying more for a helmet, at the end of the day, how much is your head worth?

I think that is a slightly narrow view. If Lazer started selling their helmets for £1000, does that make them "better" than Arai/Shoei?

Photo's of post crash helmets are not much guide to their capabilities. Different manufacturers make their helmets to disperse the forces of an head collision in different ways.

Fair point, i appreciate what your saying. Post crash photos will give me an idea what state that particular helmet ends up in.

But like you say, a well fitting helmet will be better. Knowing my luck, only expensive helemts will fit my head!

I am not saying a Lazer or a Duchinni are not as good as an Arai or Shoei, but, like with anything in life, if it costs more it is for a reason

I find that when you pay £200+ for a helmet it is usually confortable, got great build quality and is from a well known brand.

I trust Arais because, after all, racers use them. Now these guys are putting their heads on the line more then I ever would, so, if it is good enough for them it is good enough for me

A lot of the price for the top helmets are to cover the sponsorship money paid to the top racers and all the advertising they do. The difference between a £400 helmet and a £100 one is not as big as you may think.
As many people have said buy the one that fits the best.