Shoei v HJC

I paid 375euro for my first lid, and Arai Astro-J. I had no idea about the difference in prices or whatever; I'm sure the sales guy told me that crap line "what price do you put on your head?".

I crashed, and it worked - I'm still alive, but I am pretty sure I had a mild concussion. (Hey, it's not like you remember a concussion, right?) I remember hitting the car, a loud bang/crunch, flopping about, then looking at the sky. 35mph to zero in @ a few feet, isn't good. I don't know how I landed where I did, or how I had that car's paint on the back of my left boot and leg after coming off the bike's right side...

Then I read that article (linked in the initial post) and what "makes sense" is irrelevant when you've got empirical data, which clearly shows cheap plastic works better than expensive, stiff composites at absorbing transmitted g-forces to the head.

So I bought a plastic 220euro Shark S500Air, which I still have and like very much. It's not as plush as the Arai was, but it's not uncomfortable by any means. It's cooler in the summer, and the vents can't close so its not good in heavy rain or winter. The visor is much easier to remove, and cheaper to replace. It has a seatbelt-type chinstrap, and I'd prefer double D-ring. I'll be retiring it when it's 4yrs old, and will only wear it sparingly in the summer.

For winter, I bought a Scorpion EXO-400 for 150euro. It had all the features I wanted: adjustable vents, an easily-removed visor, a fully removable liner, double D-ring strap, and its more plush than any helmet I've ever tried on. Even the paint is good. And the anti-fog coating really works, it doesn't fog.

Could it be true -- a helmet less than half the cost of my first (Arai) helmet, yet better in every way?

Then I crashed wearing the Scorpion, and hit my head pretty hard, and never lost consciousness. It was a different kind of crash to the first one (a high-side vs a collision), but I do wonder if the stiffer, composite-laminate Arai contributed to having the concussion vs no concussion.

Instead, maybe I shouldn't be crashing my bikes. But cars shouldn't be trying to re-enter the motorway from an exit ramp either.

I've bought another Scorpion, and wear it every day.

[yorkie_chris]

Originally Posted by ridelikeaturtle

Then I read that article (linked in the initial post) and what "makes sense" is irrelevant when you've got empirical data, which clearly shows cheap plastic works better than expensive, stiff composites at absorbing transmitted g-forces to the head.

The composite is designed to delaminate on impact, absorbing more energy, it's not all about stiffness, a lot of materials can appear to be very stiff but yield under high strain rates, and vice versa, for example; Human bone actually flexes in an impact without failure to greater degree than it could take in slow strain.

Just an example there but it's not all about the stiffness of a material.